Post endoscopic submucosal dissection coagulation syndrome (PECS) occasionally occurs after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), presenting with localized abdominal pain and inflammation. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the usefulness of endoscopic clipping closure to prevent PECS and delayed perforation (DP).

This is a multicenter, single-blind RCT. Prospectively enrolled patients undergoing colorectal ESD were randomly allocated to endoscopic clipping closure and nonclosure after ESD, stratifying by institution and tumor size. All participants underwent a computed tomography scan after ESD. PECS was defined as visual analog scale (VAS) ≥30 mm, an increase in VAS ≥20 mm from baseline, body temperature ≥37.5°C or white blood cells ≥10,000/μL after colorectal ESD. DP was defined as PECS accompanied by extraluminal air. The preplanned sample size was 320 patients, and the primary endpoint was the rate of PECS/DP.

At the planned interim analysis, this trial was terminated by recommendation of the independent data and safety monitoring committee because conditional power with superiority was lower than the preplanned futility limit. Finally, 155 patients were analyzed. The rate of PECS/DP was 16% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8%-23%) in the nonclosure group and 24% (95% CI, 14%-34%) in the closure group (P = .184). All cases of DP were within minor criteria, and all PECS/DP patients were managed conservatively without surgical treatment. Simple periluminal air without PECS was observed in 16% (95% CI, 8%-23%) in the nonclosure group and 10% (95% CI, 3%-17%) in the closure group.

Endoscopic clipping closure could not reduce the high incidence of PECS/DP after colorectal ESD. (University Hospital Medical Network Clinical Trials Registry number: UMIN000027031.)