Using Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection As a Routine Component of the Standard Treatment Strategy for Large and Complex Colorectal Lesions in a Western Tertiary Referral Unit

Background: Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection results in high rates of en bloc resection, few recurrences, and accurate diagnosis, and it is useful in lesions with significant fibrosis. However, endoscopic submucosal dissection has not been widely adopted by Western endoscopists and the published experience from Western centers is very limited.

Objectives: This study aims to report the outcomes from a UK tertiary center using colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection as part of a standard lesion specific treatment approach.

Design: This was a retrospective study.

Setting: The study was conducted in a tertiary referral unit for interventional endoscopy in the United Kingdom.

Patients: A total of 116 colorectal lesions were resected using endoscopic submucosal dissection or hybrid endoscopic submucosal dissection in 107 patients.

Main Outcome Measures: Outcomes included complications, recurrence, requirement for surgery, en bloc and R0 resection.

Results: One hundred sixteen lesions (mean size 58.8mm) were resected using endoscopic submucosal dissection (n = 58) and hybrid endoscopic submucosal dissection (n = 58). Eighty-two (70.7%) had failed attempts at resection (n = 58) or extensive sampling before referral. Twelve contained invasive adenocarcinoma; endoscopic resection was curative in 6. Only 2 of 6 patients with noncurative endoscopic resection agreed to surgery, and none had lymph node metastases. Six of 7 perforations were successfully treated with endoscopic clips. Where endoscopic submucosal dissection was used alone, en bloc resection was achieved in 93% and R0 resection was achieved in 91%. Two patients experienced recurrence; both were managed with endoscopic resection.

Limitations: This was a retrospective study. Procedures were planned as endoscopic submucosal dissection, but some may have been converted to hybrid endoscopic submucosal dissection and not recorded.

Conclusion: Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection can be used in a Western center as part of a standard lesion-specific approach to deliver effective organ-conserving treatment to patients with large challenging lesions. Lesion assessment in Western practice should be improved to reduce the incidence of prior heavy manipulation and to guide appropriate referral. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A601.