Usefulness of the modified clip-with-line method for endoscopic mucosal treatment procedure.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) might be difficult to perform in some cases even for experienced endoscopists. Recently, various traction methods have been introduced to facilitate ESD procedures, such as clip-with-line (CL), external forceps, clip and snare, internal traction, double scope, and magnetic anchor. The traction procedure using the CL method enhances the visibility of the operation field during ESD. The original CL method is performed as follows: the clip with the line (e.g., dental floss) is attached to the edge of the lesion. Traction can be produced by pulling the line gently, thus achieving a sufficient visualization of the submucosal layer to identify an accurate cutting line. Herein, we present a useful modified two-CL method by pulling the appropriate normal mucosa to enhance the visibility of the operation field during ESD procedure. Thus, the traction methods, including our modified CL technique, might reduce the procedure time and complications.

Effective surgical treatment for controlling the acute heart failure induced by acutely progressed mitral regurgitation with nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis.

A 45-year-old woman complaining of consciousness disturbance demonstrated multiple brain infarctions. Echocardiogram showed vegetation on the posterior mitral leaflet. Infectious endocarditis was initially suspected and we started empirical antibiotics. However, mitral vegetation grew rapidly and caused severe mitral regurgitation. Acute heart failure was so poorly controlled by conservative treatment that we concluded cardiac surgery was indicated. Mitral valve replacement was safely performed, and there was no sign of heart failure or recurrent thromboembolism during the postoperative course. Thereafter, multiple hepatic masses and a solid lesion in the pancreatic head were detected by computed tomography. The patient finally died of multiple organ failure that presumably resulted from malignancy in the terminal stage. The clinical course of this case can be explained by the pathology of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE). The standard treatment for NBTE consists of systemic anticoagulation as well as controlling the underlying malignancy. However, we could not diagnose this case as NBTE before surgery. Although mitral valve replacement was finally effective to control acute heart failure in this case, NBTE should be exactly diagnosed as quickly as possible and the treatment policy should be deliberated.