Study on endoscopic esophageal mucosal resection with ligating device II -Experimental study

Background/Aims: This study reports on animal experiments regarding the saf ety of endoscopic esophageal mucosal resection with a ligating device (EEMR L), as well as the amount of mucosa which can be removed by this technique, the depth of resection and the feasibility of piecemeal resection. Methodology: Three experiments were performed in six mongrel dogs under gen eral anesthesia. Results: When EEMRL was done without submucosal injection of saline, resect ion reached the muscular layer and caused esophageal perforation. The avera ge dimensions of the mucosal pieces resected using 8-, 10-, and 12-mm devic es was 13x10mm, 18x15mm, and 22x18mm, respectively. Resection reached the m id-plane of the submucosa and the depth was almost uniform. After piecemeal resection, there was no macroscopically visible mucosa at the resection si te and each mucosal piece was resected. along the mid-plane of the submucos a. Conclusions: The experimental study indicated that submucosal injection of saline is essential to prevent esophageal perforation. It also showed that EEMRL allows resection up to the mid-plane of the submucosa, that the 12-mm device allows en bloc resection of lesions less than or equal to 15mm in d iameter and that EEMRL is suitable for piecemeal resection.