A soft hood improves maneuverability in narrow spaces during pharyngeal endoscopic submucosal dissection

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a minimally invasive treatment for superficial pharyngeal cancer [1]. However, maneuvering the scope is more difficult in working spaces that are narrowed by anatomical features, such as the larynx and thyroid cartilage, or by equipment, such as intubation tubes, laryngoscopes, and grasping forceps. Transparent hoods are widely used for ESD in all gastrointestinal sections to secure the visual field and provide traction, but their long tips and larger outer diameters can obstruct surrounding structures during a pharyngeal ESD. We therefore used a soft, bendable transparent hood (Space adjuster; TOP Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) for pharyngeal ESDs to improve maneuverability in tight working spaces ([Video 1]).

Video 1 A soft hood that bends in narrow working spaces improves endoscope maneuverability.

Publication History

Article published online:
09 December 2020

• Reference

• 1 Hanaoka N, Ishihara R, Takeuchi Y. et al. Endoscopic submucosal dissection as minimally invasive treatment for superficial pharyngeal cancer: a phase II study (with video). Gastrointest Endosc 2015; 82: 1002-1008