Eagle Claw II: A novel endosuture device that uses a curved needle for major arterial bleeding: a bench study

Control of bleeding from major arteries in the upper-GI tract remains difficult with currently available endoscopic devices. We designed an endosuture device that uses a curved needle and extracorporeal knotting, and assessed the device in stopping arterial bleeding in a bench model.

Harvested porcine splenic arteries (2-mm diameter) were tunneled submucosally in pig stomach with the open end protruding into an artificially created mucosal defect. The outer end of the vessel was connected to a pulsatile pump, and red ink was infused at a pressure of about 100 mm Hg. The stomach was installed on an Erlangen endo-training model. The suturing device (Eagle Claw II), mounted outside an endoscope, has an eyed, curved needle that carries a 3-0 nylon thread. After puncture, the thread was retrieved by using a hook. Three-throw square knots were tied at the thread extracorporeally and were pushed into place by using a knotting cap. The criteria of successful plication was defined as hemostasis after knotting, no leakage at pressures of >200 mm Hg, and the vessel was completely encircled by the suture.

A total of 25 sutures were made with the mean time of 9.38 minutes (standard deviation 1.51). Control of the bleeding was obtained with 17 sutures (68%). The causes for failure were the following: a suture was too shallow (4), a loose knot (2), incorrect suture position (1), and stomach-wall edema (1).

Control of bleeding from large arteries by using endoscopic suturing is possible. Continued refinements of the device are required.