Clinical impact of second-look endoscopy after endoscopic submucosal dissection of gastric neoplasms

One major complication of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is delayed bleeding. Most hospitals routinely perform second-look endoscopy to reduce the chances of delayed bleeding without solid evidence supporting the practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether second-look endoscopy prevents delayed bleeding and to verify the clinicopathological features of delayed bleeding to determine how to identify lesions that may require second-look endoscopy.

We investigated 440 lesions in 397 patients who underwent ESD for gastric neoplasm from January 2008 to June 2010. Two-thirds of the enrolled cases were adenomas, and 290 lesions were located in the lower portion of the stomach. Clinically evident bleeding from mucosal defects 24 hours after ESD was considered as delayed bleeding. We reviewed the data, including the characteristics of patients, lesions, and procedures. Furthermore, the rate of delayed bleeding before and after second-look endoscopy, performed within three days of ESD, was investigated to determine the utility of second-look endoscopy.

Delayed bleeding was evident in 9 of 440 lesions (2.0%), all of which underwent endoscopic hemostasis. The only significant factor predicting delayed bleeding was resected specimen over 40 mm in size (p=0.003). Delayed bleeding occurred in 8 of 9 cases (89%) before the second-look endoscopy, which was performed within 72 hours after ESD.

In this study, second-look endoscopy may be useful for preventing post-ESD bleeding, especially when resected specimens are over 40 mm in size.