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This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, examines the diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for patients with dilated common bile duct (CBD) and inconclusive imaging studies. The study involved a retrospective analysis of 900 patients referred for ERCP over a six-year period. The results showed that EUS was able to diagnose the cause of CBD dilatation in all cases, with a diagnostic yield of 100%. Additionally, 33.33% of patients were able to avoid unnecessary ERCP procedures. The authors conclude that EUS has a remarkable diagnostic yield in detecting the etiology of dilated CBD and can help avoid unnecessary ERCPs. They also suggest that combined EUS-ERCP is feasible, cost-effective, and accurate in diagnosing the cause of dilated CBD when other imaging modalities are inconclusive. [Extracted from the article]

The head and neck region is highly complex in terms of its anatomy and physiology. Head and neck cancer (HNC) and the treatment thereof can significantly affect both the structure and function of this area, especially in terms of swallowing, breathing and speaking. This may lead to a significant reduction in quality of life (QOL), and present challenges to both patients and their caregivers. There is increasing evidence that physical activity (PA) after a diagnosis of cancer is associated with improved overall mortality. This is well established in colon, prostate, ovarian and breast cancer. 2 recent metanalyses have determined that exercise interventions following cancer diagnosis are associated with a 41% reduction in risk of all-cause mortality, and an improvement in QOL. PA has also been found to be valuable in counteracting symptoms that reduce QOL, including depression, fatigue, worry and anxiety. Given that HNC patients face their own unique set of challenges, and may have different needs than other cancer patients, we have reviewed the available literature on the interactions between exercise and QOL in HNC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The head and neck region is highly complex in terms of its anatomy and physiology. Head and neck cancer (HNC) and the treatment thereof can significantly affect both the structure and function of this area, especially in terms of swallowing, breathing and speaking. This may lead to a significant reduction in quality of life (QOL), and present challenges to both patients and their caregivers. There is increasing evidence that physical activity (PA) after a diagnosis of cancer is associated with improved overall mortality. This is well established in colon, prostate, ovarian and breast cancer. 2 recent metanalyses have determined that exercise interventions following cancer diagnosis are associated with a 41% reduction in risk of all-cause mortality, and an improvement in QOL. PA has also been found to be valuable in counteracting symptoms that reduce QOL, including depression, fatigue, worry and anxiety. Given that HNC patients face their own unique set of challenges, and may have different needs than other cancer patients, we have reviewed the available literature on the interactions between exercise and QOL in HNC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Ovesco clip closure of colo-vaginal fistula in diverticulitis," discusses a case study involving a 90-year-old female patient with a history of passing stool per vagina for one month and diverticulitis. The patient underwent various procedures, including colonoscopy and the introduction of an UGI scope per vagina to evaluate the fistula. After unsuccessful attempts with cyanoacrylate glue, the medical team decided to use Ovesco clip closure due to the patient's age and co-morbidities. The article includes a video demonstrating the procedure. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses a case study of a 30-year-old female patient who developed a biliary leak after undergoing surgery for a hydatid cyst. Despite conservative management and the placement of a biliary stent, the leak persisted for two months. The patient then underwent a procedure called ERCP-Cholangiogram, where a brush was used to make the tract raw and a balloon catheter was passed to the site of the fistula. Cyanoacrylate glue mixed with lipiodol was injected to close the tract, and subsequent cholangiogram showed the closure of the biliary fistula with no contrast leak. The article provides a video link for further reference. [Extracted from the article]

This article compares short-term and long-term training in endoscopy and examines the need for repeat endoscopy. The study collected data from September 2019 to July 2023, focusing on patients undergoing or referred for repeat endoscopy. The results showed that short-term training was not helpful in basic diagnostic procedures and may even add extra cost and morbidity to patients. The authors suggest that further training in advanced therapeutic endoscopy is necessary before independent practice. They also emphasize the need for structured training and protocols in India, similar to other regions abroad. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, discusses the feasibility and outcome of endoscopic extraction of sharp foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract without the use of protective devices or endotracheal intubation. The study conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent this procedure between January 2015 and the present, regardless of age. The results showed a 100% success rate in the extraction of sharp foreign bodies without the use of protective devices or intubation. The authors suggest using different accessories depending on the type and location of the foreign body, and emphasize the importance of not holding the object too tightly to avoid mucosal injury. [Extracted from the article]

This article, titled "CT/MRCP negative for pancreas divisum: Is it always reliable? A retrospective analysis," explores the prevalence of pancreas divisum in patients who have undergone CT or MRCP imaging but received negative results. The study conducted a retrospective analysis of pancreatic ERCP procedures performed for symptomatic chronic pancreatitis at a tertiary care center in India. The findings suggest that CT/MRCP imaging does not always detect pancreas divisum accurately. In cases where major papilla cannulation fails, minor papilla cannulation should be attempted to increase the success rate and improve patient outcomes. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, discusses a novel method for preprocedural preparation before POEM (Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy). The authors have devised a scoring system based on the condition of the esophageal mucosa, presence of fluid/froth, and severity of candidial infection. The study compared two groups of 50 patients each, with Group A following conventional preparation methods and Group B following the novel method. The results showed that Group B had shorter hospital stays, lower costs, and higher compliance. The authors conclude that their protocol is simple, cost-effective, compliant, and reliable. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, examines the role of random biopsies and histological analysis in Indian patients with chronic diarrhea and normal colonoscopy findings. The study evaluated whether these biopsies contribute to the differential diagnosis and alter the therapeutic approach. The results showed that serial biopsies identified changes in almost 25% of cases, including collagenous, lymphocytic, and eosinophilic colitis, and modified the treatment accordingly. The authors conclude that serial biopsies can be beneficial in patients with chronic diarrhea and normal colonoscopy results. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the feasibility and outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early submucosal and subepithelial lesions in the gastrointestinal tract in India. The study included 174 patients who underwent ESD, with the majority of lesions located in the stomach. The median age of the patients was 60, with a slightly higher number of males than females. The study found that ESD was successful in achieving en bloc resection in 99.42% of cases and R0 resection in 94.25% of cases. The procedure had a low rate of adverse events, with only two cases of perforation and six cases of muscle defects. The median procedure time was 21 minutes, and the median length of hospital stay was 2 days. The recurrence rate was low, with only two patients requiring further surgery. The study concludes that ESD is a safe and effective treatment option for selected cases in India. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, presents a retrospective analysis of pancreatic ERCP procedures conducted between October 2008 and May 2023. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of biliary sphincterotomy in increasing the success rate of cannulating the main pancreatic duct (MPD). The results showed that when direct MPD cannulation was difficult, cannulating the common bile duct (CBD) first and performing a biliary sphincterotomy significantly improved the success rate of MPD cannulation, from 81.4% to 92.9%. Additionally, it was found that 71.4% of failed MPD cannulations after biliary sphincterotomy were due to undetected pancreas divisum. Patients who could not be cannulated at all were then subjected to EUS guided drainage or surgery. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, presents a retrospective analysis of 3000 patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) at a tertiary care center in India. The study aimed to analyze the efficacy of a technique called freehand precut for selective cannulation in difficult ERCP cases and its role in improving the technical success rate. The results showed that out of the 3000 patients analyzed, 81.74% achieved selective biliary cannulation, while 18.26% required the freehand precut accessotomy technique. The technical success rate after precut was 98.36%, with only 1.64% of cases failing to achieve biliary cannulation even after the precut technique. The most common etiology in the precut cases was stone disease, followed by malignant lesions, benign strictures, and various post-surgical biliary leaks. The study concludes that the freehand precut technique is effective in difficult cannulation cases and significantly increases the success rate of selective biliary cannulation, eliminating the need for more expensive techniques such as EUS guided or rendezvous techniques. [Extracted from the article]