50% Dextrose vs. Saline for Producing Submucosal Elevation During Polypectomy

To reduce complication risk during polypectomy, endoscopists create a fluid cushion between the lesion and the deeper layer of the gut wall. The cushion is created most often using saline (either alone or with epinephrine), but alternatives are being actively investigated. Animal studies have shown that 50% dextrose provides a more durable submucosal cushion than does saline but that it produces greater ulceration and tissue damage (probably related to hypertonicity).

Now, researchers have conducted a multicenter, randomized trial to compare the safety and effectiveness of a 50% dextrose-plus-epinephrine solution (1:10,000 dilution) with those of a normal saline-plus-epinephrine solution. The trial involved 92 adults in Greece who were under…