First Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection at HYGEIA

19 October 2020

The first endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) procedure was successfully performed by the HYGEIA Hospital 2nd Gastroenterology Clinic, as part of the comprehensive treatment offered to patients in the early stages of cancer.

The procedure was performed fully endoscopically by Mr. Thomas Thomaidis, Scientific Associate, and Mr.  Georgios Kallimanis, Director of the HYGEIA Hospital 2nd Gastroenterology Clinic.

Specifically, dysplastic tissue measuring 4 cm in total was removed from the gastric antrum with healthy margins. The procedure lasted 1.5 hours and was performed under general anesthesia. The patient was discharged on the 2nd postoperative day.

Mr. Thomas Thomaidis, Gastroenterologist and Scientific Associate of the HYGEIA Hospital 2nd Gastroenterology Clinic, stated, “Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an innovative, minimally invasive technique for removing early malignancies, which is performed in a handful of centers in the USA and Europe, and dedicated centers in Asia. During this procedure, the lesion is raised, separating the first two layers of the organ, and is removed en bloc, using special tools that are inserted via the endoscope.”

The ESD method is used to avoid a long and, on many occasions, major surgery for the patient, with possible dissection of the gastrointestinal tract, while it minimizes postoperative pain and hospitalization time, and does not negatively affect the patient’s quality of life.

Mr. Georgios Kallimanis, Gastroenterologist and Director of the HYGEIA Hospital 2nd Gastroenterology Clinic, noted, “The HYGEIA Hospital 2nd Gastroenterology Clinic is paving the way, offering top-level services to patients with gastrointestinal conditions, with the latest technology and vast experience in specialized endoscopic techniques. Using the newest minimally invasive endoscopic methods, it is now possible to successfully treat even malignant diseases at HYGEIA, safely and reliably, in line with specialized centers abroad.”