Identifying the impossible: piecemeal cold snare resection perforation.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Piecemeal cold snare resection (CSR) is an increasingly adopted technique for large nonpedunculated colorectal polyps because of its favorable safety profile. Although adverse events are rare, perforation after CSR has been reported infrequently. We present a video case of intraprocedural perforation during piecemeal CSR.

METHODS

A 63-year-old woman with quiescent colonic Crohn disease underwent dysplasia surveillance, revealing multiple flat polyps, including 2 adjacent large 0-IIA transverse colon polyps. Piecemeal CSR was performed using chromoinjectate and a 10-mm cold snare. Careful inspection of the resection base with submucosal chromoendoscopy revealed a type IV deep mural injury, despite the absence of electrocautery. The defect was closed using through-the-scope clips. The patient was observed and discharged with antibiotics, with no delayed adverse events at follow-up. Histopathology confirmed sessile serrated lesions without dysplasia.

CONCLUSION

This case demonstrates that perforation, although rare, can occur during CSR. Endoscopists should perform meticulous resection base assessments, as the absence of cautery may obscure signs of deep mural injury.