Artificial Gastric Ulcers Research Articles

Comparison of vonoprazan and proton pump inhibitors for the treatment of gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection-induced ulcer: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundBoth vonoprazan and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are currently used to treat artificial ulcers after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection. However, evidence-based medicine proving the efficacy of vonoprazan is still lacking. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of vonoprazan and PPIs for the treatment of artificial ulcers after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection.MethodsThe PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to September 2023 for related randomized controlled trials (RCTs). RCTs that compared the efficacy of vonoprazan and PPIs in treating artificial gastric ulcers after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection were included. Two independent reviewers screened the included studies, extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias. The following outcomes were extracted for comparison: ulcer healing rate, ulcer shrinkage rate, delayed postoperative bleeding rate, and ulcer perforation rate.ResultsNine randomized controlled trials involving 926 patients were included. The pooled results showed that vonoprazan had a significantly lower rate of delayed postoperative bleeding than did PPIs (RR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.23–0.91; P = 0.03). No significant differences were found in terms of ulcer healing, shrinkage rates, or ulcer perforation rates between vonoprazan and PPIs.ConclusionsCompared with PPIs, vonoprazan is superior at reducing delayed postoperative bleeding after endoscopic submucosal dissection. However, further studies are needed to prove the efficacy of vonoprazan.Systematic Review RegistrationIdentifier CRD42024509227.

Successful mucosal closure of artificial gastric ulcer with twin grasping forceps and endoclips after endoscopic submucosal dissection.

The risk of postoperative adverse events following endoscopic resection can be reduced through endoscopic closure of the artificial gastric ulcer [1], but it is not easy owing to the gastric wall thickness and hardness. There are several methods for closing ulcers induced by gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) [2] [3] [4] [5]. Here, we describe the successful simple closure of a post-gastric ESD artificial ulcer using twin grasping forceps (Twin Grasper; Ovesco Endoscopy AG, Tubingen, Germany) and endoclips (EZ clip; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan).

The feasibility of a novel injectable hydrogel for protecting artificial gastrointestinal ulcers after endoscopic resection: an animal pilot study

Recently, covering materials for protecting post-endoscopic ulcers are being developed using hydrogels. Existing hydrogels are not ideal coating materials because it is difficult to control their physical properties. Therefore, we conducted an animal pilot study to investigate the protective effect of a novel ulcer coating material, whose physical properties can be easily controlled and designed. We applied the novel injectable hydrogel to artificial ulcers induced on the gastric mucosa of rats. Rats were assigned to the hydrogel or the control group. To measure the protective effect of hydrogel on ulcers, the perforation rate, ulcer diameter, and ulcer area were evaluated 48 h after gel application. As secondary endpoints, we assessed the residual rate of the hydrogel at the bottom of the ulcer, performed histological analysis, and analyzed adverse events associated with hydrogel. The perforation rate was significantly lower (16% vs. 75%) and the mean diameter of ulcers was significantly smaller (5.4 ± 1.8 mm vs. 7.8 ± 2.8 mm) in the hydrogel group. Histopathological findings revealed the inflammatory cell count was significantly higher in the control group. Our novel hydrogel showed a protective effect on artificial gastric ulcers in a rat model.

Vonoprazan versus lansoprazole in the treatment of artificial gastric ulcers after endoscopic submucossal dissection: a randomized, open-label trial

BackgroundVonoprazan is more potent and longer acting than traditional proton pump inhibitor. Although vonoprazan is expected to be superior to proton pump inhibitor, its efficacy in the treatment of gastric ulcers following endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of vonoprazan in artificial ulcer healing following ESD.MethodsPatients with gastric tumors were randomly assigned to the vonoprazan group (group V) or lansoprazole group (group L) after ESD. Patients received intravenous lansoprazole (30 mg) twice on the day of ESD. Thereafter, patients were treated with vonoprazan (20 mg/day) in group V or lansoprazole (30 mg/day) in group L. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed 4 and 8 weeks after the ESD.ResultsA total of 168 patients were analyzed. The 4-week healing rate for artificial ulcer was not significantly higher in group V versus group L (17/85, 20.0% vs. 14/83, 16.9%, respectively). In addition, there were no significant differences between the 4-week shrinkage rates between the two groups. Postoperative bleeding occurred in none of the patients in group V and three in group L. One patient in group V presented delayed perforation 2 days after ESD.ConclusionsVonoprazan might not be superior to lansoprazole in the healing of artificial gastric ulcer after ESD.Trial registration: University hospital Medical Information Network (registration number: UMIN000016642), Registered 27 February 2015, https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index-j.htm.

Vonoprazan vs lansoprazole for the treatment of artificial gastric ulcer after endoscopic submucosal dissection: a prospective randomized comparative study.

Vonoprazan is a potent inhibitor of gastric acid secretion and may have better response than proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the treatment of endoscopic submucosal dissection induced artificial ulcers. However, reported outcomes remain controversial. In this study, we conducted a prospective, randomized comparative trial to evaluate healing effects of vonoprazan and lansoprazole on endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)-induced ulcers. We enrolled 216 patients who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric neoplasms. They were randomly divided into vonoprazan (20 mg/day) and lansoprazole (30 mg/day) groups. The primary endpoint was the reduction rate of ulcer and complete healing (scar) ratio of ESD-induced ulcers at 4 and 8 weeks. Finally, 101 patients of the vonoprazan group and 95 patients of the lansoprazole group were included in the analysis. There were no significant differences in the reduction rate between the vonoprazan and lansoprazole groups at either timepoint (4 weeks, 94.0 vs 93.4%; 8 weeks, 99.8 vs 99.9%, respectively). The complete healing ratio at 4 and 8 weeks did not differ significantly between the vonoprazan and lansoprazole groups (4 weeks, 11.9 vs 12.6%; 8 weeks, 87.1 vs 86.3%, respectively). In the anti-H. pylori-antibody negative or positive patients, there were no significant differences in the reduction rate and complete healing ratio between the vonoprazan and lansoprazole groups. Regardless of treatment choice, the overall complete healing ratio at 8 weeks was significantly higher in the anti-H. pylori-antibody negative patients than the positive patients (p = 0.006). The healing effects of vonoprazan on ESD-induced ulcers were comparative to those of lansoprazole.

Effect of ilaprazole on the healing of endoscopic submucosal dissection-induced gastric ulcer: randomized-controlled, multicenter study.

The optimal treatment regimen or the duration of treatment for an endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)-induced gastric ulcer has not been established. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of novel proton-pump inhibitor, ilaprazole, for the treatment of ESD-induced gastric ulcer. This was a prospective, open-label, randomized multicenter study. Between June 2015 and March 2018, a total of 176 patients (178 lesions) who underwent ESD for a gastric neoplasm were randomly allocated to receive the oral proton-pump inhibitor ilaprazole 20mg or rabeprazole 20mg daily for 8weeks. The primary outcome was the ulcer healing rate at 4 and 8weeks. A total of 155 (157 lesions) and 154 patients (156 lesions) were included in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) and per-protocol analyses, respectively. There was no significant difference in the ulcer healing rate (ilaprazole vs. rabeprazole, 97.4% vs. 97.0 p = 0.78at 4weeks, 100% vs. 100%, p = 0.95at 8weeks in the mITT analysis) or stage of ulcer (scar stage, 25.6% vs. 17.7%, p = 0.25at 4weeks, 92.3% vs. 88.6%, p = 0.59at 8weeks in the mITT analysis) between the treatment groups. The quality of ulcer healing was not significantly different between the two groups. No independent predictive factor for higher-quality ulcer healing was found in the multivariate analysis. According to this trial, ilaprazole and rabeprazole showed no significant difference in the healing of artificial gastric ulcers. Most of the ulcers achieved complete healing within 4-8weeks. ClinicalTrial.gov NCT02638584.

Effect of vonoprazan on the treatment of artificial gastric ulcers after endoscopic submucosal dissection: Prospective randomized controlled trial.

Proton pump inhibitors are effective for the treatment of gastric ulcers after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). However, the most excellent therapy is controversial. Vonoprazan, an active potassium-competitive acid blocker, has a strong gastric acid secretion inhibitory effect, but its efficacy for the treatment of post-ESD gastric ulcers is unclear. Herein, we aimed to determine the healing effect of vonoprazan on post-ESD gastric ulcers. We carried out a prospective randomized controlled trial examining 92 patients who had undergone ESD for the treatment of gastric neoplasms between April 2015 and June 2016 at Machida Municipal Hospital. Patients were treated with 20 mg/day vonoprazan (V group) or 20 mg/day esomeprazole (E group) for 8 weeks. We evaluated the 8-week cure rate for artificial ulcers and any complications after ESD. A total of 80 patients (median age, 73.5 years; 71.3% male) were analyzed. Cure rate for the V group was significantly higher than that for the E group (94.9% [37/39] vs 78.0% [32/41], respectively; P = 0.049). In a multivariate analysis, only vonoprazan was correlated with ulcer healing (odds ratio = 6.33; 95% CI = 1.21-33.20; P = 0.029). Delayed bleeding was experienced only in the E group (7.3% [3/41]), but no significant difference compared with the V group was observed (P = 0.241). Vonoprazan was significantly superior to esomeprazole for the healing of post-ESD gastric ulcers and should be considered as a treatment of first choice.

The Effect of Endoscopic Resection on Short-Term Surgical Outcomes in Patients with Additional Laparoscopic Gastrectomy after Non-Curative Resection for Gastric Cancer.

PurposeEndoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in early gastric cancer causes an artificial gastric ulcer and local inflammation that has a negative intraprocedural impact on additional laparoscopic gastrectomy in patients with noncurative ESD. In this study, we analyzed the effect of ESD on short-term surgical outcomes and evaluated the risk factors.Materials and MethodsFrom January 2003 to January 2013, 1,704 patients of the National Cancer Center underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy with lymph node dissection because of preoperative stage Ia or Ib gastric cancer. They were divided into 2 groups: (1) with preoperative ESD or (2) without preoperative ESD. Clinicopathologic factors and short-term surgical outcomes were retrospectively evaluated along with risk factors such as preoperative ESD.ResultsSeveral characteristics differed between patients who underwent ESD-surgery (n=199) or surgery alone (n=1,505). The mean interval from the ESD procedure to the operation was 43.03 days. Estimated blood loss, open conversion rate, mean operation time, and length of hospital stay were not different between the 2 groups. Postoperative complications occurred in 23 patients (11.56%) in the ESD-surgery group and in 189 patients (12.56%) in the surgery-only group, and 3 deaths occurred among patients with complications (1 patient [ESD-surgery group] vs. 2 patients [surgery-only group]; P=0.688). A history of ESD was not significantly associated with postoperative complications (P=0.688). Multivariate analysis showed that male sex (P=0.008) and laparoscopic total or proximal gastrectomy (P=0.000) were independently associated with postoperative complications.ConclusionsESD did not affect short-term surgical outcomes during and after an additional laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Usefulness of the Forrest Classification to Predict Artificial Ulcer Rebleeding during Second-Look Endoscopy after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection.

Background/Aims:Delayed post-endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) bleeding (DPEB) is difficult to predict and there is controversy regarding the usefulness of prophylactic hemostasis during second-look endoscopy. This study evaluated the risk factors related to DPEB, the relationship between clinical outcomes and the Forrest classification, and the results of prophylactic hemostasis during second-look endoscopy.Methods:Second-look endoscopy was performed on the day after ESD to check for recent hemorrhage or potential bleeding and the presence of artificial ulcers in all patients.Results:DPEB occurred in 42 of 581 patients (7.2%). Multivariate analysis determined that a specimen size ≥40 mm (odds ratio [OR], 3.03; p=0.003), and a high-risk Forrest classification (Forrest Ib+IIa+IIb; OR, 6.88; p<0.001) were risk factors for DPEB. DPEB was significantly more likely in patients classified with Forrest Ib (OR, 24.35; p<0.001), IIa (OR, 12.91; p<0.001), or IIb (OR, 8.31; p<0.001) ulcers compared with Forrest III ulcers. There was no statistically significant difference between the prophylactic hemostasis and non-hemostasis groups (Forrest Ib, p=0.938; IIa, p=0.438; IIb, p=0.397; IIc, p=0.773) during second-look endoscopy.Conclusions:The Forrest classification of artificial gastric ulcers during second-look endoscopy seems to be a useful tool for predicting delayed bleeding. However, routine prophylactic hemostasis during second-look endoscopy seemed to not be useful for preventing DPEB.

Effects of esomeprazole on the healing process of post-endoscopic submucosal dissection gastric ulcers: a single arm, prospective trial.

Objectives: Gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is currently a standard procedure. ESD enables en-bloc resection of large lesions, while inducing larger artificial ulcers to a greater extent than conventional procedures. Several studies have reported that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) prevent delayed bleeding and expedite the artificial ulcer healing process. Esomeprazole, an S-isomer of omeprazole, is reportedly one of strongest inhibitors of gastric acid secretion. Previous studies have examined the effectiveness of esomeprazole. Our goal was to verify the effects of esomeprazole on artificial ulcers in a prospective study.Methods: A total of 185 patients underwent ESD for gastric neoplasms at our hospital between January 2013 and June 2015. Among these 185 patients, 49 post-ESD scar lesions were included in this prospective trial. First, 20 mg esomeprazole was orally administered to all subjects before and after the procedure. We then evaluated the delayed bleeding rate and ulcer scarring rates at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the procedure by using a gastric ulcer stage system.Results: There was one case of delayed bleeding (2.0%). Regardless of Helicobacter pylori infection status, ulcer scarring rates at weeks 4 and 8 were respectively 28.6% (14/49) and 98% (48/49).Conclusions: Our results suggest that oral administration of esomeprazole alone may be sufficient for prompt healing of artificial gastric ulcers induced by ESD (UMIN000009367).

Effective healing of endoscopic submucosal dissection-induced ulcers by a single week of proton pump inhibitor treatment: a retrospective study.

BackgroundAlthough artificial ulcers generally heal faster than Helicobacter pylori-related or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-related peptic ulcers, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)-induced gastric ulcers are usually treated with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for 4–8 weeks. The effect of oral administration of a PPI for 1 week on ESD-induced gastric ulcers has not yet been evaluated. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of oral PPI for 1 week in patients with ESD-induced ulcers.MethodsWe selected 45 patients who underwent ESD for gastric mucosal tumors between June 2005 and July 2006 at Toyama University Hospital, and who met our inclusion criteria. All patients received omeprazole intravenously for 2 days after ESD and then orally for 1 week to prevent bleeding. Twenty two patients received no further omeprazole therapy (1-week group) and the rest received omeprazole orally for 7 more weeks (8-week group). Follow-up endoscopy was performed at 1 day, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after ESD. We compared the ulcer healing rates between both groups.ResultsThere were no significant differences between the groups in the ulcer-healing rate, because ulcers healed in 22 (96%) and 20 (91%) patients from the 8-week and 1-week groups, respectively.ConclusionsIn our study, oral administration of omeprazole for 1 week was sufficient to achieve healing of ESD-induced artificial gastric ulcers. A larger prospective trial will be required to confirm these findings.

Bio-sheet graft therapy for artificial gastric ulcer after endoscopic submucosal dissection: an animal feasibility study

Various bio-sheet grafts have been attempted either to accelerate healing of artificial ulcers or to prevent adverse events after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), but neither prospective nor mechanistic studies were available. To evaluate the substantial effect of a bio-sheet graft on artificial ulcer healing and its feasibility as an endoscopic treatment modality. Preclinical, invivo animal experiment and proof-of-concept study. Animal laboratory. Three mini-pigs, Sus scrofa, mean age 14 months. Multiple ulcers sized 2.5 cm in diameter were generated by ESD in 3 mini-pigs and were assigned randomly into the following 3 groups; control group, bio-sheet group, or combination (bio-sheet plus drug) group. Bio-sheet grafts or bio-sheet plus drug combinations were applied on the artificial ulcers immediately after the ESD. Feasibility and efficacy of endoscopic bio-sheet graft therapy for the management of artificial ulcers and the evaluation of healing conditions based on histology changes in the remaining gastric bed tissues harvested from the stomachs. Thirty-three ESD specimens were obtained. On an image analysis of the ratio of healed area in the remaining gastric bed tissue compared with the matched dissected gastric mucosa, the control group showed the most significant improvement in healing activity among the 3 groups (P< .05), whereas the severity of inflammation in the remaining ulcer tissue was significantly attenuated in bio-sheet and combination groups (P< .05). Animal model. Although the bio-sheet grafts provided physical protection from gastric acid attack as reflected in the attenuated inflammation on the ulcer beds, unexpected delayed ulcer healing was noted in the bio-sheet graft group because of its physical hindrance of the healing process.

Complete closure of artificial gastric ulcer after endoscopic submucosal dissection by combined use of a single over-the-scope clip and through-the-scope clips (with videos).

BackgroundA 5–7 day hospital stay is usually needed after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of gastric tumor because of the possibility of delayed perforation or bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of combined use of a single over-the-scope clip (OTSC) and through-the-scope clips (TTSCs) to achieve complete closure of artificial gastric ulcer after ESD.MethodsWe prospectively studied 12 patients with early gastric cancer or gastric adenoma. We performed complete closure of post-ESD artificial gastric ulcer using a combination of a single OTSC and TTSCs.ResultsMean size of post-ESD artificial ulcer was 54.6 mm. The mean operating time for the closure procedure was 15.2 min., and the success rate was 91.7 % (11/12). Patients who underwent complete closure of post-ESD artificial gastric ulcer could be discharged the day after ESD and the closing procedure.ConclusionsComplete closure of post-ESD artificial gastric ulcer using a combination of a single OTSC and TTSCs is useful for shortening the period of hospitalization and reducing treatment cost.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00464-014-3725-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Expression level of sonic hedgehog correlated with the speed of gastric mucosa regeneration in artificial gastric ulcers

Gastric ulcer healing is a complex process involving cell proliferation and tissue remodeling. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) activates the Shh signaling pathway, which plays a key role in processes such as tissue repair. Shh and interleukin 1β (IL1β) have been reported to influence the proliferation of gastric mucosa. We evaluated the relationships between the speed of gastric ulcer healing and the levels of expression of Shh and IL1β. The study included 45 patients (mean age 71.9 ± 9.0 years; M/F, 30/15) who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric cancer, followed by standard dose of oral proton-pump inhibitor for 4 weeks. Subsequently, the size of ESD-induced artificial ulcers were measured to determine the speed of gastric ulcer healing, and regenerating mucosa around the ulcers and appropriately matched controls were collected from patients by endoscopic biopsy. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array analysis of genes in the Shh signaling pathway was performed, and quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was used to measure IL1β mRNA. The levels of Shh and IL1β mRNA were 3.0 ± 2.7-fold and 2.5 ± 2.5-fold higher, respectively, in regenerating mucosa of artificial ulcers than in appropriately matched controls, with the two being positively correlated (r = 0.9, P < 0.001). Shh (r = 0.8, P < 0.001) and IL1β (r = 0.7, P < 0.005) expression was each positively correlated with the speed of gastric ulcer healing, but multivariate analysis showed that Shh expression was the only significant parameter (P = 0.045). Expression of Shh was correlated with the speed of gastric ulcer healing, promoting the regeneration of gastric mucosa.

Role of antisecretory agents for gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection

Gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) causes artificial gastric ulcers and there is no consensus regarding the optimal perioperative management in terms of prevention of intra- or postoperative bleeding and promotion of healing. Traditionally, 8-week administration of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and mucosal protective agents were used in the same way as for peptic ulcer management. However, recent studies have revealed that prior use of PPI might reduce intraoperative bleeding or early-phase postoperative bleeding, and combination of histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2RA), and second-look endoscopy might have a similar effect on postoperative bleeding to PPI. Additionally, the advantage of PPI over H2RA is not proven and the optimal duration of PPI may be shortened until 2 weeks when the deteriorating factors for ESD ulcer are excluded. Furthermore, mucosal protective agents may facilitate ulcer healing. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal treatment protocol before and after ESD for both prevention of bleeding complication and promotion of ulcer healing, by using available antisecretory agents and mucosal protective agents.

Management of bleeding and artificial gastric ulcers associated with endoscopic submucosal dissection

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), an endoscopic procedure for the treatment of gastric epithelial neoplasia without lymph node metastases, spread rapidly, primarily in Japan, starting in the late 1990s. ESD enables en bloc resection of lesions that are difficult to resect using conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). However, in comparison to EMR, ESD requires a high level of endoscopic competence and a longer resection time. Thus, ESD is associated with a higher risk of adverse events, including intraoperative and postoperative bleeding and gastrointestinal perforation. In particular, because of a higher incidence of intraoperative bleeding with mucosal incision and submucosal dissection, which are distinctive endoscopic procedures in ESD, a strategy for endoscopic hemostasis, mainly by thermo-coagulation hemostasis using hemostatic forceps, is important. In addition, because of iatrogenic artificial ulcers that always form after ESD, endoscopic hemostasis and appropriate pharmacotherapy during the healing process are essential.

Optimal Duration of Proton Pump Inhibitor for Healing Artificial Ulcers After Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancer

To determine the optimal duration of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment for artificial gastric ulcers caused by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), Lee et al. [1] investigated 333 patients who underwent ESD, utilizing a retrospective analysis (n = 221) and prospective randomized validation (n = 112). The patients with 8-week PPI administration had significantly greater healing of large ESD defects (C40 mm) than those with 4-week PPI administration (83.3 vs. 42.6%, p 0.01). Therefore, they concluded that 8-week courses of PPI administration should be recommended to treat ESD-induced ulcers larger than 40 mm. Endoscopic resection allows complete histological staging of the cancer, and is superior to biopsy for diagnosing superficial gastrointestinal neoplasia [2]. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has been widely established as a safe and reasonable procedure for superficial gastrointestinal neoplasia [3, 4]. However, the tumors are frequently removed in fragments [5, 6], and specimens obtained by such piecemeal resection render pathological staging inaccurate [7]. This is a major factor leading to the high risk of recurrence when this technique is used on larger lesions [8]. T staging using EUS is reportedly accurate in only 80–90% of cases [9, 10]. Hence, the final staging can only be done through a formal histological analysis of en bloc resected material [11]. The ESD technique has been rapidly gaining popularity in Japan and Korea, the countries with the highest incidence of gastric cancer, primarily because of the ability to remove large early gastric cancer (EGC) en bloc [12]. Furthermore, expanded criteria for endoscopic resection have been proposed based on a large study of surgically resected gastric cancers that revealed particular conditions of mucosal cancers with little risk of lymph node metastasis [13]. Recently, many large EGC lesions have been removed by ESD, resulting in large artificial ulcers. Endoscopic resection is safe, effective, and applicable to a wide variety of clinical situations. However, ESD may cause large and deep defects after the procedure. Green et al. [14] and Berstad [15] have shown that the intragastric pH should be 6.0 or above to allow platelet aggregation and prevent disaggregation. PPIs and histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) are generally administered for the treatment of ESD-related ulcers. In standard EMR, artificial ulcers were thought to heal faster and to recur less often than peptic ulcers [16]. Lee et al. [17] reported that at least 4 weeks of PPI administration was required to close even small ulcers after EMR. Yamaguchi et al. [18] found no significant difference between the effect of PPI and that of H2RA for small ulcers caused by ESD and EMR. In contrast, Ye et al. [19] reported that active ulcers remained at a higher incidence after 4 weeks of H2RA treatment than after PPI administration in ESD-/EMRinduced ulcers with an approximate size of 10 mm. Uedo et al. [20] reported that 8 weeks of PPI administration was sufficient to prevent re-bleeding from ESD defects smaller than 20 mm. Oh et al. [21] reported that the size of the initial defect affects the rate of ulcer healing at 4 weeks of PPI administration post-ESD. Kakushima et al. [22] reported that 4 weeks of PPI administration was not T. Gotoda (&) Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan e-mail: tgotoda@hosp.ncgm.go.jp

The Usefulness of Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy for the Healing of Artificial Gastric Ulcer After Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancer

The Usefulness of Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy for the Healing of Artificial Gastric Ulcer After Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancer

Risk factors for recurrence of artificial gastric ulcers after endoscopic submucosal dissection

It has been reported previously that artificial gastric ulcers caused by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) would heal within 8 weeks, irrespective of their size and location. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe long-term outcomes of gastric ESD ulcers. Check-up of ulcers was performed by periodic endoscopy. The rate of ESD ulcer recurrence and clinicopathological factors that may relate to recurrence were assessed. During the median observation period of 33 months, a benign ulcer recurrence occurred in 10 lesions in 10 patients (2.1%). Univariate analysis showed that Helicobacter pylori infection and presence of pathological ulcer findings within the ESD specimen were significantly related to the risk of ESD ulcer recurrence. Although the frequency is low, there is a possibility of ESD ulcer recurrence in patients with H. pylori infection and in patients who undergo ESD for a lesion with ulceration.

Argon laser photocoagulation in the dog stomach.

Laser photocoagulation is one of a number of methods currently under investigation for the endoscopic treatment of gastrointestinal haemorrhage. The Argon ion and Neodymium Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (Nd YAG) lasers are theoretically suitable as the beam from each may be transmitted via a flexible fibre. Argon laser photocoagulation has been shown to be effective and we have elucidated which factors determine its safety and efficacy. Studies on normal canine gastric mucosa showed that the depth of tissue damage depended chiefly on the total incident laser energy on any one spot, and that below 50 J the risk of perforation was extremely low. The energy density was much less important. The haemostatic effect depended more on the laser power. In artificial bleeding gastric ulcers in heparinised dogs the most effective level was 7--9 W, at which 22 out of 23 ulcers (96%) stopped bleeding completely, compared with one out of 12 controls. Photocoagulation was achieved in these cases with energies well within the safe limits. The procedure was effective endoscopically, and these results justify early clinical studies in man.