SOUTHAMPTON doctors are the first in the UK to use a pioneering new cancer treatment.

Doctors at Southampton General Hospital have begun using a ‘bear claw’ device which removes bowel tumours in non-invasive surgery.

The procedure, which was pioneered by Professor Thomas Gottwald, in Germany, involves passing a colonoscope, a flexible thin tube, with a cap and the new ‘bear claw’ clip attached, into the bowel.

The growth is then pulled into the cap and the clip is released, sealing the surrounding area before the tumour is removed with a wire lasso.

Consultant in gastroenterology and advanced endoscopy Dr Philip Boger said that it marked a milestone as many patients would no longer need abdominal surgery which puts them at risk of needing a colostomy bag.

Although it is similar to an existing procedure, it allows doctors to safely remove deeper layers of tissue without damaging the lining of the bowel.

Dr Boger, who has already performed the procedure on three patients said: “This does mark a major milestone as we now envisage being able to remove the full thickness of the bowel this way in many more cases, preventing the need for those patients to undergo surgical intervention with its associated risks and recovery time.

“Until now, we have been limited non-surgically to dealing with surface layer tumours due to the risk of perforation and bleeding and inadequate depth of excision allowed.

"But this device enables us to secure the surrounding area with a bear-like “claw” clip before removing the diseased tissue, which means we can protect the bowel and remove that risk.”