Efficacy and Safety of Endoscopic Mucosal Resection with the Two-Person Method

Abstract Objectives  Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is useful for removing colon polyps and is generally carried out by one doctor. It is occasionally difficult for colorectal polyps to be removed by EMR. In such cases, EMR is performed by the main doctor and an assistant doctor (the two-person method). However, the efficacy and safety of EMR in the two-person method remain unclear. This study aimed to compare the procedure time and incomplete resection rate (IRR) by the two- and single-person methods of EMR for polyp removal. Materials and Methods  Data from colorectal polyps resected by EMR were reviewed retrospectively and divided into two groups: general procedure/single- ( n  = 215) or two-person method ( n  = 56). The IRR, the procedure time, and the incidence of adverse events were compared between these methods. Results  A total of 152 patients and 271 lesions were included in this study. The mean procedure time for polypectomy was significantly shorter in the two-person method group than in the general procedure group (median time: 3.38 minutes vs. 6.56 minutes; p  < 0.001). Additionally, the IRR for polyps was significantly lower in the two-person methods group than in the single-person methods group (2/56, 3.6% vs. 47/215, 21.9%; p  = 0.001). None of the patients in the two-person method group presented with delayed bleeding. Conclusions  The two-person method for EMR was more effective than the single-person method. Therefore, this method may replace the conventional one-operator method in the future.