Effectiveness of Snare Traction-Facilitated Endoscopic Resection for Gastric Submucosal Tumors ≥ 2 cm: A Propensity Score-Matched Study

<b><i>Aim:</i></b> The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the snare traction technique in assisting the endoscopic resection (ER) procedure in gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs) ≥ 2 cm. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Between January 2015 and December 2022, we retrospectively reviewed data from patients with gastric SMTs ≥ 2 cm who were treated by ER at the first affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou University. Then, propensity score matching (PSM) (1:3) between snare traction-assisted and conventional ER procedures was used to overcome selection bias. The success rate, en bloc resection rate, dissection time, dissection speed, and perioperative complications were compared. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 314 patients were included in this study. After PSM, 34 patients were enrolled in the snare traction-assisted endoscopic resection group (STAER) and 102 patients were enrolled in the conventional endoscopic resection group (CER). STAER group had a higher dissection speed (6.60 vs. 5.20 mm²/min; <i>P</i> = .030) and shorter dissection time (76.00 vs. 76.50 minutes, <i>P</i> = .003). There were no significant differences in technique success rate, en bloc resection rate, and perioperative complications between the two groups. In subgroup analysis, the dissection speed of STAER was significantly higher than that of CER when the lesion length was 2-5 cm, underwent endoscopic full-thickness resection, and was located in the gastric antrum. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> STAER demonstrated a higher efficiency for gastric SMTs ≥ 2 cm, without increasing the perioperative complications. Further prospective studies are needed to assess the efficiency and safety of the STAER method.