Knox Private Hospital surgeon Geoff Kohn performs peroral endoscopic myotomy

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Zoe Powell, Knox Leader
September 20, 2016


A KNOX Private Hospital surgeon is one of the first in Australia to use a procedure to help people who have long-term swallowing problems.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy uses “next-generation” technology to relieve tightness in the oesophagus so food can pass into the stomach. Read More...

Australia’s first POEM procedure teaching course - Report

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Photo: Dr Geoff Kohn with Dr Jeffrey Marks

On 11-12 December 2015, Dr Geoff Kohn and the Melbourne Upper GI Surgical Group hosted Australia’s first POEM (Peroral endoscopic myotomy) teaching course. Joining Dr Kohn as faculty for this course was Dr Jeffrey Marks an international POEM expert from Cleveland, Ohio in the USA, and Dr Robert Chen gave a lecture on a similar procedure called ESD (endoscopic submucosal dissection).

Twelve Australian surgeons and gastroenterologist came to the course to learn the POEM procedure from Drs Kohn, Marks and Chen. Read More...

What are the symptoms of GORD, and what should I do about them? Is my cough due to GORD?

In response to a question on healthshare.com.au

GORD, or Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (sometimes called GERD for those who spell oesophagus without the ‘o’) is a condition which develops when the stomach contents rise into the oesophagus (the food pipe) and causes troublesome symptoms. The stomach contents are usually acidic, but not always so. Read More...

I have difficulty swallowing and have been diagnosed with achalasia. Are there any new treatments?

In response to a question on healthshare.com.au

Achalasia is one of the ineffective oesophageal motility disorders. Usually, the oesophagus (the food pipe) transmits food downwards by a sequence of controlled and well-timed contractions (called ‘peristalsis’). This is why most people can drink water through a straw while standing on their head (if they wanted to!). People with achalasia cannot, because the contractions of their oesophagus are absent. Read More...

Heartburn, heart attack or angina?

In response to a question on healthshare.com.au

Having pain in the chest may be a sign of a life-threatening medical emergency or the sign of something less urgent, but how do you tell? Read More...

What lifestyle measures can help prevent oesophageal cancer?

In response to a question on healthshare.com.au

Lifestyle is important, but there is no “magic bullet”, and oesophageal cancer is one of the cancers that is becoming more and more common. Read More...

What is the difference between heartburn and acid reflux?

In response to a question on healthshare.com.au

Heartburn is a symptom - something you experience - the burning feeling in the chest or neck that can occur when acid flows up from the stomach into the oesophagus.
Read More...

What are the best treatments for heartburn / acid reflux?

In response to a question on healthshare.com.au

Treatments for acid reflux need to address both the symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation and the potential future health risks such as narrowings or cancers of the oesophagus.

Heartburn - the burning sensation or acid taste that can accompany reflux - can be treated symptomatically with antacids and lifestyle measures, as long as it is only an occasional problem. Read More...

Can smoking cause heartburn?

In response to a question on healthshare.com.au

Smoking can certainly cause heartburn.

Heartburn is generally caused by the acid contents of the stomach flowing back up into the oesophagus. This is usually prevented by muscle fibres at the lower end of the oesophagus (the lower oesophageal sphincter). Read More...

American College of Surgeons conference

Geoff Kohn is attending the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Surgeons in San Fransisco. Oesophageal physiology is advancing at a rapid pace with Geoff at the forefront of this field.

International conference - Sri Lanka

Dean Spilias is an invited speaker and resource person at the Annual Academic Sessions of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka. Dean is talking on management of gastroesophageal reflux disease and repair of hiatus hernia.

New Manoscan has arrived

Geoff Kohn has taken delivery of the latest Manoscan, an updated model which has the same high-definition manometry features as the previous machine but which is much more portable. The majority of procedures are still done at Knox, but Geoff is now able to offer oesophageal physiology and pH studies at other centres.