Our cumulative experience with transendoscopic miniprobes.

INTRODUCTION: Transendoscopic miniprobes (TEMPs) have nowadays precise indications, but may become a diagnostic alternative to both radial and sectorial endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in the near future. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From November 1996 to July 2004 we carried out 620 examinations using TEMPs (124 during the last 12 months in 2003, with currently a mean of 11 examinations/month). Twenty explorations were performed with radial, 12.5 MHz (20 mm penetration), 6.2 F (2 mm diameter), 950 mm or 2000 mm Microvasive Endosound probes. Twenty explorations were performed using a 12 MHz (29 mm mean penetration) or 20 MHz (18 mm penetration) Olympus UM-2R/3R, or with a 12 MHz UM-DP12-25R or 20 MHz UM-DP20-25 R DPR-fitted Olympus probe, 2.5 mm in diameter and 2050 mm in length. A 20 MHz, 2.2 mm, wire-guided G20-29R was used for intraductal studies.In all, 580 examinations were carried out with both radial and linear, 12 MHz (240 E) or 20 MHz (60 E) Fuji probes, 2.6 mm in diameter and 1900 mm in length; and with a 7.5 MHz, 2.6 mm radial balloon microprobe with the well-known "preload" system that we have been using during the 1999-2004 period (280 E). Here we used a 3.2 mm working channel, whereas a 2.8 mm working channel was used with the remaining TEMPs. RESULTS: Twenty GI-tract examinations were performed with one Microvasive probe, which broke down when attempting its passage through the papilla. Currently we use a 20 MHz, 2.2 mm Olympus G20-29R guided microprobe for intraductal studies.We performed 100 gut examinations using one single Fuji TEMP (12 or 7.5 MHz). Organs explored included: esophagus and stomach, 60%; rectum and colon, 30%; other (duodenum, papilla, bile ducts), 10%.Indications: cancer staging, 35%; submucosal lesions, 30%; other, 35% (including 20% of esophageal non-tumoral conditions). Complications: aspiration, perforation, and mortality, 0%. Morbidity, 10%, at the expense of abdominal pain as induced by endoscopy itself. All strictures were successfully passed, except for one malignant stenosis in the rectum. CONCLUSIONS: During a 93-month period (1996-2004) we performed 620 explorations with TEMPs, with a current average of 11 examinations/month. TEMP durability is around 100 gut explorations. The esophagus and stomach were examined in 60% of cases. Primary indications included gut cancer staging and submucosal lesions (65%). Perforation and mortality rates amounted to 0%.