Endoluminal Closure of Colon Perforation with Endoscopic Band Ligation: Technical Feasibility and Safety in an In Vivo Canine Model

Endoluminal closure of an unrecognized penetrating stab wound of the duodenum with endoscopic band ligation: A case report

BACKGROUND

A penetrating injury of a hollow viscus is an obvious indication for an exploratory laparotomy, but is not typically an indication for endoscopic treatment.

CASE SUMMARY

A 27-year-old man visited the emergency department with a self-inflicted abdominal stab wound. Injuries to the colon and ileum were detected, but an injury to the second portion of the duodenum was missed. On the day following admission to our institution, the patient became hemodynamically unstable with massive hematochezia, although there was no evidence of bleeding in the Levin tube or Jackson-Pratt drain. We thus performed an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and discovered a missed duodenal injury that was actively bleeding. An endoscopic band ligation was performed for hemostasis and closure of the perforation. The patient was subsequently discharged without any complications.

CONCLUSION

A penetrating injury of the duodenum can be overlooked, so careful abdominal exploration is very important. If a missed duodenal injury is suspected, a cautious endoscopic approach may be helpful.

Endoscopic Management of Iatrogenic Colon Perforation

Colon perforations are difficult to resolve because they occur unexpectedly and infrequently. If the clinician is unprepared or lacks training in dealing with perforations, the clinical prognosis will be affected, which can lead to legal issues. We describe here the proper approach to the management of perforations, including deciding on endoscopic or surgical treatment, selection of endoscopic devices, endoscopic closure procedures, and general management of perforations that occur during diagnostic or therapeutic colonoscopy.

Endoscopic Band Ligation Is Able to Close Perforations Caused by Colonoscopy: A Porcine Model Study

Objective

Diagnostic colonoscopy is important for diagnosing colorectal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal tumours. Perforation during diagnostic colonoscopy, a rare but serious complication, is a considerable factor before performing the procedure. Immediate endoluminal closure of a perforation could prevent the adverse consequences associated with general anaesthesia and surgery. This study is aimed at assessing the potential effectiveness and safety of endoscopic band ligation (EBL) in closing a colon perforation during endoscopy in a porcine model.

Methods

Colon perforations were created and then subsequently closed with EBL in six porcine models. After 28 days of careful follow-up, pigs were euthanized for clinical and pathologic evaluations.

Results

All colon perforations were successfully closed using EBL in pigs. The mean time of perforation closure with EBL was 244.3 seconds with one to two bands, and there were no immediate complications or clinical manifestations of peritonitis or sepsis in any animals. No pericolonic abscess or peritonitis was found during necropsy. Histopathology demonstrated reepithelialization of the mucosa at the perforation site.

Conclusions

Immediate closure of perforations caused during colonoscopy with EBL is feasible and safe in a porcine model.