Abstract
To assess the feasibility of cure of early gastric cancer by the endoscopic procedure done through a temporary gastrostomy and to use it to treat patients with various severe complications. Prospective study. University hospital, Japan. Four patients who required gastric mucosal resection for early gastric cancer. Ease of the procedure, cure rate, safety under epidural anaesthesia, and outcome. All patients had the procedure under epidural anaesthesia without pain or complaints during operation. Mean operation time was 120 minutes (60-200). Histological examination showed that the surgical margin was free of tumour in 3 of the cases. One patient who had microscopic invasion of lymph nodes subsequently underwent second-look conventional gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy. Postoperative recovery was rapid, and all patients were discharged from the hospital uneventfully. This organ-preserving procedure enables good visualisation of the tumour and is useful even for high-risk patients.

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