Self-help inflatable balloon versus autologous skin-grafting surgery for preventing esophageal stricture after complete circular endoscopic submucosal dissection: a propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: The self-help inflatable balloon (SHIB) and autologous skin-grafting surgery (ASGS) were used to prevent stricture after esophageal complete circular endoscopic submucosal dissection (cESD) with promising clinical results. We aim to evaluate which method is more suitable for patients who underwent esophageal cESD. METHODS: From October 2017 to July 2021, patients whose mucosal defect length were between 30 and 100 mm after esophageal cESD were retrospectively reviewed from two prospective studies. They were enrolled once SHIB or ASGS was used as preventive methods to prevent stricture. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the baseline characteristics between the two groups. Comparisons were made between the two groups, including operation time, the longitudinal length of ulceration, fasting time, hospitalization days, and the incidence of stricture. RESULTS: A total of 41 patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. The numbers of patients in SHIB group and ASGS group were 25 and 16, respectively. Fifteen patients in each group were selected after performing PSM. The basic baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The stricture rates were 20% (3/15) in SHIB group and 40% (6/15) in ASGS group, while the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.427). The SHIB group showed significantly shorter operation time, shorter hospitalization days, lower cost, and longer removing balloon/stent time compared with ASGS group (p < 0.001). Comparison of relevant stricture factors between the stricture group and non-stricture group revealed that longer longitudinal length of ulceration (> 60 mm) accounted for a higher proportion in stricture groups (p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: Both the SHIB and ASGS had high efficacy and safety in preventing strictures in patients with mucosal defects no longer than 100 mm in length after esophageal cESD. The longitudinal length of ulceration > 60 mm was the independent factor for predicting stricture.

Long-term efficacy and safety of a novel self-help inflatable balloon to prevent esophageal stenosis after extensive endoscopic submucosal dissection / 中华消化内镜杂志

Objective:To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of a novel self-help inflatable balloon to prevent esophageal stenosis after extensive endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).Methods:Patients with early esophageal cancer or precancerous lesions, undergoing ESD in the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 were included in the prospective study, who had post-ESD mucosal defect greater than 5/6 of the esophageal circumference and 30-100 mm in length. The self-help inflatable balloon was used to prevent esophageal stenosis after ESD. Mucosal defect of ESD was divided into grade 1 (≥5/6 and less than the whole circumference) and grade 2 (the whole circumference). The incidence of stricture, the time from ESD to the occurrence of stricture, the total number of endoscopic balloon dilations (EBD) or radial incision and cuttings (RIC), and other adverse events were observed.Results:A total of 27 patients met the including criteria with follow-up time of 14-38 months, including 3 patients of grade 1 and 24 of grade 2. The ulcer longitudinal length was 73.7±18.4 mm. The time of wearing balloons was 92.0±20.0 days. The overall frequency of stricture was 18.5% (5/27), and the stricture incidence of patients of grade 2 resection was only 16.7% (4/27). The median time from balloon removal to stricture was 17 days. To treat the stricture, two patients received 3 EBD sessions, and three other patients received 2, 1 and 2 RIC sessions, respectively. No balloon was removed in advance, and none had a perforation or delayed bleeding.Conclusion:The self-help inflatable balloon shows high efficacy and safety in preventing esophageal stenosis in patients with mucosal defect greater than 5/6 of the esophageal circumference and less than 100 mm in length after extensive esophageal ESD.