Endoscopic semi-blunt dissection technique safe and effective for gastric submucosal tumors

1. Use of the semi-blunt dissection technique with endoscopic resection of gastric submucosal tumours was associated with a smaller maximum diameter of gastric muscularis propria damage and a shorter postoperative hospital stay. 

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)

In recent years, endoscopic resection has increasingly been used for the resection of gastric submucosal tumours (SMTs). No studies have compared the treatment efficacy of conventional methods with semi-blunt dissection. This single-centre, retrospective study therefore sought to compare the safety and efficacy of semi-blunt dissection in the resection of gastric SMTs with the conventional method. 113 patients at the Peking University People’s Hospital who underwent endoscopic resection of gastric SMTs originating in the muscularis propria were retrospectively analyzed, with 73 receiving the conventional method and 40 receiving semi-blunt dissection. The maximum diameter of gastric muscularis propria damage was significantly greater among those who received the conventional method compared to those who received semi-blunt dissection (1.06 ± 0.48 cm vs. 0.46 ± 0.09 cm, p < 0.001). The length of hospitalization postoperatively was significantly shorter in those receiving semi-blunt dissection compared to those receiving the conventional method (7.66 ± 2.90 days vs. 5.80 ± 1.96 days, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the percentage of histologically confirmed positive resection margins. Overall, this study found that the use of semi-blunt dissection in the resection of gastric SMTs was associated with reduced damage to the gastric muscularis propria and a shorter postoperative hospital stay. 

Click to read the study in BMC Gastroenterology

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