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Zenker diverticulum is a rare disease accounting for 1.5-5% of esophageal diverticula. For a long time, surgical treatment of Zenker pharyngoesophageal diverticula implied open diverticulectomy via cervical approach. However, this intervention is characterized by high postoperative morbidity and recurrence rate. Oral endoscopic minimally invasive cricopharyngoesophagomyotomy has become widespread over the past 10 years. We present a 55-year-old female who underwent endoscopic treatment for recurrent Zenker diverticulum and postoperative esophageal stricture. We obtained favorable result in a patient with recurrent Zenker diverticulum after previous open surgeries complicated by esophageal stricture. Endoscopic management eliminated recurrent diverticulum and esophageal stricture, as well as improved the quality of life. Endoscopic approach is preferable for pharynoesophageal diverticula compared to traditional surgical diverticulectomy. Obvious advantages of this technique are stable functional result, low incidence of complications and mortality, short-term postoperative period with fast rehabilitation. Extended myotomy is essential for successful oral endoscopic cricopharyngoesophagomyotomy.

All adenomas of the major duodenal papilla (MDP) require resection regardless of morphological structure due to high risk of malignancy. Currently, intraluminal endoscopic interventions are preferable for these adenomas. MDP neoplasms with intraductal spread (type III and IV) are of particular difficulty for endoscopic techniques. Intraductal radiofrequency ablation provides new opportunities for minimally invasive treatment of patients with MDP adenomas and intraductal component. A 72-year-old patient after previous endoscopic papillectomy for MDP adenoma admitted to the Vishnevsky National Research Medical Center of Surgery due to residual adenomatous growths within the papillectomy zone extending to the common bile duct throughout 13 mm. The patient underwent intraductal RFA under endosonography and cholangioscopy. Despite difficult localization of residual growths extending to the common bile duct, endosonography-guided intraductal RFA provided total destruction of residual tumor that was confirmed by cholangioscopy. Length of treatment was 4 months, relapse-free period - 10 months. Minimally invasive endoscopic technology for residual MDP adenoma provided good clinical results.

Castleman disease (CD) is a benign lymphoproliferative disease. Small prevalence and diverse clinical course of disease makes it difficult to standardize diagnostics and treatment. Currently, the number of CD patients has increased with improvement in the quality of examination. Therefore, differential diagnosis of this disease is important. We present a young patient with CD and retroperitoneal non-organ neoplasm. Despite a thorough preoperative examination, the final diagnosis was established only after histological examination of surgical specimen. We discuss the diagnosis and surgical treatment of a patient with unicentric type of CD.

We present diagnosis and complex minimally invasive surgical treatment of a patient with long-standing neuroendocrine tumor of the upper gastrointestinal tract. We followed-up a 50-year-old female patient after endoscopic resection of polypoid neoplasm of the stomach for 2 non-organ retroperitoneal neoplasms in the area of hepatogastric ligament. After a comprehensive examination and minimally invasive surgery including laparoscopic resection of retroperitoneal neoplasms, immunohistochemical examination, PET-CT and targeted endoscopic ultrasound of the stomach, we diagnosed a highly differentiated gastric neuroendocrine tumor with metastases into lymph nodes of hepatogastric ligament. Combination of endoscopic and morphological diagnosis with rigorous histological examination of specimen provided correct diagnosis and reasonable strategy of aggressive minimally invasive surgical treatment.

Incidence of adenomas of the major duodenal papilla has increased in recent years due to widespread endoscopic screening. These adenomas require resection due to high risk of malignant transformation. Currently, minimally invasive endoscopic interventions are often considered as an alternative to surgical treatment. Combination of major duodenal papilla neoplasms with choledocholithiasis and bile duct strictures are particularly difficult for endoscopic treatment. A 56-year-old patient underwent complex endoscopic treatment for a large adenoma of the major duodenal papilla spreading to duodenal walls and distal segment of the common bile duct combined with choledocholithiasis and stricture of the common bile duct. The patient underwent complex minimally invasive treatment with endoscopic lithoextraction, fragment-by-fragment removal of the neoplasm with intra-ductal ablation of residual adenomatous tissue and subsequent staged biliary stenting for the stricture of the common bile duct, as well as stenting of the main pancreatic duct for prevention of pancreatitis. An integrated approach to the treatment of a patient with a large adenoma of the major duodenal papilla, choledocholithiasis and stricture of the common bile duct provided clinical success without complications and the need for long-term rehabilitation.

Fibrovascular polyp is a rare non-epithelial esophageal tumor arising from submucosal layer and consisting of connective and adipose tissue, as well large number of vessels. Large tumors can cause dysphagia, vomiting, chest pain, shortness of breath and/or asthma, while giant neoplasms are potentially life threatening. Despite active introduction of minimally invasive treatment of patients with non-epithelial gastrointestinal tumors, there are still difficulties in surgical treatment of fibrovascular polyps. The patient with a giant fibrovascular esophageal polyp presented with cough, discomfort in the throat, impaired swallowing and episode of tumor migration into oropharynx. Examination confirmed giant highly vascularized esophageal fibrovascular polyp. A novel hybrid surgical technique (endoscopic submucosal dissection with laparoscopic removal of tumor) was applied. Eight-month follow-up revealed no complications. Favorable clinical result was achieved. A hybrid laparo-endoscopic approach in the treatment of patients with large fibrovascular polyps minimizes perioperative risks and improves postoperative outcomes.

We analyzed the technical aspects and risk of possible complications after submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection for large esophageal leiomyoma. A patient with a 4-cm non-epithelial esophageal tumor underwent STER procedure in June 2018. Surgery time was 130 min. There were no intraoperative complications. Postoperative period was complicated with mediastinitis with reactive pneumonia and pleural effusion accompanied by episodes of hyperthermia up to 38°C for 5 days. The patient was discharged in 12 days after complete resolution of pneumonia confirmed by chest X-ray. Contrast-enhanced examination after 3 postoperative days revealed no contrast agent leakage outside the esophagus. The previously applied clips were visualized. Endoscopic examination in 3 months after surgery visualized postoperative scar without signs of deformation and narrowing of the esophagus. No complaints were observed throughout 3.5-year follow-up period., Conclusion: This report demonstrates the advantages of tunnel dissection ensuring organ-sparing procedure with the best functional result. However, intra- and postoperative complications are possible after STER. The risk of complications and complexity of surgery depend on transverse size (>3.5 cm), shape and localization of tumor. Larger neoplasm is accompanied by more difficult surgery and higher risk of complications. Therefore, adequate selection of patients for STER is essential.

Intraoperative damage to the bile ducts following laparoscopic cholecystectomy is still one of the urgent problems of modern minimally invasive surgery. In some cases, these complications lead to patient disability, deterioration in their quality of life and need for redo surgery including technically difficult procedures. Modern endoscopic technologies are essential in the treatment of postoperative benign strictures of the common bile duct. These approaches can heal some patients after intraoperative bile duct trauma. Nevertheless, endoscopic treatment is ineffective or impossible in some clinical situations. Reconstructive Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy through laparotomy is a preferable procedure in these patients for many years. However, we report successful laparoscopic reconstructive Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy in a patient with postoperative stricture of the common bile duct Halperin type 0.

In January 2020, a patient with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the antrum located in close proximity to the pylorus underwent a hybrid laparo-endoscopic organ-sparing gastric resection. There were no intraoperative and postoperative complications. Control endoscopic and X-ray examination of the stomach confirmed normal motor and evacuation function of the stomach. To date, follow-up period is more than 1.5 years. The patient has no complaints. This case demonstrates clear advantages of hybrid access in certain clinical situations, such as localization in anatomically difficult areas and near functional sphincters. Surgical approach ensured pylorus-sparing resection with favorable postoperative result.

Objective: To summarize an experience of endoscopy-assisted dilatational tracheostomies in patients with COVID-19., Material and Methods: There were 31 endoscopy-assisted dilatational tracheostomies in patients with COVID-19 for the period from April 17 to June 10, 2020 (11 women and 19 men). Mean age of patients was 66.7 years (range 48-87). Tracheostomy was performed using Ciaglia (22) and Griggs (9) techniques. All procedures were carried out at the intensive care unit in elective fashion., Results: Tracheostomy was performed in 19.8% of ICU patients or 36.9% of all patients on mechanical ventilation within 6.5±2.5 days [min 3, max 11]. There were 22 survivors with tracheostomy (70.9%) that is comparable with survival of patients without mechanical ventilation (79.7%) and slightly higher than in patients on ventilation without tracheostomy (65.4%). No complications during the procedure were noted., Conclusion: Endoscopy-assisted dilatational tracheostomy is preferred for prolonged mechanical ventilation, including patients with COVID-19. The undeniable advantages of this operation are fewer intraoperative complications due to endoscopic control, and lower risk of tracheal strictures.