UT Health RGV performs new digestive procedure for first time in the Valley

A specialized digestive procedure that previously required many Rio Grande Valley patients to travel to Houston, San Antonio or Dallas has been performed locally for the first time by UT Health RGV.

The minimally invasive treatment is designed for patients with conditions that make swallowing difficult or prevent food from moving normally through the digestive system. It is performed entirely through the mouth, eliminating the need for incisions in the chest or abdomen.

The procedure is called Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy, or POEM. UT Health RGV announced Thursday that it recently performed its first procedure in partnership with Rio Grande Regional Hospital, making it one of the first providers in the region to offer the treatment.

“This milestone represents our commitment to bringing advanced, academic medicine-level care to patients here in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Dr. Julianna Yang, a gastroenterologist at UT Health RGV who performed the procedure.

“Patients deserve access to the same innovative treatments available at major medical centers, and we’re proud to now offer that care close to home,” Yang said.

What the procedure treats

POEM is most commonly used to treat achalasia, a rare disorder that prevents muscles in the esophagus from moving food into the stomach normally. For patients, that can make swallowing difficult.

The procedure can also be used to treat gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach empties more slowly than it should.

Instead of making surgical incisions, a physician inserts a flexible endoscope through the patient’s mouth. The physician creates a small tunnel within the wall of the digestive tract and divides the affected muscle, helping food pass more easily.

Patients undergo the procedure under general anesthesia and typically stay in the hospital overnight before returning home the following day.

Because there are no external incisions, recovery generally involves less pain and minimal scarring, with patients able to return to everyday activities sooner, according to Yang.

“One of the greatest advantages of POEM is that it provides excellent long-term symptom relief while avoiding the need for traditional surgery,” Yang said. “Patients recover more quickly, experience less pain and can return to their daily lives sooner.”

Bringing specialized care closer to home

Until now, Valley patients who needed this level of specialized gastrointestinal care were often referred to medical centers in Houston, San Antonio or Dallas, requiring additional travel, expenses and time away from work and family.

Offering the procedure locally allows patients to undergo treatment and recover closer to home.

UT Health RGV plans to continue expanding advanced endoscopic services across South Texas as part of an effort to provide more specialized treatments within the region.

“We want patients to know they don’t always have to travel outside the Rio Grande Valley to receive innovative, high-quality care,” Yang said. “Our greatest measure of success is seeing patients regain the ability to eat comfortably, improve their quality of life and return to the activities they enjoy while receiving exceptional care close to home.”