Use of a Novel Camera to Check the Bowel After Polyp or Tumour Removal

BACKGROUND Transanal excision of rectal tumours describes the excision of both benign and malignant rectal lesions avoiding the need for major rectal resection. Traditional transanal approaches facilitated the excision of lower third rectal tumours using a trans-anal retractor. Since its introduction in the 1980s, transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMS) has established itself as an oncologically effective and safe approach to transanal excision of neoplasms throughout the rectum. More recent developments using laparoscopic (TAMIS) and now robotic platforms (R-TAMIS) provide alternative approaches. Local excision techniques are associated with reduced comorbidity when compared with radical rectal resection (i.e. Total Mesorectal Excision, TME) e.g. death, bleeding, genito-urinary dysfunction and anastomotic leak and need for a stoma. The development and evolution of neo-adjuvant therapy for rectal cancer with significant rates of complete response, demonstrates the potential for organ preservation and may be used alongside local excision techniques, as studied in the TREK, STAR-TREK and GRECCAR-2.

However, it is suggested that when performed for cancer, oncological outcomes may be poorer in patients undergoing local excision compared to radical resection. Current evidence regarding recurrence and survival rates is inconsistent, with some studies suggesting equivalent outcomes, but other studies reporting worse oncological outcomes. As such, regular, high quality post-operative surveillance of the rectum in patients under local excision is critical. Current methods of surveillance for the detection of recurrence commonly include multimodal radiological cross-sectional imaging (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerised tomography (CT)) and endoscopic (flexible sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy) surveillance. There are currently no established UK guidelines for surveillance of this patient cohort, yet it is clear that even where local excision of a benign lesion is performed, endoscopic surveillance remains critical in identifying and managing recurrence or metachronous rectal pathology.

1.2 RATIONALE FOR STUDY

COVID-19 had a seismic impact on the provision of care across medicine, not least on the delivery of timely endoscopic examinations, resulting in a significant reduction in activity and exponential increase in waiting times which persists to date. Surveillance procedures are perhaps most at risk of delays, especially when triaged against patients with positive faecal immunohistochemistry tests (FIT) with a high chance of significant pathology. Local data indicates poor compliance with surveillance schedules (Table 1) particularly for endoscopic procedures. In total 20.8% of flexible sigmoidoscopy requests for surveillance after TEMS rectal cancer excision were performed 6 or more months after the scheduled time.

Year 1 2 3 Months 4 8 12 18 24 30 36 Total Number of Patients 36 34 34 33 32 32 32 Pelvic MRI 20 (56%) 15 (44%) 11 (32%) 10 (30%) 6 (19%) 5 (16%) 1 (3%) CT (CAP) 14 (41%) 8 (25%) 3 (9%) Flexible Sigmoidoscopy 15 (42%) 6 (18%) 8 (24%) 7 (21%) 2 (6%) 2 (6%) 2 (6%) Table 1 - Number (%) of Patients Receiving Surveillance <1 month from scheduled date

As such, alternative strategies for high quality direct visualisation of the rectum are required in such patients. Poor equipment and lack of bowel preparation currently precludes accurate surveillance in the outpatient setting in most UK institutions, unlike the 'office' set up in USA which frequently includes a endoscopy stack and enemas taken by the patient before clinic. LumenEye® X1 (SurgEase Innovations Ltd, London, UK) is a CE-marked digital rectoscope coupled to a telestration software platform, that enables high-definition rectal visualisation to be performed with the option of capture, storage and transfer of still or video rectal images taken during examination. Feasibility studies have been reported in both primary and secondary care. Early reports indicate high diagnostic yield coupled with low cost, suggesting that this device could provide safe and effective rectal surveillance while reducing demands on dedicated endoscopy units.

Alongside the clear potential to reduce burden on endoscopy services, the use of a digital rectoscope may provide attendant cost-savings and a reduction in morbidity associated with a reduction in bowel preparation use. The National Health Service best-practice tariff 2020/21 for diagnostic flexible sigmoidoscopy is £310 ($429) or £395 ($547) with biopsy, ignoring postage and laxative costs. The cost of the LumenEye® X1 system is estimated at approximately £50 ($69). The device and software license can be purchased for £20,000 ($27,600), and the disposables are between £30 and £50 ($41 and $69) depending on commitment and duration of contract. As such, there is the potential for a significant cost saving if digital rectoscopy in the outpatient clinic setting could replace flexible sigmoidoscopy in the endoscopy department for select indications. In NHS Lothian, standard bowel preparation for flexible sigmoidoscopy is sodium picosulfate. Therefore, the proposed use of rectoscopy provides an opportunity to reconsider the necessity for cleansing bowel preparation in patients needing rectal visualisation alone. Ignoring the cost alone, cleansing bowel preparation is inconvenient and associated with distress and potential medical risks. Such preparations can have a profound effect on the gut microbiome and metabolome, may cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and risks fluid shifts and electrolyte derangements including severe symptomatic hyponatraemia.

The aim of the present study is firstly to assess the LumenEye® X1 digital rectoscope against traditional flexible sigmoidoscopy. Both procedures will be performed at the same appointment within the endoscopy suite. Comparative outcomes will include image quality, surgeon and patient tolerability. The null hypothesis is that there is no difference in image quality of tolerability between a standard flexible sigmoidoscopy and digital rectoscope. The second stage (stage 2) of the study will assess whether per rectum bowel preparation (glycerin suppository) is comparable to standard oral bowel cleansing in regards to quality of bowel preparation and visualisation of the rectum. The null hypothesis is that there is no difference in rectal visualisation between suppository and either of two oral bowel preparation regimes. In the final stage, participants requiring rectal surveillance (beyond their index site check) will be invited to attend outpatient clinic, with self-administered suppository in the department 30 minutes before the appointment. The participant will undergo digital rectoscopy in the outpatient ('office') room. The three-staged design ultimately aims to assess whether outpatient surveillance is safe, effective and tolerated using the LumenEye® X1 digital rectoscope in patients receiving per rectum bowel preparation.