Human applications of submucosal endoscopy under conscious sedation for pure natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery

Abstract

The submucosal endoscopy provide not only a reliable methods of access and closure for peritoneoscopy, but also an endoscopic working space for full-thickness resection. The aim of this study was to report the clinical outcome of submucosal endoscopy for pure natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. We prospectively evaluated 10 patients who received submucosal endoscopies. The indications of submucosal endoscopy were transgastric peritoneoscopy (TGP) and endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) of a gastric subepithelial tumor. All procedures were performed with a standard gastroscope under conscious sedation with the balanced propofol method in the endoscopic unit. After a 40 mm submucosal tunnel was created using an endoscopic submucosal dissection technique, (1) in TGP, balloon dilation of a serosal puncture and intraperitoneal exploration was performed; (2) in EFTR, a full-thickness incision and snaring resection was performed. Closure of the mucosal incision was performed by endoclips. All cases were technically feasible. The mean times for creating the submucosal tunnel, main procedure (peritoneal exploration or resection), and closure were acceptable (10.44 +/- A 2.42 minutes, 18.80 +/- A 9.41 minutes, and 5.63 +/- A 2.17 minutes, respectively). The mean hospital stay was 3.8 +/- A 1.48 days. All TGPs were diagnostic (4 peritoneal carcinomatosis and 1 tuberculosis). En bloc and complete resections were possible in all EFTRs (3 gastrointestinal stromal tumors and 2 schwannomas; mean tumor size, 20.8 +/- A 3.27 mm). There were no procedure-related complications, such as significant bleeding or peritonitis. Human applications of submucosal endoscopy under conscious sedation for pure NOTES were feasible and safe.