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Background/Aims As the number of lower gastrointestinal endoscopies and high-risk examinees increases, the incidence of adverse events related to lower gastrointestinal endoscopy is also increasing. In addition, medical dispute and lawsuits related to the adverse events are also rapidly increasing. Methods Medical disputes related to lower gastrointestinal endoscopy that had been filed in Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency (K-medi) between April 2012 and August 2020 were evaluated with the corresponding medical records and written appraisal. Facility, patient, procedure, adverse events, and outcome-related variables related to the medical disputes were analyzed. Results As the number of cases of lower gastrointestinal endoscopy in Korea increases each year, the number of medical disputes related to lower gastrointestinal endoscopy appraised by K-medi also increased every year during the same period. Among a total of 121 cases analyzed, 86 cases (71.1%) were to conciliation, and 35 cases (28.9%) were consigned by the prosecution. Perforation cases accounted for the largest proportion (90 cases, 76.9%). Most of the cases 119, 98.3%) were performed non-emergent procedure and only 10 cases (8.3%) were performed with therapeutic purpose. About a fifth (25 cases, 20.7%) were cases of deceased patients. Conclusion Medical disputes related to lower gastrointestinal endoscopies are increasing, and in order to prevent them in the future, it is important to review data on existing cases and establish specific response guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims We conducted a nationwide population-based study to investigate incidence rates of colorectal and biliary cancers according to accompanying primary sclerosing cholangitis in Korean ulcerative colitis patients. Methods We used the Health Insurance Review and Assessment claim database from January 2007 to April 2020. Standardized incidence ratios of colorectal and biliary cancers in ulcerative colitis patients were calculated. Results Among 35,189 newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis patients, 1,224 patients were diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis. During the study period, 122 and 52 patients were diagnosed with colorectal and biliary cancers, respectively. Incidences of colorectal cancer were not higher in ulcerative colitis patients than those in the general population (standardized incidence ratios, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.69–0.99), regardless of accompanied primary sclerosing cholangitis (standardized incidence ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.24–1.71). While incidences of biliary cancer were not higher in ulcerative colitis patients than those in the general population (standardized incidence ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.80–1.58), these were much higher with accompanied primary sclerosing cholangitis (standardized incidence ratio, 10.07; 95% confidence interval, 5.75–16.36). Cumulative incidences of colorectal and biliary cancers increased in patients who were diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at an older age. Conclusion In Korean ulcerative colitis patients, colorectal cancer incidences were not higher than those in the general population regardless of accompanied primary sclerosing cholangitis. However, biliary cancer incidences were much higher in ulcerative colitis patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis than in those without, or in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims We investigated the incidences of overall and site-specific malignancies and chemopreventive effects of statin, metformin, and aspirin in patients with ulcerative colitis. Methods We collected data using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment claims database from January 2007 to April 2020. Results The overall malignancy risk among the 35,189 ulcerative colitis patients was similar to that of the general population (standardized incidence ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-1.00). In male patients, standardized incidence ratios were high for thyroid cancer and low for stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and lung cancer. Concurrently, standard incidence ratios were high for liver cancer and central nervous system cancer in female patients. While 122 cases of colorectal cancer occurred in the study patients, the standardized incidence ratio was 0.83 (95% confidence interval, 0.69-0.99). Treatment for ulcerative colitis was not associated with an increased adjusted hazard ratio, while comorbidities increased it for all malignancies. Treatment for ulcerative colitis was associated with an increased adjusted hazard ratio, while comorbidities did not increase it for colorectal cancer. After adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities, and ulcerative colitis treatment, statins showed a dose-dependent chemopreventive effect for all malignancies (p=0.002), while metformin and aspirin did not show any. Conclusion In ulcerative colitis patients, standardized incidence ratios for all malignancies and colorectal cancer did not increase. Adjusted hazard ratios for all malignancies increased with comorbidities and those for colorectal cancer with ulcerative colitis treatment. Statins have a dose-dependent chemopreventive effect for all malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Little is known about the clinical course of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients undergoing anti-tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to investigate the clinical course of HBV infection and IBD and to analyze liver dysfunction risks in patients undergoing anti-TNF-α therapy. Methods: This retrospective multinational study involved multiple centers in Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan. We enrolled IBD patients with chronic or resolved HBV infection, who received anti-TNF-α therapy. The patients’ medical records were reviewed, and data were collected using a web-based case report form. Results: Overall, 191 patients (77 ulcerative colitis and 114 Crohn’s disease) were included, 28.3% of whom received prophylactic antivirals. During a median follow-up duration of 32.4 months, 7.3% of patients experienced liver dysfunction due to HBV reactivation. Among patients with chronic HBV infection, the proportion experiencing liver dysfunction was significantly higher in the non-prophylaxis group (26% vs 8%, p=0.02). Liver dysfunction occurred in one patient with resolved HBV infection. Antiviral prophylaxis was independently associated with an 84% reduction in liver dysfunction risk in patients with chronic HBV infection (odds ratio, 0.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.04 to 0.66; p=0.01). The clinical course of IBD was not associated with liver dysfunction or the administration of antiviral prophylaxis. Conclusions: Liver dysfunction due to HBV reactivation can occur in HBV-infected IBD patients treated with anti-TNF-α agents. Careful monitoring is needed in these patients, and antivirals should be administered, especially to those with chronic HBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) can be applied to relieve colorectal obstruction secondary to incurable primary colorectal cancer or extracolonic malignancy. We aimed to identify factors associated with clinical success and the reintervention-free survival (RFS) after palliative stenting. Methods: Cases of palliative SEMS placement between 2005 and 2019 were retrieved from the institutional database and reviewed retrospectively. Logistic regression and log-rank testing followed by Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed to investigate the predictors of the clinical success of palliative stenting and factors associated with RFS, respectively. Results: A total of 593 patients underwent palliative stenting for malignant colonic obstruction (MCO). The technical and clinical success rates were 92.9% and 83.5%, respectively. Peritoneal carcinomatosis was a predictor of clinical failure (odds ratio, 0.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17 to 0.65) in the multivariate analysis. Peritoneal carcinomatosis (hazard ratio [HR], 2.48; 95% CI, 1.69 to 3.64) and stent expansion >90% on day 1 (HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.05 to 2.50) were associated with a shorter RFS. Neither clinical success nor RFS was associated with extracolonic malignancy. Re-obstruction, stent migration, and perforation were responsible for most reinterventions after clinically successful palliative stenting. Conclusions: In patients requiring palliative stenting for MCO, peritoneal carcinomatosis was associated with both clinical failure and short RFS. Stent expansion >90% on postprocedural day 1 was another predictor of a short RFS after clinically successful stenting. A large prospective study is warranted to establish factors associated with RFS after successful palliative stenting for MCO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Studies on long-term outcomes of adalimumab therapy in non-Caucasian patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are lacking. Methods: We analyzed long-term outcomes of Korean UC patients treated with adalimumab at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Results: Between July 2013 and October 2018, adalimumab therapy was started in a total of 100 patients with UC (65 males [65.0%]; median age, 39.5 years [interquartile range, 23.3 to 49.8 years]; and median disease duration, 3.0 years [interquartile range, 1.0 to 7.0 years]). The median duration of adalimumab therapy was 13.5 months (interquartile range, 4.0 to 32.0 months). Eight of 100 patients (8.0%) received induction therapy only, four (4.0%) of whom ultimately underwent colectomy. Of 92 patients who received adalimumab maintenance therapy, 30 (30.0%) stopped adalimumab therapy due to loss of response, and one patient (1.0%) was lost to follow-up. Among the 92 patients who received adalimumab maintenance therapy, the cumulative proportions of patients remaining on adalimumab maintenance therapy were 70.0% at 1 year and 48.9% at 5 years. High partial Mayo score after 8 weeks of adalimumab therapy (hazard ratio [HR], 1.217; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.040 to 1.425; p=0.014) and a history of exposure to two biologic agents before adalimumab therapy (HR, 4.722; CI, 1.033 to 21.586; p=0.045) were predictors of adalimumab discontinuation. Conclusions: Long-term outcomes of adalimumab therapy in Korean UC patients appear to be comparable to those in previously published Western studies. Furthermore, previous exposure to multiple biologic agents before adalimumab therapy and disease activity after 8 weeks of adalimumab therapy were predictors of adalimumab discontinuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]