GI Endoscopy · 1 min read
Electrosurgical Knives in ESD: DualKnife vs. ITKnife
Clinical Bottom Line
| ESD Knife | Distal Anatomy | Primary Vector of Dissection |
|---|---|---|
| DualKnife (Olympus) | Tiny knob-shaped tip; protrudes exactly 1.5mm - 2.0mm. | Pinpoint precision; used for initial mucosal marking, mucosal incision, and fine submucosal tunneling. |
| ITKnife2 (Insulated Tip) | Ceramic insulating ball at the very tip; cutting blade is lateral. | Rapid lateral sweeping; physically protects the deep muscle layer from accidental downward thermal injury. |
| FlushKnife (Fujifilm) | Internal water channel running directly through the needle. | Allows simultaneous dissection and continuous high-pressure submucosal water injection to maintain the lift without swapping tools. |
Tools of the En Bloc Era
Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) requires the physician to meticulously carve a massive, superficial tumor entirely off the underlying muscularis propria in a single, unbroken piece (En Bloc resection). This micro-surgery relies entirely on highly specialized, monopolar electrosurgical knives varying between 1.5mm and 2mm in length.
Navigating the Submucosal Void
The selection of the knife heavily dictates the speed and safety of the dissection. The DualKnife provides supreme precision for tracing the initial circumferential margin and gently touching bleeding vessels to coagulate them. However, its naked tip poses a constant risk of puncturing the thin muscle layer if pushed too deeply into the submucosal cushion. The ITKnife completely mitigates direct puncturing by capping the tip with an inert, non-conductive ceramic ball. The endoscopist burrows the blade sideways, using the lateral edges of the knife to sweep rapidly through the dense connective tissue, safely slicing horizontally against the tumor base while the ceramic tip physically glides harmlessly across the native muscle.
Clinical guidelines summarized by the Gastroscholar Research Team. Last updated: 2026. This article is intended for physicians.
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