ESD around the world: Asia

Potential of temperature-response collagen-genipin sol as a novel submucosal injection agent for endoscopic resection: Acute and chronic phase study using living animals

OBJECTIVES

We proposed a novel temperature-response collagen sol as a submucosal injection agent for endoscopic resection (ER) using pepsin-solubilized collagen (PSC) and genipin (Ge) in a prior study. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness and safety of the sol (PSC/Ge) in acute and chronic phase experiments using living animals.

METHODS

In experiment 1, we performed endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for six pigs using normal saline (NS), sodium hyaluronate (SH), and PSC/Ge. We compared the required amount of each agent per unit area and procedure time. In experiment 2, we created artificial ulcers with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for five pigs using NS and PSC sol. We compared the artificial ulcer residual rate at 7 and 14 days after EMR, and the scarring rate at 14 days after EMR.

RESULTS

The required amount of agents per unit area for PSC/Ge (0.8 ± 0.8 mL/cm² ) and SH (1.1 ± 0.8 mL/cm² ) were significantly smaller than that for NS (1.8 ± 0.7 mL/cm² ). The total procedure time did not have a statistical difference. The artificial ulcer residual rates were 47.3 ± 0.7% for NS and 40.3 ± 0.7% for PSC/Ge on day 7 (P = 0.51), and 15.0 ± 0.1% for NS and 10.2 ± 0.1% for PSC/Ge sol on day 14 (P = 0.35). The scarring rate on day 14 was 10% for NS and 20% for PSC/Ge.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated the feasibility of a novel temperature-response collagen gel as a submucosal injection agent for ER in the acute and chronic phase animal experiment.

The Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Surgery in the Whole-Course Antegrade Endoscopic Approach: A More Effective Treatment Strategy for the Siewert II/III Type Mucosal Lesions of Esophagogastric Junction

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for treating cardiac mucosal lesions. Methods: A total of 86 patients with cardiac mucosal lesions were treated with ESD in retrograde endoscopic approach or antegrade endoscopic approach. The relationship between the two methods was analyzed according to the size, location, depth of pathological infiltration, classification, and examination results. The main evaluation indexes of intraoperative complications were operation time, bleeding, perforation, and complete resection (R0 resection). Results: Total R0 excision was performed in 85 patients and curative excision in 77 patients. When the diameter of lesion was 2-4 cm or >4 cm, the median treatment time in the antegrade endoscopic approach group was shorter than that in the retrograde group (P < .001, respectively). When the lesion was confined to the mucosa, the median treatment time in the antegrade endoscopic approach group was shorter than that in the retrograde group (P < .001). When the lesion was located in the posterior wall of the cardia, the average treatment time in the antegrade endoscopic approach group was shorter than that in the retrograde group (P < .05). When the lesion was located in the lesser curvature of the cardia, the average treatment time in the antegrade endoscopic approach group was shorter than that in the retrograde group (P < .001). Conclusion: The ESD surgery in the antegrade endoscopic approach is effective and safe for the treatment of cardiac mucosal lesions.

Endoscopic diagnosis of early-stage primary esophageal small cell carcinoma: Report of two cases

BACKGROUND

Primary esophageal small cell carcinoma (PESCC) is a highly aggressive malignancy, and its detailed clinical behaviors have remained virtually unknown. Because of the rapid tumor progression, the diagnosis of esophageal small cell carcinoma at early stage is extremely difficult in clinical practice. Currently, only a handful of PESCC cases have been reported.

CASE SUMMARY

Case 1: A 62-year-old man was diagnosed with an esophageal submucosal tumor by endoscopy. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed a 0.8 cm low echo nodule in the muscularis mucosa. As the patient refused to undergo endoscopic resection, neoplasia was detected by endoscopy 1 year later. Case 2: A 68-year-old woman was diagnosed as having an esophageal submucosal tumor by endoscopy at a local hospital. About 2 wk later, we performed endoscopic ultrasonography and found a 1 cm low echo nodule in the muscularis mucosa; the submucosal was thinner than normal but still continuous; mucosal hyperemia and erosion were found on the surface of the tumor. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was performed and the histopathological finding showed a small cell carcinoma invading the submucosal layer.

CONCLUSION

Early esophageal small cell carcinoma shows submucosal infiltrating growth with a hypoechoic mass in the muscularis mucosa as diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasonography. It is easily misdiagnosed as submucosal masses. Endoscopic manifestations should be identified and pathological biopsies should be employed. ESD may be performed to provide an opportunity for early treatment of PESCC.

Gastrectomy Versus Endoscopic Resection for Patients With Early-stage Gastric Adenocarcinoma: A Population-based Propensity Matching Study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to compare the long-term results of patients who received these therapies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was queried in this research for data of patients with early gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent gastrectomy or endoscopic resection from 2007 to 2015. Propensity score matching was selected to generate a balanced cohort. Competing-risk regression analysis was carried out on the matched cohort. Cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and other cause-specific mortality (OCSM) were compared using adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios (SHRs).

RESULTS

In this study, 2214 patients with 191 underwent endoscopic treatment (ET) and 2023 who underwent surgery were identified. After propensity score matching, 474 patients were included in the analysis. The use of ET increased over time in patients, especially for those with cardia diseases. The ratio of 5-year CSM between ET and gastrectomy groups was 13.12% to 14.24% and the ratio of 5-year OCSM between them was 22.48% versus 14.31%. After adjusting for associated clinicopathologic factors, patients in both groups had similar CSM (SHR=0.87, 95% credible interval: 0.47-1.64, P=0.69) and OCSM (SHR=1.59, 95% credible interval: 0.94-2.68, P=0.08) in multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSION

The long-term prognosis appears equivalent t in patients with endoscopic resection and gastrectomy.

The efficacy of vonoprazan for management of post-endoscopic submucosal dissection ulcers compared with proton pump inhibitors: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Artificial ulcers after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are usually treated by proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in clinical setting. Vonoprazan, a newly developed potassium-competitive acid blocker, has recently been used to treat post-ESD ulcers. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vonoprazan on the healing of post-ESD artificial ulcers compared with those of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) using a meta-analysis.

METHODS

EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases were searched for all studies comparing the efficacy and safety of vonoprazan with those of PPIs in the treatment of post-ESD ulcers.

RESULTS

Fourteen articles with 1328 patients were included in this meta-analysis. When comparing ulcer shrinkage rate, vonoprazan showed a better efficacy than PPIs (mean difference 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18-0.93). Vonoprazan also led to a higher scar formation rate (odds ratio [OR] 1.58, 95% CI 1.00-2.47) and showed a potential superiority on reducing the risk of post-ESD bleeding compared with PPIs, with a pooled OR of 0.69, although there was no statistically significant difference.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with PPIs, vonoprazan showed a better efficacy in ulcer shrinkage rate and achieved more complete healing in the treatment of post-ESD ulcers. Vonoprazan did not induce any incremental risk of post-ESD bleeding as well. It may be an appropriate choice in the management of artificial ulcers after ESD.

Gastric ESD may be useful as accurate staging and decision of future therapeutic strategy

Background and study aims We sometimes perform gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for total pathologic diagnosis when preoperative diagnosis is difficult. In the present study we analyzed the treatment outcomes and adverse events of diagnostic ESD for early gastric cancer (EGC). Patients and methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of 18 consecutive cases of EGC in 18 patients with a suspected out-of-indication diagnosis who underwent diagnostic ESD, between June 2010 and November 2014. The following parameters were examined: the average length of the longer axis of the lesion; the procedure time; the rates of en bloc resection (ER), complete en bloc resection (CER), and curative resection (CR) as treatment outcomes; and the rates of perforation, delayed bleeding, aspiration pneumonia, disease-related death, and emergency surgery as adverse events. Results The treatment outcomes were as follows: average length of the longer axis of the lesion, 27.4 ± 10.0 mm; procedure time, 87.0 ± 43.1 minutes; ER rate, 18/18 (100.0 %); CER rate, 13/18 (72.2 %); CR rate, 4/18 (22.2 %). CR rate was achieved 37.5 % for the lesions which preoperative diagnosis was more than 30 mm (> 30 mm) in diameter differentiated type with mucosal layer/submucosal layer 1 invasion and ulceration positive. The adverse events (AEs) were perforation in 1 of 18 (5.5 %) patients and delayed bleeding in 1 of 18 (5.5 %). There were no other AEs. Conclusions Diagnostic ESD may be acceptable for future therapeutic strategy when we unconfirmed the pre ESD diagnosis because of lower rate of adverse events and high rate of ER.

Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Outcomes for Gastroesophageal Tumors in Low Volume Units: A Multicenter Survey

Background and Aims. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) outcomes have traditionally been reported from high volume centers in East Asia. Data from low volume centers in other parts of Asia remain sparse. Methods. A retrospective survey with a structured questionnaire of 5 tertiary centers in 3 countries in South East Asia was conducted. Details of training and clinical outcomes of ESD cases, with follow-up data from these centers, were analyzed. Results. Seven endoscopists from the 5 centers performed a total of 35 cases of ESD in the upper gastrointestinal tract (UGIT) over a 6-year duration. Details of the lesions excised were as follows: median size was 20 mm, morphologically 20 (68.6%) were flat/depressed and 6 (17.1%) were submucosal, and histologically 27 (77.1%) were neoplastic. The median duration of ESD procedures was 105 minutes, with an en-bloc resection rate of 91.4%. There was 1 (2.9%) case of delayed bleeding, but no perforation nor mortality in any of the cases. The recurrence rate after ESD was 5.7%. A prolonged ESD duration was influenced by a larger size of lesion (25 mm, p = 0.02) but not by factors related to the training experience of endoscopists. Conclusions. ESD in the UGIT is feasible and safe in low volume centers in Asia.

Comparison of O-Type HybridKnife to Conventional Knife in Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Gastric Mucosal Lesions

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been accepted as a minimal invasive alternative to surgery for localized superficial gastrointestinal neoplasms recently. However, the procedure remains to be technically challenging and time consuming. A new dissecting knife with partially insulated tip has been recently developed with built-in injection capability. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the efficiency of ESD procedure could be improved with this new device. A total of 78 patients, who underwent ESD with gastric mucosal lesions including flat type polyps, adenoma or early gastric cancer, were randomly assigned to either ESD with O-type HybridKnife or conventional ESD knives without waterjet. Procedure time and related factors of ESD were analyzed. ESD procedure time was 43.0 (interquartile range, IQR 27.0-60.0) minutes in HybridKnife group compared to 60.5 (IQR 44.0-86.3) minutes in the control group (P = 0.001). There was no difference in the clinical outcome and the adverse event rate. The former demonstrated more favorable results in lesions ≤4 cm of specimen size (P ≤ 0.0001) and when located in the distal stomach (P = 0.001), also in lesions with fibrosis (P = 0.008). Multivariate regression analysis showed that O-type Knife (P ≤ 0.0001), specimen size (P ≤ 0.0001), and fibrosis (P ≤ 0.0001) were independent predictors of procedure time. The O-type HybridKnife yielded faster procedure time compared to the conventional knives in gastric ESD with a similar safety profile.

Helicobacter pylori Eradication on the Prevention of Metachronous Lesions after Endoscopic Resection of Gastric Neoplasm: A Meta-Analysis

Background

There is controversy about the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication on the prevention of metachronous gastric cancer after endoscopic resection (ER).

Aims

The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the effect of H. pylori eradication on the prevention of metachronous gastric lesions after ER of gastric neoplasms.

Methods

We performed a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE that encompassed studies through April 2014. Our meta-analysis consisted of 10 studies, which included 5881 patients who underwent ER of gastric neoplasms.

Results

When we compared the incidence of metachronous lesions between H. pylori-eradicated and non-eradicated groups, H. pylori eradication significantly lowered the risk of metachronous lesions after ER of gastric neoplasms (five studies, OR = 0.392, 95% CI 0.259 – 0.593, P < 0.001). When we compared H. pylori-eradicated and persistent groups, again, H. pylori eradication significantly lowered the incidence of metachronous lesions after ER of gastric neoplasms (six studies, OR = 0.468, 95% CI 0.326 – 0.673, P < 0.001). There was no obvious heterogeneity across the analyzed studies.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis suggests a preventive role for H. pylori eradication for metachronous gastric lesions after ER of gastric neoplasms. Thus, H. pylori eradication should be considered if H. pylori infection is confirmed during ER.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection in gastric lesions: the 100 cases experience from a tertiary reference center in West

OBJECTIVE

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an endoscopic treatment method widely used in premalignant and malignant lesions in countries of the Far East. This method, which is difficult technically and has a high complication risk rate, has rarely been performed in the West, because of the fewer number of upper gastrointestinal lesions. In the present study, we aimed to present our results of gastric ESD procedures in respect to the learning curve.

METHODS

A total of 100 ESD procedures, which were performed in the stomach between April 2012 and September 2014, were recorded prospectively before and after the procedure. Patient data were analyzed retrospectively. ESD procedures were numbered chronologically; the first 30 patients constituted group 1, whereas the rest were classified as the group 2. ESD results were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

In a total of 95 patients, 100 gastric ESDs were performed. The overall en-bloc and complete resection rates were 93% and 92%, respectively. In respect of the learning curve, there were significant differences in the sizes of lesions and tissues obtained, procedure duration and dissection rate, snare use and knife preferences between groups (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, p = 0.003, p < 0.001, p = 0.009, and p < 0.001, respectively). No significant difference was detected in the en-bloc and complete resection rates and complications between the groups.

CONCLUSION

According to guideline recommendations and masters for ESD, if ESD training is initiated and continued, successful ESD may be performed in localized lesions in the stomach.

Clinical outcomes of early gastric cancer with lymphovascular invasion or positive vertical resection margin after endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND

In early gastric cancer (EGC) cases with lymphovascular invasion or positive vertical margins after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), additional radical gastrectomy is performed on principle. However, an additional surgery is often difficult to consider if the surgical approach itself is challenging or the patient refuses surgery. In such cases, only close surveillance is performed without additional surgical procedures. This study aimed to examine the difference in clinical prognosis of EGC cases with lymphovascular invasion or positive vertical margins after ESD either with or without surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 83 patients with lymphovascular invasion or positive vertical margins after ESD from July 2005 to November 2013.

RESULTS

Of the 83 patients, 45 (54.2%) underwent radical additional gastrectomy (surgical group) and 38 (45.8%) were under close surveillance without surgical or endoscopic treatments (close surveillance group.) The cancer-free survival period was 78.3 ± 3.4 months in the surgical group and 64.5 ± 4.6 months in the close surveillance group. The recurrence rates did not significantly differ between the 2 groups, at 7.9% in the surgical group and 6.7% in the non-surgical group.

CONCLUSIONS

Close surveillance may be suggested as an option for EGC patients for whom a surgical approach is difficult, who exhibit a positive vertical margin after ESD, and who have no lymphovascular or deep submucosa invasion after ESD.