Colonoscopic full-thickness resection of the colon in a porcine model as a prelude to endoscopic surgery of difficult colon polyps: a novel technique (with videos).
BACKGROUND
Colonoscopic full-thickness resection (CFTR) of the colon may obviate the need for surgical resection of benign lesions.


OBJECTIVE
To develop an animal model for CFTR of the colon followed by endoscopic suture closure with through-the-endoscope devices.


METHODS
Pilot study.


METHODS
University medical center.


METHODS
Twenty pigs.


METHODS
A 2-cm circular area was resected on the antimesenteric side of the colon (phase 1, n = 10) and on the mesenteric side (phase 2, n = 10) by using an insulated tip knife cut followed by the use of a grasping forceps and a snare to resect and retrieve the specimen. The tissue apposition system was used to close the defect.


METHODS
Resection and closure times were recorded. The animals were euthanized at 2 weeks and examined for peritonitis, adhesions, wound healing, and T-tag injury to adjacent viscera.


RESULTS
The CFTR was successful in all 20 attempts. The median resection time was 6 minutes (range 2.5-35 minutes). Suture closure was successful in 19 animals. It took a median time of 41 minutes (range 21-125 minutes) and 4 sutures to close the defect. Eighteen animals survived without clinical signs of distress; there was a well-healed scar without peritonitis or distant adhesions on necropsy at 2 weeks. One animal failed to thrive, and necropsy revealed mild peritonitis, small abscesses, distant adhesions, and a 2-mm hole at the suture site. Two of the 132 T-tags were inserted in the adjacent viscera.


CONCLUSIONS
Colon resection in the proximal colon was not studied.


CONCLUSIONS
In this animal model, CFTR of the colon followed by suture closure can be accomplished successfully by using through-the-endoscope devices.
Raju
Gottumukkala S
GS
Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA. gsraju@mdanderson.org
Malhotra
Advitya
A
Ahmed
Ijaz
I
D000818:Animals; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods*; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013552:Swine; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014741:Video Recording