Biodegradable esophageal stent placement does not prevent high-grade stricture formation after circumferential mucosal resection in a porcine model.

Background: Advanced esophageal dysplasia and early cancers have been treated traditionally with esophagectomy. Endoscopic esophageal mucosectomy (EEM) offers less-invasive therapy, but high-degree stricture formation limits its applicability. We hypothesized that placement of a biodegradable stent (BD-stent) immediately after circumferential EEM would prevent stricturing.

Comparison of anterior transgastric access techniques for natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery.

Background: The advancement of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) into clinical practice is dependent on its safety, efficacy, and efficiency. Access is the obligatory first step in NOTES and serves as a surrogate to technical difficulties associated with this novel surgical approach. This study aimed to compare endoscopic transgastric access techniques in terms of safety, reproducibility, and efficiency.

Endoscopic access to and exploration of the lesser sac in a human cadaver model: opportunity for transgastric endoscopic pancreatic surgery (with video).

Background: Transgastric endoscopy may represent a viable platform for diagnostic and therapeutic pancreatic interventions with reduced morbidity. In a human cadaver model, we aimed to determine the feasibility of transgastric endoscopic access to the lesser sac, creation of an adequate working space within the lesser sac, and reliable identification of lesser sac anatomic structures.

Methods: In six human cadavers, endoscopic guidance was used to determine an appropriate access site to the lesser sac.