(Editor's note: Continuing series on the Interventional Endoscopy program at AdventHealth)

Q&A with Dr. Dennis Yang, director of Third Space Endoscopy at the AdventHealth Center for Interventional Endoscopy 

What is third space endoscopy?
Third space endoscopy, commonly referred to as submucosal endoscopy, is founded on the principle that the deeper layers of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can be accessed by tunneling in the submucosal space without compromising the integrity of the overlying mucosa.

In laymen’s terms, what does that mean?
Third space endoscopy is minimally invasive for the patient. It involves highly specialized, procedures that have largely supplanted many conventional surgical interventions. The process should lead to faster recovery times while still meeting the same standards of other surgical procedures.

So, the procedure is minimally invasive and could lead to quicker recovery and better patient outcomes? Can you provide a recent example?
Yes, in many cases. We recently used the peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) procedure on a patient at the AdventHealth Center for Interventional Endoscopy who had been losing weight and energy because of achalasia, a condition that causes difficulty swallowing. The POEM procedure was successful. I just saw the patient last week for a check-up, and he is now eating regularly again and regaining weight and strength.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is one of the many innovative techniques within the field of third space endoscopy. Other procedures, including endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER), are examples of third space endoscopic procedures used for treating early cancers in the gastrointestinal tract.

What makes AdventHealth CIE a leader in the endoscopy space?
We have true experts in the field. We have physicians (endoscopists) who have participated in (and led) some of the largest clinical trials and are considered leaders in this specialty. We provide the full spectrum of third space endoscopic procedures and continue to contribute to this evolving field through our own ongoing research.

Do you have any examples of your research to share?
The most recent research paper, which focuses on Clinical Updates in Colorectal Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection, may be found in the Feb. 2022 issue of the Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology journal.