Thin endoscope-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection for large colorectal tumors (with videos)

Background

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) enables direct submucosal dissection so even large early stage GI tumors can be resected en bloc. Colorectal ESD is technically more difficult, however, and there is an increased risk of complications such as perforation and bleeding compared with gastric ESD. As a result, further refinements are required in this procedure.

Objective

Our purpose was to evaluate thin endoscope-assisted (TEA) ESD, a new traction system for improving submucosal cutting line visualization.

Design

Case series.

Setting

Okayama University Hospital.

Main Outcome Measurements

Efficacy and safety of the TEA-ESD procedure.

Results

Three cases of large, flat, elevated colorectal tumors (laterally spreading tumors) in the rectum and rectosigmoid colon were safely and successfully removed en bloc without complications. Total procedure times were 3 hours, 40 minutes, and 30 minutes with resected specimens measuring 70 × 68 mm, 38 × 35 mm, and 30 × 20 mm, respectively.

Limitations

TEA-ESD was performed in only the rectum and rectosigmoid colon.

Conclusions

This limited case series demonstrated that large laterally spreading tumors in the rectum and rectosigmoid colon could be safely resected en bloc with TEA-ESD.

Abbreviations: ESD, endoscopic submucosal dissection, TEA, thin endoscope-assisted