Effectiveness of a novel traction device in endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal lesions

Conventional versus rubber band traction-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection for rectal neuroendocrine tumors: a single-center retrospective study (with video)

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, including rectal neuroendocrine tumors (r-NETs). However, the relative advantages of traction-assisted ESD for the treatment of small rectal lesions are still debated.

AIMS

We conducted a study to compare the efficacy and safety of rubber band traction-assisted ESD (RBT-ESD) to conventional ESD (C-ESD).

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with r-NET treated with ESD between October 2021 and October 2023. Our study assessed differences between the groups in the complete resection rate of lesions, muscular layer injury, surgical complications, operation time, resection speed, time to liquid diet, postoperative hospital stay, hospital cost, and recurrence rate.

RESULTS

A total of 119 patients with r-NETs participated in this study (RBT-ESD group, n = 27; C-ESD group, n = 92). The operation time in RBT-ESD group was shorter than in C-ESD group, but the difference was not statistically significant (16.0 min [9.0-22.0 min] vs. 18.0 min [13.3-27.0 min], P = 0.056). However, the resection speed was significantly faster in the RBT-ESD group (6.7 vs. 4.1 mm2/min, P = 0.005). Furthermore, the RBT-ESD group showed significantly less muscular layer injury (P = 0.047) and faster diet recovery (P = 0.035). No significant differences were observed in the complete resection rate, surgical complications, postoperative hospital stay, hospital cost, or recurrence rate between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

For r-NETs of < 2 cm in size, the RBT method did not significantly shorten the operation time but resulted in faster resection speed, less muscular layer injury, and earlier postoperative recovery to a liquid diet.

[Efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection assisted by metal-clip pocket creation traction for colorectal tumors]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) assisted by metal-clip pocketcreation traction for treatment of colorectal tumors.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 244 patients with colorectal tumors undergoing colorectal ESD treatment between January, 2019 and December, 2022, including 169 patients receiving ESD without metal-clip pocket-creation traction (N-ESD group) and 75 with traction-assisted ESD (M-ESD group). Propensity score matching was used to screen the patients using general clinical data as the covariates for matching. Operative time, surgical resection outcome indicators, incidence of adverse events, and histopathological diagnosis indicators were compared between the two groups of patients after matching.

RESULTS

The median operative time was significantly shorter in M-ESD group than in N-ESD group (20.0 [15.0, 30.0] vs 30 [20.0, 45.0] min, P=0.008). No significant difference was found in the en bloc resection rate (100% vs 98.6%), complete resection rate (97.3% vs 96%) and radical resection rate (97.3% vs 96%) between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of adverse events was low in both groups and showed no significant difference between them (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

In patients with colorectal tumors, the use of metal-clip pocket-creation traction can shorten the operative time of ESD although it does not significantly reduce the surgical resection rate or incidence of adverse events.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection of colon polyps with submucosal fibrosis using the combination of near-focus mode and traction device

Video 1Endoscopic submucosal dissection of colon polyps with submucosal fibrosis using the combination of near-focus mode and a traction device.

Gastric ulcer treated using an elastic traction ring combined with clip: A case report

BACKGROUND

There is a high annual incidence of acute, nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Chinese adults. Early endoscopic intervention can reduce rates of rebleeding, surgery, and mortality. The metal clip is the most common method for establishing homeostasis; however, it possesses several limitations. In patients with bleeding secondary to large gastric ulcers, the clip will often fail to stop the bleeding. This article highlights the use of an elastic traction ring as a novel hemostatic method for patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

CASE SUMMARY

An elderly male presented to the emergency room with complaints of hematemesis and melena. Endoscopic examination revealed an ulcer (Forrest IIa) in the lesser curvature of the gastric antrum. Six tissue clips and one elastic traction ring were inserted into the stomach cavity to suture the ulcer. The patient recovered quickly without postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding. Two months later, the patient's ulcer was significantly healed.

CONCLUSION

To our best knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of elastic traction rings for upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Elastic traction rings should be considered a routine therapeutic modality for patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeds.

Robotic-assisted vs non-robotic traction techniques in endoscopic submucosal dissection for malignant gastrointestinal lesions

Endoscopic submucosal dissection is an effective approach with higher en bloc resection and complete resection rate for superficial gastrointestinal (GI) lesions. However, endoscopic submucosal dissection is technically challenging and associated with several adverse events, such as bleeding or perforations. The single channel flexible endoscope’s intrinsic limitations in preserving visualization of the submucosal dissection plane as compared to laparoscopic surgery are the most common cause of complications during the endoscopic submucosal dissection technique. As a result, traction techniques were created as the endoscope’s second helping hand in order to improve the effectiveness of the endoscopic submucosal dissection method. Trainees can master endoscopic submucosal dissection methods more quickly by using traction techniques. The anatomical location of the lesion plays a major role in determining which traction technique should be employed. An appealing way of traction is robot-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection, and various types of endoscopic robots that allow bimanual operation are currently being developed. The advent of robot-assisted endoscopic technology ushers in a new era of endoscopic submucosal dissection, and with it come its own unique challenges that remain to be elucidated. Future research and development efforts are needed to focus on pathways and curriculums for trainees to master the currently available traction techniques and provide avenues for the development of newer traction modalities. In this article, we discuss evolution, characteristics, technological improvements and clinical comparisons of both robotic and non-robotic endoscopic traction techniques used in endoscopic submucosal dissection.