Endoscopic suturing closure of large mucosal defects after endoscopic submucosal dissection is technically feasible, fast, and eliminates the need for hospitalization (with videos).

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is less invasive than surgical resection, but the large mucosal defects after ESD may lead to adverse events necessitating hospitalizations.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of an endoscopic suturing device for closure of large mucosal defects after ESD.

DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective, single-center study.

PATIENTS: Twelve consecutive patients underwent ESD.

INTERVENTIONS: All lesions were removed by using a previously described ESD technique. The large mucosal defects post-ESD were completely closed with the endoscopic suturing device, and all patients were discharged home with subsequent clinical and endoscopic follow-up.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Bleeding and perforation rates after ESD with mucosal defect closure.

RESULTS: ESD followed by endoscopic suturing of the mucosal defects was performed in 12 patients (mean age, 64.7 ± 11.2 years, 4 lesions in the stomach, 8 lesions in the colon; mean lesion size, 42.5 ± 14.8 mm) over a period of 8 months. All lesions (100%) were removed en bloc. Closure of post-ESD defects with an endoscopic suturing device was technically feasible and fast (mean closure time, 10.0 ± 5.8 minutes per patient). Only 1 stitch (continuous suturing line) was required for complete closure in 8 patients. In the other 4 patients, the mucosal defect was closed with 2 to 4 separate stitches (mean number of sutures per patient, 1.6 ± 1.0). There were no immediate or delayed adverse events in any of the study patients.

LIMITATIONS: Retrospective study.

CONCLUSIONS: Closure of large post-ESD defects with the Overstitch endoscopic suturing device is technically feasible and fast and can significantly decrease treatment cost by eliminating the need for hospitalization.