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BackgroundThe optimal timing of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and the impact of clinico-demographic factors on hospitalization outcomes in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) remains an area of active research.AimTo identify independent predictors of outcomes in patients with NVUGIB, with a particular focus on EGD timing, anticoagulation (AC) status, and demographic features.MethodsA retrospective analysis of adult patients with NVUGIB from 2009 to 2014 was performed using validated ICD-9 codes from the National Inpatient Sample database. Patients were stratified by EGD timing relative to hospital admission (≤ 24 h, 24-48 h, 48-72 h, and > 72 h) and then by AC status (yes/no). The primary outcome was all-cause inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes included healthcare usage.ResultsOf the 1082516 patients admitted for NVUGIB, 553186 (51.1%) underwent EGD. The mean time to EGD was 52.8 h. Early (< 24 h from admission) EGD was associated with significantly decreased mortality, less frequent intensive care unit admission, shorter length of hospital stays, lower hospital costs, and an increased likelihood of discharge to home (all with P < 0.001). AC status was not associated with mortality among patients who underwent early EGD (aOR 0.88, P = 0.193). Male sex (OR 1.30) and Hispanic (OR 1.10) or Asian (aOR 1.38) race were also independent predictors of adverse hospitalization outcomes in NVUGIB.ConclusionBased on this large, nationwide study, early EGD in NVUGIB is associated with lower mortality and decreased healthcare usage, irrespective of AC status. These findings may help guide clinical management and would benefit from prospective validation.

IntroductionNonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease, but no drug therapies have been approved to date. While glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues may help in the management, the existing evidence remains conflicting.AimThis meta-analysis aims to elucidate the efficacy of liraglutide in patients with NASH.Material and methodsWe searched 4 databases for randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of liraglutide in patients with NASH. We analysed continuous outcomes using the mean difference (MD) and relative 95% confidence interval (CI), while dichotomous outcomes were analysed using the risk ratio (RR) and relative 95% CI. Primary endpoints included alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (IU/l), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (IU/l), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (IU/l), and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (IU/l). Secondary outcomes were body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2), waist circumference (cm), total cholesterol (TC) (mmol/l), triglyceride (TG) (mmoll), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (mmol/l), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (mmol/l), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (%).ResultsA total of 5 clinical trials were included. The analysis showed that liraglutide is effective in increasing HDL (MD = +0.10 (-0.18, -0.02), p = 0.02) and reducing LDL levels in blood (MD = -0.29 (-0.56, -0.02), p = 0.04). No significant difference was noted in levels of ALT (MD = 2.66 (-1.56, 6.87), p = 0.22), AST (MD = -1.99 (-5.70, 1.72), p = 0.29), GGT (MD = 5.02 (-0.86, 10.90), p = 0.09), ALP (MD = -5.16 (-11.90, 1.59), p = 0.13), TC (MD = -0.31 (-0.65, 0.03), p = 0.07), or TG (MD = -0.14 (-0.53, 0.25), p = 0.48). The HbA1c (%) level was found to be significantly reduced in the liraglutide arm (MD = -0.62 (-0.88, -0.36), p < 0.01).ConclusionsLiraglutide effectively improves the lipid profile in patients with NASH.

BackgroundGastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is a precursor to gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). In the United States, there is no consensus on the utility of surveillance for GIM, and minority populations most affected by GAC are understudied. Our aims were to define clinical and endoscopic features, surveillance practices, and outcomes in patients with GIM in a multicenter safety-net system.MethodsWe identified patients with biopsy-proven GIM between 2016-2020 at the three medical centers comprising Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Demographics, findings at index esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) first showing GIM, recommended interval for repeat EGD, and findings at repeat EGD were abstracted. Descriptive statistics were performed to characterize our cohort. T-tests and chi-squared (χ2) tests were used to compare patients with and without multifocal GIM.ResultsThere were 342 patients with newly-diagnosed biopsy-proven GIM, 18 (5.2%) of whom had GAC at index EGD. Hispanic patients comprised 71.8% of patients. For most patients (59%), repeat EGD was not recommended. If recommended, 2-3 years was the most common interval. During a median time to repeat EGD of 13 months and cumulative follow-up of 119 patient-years, 29.5% of patients underwent at least one repeat EGD, of whom 14% had multifocal GIM not previously detected. Progression to dysplasia or GAC was not detected in any patients.ConclusionIn a predominantly minority population with biopsy-proven GIM, there was a 5% incidence of GAC on index EGD. Though progression to neither dysplasia nor GAC was detected, there was significant variability in endoscopic sampling and surveillance practices.

Although CA 19-9 is a commonly used tumor marker in the management of PBMs, the literature describing outcomes in patients with PBMs who have undetectable or low (hereinafter "low") CA 19-9 levels remains scarce. In this study, we sought to compare clinical features and outcomes in patients with PBMs and low CA 19-9 levels to those with normal and elevated CA 19-9 levels.MethodsWe retrospectively collected data on patients with biopsy-confirmed PBMs and stratified patients into categories based on their CA 19-9 level at diagnosis. Survival curves were estimated for patients in each of the three aforementioned CA 19-9 groups using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using a Cox proportional hazards regression model.ResultsOf the 283 patients identified, 23 (8.1%) had low, 70 (24.7%) had normal, and 190 (67.1%) had elevated CA 19-9 levels. After controlling for sex, age, BMI, the presence of metastases at the time of diagnosis, and treatment with curative intent, the hazard ratio for death in the elevated CA 19-9 group compared to the low CA 19-9 group was 1.993 (95% CI 1.089-3.648; p = 0.025).ConclusionThe elevated CA 19-9 level compared to the low CA 19-9 level and the presence of metastases were associated with an increased hazard of death, while treatment with curative intent was associated with a decreased hazard of death.

IntroductionIn the setting of increasing attention to representation in medicine, we aimed to assess current perspectives of racial and ethnic workforce diversity and health care disparities among gastroenterology (GI) and hepatology professionals in the United States.MethodsWe developed and administered a 33-item electronic cross-sectional survey to members of 5 national GI and hepatology societies. Survey items were organized into thematic modules and solicited perspectives on racial and ethnic workforce diversity, health care disparities in GI and hepatology, and potential interventions to enhance workforce diversity and improve health equity.ResultsOf the 1,219 survey participants, 62.3% were male, 48.7% were non-Hispanic White, and 19.9% were from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine. The most frequently reported barriers to increasing racial and ethnic diversity in GI and hepatology were insufficient representation of underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups in the education and training pipeline (n = 431 [35.4%]), in professional leadership (n = 340 [27.9%]), and among practicing GI and hepatology professionals (n = 324 [26.6%]). Suggested interventions were to increase career mentorship opportunities (n = 545 [44.7%]), medical student opportunities (n = 520 [42.7%]), and program and professional society leadership roles for underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups (n = 473 [38.8%]).DiscussionOur survey explored imperative and timely perspectives on racial and ethnic representation and health equity among professionals in GI and hepatology. The findings should inform future interventions to address workforce diversity and establish priorities toward improving health equity, ultimately serving as a springboard for professional societies, academic institutions, and other organizations that aim to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in our field.

BackgroundThe fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is the primary modality used by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LADHS) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in average-risk patients. Some patients referred for FIT-positive diagnostic colonoscopy have neither adenomas nor more advanced pathology. We aimed to identify predictors of false-positive FIT (FP-FIT) results in our largely disenfranchised, low socioeconomic status population.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of 596 patients who underwent diagnostic colonoscopy following a positive screening FIT. Colonoscopies showing adenomas (or more advanced pathology) were considered positive. We employed multiple logistic and linear regression as well as machine learning models (MLMs) to identify clinical predictors of FP-FIT (primary outcome) and the presence of advanced adenomas (secondary outcome).ResultsOverall, 268 patients (45.0%) had a FP-FIT. Female sex and hemorrhoids (odds ratios [ORs] 1.59 and 1.89, respectively) were associated with increased odds of FP-FIT and fewer advanced adenomas (β = - 0.658 and  - 0.516, respectively). Conversely, increasing age and BMI (ORs 0.94 and 0.96, respectively) were associated with decreased odds of FP-FIT and a greater number of advanced adenomas (β = 0.073 and 0.041, respectively). MLMs predicted FP-FIT with high specificity (93.8%) and presence of advanced adenoma with high sensitivity (94.4%).ConclusionIncreasing age and BMI are associated with lower odds of FP-FIT and greater number of advanced adenomas, while female sex and hemorrhoids are associated with higher odds of FP-FIT and fewer advanced adenomas. The presence of the aforementioned predictors may inform the decision to proceed with diagnostic colonoscopy in FIT-positive patients.

Gastrostomy tube placement is a procedure that achieves enteral access for nutrition, decompression, and medication administration. Preprocedural evaluation and selection of patients is necessary to provide optimal benefit and reduce the risk of adverse events (AEs). Appropriate indications, contraindications, ethical considerations, and comorbidities of patients referred for gastrostomy placement should be weighed and balanced. Additionally, endoscopist should consider either a transoral or transabdominal approach is appropriate, and radiologic or surgical gastrostomy tube placement is needed. However, medical history, physical examination, and imaging prior to the procedure should be considered to tailor the appropriate approach and reduce the risk of AEs.

Background and study aims  Data regarding endoscopic findings and symptom correlation in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms are largely limited to single-center experiences. We performed a nationwide study to examine the association between patient-reported GERD symptoms and clinically relevant endoscopic findings. Patients and methods  Using the National Endoscopic Database, we retrospectively identified all esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs) performed for GERD symptoms from 2000 to 2014. Patients were categorized into three symptom groups: 1) typical reflux only (R); 2) airway only (A); and 3) both R and A (R + A). Outcomes were the point prevalence of endoscopic findings in relation to patient-reported GERD symptom groups. Statistical analyses were performed using R. Results  A total of 167,459 EGDs were included: 96.8 % for R symptoms, 1.4 % for A symptoms, and 1.8 % for R + A symptoms. Of the patients, 13.4 % had reflux esophagitis (RE), 9.0 % Barrett's esophagus (BE), and 45.4 % hiatal hernia (HH). The R + A group had a significantly higher point prevalence of RE (21.6 % vs. 13.3 % and 12 %; P

In 2019, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) guideline on the endoscopic management of choledocholithiasis modified the individual predictors of choledocholithiasis proposed in the widely referenced 2010 guideline to improve predictive performance. Nevertheless, the primary literature, especially for the 2019 iteration, is limited. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis to examine the diagnostic performance of the 2010, and where possible the 2019, predictors. PROSPERO protocol CRD42020194226. A comprehensive literature search from 2001 to 2020 was performed to identify studies on the diagnostic performance of any of the 2010 and 2019 ASGE choledocholithiasis predictors. Identified studies underwent keyword screening, abstract review, and full-text review. The primary outcomes included multivariate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for each criterion. Secondary outcomes were reported sensitivities, specificities, and positive and negative predictive value. A total of 20 studies met inclusion criteria. Based on reported ORs, of the 2010 guideline "very strong" predictors, ultrasound with stone had the strongest performance. Of the "strong" predictors, CBD > 6 mm demonstrated the strongest performance. "Moderate" predictors had inconsistent and/or weak performance; moreover, all studies reported gallstone pancreatitis as non-predictive of choledocholithiasis. Only one study examined the new predictor (bilirubin > 4 mg/dL and CBD > 6 mm) proposed in the 2019 guideline. Based on this review, aside from CBD stone on ultrasound, there is discordance between the proposed strength of 2010 choledocholithiasis predictors and their published diagnostic performance. The 2019 guideline appears to do away with the weakest 2010 predictors.

Peroral cholangioscopy (POC) is an endoscopic procedure that allows direct intraductal visualization of the biliary tract. POC has emerged as a vital tool for indeterminate biliary stricture evaluation and treatment of difficult biliary stones. Over several generations of devices, POC has fulfilled additional clinical needs where other diagnostic or therapeutic modalities have been inadequate. With adverse event rates comparable to standard endoscopic retrograde cholangioscopy and unique technical attributes, the role of POC is likely to continue expand. In this frontiers article, we highlight the existing and growing clinical applications of POC as well as areas of ongoing research.

Endoscopic stenting is a well-established option for the treatment of malignant obstruction, temporary management of benign strictures, and sealing transmural defects, as well as drainage of pancreatic fluid collections and biliary obstruction. In recent years, in addition to expansion in indications for endoscopic stenting, considerable strides have been made in stent technology, and several types of devices with advanced designs and materials are continuously being developed. In this review, we discuss the important developments in stent designs and novel indications for endoluminal and transluminal stenting. Our discussion specifically focuses on (i) biodegradable as well as (ii) irradiating and drug-eluting stents for esophageal, gastroduodenal, biliary, and colonic indications, (iii) endoscopic stenting in inflammatory bowel disease, and (iv) lumen-apposing metal stent.

Background and aimsColonoscopy is recommended post-acute diverticulitis (AD) to exclude underlying adenocarcinoma (CRC). However, post-AD colonoscopy utility remains controversial. We aimed to examine yield of post-AD colonoscopy in our majority-Hispanic patient population.MethodsPatients undergoing post-AD colonoscopy between 11/1/2015-7/31/2021 were identified from a prospectively maintained endoscopic database. AD cases without computed tomography confirmation were excluded. Pertinent data, including complicated vs uncomplicated AD, fecal immunochemical test (FIT) result post-AD/pre-colonoscopy, and number/type/location of non-advanced adenomas, advanced adenomas, and CRC, were abstracted. Analyses were conducted using two-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum and Fisher's exact tests.Results208 patients were included, of whom 62.0% had uncomplicated AD. Median age was 53, 54.3% were female, and 77.4% were Hispanic. Ninety non-advanced adenomas were detected in 45 patients (21.6%), in addition to advanced adenoma in eight patients (3.8%). Two patients (1.0%) had CRC, both of whom had complicated AD in the same location seen on imaging, and one of whom was FIT+ (the other had not undergone FIT). Patients with uncomplicated versus complicated AD had similarly low rates of advanced adenomas (4.7% vs. 2.5%, p=0.713). FIT data were available in 51 patients and positive in three (5.9%); non-advanced adenomas were found in all three FIT+ patients. No FIT- patient had an advanced adenoma or CRC.ConclusionColonoscopy post-AD is generally low yield, with CRC being rare and found only in those with complicated AD. Colonoscopy post-complicated AD appears advisable, whereas less invasive testing (e.g. FIT) may be considered post-uncomplicated AD to inform the need for colonoscopy.

Polyps are precursors to colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer in the United States. Large polyps, i.e.,, those with a size ≥ 20 mm, are more likely to harbor cancer. Colonic polyps can be removed through various techniques, with the goal to completely resect and prevent colorectal cancer; however, the management of large polyps can be relatively complex and challenging. Such polyps are generally more difficult to remove en bloc with conventional methods, and depending on level of expertise, may consequently be resected piecemeal, leading to an increased rate of incomplete removal and thus polyp recurrence. To effectively manage large polyps, endoscopists should be able to: (1) Evaluate the polyp for characteristics which predict high difficulty of resection or incomplete removal; (2) Determine the optimal resection technique (e.g., snare polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic submucosal dissection, etc.); and (3) Recognize when to refer to colleagues with greater expertise. This review covers important considerations in this regard for referring and receiving endoscopists and methods to best manage large colonic polyps.

Background and aimsNoninvasive predictors of choledocholithiasis have generally exhibited marginal performance characteristics. We aimed to identify noninvasive independent predictors of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-confirmed choledocholithiasis and accordingly developed predictive machine learning models (MLMs).MethodsClinical data of consecutive patients undergoing first-ever ERCP for suspected choledocholithiasis from 2015-2019 were abstracted from a prospectively-maintained database. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors of ERCP-confirmed choledocholithiasis. MLMs were then trained to predict ERCP-confirmed choledocholithiasis using pre-ERCP ultrasound (US) imaging only and separately using all available noninvasive imaging (US/CT/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography). The diagnostic performance of American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) "high-likelihood" criteria was compared to MLMs.ResultsWe identified 270 patients (mean age 46 years, 62.2% female, 73.7% Hispanic/Latino, 59% with noninvasive imaging positive for choledocholithiasis) with native papilla who underwent ERCP for suspected choledocholithiasis, of whom 230 (85.2%) were found to have ERCP-confirmed choledocholithiasis. Logistic regression identified choledocholithiasis on noninvasive imaging (odds ratio (OR) = 3.045, P = 0.004) and common bile duct (CBD) diameter on noninvasive imaging (OR=1.157, P = 0.011) as predictors of ERCP-confirmed choledocholithiasis. Among the various MLMs trained, the random forest-based MLM performed best; sensitivity was 61.4% and 77.3% and specificity was 100% and 75.0%, using US-only and using all available imaging, respectively. ASGE high-likelihood criteria demonstrated sensitivity of 90.9% and specificity of 25.0%; using cut-points achieving this specificity, MLMs achieved sensitivity up to 97.7%.ConclusionsMLMs using age, sex, race, presence of diabetes, fever, body mass index (BMI), total bilirubin, maximum CBD diameter, and choledocholithiasis on pre-ERCP noninvasive imaging predict ERCP-confirmed choledocholithiasis with good sensitivity and specificity and outperform the ASGE criteria for patients with suspected choledocholithiasis.

Over the past 50 years, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has become the preferred minimally invasive method of treating a vast array of pancreatobiliary diseases. An initial sine qua non for ERCP success is selective ductal cannulation. Despite significant progress in the optimisation of ERCP methods and accessories, selective biliary cannulation using conventional techniques remains unsuccessful in approximately 15% of native papilla cases. Furthermore, difficult biliary cannulation has been associated with an increased risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis, among other adverse events. Here, in the first of a two-part series, the authors provide a primer on standard biliary cannulation techniques and discuss the definition, risk factors, and implications of difficult biliary cannulation. The second part of the series will provide an overview of the existing advanced techniques used in cases of difficult biliary cannulation as well as the approach to their selection.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) plays a significant role in the treatment of a vast array of pancreatobiliary diseases. However, despite significant progress in the optimisation of ERCP methods and accessories, the technical and clinical success of ERCP can vary significantly due to a variety of patient and operator factors. Over the past several decades, a number of advanced techniques have been developed to improve cannulation success rates, including the use of double-guidewire, pancreatic duct accessory-assisted, precut, and rendezvous techniques. Here, the authors provide an update and overview of the existing advanced techniques used in cases of difficult biliary cannulation, as well as the approach to their selection.

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020 by the World Health Organization. To minimize exposure and because of limited personal protective equipment resources, most gastroenterology practices were curtailed/modified during the surge, with slow reopening to a normal/semi-normal schedule. Gastroenterology healthcare workers have been impacted greatly by COVID-19, resulting in job and wage insecurity. The aim of our study was to understand the impact of COVID-19 on gastroenterology healthcare workers across the United States. A web-based survey, consisting of 40 questions, was disseminated among gastroenterology practices across the United States via en masse e-mails and direct contact by authors. In total, 223 gastroenterology healthcare workers completed the survey; 56.1% were from academic settings. COVID-19 impacted the work schedule of 85.2% of participants, with reduced weekly work hours (38.1%), duty reassignment (22.4%), and furlough (13.9%). Uncertainty about job and/or future wages/benefits after reopening was noted in 41%, which was significantly associated with the presence of physical (p = .021) and mental/emotional symptoms (p = .045). Worsening of pre-existing physical and/or mental/emotional conditions was observed in 53%. Inadequate personal protective equipment availability, lack of temporary housing and/or childcare facilities, as well as job insecurity appear to be the important factors leading to worsening physical/mental/emotional conditions among gastroenterology healthcare workers.

Acute pancreatitis is of one the most common gastroenterology-related indications for hospital admissions worldwide. With the widespread reliance on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for the management of pancreaticobiliary conditions, post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) has come to represent an important etiology of acute pancreatitis. Despite many studies aiming to better understand the pathogenesis and prevention of this iatrogenic disorder, findings have been heterogeneous, and considerable variation in clinical practice exists. Herein, we review the literature regarding PEP with the goal to raise awareness of this entity, discuss recent data, and present evidence-based best practices. We believe this manuscript will be useful for gastrointestinal endoscopists as well as other specialists involved in the management of patients with PEP.

Introduction Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration and biopsy (FNA/FNB) to obtain cytological aspirates and histological core samples, respectively, are the standard of care for diagnosing lesions in/adjacent to the upper/lower gastrointestinal tract. Due to the lack of standardization of tissue processing, it is unclear whether core samples should be sent only for histology (formalin) or cytology (CytoLyt), or both. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic concordance rates between cytology and histology on EUS-FNB core samples. Methods A total of 227 patients underwent EUS-FNB between October-2017 and February-2019 by a single therapeutic endoscopist; 44 core-tissue samples (41 patients) were placed alternately in CytoLyt (cytology) and formalin (histology), with equal passes into each, to best achieve a proportionate sample amount. The patient's demographics, medical history, pertinent imaging, EUS indication/findings were reviewed. Main outcomes included concordance rates between cytology-histology and diagnostic accuracy for malignancy. Results Cytology and histology were discordant in five cases (11.5%); four with negative cytology but a definite diagnosis of malignancy achieved with histology. One case was suspected as neoplasm on cytology but further characterized as benign on histology. Cytology failed to sub-characterize an additional four mass-like pancreatic benign entities, due to inadequate tissue architecture assessment in the CytoLyt sample. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of cytology for diagnosis of malignancy were 87.88% (95%CI: 71.8-96.6), 90.91% (95%CI: 58.7-99.7), 96.67% (95%CI: 81.6-99.4), and 71.43% (95%CI: 49.4-86.4). Discussion We observed 11.5% diagnostic discordance between cytology and histology on EUS-FNB core samples, with histology being superior. Future multicenter prospective randomized studies are needed to establish an accurate and cost-effective diagnostic process.

BackgroundGastric signet ring cell carcinoma (GSRC) is a rare but increasingly prevalent tumor histotype whose clinical features and natural history are poorly understood, particularly in the USA and minorities.AimsTo examine the occurrence, clinico-demographic characteristics, oncologic features, treatment, and outcomes of GSRC in a predominantly minority county hospital setting and benchmark them against data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.MethodsWe queried biopsy-proven GSRC cases at a Los Angeles County hospital, from 2004 to 2017. Clinical characteristics, treatment, and survival data were collected and compared to SEER data.ResultsWe identified 63 patients with GSRC. Compared to SEER, our cohort was significantly younger (52.6 vs. 63.5 years, p

BackgroundGastric signet ring cell carcinoma (GSRC) is a rare but increasingly prevalent tumor histotype whose clinical features and natural history are poorly understood, particularly in the USA and minorities.AimsTo examine the occurrence, clinico-demographic characteristics, oncologic features, treatment, and outcomes of GSRC in a predominantly minority county hospital setting and benchmark them against data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.MethodsWe queried biopsy-proven GSRC cases at a Los Angeles County hospital, from 2004 to 2017. Clinical characteristics, treatment, and survival data were collected and compared to SEER data.ResultsWe identified 63 patients with GSRC. Compared to SEER, our cohort was significantly younger (52.6 vs. 63.5 years, p

Background and aimsAnti-neoplastic immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer management; however. its safety profile with respect to liver-related injury remains largely unexplored. Herein, we analyzed a United States national database to determine the incidence, mortality, and predictors of hepatotoxicity in the setting of anti-neoplastic immunotherapy.MethodsThis was a nationwide retrospective study of hospital encounters from 2011 to 2014 using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. We utilized the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) coding system to identify all adult patients who underwent anti-neoplastic immunotherapy during hospitalization. The primary outcome was the incidence of hepatotoxicity during the same hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality as well as socioeconomic and ethno-racial predictors of hepatotoxicity. Analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0.ResultsThe sample included 3002 patients who underwent inpatient anti-neoplastic immunotherapy. The incidence of hepatotoxicity was 10.1%, which was significantly higher as compared to a matched inpatient population (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.93, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.80-6.40. P = 0.001). No significant mortality difference was seen in those that developed hepatotoxicity compared to those who did not (aOR 0.47. 95% CI: 0.03-8.03, P = 0.612). Age under 60 (aOR 1.56. 95% CI: 123-1.78, P = 0.050) and white race (aOR 1.85. 95% CI: 1.35-2.04, P

Self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) are frequently utilized for palliation of malignant gastric and/or duodenal outlet obstruction (GDOO). Re-establishing luminal patency with accurate SEMS positioning while limiting migration and adjacent tissue injury is an important technical consideration and aim. The duodenal HANAROSTENT® was introduced in the USA in 2019 and developed with these challenges in mind. As the first center in the USA to deploy the duo-denal HANAROSTENT® in clinical practice, we herein examine our early experience with its use. Specifically, we describe 7 consecutive cases of malignant GDOO in which a duodenal HANAROSTENT® was placed for on-label use, defined as palliative treatment of malignant gastric and/or duodenal obstruction. All stents were 22 mm in diameter, with 5 being 90 mm and 2 being 120 mm in length. Technical and clinical success with duodenal HANAROSTENT® placement were achieved in all 7 cases (100%). In no case was stent adjustment required post-deployment. There were no stent-related adverse events, and no subsequent endoscopic procedures were necessary in any of the patients during a mean follow-up of 5 months (range 1-12 months). In summary, the duodenal HANAROSTENT® appears to perform well and be a promising alternative to other available duodenal SEMSs. As experience in the USA with this newly introduced duodenal SEMS grows, multicenter prospective data should be collected to better establish its relative safety and efficacy.

The primary purpose of variceal screening in patients with cirrhosis is to detect gastroesophageal varices at high risk of hemorrhage and implement preventative intervention(s). It was previously recommended that all patients with cirrhosis undergo initial and periodic longitudinal variceal screening via upper endoscopy. However, there has been growing interest and methods to identify patients with cirrhosis who may not have clinically significant portal hypertension and therefore be unlikely to have varices requiring intervention or benefit from upper endoscopy. Because the population of patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease continues to grow, it is neither beneficial nor cost-effective to perform endoscopic variceal screening in all patients. Therefore, there is ongoing research into the development of methods to non-invasively risk stratify patients with cirrhosis for the presence of high-risk esophageal varices and effectively limit the population that undergoes endoscopic variceal screening. This is particularly important and timely in light of increasing healthcare reform and barriers to healthcare. In this review, we discuss and compare, with respect to test characteristics and clinical applicability, the available methods used to non-invasively predict the presence of esophageal varices.

Background  Luminal stenting is safe, effective, and at times the preferred method for relieving gastrointestinal obstruction. However, stent placement is not technically feasible when lesions cannot be traversed with a guidewire, resulting in the need for more invasive methods of palliation and urgent/emergent surgical intervention. In this series, we report our experience with cap-assisted stenting to improve lumen visualization in obstructed segments of the gastrointestinal tract and salvage cases that may have otherwise resulted in technical failure. Methods  A clear cap (i. e. distal attachment) was affixed to the scope tip to facilitate visualization and stenting in two cases of gastroduodenal obstruction and three cases of colonic obstruction. Indications for stent placement included malignant obstruction, diverticulitis-associated obstruction, and Crohn's disease-associated stricture. Results  In this report, we demonstrate that use of a clear cap facilitated endoscopic stenting in challenging cases of malignant and benign gastroduodenal and colonic obstruction. Conclusions  A clear cap for endoscopic stenting can be used in cases in which standard techniques are unsuccessful or those anticipated to be technically difficult at the outset. Cases with tortuous anatomy or particularly tight, friable, or exophytic obstructive lesions may benefit most from this novel technical modification.

BACKGROUND Distinguishing between primary and metastatic malignancy can be challenging despite advances in diagnostic imaging, tissue sampling techniques, and immunohistochemistry. CASE REPORT Herein, we describe 2 cases of obscure liver lesions which were ultimately determined to be malignant and from metastatic disease. In both cases, the liver metastases were uniquely "homomorphic," i.e., radiographically resembling the primary tumor source (in the first case a dilated tubular appearance akin to the hepatopancreatic ampulla and in the second case a haustrated bowel appearance akin to the colon). CONCLUSIONS These cases illustrate the recently reported concept of tumor homomorphism as a potential diagnostic pearl to facilitate timely diagnosis of malignant-appearing liver lesions of obscure etiology and source and thereby guide management accordingly.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causes systemic vascular inflammation. The increased risk of venous as well as arterial thromboembolic phenomena in IBD is well established. More recently, a relationship between IBD and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) has been postulated. Systemic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, have well characterized cardiac pathologies and treatments that focus on prevention of disease associated ASCVD. The impact of chronic inflammation on ASCVD in IBD remains poorly characterized. This manuscript aims to review and summarize the current literature pertaining to IBD and ASCVD with respect to its pathophysiology and impact of medications in order to encourage further research that can improve understanding and help develop clinical recommendations for prevention and management of ASCVD in patients with IBD.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic modality with a number of established as well as evolving uses in patients with chronic liver disease. Compared to other diagnostic tools such as cross-sectional imaging or conventional endoscopy, EUS has been shown to increase diagnostic sensitivity and therapeutic success for many clinical scenarios and applications with a low rate of adverse events. In this review, we discuss and focus on the current and growing role of EUS in the evaluation and/or treatment of hepatobiliary masses, hepatic parenchymal disease, portal hypertension, esophageal and other varices, and indeterminate biliary strictures.

Foreign body ingestion encompasses a broad variety of ingested objects, clinical presentations, and treatment approaches, with a wide spectrum of severity and urgency. Herein, we describe the case of a 29-year-old man presenting with abdominal pain following the ingestion of empty plastic bags. Monitoring with serial imaging demonstrated the bags in the stomach 18 hours post-ingestion. Given this finding and worsening pain, a multidisciplinary decision was made to pursue endoscopic retrieval. This case uniquely demonstrates the benefit of rapid multidisciplinary meetings in an emergency room setting leading to the successful removal of ingested bags from the gastric body. While the phenomenon of "body stuffing," or hasty ingestion of bagged drugs to evade law enforcement has become common, there are few reports of endoscopic removal for such cases or those involving empty bag ingestion. This case highlights the importance of repeat abdominal imaging and early endoscopic intervention for foreign objects such as bags as they may be difficult to visualize on imaging, making it unreliable to track their progress. Dynamic imaging should be obtained, with computed tomography (CT) being the gold standard. This report represents the first case of empty bag ingestion, highlighting tenets of timely multidisciplinary management and considerations in endoscopic retrieval as a minimally invasive technique when a patient presents in the emergency department following bag ingestion.

With over 100000 hospital admissions per annum, acute pancreatitis remains the leading gastrointestinal cause of hospitalization in the United States and has far-reaching impact well beyond. It has become increasingly recognized that drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP), despite accounting for less than 3% of all cases, represents an important and growing though often inconspicuous cause of acute pancreatitis. Nevertheless, knowledge of DIP is often curtailed by the limited availability of evidence needed to implicate given agents, especially for non-prescription medications. Indeed, the majority of available data is derived from case reports, case series, or case control studies. Furthermore, the mechanism of injury and causality for many of these drugs remain elusive as a definitive correlation is generally not established (< 10% of cases). Several classification systems have been proposed, but no single system has been widely adopted, and periodic updates are required in light of ongoing pharmacologic expansion. Moreover, infrequently prescribed medications or those available over-the-counter (including herbal and other alternative remedies) are often overlooked as a potential culprit of acute pancreatitis. Herein, we review the ever-increasing diversity of DIP and the potential mechanisms of injury with the goal of raising awareness regarding the nature and magnitude of this entity. We believe this manuscript will aid in increasing both primary and secondary prevention of DIP, thus ultimately facilitating more expedient diagnosis and a decrease in DIP-related morbidity.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a cholestatic liver disease characterised by chronic inflammation and fibro-obliteration of the intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic bile ducts. It is associated with numerous hepatobiliary complications including an increased risk of malignancy (in particular, cholangiocarcinoma) and biliary tract stone formation. The evaluation of biliary strictures in patients with PSC is especially challenging, with imaging and endoscopic methods having only modest sensitivity for the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, and treatment of biliary strictures poses a similarly significant clinical challenge. In recent years, peroral cholangioscopy has evolved technologically and increased in popularity as an endoscopic tool that can provide direct intraductal visualisation and facilitate therapeutic manipulation of the biliary tract. However, the indications for and effectiveness of its use in patients with PSC remain uncertain, with only a few studies performed on this small but important subset of patients. In this review, the authors discuss the available data regarding the use of peroral cholangioscopy in patients with PSC, with a focus on its use in the evaluation and management of biliary strictures and stones.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, progressive, hepatobiliary disease characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the intra- and extra-hepatic bile ducts. Its natural history is one that generally progresses towards cirrhosis, liver failure, cholangiocarcinoma, and ultimately disease-related death, with a median liver transplantation-free survival time of approximately 15-20 years. However, despite its lethal nature, PSC remains a heterogenous disease with significant variability in outcomes amongst different regions of the world. There are also many regions where the outcomes of PSC have not been studied, limiting the overall understanding of this disease worldwide. In this review, we present the geoepidemiologic variations in outcomes of PSC, with a focus on survival pre- and post-liver transplantation as well as the concurrence of inflammatory bowel disease and hepatobiliary neoplasia.

Diverticula are the most common incidental finding during routine colonoscopy, and their prevalence increases with patient age. The term "diverticular disease" encompasses the range of clinical manifestations and complications that can occur with colonic diverticula, including diverticular bleeding, diverticulitis-associated strictures, and acute diverticulitis. Colonoscopy is a vital tool in the diagnosis and management of diverticular disease and can be useful in a variety of regards. In this editorial, we concisely delineate the current approach to and practices in colonoscopic management of diverticular disease. In particular, we discuss treatment options for diverticular bleeding, propose consideration of colonic stenting as a bridge to surgery in patients with diverticulitis-associated strictures, and the need for diagnostic colonoscopy following an episode of acute diverticulitis in order to rule out underlying conditions such as colonic malignancy or inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, we offer practical tips for performing safe and successful colonoscopy in patients with dense diverticulosis coli.

Ablative therapies refer to minimally invasive procedures performed to destroy abnormal tissue that may arise with many conditions, and can be achieved clinically using chemical, thermal, and other techniques. In this review article, we explore the different ablative therapies used in the management of hepatic and biliary malignancies, namely hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), with a particular focus on radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) techniques.

BackgroundWhile in children intussusception is often idiopathic, in adults it is commonly caused by a pathologic condition functioning as a lead point. It is important to note that a variety of pathologic conditions may trigger intussusception, with malignancy being a relatively frequent culprit in adults; this should be considered high on the differential diagnosis during evaluation.Case summaryThis is a case of a 40-year-old female presenting to the emergency department (ED) with three days of acute on chronic, peri-umbilical abdominal pain described as waxing and waning, and pressure-like in nature. Initial computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast in the ED (after her pain had resolved) re-demonstrated a previously noted 13 mm lesion in the gastric antrum but no clear cause of the pain. Endoscopic ultrasound was pursued, and the mass lesion was sampled via fine needle biopsy. Post-procedure the patient experienced another episode of severe pain which prompted a repeat stat CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast; this re-demonstrated the 13 mm antral lesion and in addition was remarkable for a gastro-gastric intussusception. An upper gastrointestinal gastrograffin series was ordered (completed only after the pain had subsided) and showed resolution of the intussusception. Histopathology was consistent with a diagnosis of low-grade neuroendocrine tumor (NET). Surgery was initially deferred during the hospitilization given the low grade pathology of the lesion; however further multidisciplinary discussion between Surgery, Oncology, and Gastroenterology recommended resection given the patient's recurrent abdominal pain with the NET functioning as a lead point for further intussusception, and the patient thus underwent robotically-assisted wedge resection.ConclusionWe present a unique case of severe, intermittent, peri-umbilical pain related to gastro-gastric intussusception caused by an antral NET lead point. The case highlights the importance of considering neoplasms as the cause of intussusception in adults and the greater diagnostic yield when imaging is obtained while symptoms (in this case severe, episodic abdominal pain) are most apparent.

Cholestatic liver diseases (CLDs) encompass a variety of disorders of abnormal bile formation and/or flow. CLDs often lead to progressive hepatic insult and injury and following the development of cirrhosis and associated complications. Many such complications are clinically silent until they manifest with severe sequelae, including but not limited to life-altering symptoms, metabolic disturbances, cirrhosis, and hepatobiliary diseases as well as other malignancies. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are the most common CLDs, and both relate to mutual as well as unique complications. This review provides an overview of PSC and PBC, with a focus on preventive measures aimed to reduce the incidence and severity of disease-related complications.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, idiopathic, cholestatic liver disease characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic bile ducts. It can affect individuals of all age groups and gender, has no established pharmacotherapy, and is associated with a variety of neoplastic (e.g. cholangiocarcinoma) and non-neoplastic (e.g. dominant strictures) hepatobiliary complications. Given these considerations, endoscopy plays a major role in the care of patients with PSC. In this review, we discuss and provide updates regarding endoscopic considerations in the management of hepatobiliary manifestations and complications of PSC. Where evidence is limited, we suggest pragmatic approaches based on currently available data and expert opinion.

Cholestatic liver diseases (CLDs) encompass a variety of disorders of abnormal bile formation and/or flow. CLDs often lead to progressive hepatic insult and injury and following the development of cirrhosis and associated complications. Many such complications are clinically silent until they manifest with severe sequelae, including but not limited to life-altering symptoms, metabolic disturbances, cirrhosis, and hepatobiliary diseases as well as other malignancies. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are the most common CLDs, and both relate to mutual as well as unique complications. This review provides an overview of PSC and PBC, with a focus on preventive measures aimed to reduce the incidence and severity of disease-related complications.

Goals: To assess if curcumin improves markers of cholestasis among subjects with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Background: PSC is a chronic cholestatic liver disorder for which there is no established medical therapy. Preclinical data suggest curcumin may have a beneficial effect in PSC. Study: Subjects with PSC and a serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) received curcumin 750 mg orally twice daily for 12 weeks in an open-label pilot study. The primary composite endpoint was proportion of subjects who had a reduction of SAP to less than 1.5 times ULN or a 40% reduction in SAP between baseline and week 12. Secondary endpoints included changes in serum aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, Mayo PSC risk score and self-reported health questionnaires. Results: Two-hundred and fifty-eight patients with PSC were screened and 15 subjects were enrolled and all completed 12 weeks of therapy. The most common reason for subject exclusion was SAP less than 1.5 times the ULN (n = 98). Curcumin did not result in a significant median (interquartile range) change in SAP times the ULN [3.43 (2.10-4.32) to 2.46 (1.89-4.41), p = .36], and only 20% (3/15) subjects achieved the primary endpoint. Similarly, there was no significant change in the secondary endpoints. There were no serious adverse events reported. Conclusion: While curcumin was well tolerated, it was not associated with significant improvements in cholestasis or symptoms. Moreover, this study also illustrates that a low SAP is common among those with PSC. Abbreviations PSC: Primary sclerosing cholangitis; IBD: inflammatory bowel disease; CCA: cholangiocarcinoma; SAP: serum alkaline phosphatase; ULN: upper limit of normal; UDCA: ursodeoxycholic acid; CRP: c-reactive protein; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; INR: international normalized ratio; FIS: fatigue impact scale; AE: adverse events; PREsTo: PSC risk estimate tool; IQR: interquartile range; ELF: enhanced liver fibrosis.

Foreign body ingestion encompasses both foreign object ingestion (FOI) and esophageal food impaction (EFI) and represents a common and clinically significant scenario among patients of all ages. The immediate risk to the patient ranges from negligible to life-threatening, depending on the ingested substance, its location, patient fitness, and time to appropriate therapy. This article reviews the FOI and EFI literature and highlights important considerations and implications for pediatric and adult patients as well as their providers. Where published literature is insufficient to provide evidence-based guidance, expert opinion is included to supplement the content of this comprehensive review.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare but prominent fibroinflammatory cholangiopathy which can affect individuals of essentially any age. It carries a median survival of 15-20 years, regardless of age at diagnosis, and is a foremost risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma. Given the chronic and progressive nature of PSC, its inherent risk for biliary tract and other complications, and the paucity of effective pharmacotherapies, endoscopy plays a major role in the care of many patients with this disorder. In this review, we discuss the endoscopic management of PSC, including established and evolving approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of its benign as well as malignant sequelae. Owing to the rarity of PSC and dearth of high-quality evidence, we propose pragmatic approaches based on both currently available data and expert opinion.

BackgroundDuodenal biopsies are commonly obtained during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) but are very often histopathologically normal. Therefore, a more strategic method for evaluating the duodenal mucosa and avoiding unnecessary biopsies is needed.AimTo examine the clinical utility of narrow band imaging (NBI) for evaluating duodenal villous morphology.MethodsWe performed a prospective cohort study of adult patients at Mayo Clinic Rochester from 2013-2014 who were referred for EGD with duodenal biopsies. A staff endoscopist scored, in real-time, the NBI-based appearance of duodenal villi into one of three categories (normal, partial villous atrophy, or complete villous atrophy), captured ≥ 2 representative duodenal NBI images, and obtained mucosal biopsies therein. Images were then scored by an advanced endoscopist and gastroenterology fellow, and biopsies (gold standard) by a pathologist, in a masked fashion using the same three-category classification. Performing endoscopist, advanced endoscopist, and fellow NBI scores were compared to histopathology to calculate performance characteristics [sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative, negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy]. Inter-rater agreement was assessed with Cohen's kappa.Results112 patients were included. The most common referring indications were dyspepsia (47%), nausea (23%), and suspected celiac disease (14%). Duodenal histopathology scores were: 84% normal, 11% partial atrophy, and 5% complete atrophy. Performing endoscopist NBI scores were 79% normal, 14% partial atrophy, and 6% complete atrophy compared to 91%, 5%, and 4% and 70%, 24%, and 6% for advanced endoscopist and fellow, respectively. NBI performed favorably for all raters, with a notably high (92%-100%) NPV. NBI score agreement was best between performing endoscopist and fellow (κ = 0.65).ConclusionNBI facilitates accurate, non-invasive evaluation of duodenal villi. Its high NPV renders it especially useful for foregoing biopsies of histopathologically normal duodenal mucosa.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare cholestatic liver disease characterized by progressive fibroinflammatory destruction of the intra- and/or extrahepatic biliary ducts. While its features and disease course can be variable, most patients with PSC have concurrent inflammatory bowel disease and will eventually develop liver cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease, with liver transplantation representing the only potentially curative option. Importantly, PSC is associated with a significantly increased risk of malignancy compared to the general population, mainly cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and colorectal cancer, with nearly 50% of deaths in patients with PSC being due to cancer. Therefore, robust surveillance strategies are needed, though uncertainty remains regarding how to best do so. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology, prevention, and surveillance of cancers in patients with PSC. Where evidence is limited, we present pragmatic approaches based on currently available data and expert opinion.

Despite improvements in endoscopic technologies and accessories, development of advanced endoscopy fellowship programs, and advances in ancillary imaging techniques, biliary cannulation in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can still be unsuccessful in up to 20% of patients, even in referral centers. Once cannulation has been deemed to be difficult, the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis and technical failure inherently increases. A number of factors, including endoscopist experience and patient anatomy, have been associated with difficult biliary cannulation, but predicting a case of difficult cannulation a priori is often not possible. Numerous techniques such as pancreatic guidewire and stenting, early pre-cut, and rendezvous may be employed when standard approaches fail. Data regarding the rate of success and adverse events of these techniques have been variable, though most studies suggest that pancreatic duct stenting generally reduces the rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis in instances of difficult biliary cannulation. Here we provide a review on difficult biliary cannulation and discuss how the choice of which techniques to employ and how to best employ them should be individualized and take into account the skill of the endoscopist, the disorder being treated, the anatomy of the patient, and the available biomedical literature.

Distinguishing between a primary malignancy and a metastasis can be challenging in some cases. Herein, we describe 2 cases of gastric lesions that were endoscopically sampled and ultimately found to be metastatic from a renal-cell carcinoma. In both cases, the gastric metastases were endoscopically homomorphic to the primary organ (the kidney); i.e., grossly resembling and thus providing an endoscopic clue as to the primary tumor source. We report on the evaluation of obscure metastatic gastric involvement of malignancy and present the concept of homomorphism as a potential diagnostic clue in determining the source of unknown and often unsuspected primary malignancy.

A 53-year-old man with tuberous sclerosis complex presented with severe, acute, right lower quadrant pain. The patient was found to have ileocolonic intussusception and a cecal mass on imaging. Diagnostic colonoscopy revealed a 3-cm cecal lesion which was grossly equivocal for hamartoma, adenoma, or other neoplasm, biopsies of which revealed villous adenoma. Given the lesion was believed to represent the trigger point for intussusception, the patient was referred for surgical resection, the histopathology from which the lesion was identified to be invasive adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent hemicolectomy, with plans for routine postoperative colon cancer surveillance. This case is unique because previously published literature has not described adenocarcinoma in an adult with tuberous sclerosis complex and it calls attention to the need to maintain unsuspected cancer high on the differential in adults with intussusception.

Hemobilia refers to bleeding from and/or into the biliary tract and is an uncommon but important cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Reports of hemobilia date back to the 1600s, but due to its relative rarity and challenges in diagnosis, only in recent decades has hemobilia been more critically studied. The majority of cases of hemobilia are iatrogenic and caused by invasive procedures involving the liver, pancreas, bile ducts and/or the hepatopancreatobiliary vasculature, with trauma and malignancy representing the two other leading causes. A classic triad of right upper quadrant pain, jaundice, and overt upper gastrointestinal bleeding has been described (i.e. Quincke's triad), but this is present in only 25%-30% of patients with hemobilia. Therefore, prompt diagnosis depends critically on having a high index of suspicion, which may be based on a patient's clinical presentation and having recently undergone (peri-) biliary instrumentation or other predisposing factors. The treatment of hemobilia depends on its severity and suspected source and ranges from supportive care to advanced endoscopic, interventional radiologic, or surgical intervention. Here we provide a clinical overview and update regarding the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of hemobilia geared for specialists and subspecialists alike.

Background & aimsIt is unclear whether participation in competency-based fellowship programs for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) results in high-quality care in independent practice. We measured quality indicator (QI) adherence during the first year of independent practice among physicians who completed endoscopic training with a systematic assessment of competence.MethodsWe performed a prospective multicenter cohort study of invited participants from 62 training programs. In phase 1, 24 advanced endoscopy trainees (AETs), from 20 programs, were assessed using a validated competence assessment tool. We used a comprehensive data collection and reporting system to create learning curves using cumulative sum analysis that were shared with AETs and trainers quarterly. In phase 2, participating AETs entered data into a database pertaining to every EUS and ERCP examination during their first year of independent practice, anchored by key QIs.ResultsBy the end of training, most AETs had achieved overall technical competence (EUS 91.7%, ERCP 73.9%) and cognitive competence (EUS 91.7%, ERCP 94.1%). In phase 2 of the study, 22 AETs (91.6%) participated and completed a median of 136 EUS examinations per AET and 116 ERCP examinations per AET. Most AETs met the performance thresholds for QIs in EUS (including 94.4% diagnostic rate of adequate samples and 83.8% diagnostic yield of malignancy in pancreatic masses) and ERCP (94.9% overall cannulation rate).ConclusionsIn this prospective multicenter study, we found that although competence cannot be confirmed for all AETs at the end of training, most meet QI thresholds for EUS and ERCP at the end of their first year of independent practice. This finding affirms the effectiveness of training programs. Clinicaltrials.gov ID NCT02509416.

Hemobilia refers to bleeding from and/or into the biliary tract and is an uncommon cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Hemobilia has been documented since the 1600s, but due to its relative rarity, it has only been more critically examined in recent decades. Most cases of hemobilia are iatrogenic and caused by procedures involving the liver, pancreas, bile ducts, and/or the hepatopancreatobiliary vasculature, with trauma and malignancy representing the two other major causes. A classic triad of right upper quadrant pain, jaundice, and overt upper gastrointestinal bleeding has been described, but this is present in only 25-30% of patients with hemobilia. Historically, the gold standard for diagnosis and treatment has been angiography and interventional radiologic intervention, respectively. However, the paradigm is shifting, at least in select cases, towards first-line reliance on noninvasive imaging (e.g., computed tomography) and therapeutic endoscopy, owing to advances in and the less invasive nature of both, while saving interventional radiological and/or surgical intervention for refractory or imminently life-threatening cases.

Dominant strictures (DSs) of the biliary tree occur in approximately 50% of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and may cause significant morbidity. Nevertheless, the definition and management of DSs lacks consensus. We aimed to better understand current perceptions and practices regarding PSC-associated DSs. We conducted an anonymous, 23-question, survey-based study wherein electronic surveys were distributed to 131 faculty in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the three Mayo Clinic campuses (Rochester, Scottsdale, and Jacksonville) as well as the affiliated practice network. Responses were aggregated and compared, where applicable, to practice guidelines of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and European Association for the Study of the Liver. A total of 54 faculty (41.2%) completed the survey, of whom 24 (44.4%) were hepatologists, 21 (38.9%) gastroenterologists, and 9 (16.7%) advanced endoscopists. One of the major study findings was that there was heterogeneity among participants' definition, evaluation, management, and follow-up of DSs in PSC. The majority of participant responses were in accordance with societal practice guidelines, although considerable variation was noted. Conclusion: Despite the prevalence and morbidity of DSs in PSC, clinical perceptions and practices vary widely among hepatologists, gastroenterologists, and advanced endoscopists who manage these patients, even within a single health care system. Further studies are needed to address these variations, develop general and evidence-based consensus, and increase adherence to societal guidelines. (Hepatology Communications 2018;2:836-844).