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Background: The aim of our retrospective study is to compare the efficacy and indications of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and endoscopic full-thickness resection device (FTRD) with Over-The-Scope Clip (OTSC ® ) System for en-bloc resection of rectal lesions., Methods: This study collected 76 cases of rectal neoplasms from a single hospital institution. Primary endpoints were complete en-bloc resection, intraprocedural adverse events, R0 en-bloc resection and an early discharge of the patient. Secondary endpoints included procedure-related adverse events., Results: Mean tumor sizes were statistically significant smaller among patients treated with FTRD rather than TEM and ESD. TEO and FTRD treated patients experienced a higher en-bloc resection rate, with a shorter procedure time and hospital stay. No significant difference concerning the R0 resection was found. TEO and FTRD recorded lower perforation rates as compared to ESD, whereas no difference emerged concerning the bleeding rate and the post-polypectomy syndrome rate., Conclusions: Our study showed that each technique has specific features, so that each one offers advantages and disadvantages. Nevertheless, all of them ensure high en-bloc resection rates, whereas no difference exists for R0 resection rate. TEO provides the possibility to remove low rectal large lesions as compared to ESD and FTRD.

Since gastroduodenal FTRD system is commercially available, several data have been reported in Literature concerning duodenal full-thickness resections, whereas few cases of gastric full-thickness resections has been described. In this case series We report three patients treated with this innovative tool for resecting lesions of the gastric wall. The indications ranged notably: a neuroendocrine tumor in a difficult to treat environment in the first case, a recurrent adenocarcinoma in a poorly surgical candidate patient in the second case and a pre-pyloric lesion for the third patient. In the third patient, a complete pyloric stenosis due to the clip deployment occurred. Clinical success rate was 100%. Even if current Literature is still poor of articles dealing with gastric full-thickness resection device based on over-the-scope-clip system. Our case series show how this novel tool might be take into consideration for whenever both surgery and standard endoscopic resection techniques are poorly feasible.

Hiatal hernias (HHs) are usually divided into two main groups: sliding and para-esophageal (torsional) ones. Sometimes patients presenting HHs experience progressive anemia, whereas rarely an acute anemia with melena or hematemesis can occur. In such cases a Cameron ulcer should be suspected and a careful esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGDS) with a meticulous inspection of the mucosal folds along the neck of the hernia is the best examination in order to find out the ulcer itself. In front of massive hemorrhage due to a Cameron erosion, the first aim should be the control of the bleeding itself, in order to ree1Romastablish hemodynamic stability. The Authors report the case of a 72-year-old man presenting a severe bleeding secondary to a large Cameron ulcer in a para-esophageal hiatal hernia. Firstly, a combined medical-endoscopic therapy was tried; the patient underwent transfusions of pooled red blood cells and endovenous anti-acid therapy combined with an operative endoscopic treatment; unfortunately this initial approach failed, therefore the patient was referred to surgery. The surgeons realized a minimally invasive atypical gastric resection associated with the HH repair; the post-operative course was uneventful and no other rebleeding episodes occurred. The urgency treatment of a life-threatening bleeding for Cameron ulcers remains a very challenging problem as no univocal and standardized recommendation has been described in literature since now. In this case-report the Authors make an overview of the current literature on the treatment of Cameron ulcers, describing a novel surgical technique for massive upper gastro-intestinal bleeding secondary to these lesions.

Background: Compared to emergency surgery, self-expandable metallic stents are effective and safe when used as bridge-to-surgery (BTS) in operable patients with acute colorectal cancer obstruction. In this study, we report data on the new conformable colonic stents., Objectives: To evaluate clinical effectiveness of conformable stents as BTS in patients with acute colorectal cancer obstruction., Design: This was a retrospective study., Settings: The study was conducted at six Italian Endoscopic Units., Patients: Data about patients with acute malignant colorectal obstruction were collected between 2007 and 2012., Main Outcome Measures: All patients were treated with conformable stents as BTS. Technical success, clinical success, rate of primary anastomosis and colostomy, early and late complications were evaluated., Results: Data about 88 patients (62 males) were reviewed in this study. Conformable SEMS were correctly deployed in 86 out of 88 patients, with resolution of obstruction in all treated patients. Tumor resection with primary anastomosis was possible in all patients. A temporary colostomy was performed in 40. Early complications did not occur. Late complications occurred in 11 patients. Stent migration was significantly higher in patients treated with partially-covered stents compared to the uncovered group (35% vs. 0%, P<0.001). Endoscopical re-intervention was required in 12% of patients. One patient with rectal cancer had an anastomotic dehiscence after surgery and he was successfully treated with endoscopic clipping. One year after surgery, all patients were alive and local recurrence have not been documented., Limitations: This was a retrospective and uncontrolled study., Conclusions: Preliminary data from this large case series are encouraging, with a high rate of technical and clinical success and low rate of clinically relevant complications. Partially-covered SEMS should be avoided in order to reduce the risk of endoscopic re-intervention., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Background: Laparoscopic gastric bypass is one of the most performed bariatric operations worldwide. The exclusion of stomach and duodenum after this operation makes the access to the biliary tree, in order to perform an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), very difficult. This procedure could be more often required than in overall population due to the increased incidence of gallstones after bariatric operations. Among the different techniques proposed to overcome this drawback, laparoscopic access to the excluded stomach has been described by many authors with a high rate of success reported., Methods: We herein describe our technique to perform laparoscopic transgastric ERCP. A gastrotomy on the excluded stomach is performed to introduce a 15-mm trocar. Two stitches are passed through the abdominal wall and placed at the two sides of the gastrotomy for traction. The intragastric trocar is used to pass a side-viewing endoscope to access the biliary tree., Conclusion: In patients with a past history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), the present technique allows us a standardized, safe, and reproducible access to the major papilla and the biliary tree using a transgastric access. This will lead to simplify the procedure and reduce the risk of peritoneal contamination.