Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) compared with gastrectomy for treatment of early gastric neoplasia: a retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to compare perioperative outcomes and oncological clearance of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) versus gastrectomy for treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC). METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study including all cases of EGC or severe dysplasia treated at a university-affiliated hospital from 1993 to 2010. Preoperative endoscopic ultrasound and image-enhanced endoscopy were employed to determine depth of invasion. Clinical outcomes including baseline demographics, pathology, postoperative complication, and hospital stay, as well as 3-year survival were compared. RESULTS: From 1993 to 2010, 114 patients with severe dysplasia or EGC were treated: 40 of them received gastrectomy, while 74 received ESD. There was no difference in age, gender, comorbidity or American Society of Anesthesiologists grade between the two groups. Of patients in the gastrectomy group, 92.5% presented with symptoms as compared with 27.0% of those treated by ESD (p < 0.001). More patients in the ESD group had atrophic gastritis (31.1 vs 10%; p = 0.009) and intestinal metaplasia (68.9 vs 55.0%; p = 0.04). Patients treated by gastrectomy sustained longer operative time [265 (150-360) min] when compared with ESD [89.6 (45-360) min; p < 0.001]. They also had longer median hospital stay [9.9 (6-26) days vs 3.0 (2-10) days; p < 0.001]. There was no perioperative mortality, but the overall complication rate was significantly higher in the gastrectomy group. The 3-year survival rate was 94.6% for ESD and 89.7% for gastrectomy group (log-rank test, p = 0.44). CONCLUSIONS: ESD achieved similar oncological outcomes when compared with radical gastrectomy for treatment of EGC. Patients receiving ESD had better perioperative outcomes in terms of operative time, complication rate, and hospital stay.

Transgastric endoluminal gastrojejunostomy: technical development from bench to animal study (with video).

BACKGROUND: Gastrojejunal anastomosis is commonly performed for palliative management of malignant gastric outlet obstruction and bariatric surgery. Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery revolutionized the surgical approach to intra-abdominal surgery. This study explored the possibility of performing gastrojejunostomy (GJ) by using a hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery approach. OBJECTIVE: To develop a surgical technique for the performance of transgastric endoscopic GJ (TGEJ) in a porcine model. DESIGN: Prospective series of animal experiments. SETTING: University hospital animal laboratory. ANIMALS: Thirteen female domestic pigs. INTERVENTIONS: With the animals under general anesthesia, the endoscope is passed through the gastrotomy and a segment of small bowel is retrieved into the stomach. An enterotomy is then created, and an EndoGIA stapler is introduced through an intragastric port and passed between the small bowel and stomach wall. A GJ is formed after firing of the EndoGIA stapler. The pigs are allowed to resume their diet 1 day after the operation and are allowed to survive for 2 weeks before they are euthanized. The patency of the GJ is confirmed with a repeat endoscopy, contrast study, and postmortem examination. RESULTS: A total of 13 TEGJs were performed, 11 of which were successful. The mean operative time was 53.6 +/- 45.7 minutes. The mean time for gastrotomy was 4.7 minutes, and that for GJ was 42.5 minutes. One TEGJ was converted to open surgery because of malpositioning of the intragastric port, and the other failed because the enterotomy was too extensive. Ten of 11 pigs survived for 2 weeks, and endoscopic examination with contrast study confirmed that all the gastrojejunostomies were patent. On postmortem examination, the average size of the GJ was 30 mm. LIMITATIONS: The length between duodenojejunal flexure and the site chosen to perform the GJ could not be determined. CONCLUSIONS: TEGJ is technically feasible with a patent and sizable anastomosis.