Advances in the treatment of gastric polyps

  Endoscopic treatment: Endoscopic resection is the preferred method for the treatment of gastric polyps, mainly high-frequency electrocoagulation resection, laser and microwave cauterization, nylon wire ligation and argon ion coagulation. Endoscopic treatment of polyps is simple, less damaging and less expensive, most of them are one-time treatment, and a few need to be removed in stages. Regular follow-up by endoscopy can also detect the recurrence of polyps and give timely treatment to prevent cancer. High-frequency electrocoagulation method: It is the most widely used method, and its principle is to use the thermal effect generated by high-frequency current to cause tissue coagulation and necrosis to achieve the purpose of removing polyps. Generally, the current frequency is above 300 kHz, and the output power is 30-80 W. Before surgery, the liquid in the stomach should be aspirated as much as possible, and the electrocoagulant or electrothermal biopsy forceps with a spherical front end should be preferred for polyps less than 0.5 cm. When using the electrothermal biopsy forceps, the head should be bitten and gently lifted before cauterization. For tipped and non-tipped polyps larger than 0.5 cm, the trap should be selected as far as possible, but the spherical electrocoagulator or electrothermal biopsy forceps can also be used to cauterize them in stages. For tipped polyps, the trap should be placed over the tip and the residual tip should be retained for about 1 cm after electrification to avoid perforation due to deep tissue burn. For non-tipped polyps, hypertonic saline or 1:10,000 epinephrine solution should be injected into the base of the polyp at 1 to 2 points, 1.0 ml per point, to avoid damaging the muscle layer and plasma membrane layer during trap resection, and then the head of the polyp should be lifted with double biopsy tube endoscope to form a pseudo-tip at the base before trap resection.  The polyps can be treated in stages, i.e. the head of the polyp will be partially removed obliquely with a lap sleeve, and then the opposite part will be removed obliquely after an interval of 2 weeks, which can be repeated if not completely removed until all the polyps are removed; the treatment can also be performed by a combination of suction and electrocoagulation, i.e. the suction sleeve is placed in front of the endoscope, the lap sleeve for electrocoagulation is placed in the suction sleeve through the biopsy hole, the endoscope is sent to the gastric cavity, and the head of the suction sleeve is placed in close contact with the polyp. After close contact with the polyp, negative pressure is applied to the polyp until it is all sucked into the sleeve, and then the lancet is tightened and the polyp is withdrawn for electrocoagulation. For larger tipped or subtip polyps, metal clamps can also be used to ligate the polyp and then perform electrocoagulation by placing a rotatable clamping device through the endoscopic biopsy hole, and performing multiple crossed metal clamps on the stem of the polyp to block the blood supply to the lesion, and then performing electrocoagulation when the head end of the polyp is purple. When using trap electrocoagulation, attention should be paid to slowly tighten the trap loop before energizing, and gently lift to avoid bleeding and deep tissue burns caused by mechanical cutting, and after tightening the trap loop, electrocoagulation should be followed by electrocutting, repeatedly alternating, with each energizing time of several seconds, or intermittent energizing treatment with mixed currents. Microwave cautery method: the use of microwaves can make polar molecules vibrate to produce the principle of thermal effect, and the tissue coagulation and vaporization for polyp cauterization, and hemostasis, for polyps less than 2cm in diameter, the smaller polyps can be 1 time cauterization, the larger ones require multiple treatments. The output power is 30-40W, and the time of each cautery can be adjusted and fixed before treatment, usually 5-10s, or controlled by a foot switch. Operation by biopsy mouth insert microwave coaxial cable (antenna), so that the spherical probe close contact with the lesion, or needle probe into the lesion after cauterization, should pay attention to control the depth of tissue burn, so as not to cause perforation. The method is simple, safe, low cost and easy to carry out. Laser method: The high energy laser generated by the laser is used to irradiate the lesion site through the optical fiber introduced by the endoscopic biopsy hole, and through the thermal energy transformed by the light energy, the tissue protein is coagulated and denatured for the purpose of treatment. It is mostly used for the treatment of wide-tipped or non-tipped polyps.  At present, Nd:YAG laser is mostly used, and the power can be selected according to the size of polyps, generally ranging from 50 to 70 W. When operating, the head end of the optical fiber is about 1 cm away from the lesion, and each irradiation is 0.5 to 1 s. Excessive time may cause perforation, which should be noted. Larger polyps can be treated in multiple stages. Alternatively, laser treatment can be used, which is characterized by small damage to the tissue around the lesion and shallow penetration depth. The laser should be directed to the lesion and irradiated quickly to avoid damage to the surrounding tissues by gastric peristalsis. Nylon wire and rubber band ligation method: By ligating the root of the polyp, it causes ischemia and necrosis to achieve the treatment purpose. Pathology confirmed that the ligated area was intact after treatment, and only the mucosa and submucosa were confined to produce local ischemic necrosis. Within 1-4 days after ligation, an acute inflammatory reaction occurs in the local mucosa, and the granulation tissue proliferates and necrotic tissue is shed to form a superficial ulcer, which is gradually replaced by scar tissue and heals, so it has the advantage of avoiding perforation. Method: A clear suction sleeve is placed at the front of the endoscope. The ligature is fed into the biopsy hole and probed from the front end, the nylon ligature sleeve or rubber band is placed in the groove of the sleeve, the endoscope is sent to the gastric cavity, the head end of the sleeve is in close contact with the polyp, the polyp is drawn into the sleeve by negative pressure, the handle of the ligature is pulled, and the nylon wire or skin band is ligated to the root of the polyp. The polyps fall off and form a shallow ulcer within the first week after ligation, and heal with a white scar in the third to fourth week. Argon ion coagulation: Argon gas can conduct high-frequency electrical energy generated by tungsten wire electrode through ionization to cause coagulation effect on the tissue, which has been applied to endoscopic treatment in recent years and received better efficacy. It is mainly applied to wide base without tip and the diameter is less than 1.5cm. The method of freezing: the cold gas is sprayed directly on the polyp surface through the special catheter through the endoscopic biopsy hole, or the special freezing rod is used for contact freezing of the lesion to make the tissue necrotic and fall off.  Therefore, it is difficult to cure a single large polyp in 1 time, so it is rarely used at present. Radiofrequency method: Radiofrequency is a kind of electromagnetic wave of 200~750kHz, which enters into the lesion tissue and causes local heat generation to evaporate, dry and necrosis to achieve the treatment purpose. Operation control RF treatment instrument output power of 23 ~ 25W, working time of 5 ~ 10s, the electrode through the endoscopic biopsy hole into the lesion after treatment. Alcohol injection method: endoscopically, a circle of anhydrous alcohol is used around the base of the polyp for spot injection, 0.5ml per spot, and white mound-like elevation is seen. It is generally used for the treatment of broad-based polyps only. Anti-Hp therapy: Recent studies have shown that Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is closely related to the occurrence of hyperplastic polyps, and Hp-positive hyperplastic polyps are successfully eradicated after Hp infection, and the polyps completely regress in about 40% of cases. Therefore, Hp test should be performed for the diagnosis and treatment of hyperplastic polyps, and if positive, Hp eradication therapy should be performed, and then the polyps should be treated accordingly according to their regression.  Surgical treatment: The indications for surgery are: non-tipped or broad-based polyps larger than 2 cm. Progressive enlargement of polyps. Adenomatous polyps with heterogeneous hyperplasia, suspicious cancer and carcinoma on pathological examination.