[Effectiveness of endoscopic incision with an IT-knife for the treatment of severe postoperative stricture of GI tract].
BACKGROUND
Severe stenosis of gastrointestinal (GI) tract anastomosis often requires frequent treatment for restenosis. It can cause long-term poor quality of life.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effectiveness of the endoscopic incision method with an Insulation-Tipped (IT)-knife for cases of severe GI stenosis in which the condition of the area distal to the stricture is unknown.


METHODS
Endoscopic incisions with an IT-knife were performed in 6 cases of postoperative stenosis who underwent gastrojejunostomy (n = 3), esophagogastrostomy (n = 2), and ileocolestomy (n = 1). The incisions were made in three or four directions.


RESULTS
In all cases, the incisions were successful, with no perforation. There was no severe complication excluding slight bleeding in one case. Because of sufficient incision, there was no restenosis for 20-40 weeks after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic incision with an IT-knife is useful for severe postoperative stenosis.
Uemura
Masayo
M
Department of Gastroenterology, St Luke's International Hospital.
Horiki
Noriyuki
N
Suzuki
Shoko
S
Ishii
Naoki
N
Iizuka
Yusuke
Y
Fukuda
Katsuyuki
K
Ohigashi
Seiji
S
Fujita
Yoshiyuki
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013525:Surgical Instruments