Effects of Guidelines for Gastroenterological Endoscopy in Patients Undergoing Antithrombotic Treatment on Postoperative Bleeding after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matching Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Management of antithrombotic agents during endoscopic treatment changed after the publishing of -Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society guidelines for gastroenterological endoscopy in antithrombotic drug users (GL-2012). OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the effect of implementing antithrombotic agent management guidelines (GL-2012) on postoperative bleeding after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC) and on the prevention of thromboembolic events. METHODS: A total of 1,264 patients who underwent ESD for EGC at Kyoto Prefectural University Hospital between June 2002 and March 2017 were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: 621 patients before the publication of GL-2012 (Pre-GL group) and 643 patients after (Post-GL group). Relationships between postoperative bleeding and various clinicopathological factors in each group were investigated through propensity score-matching analysis. RESULTS: In the Pre-GL group, antihypertensive agent use (p < 0.01) and upper third of the stomach (p < 0.01) were significantly related to postoperative bleeding in univariate analysis. Antihypertensive agent use (OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.6-12.8) and upper third of the stomach (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.8-13.4) were significantly related to postoperative bleeding in multivariate analysis. In the Post-GL group, antihypertensive agent use (p < 0.01), dual antiplatelet agents use (p < 0.01), anticoagulant agents use (p < 0.01), and heparin replacement therapy (p < 0.01) were significantly related to postoperative bleeding in univariate analysis. Antihypertensive agent use (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.1-9.6), dual antiplatelet agents (OR 12.3, 95% CI 2.4-63.0), and heparin replacement therapy (OR 10.2, 95% CI 2.5-41.5) were significantly related to postoperative bleeding in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The adherence to GL-2012 might reduce risk of thromboembolic events. On the other hand, dual antiplatelet agents therapy and heparin replacement therapy were the new independent risk factors for ESD postoperative bleeding in EGC after GL-2012. Especially as for heparin replacement therapy, uninterrupted warfarin or a temporary short interruption of direct oral anticoagulants without heparin replacement therapy might be recommended rather than heparin replacement therapy.

Diagnostic Ability of Magnifying Blue Light Imaging with a Light Emitting Diode Light Source for Early Gastric Cancer: A Prospective Comparative Study.

INTRODUCTION: An innovative endoscopic system using 4-color light-emitting diodes (LED) was released between 2016 and 2017 in locations that had not approved laser endoscopes for use, including the United States and Europe. OBJECTIVE: This study compared the diagnostic efficacy between magnifying blue light imaging with an LED light source (LED-BLI) and magnifying blue laser imaging with a laser light source (Laser-BLI) for early gastric cancer (EGC). METHODS: In this prospective, single-center, noninferiority study, 80 gastric lesions were evaluated between January 2017 and July 2017. The magnifying findings of gastric lesions - including the demarcation line (DL), microvascular pattern (MVP), and microsurface pattern (MSP) - were evaluated using Laser-BLI and LED-BLI according to the vessel plus surface classification system (VSCS). The primary end point was to determine whether the diagnostic accuracy of LED-BLI for EGC was noninferior to that of conventional Laser-BLI. RESULTS: Overall, we evaluated 79 gastric lesions histopathologically diagnosed as adenocarcinomas from the specimens obtained via endoscopic submucosal dissection. A DL was observed by Laser-BLI and LED-BLI in 98.7% (78/79) and 96.2% (76/79) of EGCs, respectively. The MVP observed using Laser-BLI and LED-BLI was irregular in 92.4% (73/79) and 89.9% (71/79), respectively. The MSP observed using Laser-BLI and LED-BLI was irregular in 83.5% (66/79) and 82.2% (65/79), respectively. According to the VSCS, diagnosable cancers were found in 94.9% (75/79) and 93.7% (74/79) of cases when using Laser-BLI and LED-BLI, respectively (p = 0.73; difference ratio, 1.2%; 95% CI -8.5 to 6.0%). CONCLUSIONS: LED-BLI could accurately visualize the DL, MVP, and MSP of EGCs and was not inferior to Laser-BLI. Therefore, LED-BLI can be used to diagnose EGC accurately according to the VSCS-based diagnosis criteria.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection using a scissors-type knife with prophylactic over-the-scope clip closure for superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: This study aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) using a scissors-type knife with prophylactic closure using over-the-scope clip (OTSC) for superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADETs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent ESD for SNADETs >10 mm between January 2009 and July 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. We performed ESD using either a needle-type knife (Flush Knife-ESD) or a scissors-type knife (Clutch Cutter-ESD). Mucosal defects were prophylactically closed using three methods: conventional clip, laparoscopic closure, or OTSC. RESULTS: A total of 84 lesions were resected using the Flush Knife-ESD and the Clutch Cutter-ESD (37 and 47 patients, respectively), and conventional clip, laparoscopic closure, and OTSC for mucosal defect closure after ESD were applied in 13, 13, and 56 lesions, respectively. The R0 resection rate was significantly higher in the Clutch Cutter-ESD than that in the Flush Knife-ESD (97.9% vs 83.8%, respectively, P = 0.040). The intraoperative perforation rate was significantly lower in the Clutch Cutter-ESD than in the Flush Knife-ESD (0% vs 13.5%, respectively, P = 0.014). Complete closure rates of conventional clip, laparoscopic closure, and OTSC were 76.9%, 92.3%, and 98.2%, respectively (P = 0.021); and delayed perforation rates were 15.4%, 7.7%, and 1.8%, respectively (P = 0.092). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic submucosal dissection using a scissors-type knife with prophylactic OTSC closure is safe and feasible for the low-invasive treatment of SNADETs.

Efficacy of Magnifying Narrow Band Imaging for Delineating Horizontal Margins of Early Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of magnifying narrow-band imaging (M-NBI) with histopathological confirmation in identifying the demarcation line (DL) of early gastric cancer (EGC). METHODS: EGCs resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection after identifying the DL using M-NBI following histopathological confirmation were included. After determining the DL for the entire EGC lesion using M-NBI, at least 4 biopsies were taken from non-cancerous tissues outside the EGC lesion for histopathological confirmation. RESULTS: A total of 330 EGCs were analyzed in this study. The rate of biopsy-negative and negative horizontal margin were 96.7% (319/330) and 97.9% (323/330) in EGC respectively. Tumors larger than 20 mm showed a higher risk for showing remnant cancer cells on biopsies taken outside the DL. Risk factors for a positive horizontal resection margin were tumor size > 20 mm and moderately or poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas. CONCLUSION: The assessment of demarcation of EGC using M-NBI was excellent in well-differentiated (WD) adenocarcinoma and lesions below 20 mm in size. However, histopathological confirmation is needed to assess the demarcation of non-WD adenocarcinomas and EGC over 20 mm in size.

Efficacy of Clutch Cutter for Standardizing Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) using the Clutch Cutter (CC), a scissor-type knife, compared with those of procedures using conventional devices. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study evaluated 237 patients with early gastric cancer: 83 who underwent ESD using the CC group and 154 who underwent ESD using the insulated-tip knife 2 (IT2 group). Clinicopathological features and technical outcomes were compared between the 2 groups using a propensity score-matched analysis. RESULTS: In 61 pairs of matched patients, there was no significant difference in R0 resection, perforation, or postoperative bleeding between the CC and IT2 groups. Comparisons between the 2 groups showed similar treatment outcomes for an expert endoscopist. Nevertheless, there were significant differences between the 2 groups for nonexperts in terms of self-completion (61.7 and 24.5%, respectively, p < 0.001), mean procedure times (45 and 61 min, respectively, p = 0.002), and mean numbers of intraoperative bleeding points and bleeding points requiring hemostatic forceps (3 and 0 vs. 8 and 3, respectively, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Better self-completion rates and shorter procedure times were noted for gastric ESD using the CC by nonexperts than for that using IT2, probably due to hemostatic efficacy.

Impact of the Charlson comorbidity index and prognostic nutritional index on prognosis in patients with early gastric cancer after endoscopic submucosal dissection.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: With the aging of society, comorbidities or nutritional status are assessed prior to endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC). However, it is uncertain which factors are important for predicting prognosis in EGC patients after ESD. Thus, we aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes of ESD for EGC, with respect to comorbidities or nutritional status. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study involving 708 EGC in 585 patients who were enrolled between April 2007 and March 2012. They were classified into two groups; an elderly (≥80 years) and non-elderly (<80 years) group. Short- and long-term outcomes were evaluated between the groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences regarding short-term outcomes. Overall survival (OS) rates in the elderly group were significantly lower than those in the non-elderly group (P = 0.001). OS rates in patients with a low (≤2) Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) were significantly higher than those in patients with a high (≥3) CCI, regardless of age. OS rates in patients with a high (≥47.7) prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were significantly higher than those in patients with a low (<47.7) PNI, regardless of age. In multivariate analysis, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) ≥2 (hazard ratio [HR], 95% confidence interval: 3.23, 1.54-6.75), CCI ≥3 (HR 7.88, 4.50-13.80) and PNI <47.7 (HR 3.44, 2.00-5.90) were significantly associated with OS rate (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: CCI and PNI can be prognostic indicators for non-elderly and elderly patients with EGC after ESD.