How to improve success rates of endoscopic management for buried bumper syndrome

Buried bumper syndrome (BBS) is a rare complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Complete BBS without visible parts of the inner bumper is a challenge for endoscopic treatment.

Data base analysis of all procedures performed at our tertiary university endoscopy center between 2000 and 2015 was conducted. Our aim was to improve the success rates of endoscopic treatment using a standardized approach and a pull-modification of the papillotome-based extraction technique in a prospective cohort.

Retrospectively, 55 patients were identified (37 men; age 54 ± 16 years). The prospective series comprised 11 patients (8 men; age 63 ± 27 years). Patients with partial BBS were effectively treated by endoscopy in both cohorts (24/25 and 4/4 patients, respectively). For complete BBS (Cyrany grade 3), success rates of endoscopic therapy differed significantly between the cohorts (P = 0.017). In the retrospective cohort, only 38% of patients (9/24 patients) were successfully treated. In the prospective cohort, all six patients (deep-type in five cases) were managed without complications. Patients with extra-gastric tubes underwent primary surgery in both cohorts (six and one patients, respectively).

A structured approach improved success rates of endoscopic treatment. All patients with an internal bumper verified to lie within the gastric wall can be treated by an experienced investigator using a papillotome-based technique.