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BACKGROUND: Recently, high rates of post-peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) gastroesophageal reflux disease have been reported. A novel POEM with fundoplication (POEM-F) has been described to address this issue. This case series presents our experience performing POEM-F and highlights the lessons learned. CASE: 13 patients (age 46.6+10.7yrs; 7M) were included; most (76.9%) of them had type II achalasia, and the mean baseline Eckardt score (ES) was 8.2+2.9. ENDOSCOPIC METHODS: After an initial standard anterior myotomy, transmural dissection was done to enter the peritoneum. Next, an ultraslim scope was advanced into the stomach and the fundus was grasped and retracted into the tunnel to simulate the fundoplication wrap (monitored by the ultraslim scope). Thereafter, a loop ligating device was anchored to the fundus of the stomach and the myotomy edge and then gradually tightened to form a fundoplication wrap. Following are the lessons learned while performing POEM-F. Lesson 1: To prevent injury to extraperitoneal blood vessels, float the fat to improve the visualization of these vessels. Lesson 2: To prevent the loss of an adequate wrap position: 1) Choose a position far from the peritoneal fat, 2) Note the orientation to the liver and the presence and appearance of nearby vessels on the fundic serosa, 3) Abrade the serosa to increase visualization. Lesson 3: To prevent the loss of the loop ligating device while anchoring at the fundic serosa, slowly open the endoclip while maintaining forward pressure and ensure adequate loop slack. Lesson 4: To avoid using a Veress needle, continuously use the scope to suction peritoneal CO2 whenever the scope is within the peritoneal cavity and before it is retracted into the submucosal tunnel. Lesson 5: To prevent shearing of surrounding structures: 1) Make a generous incision at the esophageal mucosa and the peritoneal lining, 2) Keep the catheter of the loop ligating device close to the gastroscope, 3) Pass the assembled loop through the mucosal incision, submucosal tunnel and into the peritoneal cavity under direct visualization. The technical success was 92%, mean procedural duration and fundoplication time was 105.17+12 and 55+11.82mins, respectively. At the median follow-up of 134 (IQR 133-175) days, the mean ES was 0.2+0.45 and an intact wrap was seen in 4/5 patients. No high-grade dysplasia was noted and an abnormal esophageal acid exposure time was seen in 1/5 of patients. CONCLUSION: POEM-F is safe and technically feasible with excellent short-term outcomes. Greater experience, procedural standardization and the development of dedicated tools are likely to refine this procedure further. Larger prospective studies with long-term follow-up are critical to validate this procedure further.

Background: Colonoscopy is widely performed for direct visualization and therapeutic intervention in the colon. While colonoscopy is a relatively safe procedure, there are several limitations due to the unintuitive drive mechanism and mechanical design of current conventional colonoscopes (CC). These include sedation related events, patient discomfort due to looping, perforation/colon trauma, long learning curve/training time, variable quality, and endoscopist injury due to poor ergonomics. To overcome these limitations, endoscopy as currently practiced would require a dramatic transformation in both endoscope design and technique used for actuation. The Magnetic Flexible Endoscope (MFE) was developed to address these limitations, as a highly flexible, single-use, robot-assisted, magnetically-manipulated endoscope. The MFE is composed of a handheld controller, a robot manipulator with magnetic end effector, and a magnetic flexible endoscope to maintain the functionality of a CC. Unlike CC's that are pushed for advancement, the MFE is driven by magnetic coupling to enable a “front-pull” actuation mechanism. The forward drive mechanism prevents buckling of the insertion tube, looping, and colon wall stress; reducing the risk of perforation and pain during the procedure. With integration of robotic assistance and autonomous function, the challenging task of endoscope navigation becomes simplified. In-vivo validation of colon navigation for diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy is now tested.

Methods: The MFE was tested in-vivo using two 37-kg female, Danish Duroc, large white-Landrace cross-swines to evaluate system safety, core functionality, navigation, and capacity for therapeutic interventions. Main outcome measure was safety (trauma/premature demise). The MFE was navigated through the colon and withdrawn five times. Autonomous navigation and endoscopic maneuvers, retroflexion, biopsy, and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), were performed.

Results: The MFE successfully and safely navigated the swine colon with good visibility. There was no gross colon trauma. Autonomous navigation of the MFE was successful at autonomously detecting lumen center and orienting the endoscope for biopsy. The detection algorithm tracked the target location while motion control software aligned the endoscope tip with the biopsy forceps for tissue acquisition. During all EMR trials, the MFE system maintained hardware integrity and camera visualization. There was no submucosal trauma/perforation. 3D magnetic field sensing and manipulation was also successful.

Conclusion: The MFE is a novel platform capable of diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy, as demonstrated through benchtop evaluation and in-vivo swine trials. There was no gross trauma, perforation, or adverse event. The MFE platform functioned well and preparations for first-in-human in-vivo trials are underway.

Case presentation: 82 y/o female with a peptic duodenal bulb perforation, was referred in her third post operative week for management of a persistent leak after failied surgical repair using an omental patch.
Procedure details: On endoscopy, a 20 mm defect was visualized at the apex of the duodenum. This was not amiable to closure using an over the scope clip or endoscopic suturing given its size and friable margins. Water-soluble contrast was injected into the duodenal bulb and large volume extraluminal leakage was visualized on fluoroscopy. In addition, transient spillage of a small amount of contrast into the free peritoneal space was suspected. Given the patients poor surgical candidacy, and after consultation with our surgical colleagues, it was decided to endoscopically emulate a surgical pyloric exclusion using the following two step procedure (Fig 1, Fig 2). A soft tip guidewire and 20 mm extraction balloon were carefully advanced into the proximal small bowel under fluoroscopy. The gastroscope was withdrawn leaving the balloon catheter and guidewire in place. The jejunum was insufflated with a mixture of water-soluble radio contrast and blue dye. A curvilinear echoendoscope was advanced into the stomach alongside the balloon catheter, and a suitable window for small bowel access was identified. A 15 mm * 10 mm cautery enhanced lumen apposing metal stent (LAMS) was advanced free hand into the jejunum and deployed using standard technique. The echoendoscope and all accessories were withdrawn. An endoscopic suturing device was then used to accomplish the second step of the procedure. A 2.0 polypropylene suture was used to close the pylorus in a continuous fashion. Complete closure of the pylorus was ensured on fluoroscopy and endoscopy, and a cinch was deployed. The stomach was subsequently injected with contrast to ensure complete diversion of the anterograde gastric steam into the proximal jejunum and away from the duodenal bulb. The outcome in our patient was favorable. The patient clinically improved, was started on an oral diet three days after the procedure and discharged to a rehab facility. She died of unrelated causes, 5 months later.
Conclusion: Patients who have not undergone pyloric exclusion as part of the primary operation, and subsequently develop a duodenal leak have limited organ sparing surgical options. We were able to demonstrate that endoscopic pyloric exclusion is a technically feasible and a potentially reversible procedure. When indicated, reversal may be accomplished via endoscopic removal of LAMS and cutting of pyloric sutures (video). The procedure may provide an endoscopic alternative to surgical re-exploration, in patients that develop a post-surgical duodenal leak that is not amenable to endoscopic closure using traditional methods. Further studies are needed.

Introduction:
There has been an increasing interest in natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) for removal of complex polyps in challenging locations such as the appendiceal orifice. We present a unique successful case of endoscopic transcecal appendectomy for removal of a complex appendiceal orifice polyp.

Method:
Procedure was performed under general anesthesia. Patient received prophylactic antibiotic coverage with levofloxacin before the procedure. The adult colonoscope was advanced to the cecum using a rigidizing over-tube for scope stabilization. The polyp was identified at the appendiceal orifice and examined carefully with both white light and i-scan for pattern recognition. The extension of the polyp within the lumen of the appendix was estimated with injection of a lifting solution. A circumferential injection of the lifting solution as well as circumferential incision using an endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) knife utilizing monopolar current was then performed around the appendiceal orifice. Dissection was then extended to the serosa around the base of the appendix. Decompression of the peritoneal cavity was done via placement of 14-gauge angiocath needle to prevent tension pneumo-peritoneum. Patient positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) was monitored carefully thought the procedure. Traction with figure-of-weight rubber band clip was applied to facilitate dissection. Appendix was then dissected from the mesoappendix using the same ESD knife. The appendix was removed in an en bloc fashion. The defect was then closed using hemostatic clips.

Case Description:
69 year old female with history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia with a 15 mm sessile polyp Paris classification IIa occupying 50% of the appendiceal orifice. The most distal margin of the polyp was not endoscopically visualized as it was extending within the appendiceal lumen. Transcecal endoscopic appendectomy was performed in 83 minutes. The defect was closed using 5 hemostatic clips and one dual action tissue (DAT) clip. Patient was observed in the hospital post procedurally for mild abdominal discomfort for 3 days and was discharge home without any immediate complication. Final pathology result was remarkable for a 1.1 x 0.9 x 0.5 cm sessile serrated polyp invading within the appendiceal lumen with negative margins.

Conclusion:
Endoscopic transcecal appendectomy is a safe and effective endoscopic method for management of complex appendiceal polyps to ensure negative resected margins. The risk of appendicitis associated with full-thickness resection is eliminated in this novel NOTES approach.

For patients with weight regain after after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), transoral outlet reduction (TORe) is conventionally performed using full thickness suturing device in order to reduce the size of a dilated gastrojejunal anastomosis (GJA). However, affordability and availability remain the key limitations of this life-altering procedure. Herein, we first describe “endoloop-assisted transoral outlet reduction (e-TORe)”, a novel technique using readily available, non-technically demanding, and economical accessories in order to increase accessibility of bariatric endoscopy in socioeconomically challenged patients.

The patient was a 36 years-old male who developed weight regain after RYGB for 5 years. The patient’s weight returned to 157.2 kg with the BMI of 45.9 kg/m². He could not afford the conventional TORe, thus endoloop-assisted transoral outlet reduction (e-TORe) was offered.
For the step-by-step technique, first we applied argon plasma coagulation circumferentially at the GJA. An endoloop was then introduced into the gastric remnant as a side-by-side accessory to the gastroscope using a hemoclip attached with the tip of endoloop. After the endoloop was opened at the GJA, multiple 16-mm hemoclips were placed around the gastrojejunal anastomosis fixing endoloop deeply to the GJA. 16-mm long-prong hemoclips were selected to enhance the depth of tissue grasping at the GJA, mimicking full thickness suturing. Theoretically, this would be more effective than the suction-based superficial suturing technique. At least 8-10 clips were placed before tightening the endoloop to minimize tension on each clip and maxzimize tissue approximation. Lastly, we tightened the endoloop over a 6-millimeter hurricane balloon as we found that any tighter approximation can lead to refractory emesis. The patient achieved 10.5% total weight loss (from 154 kg to 137.8 kg) and 21% of excess weight loss at 3-month.

In conclusion, e-TORe is a safe and effective alternative endoscopic procedure for post-RYGB patients with weight regain. However, due to its novelty, long-term weight reduction efficacy remains to be determined.

Suthep Udomsawaengsup

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