Abstract
Background:We have been studying the potential use of sodium alginate solution in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Previous sodium alginate solutions were too viscous to handle. This time, we conducted a basic experiment to optimize the physical property of sodium alginate solution and conducted a clinical study to evaluate the safety of the optimized solution.
Methods:Sodium alginate solutions of concentrations varying from 0.3% to 0.8% were prepared and evaluated in terms of ease to inject through a catheter and to raise the mucosa, using a 0.4% sodium hyaluronate solution as control. A prospective clinical study was then conducted using a 0.6% sodium alginate solution for ESD in 10 patients with gastric neoplasm.
Results:Compared with the 0.4% sodium hyaluronate solution, the 0.6% sodium alginate solution showed no significant difference in ease to inject through a catheter, but it was significantly superior regarding raising of the mucosa. No adverse events occurred in any subjects in the clinical study.
Conclusions:The 0.6% sodium alginate solution proved to be safe as a submucosal injectant, suggesting that a larger clinical study to confirm its usefulness is warranted.
