Gleneagles Hospital Chennai, part of the Fortis Healthcare network, has successfully treated two elderly patients with complex swallowing disorders using advanced endoscopic procedures, including D-POEM for an Epiphrenic Diverticulum, which the hospital says is the first such procedure performed by a doctor in Tamil Nadu.

In the first case, a 73-year-old woman from Ariyalur district who had experienced difficulty swallowing food and liquids for nearly three years was treated for Achalasia complicated by a large Epiphrenic Diverticulum.

Her condition had worsened in the preceding two months, with difficulty tolerating liquids, recurrent vomiting and significant weight loss. She also had multiple comorbidities, including diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, chronic kidney disease and a previous cardiac stent.

On March 30, 2026, Dr. B. Mahadevan, Senior Consultant, Gastroenterology, Gleneagles Hospital Chennai, and his team performed Diverticular Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (D-POEM) through the mouth, addressing both the abnormal muscle tightness and diverticulum without external surgery.

The patient was discharged after three days and reported significant improvement in swallowing at her one-month follow-up. Subsequent investigations showed near-normal swallowing function, while endoscopy confirmed a healthy, healed oesophagus.

According to Gleneagles Hospital Chennai, Dr. Mahadevan is the first doctor in Tamil Nadu to perform D-POEM for an Epiphrenic Diverticulum.

In the second case, a 75-year-old Belgian man living in India who had suffered from Zenker’s Diverticulum for nearly a decade underwent Z-POEM with modified septotomy.

The patient had experienced regurgitation of undigested food, coughing and a persistent gurgling sensation, along with a 5-kg weight loss over six months. Evaluation revealed a 5-cm Zenker’s Diverticulum containing retained food.

Dr. Mahadevan and his team performed the endoscopic procedure on July 7, 2025, without an external incision. At the one-month follow-up, the diverticulum had opened and flattened, restoring normal food passage, while the patient reported complete relief from regurgitation, nighttime disturbances and the gurgling sensation.

Dr. Mahadevan said the two cases were clinically challenging but demonstrated the ability of advanced endoscopic techniques to treat complex swallowing disorders without external surgery.

Dr. S. Niranjani, Chief Operating Officer & Hospital Head, Gleneagles Hospital Chennai, said long-standing swallowing disorders can significantly affect nutrition and quality of life, highlighting the value of minimally invasive treatment for complex conditions.

R. Y. Bharath Kanth Reddy, CEO, Chennai & Hyderabad Cluster, Gleneagles Hospitals, said the cases reflect the hospital network’s focus on advanced minimally invasive care and specialised endoscopic treatment for complex gastrointestinal conditions.