It is performed under general anesthesia; a blood test is requested beforehand to check clotting. Small polyps under 1 cm are easily removed with a snare or forceps. For larger polyps, an endoscopic mucosal resection or a submucosal dissection will be performed.
Endoscopic mucosal resection involves lifting the entire lesion by injecting saline and blue dye under the mucosa, then capturing it with a diathermy snare that cuts the polyp using an electric current.
Endoscopic submucosal dissection is a long and delicate technique performed in expert centers. It involves several steps: marking a healthy margin by electrocoagulation, submucosal injection to lift the lesion, submucosal incision around its entire circumference with a dedicated knife, then gradual dissection of the lesion in the deep layers of the wall.
