Use of Snare Tip Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection in the Endoluminal Management of Complex Colon Lesions

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection for advanced colon lesions is typically performed with specialized and costly endoscopic knives, potentially limiting accessibility and increasing procedural cost. Alternatively, the tip of an endoscopic snare, which is inexpensive and universally available, has demonstrated safe and efficient use in gastric lesions but lacks sufficient data for use in colon lesions. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess patient outcomes following endoscopic submucosal dissection of advanced colon lesions using the endoscopic snare tip. DESIGN: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database at a single tertiary care center was conducted. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at a single tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Adult patients with colon lesions that were not amenable to snare polypectomy were evaluated for endoscopic submucosal dissection. Snare tip resection was performed in select patients with lesions that lifted adequately after submucosal injection. Patients who underwent hybrid resections with endoscopic mucosal dissection were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: En bloc resection rates, operative time, perioperative complications, and short-term outcomes such as length of stay and lesion recurrence on follow-up colonoscopy were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 121 patients underwent snare tip endoscopic submucosal dissection, with a mean lesion size of 28.8 ± 9.84 mm. Most procedures were performed in the endoscopy suite (81.8%). The en bloc resection rate was 81.8% with an average procedure time of 37.1 ± 29.8 min. There were two perforations (1.70%), one of which was managed operatively. Recurrence occurred in 6 patients (7.89%) at the time of follow-up colonoscopy. LIMITATIONS: This study was retrospective, conducted by two skilled endoscopists with experience in endoscopic resection, and had short-term follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Snare tip endoscopic submucosal dissection for advanced colon lesions demonstrates satisfactory short-term outcomes, suggesting its potential as a safe and accessible alternative to specialized knives, thereby possibly enhancing adoption of endoscopic resection and improving patient accessibility. See Video Abstract .