EUS-guided gastroenterostomy: the first U.S. clinical experience (with video).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There are limitations to enteral self-expandable metal stents and surgical gastrojejunostomy in the treatment of patients with gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). EUS-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) is a novel procedure that potentially offers long-lasting luminal patency without the risk of tumor ingrowth and/or overgrowth, while avoiding the morbidity of a surgical procedure. The aims of this study were to report the first U.S. clinical experience with EUS-GE in terms of technical success, clinical success, and adverse events and to detail the technical aspects of performing EUS-GE. METHODS: This was a retrospective study from two tertiary-care centers. EUS-GE was performed by using either the direct EUS-GE or balloon-assisted EUS-GE technique. Technical success was defined as adequate positioning and deployment of the stent as determined endoscopically and radiologically. Clinical success was defined as the patient's ability to tolerate oral intake without vomiting. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients underwent attempted EUS-GE. Malignant GOO was present in 3 patients, whereas benign obstruction was found in the remaining 7. One patient had complete GOO and underwent successful direct EUS-GE. In the remaining 9 patients, balloon-assisted EUS-GE was attempted and was successful in 8. Thus, technical success occurred in 9 patients (90%). There were no procedure-related adverse events. Mean procedure time was 96 minutes (range 45-152 minutes), and mean length of hospital stay was 2.2 days. Clinical success with resumption of solid oral intake was achieved in all 9 patients (100%) who underwent successful EUS-GE. A total of 8 patients were able to tolerate almost a normal diet and/or full diet, and 1 patient tolerated a soft diet. There was no symptom recurrence during a mean follow-up period of 150 days. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-GE is a promising new technique for the treatment of symptoms of benign and malignant GOO. Prospective, multicenter trials are needed to confirm these results.

Intraprocedural fluoroscopy to determine the extent of the cardiomyotomy during per-oral endoscopic myotomy (with video).

BACKGROUND: An adequate myotomy on the gastric side is considered essential to optimize outcomes in patients undergoing per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). An objective method to measure the length of gastric myotomy has not yet been reported. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a new method of precisely determining the length of the submucosal tunnel below the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) using intraprocedural fluoroscopy. DESIGN: Single-center cohort study. SETTING: Academic tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Twenty-four consecutive patients who underwent POEM for management of achalasia. INTERVENTIONS: A radiopaque marker (endoscopic clip placed at the EGJ or fluoroscopically guided placement of a 19-gauge needle on the skin) was used to mark the EGJ. The endoscope was inserted to the most distal aspect of the submucosal tunnel and, using fluoroscopy, the distance between the radiopaque marker and the tip of the endoscope was measured. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Technical success, procedural impact, duration of technique, and adverse events. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 100% of patients. The submucosal tunnel was extended in 5 patients (20.8%) with a mean extension of 1.4±.5 cm. The mean increase in procedure time was 4 minutes with the endoscopic clip and 2 minutes with the 19-gauge needle. There were no adverse events associated with this technique. LIMITATIONS: Need for fluoroscopy. Absence of available criterion standard. CONCLUSIONS: Intraprocedural fluoroscopy was an efficient and safe method of objectively documenting the extent of gastric myotomy during POEM. This may benefit those investigating the anatomic and physiologic changes that occur during the myotomy and those early in their experience performing POEM.

Jet injection of dyed saline facilitates efficient peroral endoscopic myotomy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is technically challenging and time consuming. Repeated injection of dyed saline during tunneling is performed to enhance the demarcation between the submucosal layer and the muscularis propria. This process requires exchanging the knife for a catheter to spray dyed saline and is time consuming. This study aimed to describe a new method of injecting dyed saline through an integrated water jet channel during POEM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: POEM was performed using a triangular tip knife. Repeated jet injection of saline mixed with indigo carmine was performed whenever the submucosal dissection plane became unclear. RESULTS: The study cohort consisted of nine patients (8 achalasia, 1 Jackhammer esophagus). All procedures were technically feasible and successful without any complications and resulted in the patients' Eckhardt's scores returning to normal. The mean submucosal tunnel length was 13.3 cm and the mean myotomy length was 9.9 cm. The mean procedure time was 127 minutes. CONCLUSION: The modified POEM technique with use of jet injection of dyed saline is simple and may render POEM easier and more efficient than the standard dissection method.

Novel technique of auto-tunneling during peroral endoscopic myotomy (with video).

BACKGROUND: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) was developed to reduce lower esophageal sphincter pressure in patients with achalasia. POEM is technically challenging and time consuming. The creation of an esophageal submucosal tunnel is a major and integral part of the procedure. Dissection of the submucosal fibers is a lengthy task. OBJECTIVE: To present our initial experience with the use of a novel gel with dissecting properties for facilitating submucosal tunneling during POEM. SETTING: Johns Hopkins Hospital. INTERVENTION: POEM. RESULTS: The gastroscope was successfully introduced into the submucosal space in all pigs. The gel in the submucosal space was easily suctioned through the working channel of the gastroscope and did not interfere with endoscopic visualization. The esophageal submucosal tunnel was noted to be already formed upon entry into the submucosal space in all 5 pigs. Esophageal submucosal dissection was not required in any case. "Auto-tunneling" by the dissecting gel stopped at the level of the lower esophageal sphincter. Further tunneling into the gastric cardia was needed in all pigs. The average procedure (including myotomy) time was 28 minutes. LIMITATIONS: Animal experiments. CONCLUSION: Gel consistently resulted in efficient auto-tunneling without any complications. This gel has the potential to revolutionize POEM and endoscopic submucosal dissection if its safety and efficacy are replicated in other animal studies and subsequently in human trials.

Which clip? A prospective comparative study of retention rates of endoscopic clips on normal mucosa and ulcers in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND/AIM: There are currently no data on the relative retention rates of the Instinct clip, Resolution clip, and QuickClip2Long. Also, it is unknown whether retention rate differs when clips are applied to ulcerated rather than normal mucosa. The aim of this study is to compare the retention rates of three commonly used endoscopic clips. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six pigs underwent upper endoscopy with placement of one of each of the three types of clips on normal mucosa in the gastric body. Three mucosal resections were also performed to create "ulcers." Each ulcer was closed with placement of one of the three different clips. Repeat endoscopy was performed weekly for up to 4 weeks. RESULTS: Only the Instinct and Resolution clips remained attached for the duration of the study (4 weeks). At each time point, a greater proportion of Instinct clips were retained on normal mucosa, followed by Resolution clips. QuickClip2Long had the lowest retention rate on normal mucosa. Similar retention rates of Instinct clips and Resolution clips were seen on simulated ulcers, although both were superior to QuickClip2Long. However, the difference did not reach statistical significance. All QuickClip2Long clips were dislodged at 4 weeks in both the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The Resolution and Instinct clips have comparable retention rates and both appeared to be better than the QuickClip2Long on normal mucosa-simulated ulcers; however this did not reach statistical significance. Both the Resolution clip and the Instinct clip may be preferred in clinical situations when long-term clip attachment is required, including marking of tumors for radiotherapy and anchoring feeding tubes or stents. Either of the currently available clips may be suitable for closure of iatrogenic mucosal defects without features of chronicity.