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Treatment of biliary leaks is challenging and complex. Even if endoscopic sphincterotomy with biliary stenting is usually resolutive in restoring the original bile flow, common bile duct (CBD) diameter is crucial in defining the size and features of the stent. Additional factors, such as uncommon anatomical reconstructions due to a previous abdominal surgery, could make the endoscopic approach more difficult, therefore increasing the risk of failure. Many articles deal with uncommon technique adopted to allow an optimal healing of biliary leaks but, thus far, only two reports of biliary stent using an esophageal through-the-scope (TTS), partially-covered, self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) exist in the current literature. This article describes the deployment of an esophageal SEMS into the CBD for a refractory type A Strasberg fistula in a Billroth-II reconstruction. To our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the use of an esophageal stent for CBD drainage in a Billroth-II reconstruction.

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Background: The aim of our retrospective study is to compare the efficacy and indications of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and endoscopic full-thickness resection device (FTRD) with Over-The-Scope Clip (OTSC ® ) System for en-bloc resection of rectal lesions., Methods: This study collected 76 cases of rectal neoplasms from a single hospital institution. Primary endpoints were complete en-bloc resection, intraprocedural adverse events, R0 en-bloc resection and an early discharge of the patient. Secondary endpoints included procedure-related adverse events., Results: Mean tumor sizes were statistically significant smaller among patients treated with FTRD rather than TEM and ESD. TEO and FTRD treated patients experienced a higher en-bloc resection rate, with a shorter procedure time and hospital stay. No significant difference concerning the R0 resection was found. TEO and FTRD recorded lower perforation rates as compared to ESD, whereas no difference emerged concerning the bleeding rate and the post-polypectomy syndrome rate., Conclusions: Our study showed that each technique has specific features, so that each one offers advantages and disadvantages. Nevertheless, all of them ensure high en-bloc resection rates, whereas no difference exists for R0 resection rate. TEO provides the possibility to remove low rectal large lesions as compared to ESD and FTRD.

Introduction: Aim of our observational and retrospective study is to compare efficacy and indications of endoscopic full-thickness resection device (FTRD) with the over-the-scope (OVESCO) clip closure for en bloc resection of colorectal lesions (including adenomas, early carcinomas, inflammatory polyps and neuroendocrine tumors)., Material and Methods: This article collected 36 cases of colorectal neoplasms from a single Italian referral center per colorectal disease treatment. Primary endpoints included en bloc resection, R0 resection and an early discharge of the patient. Secondary endpoints included procedure-related adverse events., Results: Mean procedure time± standard deviation (SD) was 19.6±22.1 minutes and mean hospital stay (± SD) was 2.2±1.1 days. Overall, an en bloc resection was achieved in 34 cases (94.4%), with an R0 resection rate of 91.6%. Among the three not R0 patients, further additional treatments were needed., Discussion: Along the same line of other already published articles, the main current indications of EFTR by FTRD-OVESCO are limited to superficial or low-risk malignancy lesions (eg, adenomas, early cancers or subepithelial tumors), not suitable to conventional endoscopic resection or in patients with a severe surgical risk. Both en bloc resection rate and complication rate are aligned with other authors' data., Conclusions: EFTR by FTRD system represents an effective and safe options whenever a recurrent lesion in a challenging environment occurres (eg, recent scar, low rectum or beyond a large colonic bend). Procedure-related adverse events are potentially severe, so that this novel technique should be performed by "expert hands"., Key Words: Difficult polypectomies, Early carcinomas, Endoscopic Full-Thickness Resection (EFTR), Full-Thickness Resection Device (FTRD) by Over-The-Scope (OVESCO) clip closure, Literature overview, Single center experience.

Since gastroduodenal FTRD system is commercially available, several data have been reported in Literature concerning duodenal full-thickness resections, whereas few cases of gastric full-thickness resections has been described. In this case series We report three patients treated with this innovative tool for resecting lesions of the gastric wall. The indications ranged notably: a neuroendocrine tumor in a difficult to treat environment in the first case, a recurrent adenocarcinoma in a poorly surgical candidate patient in the second case and a pre-pyloric lesion for the third patient. In the third patient, a complete pyloric stenosis due to the clip deployment occurred. Clinical success rate was 100%. Even if current Literature is still poor of articles dealing with gastric full-thickness resection device based on over-the-scope-clip system. Our case series show how this novel tool might be take into consideration for whenever both surgery and standard endoscopic resection techniques are poorly feasible.

Hiatal hernias (HHs) are usually divided into two main groups: sliding and para-esophageal (torsional) ones. Sometimes patients presenting HHs experience progressive anemia, whereas rarely an acute anemia with melena or hematemesis can occur. In such cases a Cameron ulcer should be suspected and a careful esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGDS) with a meticulous inspection of the mucosal folds along the neck of the hernia is the best examination in order to find out the ulcer itself. In front of massive hemorrhage due to a Cameron erosion, the first aim should be the control of the bleeding itself, in order to ree1Romastablish hemodynamic stability. The Authors report the case of a 72-year-old man presenting a severe bleeding secondary to a large Cameron ulcer in a para-esophageal hiatal hernia. Firstly, a combined medical-endoscopic therapy was tried; the patient underwent transfusions of pooled red blood cells and endovenous anti-acid therapy combined with an operative endoscopic treatment; unfortunately this initial approach failed, therefore the patient was referred to surgery. The surgeons realized a minimally invasive atypical gastric resection associated with the HH repair; the post-operative course was uneventful and no other rebleeding episodes occurred. The urgency treatment of a life-threatening bleeding for Cameron ulcers remains a very challenging problem as no univocal and standardized recommendation has been described in literature since now. In this case-report the Authors make an overview of the current literature on the treatment of Cameron ulcers, describing a novel surgical technique for massive upper gastro-intestinal bleeding secondary to these lesions.

Background: The aim of the present work was to determine the feasibility and efficacy, in terms of equipment coordination and timing, of the laparoendoscopic intraoperative rendezvous technique (RVT) for the treatment of gallbladder and common bile duct stones (CBDS)., Methods: The procedure was considered in 269 unselected patients with a suspicion or preoperative imaging demonstration of CBDS who were fit for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Common bile duct stones were confirmed by intraoperative laparoscopic cholangiography (IOC) in only 113 of these patients (42 %). In 17 (15 %) patients the planned procedure was aborted because of organizational problems, mainly the unavailability of endoscopists in the urgent setting. The remaining 96 patients (84 %) underwent a formal attempt at RVT. Intraoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) was performed, during LC, by means of a guidewire that reached the duodenum through the cystic duct., Results: In 18 patients (19 %) the complete procedure failed, either because of difficulty in passing the guidewire through the papilla or because of other technical difficulties that required conversion to laparotomy. An intraoperative ERC was completed in six patients in the classical way (no guidewire) without conversion. No mortality and few complications were recorded (3 % overall: 1 perforation and 2 cholangitis). Retained stones were successively detected in 6 patients (6 %) and successfully retreated by a further ERC. Globally, the one-stage procedure (with and without the guidewire) was possible in 84 of 96 patients (87 %)., Conclusions: The RVT appears to be effective and safe as it was performed at our institution, with an overall percentage of definitive success (passed guide wire and no further ERC) of 81 %. The RVT should be considered as a good option for the treatment of simultaneous gallstones and CBDS.

Inconvenience due to tension along the suture, a relative high recurrence rate, the availability of optimal prosthetic materials and the tendency to reduce hospital stay are the motivations which induced many surgeons to adopt alternative techniques instead of the traditional ones for inguinal hernia repair. Among these latter it is worthwhile to add a personal update of the Bassini's technique: the plasty tailored upon the polypropylene mesh performed in local anesthesia. Thanks to the use of the prosthetic mesh, the plasty is performed using only four stitches tied loosely without much high tension on the conjoined tendon. Such technical expedients reduced postoperative pain and give better warrant for the plasty and allow hernia repair in local anesthesia and on a daily basis.