Clinical Research Directory

Esomeprazole Plus Sucralfate for Post-ESD Ulcer Healing

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an established treatment for early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions. Post-ESD artificial ulcers may lead to complications including delayed bleeding (3-15%) and prolonged healing. Current guidelines recommend high-dose proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), but evidence for additional mucosal protective agents remains limited. This study aims to evaluate whether combining sucralfate suspension with standard intravenous esomeprazole therapy improves ulcer healing and reduces complications after gastric ESD compared to esomeprazole alone. This is a prospective, randomized, controlled, outcome-assessor-blinded trial. A total of 120 patients undergoing gastric ESD will be randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either: * Intervention group: Intravenous esomeprazole 40mg twice daily (3 days) followed by oral esomeprazole 40mg once daily PLUS sucralfate suspension 1g twice daily for 8 weeks * Control group: Intravenous esomeprazole 40mg twice daily (3 days) followed by oral esomeprazole 40mg once daily for 8 weeks The primary outcome is ulcer reduction rate at 4 weeks post-ESD, assessed by endoscopy. Secondary outcomes include complete ulcer healing rate at 8 weeks, delayed bleeding rate, symptom scores, and safety parameters. This study will provide high-quality evidence regarding the role of sucralfate as an adjunctive therapy for post-ESD ulcer management and may inform future clinical guidelines.