Feasibility of cold snare polypectomy in Japan: A pilot study

AIM: To investigate the feasibility of cold snare polypectomy(CSP) in Japan.METHODS: The outcomes of 234 non-pedunculated polyps smaller than 10 mm in 61 patients who underwent CSP in a Japanese referral center were retrospectively analyzed. The cold snare polypectomies were performed by nine endoscopists with no prior experience in CSP using an electrosurgical snare without electrocautery.RESULTS: CSPs were completed for 232 of the 234 polyps. Two(0.9%) polyps could not be removed without electrocautery. Immediate postpolypectomy bleeding requiring endoscopic hemostasis occurred in eight lesions(3.4%; 95%CI: 1.1%-5.8%), but all were easily managed. The incidence of immediate bleeding after CSP for small polyps(6-9 mm) was significantly higher than that of diminutive polyps(≤ 5 mm; 15% vs 1%, respectively). Three(5%) patients complained of minor bleeding after the procedure but required no intervention. The incidence of delayed bleeding requiringendoscopic intervention was 0.0%(95%CI: 0.0%-1.7%). In total, 12% of the resected lesions could not be retrieved for pathological examination. Tumor involvement in the lateral margin could not be histologically assessed in 70(40%) lesions.CONCLUSION: CSP is feasible in Japan. However, immediate bleeding, retrieval failure and uncertain assessment of the lateral tumor margin should not be underestimated. Careful endoscopic diagnosis before and evaluation of the tumor residue after CSP are recommended when implementing CSP in Japan.

Clinical outcomes of self-expandable metal stents in palliation of malignant anastomotic strictures caused by recurrent gastric cancer

AIM： To examine the technical feasibility and clinical outcomes of the endoscopic insertion of a selfexpandable metal stent （SEMS） for the palliation of a malignant anastomotic stricture caused by recurrent gastric cancer. METHODS： The medical records of patients, who had obstructive symptoms caused by a malignant anastomotic stricture after gastric surgery and underwent endoscopic insertion of a SEMS from January 2001 to December 2007 at Kangnam St Mary＇s Hospital, were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS： Twenty patients （15 male, mean age 63 years） were included. The operations were a total gastrectomy with esophagojejunostomy （n = 12）, subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth-Ⅰ reconstruction （n = 2） and subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth- Ⅱ reconstruction （n = 8）. The technical and clinical success rates were 100% and 70%, respectively. A small bowel or colon stricture was the reason for a lack of improvement in symptoms in 4 patients. Two of these patients showed improvement in symptoms after another stent was placed. Stent reobstruction caused by tumor ingrowth or overgrowth occurred in 3 patients （15%） within 1 mo after stenting. Stent migration occurred with a covered stent in 3 patients who underwent a subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth-Ⅱ reconstruction. Two cases of partial stent migration were easily treated with a second stent or stent repositioning. The median stent patency was 56 d （range, 5-439 d）. The median survival was 83 d （range, 12-439 d）. CONCLUSION： Endoscopic insertion of a SEMS provides safe and effective palliation of a recurrent anastomotic stricture caused by gastric cancer, A meticulous evaluation of the presence of other strictures before inserting the stent is essential for symptom improvement.