Endoscopic full-thickness resection of the stomach: an experimental approach

Endoluminal endoscopic resections of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract have had increasing significance in recent years. Except for the extraperitoneal part of the rectum, endoscopic resections are restricted to the mucosal and submucosal layer to preserve the integrity of the GI tract wall.

The SurgAssist is the first flexible stapling device consisting of a 2,000-mm-long flexible shaft and a stapling magazine that can be positioned intraluminally and used with a remote control. To prove the principle, we investigated the endoluminal application of an endoscopically assisted and intraluminally visualized full-thickness resection of the gastric wall in a pilot study of three pigs and a series of three human exenterates.

Full-thickness resection of the gastric wall in pigs can be performed with the SurgAssist flexible stapling device from an endoluminal access. However, due to the small lumen of the esophagus, the simultaneous transesophageal introduction of the stapler shaft and gastroscope is not possible in pigs. The same procedure in three human exenterates showed that the simultaneous introduction of the flexible stapler and a standard gastroscope could be achieved without damaging the esophageal wall. Full-thickness resections of up to 4 x 4 cm were carried out with the use of two or three stapler magazines. The resulting sutures were found to be airtight upon endoscopic inflation of the stomach.

The clinical use of the SurgAssist intraluminal stapling device for endoscopic full-thickness resection of the gastric wall seems applicable for lesions in suitable locations of the stomach. Gastrointestinal stroma tumors and T1 tumors of the lower gastric corpus and antrum region are possible indications.