The advancing art and science of endoscopy

Flexible endoscopy continues to advance encompassing treatment of a variety of diseases traditionally managed surgically. This review describes and evaluates many of these new endoscopic approaches with an eye toward the future. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is now treated with several endoscopic, non-operative techniques. A procedure using radiofrequency energy delivered by a peroral catheter with small needles inserted into the wall of the esophagus causes collagen deposition and ablates transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, both of which reduce reflux. With this treatment, >80% of patients will reduce or stop their medication for reflux. Trials involving new injectable materials show promise with a 75-80% improvement in heartburn-related quality-of-life scores and reduced medication use. Endoscopic suture and stapling devices restore the antireflux barrier with sutures that create a pleat or plication at the gastroesophageal junction. Early results indicated that 62-74% of patients had significant improvement. Long-term results are not available for any of these new techniques and there seems to be a drop off in effectiveness over time. Gastrointestinal bleeding has been more effectively managed with the recent introduction of small clips and detachable snares to control bleeding vessels. Banding and sclerotherapy for variceal bleeding has all but eliminated urgent operation for that diagnosis. In the biliary-pancreas realm, endoscopic management of pancreatic pseudocysts, stenting of pancreatic or biliary strictures and fistulae have reduced operative indications in those disease processes. Pseudocyst drainage involves creation of a transenteric communication between the pseudocyst and the stomach or duodenum. Complete cyst resolution without recurrence can be expected in 85% of patients. While endoscopic palliation of malignant biliary strictures has been accepted for years, experience with endoscopic management of iatrogenic strictures indicates that it may serve as an alternative option without surgery in many patients. Enteric stenting using metallic self-expanding stents in the esophagus, duodenum, and colon allows alleviation of obstruction without surgery for palliantation and in the colon may relieve obstruction to avoid colostomy prior to an elective resection. On the horizon stands the flexible endoscopic route to the abdominal cavity via the transgastric route and the promise of combined endoscopic-laparoscopic approaches to complex abdominal problems. General surgeons should rekindle their interest in flexible endoscopy or risk losing entire categories of disease to other specialties or to a small specialized group of endoscopic surgeons.