Objective:To assess the efficacy of a novel spatial-temporal polyp detection system in colonoscopy.Methods:This research was a retrospective comparative study. Eight hundred and thirty-three participants who underwent computer-aided detection (CADe) colonoscopy at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between March and June 2023 were enrolled to the experimental group, while 770 individuals who received conventional colonoscopy from March to June 2022, in the identical operation room were to the control group. The primary outcome was the adenoma detection rate (ADR), and the secondary outcomes were the polyp detection rate (PDR), adenomas per colonoscopy (APC), and polyps per colonoscopy (PPC).Results:The ADR [29.3% (244/833) VS 21.7% (167/770), χ2=12.133, P<0.001] and PDR [47.9% (399/833) VS 37.9% (292/770), χ2=16.241, P<0.001] were significantly higher in the experimental group than those in the control group. Adenomas ≤5 mm [23.5% (196/833) VS 16.1% (124/770), χ2=13.808, P<0.001] and flat-type adenomas [15.1% (126/833) VS 7.3% (56/770), χ2=24.519, P<0.001] were detected in a significantly higher proportion of subjects in the experimental group than those in the control group. There were significant difference in APC [0 (0,1) VS 0 (0,1), Z=-3.698, P<0.001] and PPC [0 (0,1) VS 0 (0,1), Z=-4.424, P<0.001] between the experimental and control groups. The use of CADe system significantly increased both ADR [29.5% (167/566) VS 18.9% (89/472), χ2=15.709, P<0.001] and PDR [47.3% (268/566) VS 33.3% (157/472), χ2=21.123, P<0.001] in junior endoscopists. However, in senior endoscopists, there was no statistical significant difference in ADR [28.8% (77/267) VS 26.2% (78/298), χ2=0.502, P=0.479] or PDR [49.1% (131/267) VS 45.3% (135/298), χ2=0.800, P=0.371] with or without CADe system. Conclusion:The use of CADe system significantly increases overall polyp and adenoma detection in clinical practice, especially in the detection of diminutive and flat-type lesions. Junior endoscopists gain greater advantages from the use of CADe system than their senior peers.

Background::To date, there is still a lack of standardized management strategies for gastric low-grade dysplasia (LGD), which is a direct neoplastic precancerous lesion and requires specifically superficial destruction. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is expected to be an effective method for gastric LGD, but post-RFA pain may affect patients’ satisfaction and compliance. The current study aimed to evaluate the value of a submucosal injection prior to RFA (SI-RFA) for postoperative pain and treatment outcomes.Methods::Between October 2014 and July 2021, gastric LGDs without risk factors (size >2 cm, unclear boundary, and abnormal microsurface and microvascularity) undergoing regular RFA and SI-RFA were retrospectively analyzed. Postoperative pain scores, wound healing, and clinical efficacy were compared. Propensity score matching, stratified analysis, and multivariable logistic regression were performed to control the confounding variables.Results::One hundred and ninety-seven gastric LGDs in 151 patients received regular RFA. Forty-nine gastric LGDs in 36 patients received SI-RFA. Thirty-six pairs of patients were selected for the assessment of postoperative pain by propensity score matching. Compared to regular RFA, SI-RFA significantly decreased the degree and duration of postoperative pain (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.13-0.84; P = 0.020), improved wound healing rate (80.0% [36/45] vs. 58.9% [89/151], P = 0.012), increased the complete ablation rate (91.8% [45/49] vs. 86.3% [170/197], χ 2 = 1.094, P = 0.295), but correlated with higher rates of local recurrence and progression (25.6% [10/39] vs. 13.2% [18/136], χ 2 = 3.471, P = 0.062; 8.3% [3/36] vs. 0.9% [1/116], P = 0.042). The multivariable logistic regression model confirmed that submucosal injection was associated with local recurrence (OR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.13-7.58; P = 0.027). Conclusions::Submucosal injections prior to RFA may reduce postoperative pain and scar formation while ensuring complete ablation of gastric LGD. However, local recurrence and progression should be considered seriously.

Background::Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) is recommended as the first-line therapy for ampullary tumors, despite a relatively high incidence of complications. Pancreatic and/or biliary stents are placed at the endoscopist’s discretion to prevent post-EP complications. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different stents.Methods::A total of 117 patients who underwent EP and met the criteria between June 2006 and October 2022 were enrolled in the study. These patients were divided into a pancreatic stent group (PS group, n = 47), a biliary stent group (BS group, n = 38), and a two-stent group (PBS [PS and BS] group, n = 32). Relevant clinical data were collected and compared among the three groups. Multivariate logistic analyses were performed to explore risk factors for post-EP complications. Results::The incidence of all complications was 37.6% (44/117). Pancreatitis and hemorrhage were the two most common complications with incidence rates of 14.5% (17/117) and 17.9% (21/117). The incidence rates of post-EP pancreatitis were 10.6% (5/47), 23.7% (9/38), and 9.4% (3/32) in the PS group, BS group, and PBS group, respectively, with no significant differences. There were also no significant differences in other complications among the three groups. Age (odds ratio [OR]: 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91-0.99; P = 0.022) was independently associated with post-EP pancreatitis while tumor size (OR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.06-2.60; P = 0.028) was independently associated with post-EP hemorrhage. Conclusions::While pancreatic stenting is the first choice to prevent post-EP pancreatitis, biliary stenting could also be considered as a substitute for patients with difficulties in pancreatic cannulation. Two-stent (biliary and pancreatic stent) placement is unnecessary unless it is required due to other concerns.

Esophageal Achalasia/surgery* ; Esophagoscopy ; Humans ; Muscles ; Myotomy ; Tissue Adhesions

Objective:To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of a novel self-help inflatable balloon to prevent esophageal stenosis after extensive endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).Methods:Patients with early esophageal cancer or precancerous lesions, undergoing ESD in the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 were included in the prospective study, who had post-ESD mucosal defect greater than 5/6 of the esophageal circumference and 30-100 mm in length. The self-help inflatable balloon was used to prevent esophageal stenosis after ESD. Mucosal defect of ESD was divided into grade 1 (≥5/6 and less than the whole circumference) and grade 2 (the whole circumference). The incidence of stricture, the time from ESD to the occurrence of stricture, the total number of endoscopic balloon dilations (EBD) or radial incision and cuttings (RIC), and other adverse events were observed.Results:A total of 27 patients met the including criteria with follow-up time of 14-38 months, including 3 patients of grade 1 and 24 of grade 2. The ulcer longitudinal length was 73.7±18.4 mm. The time of wearing balloons was 92.0±20.0 days. The overall frequency of stricture was 18.5% (5/27), and the stricture incidence of patients of grade 2 resection was only 16.7% (4/27). The median time from balloon removal to stricture was 17 days. To treat the stricture, two patients received 3 EBD sessions, and three other patients received 2, 1 and 2 RIC sessions, respectively. No balloon was removed in advance, and none had a perforation or delayed bleeding.Conclusion:The self-help inflatable balloon shows high efficacy and safety in preventing esophageal stenosis in patients with mucosal defect greater than 5/6 of the esophageal circumference and less than 100 mm in length after extensive esophageal ESD.

Objective:To explore the risk factors for esophageal stricture after endoscopic resection (ER) of large-area early esophageal cancer (≥3/4 circumferential mucosal defect).Methods:A total of 63 cases of large-area early esophageal cancer treated with ER in the Digestive Endoscopy Center of the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from May 2009 to April 2016 were included in the retrospective analysis. They were divided into stricture group (32 cases) and non-stricture group (31 cases) according to the occurrence of postoperative esophageal stenosis. T-test or Chi square test was conducted to compare the indicators between the two groups. Indicators of P<0.05 and potential indicators from the clinical perspective were included in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results:Univariate analysis showed that the length of lesion, the degree of mucosal defect around the wound and the injury of muscularis propria were associated with esophageal stricture after ER ( P<0.05). The above 3 indicators were included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis, together with 3 other indicators, i. e. preventive measures for stenosis, pathological type, and en bloc resection. The results showed that more than 7/8 circumferential mucosal defect around the wound (VS 3/4-<7/8 circumferential: P=0.028, OR=0.317, 95% CI:0.114-0.884) and no preventive measures ( P=0.002, OR=0.153, 95% CI:0.046-0.512) were independent risk factors for esophageal stricture after ER of large-area early esophageal cancer. Conclusion:Circumferential mucosa defect≥7/8 is the main factor leading to esophagus stricture after large-area early esophagus carcinoma. And appropriate preventive measures can effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative stenosis after ER.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for synchronous multiple early gastric cancer (SMEGC).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on data of 390 patients with early gastric cancer, including 353 cases of solitary early gastric cancer (SEGC group) and 37 cases of SMEGC (SMEGC group), who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2017 to June 2019. The differences in clinical characteristics (gender, age, body mass index, smoking status, drinking status, family history of gastrointestinal cancer and other cancers, etc.) and pathological characteristics (size, location, morphology, differentiation degree, invasion depth, with or without Helicobacter pylori infection, intestinal metaplasia, ulcers and atrophic gastritis of lesions, etc.) between the two groups were compared by t test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test, or Fisher′s exact test. Logistic regression (forward LR) was used to screen the independent risk factors for SMEGC. Results:There were no significant differences in the general clinical characteristics between SMEGC group and SEGC group ( P>0.05). Significant statistical differences were observed in the location of lesions ( χ2=8.375, P=0.015), the proportion of atrophic gastritis [48.6% (18/37) VS 23.8% (84/353), χ2=10.710, P=0.001] and the proportion of intestinal metaplasia [81.1% (30/37) VS 43.1% (152/353), χ2=19.452, P<0.001] between the two groups, but there were no significant differences in other pathological characteristics ( P>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that location of lesions in the middle 1/3 of stomach (VS upper 1/3: P=0.036, OR=3.38, 95% CI: 1.08-10.53), in the lower 1/3 of stomach (VS upper 1/3: P=0.049, OR=2.59, 95% CI: 1.00-6.69), presence of intestinal metaplasia ( P=0.001, OR=4.38, 95% CI: 1.77-10.86) and atrophic gastritis ( P=0.043, OR=2.24, 95% CI: 1.04-5.07) were independent risk factors for SMEGC. Conclusion:Patients with early gastric cancer located in the middle or lower 1/3 of stomach, with intestinal metaplasia and atrophic gastritis are prone to SMEGC and should be carefully evaluated and closely followed up after ESD.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), EMR with pre-cutting (EMR-P), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and ESD with snare (ESD-S) for the treatment of colorectal laterally spreading tumors (LSTs).Methods:Between January 2016 and March 2018, a total of 146 patients with 146 colorectal LSTs undergone endoscopic resection at the first medical center of PLA General Hospital. Data of demographics, treatment information, pathology and follow-up results were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 146 patients, EMR, EMR-P, ESD, and ESD-S were performed in 23, 29, 50 and 44 tumors, respectively. Median tumor diameter was 2.5 cm (ranged 1.2-10.0 cm). The en bloc resection rate of EMR, EMR-P, ESD and ESD-S were 73.9% (17/23), 72.4% (21/29), 96.0% (48/50), and 65.9% (29/44), respectively, with statistical difference ( P<0.001). And the R0 resection rate were 65.2% (15/23), 69.0% (20/29), 94.0% (47/50), and 63.6% (28/44), respectively, with statistical difference ( P=0.002). The en bloc resection rate and R0 resection rate of the ESD group were significantly higher than those of the other three groups (all P<0.05). The difference was not statistically significant in terms of perforation rate [0, 0, 6.0% (3/50), and 9.1% (4/44), respectively, P=0.269] and delayed hemorrhage rate [4.3% (1/23), 0, 2.0% (1/50), and 2.3% (1/44), respectively, P=0.768] among the four groups. Follow-up endoscopy was performed in 117 cases (80.1%) with a median period of 10.0 months (ranged 3.0-26.0 months), and local recurrence was identified in 7 (6.0%) cases. Conclusion:ESD could be the optimal method for the resection of colorectal LSTs, while LSTs smaller than 20 mm can be resected by EMR. EMR-P and ESD-S as modified methods have their respective advantages for the treatment of LSTs.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of suspensory incision and suture technique in endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) for muscularis propria tumor of gastric fundus.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the data of 20 patients with muscularis propria tumor in gastric fundus and undergoing EFTR in the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from June 2017 to June 2019. Patients were divided into the observation group (9 cases) treated with suspensory incision and suture technique in EFTR and the control group (11 cases) treated with traditional EFTR method. The baseline data and perioperative data of the two groups were analyzed.Results:EFTR was successfully performed on all 20 patients. The tumor size of the observation group and the control group was 10.0 (7.5, 21.0) mm and 14.0 (10.0, 20.0) mm, respectively. The resection time of the two groups was 26.4±6.3 min and 35.5±11.4 min, respectively. The postoperative hospital stay was 6.4±1.0 d and 7.7±1.5 d, respectively. No postoperative delayed bleeding, perforation, or other complications occurred in the two groups.Conclusion:Using suspensory incision and suture technique is safe and effective during EFTR for muscularis propria tumor in gastric fundus, and can reduce operation time. This technique is worth applying in clinic.

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of autologous skin-grafting surgery ( ASGS) in the prevention of esophageal stenosis after complete circular endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection ( ESTD) for early esophageal cancer. Methods Between January 2018 and March 2018, five patients with early esophageal cancer underwent complete circular ESTD and ASGS in Chinese PLA General Hospital. The skin-graft survival situation, and occurrence of esophageal stenosis and complications were observed by endoscopy follow-up. Results Complete circular ESTD and ASGS were successfully performed in all 5 patients, and no complications including perforation, bleeding, wound infection or stent migration occurred. The mean skin-graft survival rate was 86. 0％. Four patients did not experience esophageal stenosis over the mean follow-up of 9. 5 months. One patient experienced esophageal stenosis after operation, and underwent endoscopic balloon dilatation. No stenosis occurred in 8 months of follow-up. Conclusion ASGS is a safe and effective method to prevent esophageal stenosis after complete circular ESTD.