Traction strategy with clips and rubber band allows complete en bloc endoscopic submucosal dissection of laterally spreading tumors invading the appendix

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is now the reference method for en bloc resection of large colorectal neoplasia [1]. Nevertheless, appendix invasion is still considered a contraindication to resection because of the risk of perforation and the difficulty in finding the dissection space at the bottom of the appendix. We report on the case of a 72-year-old man referred for resection of a 4 cm granular laterally spreading tumor (LST) of the cecum ([Fig. 1], [Video 1]). The lesion had developed on the appendiceal orifice, invading it deeply.

Fig. 1 Granular laterally spreading tumor with regular mucosal and vascular patterns. a White-light imaging; the appendiceal orifice is indicated by the blue arrow. b Far view with narrow-band imaging (NBI). c, d Close-up views with NBI.

Video 1 Endoscopic submucosal dissection procedure with double clip and rubber band traction to allow complete R0 resection of a laterally spreading tumor invading the appendix.

As previously demonstrated, we used a traction strategy with two clips and a rubber band [2]. After complete circumferential incision and trimming, we caught the lesion edge with the first clip, which was grasping a rubber band ([Fig. 2]). The second clip was then used to grasp the rubber band and stretch the lesion; the clip was then fixed to the opposite wall of the colon ([Fig. 3]). This traction method is flexible using stretching and relaxing of the rubber band to produce more or less traction, respectively. Greater stretching of the band resulted in strong traction, which allowed the mucosa of the appendix to be dissected and extracted through the appendiceal orifice ([Fig. 4]). Finally, we were able to cut the deep fibrotic fibers that fixed the mucosa at the bottom of the appendix. Pathological examination revealed a granular LST with high grade dysplasia, which was completely removed with free margins.

Fig. 2 First part of the endoscopic submucosal dissection procedure. a Injection at the distal edge of the lesion. b Incision passing across a telangiectasia. c Rubber band with the first clip. d Fixation of the first clip on the lateral dissected edge of the lesion.

Fig. 3 Second part of the endoscopic submucosal dissection procedure. a Rubber band grasped by the second clip. b, c Traction and then fixation on the opposite wall of the colon. d Easier submucosal dissection with strong traction.

Fig. 4 End of dissection. a Traction on the specimen stretched the appendix (arrow) away from its orifice. b Traction on the appendix (arrow). c Appendiceal resected area (arrow) with fibrosis and coagulated tissues. d Specimen with appendix (arrow) in the forceps. e Specimen stretched onto cork.

There were no complications either during the procedure or in the postoperative period. The patient was monitored for 48 hours, given the known risk of early and late acute appendicitis of 3 % and 5 %, respectively [3]. In patients with an intact appendix, there is a high risk of incomplete resection for lesions that reach and enter the appendiceal orifice with invisible margins (Type 3) [4].

Thus, appendiceal ESD is complex because of the technical difficulty in obtaining a complete resection, but the procedure seems feasible with traction methods [5].

Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_TTT_1AQ_2AD

Competing interests

None

• References

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