Gabriela Sandoval EDINBURG – UT Health RGV partnered with Rio Grande Regional Hospital to perform its first Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy, also known as POEM, in early July.
Dr. Juliana Yang, UT Health RGV gastroenterologist, was behind the procedure, bringing new advancements in non-invasive procedures that help patients with gastrointestinal issues such as swallowing disorders.
John Hopkins medicine states that the simple procedure includes inserting a tube with a camera down the esophagus to make small cuts to the muscles helping them to loosen up and allow swallowing.
Yang said this advancement cuts hours of drive time to the big cities that provide these procedures.
“So, if we could bring this [certain type of] health procedure to the valley, even if it’s just for one patient, I would say it is worth it,” Yang said.
Dr. Yang said the treatment is just the tip of the iceberg for the infinite possibilities of advanced procedures that could come to the Valley and added that in the next five to 10 years, they plan on offering more specialties to care for more patients.
