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As the pig model has similar gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology to humans, we used pigs to create a gastric mucosal devitalization (GMD) model in preparation for clinical translation of this technique as an endoscopic bariatric therapy (EBT). The aims of this study were to determine the ablation parameters and technique for a successful, safe, and feasible large surface area GMD that produces weight loss. We performed GMD using argon plasma coagulation (APC) in 3 phases. Phase 1 assessed the ablation energy required to accomplish selective mucosal ablation using ex vivo pig stomachs (n = 2). Phase 2 assessed the optimal percentage of mucosal surface area to be treated and was performed on 10 pigs. Phase 3 assessed feasibility, efficacy, and safety with 8 pigs randomized into GMD (n = 4) or sham (SH, n = 4) and survived for 1 month. Body weights (GMD, n = 4, SH, n = 4) were measured daily in phase 3 for 1 month, and relative body weights were calculated and analyzed using one-tailed Student’s t-test. Percent body fat was compared between GMD and SH at baseline and 1 month post-GMD. Phase 1 identified the optimal ablation parameters (120 W) that were then used in phase 2. Phase 2 revealed a trend that was suggestive that the optimal percent surface area to ablate was similar to that which is removed at laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. In phase 3, GMD was performed over 70% surface area of the greater curvature of the stomach in four pigs. GMD pigs had significantly lower relative body weight increase compared to SH at 1 month (1.375 ± 0.085 vs 1.575 ± 0.047, p = 0.0435). MRI showed a significantly lower body fat mass at 1 month in GMD pigs (5.9 ± 0.4% vs 12.7 ± 2.3%, p = 0.026) compared to SH. GMD resulted in decreased weight gain in the GMD group as evidenced by a lower relative body weight at 1 month. GMD in an animal model appears to show promise as a potential weight loss therapy.

A dilated gastrojejunal anastomosis (GJA) diameter is an independent predictor of weight regain following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Despite this, there is no standardized method for GJA diameter measurement. We performed a retrospective analysis to compare endoscopic visual estimation and endoluminal functional impedance planimetry (EndoFLIP) for measuring GJA diameter in patients with weight regain post-RYGB. Visual estimation was found to overestimate GJA diameter by a mean of 4.2mm ± 4.6mm when compared with EndoFLIP. Furthermore, we identified symptomatic patients with normal GJA diameter but increased distensibility, which may represent a previously unrecognized subgroup. Our findings suggest the potential utility of EndoFLIP in the evaluation of post-RYGB weight regain and support the need for prospective studies to investigate the relationship between GJA distensibility and weight regain.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is now the most commonly performed bariatric surgery. Although considered a safe procedure, adverse events such as staple line leak in the context of sleeve stenosis can result in significant patient morbidity and health economic burden. Correction of the downstream stenosis is mandatory for closure of the staple line leak. Conventional endoscopic therapies offer high initial success rates, though ultimately a significant proportion proceed to revision surgery. Gastric per-oral endoscopic myotomy (G-POEM) is a novel, minimally invasive procedure which allows for a full-thickness myotomy of the stenosed segment, potentially conferring similar anatomical correction to surgical seromyotomy. We present a case of recalcitrant chronic proximal staple line leak in the context of a downstream gastric stenosis managed by G-POEM.

Technologic advancements in the field of therapeutic endoscopy have led to the development of minimally invasive techniques to create GI anastomosis without requiring surgery. Examples of the potential clinical applications include bypassing malignant and benign gastric outlet obstruction, providing access to the pancreatobiliary tree in those who have undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and relieving pancreatobiliary symptoms in afferent loop syndrome. Endoscopic GI anastomosis is less invasive and less expensive than surgical approaches, result in improved outcomes, and therefore are more appealing to patients and providers. The aim of this review is to present the evolution of luminal endoscopic gastroenteric and enteroenteric anastomosis dating back to the first compression devices and to describe the clinical techniques being used today, such as magnets, natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, and EUS-guided techniques. Through continued innovation, endoscopic interventions will rise to the forefront of the therapeutic arsenal available for patients requiring GI anastomosis.

Background and Aims Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) facilitates significant and durable weight loss; however, weight recidivism and need for revisional surgery occur in a subset of patients. Reduction of a dilated LSG using the revisional endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (R-ESG) approach is an appealing and minimally invasive alternative to surgical revision that is congruent with obesity as a chronic relapsing disease model. In this study, we examine the safety and efficacy of the technique in a large multicenter international cohort. Methods Prospectively collected data from 9 centers for 82 consecutive adults who underwent R-ESG for weight regain after LSG using the OverStitch device (Apollo Endosurgery, Austin, Tex, USA) from March 2014 to November 2019 were reviewed. Total body weight loss (TBWL) and adverse events were reported up to 12 months. Univariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of response at 12 months. Results Eighty-two adults (92.7% female) experienced 27.9 ± 20.7 kg weight regain from post-LSG nadir weight, prompting R-ESG (mean age, 42.8 ± 10.4 years) at a mean weight of 128.2 ± 57.5 kg. Mean R-ESG procedure duration was 48.3 ± 20.5 minutes, and the median number of sutures used was 4 (interquartile range, 3-4). After R-ESG, TBWL (follow-up %) was 6.6% ± 3.2% at 1 month (81.7%), 10.6% ± 4.4% at 3 months (74.4%), 13.2% ± 10.1% at 6 months (63.4%), and 15.7% ± 7.6% at 12 months (51.2%). In a per-protocol analysis, ≥10% TBWL was achieved by 37 of 51 patients (72.5%) at 6 months and 34 of 42 patients (81.0%) at 12 months; ≥15% TBWL was achieved by 20 of 46 patients (43.5%) at 6 months and 22 of 42 patients (52.4%) at 12 months. Only 1 moderate adverse event occurred in the form of a narrowed gastroesophageal junction, which resolved after a single endoscopic dilation. Conclusions R-ESG is a safe and effective means of facilitating weight loss for weight recidivism after LSG, with sustained results at 1 year. R-ESG should be considered before pursuing more-invasive surgical revisional options.

Background Statin eligibility based on the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association cholesterol guidelines among patients with diabetes admitted with first time acute myocardial infarction has not been evaluated in the Middle East. Purpose To assess statin eligibility for diabetic patients admitted with first time myocardial infarction in Jordan according to ACC/AHA guidelines. Methods Consecutive patients admitted with a first acute myocardial infarction who were not taking statins, and had their serum lipoproteins measured upon hospital admission were enrolled in the study. Statin eligibility among patients with diabetes admitted with first time myocardial infarction was determined based on the ACC/AHA guidelines. Results Of 774 patients enrolled, 292 (37.30%) had diabetes. Compared with non-diabetic patients, those with diabetes were females, older, more hypertension, more hypercholesterolemia, more triglycerides, more diastolic blood pressure, less smokers and less low density lipoprotein. Among patients with diabetes, 242 diabetic patients (82.9%) were statin eligible, including 20 (6.90%) for having high serum levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) >190 mg/dL, and 222 (76%) for being aged 40–75 years with LDL-C 70–189 mg/dL. No patient had a calculated atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk score ≥7.5%. On the other hand, 393 non-diabetic patients (81.3%) were statin eligible, including 41 (8.50%) for having high serum levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) >190 mg/dL, and 351 (72.80%) for being aged 40–75 years with LDL-C 70–189 mg/dL. Conclusions Based on the ACC/AHA guidelines, the majority of patients with diabetes admitted with first acute myocardial infarction would have been eligible for statin treatment if they have LDL-c >190 mg/dl or aged 40–75 years old and they have their LDL 70–189 mg/gl. More efforts should be taken for patients who are female, older than 50 years, hypertensive, elevated diastolic blood pressure have hypercholesterolemia, and elevated triglycerides because of their significant association with diabetes., Highlights • 83% of patients with diabetes mellitus presenting with MI, were statin eligible. • 393 non-diabetic patients (81.3%) were statin eligible in the current sample. • No diabetic or non-diabetic patients has a 10 year ASCVR score between 5 and 7.4 • Statin was eligible in the same proportion among diabetic and diabetic patients.

Weight regain after balloon retrieval is a concern with all intra-gastric balloons (IGBs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist, to prevent weight regain following IGB retrieval. This was a case-matched study of patients undergoing Spatz3 adjustable IGB (Spatz FGIA, Inc. NY, USA) at three outpatient clinics in Brazil between November 2015 and January 2019. Seventy-seven patients that opted to take liraglutide following IGB retrieval (IGB-L) were matched 1:1 to 198 patients that declined the medication—IGB-Alone (IGB-A). Propensity score adjustment was performed at the time of balloon retrieval on factors known to influence the choice of liraglutide. Weight and percent body fat (%BF) was measured at baseline and 9 months after IGB retrieval. % BF is defined as the total mass of fat divided by total body mass, multiplied by 100. The primary outcome was weight regain, and the secondary outcome was change in %BF 9 months after IGB retrieval. Propensity score matching yielded 53 matched pairs. Weight regain to the starting point was not observed in either group. There was significantly less weight regain in IGB-L compared to IGB-A, − 1.15 ± 0.94 kg versus − 0.66 ± 0.99 kg (p = 0.010) 9 months after balloon retrieval. Additionally, %BF decline in IGB-L was superior to IGB-A − 10.83 ± 1.50 versus − 7.94 ± 2.02 (p

Gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy (G-POEM) has emerged as an effective management approach for patients with refractory gastroparesis. This study aims to comprehensively study the safety of G-POEM and describe the predictive factors of adverse events (AEs) occurrence.This study is a retrospective study involving 13 tertiary care centers (7 USA, 1 South America, 4 Europe, and 1 Asia). Patients who underwent G-POEM for refractory gastroparesis were included. Cases were identified by the occurrence of AEs. For each case, two controls were randomly selected and matched for age (± 10 years), gender, and etiology of gastroparesis.A total of 216 patients underwent G-POEM for gastroparesis. Overall, 31 (14%) AEs were encountered [mild 24 (77%), moderate 5 (16%), and severe 2 (6%)] during the duration of the study. The most common AE was abdominal pain (n = 16), followed by mucosotomy (n = 5) and capnoperitoneum (n = 4), and AEs were most commonly identified within the first 48-h post-procedure 18 (58%). The risk of adverse event occurrence was significantly higher for endoscopists with experience of 20 G-POEM procedures (OR 3.03 [1.03-8.94], p 0.05).G-POEM seems to be a safe intervention for refractory gastroparesis. AEs are most commonly mild and managed conservatively. Longitudinal mucosal incision, use of hook knife, use of clips for mucosal closure and endoscopist's experience with 20 G-POEM procedures is significantly associated with decreased incidence of AEs.

Abdominal pain is a common cause of emergency department visits. It often poses a diagnostic challenge for physicians given the broad spectrum of its possible medical and surgical etiologies. We report the case of a 32-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with a complaint of lower abdominal pain for one week. Abdominal examination revealed suprapubic mass and tenderness. Laboratory investigation revealed elevated leukocyte count and inflammatory markers. An abdominal ultrasound examination showed a collection with poorly defined borders. Additionally, CT demonstrated a soft tissue mass adjacent to the anterior abdominal wall with an upward track to the umbilicus, conferring the diagnosis of a urachal abscess. The patient underwent successful management of the abscess with surgical excision. This case highlights the importance for clinicians to be aware of congenital urachal anomalies since early recognition of the urachal cyst is essential to determine the proper surgical management.

Bariatric surgery and endoluminal bariatric therapies (EBTs) form an increasingly utilized therapeutic approach to treat obese patients but may worsen gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In this updated article, we review the evidence on the effects of bariatric procedures on GERD. Recent evidence implicates sleeve gastrectomy with the highest rates of de novo GERD and Barrett’s esophagus (BE), whereas malabsorptive-restrictive procedures such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) were shown to have significantly lower reported rates. The intragastric balloon (IGB) has been associated with increased likelihood of GERD, whereas insufficient evidence exists linking endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) to GERD. Gastroesophageal reflux disease may be treated with some bariatric procedures but is often developed de novo as a result of the change in anatomy. Patients set to undergo bariatric surgery may benefit from pre-procedural endoscopy to choose the more suitable therapy. Further studies with objective measurements of GERD post procedure may provide more insight into the effects of bariatric therapies on reflux, especially more novel ones such as ESG.

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a procedure in which endoscopically placed sutures involute the stomach and promote weight loss. There is limited data on the durability of these sutures. This was a single center series of 5 patients who underwent ESG performed by a single endoscopist. Patients underwent repeat endoscopy for different clinical indications. ESGs were successfully reversed at 3 weeks and 1 month following index ESG without significant fibrosis or scaring. At 8 and 14 months, a few sutures had dehisced though there were extensive areas of fibrosis. By 2 years, most of the sutures had dehisced; however, the gastric volume remained reduced. This case series offers an intriguing evaluation of the anatomical changes induced by ESG.

Aims: This study aimed to utilize a validated sleep questionnaire as a screening tool for symptoms and risk of obstructive sleep apnea in patients undergoing coronary catheterization in Jordan. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional design was used to screen adult patients undergoing coronary catheterization for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Berlin sleep questionnaire was used to record nocturnal and daytime symptoms of OSA and to stratify patients into “low-risk” or “high-risk” for OSA. Coronary artery disease was defined as ≥50% intraluminal stenosis in at least one coronary vessel. Results: A total of 398 patients were studied, mean age was 58.7 years (SD=10.70), ranging from 21–92 years, and 68.6% were males. Based on the Berlin sleep questionnaire’s definition, 176 patients (44.2%) were at high-risk for obstructive sleep apnea. Snoring was reported by 61%; loud in 42.1%, and frequent in 62%. Daytime sleepiness was reported by 36%, and 18.9% had fallen asleep while driving. Witnessed apnea during sleep was less reported (7.8%). Prevalence of symptoms and risk of OSA were not different between patients with and without coronary artery disease, P>0.05. In addition, logistic regression indicated that there was no significant association between risk of OSA and coronary artery disease, adjusted (odds ratio=0.93, 95% Confidence Interval=0.60–1.44, P=0.752). Conclusions: Symptoms and risk of obstructive sleep apnea were common among adult Jordanians undergoing coronary catheterization. There was no association between risk of obstructive sleep apnea and coronary artery disease. Larger studies are needed to assess the role of screening for obstructive sleep apnea in this patient population.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors correlating with hypertensive patients' compliance with lifestyle recommendations in north of Jordan. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional survey and face-to-face interview methods were used to collect the data from 1000 adult Jordanian hypertensive patients (>18 years old). A questionnaire was developed based on previous literature and professional consultation. Results: Only 23% of the patients were fully compliant with healthy lifestyle behaviors. About 95% were knowledgeable on hypertension and 86% had positive beliefs about the management protocols of their disease. Gender, physician counseling on a healthy lifestyle, patients' beliefs about hypertension management, and their knowledge on hypertension and its management have an independent effect on compliance with lifestyle recommendations. Conclusion: Patients' compliance with lifestyle recommendations was low. Receiving counseling from physicians about healthy lifestyle and self-care; being informed about hypertension and its management; and having positive beliefs about managing this disease are significant predictors of patients' compliance with lifestyle recommendations.

Background We conducted this study to compare the weight loss outcome of intragastric balloons (IGBs) in conjunction with pharmacotherapy vs IGB and intensive lifestyle changes alone. Methods This was a multicenter, non-randomized, retrospective study involving 4 academic hospitals. Patients underwent IGB placement with or without concomitant anti-obesity pharmacotherapy. The primary outcome was percent total weight loss (TBWL) after IGB placement at 6 and 12 months. Results This study included 102 patients, with 23 patients (mean age 46.6 years, 82.6% female) treated with IGB/pharmacotherapy and 79 patients (mean age 46.0 years, 88.6% female) treated with IGB/lifestyle modifications. Patients had a 100% follow-up rate at 6 and 12 months. At 6 months following IGB placement, both groups achieved a similar %TBWL. At 12 months, %TBWL was greater in the IGB/pharmacotherapy group (12.6% ± 1.2 vs 9.7% ± 0.7, P = .04). 65.2% of patients achieved ≥10% TBWL at 12 months in the IGB/pharmacotherapy group, compared to 38.0% in the IGB/lifestyle group ( P < .05). The proportion of patients that achieved ≥15% weight loss at 12 months was also significantly different between the IGB/pharmacotherapy and IGB/lifestyle groups (30.4% vs 20.3%, P < .05). Discussion IGB with concomitant use of pharmacotherapy did not improve weight loss while the IGB was in place compared to IGB and lifestyle changes. However, patients receiving IGB with pharmacotherapy did have greater weight loss and diminished weight regain after balloon removal compared to those receiving just IGB and lifestyle changes.

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Abdul Hameed Showman Foundation OnBehalf The Jordan COVID-19 AtheRosclerotic Cardiovascular Events (JoCORE) Study Investigators Background. The vicarious stresses associated with the covid-19 pandemic have been reported to cause psychosocial behavioral changes in individuals not infected with the virus. No reports have evaluated the effect of these stresses on triggering acute ST-segment elevation and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI and NSTEMI, respectively) in such individuals. Purpose. We sought to study the nature of MI triggers and clinical profiles in non covid-19 individuals during the pandemic. Methods: Patients not infected with the covid-19 virus admitted to 9 hospitals with STEMI and NSTEMI during the pandemic crisis in Jordan from February through December 2020 were evaluated for pre-MI exposure to psychosocial and economic triggers related to the pandemic, lockdown and shutdown. Results: Of 144 patients enrolled, 58 (40.3%) had STEMI and 86 (59.7%) had NSTEMI. Compared with the NSTEMI group, the STEMI group tended to be younger (59.0 + 13.8 vs. 62.3 + 12.7 years, p = 0.14), had significantly more men than women (94.9% vs. 75.6%, p = 0.005), were more likely to be smokers (75.9% vs. 55.8, p = 0.02) and had lower prevalence of prior coronary revascularization (17.2% vs. 45.3%, p = 0.001). In-hospital mortality among the 133 patients who were alive upon hospital arrival was 1.5%. All patients reported exposure to at least one psychosocial stressful trigger, including lockdown and loneliness stress (65.3%), fear of contacting covid-19 infection or of uncertainty (26.4%), anger (18.8%), and death of a significant person during the pandemic (4.2%) Financial hardship and volatile income were reported by 42.4% of patients. STEMI and NSTEMI patients did not have significant differences in the frequency of psychosocial (100% vs. 99.9%, respectively, p = NS) or economic triggers (34.5% vs. 47.7%, respectively, p = NS). Conclusions. Exposure to psychosocial and financial stresses related to the covid-19 pandemic and its related lockdown can trigger acute MI. An increase in the number of these events may become a potentially serious health issue with longer duration of the unremitting pandemic.

Introduction : A single-lead electrocardiogram (EKG) is routinely recorded with electroencephalogram (EEG). This study investigates the frequency and types of EKG abnormalities during routine EEG. Methods : All routine EEGs (20–60 min) over one year were retrospectively analyzed. A blinded cardiologist interpreted EKG recordings. An epileptologist evaluated EEGs. Demographic data, underlying comorbidities, and indications for the EEG were extracted. Results : A total of 433 recordings for 365 patients were included. Mean (±SD) age was 46.8 (±21.3) years and 50.4% were females. EKG abnormalities were detected in 28.5% of patients; sinus tachycardia (11%), premature ventricular contractions (7.9%), atrial fibrillation (Afib) (6.3%), sinus bradycardia (2.2%) and premature atrial contractions (1.1%). Afib was more common in females than males (p = 0.020), confirmed in six out of seven patients and discovered in 17 patients. Age (OR: 1.67, 95%CI: 1.05–2.66, p = 0.031), prior diagnosis of epilepsy (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.22 – 4.14, p = 0.009), history of seizure (OR: 1.97, 95%CI: 1.09–3.54, p = 0.024), abnormal EEG (OR: 2.14, 95%CI: 1.25 – 3.66, p = 0.005) and EEGs evaluating seizures/epilepsy (OR: 4.18, 95% CI: 1.32 – 13.21, p = 0.015) or syncope (OR: 3.21, 95% CI: 1.16 – 8.84, p = 0.024) were independently associated with abnormal EKG. Conclusion : The frequency of EKG abnormalities captured during routine EEGs was high, with Afib being the most significant. Older age, history of epilepsy or seizure, abnormal EEGs, and EEGs evaluating seizures/epilepsy or syncope were significant predictors. These findings suggest neurologists to become more vigilant to EKG recorded during routine EEG as such findings might have diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

The biliary system is routinely accessed for clinical purposes via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). We previously pioneered ERCP-mediated hydrodynamic injection in large animal models as an innovative gene delivery approach for monogenic liver diseases. However, the procedure poses potential safety concerns related mainly to liver or biliary tree injury. Here, we sought to further define biliary hydrodynamic injection parameters that are well-tolerated in a human-sized animal model. ERCP was performed in pigs, and hydrodynamic injection carried out using a novel protocol to reduce duct wall stress. Each pig was subjected to multiple repeated injections to expedite testing and judge tolerability. Different injection parameters (volume, flow rate) and injection port diameters were tested. Vital signs were monitored throughout the procedure, and liver enzyme panels were collected pre- and post-procedure. Pigs tolerated repeated biliary hydrodynamic injections with only occasional, mild, isolated elevation in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), which returned to normal levels within one day post-injection. All other liver tests remained unchanged. No upper limit of volume tolerance was reached, which suggests the biliary tree can readily transmit fluid into the vascular space. Flow rates up to 10 mL/sec were also tolerated with minimal disturbance to vital signs and no anatomic rupture of bile ducts. Measured intrabiliary pressure was up to 150 mmHg, and fluid-filled vesicles were induced in liver histology at high flow rates, mimicking the changes in histology observed in mouse liver after hydrodynamic tail vein injection. Overall, our investigations in a human-sized pig liver using standard clinical equipment suggest that ERCP-guided hydrodynamic injection will be safely tolerated in patients. Future investigations will interrogate if higher flow rates and pressure mediate higher DNA delivery efficiencies.

Background The double purse-string pattern (DPSP) of transoral outlet reduction (TORe) should conceivably result in a more robust scaffolding for the gastrojejunal anastomosis (GJA). However, there is a paucity of literature pertaining to post-TORe stenosis as an adverse event. Our aim was to determine the rate of stenosis, its potential predictors, and other complications of DPSP TORe. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of 129 consecutive patients who underwent DPSP TORe between December 2015 and August 2019. Results The adverse event rate of TORe was 17.1 % (n = 22), with a 13.3 % (n = 17) rate of stenosis. Stenosis was not significantly associated with any baseline characteristics. GJA diameter pre- and post-TORe, the difference between these values, and procedure duration were not predictive of stenosis. Of patients who developed stenosis, 10 (58.8 %) responded to endoscopic balloon dilation and 7 (41.2 %) required stent placement. Conclusion As the DPSP technique is a challenging procedure, with high complication rate and limited benefit, it should not be used for TORe.

Gastrointestinal (GI) strictures are difficult to treat in a variety of disease processes. Currently, there are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs for fibrosis in the GI tract. One of the limitations to developing anti-fibrotic drugs has been the lack of a reproducible, relatively inexpensive, large animal model of fibrosis-driven luminal stricture. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of creating a model of luminal GI tract strictures. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) was applied circumferentially in porcine esophagi in vivo. Follow-up endoscopy (EGD) was performed at day 14 after the APC procedure. We noted high grade, benign esophageal strictures (n = 8). All 8 strictures resembled luminal GI fibrotic strictures in humans. These strictures were characterized, and then successfully dilated. A repeat EGD was performed at day 28 after the APC procedure and found evidence of recurrent, high grade, fibrotic, strictures at all 8 locations in all pigs. Pigs were sacrificed and gross and histologic analyses performed. Histologic examination showed extensive fibrosis, with significant collagen deposition in the lamina propria and submucosa, as well as extensive inflammatory infiltrates within the strictures. In conclusion, we report a porcine model of luminal GI fibrotic stricture that has the potential to assist with developing novel anti-fibrotic therapies as well as endoscopic techniques to address recurring fibrotic strictures in humans.

Purpose of Review: Obesity is a chronic relapsing disease that results in cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Currently, surgery represents the most effective treatment. However, the advent of minimally invasive endoscopic bariatric therapy (EBT) has shifted the treatment paradigm to less invasive, cost-effective procedures with minimal complications and recovery time that are preferred by patients. In this review, we will describe current and future EBTs, focusing on outcomes and safety. Recent Findings: The endoscope has provided an incisionless portal into the gastrointestinal tract for placement of space-occupying devices and intraluminal procedures. EBTs are no longer solely manipulating anatomic alterations; instead, they aim to improve metabolic parameters such as glycated hemoglobin, low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol, and hepatic indices by targeting the mucosal layer of the gastrointestinal tract. Summary: The en doscope has succeeded in facilitating clinically meaningful weight loss and improvement of metabolic parameters. Future, solutions to the obesity epidemic will likely entail genetic testing, evaluation of the microbiome, and delivery of personalized therapy, utilizing combination endoscopic modalities that change the anatomy and physiology of individual patients, with new targets such as the abnormal metabolic signal.

Background There is scarcity of studies from the Middle East had address the use of guideline-recommended secondary cardiovascular prevention medications among individuals who survived at least one decade after coronary revascularization (CR) by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG). Purpose An objective of the DECADE-PLUS study was to evaluate the use of antiplatelet agents (APA), statins, beta blockers (BB) and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASI) in such patients. Methods We enrolled consecutive patients seen at ambulatory or in-patient settings with the following inclusion criteria: patient had PCI or CABG >10 years ago, age >18 years at the time of the index CR, and availability of data of currently used medications. Results Of 892 patients enrolled, 600 (67.3%) had PCI and 292 (32.7%) had CABG. Patients had CR >20 years ago (100; 11.2%), 11–19 years ago (536; 60.1%) or 10 years ago (256; 28.7%). Women comprised 13.8% of the whole cohort, and mean age at index CR was 53.4+9.4 years. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia were present in 398 (44.6%), 351 (39.3%) and 290 (32.5%), respectively at the time of CR. Overall, aspirin was used in 745 (83.5%), and a second APA in 329 (36.9%). Statins, BB and RASI were used in 83.7%, 71.7% and 54.3%, respectively. Univariate analysis of predictors of lower rates of use of these medications showed that survival time (10 years vs. >20 years), and revascularization type (PCI vs. CABG) had no impact on use of these medications. However, nondiabetics were less often prescribed second APA (odds ratio (OR) 0.78, p=0.005) and RASI (OR 0.85, p=0.007) compared with diabetics. Furthermore, compared with men, women were less often prescribed aspirin (OR 0.66, p Conclusion Middle East patients surviving at least one decade after coronary revascularization have a high rate of utilization of secondary cardiovascular medications compared with western data. However, women and non-diabetic individuals have lower rate of use of these medications compared with diabetics and men, respectively. Larger studies are warranted to explore the reasons behind these discrepancies and thus represent potential targets for positive intervention. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Background There is heterogeneity regarding the technical aspects of endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), such as applying fundal sutures. Our aim was to determine whether ESG with fundal suturing (ESG-FS) affects weight loss and the serious adverse event (SAE) rate when compared with ESG with no fundal suturing (ESG-NFS). Methods We conducted a two-center retrospective analysis of 247 patients who underwent ESG with or without fundal suturing. The primary outcome was percentage excess weight loss (%EWL) at 3, 6, and 12 months post-ESG. The secondary outcomes included the SAE rate and procedure duration. Results At 3, 6, and 12-months, ESG-NFS had a significantly greater mean %EWL compared with ESG-FS (38.4 % [standard deviation (SD) 15.3 %] vs. 31.2 % [SD 13.9 %], P = 0.001; 54.7 % [SD 19.2 %] vs. 37.7 % [SD 17.3 %], P 0.99). The mean procedure time was significantly shorter in the ESG-NFS group at 59.1 minutes (SD 32.7) vs. 93.0 minutes (35.5; P Conclusion ESG-NFS demonstrated greater efficacy and shorter procedure duration. Therefore, fundal suturing should not be performed.

Objective The endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a minimally invasive procedure in which the anterior and posterior aspects of the greater curvature are stitched endoscopically, producing a sleeve-like anatomy mimicking that in a sleeve gastrectomy. However, suture dehiscence and enlargement of the stomach within months of the procedure have been observed. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is widely used in gastrointestinal endoscopy and is able to induce scarring and fibrosis. We coupled ESG with APC to evaluate its potential to improve durability. Methods A 46-year-old woman with obesity presented for ESG. Her pre-procedure weight was 117 kg with a body mass index (BMI) of 41.4 kg/m2 . After each plication was complete, APC (60 W, argon flow rate 1.2 L/min) was used to ablate the mucosal surface of the exposed plicated mucosa. APC was applied until the mucosal color was dark brown, indicating adequate and successful mucosal and submucosal ablation. Results The procedure was successful, and the patient recovered without peri- or post-operative complications. The procedure time was 47 minutes. A total of seven sutures were used. At 6-month follow-up the patient had lost 17 kg (37.5 lbs), equivalent to 14.5% total weight loss and had a BMI of 35.4 kg/m2 . Endoscopic follow-up at 6 months revealed enhanced fibrosis along the plications, resulting in a superior, sleeve-like lumen. Conclusions The combination of ESG with APC may act synergistically to reduce weight without adding significant procedure time. Further investigation is needed to determine whether it should be widely recommended.

The association between ischemic heart disease (IHD) and the concurrent use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) is underestimated in clinical settings. The tendency of patients to not disclose AASs use may explain this underestimation. In the present case report, the clinical case of a 26-year-old physically active male, who was a physician, without any classical coronary risk factors, who presented with chest pain that was misdiagnosed by the peripheral care unit as skeletal muscle pain is described. Later, the patient was brought to our central hospital (King Abdullah University Hospital) suffering from a massive acute myocardial infarction with marked ECG changes and cardiogenic shock. Following stabilization of his condition, a detailed history of the patient was taken, during which the patient admitted that he was a chronic user of the anabolic steroid sustanon (250 mg, once/week for 6 months) and amino acid supplements (whey protein isolate, 6 tabs every day for 1 year). Specific cardiac markers were increased and the patient exhibited dynamic ischemic changes in his electrocardiogram. Notably, the coronary angiogram of the patient demonstrated ostial occlusion of the left anterior descending artery, which was associated with mid-right coronary artery embolic obstruction. Other than the anabolic steroids and protein supplementation use, the patient history, examination and lab evaluation were normal. During follow up, the patient continued to suffer heart failure with low ejection fraction. In addition, he developed apical thrombus 2 months after primary admission. The patient developed tachycardia in spite of optimal medical treatment and finally received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Physicians should always be aware of the possibility of AASs use in young physically active patients. IHD should always be suspected and investigated with typical chest pain in healthy young patients, even if regular risk factors are not present. Medical professionals should not be excluded as potential AASs users/abusers.

Aim: To assess the role of DW MRI and ADC in acute allograft renal dysfunction as a possible alternative for graft biopsy. Material & methods: This study included 31 renal transplant recipients divided into 2 groups A: (11 patients) with normal allograft function and group B: (20 patients) with allograft dysfunction. Color Doppler Ultrasound was done for both groups, MRI with contrast for groups A, non-contrast MRI for group B, DW MRI at b 600 & 1000 for both groups. Ultrasound-guided needle biopsy and histopathological examination for group B. Results: At b 600; ADC values of group B are significantly lower than group A (P = 0.047). In group B, ADC values of the cortex are lower than those of medulla. No significant difference was founded between ADC values of AR and ATI (P = 0.981). At b 1000; ADC values of group B was significantly lower than that of group A (P = 0.030). ADC values of cortex correlate better than those of medulla. ADC values of ATI are slightly lower than those with AR, no significant difference (P > 0.05) regarding ADC values between AR and ATI. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, NPV for ADC values at b 600 & b1000 were 60%, 90.91%, 70.97%, 92.3%, 55.6 and 85%, 54.55%, 74.79%, 77.3%, 66.7 respectively. Conclusion: DW MRI is a promising noninvasive tool for early detection graft dysfunction especially at higher b values. Keywords: Acute allograft dysfunction, MR diffusion techniques

Assessing self-care is important aspects among patients with heart failure. However, few studies were conducted to assess self-care among patients with heart failure in Jordan. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the most and the least performed maintenance self-care behaviors and to examine the relationship between maintenance self-care behaviors and selected sociodemographics. A cross-sectional design utilizing a convenience sample of 226 patients with heart failure was used. The maintenance self-care mean was 53.89 and considered below the clinical target level (≥70). Asking for low salt item and performing physical exercises were the most performed self-care behaviors, while “trying to avoid getting sick” and “checking ankles for swelling” were the least performed self-care behaviors. Limited self-care behaviors indicated the need to implement cardiac education that may improve self-care behaviors. Cardiac education should target mainly patients with low income, low educational level, elderly, living alone, unemployed, and who are using traditional treatment.

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the baseline clinical characteristics, coronary angiographic features, and adverse cardiovascular events during hospitalization and at 1 year of follow-up in obese patients compared with overweight and normal/underweight patients. Methods A prospective, multicenter study of consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention was performed. Results Of 2425 enrolled patients, 699 (28.8%) were obese, 1178 (48.6%) were overweight, and 548 (22.6%) were normal/underweight. Obese patients were more likely to be female and to have a higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or previous percutaneous coronary intervention. Acute coronary syndrome was the indication for percutaneous coronary intervention in 77.0% of obese, 76.4% of overweight, and 77.4% of normal/underweight patients. No significant differences in the prevalence of multi-vessel coronary artery disease or multi-vessel percutaneous coronary intervention were found among the three groups. Additionally, no significant differences were found in stent thrombosis, readmission bleeding rates, or cardiac mortality among the three groups during hospitalization, at 1 month, and at 1 year. Conclusion The major adverse cardiovascular event rate was the same among the three groups throughout the study period. Accordingly, body mass index is considered a weak risk factor for cardiovascular comorbidities in Arab Jordanian patients.

Introduction. Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is a worldwide known complication related to the use of contrast media with either imaging or angiography; it carries its own complications and effect on both morbidity and mortality; early identification of patients at risk and addressing modifiable risk factors may help reducing risk for this disease and its complications. Methods. This was a prospective observational study, where all patients admitted for cardiac catheterization between June 2015 and January 2016 were evaluated for CI-AKI. There were two study groups: contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) group, and noncontrast-induced acute kidney injury (non-CI-AKI) group. Results. Patients ( n = 202 ) were included and followed up for 4 years. Death and development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) need for another revascularization were the end points. The incidence of CI-AKI was 14.8%.In univariate analysis, age ( P = 0.016 ) and serum albumin at admission ( P = 0.001 ) were statistically significant predictors of overall death. Age ( P = 0.002 ), HTN ( P = 0.002 ), DM ( P = 0.02 ), and the use of diuretics ( P = 0.001 ) had a statistically significant impact on eGFR. The rate of recatheterization was not statistically significant between the two groups (61 (35.5%) for the non-CI-AKI vs. 12 (40%) for the other group; P = 0.63 ). Some inflammatory markers (NGAL P = 0.06 , IL-19 P = 0.08 ) and serum albumin at admission P = 0.07 had a trend toward a statistically significant impact on recatheterization. Death ( P = 0.66 ) and need for recatheterization ( P = 0.63 ) were not statistically different between the 2 groups, while the rate of eGFR decline in for the CI-AKI was significant ( P = 0.004 ). Conclusion. CI-AKI is a common complication post percutaneous catheterization (PCI), which may increase the risk for CKD, but not death or the need for recatheterization. Preventive measures must be taken early to decrease the morbidity.

Introduction. Diabetes mellitus (DM) and smoking are highly prevalent among Middle Eastern patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods. This study used the analysis of the data from the first Jordanian PCI registry (JoPCR1) to determine the impact of coexistence of smoking and diabetes mellitus on the coronary artery severity and outcome following percutaneous coronary intervention in Middle Eastern patients. Results. Of 2426 patients enrolled, 1300 (53.6%) and 1055 (43.5%) were diabetics and smokers, respectively. The patients’ age was 59.0±10.1 and ranged between 24 and 95 years. Males comprised 79.4% of all patients. The patients were divided into four groups: nondiabetic-nonsmokers (22.2%), diabetic-nonsmokers (34.3%), nondiabetic-smokers (24.2%), and diabetic-smokers (19.2%). Compared with the other three groups, patients in the diabetic-nonsmoker group were older, more likely to be females, and having a higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic renal disease, and history of CVD and revascularization. Consequently, the diabetic-nonsmoker patients (but not the diabetic-smokers) had a higher prevalence of multivessel CAD and PCI than the other three groups, highlighting the importance of other risk factors (age, gender, metabolic syndrome, and comorbidities) and not only smoking in predisposing for CAD. Furthermore, those patients had a higher incidence of ACS as an indication for PCI than the stable coronary disease (73% vs 27%) and the highest CRUSADE bleeding risk score (63.9%) among other groups. The in-hospital events including in-stent thrombosis and emergency CABG events did not significantly differ among groups (p=0.5 and 0.22). Heart failure and major bleeding events occurred significantly higher among diabetic-nonsmokers compared to other groups. In-hospital deaths occurred significantly more among diabetic-nonsmokers. Moreover, the one-month and one-year follow-up outcome events (the mortality rate, in-stent thrombosis, readmission for ACS, coronary revascularization, and major bleedings) occurred more frequently in the diabetic-nonsmoker group. However, the difference was statistically significant only for major bleeding incidences. Conclusions. In this analysis of a completed prospective Middle Eastern PCI registry, the majority of the diabetic-nonsmoker (and not the diabetic-smokers) patients (73%) presented with ACS. This group was the highest at risk for in-hospital PCI complications as well as the worst in outcomes after one year of follow-up. Those patients were more likely to be older, female, and have the worst cardiovascular baseline features, highlighting the importance of other risk factors (age, gender, metabolic syndrome, and comorbidities) and not only smoking in predisposing for CAD. Thus, more sufficient education about controlling CVD risk factors should be implemented in the Middle Eastern region.

Introduction An ageing population and steady increase in the rates of neoplasms and chronic degenerative diseases poses a challenge for societies and their healthcare systems. Because of the recent and continued advances in therapies, such as the development and widespread use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV), survival rates have increased for these pathologies. For patients with end-stage chronic respiratory diseases, the use of NIV following the onset of acute or severe chronic respiratory failure is a valid option when intubation has been excluded. Evidence acquisition The following electronic databases were searched from their inception to January 2000 to December 2017: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINHAIL, CENTRAL (Cochrane Central register of Controlled Trials), DARE (Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness), the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, ACP Journal Club database. Evidence synthesis The available evidence strongly supports the use of NIV in patients presenting with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well end-stage neuromuscular disease. Few studies support the use of NIV in end-stage interstitial lung disease and in morbid obesity patients. In patients with cancer has been recommend offering NIV as palliative care to improve dyspnea. Conclusions The decision regarding the treatment should be made by the patient, ideally before reaching the terminal stage and after having a frank dialogue with healthcare professionals and family members.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become the most common form of bariatric surgery performed worldwide. However, it is associated with potentially debilitating adverse events such as post-operative stenosis. Finding effective and minimally invasive treatments for such complications is of paramount importance. Gastric per-oral endoscopic myotomy (G-POEM) is a novel procedure developed over the past decade to treat conditions that delay gastric emptying. We present a case demonstrating the use of G-POEM in the successful endoscopic management of post-LSG gastric stenosis.

Background Coronary artery disease (CAD), a leading cause of mortality, affects patient health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Elective percutaneous coronary interventions (ePCIs) are usually performed to improve HRQoL of CAD patients. The aim of this study was to design models using admission data to predict the outcomes of the ePCI treatments on the patients’ HRQoL. Methods This prospective cohort study was conducted with CAD patients who underwent ePCIs at the King Abdullah University Hospital in Jordan from January 2014 through May 2015. Six months after their ePCI procedures, the participants completed the improved MacNew (QLMI-2) questionnaire, which was used for evaluating three domains (physical, emotional and social) of HRQoL. Multivariate linear regression was used to design models to predict the three domains of HRQoL from echocardiographic findings and clinical data that are routinely measured on admission. Results The study included 239 patients who underwent ePCIs and responded to the QLMI-2 questionnaire. The mean age (± standard deviation) of the participants was 55.74 ± 11.84 years, 54.58 ± 11.37 years for males (n = 174) and 59.11 ± 12.49 years for females (n = 65). The average scores for physical, emotional and social HRQoL were 4.38 ± 1.27, 4.4 ± 1.11, and 4.37 ± 1.32, respectively. Out of the 42 factors inputted to the models to predict HRQoL scores, 10, 9, and 9 factors were found to be significant determinants for physical, emotional and social domains, respectively, with adjusted coefficients of determination of 0.630, 0.604 and 0.534, respectively. Basophil levels on admission showed a significant positive correlation with the three domains of HRQoL, while aortic root diameter showed a negative correlation. Scores for the three domains were significantly lower in women than in men. Hypertensive and diabetic patients had significantly lower HRQoL scores than patients without hypertension and diabetes. Conclusion The prediction of HRQoL scores 6 months after an ePCI is possible based on data acquired on admission. The models developed here can be used as decision-making tools to guide physicians in identifying the efficacy of ePCIs for individual patients, hence decreasing the rate of inappropriate ePCIs and reducing costs and complications.

Objectives: To determine the gender differences in cardiovascular risk profile and outcomes among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: In a prospective multicenter study of consecutive Middle Eastern patients managed with PCI from January 2013 to February 2014 in 12 tertiary care centers in Amman and Irbid, Jordan. Clinical and coronary angiographic features, and major cardiovascular events were assessed for both genders from hospital stay to 1 year. Results: Women comprised 20.6% of 2426 enrolled patients, were older (mean age 62.9 years versus 57.2 years), had higher prevalence of hypertension (81% versus 57%), diabetes (66% versus 44%), dyslipidemia (58% versus 46%), and obesity (44% versus 25%) compared with men, p less than 0.001. The PCI for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction was indicated for fewer women than men (23% versus 33%; p =0.001). Prevalence of single or multi-vessel coronary artery disease was similar in women and men. More women than men had major bleeding during hospitalization (2.2% versus 0.6%; p =0.003) and at one year (2.5% versus 0.9%; p =0.007). There were no significant differences between women and men in mortality (3.1% versus 1.7%) or stent thrombosis (2.1% versus 1.8%) at 1 year. Conclusion: Middle Eastern women undergoing PCI had worse baseline risk profile compared with men.Except for major bleeding, no gender differences in the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events were demonstrated. Saudi Med J 2017; Vol. 38 (2): 149-155 doi: 10.15537/smj.2017.2.16301 How to cite this article: Jarrah MI, Hammoudeh AJ, Al-Natour DB, Khader YS, Tabbalat RA, Alhaddad IA, Kullab SM. Saudi Med J. 2017 Feb;38(2):149-155. doi: 10.15537/smj.2017.2.16301.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is highly prevalent among Middle Eastern patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study used data from the First Jordanian PCI Registry (JoPCR1) to determine the short- and long-term outcomes in a subgroup of diabetic patients within a large PCI population. JoPCR1, a prospective, multicenter study of consecutive patients who underwent PCI from January 2013 to February 2014, assessed the incidence of major cardiovascular events (cardiac mortality, stent thrombosis, major bleeding events and coronary revascularization) in diabetic compared with nondiabetic patients from the index hospitalization to 1 year of follow-up. Of 2426 patients enrolled, 1300 (53.6 %) were diabetics. Compared with nondiabetic patients, diabetic patients were older, more likely to be female and to have hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and chronic renal disease. Diabetic patients had higher prevalences of multivessel coronary artery disease and PCI than nondiabetic patients. Although both groups had similar proportions of patients undergoing PCI for ACS (76.3 vs. 78.4 %; p = 0.237), fewer diabetic patients had PCI for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction than nondiabetics (27.5 vs. 33.7 %; p = 0.0002). Both groups had similar incidences of stent thrombosis (ST) during hospitalization (0.46 vs. 0.27 %; p = 0.665) and at 1 year (2.36 vs. 1.53 %; p = 0.196). Similarly, major bleeding events were not different between diabetic and nondiabetic patients during hospitalization (1.31 vs. 0.53 %; p = 0.077) and at 1 year (1.47 vs. 0.98 %; p = 0.377). Compared with nondiabetic patients, diabetic patients had a higher incidence of readmission for ACS and coronary revascularization at 1 year. Diabetic patients had higher incidences of cardiac mortality than nondiabetic patients during the index hospitalization (1.23 vs. 0.27 %; p = 0.015) and at 1 year (2.58 vs. 0.81 %; p = 0.002). In multivariate analysis, diabetic patients were four times more likely to die in the hospital compared to nondiabetic patients (odds ratio = 4.2; 95 % CI 1.2–14.8, p = 0.025). Diabetic patients, who accounted for more than half of this Middle Eastern PCI population, had a higher risk of cardiac mortality, readmission for ACS and coronary revascularization at 1 year compared with nondiabetic patients.

With the single-visit approach for cervical cancer prevention, women with positive “visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid wash” (VIA) test results receive immediate treatment of the precancerous lesion with cryotherapy. The approach worked successfully for women with HIV in Ethiopia in secondary and tertiary health facilities, with high screening and cryotherapy treatment rates. Sustainability and appropriate scale-up of such programs must address wider health system challenges including human resource constraints and shortage of essential supplies., Introduction: Cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer for women in Ethiopia. Using a single-visit approach to prevent cervical cancer, the Addis Tesfa (New Hope) project in Ethiopia tested women with HIV through visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid wash (VIA) and, if tests results were positive, offered immediate cryotherapy of the precancerous lesion or referral for loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). The objective of this article is to review screening and treatment outcomes over nearly 4 years of project implementation and to identify lessons learned to improve cervical cancer prevention programs in Ethiopia and other resource-constrained settings. Methods: We analyzed aggregate client data from August 2010 to March 2014 to obtain the number of women with HIV who were counseled, screened, and treated, as well as the number of annual follow-up visits made, from the 14 tertiary- and secondary-level health facilities implementing the single-visit approach. A health facility assessment (HFA) was also implemented from August to December 2013 to examine the effects of the single-visit approach on client flow, staff workload, and facility infrastructure 3 years after initiating the approach. Results: Almost all (99%) of the 16,632 women with HIV counseled about the single-visit approach were screened with VIA during the study period; 1,656 (10%) of them tested VIA positive (VIA+) for precancerous lesions. Among those who tested VIA+ and were thus eligible for cryotherapy, 1,481 (97%) received cryotherapy treatment, but only 80 (63%) women eligible for LEEP actually received the treatment. The HFA results showed frequent staff turnover, some shortage of essential supplies, and rooms that were judged by providers to be too small for delivery of cervical cancer prevention services. Conclusion: The high proportions of VIA screening and cryotherapy treatment in the Addis Tesfa project suggest high acceptance of such services by women with HIV and feasibility of implementation in secondary- and tertiary-level health facilities. However, success of cervical cancer prevention programming must address wider health system challenges to ensure sustainability and appropriate scale-up to the general population of Ethiopia and other resource-constrained settings.

Following the introduction of IUDs into the Ethiopian public health sector, use of the method increased from, In Ethiopia, modern contraceptive prevalence among currently married women nearly tripled over the last decade, but the method mix remains skewed toward short-acting methods. Since 2011, the Integrated Family Health Program (IFHP+), jointly implemented by Pathfinder International and John Snow Inc., has supported the Federal Ministry of Health to introduce intrauterine devices (IUDs) in more than 800 health centers across 4 regions to improve access to a wider range of methods. Between March and August 2014, Pathfinder conducted a mixed-methods study in 40 purposively selected health centers to assess shifts in the contraceptive method mix following introduction of IUDs using data from family planning registers; determine the characteristics of IUD users through a cross-sectional survey of 2,943 family planning clients who accepted the IUD; explore reasons for method discontinuation among 165 clients seeking IUD removal services; and identify facilitators and barriers to IUD use through focus group discussions (N = 115 clients) and key informant interviews (N = 36 providers, facility heads, and health office heads). Introduction of IUDs into the 40 health centers participating in the study was correlated with a statistically significant increase in the contribution of all long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs)—both IUDs and implants—to the method mix, from 6.9% in 2011 to 20.5% in 2014 (P