Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection: is it suitable in western countries?

Endoscopic full-thickness resection vs. endoscopic submucosal dissection of residual/recurrent colonic lesions on scars: a retrospective Italian and Japanese comparative study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endoscopic treatment of recurrent/residual colonic lesions on scars is a challenging procedure. In this setting, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is considered the first choice, despite a significant rate of complications. Endoscopic full-thickness resection (eFTR) has been shown to be well-tolerated and effective for these lesions. The aim of this study is to conduct a comparison of outcomes for resection of such lesions between ESD and eFTR in an Italian and a Japanese referral center.

METHODS

From January 2018 to July 2020, we retrospectively enrolled patients with residual/recurrent colonic lesions, 20 treated by eFTR in Italy and 43 treated by ESD in Japan. The primary outcome was to compare the two techniques in terms of en-bloc and R0-resection rates, whereas complications, time of procedure, and outcomes at 3-month follow-up were evaluated as secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

R0 resection rate was not significantly different between the two groups [18/20 (90%) and 41/43 (95%); P= 0.66]. En-bloc resection was 100% in both groups. No significant difference was found in the procedure time (54 min vs. 61 min; P= 0.9). There was a higher perforation rate in the ESD group [11/43 (26%) vs. 0/20 (0%); P= 0.01]. At the 3-month follow-up, two lesions relapsed in the eFTR cohort and none in the ESD cohort (P= 0.1).

CONCLUSION

eFTR is a safer, as effective and equally time-consuming technique compared with ESD for the treatment of residual/recurrent colonic lesions on scars and could become an alternative therapeutic option for such lesions.

Comparison of two pathological processing methods for large endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) specimens

AIMS

Accurate histopathological evaluation of the endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) specimens is essential for clinicians to guide further triage and management. This study aimed to report a novel processing technique for large ESD (≥4 cm) specimens.

METHODS

92 patients with colorectal neoplasms who had undergone ESD were included. 46 ESD specimens were treated with conventional handling process, while the rest 46 cases were given the optimised method. Macrobiocassettes and L-shaped embedding moulds were applied in the optimised method. We evaluated the efficacy of this improved procedure in terms of the number of paraffin blocks, storage space and time consumption of pathological assessment.

RESULTS

The average diameter of ESD specimens was 4.5±0.4 cm and 4.7±0.5 cm in the control and test group (p=0.023), respectively. In control group, 398 paraffin blocks of 46 cases were obtained. With the same cases number and larger lesion size, only 276 blocks were achieved in test group (p<0.001). As for the storage space, the total volume of paraffin blocks and slides (4554.0 cm3 and 1207.5 cm3) of optimised method was significantly reduced compared with the control group (6208.8 cm3 and 1741.3 cm3) (p=0.001, p<0.001). In addition, the optimised method was superior to the conventional one in shortening time consumption of pathological assessment (164.5 min and 269.0 min, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The optimised technique not only reduced the workload and storage space, but also facilitated accurate pathological assessment.

The Learning Curve for Advanced Endoscopy for Colorectal Lesions: A Surgeon's Experience at a High-Volume Center

BACKGROUND

Advanced endoscopy can be used for the complete removal of large colorectal polyps. To date, few surgeons perform advanced endoscopy, and it is unknown how many procedures are needed to reach proficiency.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the learning curve for colorectal advanced endoscopy.

DESIGN

Retrospective.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS

We queried a prospectively maintained institutional database of advanced endoscopy performed by a high-volume colorectal surgeon between 2011 and 2018.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Advanced endoscopy characteristics were compared for 6 chronological intervals. Primary end points were the rates of complications and polyp recurrence. Secondary end point was the change in polyp removal rate (mm/h) over time.

RESULTS

A total of 207 patients underwent advanced endoscopy for a single colorectal polyp. The median polyp size was 30 (4-70) mm, 61.5% were located in the right colon, and 8.8% were malignant. The mean procedure time was 77 (range, 16-320) minutes. Immediate colon resection occurred in 25 patients because of suspicion of cancer or concern for perforation and was excluded from the learning curve analysis. The remaining 182 advanced endoscopy procedures were divided into intervals of 30 procedures. The median removal rate was highest in the last interval and in the endoscopy suite. A removal rate of 30 mm/h was achieved after performing 100 cases. The complication rate (bleeding or return to operating room) was 12.1% and was similar across intervals. The readmission rate was 11.5%, and 6.6% of 6-month follow-up colonoscopies showed polyp recurrence at the resection site.

LIMITATIONS

Retrospective design and single surgeon.

CONCLUSION

The learning curve for achieving proficiency with advanced endoscopy in the colon and rectum required a minimum of 100 cases with a low complication rate, low polyp recurrence rate, high en bloc resection rate, and a polyp removal rate of 30 mm/h. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/C162 .LA CURVA DE APRENDIZAJE DE LA ENDOSCOPIA AVANZADA PARA LESIONES COLORRECTALES: LA EXPERIENCIA DE UN CIRUJANO EN UN CENTRO DE ALTO VOLUMENANTECEDENTES:La endoscopia avanzada se puede utilizar para la extirpación completa de pólipos colorrectales grandes. Hasta la fecha, pocos cirujanos realizan endoscopia avanzada y se desconoce cuántos procedimientos se necesitan para alcanzar la competencia.OBJETIVO:Determinar la curva de aprendizaje de la endoscopia colorrectal avanzada.DISEÑO:Retrospectivo.AJUSTE:Centro de referencia terciario.PACIENTES:Consultamos una base de datos institucional mantenida prospectivamente de endoscopia avanzada realizada por un cirujano colorrectal de alto volumen entre 2011 y 2018.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO:Se compararon las características de la endoscopia avanzada en seis intervalos cronológicos. Los puntos finales primarios fueron las tasas de complicaciones y recurrencia de pólipos. El criterio de valoración secundario fue el cambio en la tasa de eliminación de pólipos (mm/h) a lo largo del tiempo.RESULTADOS:Un total de 207 pacientes se sometieron a una endoscopia avanzada por un solo pólipo colorrectal. La mediana del tamaño de los pólipos fue de 30 (4-70) mm, el 61,5% se ubicaron en el colon derecho y el 8,8% fueron malignos. El tiempo medio del procedimiento fue de 77 (rango: 16-320) minutos. La resección inmediata del colon ocurrió en 25 pacientes debido a la sospecha de cáncer o preocupación por la perforación y fueron excluidos del análisis de la curva de aprendizaje. Los restantes 182 procedimientos de endoscopia avanzada se dividieron en intervalos de 30 procedimientos. La mediana de la tasa de extirpación fue más alta en el último intervalo y en la sala de endoscopia. Se logró una tasa de extirpación de 30 mm/hr después de realizar 100 casos. La tasa de complicaciones (sangrado o retorno al quirófano) fue del 12,1% y fue similar en todos los intervalos. La tasa de reingreso fue del 11,5% y el 6,6% de las colonoscopias de seguimiento a los 6 meses mostraron recurrencia de pólipos en el sitio de la resección.LIMITACIONES:Diseño retrospectivo, cirujano único.CONCLUSIÓN:La curva de aprendizaje para lograr el dominio de la endoscopia avanzada en el colon y el recto requiere un mínimo de 100 casos con una baja tasa de complicaciones, baja tasa de recurrencia de pólipos, alta tasa de resección en bloque y una tasa de eliminación de pólipos de 30 mm/h. Consulte el Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/C162 . (Traducción-Dr. Yesenia.Rojas-Khalil ).

Clinical outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for giant rectal tumors larger than 8 cm: A European referral center experience

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

To date, western data on colorectal ESD are limited. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of rectal ESD for superficial lesions ≥ 8 cm.

METHODS

A total of 138 superficial rectal neoplasms treated by ESD were allocated in two groups: 25 in the "giant" ESD group and 113 in the control group.

RESULTS

En bloc resection was achieved in 96% of cases in both groups. En bloc R0 resection rate was similar between the "giant" ESD group and the control group (84% vs 86%; p: 0.5) and curative resection was higher in the control group (81%) than in "giant" ESD group (68%) without reaching statistical significance (p: 0.2). Dissection time was significantly longer in the "giant" ESD group (251 vs 108 min; p <0.001), however, dissection speed was significantly higher (0.35 vs 0.17 cm2/min; p: 0.02).). Post-ESD stenosis was observed in 2 patients from the "giant" ESD group (8% vs 0% of control group, p: 0.03). No significant differences were found in delayed bleeding, perforation, local recurrences, and need for additional surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

ESD for superficial rectal tumors ≥ 8 cm is a feasible, safe, and effective therapeutic option.

Predictive Factors for the Outcome of Unsupervised Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection During the Initial Learning Curve with Prevalence-Based Indication

BACKGROUND

For an adequate educational strategy of ESD in non-Asian settings with prevalence-based indication it is essential to define adequate lesions, suitable for the beginner without on-site expert-supervision.

AIMS

We analyzed possible predictors for outcome parameters of effectiveness and safety during the initial learning curve.

METHODS

The first 120 ESDs of four operators (n = 480), performed between 2007 and 2020 in four tertiary hospitals, were enrolled. Uni-/multivariable regression analysis was done with sex, age, pretreated lesion, lesion size, organ, and organ-based localization as possible independent predictors for en bloc resection (EBR), complication, and resection speed.

RESULTS

Rates of EBR, complication, and resection speed were 84.5%, 14.2%, and 6.20 (± 4.45) cm2/h. Independent predictors for EBR were pretreated lesion (OR 0.27 [0.13-0.57], p < 0.001) and non-colonic ESD (OR 2.29 [1.26-4.17] (rectum)/5.72 [2.36-13.89] (stomach)/7.80 [2.60-23.42] (esophagus), p < 0.001), for complication pretreated lesion (OR 3.04 [1.46-6.34], p < 0.001) and lesion size (OR 1.02 [1.004-1.04], p = 0.012) and for resection speed pretreated lesion (RC - 3.10 [- 4.39 to - 1.81], p < 0.001), lesion size (RC 0.13 [0.11-0.16], p < 0.001) and male patient (RC - 1.11 [- 1.85 to - 0.37], p < 0.001). We found no significant difference in the incidence of technically unsuccessful resections in esophageal (1/84), gastric (3/113), rectal (7/181), and colonic (3/101) ESDs (p = 0.76). Technical failure was mainly caused by complication and fibrosis/pretreatment.

CONCLUSION

During the initial learning curve of an unsupervised ESD program with prevalence-based indication, pretreated lesions and colonic ESDs should be avoided. In contrast, lesion size and organ-based localizations have less predictive value for the outcome.

Factors associated with increased duration of endoscopic submucosal dissection for rectal tumors: a 22-year retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is widely used in several countries. However, it is associated with technical difficulties. Rectal ESD is considered an intermediate step in colorectal ESD training. Nevertheless, some rectal lesions require a longer procedure time than usual, and the reason for the prolonged time taken for these specific lesions remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the factors associated with prolonged rectal ESD.

METHODS

In total, 483 rectal lesions resected using ESD from February 1998 to June 2021 were investigated. Prolonged ESD procedure time was defined as the time from the first submucosal injection to lesion removal exceeding 120 minutes, whereas other procedures were defined as average ESD procedure time. Clinicopathologic and endoscopic findings were compared between the 2 groups using univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-four lesions were resected using a prolonged ESD procedure time of 202.9 ± 92.3 minutes, whereas 339 lesions were resected using an average ESD procedure time of 77.8 ± 29.4 minutes. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumors involving the dentate line (P = .026), resection size ≥50 mm (P < .001), invasion depth ≥T1b (P = .006), and circumferential range ≥2/3 (P = .001) were independent risk factors for prolonged-duration ESDs, regardless of whether the procedure was performed by an expert or not.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study suggest that the location of a lesion involving the dentate line, resection size ≥50 mm, circumferential range ≥2/3, and invasion depth ≥T1b are the independent risk factors for prolonged ESD procedure time.

Underwater versus conventional endoscopic mucosal resection for sessile colorectal polyps: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (uEMR) without submucosal injection for sessile colorectal polyps was introduced as a new replacement for conventional EMR (cEMR). However, the optimal resection strategy remains a topic of debate. Hence, this meta-analysis was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of uEMR and cEMR in patients with sessile colorectal polyps.

METHODS

a comprehensive search of the literature from 2000 till January 2022 was performed from Medline, CENTRAL and Embase for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing cEMR vs uEMR for colorectal polyps. The evaluated outcomes included en bloc resection, R0 resection, procedure time, overall bleeding and recurrence. Pooled risk ratios (RR) with 95 % confidence interval were calculated using a random effect model.

RESULTS

six studies were included, out of which four were full-text articles and two were conference abstracts. En bloc resection (RR 1.26, 95 % CI: 1.00-1.60), R0 resection (RR 1.10, 95 % CI: 0.96-1.26), overall bleeding (RR 0.85, 95 % CI: 0.54-1.34) and recurrence rate (RR 0.75, 95 % CI: 0.45-1.27) were comparable between uEMR and cEMR. However, uEMR was associated with a shorter procedure time (mean difference [MD] -1.55 minutes, 95 % CI: -2.71 to -0.39). According to the subgroup analysis, uEMR led to a higher rate of en bloc resection (RR 1.41, 95 % CI: 1.07-1.86) and R0 resection (RR 1.19, 95 % CI: 1.01-1.41) for polyps ≥ 10 mm in size.

CONCLUSION

both uEMR and cEMR have a comparable safety and efficacy. For polyps larger than 10 mm, uEMR may have an advantage over cEMR and should be the topic for future studies.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Endoscopic Ultrasonography in Selecting Patients for Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastrointestinal Neoplasms

Tumor invasion depth and lymph node metastasis determine the prognosis of gastrointestinal (GI) neoplasms. GI neoplasms limited to mucosa (m1 or m2) and superficial submucosa (sm1) can be treated effectively with minimally invasive endoscopic therapy, while the deep invasion of the submucosa (sm2 or sm3) is associated with lymph node metastasis, and surgical resection is required. Correct staging is therefore crucial for preoperative evaluation and planning. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) can be used to detect the depth of invasion due to its close proximity to the lesion. The diagnostic accuracy of EUS, when compared to conventional endoscopic staging, is debated as it can under- or overstage the lesion. We aim in this study to determine if EUS can accurately differentiate mucosal from submucosal GI neoplasms to select patients with early GI lesions for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or surgery. From March 2014 to February 2022, 293 patients with early superficial GI neoplasms were admitted to our endoscopic unit for EUS staging. To evaluate the accuracy of EUS, we compared the preoperative EUS findings with the definitive histopathologic findings on the resected specimen. Overall, 242 of 293 lesions were correctly staged by EUS (82.59%). In the evaluation of submucosal invasion or deeper, EUS understaged 38 of 293 (12.96%) and overstaged 13 of 293 (4.43%) lesions. EUS has excellent accuracy in staging superficial GI neoplasms; its use is highly recommended before ESD since it can also detect lymph node metastases around the lesions, thus changing the indication from ESD to surgery.

Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Hemostatic Peptide Solution During Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION

To compare the effectiveness of the novel hemostatic peptide, TDM-621, with that of conventional hemostatic methods in treating intraoperative blood oozing during endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).

METHODS

This multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial involved 227 patients with gastric and rectal epithelial tumors in whom ESD was indicated. Patients in whom the source of blood oozing was difficult to identify with waterjet washing during the procedure and required hemostasis with hemostatic forceps were randomly assigned to the TDM-621 and control groups. The TDM-621 group (in which hemostasis was achieved with TDM-621, followed by coagulation hemostasis with hemostatic forceps, as needed) was compared with the control group (in which hemostasis was achieved with hemostatic forceps). The primary end point was the mean number of coagulations with hemostatic forceps, determined by a blinded independent review committee. The secondary end points were the rate of achievement of hemostasis with only TDM-621, the dosage of TDM-621, and adverse events in the TDM-621 group.

RESULTS

The mean number of coagulations with hemostatic forceps was significantly reduced in the TDM-621 group (1.0 ± 1.4) compared with that in the control group (4.9 ± 5.2) ( P < 0.001). The rate of hemostasis achievement with only TDM-621 was 62.2%; the mean dosage of TDM-621 was 1.75 ± 2.14 mL. The rates of grade ≥3 adverse events were 6.2% and 5.0% in the TDM-621 and control groups, respectively.

DISCUSSION

TDM-621 is a useful, easily operable hemostatic peptide for treatment of blood oozing during gastric and rectal ESD, with no serious safety concerns.

A Nationwide Survey of Training Pathways and Practice Trends of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection in Canada

Background

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has become an established standard for endoscopic removal of large gastrointestinal (GI) lesions and early GI malignancies. However, ESD is technically challenging and requires significant health care infrastructure. As such, its adoption in Canada has been relatively slow. The practice of ESD across Canada remains unclear. Our study aimed to provide a descriptive overview of training pathways and practice trends of ESD in Canada.

Methods

Current ESD practitioners across Canada were identified and invited to participate in an anonymous cross-sectional survey.

Results

Twenty-seven ESD practitioners were identified; survey response rate was 74%. Respondents were from 15 different institutions. All practitioners underwent international ESD training of some type. Fifty per cent pursued long-term ESD training programs. Ninety-five per cent attended short-term training courses. Sixty per cent and 40% performed hands-on live human upper and lower GI ESD, respectively, before independent practice. In practice, 70% saw an increase per year in number of procedures performed from 2015 to 2019. Sixty per cent were dissatisfied with their institution’s health care infrastructure to support ESD. Thirty-five per cent perceived their institution as supportive of expanding the practice of ESD.

Conclusions

Several challenges exist to the adoption of ESD in Canada. Training pathways are variable, with no set standards. In practice, practitioners express dissatisfaction with access to necessary infrastructure and feel poorly supported in expanding the practice of ESD. As ESD is increasingly the accepted standard for the treatment of many neoplastic GI lesions, greater collaboration between practitioners and institutions is crucial to standardize training and ensure patient access.

Randomized controlled trial comparing conventional and traction endoscopic submucosal dissection for early colon tumor (CONNECT-C trial)

OBJECTIVES

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a widely used treatment for early gastrointestinal cancer. However, colon ESD remains challenging. Previous studies on colon ESD using the traction method used a small sample, single-center design, providing insufficient evidence of this procedure's efficacy. We thus aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of the traction method in colon ESD in this multicenter randomized trial.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective, multicenter, randomized, two-arm controlled trial at 10 facilities in Japan. A 1:1 allocation was conducted for the conventional ESD (C-ESD) and traction ESD (T-ESD) groups. The primary end-point was ESD procedure time.

RESULTS

We included 128 C-ESD and 123 T-ESD cases from April 2020 to August 2021. The median procedure times for C-ESD and T-ESD were 61 (40-100) and 53 (40-76) min (P = 0.18), respectively, and no significant differences were observed between the groups. Subgroup analysis showed that the median procedure times for patients with a lesion diameter of ≥30 mm in the C-ESD and T-ESD groups were 89 (57-80) and 69 (50-104) min (P = 0.05), respectively, and for nonexpert operators were 81 (62-120) and 64 (52-109) min (P = 0.07), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The traction method did not contribute to a significantly shortened ESD procedure time. However, this method may be useful when the tumor diameter is large or if the procedure is conducted by nonexpert endoscopists.

Learning curve of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with prevalence-based indication in unsupervised Western settings: a retrospective multicenter analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

As there is still no consensus about the adequate training strategy for ESD in Western countries, we evaluated unsupervised prevalence-based learning curves including detailed organ-specific subgroup analysis.

METHODS

The first 120 ESDs of four operators (n = 480) were divided into three groups (1: ESD 1-40, 2: ESD 41-80, 3: ESD 81-120). Outcome parameters were rates of technical success, en bloc and R0 resection, the resection speed, rates of conversion to EMR, curative resection, adverse events, surgery due to adverse events, and recurrence. In addition, we analyzed the achievement of quality benchmarks indicating levels of expertise.

RESULTS

After exclusion of pretreated lesions, 438 procedures were enrolled in the final analysis. Technical success rates were > 96% with significant improvements regarding rate of en bloc resection (from 82.6 to 91.2%), resection speed (from 4.54 to 7.63 cm²/h), and rate of conversion to EMR (from 22.0 to 8.1%). No significant differences could be observed for rates of R0 resection (65.9 vs. 69.6%), curative resection (55.8 vs. 55.7%), adverse events (16.3 vs. 11.7%), surgery due to adverse events (1.5 vs. 1.3%), and recurrence (12.5 vs. 4.5%). Subgroup and benchmark analysis revealed an improvement in esophageal, gastric, and rectal ESD with achievement of competence levels for the esophagus and stomach within 80 and most of the benchmarks for proficiency level within 120 procedures. Some of the benchmarks could also be achieved in rectal ESD.

CONCLUSIONS

This trial confirms safety and feasibility of unsupervised ESD along the initial learning curve with prevalence-based indication and exclusion of colonic cases.

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

BACKGROUND

Among all types of superficial gastrointestinal (GI) neoplasms, colorectal lesions are recognized as one of the most difficult locations to operate, due to the limited operation space, physiological bends, poor visualization of the submucosal dissection plane sheltered by colorectal crinkle wall, and the thin intestinal mucosa layer which is easy to perforation. The purpose of this prospective study is to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of a novel endoscopic traction technique in assisting the endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) procedure in colorectal lesions.

METHOD

A total of 117 patients with colonic lesions who underwent endoscopic treatment were enrolled between August 2020 and January 2021 at the endoscopic center of Beijing Chao-yang Hospital of Capital Medical University. Based on whether traction device was used during the operation, 60 and 57 patients were assigned to the conventional ESD group and clips and rubber band triangle traction-assisted ESD group (CRT-ESD, in which three clips and a rubber band were used to form an elastic triangular traction device), respectively. The total procedure time (TPT), submucosal dissection time (SDT), submucosal dissection speed (SDS), and rate of adverse events of the two groups were analyzed.

RESULTS

After excluding patients who did not undergo treatment (conventional ESD, 1; CRT-ESD, 4), 112 patients were included in the study (conventional ESD, 59; CRT-ESD, 53). The baseline characteristics of the patients were well balanced between the two groups. The TPT (58.71 ± 26.22 min vs 33.58 ± 9.88 min, p < 0.001) and SDT (49.24 ± 23.75 min vs 26.34 ± 8.75 min, p < 0.001) were significantly different between the conventional ESD group and CRT-ESD group. The CRT-ESD group had significantly higher SDS than that of the traditional ESD group (0.54 ± 0.42 cm2/min vs 0.89 ± 0.40 cm2/min, p < 0.001). There were 4 (6.8%) cases of perforation in the traditional ESD group, and no perforation occurred in traction-assisted ESD.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with traditional ESD, CRT-ESD with clip and rubber band is both safer and more effective in the treatment of colorectal lesions.

Clinical outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal neoplasms: A single-center experience in Southern Taiwan

Background and aims

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) as an advanced endoscopic procedure can be considered for the removal of colorectal lesions with high suspicion of limited submucosal invasion or cannot be optimally removed by snare-based techniques. We aimed to analyze the clinical outcomes of ESD for colorectal neoplasms in our hospital.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 230 patients with 244 colorectal neoplasms who received ESD procedures from April 2012 to October 2020 at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Clinicopathological data were collected by chart review. We also recorded ESD-related complications and clinical outcomes.

Results

The average age was 64 years old, with a mean follow-up time of 22.59 months. There was a loss of follow-up in 34 lesions. Most lesions were lateral spreading tumors of the non-granular type. The average ESD time was 51.9 minutes. Nine cases (3.7%) had procedure-related complications, including two intra-procedure perforations (0.8%) and seven delayed bleeding (2.9%) without procedure-related mortality. 241 lesions (98.8%) achieved en-bloc resection, while 207 lesions (84.8%) achieved R0 resection. Most lesions were tubulo-(villous) adenoma. Malignancy included 35 adenocarcinomas and 5 neuroendocrine tumors. No local recurrence was developed during follow-up. Multivariate analysis for long ESD time revealed significance in size ≥ 10 cm² and endoscopist’s experience < 3 years. Pre-ESD endoscopic ultrasound revealed good prediction in discrimination of mucosal (sensitivity: 0.90) and submucosal lesion (specificity: 0.67).

Conclusions

ESD for colorectal neoplasms is an effective and safe technique. Size ≥ 10 cm² and endoscopist’s experience < 3 years were significantly associated with long procedure time. Pre-ESD EUS provided a good prediction for colorectal neoplasms in invasion depth.

Outcomes and Learning Curve in Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection of Rectal Neoplasms with Severe Fibrosis: Experience of a Western Center

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of lesions with severe submucosal fibrosis has been associated with worse outcomes, such as lower curative resection rate and higher incidence of adverse events. This study aims to investigate its true impact on rectal ESD performed in the West and to assess predictive factors of severe fibrosis. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We conducted a retrospective study including all rectal ESDs performed at our tertiary center from January 2013 to January 2021. Lesions were grouped as nonsevere fibrosis or severe fibrosis. ESD outcomes, predictors of severe fibrosis, and the learning curve were evaluated. <b><i>Results:</i></b> ESD was performed in 195 lesions, 45 with severe fibrosis. Three resections were interrupted (one due to severe fibrosis). The presence of severe fibrosis was related to a significantly lower resection speed (16.93 mm²/min vs. 24.66 mm²/min, <i>p</i> = 0.007), en bloc (86.4% vs. 96.6%, <i>p</i> = 0.019), R0 (61.4% vs. 79.7%, <i>p</i> = 0.013), and curative (54.5% vs. 78.4%, <i>p</i> = 0.003) resection rates and a higher rate of hybrid ESD required to complete resection (13.6% vs. 2.0%, <i>p</i> = 0.005). No significant difference was noted regarding adverse events rate (18.2% vs. 8.1%, <i>p</i> = 0.09). Male sex, ulcerative colitis, pelvic radiotherapy, a lesion on the anastomotic site, previous manipulation, and deep submucosal invasion were independent predictors for severe fibrosis. En bloc resection rate improved during time (60.0% vs. 94.1%, <i>p</i> = 0.018). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Severe submucosal fibrosis is an important factor related to noncurative resections and challenging rectal ESD. Factors predicting its severity are extremely important and could allow more experienced endoscopists to be assigned to more difficult cases, allowing safer procedures.

Closure of gastric perforations during endoluminal resection using a novel biodegradable collagen sol: A feasibility survival study on porcine model (with video)

OBJECTIVE

A prior study using porcine colon demonstrated the feasibility of a novel injectable, temperature?responsive, and biodegradable collagen sol (ICS) that transforms from a liquid to a gel state in response to body temperature for endoscopic closure of perforation during endoscopic resection (ER). This study aims to report the acute and survival outcomes of ICS for gastric perforations during ER.

METHODS

In two experiments using nine live pigs under general anesthesia, four and six perforations (3-5\xA0mm) were created using an electrosurgical knife in acute and survival experiments, respectively. ICS was delivered to the perforations using an endoscopic catheter. In Experiment 1, a leak test and histopathology were performed on all explanted stomachs after euthanization. In Experiment 2, perforation sites were assessed by gastroscopy and histopathology 7, 14 and 28\xA0days post?

RESULTS

In Experiment 1, gastroscopy confirmed complete closure of the perforations with ICS and no evidence of leak. Subsequent histopathology revealed a fixation of collagen gel (CG) as a sealant agent at the perforation sites. There were no adverse effects related with ESD or the use of ICS. In Experiment 2, histopathology revealed a fixation of CG as a sealant agent, replacement with granulation tissue and no CG; and fibrotic tissue at 7, 14 and 28\xA0days, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents a novel method using ICS, demonstrating promising efficacy and safety profile for endoscopic closure of perforations during ER. Further studies are necessary before translating to clinical use.

Construction of a novel predictive nomogram for difficult procedure of endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal neoplasms

OBJECTIVES

To determine the predictors of difficult colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and to develop a preoperative predictive model for difficult colorectal ESD procedures.

METHODS

Colorectal neoplasms intended to be resected by ESD in our center between August 2013 and February 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. An ESD procedure which took more than 30 min, failed to remove the lesions en bloc or converted to surgery was defined as difficulty. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to find out the predictors of difficult ESD. A nomogram integrating independent predictors was developed and validated with respect to its discrimination, calibration and clinical application, using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration plot and decision curve analysis (DCA), respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 368 colorectal neoplasms in 355 patients were included. The independent predictors for difficult colorectal ESD were size ≥2 cm (odds ratio [OR] = 6.102, p < .001), positive non-lifting sign (OR = 6.569, p = .005), lesions located in left colon (OR = 2.475, p = .036) or rectum (OR = 2.183, p = .048), laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) (OR = 2.501, p = .008) and less colorectal ESD experience (≤20 cases) (OR = 2.3091, p = .028). The nomogram model incorporating the above predictors performed well in both of the training and validation sets (area under the cure [AUC] = 0.786 and 0.784, respectively). DCA demonstrated the clinical benefit of the nomogram was superior to that of each independent predictor alone.

CONCLUSIONS

The nomogram incorporating tumor size, location, morphology, non-lifting sign and ESD experience of operator can be conveniently used to facilitate the preoperative prediction of difficult colorectal ESD.

Current Endoscopic Resection Techniques for Gastrointestinal Lesions: Endoscopic Mucosal Resection, Submucosal Dissection, and Full-Thickness Resection

Background

Endoscopic resection of dysplastic lesions in early stages of cancer reduces mortality rates and is recommended by many national guidelines throughout the world. Snare polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) are established techniques of polyp removal. The advantages of these methods are their relatively short procedure times and acceptable complication rates. The latter include delayed bleeding in 0.9% and a perforation risk of 0.4-1.3%, depending on the size and location of the resected lesion. EMR is a recent modification of endoscopic resection. A limited number of studies suggest that larger lesions can be removed en bloc with low complication rates and short procedure times. Novel techniques such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are used to enhance en bloc resection rates for larger, flat, or sessile lesions. Endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) is employed for non-lifting lesions or those not easily amenable to resection. Procedures such as ESD or EFTR are emerging standards for lesions inaccessible to EMR techniques.

Summary

Endoscopic treatment is now regarded as first-line therapy for benign lesions.

Key Message

Endoscopic resection of dysplastic lesions or early stages of cancer is recommended. A plethora of different techniques can be used dependent on the lesions.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgical submucosal dissection: Are there advantages over conventional ESD?

INTRODUCTION

Transanal endoscopic microsurgical submucosal dissection (TEM-ESD) is a technique that has been recently described for the treatment of large rectal adenomas and early rectal cancer. The purpose of our study is to compare TEM-ESD with flexible endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in an experimental, ex vivo porcine model.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We used TEM-ESD and flexible ESD to resect a total of 100 standardized 4 × 4cm lesions in an ex vivo porcine stomach model, performing 50 resections with each technique. Total procedure time, en bloc resection rate, injuries of the muscularis propria, perforation rate and learning curve were analysed.

RESULTS

TEM-ESD was associated with a significantly shorter total procedure time in comparison to ESD (19 min vs. 33 min, p < .001). The rates of en bloc resection, injury of the muscularis propria layer, and perforation were the same in both groups. The learning curve of TEM-ESD was shallower than that of ESD.

CONCLUSION

TEM-ESD showed an advantage over ESD in terms of procedure time and learning curve, with similar en bloc resection rates and safety profile in our experimental model.

Novel temperature-responsive, biodegradable and injectable collagen sol for the endoscopic closure of colonic perforation holes: Animal study (with videos)

OBJECTIVES

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) poses a risk of intraprocedural perforation. We have developed a biodegradable injectable collagen sol that undergoes a liquid-to-gel formation in response to body temperature. Here, we investigated the feasibility of this novel collagen sol for the endoscopic closure of iatrogenic perforation holes.

METHODS

In two experiments, 12 and 5 colonic perforation holes (3-5 mm) were made using an ESD knife in four and three live pigs under general anesthesia, respectively. In Experiment 1, collagen sol was delivered to the perforation holes using an endoscopic catheter. When the colon was expanded by CO₂ insufflation, endo-clips were applied to the perforation holes. For Experiment 2, Collagen sol adjusted based on the Experiment 1 results was delivered to the perforation holes in the same manner. A leak test was performed for every colon after the pigs were killed, and the histology of the perforation sites was evaluated.

RESULTS

In both experiments, collagen sol was smoothly delivered to the target area and fixed as a gel on the perforation holes. Experiment 1, 83% (10/12) of the perforation holes were completely closed, and all endo-clips were placed with composure. Experiment 2, all perforation holes were completely closed with collagen gel. There was no leak from the perforation holes. Histology revealed a fixation of the collagen gel as an embolus agent in the perforation holes.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel collagen sol may be used for the endoscopic closure of intraprocedural perforation. Further studies will determine this collagen sol's clinical feasibility and safety.

Underwater Endoscopic Mucosal Resection for 10 mm or Larger Nonpedunculated Colorectal Polyps: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background/Aims

Recent studies have reported the favorable outcomes of underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) for colorectal polyps. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the efficacy and safety of UEMR for nonpedunculated polyps ≥10 mm.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive search of multiple databases (through May 2020) to identify studies reporting the outcomes of UEMR for ≥10 mm nonpedunculated colorectal polyps. The assessed outcomes were recurrence rate on the first follow-up, en bloc resection, incomplete resection, and adverse events after UEMR.

Results

A total of 1276 polyps from 16 articles were included in our study. The recurrence rate was 7.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.3–12) and 5.9% (95% CI, 3.6–9.4) for nonpedunculated polyps ≥10 and ≥20 mm, respectively. For nonpedunculated polyps ≥10 mm, the en bloc resection, R0 resection, and incomplete resection rates were 57.7% (95% CI, 42.4–71.6), 58.9% (95% CI, 42.4–73.6), and 1.5% (95% CI, 0.8–2.6), respectively. The rates of pooled adverse events, intraprocedural bleeding, and delayed bleeding were 7.0%, 5.4%, and 2.9%, respectively. The rate of perforation and postpolypectomy syndrome was 0.8%.

Conclusions

Our systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrates that UEMR for nonpedunculated colorectal polyps ≥10 mm is safe and effective with a low rate of recurrence.

Endoscopic resection for non-polypoid dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate efficacy and safety of endoscopic treatment for the non-polypoid dysplasia in patients with long-standing IBD.

METHODS

Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and clinicaltrials.gov registry were comprehensively searched. Pooled estimates of curative, R0, en-bloc resection rates, CRC, metachronous dysplasia, and local recurrence rates were calculated. Subgroup analysis according to areas, lesion size, endoscopic resection techniques, and grades of dysplasia were conducted. Data synthesis was completed in R using the package "meta".

RESULTS

Of the 973 studies initially identified, 7 met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. These were all single-arm cohorts and included a total of 202 patients with IBD and non-polypoid dysplasia. The combined R0 and en-bloc resection rate were 0.70 (95% CI 0.55-0.81) and 0.86 (95% CI 0.65-0.95), respectively, with a recurrence rate of 0.08 (95% CI 0.05-0.13). CRC and metachronous dysplasia incidences were pooled as 32.53 (95% CI 12.21-86.67) and 90.24 (95% CI 44.91-181.33) per 1000 patient years.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-polypoid dysplasia associated with IBD can be resected endoscopically, especially by ESD. However, these patients have higher CRC and metachronous dysplasia incidence rates than patients with polypoid dysplasia, indicating a closer endoscopic surveillance.

Underwater versus conventional endoscopic mucosal resection for colorectal lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and study aims  Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) for colorectal polyps has been reported to have good outcomes in recent studies. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the effectiveness and safety of UEMR to conventional EMR (CEMR). Methods  A comprehensive search of multiple databases (through May 2020) was performed to identify studies that reported outcome of UEMR and CEMR for colorectal lesions. Outcomes assessed included incomplete resection, rate of recurrence, en bloc resection, adverse events (AEs) for UEMR and CEMR. Results  A total of 1,651 patients with 1,704 polyps were included from nine studies. There was a significantly lower rate of incomplete resection (odds ratio [OR]: 0.19 (95 % confidence interval (CI), 0.05-0.78, P  = 0.02) and polyp recurrence (OR: 0.41, 95 % CI, 0.24-0.72, P  = 0.002) after UEMR. Compared to CEMR, rates overall complications (relative risk [RR]: 0.66 (95 % CI, 0.48-0.90) ( P  = 0.008), and intra-procedural bleeding (RR: 0.59, 95 % CI, 0.41-0.84, P  = 0.004) were significantly lower with UEMR. The recurrence rate was also lower for large non-pedunculated polyps ≥ 10 mm (OR 0.24, 95 % CI, 0.10-0.57, P  = 0.001) and ≥ 20 mm (OR 0.14, 95 % CI, 0.02-0.72, P  = 0.01). The rates of en bloc resection, delayed bleeding, perforation and post-polypectomy syndrome were similar in both groups ( P  > 0.05). Conclusions  In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we found that UEMR is more effective and safer than CEMR with lower rates of recurrence and AEs. UEMR use should be encouraged over CEMR.

A Focused Review on Advances in Risk Stratification of Malignant Polyps

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the United States, with most cases arising from precursor adenomatous polyps. Colorectal malignant polyps are defined as cancerous polyps that consist of tumor cells invading through the muscularis mucosae into the underlying submucosa (pT1 tumor). It has been reported that approximately 0.5-8.3% of colorectal polyps are malignant polyps, and the potential for lymph node metastasis in these polyps ranges from 8.5% to 16.1%. Due to their clinical significance, recognition of malignant polyps is critical for clinical teams to make treatment decisions and establish appropriate surveillance schedules after local excision of the polyps. There is a rapidly developing interest in malignant polyps within the literature as a result of an increasing number of identifiable adverse histologic features and recent advancements in endoscopic treatment techniques. The purpose of this paper is to have a focused review of the recent histopathologic literature of malignant polyps.

Comparison of dissection speed during colorectal ESD between the novel Multiloop (M-loop) traction method and ESD methods without traction

Background and study aims  We previously reported on a novel traction method called Multiloop (M-loop) for faster colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). In this study, we retrospectively compared the difference in submucosal dissection time (SDT), and submucosal dissection speed (SDS) between groups of patients who were treated using traction with the M-loop method, and with non-traction methods of colorectal ESD. Patients and methods  We reviewed and timed duration of colorectal ESD by the non-traction method from videos recorded between June 2016 and December 2017. From January 2018 onward, we used the M-loop method during all colorectal ESDs and timed it until August 2018. Outcomes of colorectal ESD with the M-loop method and non-traction methods were compared. The study involved two experts and eight non-experts and was carried out at a tertiary endoscopic center in Japan. Results  The study included 50 patients who treated with the M-loop method and 115 patients treated with the non-traction method. Submucosal dissection time (SDT) was not significantly different (M-loop group, 42.1  ±  4.2 min, non-traction ESD group, 51.9 ± 3.3 min) ( P  = 0.098), but submucosal dissection speed (SDS) was significantly greater (M-loop group, 28.0 ± 2.9 mm ²  /min, non-traction ESD group, 19.9 ± 2.0 mm ² /min) ( P  = 0.0014) in the M-loop method group. Multivariate analysis showed that the M-loop method increased SDS by odds ratio of 1.46 ( P  = 0.001) when compared to the non-traction ESD method. A significant difference was also observed for SDT and SDS when the two methods were compared after propensity score matching ( P  = 0.001). No differences in unfavorable outcomes were observed. Conclusions  The M-loop method improved SDS compared to non-traction methods of ESD. The method is an effective tool to assist colorectal ESD.

Comparison among different techniques for en-bloc resection of rectal lesions: transanal endoscopic surgery vs. endoscopic submucosal dissection vs. full-thickness resection device with Over-The-Scope Clip® System

BACKGROUND

The aim of our retrospective study is to compare the efficacy and indications of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and endoscopic full-thickness resection device (FTRD) with Over-The-Scope Clip (OTSC^®) System for en-bloc resection of rectal lesions.

METHODS

This study collected 76 cases of rectal neoplasms from a single hospital institution. Primary endpoints were complete en-bloc resection, intraprocedural adverse events, R0 en-bloc resection and an early discharge of the patient. Secondary endpoints included procedure-related adverse events.

RESULTS

Mean tumor sizes were statistically significant smaller among patients treated with FTRD rather than TEM and ESD. TEO and FTRD treated patients experienced a higher en-bloc resection rate, with a shorter procedure time and hospital stay. No significant difference concerning the R0 resection was found. TEO and FTRD recorded lower perforation rates as compared to ESD, whereas no difference emerged concerning the bleeding rate and the post-polypectomy syndrome rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that each technique has specific features, so that each one offers advantages and disadvantages. Nevertheless, all of them ensure high en-bloc resection rates, whereas no difference exists for R0 resection rate. TEO provides the possibility to remove low rectal large lesions as compared to ESD and FTRD.

Learning Curve for Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection With an Untutored, Prevalence-Based Approach in the United States

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is widely used in Asia to resect early-stage gastrointestinal neoplasms, but use of ESD in Western countries is limited. We collected data on the learning curve for ESD at a high-volume referral center in the United States to guide development of training programs in the Americas and Europe.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive ESDs performed by a single operator at a high-volume referral center in the United States from 2009 through 2017. ESD was performed in 540 lesions: 449 mucosal (10% esophageal, 13% gastric, 5% duodenal, 62% colonic, and 10% rectal) and 91 submucosal. We estimated case volumes required to achieve accepted proficiency benchmarks (>90% for en bloc resection and >80% for histologic margin-negative (R0) resection) and resection speeds >9cm²/hr.

RESULTS

Pathology analysis of mucosal lesions identified 95 carcinomas, 346 premalignant lesions, and 8 others; the rate of en bloc resection increased from 76% in block 1 (50 cases) to a plateau of 98% after block 5 (250 cases). The rate of R0 resection improved from 45% in block 1 to >80% after block 5 (250 cases) and ∼95% after block 8 (400 cases). Based on cumulative sum analysis, approximately 170, 150, and 280 ESDs are required to consistently achieve a resection speed >9cm²/hr in esophagus, stomach, and colon, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In an analysis of ESDs performed at a large referral center in the United States, we found that an untutored, prevalence-based approach allowed operators to achieve all proficiency benchmarks after ∼250 cases. Compared with Asia, ESD requires more time to learn in the West, where the untutored, prevalence-based approach requires resection of challenging lesions, such as colon lesions and previously manipulated lesions, in early stages of training.

Long-term follow-up after endoscopic submucosal dissection of colorectal lesions in a Spanish cohort

INTRODUCTION

ESD in the colon is an increasingly important technique in Western countries. There are few studies that include long term follow-up.

AIM

to analyze the long term recurrence free survival rate after ESD and to compare recurrence rates according to different variables.

METHODS

this was a prospective observational study of patients with a planned ESD from September 2008 to December 2015. When it was not possible to achieve an ESD, hybrid ESD was performed, either en bloc or piecemeal. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to assess the five year local recurrence free survival rate and the recurrence rate. The results were compared according to different factors.

RESULTS

of the 89 patients scheduled for ESD who were initially enrolled in the study, 69 were finally included for follow-up. ESD was performed in 31 (45%) patients, KAR in eleven (16%) and pKAR in 27 (39%). The median follow-up was 27 months (range 6-60). The five year disease free survival rate was 81%. The average number of endoscopies needed to eliminate recurrence was two (range 2-7) and no patient required surgery for this reason. The recurrence rate was significantly higher in piecemeal resections vs en bloc resections (27% vs 15%, p = 0.036) and R1 resections vs R0 resections (26% vs 0%, p = 0.034). The presence of affected or unknown lateral margins in en bloc resections without other poor prognosis factors had higher recurrence rates but the difference was not statistically significant (28% vs 0%, p = 0.09).

CONCLUSIONS

in our study, the five year disease free survival rate was 81% and no patient required surgery during follow-up. Piecemeal and R1 resections had significantly higher recurrence rates, as well as LM involvement, although this was not statistically significant.

Multiloop as a novel traction method in accelerating colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Traction methods have been reported to speed up endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). We used the multiloop (M-loop) method as a traction method for colorectal ESD and recorded the submucosal dissection time (SDT) and submucosal dissection speed (SDS).

METHODS

From January to August 2018, we used the M-loop method for colorectal ESD procedures and timed the duration and recorded the outcomes. Two experts and eight nonexperts performed the procedures, which were carried out at a tertiary endoscopic center in Japan.

RESULTS

A total of 50 patients were treated by colorectal ESD using the M-loop method. The mean SDT was 42.1 ± 4.16 minutes and the mean SDS was 28.0 ± 2.89 mm²/minutes. The mean SDS was 38.9 ± 6.9 mm²/minutes for experts and 25.3 ± 3.1 mm²/minutes for nonexperts. En bloc resection was achieved in 100% of cases. There were 3 adverse events and unfavorable outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Traction by the M-loop method improved SDS in colorectal ESD. The method can be an effective tool to assist colorectal ESD. Further evaluation of the usefulness of the M-loop method is required in direct comparison with conventional ESD.

Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society guidelines for colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection/endoscopic mucosal resection

Suitable lesions for endoscopic treatment include not only early colorectal carcinomas but also several types of precarcinomatous adenomas. It is important to establish practical guidelines wherein preoperative diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia and selection of endoscopic treatment procedures are appropriately outlined and to ensure that actual endoscopic treatment is useful and safe in general hospitals when carried out in accordance with guidelines. In cooperation with the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum, the Japanese Society of Coloproctology, and the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology, the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society compiled colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection/endoscopic mucosal resection guidelines by using evidence-based methods in 2014. The first edition of these guidelines was published 5 years ago. Accordingly, we have published the second edition of these guidelines based on recent new knowledge and evidence.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection of colonic lesions: first 50 cases at a local institution

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the colon and rectum has been developed with good reported outcomes. The main advantage of ESD is the ability to perform en bloc resection, which has implications for complete excision and pathological analysis. Locally, the use of ESD in colonic lesions has seen recent traction. Our study aimed to review the outcomes of the first 50 cases of endoscopic excision of advanced colonic lesions using ESD at our institution.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of all patients who underwent ESD at our institution from September 2010 to October 2016. Data collected included patient demographics, resection technique, conversion rate and morbidity.

RESULTS

51 patients underwent ESD during the study period. All patients were of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class 1-3. Their median age was 60.0 years and the majority (n = 36) were male. The mean procedure time was 80.9 minutes. 36 (76.6%) of cases underwent en bloc resection. 4 (7.8%) cases required conversion to surgery, mainly due to difficulty in raising the colonic lesions. 3 (5.9%) patients had malignancy as the final histology. 2 (4.3%) patients had recurrence during surveillance scope. No cases of early mortality were reported.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that ESD for advanced colonic lesions can be safely performed. Expertise needs to be developed to achieve satisfactory en bloc resection rates.

Switching from endoscopic submucosal dissection to salvage piecemeal knife-assisted snare resection to remove a lesion: A preoperative risk score from the beginning

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the Western setting remains a challenge. Therefore, other simplified techniques such as knife-assisted snare resection (KAR) have been reported to overcome this issue.

METHODS

patients who underwent an ESD for the treatment of gastrointestinal neoplasms were included in a retrospective cross-sectional observational study. Factors associated with the end of ESD as a salvage p-KAR were identified and a logistic regression model was developed.

RESULTS

a total of 136 lesions in 133 patients were analyzed. Operator experience of under 50 cases and the combination of lesion size > 30 mm and colorectal location were independent predictive factors for switching to a salvage p-KAR according to the multivariate logistic regression analysis. We developed a risk scoring system based on these four variables (experience, size, location and the combination of size and location) with a receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.74-0.89). The diagnostic accuracy of the score for a cut-off point ≥ 5 had a sensitivity of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.66-0.93) and a specificity of 0.71 (95% CI: 0.61-0.80).

CONCLUSION

a simple predictive score system that includes four preoperative factors accurately predicts ESD to finish as a p-KAR. A careful selection of cases considering these variables could be useful to achieve better outcomes in the Western setting.

Underwater Endoscopic Mucosal Resection

Although an established standard, conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has disseminated despite an absence of studies demonstrating the value of submucosal injection. Several consequences of poorly executed submucosal injection may increase the difficulty and risk of EMR. Underwater EMR (UEMR), an alternative resection method for colonic neoplasms, avoids the need for submucosal injections. In comparison with reported outcomes of EMR, UEMR achieves similar rates of complete resection with comparable safety, with lower rates of recurrence and fewer repeat procedures. UEMR also compares favorably with endoscopic submucosal dissection in terms of procedure time and rates of complete resection, recurrence, and complications.

Construction of a preoperative scoring system to predict the difficulty level of colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection

Background

We attempted to examine the factors contributing to the difficulty in performance of colorectal ESD, with the aim of constructing a scoring system that could help in prediction of the difficulty level of the procedure.

Methods and materials

The data were analyzed from two viewpoints: to determine the factors contributing to 1) non-en bloc resection and the factors contributing to 2) a slow resection speed. Factors falling under these two categories contributing to difficulty in performance of ESD were extracted and used to construct a scoring system. The validity of this scoring system was evaluated by calculating the correlation between the score and the resection speed in a different dataset.

Results

Based on the results of our analysis, we assigned scores for various factors as follows: 4 points for EMR of a scarred lesion, 1 point for tumors with a diameter of ≥ 30 mm, 2 points for lesions located in the liver/splenic flexure, 1 point for lesions located in the transverse colon, 3 points for LST-NG-PD/depressed lesions, 1 point for protruded lesions and LST-NG-F lesions (range 0–10). In the validation study, the rank correlation coefficient between the score according to the scoring system and the resection speed was -0.130, representing a weak and negative correlation (P = 0.03). We defined the difficulty level depending on the sum of the scores: 0–2, low difficulty level; 3–5, intermediate difficulty level; ≥ 6, high difficulty level. The average resection speed was 12.6 mm²/min in the group with scores of 0–2, 8.1 mm²/min in the group with scores of 3–5, and 5.5 mm²/min in the group with scores of ≥ 6 (11.2 mm²/min in all lesions).

Conclusion

Our colorectal ESD scoring system would be useful for selection of operators with the appropriate skill level in the procedure for colorectal ESD cases.

Endoscopic detection and resection of dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease-techniques with videos

BACKGROUND

Patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's colitis have an increased risk of developing dysplasia and colorectal cancer as compared to the general population; surveillance colonoscopy is recommended in this patient population.

METHODS

This review of the published literature aimed to assess the published evidence.

RESULTS

Detection of dysplasia requires examination of mucosa with targeted biopsies of the visible lesions as well as random biopsies to detect invisible lesions. Newer endoscopic techniques, in particular chromoendoscopy, increase the yield of identifying dysplastic lesions. The surveillance for Colorectal Endoscopic Neoplasia Detection and Management in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients International Consensus (SCENIC) guidelines recommends that colonoscopy using chromoendoscopy is the optimal endoscopic surveillance strategy to detect dysplasia. Once dysplastic lesions are discovered on surveillance endoscopic examination, careful and meticulous descriptions of lesions is mandatory to aid in further decision making. Management of dysplastic lesions in inflammatory bowel disease patients depends on endoscopic (morphological) and histologic findings and patient characteristics such as age, general condition of the patient, and patient preferences. Endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic submucosal dissection, and surgery are different therapeutic options for colonic dysplastic lesions detected in the setting of inflammatory bowel disease.

CONCLUSIONS

In this review, we discuss the various techniques for endoscopic resection of dysplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Further research is required to determine the optimal approach to diagnosis and management of dysplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Implementation of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early upper gastrointestinal tract cancer after primary experience in colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection

Background  Current guidelines recommend endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) as a treatment option for early cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract with absent or minimal risk of lymph node metastasis. However, due to the low prevalence of these entities, it is difficult to achieve a competence level for ESD of upper gastrointestinal tract cancers in the Western World. Here, we present single-center data on the implementation of upper gastrointestinal ESD after previous experience with 89 colorectal ESD cases. Methods  Retrospective case series of 39 consecutive patients with early cancers of the esophagus (n = 13) or cardia and stomach (n = 26) treated with ESD over a 4-year period. Results  ESD was technically feasible in all cases with en bloc, R0, and curative resection rates of 100 %, 76.9 %, and 71.8 %, respectively, and a mean procedure time of 100 minutes (30 - 360 minutes). After an initial 20 procedures, the R0 and curative resection rates increased from 65.0 % to 89.5 %, and from 60.0 % to 84.2 %, respectively. Complications were observed in four patients (10.3 %): three perforations, one case of delayed bleeding, and one esophageal stricture. No case required emergency surgery; the 30-day mortality rate was 0 %. Conclusion  In this modest case series from Europe, we observed an effectiveness and complication rate for ESD for early esophageal and gastric cancer that are comparable to other series from Europe but also to more abundant data from Asia. The results indicate that even small numbers of upper gastrointestinal cancers can be managed adequately in centers with expertise in colorectal ESD.

European experience of colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection: a systematic review of clinical efficacy and safety

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an advanced method allowing en bloc resection of large and complex lesions in colon and rectum. Herein, the European experience of colorectal ESD was systematically reviewed in the medical literature to determine the clinical efficacy and safety of colorectal ESD in Europe.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed for full-text studies including more than 20 cases of colorectal ESD emanating from European centres was performed. Data were independently extracted by two authors using predefined data fields, including efficacy and safety.

RESULTS

We included 15 studies containing a total of 1404 colorectal ESD cases (41% in the colon) performed between 2007 and 2018. Lesion size was 40 mm (range 24-59 mm) and procedure time was 102 min (range 48-176 min). En bloc resection rate was 83% (range 67-93%) and R0 resection rate was 70% (range 35-91%). Perforation rate was 7% (range 0-19%) and bleeding rate was 5% (range 0-12%). The percentage of ESD cases undergoing emergency surgery was 2% (range 0-6%). Additional elective surgery was performed in 3% of all cases due to histopathological findings showing deep submucosal invasion or more advanced cancer. The recurrence rate was 4% (range 0-12%) after a median follow-up time of 12 months (range 3-24 months).

CONCLUSIONS

This review shows that ESD is effective and safe for treating large and complex colorectal lesions in Europe although there is room for improvement. Thus, it is important to develop standardized and high-quality educational programs in colorectal ESD in Europe.

Endoscopic resection techniques for colorectal neoplasia: Current developments

Endoscopic polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) are the established treatment standards for colorectal polyps. Current research aims at the reduction of both complication and recurrence rates as well as on shortening procedure times. Cold snare resection is the emerging standard for the treatment of smaller (< 5mm) polyps and is possibly also suitable for the removal of non-cancerous polyps up to 9 mm. The method avoids thermal damage, has reduced procedure times and probably also a lower risk for delayed bleeding. On the other end of the treatment spectrum, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) offers en bloc resection of larger flat or sessile lesions. The technique has obvious advantages in the treatment of high-grade dysplasia and early cancer. Due to its minimal recurrence rate, it may also be an alternative to fractionated EMR of larger flat or sessile lesions. However, ESD is technically demanding and burdened by longer procedure times and higher costs. It should therefore be restricted to lesions suspicious for high-grade dysplasia or early invasive cancer. The latest addition to endoscopic resection techniques is endoscopic full-thickness resection with specifically developed devices for flexible endoscopy. This method is very useful for the treatment of smaller difficult-to-resect lesions, e.g., recurrence with scar formation after previous endoscopic resections.

Optimal processing of ESD specimens to avoid pathological artifacts

BACKGROUND

En bloc endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been recently introduced as a treatment for precancerous/neoplastic gastrointestinal conditions. The aim of the present study was histological assessment of en bloc ESD specimens.

METHODS

Fifty-three ESD specimens were positioned over a cellulose acetate support (40 specimens; 12 from the upper gastrointestinal tract and 28 from the lower gastrointestinal tract) or pinned with nails on polystyrene or cork (13 specimens; 7 from the upper gastrointestinal tract and 6 from the lower gastrointestinal tract). We cut consecutive 2 mm-thick sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. From the first and the last sections, we obtained a second slide, after a 180° rotation and re-embedding. The quality of ESD samples was scored as inadequate, suboptimal and adequate, based on the amount of crushing, shearing and stretching artifacts that were scored from 0 (absent) to 2 (diffuse or maximum). From the sum of these we obtained a global artifact score (GAS).

RESULTS

Removed lesions were: adenocarcinoma (5 cases), neuroendocrine tumor (NET) G1 (1 case), premalignant conditions, including adenomatous polyps (41 cases) and hyperplastic lesions (6 cases). A positive deep surgical margin was found in 8/53 cases (15%): high- and low-grade dysplastic glands were detected in 5 cases, low-grade adenocarcinoma in 2, and NET cells in 1. Dysplastic glands were detected in the lateral surgical margins of 12 ESD specimens (23%). Among the ESD specimens positioned on the cellulose acetate support, apart from the modifications due to electrocoagulation, 2 (5%) showed shearing modifications. In the group of ESD specimens fixed with nails, 5 (38%) showed shearing, 10 (77%) crushing artifacts, 11 (85%) stretching and 11 (85%) multiple holes caused by the nails. On the basis of these data all histological specimens from ESD on cellulose acetate were adequate (GAS 0-1).However, in the group of ESD fixed with nails, 1 was adequate (GAS 0), 11 suboptimal (GAS 2-5) and 1 inadequate (GAS 6).

CONCLUSIONS

Specific devices including cellulose support and adequate sampling blocks can be helpful to perform accurate histological assessment of ESD specimens after en bloc ESD for precancerous/neoplastic gastrointestinal lesions, with complete analysis of the status of the margins and the entirely en bloc evaluation of the lesion.

Implementation of mentor-assisted colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection in Sweden; learning curve and clinical outcomes

OBJECTIVE

It's still challenging to introduce colorectal (CR) ESD in Western countries. We assessed the feasibility of introducing and implementing CR-ESD in Sweden with hiring Japanese expert as a supervisor.

METHODS

We analyzed 71 consecutive CR-ESD cases performed by two endoscopists who had no (endoscopist A (E-A)) or 20 cases (endoscopist B (E-B)) of experience in ESD. E-A performed rectal lesions while E-B performed lesions in any locations. Factors associated with failure in en bloc resection and in self-accomplishment were analyzed.

RESULTS

Overall en bloc and R0 resection rates were 80.3% and 70.4%. Adverse event occurred in 7.0% including two perforations, two post-operative hemorrhage and one delayed perforation. Only case with delayed perforation underwent surgical treatment. Total self-accomplishment rate was 50% (10/20) for E-A, and 37.3% (19/51) for E-B. Dividing each performer's cases into three learning phases, self-accomplishment rates increased from 42.9% to 83.3% for E-A, and from 29.4% to 70.6% for E-B, as well as en bloc resection rates from 71.4% to 100% for E-A, and from 52.9% to 94.1% for E-B. Multivariate analysis revealed that location upper than rectum, lesions with formerly taken biopsy and lesions larger than 30mm were significantly associated with en bloc resection failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of CR-ESD with hiring Japanese supervisor for certain period was safe for patients and effective for good learning curve.

Outcomes of Endoscopic Resections of Large Laterally Spreading Colorectal Lesions in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a Single United Kingdom Center Experience

BACKGROUND

The SCENIC consensus statement recommends endoscopic resection of all visible dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease, but patients with large or complex lesions may still be advised to have colectomy. This article presents outcomes for large nonpolypoid resections associated with colitis at our institution.

METHODS

Data including demographics, clinical history, lesion characteristics, method of resection, and postresection surveillance were collected prospectively in patients with visible lesions within colitic mucosa from January 2011 to November 2016. Resection techniques included endoscopic mucosal resection , endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and hybrid ESD. Surveillance with magnification chromoendoscopy was performed at 3 months, 1-year postresection, and annually thereafter.

RESULTS

Fifteen lesions satisfied the inclusion criteria in 15 patients. Mean lesion size was 48.3+/-21.7 (20-90) mm. All lesions were non-polypoid with distinct margins and no ulceration. 73% lesions were scarred of which 64% had undergone prior instrumentation. En bloc resection was achieved in n=6. Presumed endoscopic diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically in all resected lesions. One case of perforation and another with bleeding were both managed endoscopically. Median follow-up was 28 months (12-35) with no recurrence.

CONCLUSION

This cohort series demonstrates that endoscopic resection of large non-polypoid lesions associated with colitis is feasible and safe using an array of resection methods supporting the role of advanced endoscopic therapeutics for the management of colitis associated dysplasia in a western tertiary endoscopic center.

Combining eastern and western practices for safe and effective endoscopic resection of large complex colorectal lesions

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic resection of large colorectal polyps is well established. However, significant differences in technique exist between eastern and western interventional endoscopists. We report the results of endoscopic resection of large complex colorectal lesions from a specialist unit that combines eastern and western techniques for assessment and resection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Endoscopic resections of colorectal lesions of at least 2 cm were included. Lesions were assessed using magnification chromoendoscopy supplemented by colonoscopic ultrasound in selected cases. A lesion-specific approach to resection with endoscopic mucosal resection or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was used. Surveillance endoscopy was performed at 3 (SC1) and 12 (SC2) months.

RESULTS

Four hundred and sixty-six large (≥20 mm) colorectal lesions (mean size 54.8 mm) were resected. Three hundread and fifty-six were resected using endoscopic mucosal resection and 110 by ESD or hybrid ESD. Fifty-one percent of lesions had been subjected to previous failed attempts at resection or heavy manipulation (≥6 biopsies). Nevertheless, endoscopic resection was deemed successful after an initial attempt in 98%. Recurrence occurred in 15% and could be treated with endoscopic resection in most. Only two patients required surgery for perforation. Nine patients had postprocedure bleeding; only two required endoscopic clips. Ninety-six percent of patients without invasive cancer were free from recurrence and had avoided surgery at last follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Combining eastern and western practices for assessment and resection results in safe and effective organ-conserving treatment of complex colorectal lesions. Accurate assessment before and after resection using magnification chromoendoscopy and a lesion-specific approach to resection, incorporating ESD where appropriate, are important factors in achieving these results.

Single-center implementation of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the colorectum: Low recurrence rate after intention-to-treat ESD

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) shows higher R0 resection and lower local recurrence rates than endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) in Japan. In Europe, independent learning of ESD in the colorectum is feasible, but yet to be analyzed for curative resection and recurrence rates.

METHODS

After experimental training under supervision by Japanese experts (T.O., N.Y.), three endoscopists independently carried out 83 ESD procedures intention-to-treat for lesions in the entire colorectum of 67 patients in a prospective registry (November 2009 to June 2016).

RESULTS

ESD was feasible in 80 (96%) colorectal neoplasias (mean diameter 33.6 [± 1.8] mm), and three more required conversion to piecemeal EMR. The lesions were adenomas in 66% with low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), 29% with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, and 5% with carcinomas (G2, pT1). ESD had to be facilitated by the final use of snaring (hybrid-ESD, n = 45), especially in the initial learning period. En-bloc resection rate was 85%. Complications were microperforations (7%, conducive to one hemicolectomy), and delayed bleeding (1%) without mortality or long-term morbidity. Residual adenomas with LGIN (5%) after hybrid-ESD did not recur after endoscopic ablation. All malignant neoplasias (34%) were curatively resected without recurrence after a mean follow up of 19.5 (± 3.2) months.

CONCLUSIONS

During independent ESD learning in the colorectum, ESD intention-to-treat showed a low recurrence rate after appropriate training, and hybrid-ESD showed acceptable complication and recurrence rates, justifying hybrid-ESD as a strategy for self-completion and rescue.