What is the role of endoscopic suturing in clinical practice?

Endoscopic suturing plays a crucial role in clinical practice, particularly in managing closures of certain gastrointestinal complications. Specifically, one of its primary applications is to close gastric perforations or fistulas via endoscopy. This approach is minimally invasive and allows for direct suturing of lesions that would otherwise require more invasive surgical interventions. By utilizing specialized endoscopic suturing devices, healthcare professionals can effectively secure the tissue and promote healing without the need for open surgery, which often comes with increased risks and longer recovery times. This method is beneficial in treating conditions such as perforated ulcers or leaks from surgical sites, thus directly contributing to better patient outcomes.

Other uses of endoscopy, such as relieving intestinal obstruction, obtaining tissue samples for biopsy, or aiding in the removal of large polyps, while important in their own right, do not involve the direct suturing of tissues but rather focus on diagnosis or different therapeutic interventions.