Predictive Factors of Postendoscopic Submucosal Dissection Electrocoagulation Syndrome and the Utility of Computed...

Recently, postendoscopic submucosal dissection electrocoagulation syndrome (PEECS) has attracted attention. However, the criteria for computed tomography (CT) scanning following esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify the predictive factors of PEECS and the usefulness of CT scanning after esophageal ESD.

A total of 245 lesions in 223 patients who underwent esophageal ESD between February 2008 and October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with double cancers, those who experienced procedural accidents, such as aspiration pneumonitis or perforation, and those who were unable to undergo CT were excluded from the study. PEECS evaluation items included body temperature (≤37.7°C = 1 point, ≥37.8°C = 2 points), white blood cell count (<10,800/μL = 1 point, ≥10,800/μL = 2 points), and chest pain (numerical rating scale [NRS] ≤4 = 1 point, NRS ≥5 = 2 points). Scores of ≥5 points were categorized as the PEECS-positive group, and scores of ≤4 points were categorized as the PEECS-negative group. The degree of mediastinal emphysema on CT was stratified into 5 grades, in which grades 0 and 1 were considered as the "low-grade" group, and grades 2, 3, and 4 were considered as the "high-grade" group. We analyzed the prognostic factors of high-grade mediastinal emphysema, including the presence or absence of PEECS.

The PEECS-positive group comprised 18 out of the 163 patients (11.0%), and mediastinal emphysema was stratified into grades 0 (94), 1 (51), 2 (12), 3 (5), and 4 (1 patient). Three independent risk factors for the onset of PEECS were identified, as follows: resected area ≥750 mm2 (OR 7.28, 95% CI 1.42-37.33, p = 0.017), treatment duration ≥75 min (OR 10.26, 95% CI 1.20-87.77, p = 0.034), and muscle layer exposure (OR 10.92, 95% CI 2.22-53.74, p = 0.003). Two independent predictive factors of high-grade mediastinal emphysema were identified, which were PEECS positivity (OR 4.31, 95% CI 1.29-14.41, p = 0.018), and muscle layer exposure (OR 4.08, 95% CI 1.18-14.06, p = 0.026).

A large resected area, prolonged treatment duration, and muscle layer exposure are risk factors for the onset of PEECS. Mediastinal emphysema was observed in 43% of patients following ESD. When marked clinical symptoms of PEECS appear, high-grade mediastinal emphysema may be observed, and therefore CT should be performed in these cases.