Monopolar and Bipolar in Esophageal ESD

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a novel technique for the removal of esophageal lesions or polyps with high-risk features. ESD is minimally invasive and allows the removal of esophageal polyps without resorting to morbid surgery. The process of ESD includes marking the lesions selected for removal, followed by submucosal injection of a lifting agent, then circumferential incisions using a specialized knife followed by submucosal dissection of the entire lesion.

Traditionally, knifes utilizing monopolar current such as dual knife or hybrid knife were the preferred tools for endoscopic submucosal dissection. These knifes allows accurate dissection and excellent hemostasis. However, due to monopolar current generated heat, post coagulation syndrome can be seen in up to 8 to 40 % of patients. Post coagulation syndrome present with pain, fever and leukocytosis and requires supportive treatment with IV fluid and antibiotics. In addition, for large esophageal lesions, stricturing can occur after resection due to significant scar formation induced by large amounts of energy. Almost all patients with 60% of the esophageal circumference removed via monopolar knives, will develop an esophageal stricture at some point. These patients require serial esophageal dilations, and although easily managed, its development can be quite troublesome to the patient. Nevertheless, ESD is still the preferred modality for removal of these lesions, since it avoids the need for morbid surgery. Recently, a novel bipolar RFA knife were approved by FDA for the performance of ESD. The knife utilizes bipolar RFA current for submucosal dissection which can potentially expedite submucosal dissection and decrease the rates of post polypectomy syndrome and scar formation, by using significantly less energy. This bipolar knife may allow for removal of large esophageal lesions without causing major esophageal stricturing.

Our tertiary referral center Baylor St Luke's Medical Center is a center of excellence for ESD procedure and we have previously reported our Esophageal ESD experience using the monopolar current knife. The goal of our protocol is to compare the performance of monopolar current cutting knife and bipolar RFA knife in esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection.