Georg Kaehler

Endoclipping of iatrogenic colonic perforation to avoid surgery

BackgroundColonoscopy is an established tool for the diagnosis and management of colonic and rectal pathology. Even though colonic perforation is rare after colonoscopy, it is a serious and typical complication. The definitive management remains controversial. Both operative and nonoperative techniques have been described in the literature, though the standard treatment for these patients is still an operative repair of the perforation site. Recently, endoscopic clip application was recommended, particularly for iatrogenic perforations, but less is known about the effectiveness of endoluminal repair of colonic perforations with clips.MethodsIn this series, 7589 colonoscopies were performed over a 34-month period in a tertiary-level referral center. Three perforations occurred during 5413 diagnostic colonoscopies. Therapeutic colonoscopy was under taken in 2176 patients, resulting in a total of 27 perforations. Out of 30 patients with colonic perforation, five patients underwent operative management and 25 patients were subsequently treated nonoperatively.ResultsIn 27 patients, endoscopic application of inert metallic clips was used for closure of iatrogenic perforation. Twenty-five of these patients were treated non-operatively, while two patients underwent surgery. The mean postoperative length of hospitalization for patients was 12.2 days, compared to 3.5 days for patients treated conservatively.ConclusionsEndoluminal repair of colonic perforations with clips and further conservative treatment seems to provide a tool that avoids the major additional trauma associated with laparotomy or laparoscopy and minimizes the length of hospitalization.

Retraction: The Influence of Early Supplementation of Parenteral Nutrition on Quality of Life and Body Composition in Patients With Advanced Cancer

The authors of the above article have requested its withdrawal, notifying the Journal that the clinical trials described in the article were not conducted as written in the article. The Editor-in-Chief, the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, and the Publisher have determined to retract the article.

Temporary cystogastrostomy with self-expanding metallic stents for pancreatic necrosis

Conventional endoscopic drainage of symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts has its limitations when the content of the collection is nonfluid. This leads to obstruction of placed flap stents; it requires the placement of an irrigation catheter and repeated implantation of several stents. Herein we describe the temporary use of a special self-expanding partially covered metal mesh stent, which was designed to keep the pancreaticogastrostomy open for drainage of walled-off necrosis and for further endoscopic necrosectomies. The stent has a diameter of 20-25 mm and a length of 50 mm and was placed following the first transgastric removal of necrotic masses. After a treatment period of 7-11 days involving 2-3 endoscopic procedures we achieved clinical success, defined as complete removal of necrotic masses, in all cases without major complications.

Experimental endoscopic submucosal dissection training in a porcine model: Learning experience of skilled western endoscopists

Background:  Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) demands a new level of endoscopic skill in Europe. A 2‐day workshop was set up for trainees to carry out five ESD each in order to obtain the skill level required to perform ESD in the stomach or rectum. This study describes: (i) the workshop setup; (ii) the participants performance; and (iii) the training effect on post‐workshop clinical ESD performance.

Endoscopic closure of the natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) access site to the peritoneal cavity by means of transmural resorbable sutures: an animal survival study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS Endoscopic closure of the transgastric access site is still a critical area of active research and development into natural orifice transluminal surgery (NOTES). To date, no endoscopic technique has utilized resorbable transmural sutures for closure of the NOTES gastrostomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Endoscopic gastrostomy closure by means of resorbable sutures was performed in ten female domestic pigs in an animal survival study. Peritoneal cavity access was gained through the anterior gastric wall using the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) technique and an 18-mm balloon dilator. NOTES exploration of the gallbladder and tubal ligation were performed prior to endoscopic gastrostomy closure. Necropsy was performed 3 weeks post procedure. RESULTS Mean suturing time was 26 minutes (range 14 - 35 minutes). In total 90 % (9/10) of gastrostomy closures were performed by means of two transmural resorbable sutures. One gastrostomy was closed using a single resorbable suture. One case of gallbladder perforation occurred during peritoneoscopy and the pig was sacrificed due to subsequent peritonitis 2 days after the procedure. All other pigs (9/10) were found to be healthy 3 weeks after the NOTES procedure and were sacrificed as planned per protocol. Of all the 17 sutures that were applied in the remaining nine pigs, 16 (94 %) had been absorbed, releasing the pledgets intraluminally. During laparotomy no signs of injury to adjacent organs were found in any of these nine animals. In 8/10 pigs (80 %) the gastrostomy site did not burst with pressures exceeding 100 mmHg. Two suturing sites did burst at pressures of 57 and 62 mmHg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Endoscopic transmural suturing enables rapid and easy placement of leak-proof resorbable sutures and is suitable for closure of the NOTES transgastric access.

Preoperative Staging of Rectal Tumors : Comparison of Endorectal Ultrasound, Hydro-CT, and High-Resolution Endorectal MRI

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare transrectal ultra-sound (TRUS), hydro-computed tomography (hydro-CT), and endorectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the preoperative staging of rectal cancer. Patients and Methods: 23 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma underwent TRUS, hydro-CT, and MRI (1 Tesla) with endorectal coil. The results were correlated with the histopathological findings based on the TNM classification. Results: T staging with TRUS, hydro-CT, and endorectal MRI correlated with the histopa-thological findings in 83% of patients (19/23). Tumors were overestimated by TRUS in 2/23 patients, by CT in 3/23, and by MRI in 3/23 patients. Tumor size was underestimated by TRUS in 2 patients, by CT and MRI in 1 case each. Local lymphatic node involvement was correctly diagnosed with CT and MRI in 87% and 83%, respectively. Using TRUS, false-negative results in the staging of lymph node involvement were seen in 3/23 patients, whereas 1 patient was over-staged. Using hydro-CT as well as endorectal MRI, overstaging of the local lymph nodes took place in 2/23 patients. Conclusion: All methods are limited because peritumoral inflammation cannot be precisely distinguished from infiltration by the tumor. Correct lymph node staging is hampered in advanced disease using TRUS. In these patients, further cross-sectional imaging may be required.

The Merendino procedure following preoperative imatinib mesylate for locally advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the esophagogastric junction

BackgroundGastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) of the esophagogastric junction might pose a major problem to surgical resection. If locally advanced, extended or multivisceral resection with relevant procedural-specific morbidity and mortality is often necessary.Case presentationWe report a case of a patient with a locally advanced GIST of the esophagogastric junction who was treated by transhiatal resection of the lower esophagus and gastric cardia with reconstruction by interposition of segment of the jejunum (Merendino procedure). Prior to resection, downsizing of the tumor had successfully been achieved by treatment with imatinib mesylate for six months. Histological proof of GIST by immunohistochemical expression of c-KIT and/or PDGF alpha Receptor is crucial to allow embarking on this treatment strategy.ConclusionA multimodal approach for an advanced GIST of the esophagogastric junction with preoperative administration of imatinib mesylate could avoid extended resection. The Merendino procedure might be considered as the reconstruction method of choice after resection of GIST at this location.

Analysis of the First 217 Appendectomies of the German NOTES Registry.

Objective: To analyze the feasibility and safety of Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) appendectomy, and to analyze separately the transvaginal appendectomy (TVAE) and the transgastric appendectomy (TGAE) procedures. Background: Laparoscopic appendectomy has rare but relevant complications, namely incisional hernias and neuralgia at the trocar sites, which can potentially be avoided by the NOTES techniques. Methods: The first 217 data sets of the largest NOTES registry worldwide—the German NOTES registry—were analyzed with respect to demographic data, procedural data, and short-term outcomes. Furthermore, TVAEs were compared with TGAEs. Results: Almost all procedures were performed in hybrid technique (median of percutaneous trocars: 1). Median age (TVAE: 30.5 yrs vs TGAE: 25 yrs; P < 0.017), body mass index (TVAE: 22.8 kg/m2 vs TGAE: 24.1 kg/m2; P < 0.016), and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification (I/II/III; TVAE: 57.1%/41.8%/1.0% vs TGAE: 27.8%/69.4%/2.8%; P < 0.003) significantly differed between both access techniques. Whereas the median number of percutaneous trocars (TVAE: 1 vs TGAE: 1; P < 0.450), the need of additional trocars (TVAE: 6.6% vs TGAE: 13.9%; P < 0.156), the intra, and also postoperative rate of complications (TVAE: 0%/5.5% vs TGAE: 0%/11.1%; P < 1.000/0.258), and the median postoperative hospital stay (TVAE: 3 d vs TGAE: 3 d; P < 0.152) were comparable; the median procedural time (TVAE: 35 minutes vs TGAE: 96 minutes; P < 0.001) and conversion to laparotomy rate (TVAE: 0% vs TGAE: 5.6%; P < 0.023) were significantly less after TVAE. Conclusions: The evaluation of the largest patient collective so far indicates that hybrid NOTES appendectomy is a safe procedure, with advantages for the transvaginal technique with respect to procedural time and conversion rate.

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery in humans: feasibility and safety of transgastric closure using the OTSC system

BackgroundNOTES is a technique in which an operation is performed within the body without a skin incision by using a natural body orifice to provide access. The principal challenge of transgastric NOTES procedures is still the feasibility and safety of access closure. Currently, there are very limited data regarding the closure of transgastric NOTES in humans, and the standard method and device for closure has not been defined. Herein, we evaluate the feasibility and safety of gastric closure after NOTES procedures in humans with the over-the-scope clip (OTSC).MethodsReview of collected data of patients underwent transgastric NOTES in prospective clinical studies between April 2010 and March 2014 focused on the gastric closure with the OTSC.ResultsA total of 43 patients underwent transgastric NOTES: 36 patients with an acute appendicitis, six patients with a prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and one patient with uterus myomatosus. In all 43 cases, the incision of the gastric wall and the endoscopic access to the abdominal cavity succeeded without any difficulty. After performing transgastric procedures, it was possible to close the access by OTSC in all cases. There were all in all three adverse events: one major (Clavien–Dindo Grade III) and two minor (Clavien–Dindo Grades I and II).ConclusionEven if we could show for the first time in more than 40 consecutive patients that there is a safe approach for closing the transgastric access, it is absolutely necessary that further investigation in clinical settings has to be done to establish clear indications and guidelines for the use of transgastric NOTES.

Pure natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) involving peroral endoscopic salpingo-oophorectomy (POESY).

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a surgical approach that uses natural orifices to gain access to areas of the body. In the present article, we describe the first transgastric pure NOTES salpingo‐oophorectomy, which we call peroral endoscopic salpingo‐oophorectomy (POESY).