Cold versus hot snare endoscopic mucosal resection for large (≥15 mm) flat non-pedunculated colorectal polyps: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Conventional hot snare endoscopic mucosal resection (H-EMR) is effective for the management of large (≥20 mm) non-pedunculated colon polyps (LNPCPs) however, electrocautery-related complications may incur significant morbidity. With a superior safety profile, cold snare EMR (C-EMR) of LNPCPs is an attractive alternative however evidence is lacking. We conducted a randomised trial to compare the efficacy and safety of C-EMR to H-EMR. METHODS: Flat, 15-50 mm adenomatous LNPCPs were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to C-EMR or H-EMR with margin thermal ablation at a single tertiary centre. The primary outcome was endoscopically visible and/or histologically confirmed recurrence at 6 months surveillance colonoscopy. Secondary outcomes were clinically significant post-EMR bleeding (CSPEB), delayed perforation and technical success. RESULTS: 177 LNPCPs in 177 patients were randomised to C-EMR arm (n=87) or H-EMR (n=90). Treatment groups were equivalent for technical success 86/87 (98.9%) C-EMR versus H-EMR 90/90 (100%); p=0.31. Recurrence was significantly greater in C-EMR (16/87, 18.4% vs 1/90, 1.1%; relative risk (RR) 16.6, 95% CI 2.24 to 122; p<0.001).Delayed perforation (1/90 (1.1%) vs 0; p=0.32) only occurred in the H-EMR group. CSPEB was significantly greater in the H-EMR arm (7/90 (7.8%) vs 1/87 (1.1%); RR 6.77, 95% CI 0.85 to 53.9; p=0.034). CONCLUSION: Compared with H-EMR, C-EMR for flat, adenomatous LNPCPs, demonstrates superior safety with equivalent technical success. However, endoscopic recurrence is significantly greater for cold snare resection and is currently a limitation of the technique. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04138030.

Prevalence of Endoscopically Curable Low-Risk Cancer amongst Large (≥20mm) Non-Pedunculated Polyps in the Right Colon.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is increasingly promoted for the treatment of all large non-pedunculated colorectal polyps (LNPCP), to cure potential low-risk cancers (superficial submucosal invasion without additional high-risk histopathological features). The effect of a universal en bloc strategy on oncological outcomes for the treatment of LNPCP in the right colon is unknown. We evaluated this in a large Western population. METHODS: A prospective cohort of patients referred for endoscopic resection (ER) of LNPCP was analysed. Patients found to have cancer after ER and those referred directly to surgery were included. The primary outcome was to determine the proportion of right colon LNPCP with low-risk cancer. RESULTS: Over 180 months until June 2023, 3294 sporadic right colon LNPCP in 2956 patients were referred for ER at 7 sites (median size 30mm [IQR 15]). 63 (2.1%) patients were referred directly to surgery and cancer was proven in 56 (88.9%). 2851/2956 (96.4%) LNPCP underwent ER (median size 35mm [IQR 20]) of which 75 (2.6%) were cancers. The overall prevalence of cancer in the right colon was 4.4% (131/2956). Detailed histopathological analysis was possible in 115/131 (88%) cancers (71 after ER, 44 direct to surgery). After excluding missing histopathological data, 23/2940 (0.78%) sporadic right colon LNPCP were low-risk cancers. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of right colon LNPCP referred for ER containing low-risk cancer amenable to endoscopic cure was <1%, in a large, multicentre Western cohort. A universal ESD strategy for the management of right colon LNPCP is unlikely to yield improved patient outcomes given the minimal impact on oncological outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL: Australian Colonic Endoscopic Resection (ACE) cohort: NCT01368289 (https://classic. CLINICALTRIALS: gov/ct2/show/NCT01368289); NCT02000141 (https://classic. CLINICALTRIALS: gov/ct2/show/NCT02000141).

Direct diverticular peroral endoscopic myotomy for the treatment of thoracic esophageal diverticula: technique and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Diverticular peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an alternative to surgery for the management of symptomatic thoracic esophageal diverticula. Conventionally, this requires proximal tunnel formation but a direct approach may simplify the technique. Herein, we report the outcomes of direct diverticular-POEM (DD-POEM). METHODS: We conducted a single-center prospective observational study evaluating DD-POEM. This involved a direct approach to the diverticulum. Success was defined as an Eckardt score of ≤ 3 without the need for reintervention. RESULTS: 10 patients underwent DD-POEM (median age 72 years; interquartile range [IQR] 14.3; male 60 % [n = 6]). Median diverticulum size was 40 mm (IQR 7.5) and median location was 35 cm from the incisors (IQR 8.3). Five patients (50 %) had an underlying dysmotility disorder. The median procedure duration was 60 minutes (IQR 28.8). There were no adverse events. The median hospital stay was 1 day (IQR 0.75). The pre-procedure median Eckardt score of 6 (IQR 4) significantly improved to 0 (IQR 0.75; P < 0.001) at a median follow-up of 14.5 months (IQR 13.8). Success was achieved in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: DD-POEM was a safe technique for the management of thoracic esophageal diverticula. Owing to its simplicity and excellent performance it should be further evaluated for the treatment of this disorder.

Prolonged idiopathic gastric dilatation following revascularization for chronic mesenteric ischemia.

A 71-year-old female presented with nausea, emesis, early satiety, and abdominal distension following revascularization for chronic mesenteric ischemia. Computed tomography angiogram showed gastric dilatation. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, small bowel follow through, and paraneoplastic panel were negative. Gastric emptying was delayed. Despite conservative management, she required a percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy. The development of a prolonged gastroparetic state has not been previously described.