title: Endoscopic repair of post-surgical gastrointestinal complications.
abstract: Complications following gastrointestinal surgery may require re-intervention, can lead to prolonged hospitalization, and significantly increase health costs. Some complications, such as anastomotic leakage, fistula, and stricture require a multidisciplinary approach. Therapeutic endoscopy may play a pivotal role in these conditions, allowing minimally invasive treatment. Different endoscopic approaches, including fibrin glue injection, endoclips, self-expanding stents, and endoscopic vacuum-assisted devices have been introduced for both anastomotic leakage and fistula treatment. Similarly endoscopic treatments, such as endoscopic dilation, incisional therapy, and self-expanding stents have been used for anastomotic strictures. All these techniques can be safely performed by skilled endoscopists, and may achieve a high technical success rate in both the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. Here we will review the endoscopic management of post-surgical complications; these techniques should be considered as first-line approach in selected patients, allowing to avoid re-operation, reduce hospital stay, and decrease costs.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, New S. Agostino Hospital, Modena, Italy. Electronic address: r.manta@libero.it.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manta
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Magno
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Conigliaro
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bertani
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manno
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zullo
authors.forename: Marzio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frazzoni
authors.forename: Gabrio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bassotti
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galloro
mesh_terms: D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000379:methods*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation
keywords: Endoscopic clips; Endoscopic treatment; Fistula; Post-surgical complications; Stenosis; Stents