Background and study aims: Gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures, such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
(ERCP), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and colonoscopy are widely used for
the diagnosis or treatment of digestive diseases. Perforation is a rare but potentially
lethal complication. Large perforations usually require immediate endoscopic or surgical
repair. Endoscopic closure using a nylon loop pouch suture is usually performed with
a double-channel endoscope. This paper describes the endoscopic closure of large procedure-related
perforations using a single-channel endoscope.
Patients and methods: A total of 10 patients with large perforations (2.5 – 4.0 cm), which occurred during
ERCP, ESD, or colonoscopy, were treated using the single-channel endoscope technique.
Results: All perforations were successfully closed using a nylon loop pouch suture through
the single-channel endoscope. No surgery or further endoscopic intervention was required.
Conclusions: Nylon loop pouch suture through a single-channel endoscope was easy to perform and
was feasible for the closure of large gastrointestinal perforations.
