Efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions in elderly patients

BACKGROUND With advancements in the development of endoscopic technologies,the endo-scopic submucosal dissection(ESD)has been one of the gold-standard therapies for early gastric cancer.AIM To investigate the efficacy and safety ESD in the treatment of early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions in the elderly patients.METHODS Seventy-eight elderly patients with early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University were se-lected and classified into two groups according to the different surgical therapies they received between January 2021 and June 2022.Among them,39 patients treated with ESD were included in an experimental group,and 39 patients treated with endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)were included in a control group.We compared the basic intraoperative conditions,postoperative short-term recovery,long-term recovery effects and functional status of gastric mucosa between the two groups;the basic intraoperative conditions included lesion resection,intra-operative bleeding and operation time;the postoperative short-term recovery assessment indexes were length of hospital stay and incidence of surgical complic-ations;and the long-term recovery assessment indexes were the recurrence rate at 1 year postoperatively and the survival situation at 1 year and 3 years postoper-atively;and we compared the preoperative and predischarge serum pepsinogen I(PG I)and PG II levels and PG I/PG II ratio in the two groups before surgery and discharge.RESULTS The curative resection rate and the rate of en bloc resection were higher in the experimental group than in the control group.The intraoperative bleeding volume was higher in the experimental group than in the control group.The operation time was longer in the experimental group than that in the control group,and the rate for base residual focus was lower in the experimental group than that of the control group,and the differences were all statistically significant(all P<0.05).The length of hospital stay was longer in the experi-mental group than in the control group,and the incidence of surgical complications,1-year postoperative recu-rrence rate and 3-year postoperative survival rate were lower in the experimental group than in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).However,the difference in the 1-year postoperative survival rate was not statistically significant between the two groups(P>0.05).Before discharge,PG I and PG I/PG II ratio were elevated in both groups compared with the preoperative period,and the above indexes were higher in the experimental group than those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(both P<0.05).Moreover,before discharge,PG II level was lower in both groups compared with the preoperative period,and the level was lower in the experimental group than in the control group,and the differences were all statistically significant(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION Compared with EMR,ESD surgery is more thorough.It reduces the rate of base residual focus,recurrence rate,surgical complications,and promotes the recovery of gastric cells and glandular function.It is safe and suitable for clinical application.

Scoring system supporting suture decision-making for duodenal submucosal tumors

BACKGROUND In recent years,endoscopic resection(ER)has been employed for the excision of submucosal tumors(SMTs).Nonetheless,ER in the duodenum is linked to ele-vated risks of both immediate and delayed hemorrhagic complications and perforations.Satisfactory suturing is crucial for reducing the occurrence of complications.AIM To establish a clinical score model for supporting suture decision-making of duodenal SMTs.METHODS This study included 137 individuals diagnosed with duodenal SMTs who under-went ER.Participants were evenly divided into two groups:A training cohort(TC)comprising 95 cases and an internal validation cohort(VC)with 42 cases.Subsequently,a scoring system was formulated utilizing multivariate logistic regression analysis within the TC,which was then subjected to evaluation in the VC.RESULTS The clinical scoring system incorporated two key factors:Extraluminal growth,which was assigned 2 points,and endoscopic full-thickness resection,which was given 3 points.This model demonstrated strong predictive accuracy,as evidenced by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.900(95%confidence interval:0.823-0.976).Additionally,the model’s goodness-of-fit was validated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test(P=0.404).The probability of purse-string suturing in low(score 0-2)and high(score>3)categories were 3.0%and 64.3%in the TC,and 6.1%and 88.9%in the VC,respectively.CONCLUSION This scoring system may function as a beneficial instrumentality for medical practitioners,facilitating the decision-making process concerning suture techniques in the context of duodenal SMTs.

Humanistic and graded psychological nursing care for patients undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection of gastrointestinal tumors

BACKGROUND Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)has become a widely accepted,minimally invasive treatment for gastrointestinal submucosal tumors.It has been reported that humanistic nursing care with graded psychological interventions can effectively enhance patients’physical activity in patients,reduce postoperative complications,and improve their postoperative quality of life.AIM To investigate the effects of combining humanistic care with graded psychological support on nursing satisfaction and quality of life in patients undergoing ESD for gastrointestinal submucosal tumors.METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 180 patients who underwent ESD surgery for gastrointestinal submucosal tumors at our hospital between March 2021 and February 2023.Patients were allocated into groups based on the nursing care they received:The control group,which received routine care(n=90),and the observation group,which was subjected to humanistic nursing care in combination with graded psychological support(n=90).Patient anxiety and depression were assessed using the self-rating anxiety scale(SAS)and self-rating depression scale(SDS).Quality of life was evaluated using the shortform 36 health survey,and additional indications such as time to first food intake,surgery duration,length of hospital stay,nursing satisfaction,and adverse reactions were also recorded.Data was analyzed using SPSS22.0,with t-tests employed for continuous variables andχ2 tests for categorical data.RESULTS Patients in the observation group experienced significantly shorter times to first postoperative meal,surgery,and hospital stay compared to the control group.After the intervention,the SAS score of the observation group was 43.17±5.68,and the SDS score was 41.57±6.52,both significantly lower than those of the control group,with SAS score of 52.38±5.21 and SDS score of 51.23±8.25.In addition,the observation group scored significantly higher in daily living,physical function,psychological well-being,and social functioning(80.01±6.39,83.59±6.89,81.69±5.34,and 85.23±6.05,respectively).Moreover,the observation group also exhibited higher satisfaction and selfefficacy scores and a lower incidence of adverse reactions compared to the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION For patients undergoing ESD for gastrointestinal submucosal tumors,humanistic nursing care in combination with graded psychological nursing care significantly shorten the times to first postoperative meal,surgery,and hospital stay,effectively alleviates anxiety and depression,improves quality of life and nursing satisfaction,and mitigate the incidence of adverse reactions.

Characteristics of early gastric tumors with different differentiation and predictors of long-term outcomes after endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract,and endosco-pic submucosal dissection(ESD)is the preferred treatment for early-stage gastric cancer.The analysis of the epidemiological characteristics of gastric mucosal tumors with different differentiation degrees and the influencing factors of long-term ESD efficacy may have certain significance for revealing the development of gastric cancer and ESD.AIM To analyze the features of gastric mucosal tumors at different differentiation levels,and to explore the prognostic factors of ESD.METHODS We retrospectively studied 301 lesions in 285 patients at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from 2014 to 2021,according to the latest Japanese guidelines(sixth edition),and divided them into low-grade intrae-pithelial neoplasia(LGIN),high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia(HGIN),and computed tomography at 3,6 and 12 months after ESD.We compared clinicopathologic characteristics,ESD efficacy,and complications with different degrees of differentiation,and analyzed the related factors associated with ESD.RESULTS HGIN and differentiated carcinoma patients were significantly older compared with LGIN patients(P<0.001)and accounted for more 0-IIc(P<0.001),atrophic gastritis was common(P<0.001),and irregular microvascular patterns(IMVPs)and demarcation lines(DLs)were more obvious(P<0.001).There was more infiltration in the undifferentiated carcinoma tissue(P<0.001),more abnormal folds and poorer mucosal peristalsis(P<0.001),and more obvious IMVPs,irregular microsurface patterns and DLs(P<0.05)than in the LGIN and HGIN tissues.The disease-free survival rates at 2,5,and 8 years after ESD were 95.0%,90.1%,and 86.9%,respectively.Undifferen-tiated lesions(HR 5.066),white moss(HR 7.187),incomplete resection(HR 3.658),and multiple primary cancers(HR 2.462)were significantly associated with poor prognosis.CONCLUSION Differentiations of gastric mucosal tumors have different epidemiological and endoscopic characteristics,which are closely related to the safety and efficacy of ESD.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection in the treatment of adult cystic lymphangioma:A case report

BACKGROUND Cystic lymphangioma is a rare hamartoma that is especially found in the adult gastrointestinal tract.In the early stage,most patients are asymptomatic;after the onset of symptoms,there is often no specificity regarding symptoms.CASE SUMMARY Here we report the endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of an adult patient with cystic lymphangioma of the ascending colon.One patient who came to our hospital with“dull pain in the left lower abdomen for 2 days”was initially misdiagnosed with a colon cyst according to endoscopy and then underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection.The final pathological results suggested cystic lymphangioma.One year later,no recurrence was found on re-examination via colonoscopy.CONCLUSION Cystic lymphangioma in the gastrointestinal tract rarely occurs in adults and is easily misdiagnosed or missed.Endoscopy,imaging,histology,and immunohistochemical staining are useful for diagnosis.Surgical resection is the preferred treatment.

Early gastric cancer recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection:Not to be ignored!

This editorial comments on the article“Efficacy of multi-slice spiral computed tomography in evaluating gastric cancer recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection”.We focus on the importance of paying more attention to postendoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)gastric cancer recurrence in patients with early gastric cancer(EGC)and how to manage it effectively.ESD has been a wellknown treatment and the mainstay for EGC,with the advantages of less invasion and fewer complications when compared with traditional surgical procedures.Despite a lower local recurrence rate after ESD,the problem of postoperative recurrence in patients with EGC has become increasingly non-ignorable with the global popularization of ESD technology and the increasing number of post-ESD patients.

Complete resection of recurrent anal canal cancer using endoscopic submucosal dissection and transanal resection: A case report

BACKGROUND Early anal canal cancer is frequently treated with endoscopic submucosal dis-section(ESD)to preserve anal function.However,if the lesion is in the anal canal,then significant difficulties such as bleeding and challenges associated with scope manipulation can arise.CASE SUMMARY A 70-year-old woman undergoing follow-up after transverse colon cancer surgery was diagnosed with anal canal cancer extending to the dentate line.The patient underwent a combination of ESD and transanal resection(TAR).The specimen was excised in pieces,which resulted in difficulty performing the pathological evaluation of the margins,especially on the anal side where TAR was performed and severe crushing was observed.Careful follow-up was performed,and local recurrence was observed 3 years postoperatively.Because the patient had super-ficial cancer without lymph node metastasis,local resection was performed again.The second treatment attempt was improved as follows:(1)TAR and ESD were performed appropriately based on the situation by the same physician;(2)A needle scalpel was used during TAR to prevent tissue crushing;and(3)The lesion borders were marked using ESD techniques before treatment.Complete resection was performed without complications.CONCLUSION Anal canal lesions can be safely and reliably removed when ESD and TAR are used appropriately.

Effect of endoscopic submucosal dissection on gastrointestinal function and nutritional status in patients with early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)endangers the survival and prognosis of patients worldwide.Improving the prognosis of patients with early GC(EGC)is crucial to prolong their survival time.AIM To analyze the effects of endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)on gastrointestinal function and nutritional status in patients with EGC.METHODS Eighty patients with EGC between January 2021 and January 2024 were divided according to different surgical protocol into following two groups:42 patients who underwent ESD in the ESD group and 38 patients treated with endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)in the EMR group.Two groups were compared in the operative indices,lesion resection rate,postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function,nutritional status,and incidence of surgical complications.RESULTS The overall resection rate of the lesion in the ESD group was higher.The operative bleeding volume and operation time were higher and gastrointestinal ventilation time was shorter in the ESD group than those in the EMR group(P<0.05).The nutritional statuses of the two groups decreased after operation;however,the levels of albumin,prealbumin,hemoglobin,and transferrin were higher in the ESD group than in the EMR group(P<0.05).The post-operative pepsinogen(PG)I level in the ESD group was higher than that in the EMR group,and the PG II level was lower than that in the EMR group(P<0.05).The incidence of postoperative complications was compared between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION ESD can promote the immediate recovery of patient’s postoperative gastrointestinal function,improve their nutritional level,and signifies its application in patients with EGC.

Challenges and advancing strategies of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer:The puzzle of eCura C1

In this editorial,we explore the challenges of managing noncurative resections in early gastric cancer after endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD),starting from the consideration recently made by Zhu et al.Specifically,we evaluate the management of eCura C1 lesions,where decisions regarding further interventions are pivotal yet contentious.Collaboration among endoscopists,surgeons,and pathologists is underscored to refine risk assessment and personalize therapeutic management.Recent advancements in ESD techniques and interdisciplinary collaboration offer opportunities for outcome optimization in managing eCura C1 lesions.Moreover,despite needing further clinical validation,molecular biomarkers have emerged as promising tools for enhancing prognostication.This manuscript highlights the ongoing research attempts to define treatment paradigms effectively and evaluates the potential of emerging options,ultimately aiming to improve patient care and outcomes in this complex clinical scenario.

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for undifferentiated type early gastric cancer over 2 cm with R0 resection

BACKGROUND Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)for over 2 cm in size undifferentiated type(UD type)early gastric cancer(EGC)confined to the mucosa is not only challenging,but also long-term outcomes are not well known.AIM To evaluate the long-term outcomes of ESD done for UD type EGCs confined to the mucosa over 2 cm in size and compare the results with those where the lesions were less than 2 cm.METHODS 143 patients with UD type EGC confirmed on histology after ESD at a tertiary hospital were reviewed.Cases with synchronous and metachronous lesions and a case with emergency surgery after ESD were excluded.A total of 137 cases were enrolled.79 cases who underwent R0 resection were divided into 2 cm or less(group A)and over 2 cm(group B)in size.RESULTS Among 79 patients who underwent R0 resection,the number in group A and B were 51 and 28,respectively.The mean follow-up period(SD)was 79.71±45.42 months.There was a local recurrence in group A(1/51,2%)and group B(1/28,3.6%)respectively.This patient in group A underwent surgery while the patient in group B underwent repeated ESD with no further recurrences in both patients.There was no regional lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis,and deaths in both groups.With R0 resection strategy for ESD on lesions over 2 cm,20.4%(28/137)of patients were able to avoid surgery compared with expanded indication.CONCLUSION If R0 resection is achieved by ESD,UD type EGCs over 2 cm also showed good and similar clinical outcomes as compared to lesions less than 2 cm when followed for over 5 years.With R0 resection strategy,several patients can avoid surgery.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer:A major challenge for the west

Gastric cancer(GC)is the 5th most common cancer and the 3rd most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide.Two main endoscopic resective techniques exist for early GC(EGC):Endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)and endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD).ESD has been widely embraced in the last decade because it allows radical en bloc resections and is associated with better outcomes,as compared to EMR.However,the lack of training opportunities and flat learning curve due to low volume of EGC cases represent major obstacles to obtain proficiency on ESD in the West.As this procedure is highly efficient for the treatment of EGC,dedicated training programs with a stepwise approach and updated guidelines for ESD embracement are needed in Western countries.

Guide Function of Number of Gastrointestinal Endoscope Cases for Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Training of Early Gastric Cancer:A Teaching Article

This study aimed to determine the guide function of the number of gastrointestinal endoscope cases for the endoscopic submucosal dissection training of early gastric cancer.Three physicians in our center who began to learn ESD in July 2021 are selected and designate them as operators 1⁃3.The number of gastrointestinal endoscope cases performed by operators 1⁃3 before June 2021 was extracted,and the dissection speed among different operators in the ESD training stage was compared.The number of gastrointestinal endoscope cases performed by operator 1 was 3677,that by operator 2 was 4897 and that by operator 3 was 9249.The average dissection speed of operator 1 was 0.132 cm^(2)/min,operator 2 was 0.145 cm^(2)/min,and operator 3 was 0.174 cm^(2)/min.The dissection speed was ranked as operator 1<operator 2<operator 3,and one case of R0 resection was not achieved in both operator 1 and operator 2.Operator 3 achieved R0 resection in all 10 patients.With the increasing of number of gastrointestinal endoscope cases,the dissection speed and the stability of operation of endoscopists in the ESD training will increase.

Editorial article to:Animal experimental study on magnetic anchor technique-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection of early gastric cancer

In this editorial we comment on the article published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2023;15(11):634-680.Gastric cancer(GC)remains the fifth most common malignancy and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide.The overall prevalence of GC has declined,although that of proximal GC has increased over time.Thus,a significant proportion of GC cases and deaths can be avoided if preventive interventions are taken.Early GC(EGC)is defined as GC confined to the mucosa or submucosa.Endoscopic resection is considered the most appropriate treatment for precancerous gastrointestinal lesions improving patient quality of life,with reduced rates of complications,shorter hospitalization period,and lower costs when compared to surgical resection.Endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)and endoscopic sub-mucosal dissection(ESD)are representative endoscopic treatments for EGC and precancerous gastric lesions.Standard EMR implies injection of a saline solution into the sub-mucosal space,followed by excision of the lesion using a snare.Complete resection rates vary depending on the size and severity of the lesion.When using conventional EMR methods for lesions less than 1 cm in size,the complete resection rate is approximately 60%,whereas for lesions larger than 2 cm,the complete resection rate is low(20%-30%).ESD can be used to remove tumors exceeding 2 cm in diameter and lesions associated with ulcers or submucosal fibrosis.Compared with EMR,ESD has higher en bloc resection rates(90.2%vs 51.7%),higher complete resection rates(82.1 vs 42.2%),and lower recurrence rates(0.65%vs 6.05%).Thus,innovative techniques have been introduced.

Exploring non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection:Current treatment optimization and future indication expansion

The increasing popularity of endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)as a treatment for early gastric cancer has highlighted the importance of quality assessment in achieving curative resections.This article emphasizes the significance of evaluating ESD quality,not only for curative cases but also for non-curative ones.Postoperative assessment relies on the endoscopic curability(eCura)classification,but management strategies for eCuraC-1 tumour with a positive horizontal margin are unclear.Current research primarily focuses on comparing additional surgical procedures in high-risk patients,while studies specifically targeting eCuraC-1 patients are limited.Exploring management strategies and follow-up outcomes for such cases could provide valuable insights.Furthermore,the application of molecular imaging using near-infrared fluorescent tracers holds promise for precise tumour diagnosis and navigation,potentially impacting the management of early-stage gastric cancer patients.Advancing research in these areas is essential for improving the overall efficacy of endoscopic techniques and refining treatment indications.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection vs endoscopic mucosal resection for early gastric cancer: A meta-analysis

AIM: To compare endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD) and endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR) for early gastric cancer(EGC).METHODS: Computerized bibliographic search was performed on PubMed/Medline, Embase, Google Schol-ar and Cochrane library databases. Quality of each included study was assessed according to current Co-chrane guidelines. Primary endpoints were en bloc re-section rate and histologically complete resection rate. Secondary endpoints were length of procedure, post-treatment bleeding, post-procedural perforation and re-currence rate. Comparisons between the two treatment groups across all the included studies were performed by using Mantel-Haenszel test for fixed-effects mod-els(in case of low heterogeneity) or DerSimonian and Laird test for random-effects models(in case of high heterogeneity).RESULTS: Ten retrospective studies(8 full text and 2 abstracts) were included in the meta-analysis. Overall data on 4328 lesions, 1916 in the ESD and 2412 in the EMR group were pooled and analyzed. The mean operation time was longer for ESD than for EMR(stan-dardized mean difference 1.73, 95%CI: 0.52-2.95, P =0.005) and the "en bloc " and histological complete re-section rates were significantly higher in the ESD group [OR = 9.69(95%CI: 7.74-12.13), P < 0.001 and OR = 5.66,(95%CI: 2.92-10.96), P < 0.001, respectively]. As a consequence of its greater radicality, ESD provided lower recurrence rate [OR = 0.09,(95%CI: 0.05-0.17), P < 0.001]. Among complications, perforation rate was significantly higher after ESD [OR = 4.67,(95%CI, 2.77-7.87), P < 0.001] whereas the bleeding incidences did not differ between the two techniques [OR = 1.49(0.6-3.71), P = 0.39].CONCLUSION: In the endoscopic therapy of EGC, ESD showed a superior efficacy but higher complication rate with respect to EMR.

Comparison of endoscopic submucosal dissection with surgical gastrectomy for early gastric cancer: An updated meta-analysis

BACKGROUND There are several surgical options for treating early gastric cancers(EGCs), such as endoscopic resection, laparoscopic or open gastrectomy with D1 or D2 lymphadenectomy. Endoscopic resection for EGC with low risk of lymph node metastasis has been widely accepted as a therapeutic alternative. The role of endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD) in treating EGC is not well established,especially when compared with resection surgery cases in a long-term follow-up scope.AIM To compare the safety and efficacy of the short-and long-term outcomes between ESD and resection surgery.METHODS We searched the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from January 1990 to June 2018, enrolling studies reporting short-or long-term outcomes of ESD in comparison with resection surgery for EGC. The quality of the studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Stata software(version 12.0) was used for the analysis. Pooling analysis was conducted using either fixed-or random-effects models depending on heterogeneity across studies.RESULTS Fourteen studies comprising 5112 patients were eligible for analysis(2402 for EGC and 2710 for radical surgery). Our meta-analysis demonstrated that the ESD approach showed advantages through decreased operation time [weighted mean difference(WMD):-140.02 min, 95%CI:-254.23 to-34.82 min, P = 0.009], shorter hospital stay(WMD:-5.41 d, 95% CI:-5.93 to-4.89 d, P < 0.001), and lowerpostoperative complication rate [Odds ratio(OR) = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.28-0.55, P <0.001). Meanwhile, EGC patients who underwent ESD had higher recurrence rate(OR = 9.24, 95%CI: 5.94-14.36, P < 0.001) than resection surgery patients.However, the long-term survival including overall survival [Hazard ratio(HR) =0.51, 95%CI: 0.26-1.00, P = 0.05] and event-free survival(HR = 1.59, 95%CI: 0.66-9.81, P = 0.300) showed no significant differences between these two groups.CONCLUSION In the treatment of EGC, ESD was safe and feasible in comparison with resection surgery, with advantages in several surgical and post-operative recovery parameters. Although the recurrence rate was higher in ESD group, the longterm survival was still comparable in these two groups, suggesting ESD could be recommended as standard treatment for EGC with indications.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer: Do we have enough data to support this?

Although endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is now accepted for treatment of early gastric cancers (EGC) with negligible risk of lymph node (LN) metastasis, ESD for intramucosal undifferentiated type EGC without ulceration and with diameter &#x02264; 2 cm is regarded as an investigational treatment according to the Japanese gastric cancer treatment guidelines. This consideration was largely based on the analysis of surgically resected EGCs that contained undifferentiated type EGCs; however, results from several institutes showed some discrepancies in sample size and incidence of LN metastasis. Recently, some reports about the safety and efficacy of ESD for undifferentiated type EGC meeting the expanded criteria have been published. Nonetheless, only limited data are available regarding long-term outcomes of ESD for EGC with undifferentiated histology so far. At the same time, endoscopists cannot ignore the patients&#x02019; desire to guarantee quality of life after the relatively non-invasive endoscopic treatment when compared to conventional surgery. To satisfy the needs of patients and provide solid evidence to support ESD for undifferentiated EGC, we need more delicate tools to predict undetected LN metastasis and more data that can reveal predictive factors for LN metastasis.

Additional laparoscopic gastrectomy after noncurative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer: A single-center experience

BACKGROUND The necessity of additional gastrectomy for early gastric cancer (EGC) patients who do not meet curative criteria after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is controversial. AIM To examine the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients who underwent additional laparoscopic gastrectomy after ESD and to determine the appropriate strategy for treating those after noncurative ESD. METHODS We retrospectively studied 45 patients with EGC who underwent additional laparoscopic gastrectomy after noncurative ESD from January 2013 to January 2019 at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. We analyzed the patients’ clinicopathological data and identified the predictors of residual cancer (RC) and lymph node metastasis (LNM). RESULTS Surgical specimens showed RC in ten (22.2%) patients and LNM in five (11.1%).Multivariate analysis revealed that positive horizontal margin [odds ratio (OR)=13.393, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.435-125, P=0.023] and neural invasion (OR=14.714, 95%CI: 1.087-199, P=0.043) were independent risk factors for RC. Undifferentiated type was an independent risk factor for LNM (OR=12.000, 95%CI: 1.197-120, P=0.035). Tumors in all patients with LNM showed submucosal invasion more than 500 μm. Postoperative complications after additional laparoscopic gastrectomy occurred in five (11.1%) patients, and no deaths occurred among patients with complications. CONCLUSION Gastrectomy is necessary not only for patients who have a positive margin after ESD, but also for cases with neural invasion, undifferentiated type, and submucosal invasion more than 500 μm. Laparoscopic gastrectomy is a safe, minimally invasive, and feasible procedure for additional surgery after noncurative ESD. However, further studies are needed to apply these results to clinical practice.

Endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection salvage technique for ulcerative early gastric cancer

Endoscopic submucosal dissection is an effective treatment modality for early gastric cancer(EGC), though the submucosal fibrosis found in ulcerative EGC is an obstacle for successful treatment. This report presents two cases of ulcerative EGC in two males, 73- and 80-year-old, with severe fibrosis. As endoscopic ultrasonography suggested that the EGCs had invaded the submucosal layer, the endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection salvage technique was utilized for complete resection of the lesions. Although surgical gastrectomy was originally scheduled, the two patients had severe coronary heart disease, and surgeries were refused because of the risks associated with their heart conditions. The endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection salvage technique procedures described in these cases were performed under conscious sedation, and were completed within 30 min. The complete en bloc resection of EGC using endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection salvage technique was possible with a free resection margin, and no other complications were noted during the procedure. This is the first known report concerning the use of the endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection salvage technique salvage technique for treatment of ulcerative EGC. We demonstrate that endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection salvage technique it is a feasible method showing several advantages over endoscopic submucosal dissection for cases of EGC with fibrosis.

Double-nylon purse-string suture in closing postoperative wounds following endoscopic resection of large(≥3 cm)gastric submucosal tumors

BACKGROUND Endoscopic full-thickness resection(EFTR)of gastric submucosal tumors(SMTs)is safe and effective;however,postoperative wound management is equally important.Literature on suturing following EFTR for large(≥3 cm)SMTs is scarce and limited.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and clinical value of double-nylon purse-string suture in closing postoperative wounds following EFTR of large(≥3 cm)SMTs.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the data of 85 patients with gastric SMTs in the fundus of the stomach or in the lesser curvature of the gastric body whose wounds were treated with double-nylon purse-string sutures after successful tumor resection at the Endoscopy Center of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University.The operative,postoperative,and follow-up conditions of the patients were evaluated.RESULTS All tumors were completely resected using EFTR.36(42.35%)patients had tumors located in the fundus of the stomach,and 49(57.65%)had tumors located in the body of the stomach.All patients underwent suturing with double-nylon sutures after EFTR without laparoscopic assistance or further surgical treatment.Postoperative fever and stomach pain were reported in 13(15.29%)and 14(16.47%)patients,respectively.No serious adverse events occurred during the intraoperative or postoperative periods.A postoperative review of all patients revealed no residual or recurrent lesions.CONCLUSION Double-nylon purse-string sutures can be used to successfully close wounds that cannot be completely closed with a single nylon suture,especially for large(≥3 cm)EFTR wounds in SMTs.