INTRODUCTION OF ENDOSCOPIC HAND-SUTURING USING A THROUGH-THE-SCOPE FLEXIBLE NEEDLE HOLDER

Abstract

Goto et al. developed an endoscopic hand-suturing (EHS) technique using a flexible endoscopic needle holder and sutures with anti-reversal barbs for mucosal defects after endoscopic treatment of early-stage gastrointestinal cancers.

We examined five cases, three gastric and two colorectal cancers, in which we performed EHS using EHS devices (SutuArt^Ⓡ) at our hospital. An early phase case showed wound dissection, but EHS was completed in all cases, and no post-procedure complications occurred. The resection and suture times for each lesion were similar, and suture time per stitch may shorten as the number of procedures increase. Although EHS is clinically promising, adequate preparation using a training model is necessary for its new introduction.