Search

Background: Zenker’s diverticulum is a rare disease in the general population. Its treatment can be carried out by either an endoscopic or surgical approach. The objective of this study was to systematically identify all reports that compare both treatment modalities and to assess the outcomes in terms of length of procedure, length of hospitalization, time until diet introduction, complication rates, and recurrence rates. Methods: A search of Medline and Embase selected all studies that compared different methods of surgical and endoscopic treatment for Zenker’s diverticulum published in the English, Portuguese, and Spanish languages between 1975 and 2014. The meta-analysis was developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. Data were extracted and analyzed for five different outcomes. Results: Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria, describing outcomes of endoscopic versus surgical treatment for 596 patients with Zenker’s diverticulum. A meta-analysis of the studies suggested a statistically significant reduction in operating time and length of hospitalization, favoring endoscopic treatment (standardized mean difference (SMD) – 78.06, 95 %CI – 90.63, – 65.48 and SMD – 3.72, 95 %CI – 4.49, – 2.95, respectively), just as with the reduction in the fasting period (SMD – 4.30, 95 %CI – 5.18, – 3.42) and risk of complications (SMD – 0.09, 95 %CI 0.03, 0.43) for patients who had undergone the endoscopic approach in comparison with the surgical group. Also, a statistically significant reduction in the risk of symptom recurrence was seen when the treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum was carried out by a surgical approach compared with endoscopic treatment (SMD 0.08, 95 %CI 0.03, 0.13). Conclusion: Compared with a surgical approach, endoscopic treatment appeared to result in a shorter length of procedure and hospitalization, earlier diet introduction, and lower rates of complications, but in higher rates of symptom recurrence.

The aim of this study is to address the outcomes of endoscopic resection compared with surgery in the treatment of ampullary adenomas. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. For this purpose, the Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), Scopus and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases were scanned. Studies included patients with ampullary adenomas and data considering endoscopic treatment compared with surgery. The entire analysis was based on a fixed-effects model. Five retrospective cohort studies were selected (466 patients). All five studies (466 patients) had complete primary resection data available and showed a difference that favored surgical treatment (risk difference [RD] = -0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.44 to -0.04). Primary success data were identified in all five studies as well. Analysis showed that the surgical approach outperformed endoscopic treatment for this outcome (RD = -0.37, 95% CI = -0.50 to -0.24). Recurrence data were found in all studies (466 patients), with a benefit indicated for surgical treatment (RD = 0.10, 95% CI = -0.01 to 0.19). Three studies (252 patients) presented complication data, but analysis showed no difference between the approaches for this parameter (RD = -0.15, 95% CI = -0.53 to 0.23). Considering complete primary resection, primary success and recurrence outcomes, the surgical approach achieves significantly better results. Regarding complication data, this systematic review concludes that rates are not significantly different.

Os desfechos clínicos e oncológicos dos pacientes submetidos à ressecção endoscópica do câncer gástrico precoce (CGP), considerando os critérios de indicação, comparados à cirurgia, não foram relatados em revisões sistemáticas. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida para estabelecer os desfechos de curto e longo prazos da ressecção endoscópica comparada à cirurgia no tratamento do CGP, elevando as informações para o nível de evidência 2a, melhor respaldando a prática clínica. A revisão sistemática com metanálises foi procedida utilizando-se as bases Medline, Embase, Cochrane, LILACS, Scopus e CINAHL. Onze coortes retrospectivas foram selecionadas para análise qualitativa e quantitativa. Todos os estudos incluem pacientes com CGP e comparam os desfechos nos dois braços. Os dados envolveram 2654 pacientes que preenchiam os critérios absolutos ou expandidos para ressecção endoscópica. Diferentes modalidades de tratamento endoscópico foram avaliadas, principalmente os procedimentos de ressecção, como endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) e endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). As informações basearam-se nas características dos participantes, critérios de inclusão e exclusão, tipos de intervenções e desfechos (diferentes taxas de sobrevida, eventos adversos, ressecção completa, recorrência e mortalidade). As análises dos riscos absolutos dos desfechos foram feitas com o software RevMan, computando-se as diferenças de risco (DR) das variáveis dicotômicas. Dados de DR e intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC) foram calculados utilizando-se o teste de Mantel-Haenszel e a inconsistência foi qualificada e reportada em ?2 e método Higgins (I2). A análise de sensibilidade foi feita quando a heterogeneidade era maior que 50%. Todas as análises basearam-se inicialmente no modelo de efeito fixo. Dados de sobrevida de 3 anos estavam disponíveis em seis estudos (n = 1197). Não houve DR após os dois tratamentos (DR = 0,01, IC 95% = -0,02 a 0,05). A sobrevida de 5 anos (n = 2310) não demonstrou diferença significativa entre os grupos analisados (DR = 0,01, IC 95% = -0,01 a 0,03). A avaliação de 551 pacientes não evidenciou desigualdade na sobrevida de 10 anos entre as diferentes abordagens (DR = -0,02, IC 95% = -0,15 a 0,10). Dados de complicação estavam presentes em oito estudos (n = 2439), e diferença significativa foi detectada (DR = -0,08, IC 95% = -0,10 a -0,05), demonstrando melhores resultados com a endoscopia. As taxas de ressecção completa foram analisadas em 536 pacientes. Evidenciou-se diferença significativa entre o tratamento endoscópico e cirúrgico (DR = -0,13, IC 95% = -0,17 a -0,09), validando melhores resultados no último grupo. A recorrência foi avaliada em cinco pesquisas (n = 1331) e não houve diferença entre as duas formas de terapêutica (DR = 0,01, IC 95% = -0,00 a 0,02). As taxas de mortalidade foram obtidas de quatro estudos (n = 1107), e não se evidenciou diferença entre os grupos envolvidos (DR = -0,01, IC 95% = -0,02 a 0,00). Conclui-se que as taxas de sobrevida de 3, 5 e 10 anos, recorrência e mortalidade são semelhantes em ambos os grupos. Considerando-se as taxas de complicação, a abordagem endoscópica confere resultados mais apropriados e, analisando-se as taxas de ressecção completa, ela é inferior à cirurgia Clinical and oncological outcomes of endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer (EGC), considering the indication criteria, compared to surgery, have not been reported in systematic reviews. To address the short- and long-term outcomes of endoscopic resection compared to surgery in the treatment of EGC, a systematic review was performed, establishing the available data to an unpublished 2a strength of evidence, better handling clinical practice. A systematic review and meta-analysis using Medline, Embase, Cochrane, LILACS, Scopus and CINAHL databases were done. Eleven retrospective cohort studies were selected to quantitative and qualitative synthesis. All studies included patients diagnosed with EGC that compared outcomes considering endoscopic treatment and surgery. The included records involved 2654 patients with EGC that filled the standard or expanded indications for endoscopic resection. Different endoscopic treatment modalities were analyzed, mainly mucosal resection procedures such as endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), compared to surgery. Information of the selected studies was extracted on characteristics of trial participants, inclusion and exclusion criteria, types of interventions and outcomes (different survival rates, adverse events, complete resection, recurrence and mortality rates). The analysis of the absolute risks of the outcomes was performed using the software RevMan, by computing risk differences (RD) of dichotomous variables. Data on RD and 95% confidence interval (CI) for each outcome were calculated using the Mantel-Haenszel test and inconsistency was qualified and reported in X2 and the Higgins method (I2). Sensitivity analysis was performed when heterogeneity was higher than 50%. All pooled analyses were initially based on fixed-effects model. Three-year survival data were available for six studies (n = 1197). There were no RD in 3-year survival data after endoscopic and surgical treatment of EGC (RD = 0.01, 95% CI = -0.02 to 0.05). Five-year survival data (n = 2310) showed no evidence of a difference between the two groups (RD = 0.01, 95% CI = -0.01 to 0.03). The data analysis, in 551 patients, showed no difference in 10-year survival rates between the approaches (RD = -0.02 and 95% CI = -0.15 to 0.10). Complication data were identified in eight studies (n = 2439). A significant difference was detected (RD = -0.08, 95% CI = -0.10 to -0.05), demonstrating better results with endoscopic approach. Complete resection data was analyzed in 536 patients. It showed significant difference in complete resection rates between endoscopic and surgical treatment of EGC (RD = -0.13, 95% CI = -0.17 to -0.09), exhibiting improved results in the surgical group. Recurrence data were analyzed in five studies (n = 1331) and there was no difference between the approaches (RD = 0.01, 95% CI = -0.00 to 0.02). Mortality data were obtained in four studies (n = 1107), and there was no difference between treatment modalities (RD = -0.01, 95% CI = -0.02 to 0.00). This systematic review concludes that 3-, 5- and 10-year survival, recurrence and mortality rates are similar for both groups. Considering procedure-related complication rates, endoscopic approach achieves significantly better results and, analyzing complete resection data, it is considered worse than surgery

To compare the complications and mortality related to gastrostomy procedures performed using surgical and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy techniques, this review covered seven studies. Five of these were retrospective and two were randomized prospective studies. In total, 406 patients were involved, 232 of whom had undergone percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and 174 of whom had undergone surgical gastrostomy. The analysis was performed using Review Manager. Risk differences were computed using a fixed-effects model and forest and funnel plots. Data on risk differences and 95% confidence intervals were obtained using the Mantel-Haenszel test. There was no difference in major complications in retrospective (95% CI (-0.11 to 0.10)) or randomized (95% CI (-0.07 to 0.05)) studies. Regarding minor complications, no difference was found in retrospective studies (95% CI (-00.17 to 0.09)), whereas a difference was observed in randomized studies (95% CI (-0.25 to -0.02)). Separate analyses of retrospective and randomized studies revealed no differences between the methods in relation to mortality and major complications. Moreover, low levels of minor complications were observed among endoscopic procedures in randomized studies, with no difference observed compared with retrospective studies.

Specimen extraction is an unavoidable step in all laparoscopic resections. To this day there is no standardized retrieval incision for each procedure and the choice is made individually, yet based on the surgeon’s experience and preference. Additionally, worldwide prevalence of inguinal hernia is high and many patients with this condition require surgical intervention for a distinct reason. In these particular cases, the hernia orifice can be seeing as an opportunity, allowing specimen retrieval when an open repair is performed immediately after the laparoscopic resection. In the present article, the authors propose this new option. Three patients who underwent this technique are also presented. Discussion is focused on the advantages and critics of the approach.

Background and Aims: There are no systematic reviews comparing the use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-based brush cytology and forceps biopsy and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) for the diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture; so in this revision, we will compare ERCP against EUS-FNA for tissue diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture. Design: A systematic review was conducted of comparative studies (prospective or retrospective) analyzing EUS and ERCP for tissue diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture. Materials and Methods: The databases Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane, LILACS, CINAHL, and Scopus were searched for studies dated previous to November 2014. We identified three prospective studies comparing EUS-FNA and ERCP for the diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture and five prospective studies comparing EUS-FNA with the same diagnosis of the other three studies. All patients were subjected to the same gold standard method. We calculated study variables (sensitivity, specificity, prevalence, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy) and performed a meta-analysis using the Review Manager (RevMan) 5.3 software. Results: A total of 294 patients were included in the analysis. The pretest probability for malignant biliary stricture was 76.66%. The mean sensitivities of ERCP and EUS-FNA for tissue diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture were 49% and 75%, respectively; the specificities were 96.33% and 100%, respectively. The posttest probabilities positive predictive value (98.33% and 100%, respectively) and negative predictive value (34% and 47%, respectively) were determined. The accuracies were 60.66% and 79%, respectively. Conclusion: We found that EUS-FNA was superior to ERCP with brush cytology and forceps biopsy for diagnosing malignant biliary strictures. However, a negative EUS-FNA or ERCP test may not exclude malignant biliary stricture because both have low negative posttest probabilities.

AIM: To report a systematic review, establishing the available data to an unpublished 2a strength of evidence, better handling clinical practice. METHODS: A systematic review was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, LILACS, Scopus and CINAHL databases. Information of the selected studies was extracted on characteristics of trial participants, inclusion and exclusion criteria, interventions (mainly, mucosal resection and submucosal dissection vs surgical approach) and outcomes (adverse events, different survival rates, mortality, recurrence and complete resection rates). To ascertain the validity of eligible studies, the risk of bias was measured using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. The analysis of the absolute risk of the outcomes was performed using the software RevMan, by computing risk differences (RD) of dichotomous variables. Data on RD and 95%CIs for each outcome were calculated using the Mantel-Haenszel test and inconsistency was qualified and reported in χ2 and the Higgins method (I2). Sensitivity analysis was performed when heterogeneity was higher than 50%, a subsequent assay was done and other findings were compiled. RESULTS: Eleven retrospective cohort studies were selected. The included records involved 2654 patients with early gastric cancer that filled the absolute or expanded indications for endoscopic resection. Three-year survival data were available for six studies (n = 1197). There were no risk differences (RD) after endoscopic and surgical treatment (RD = 0.01, 95%CI: -0.02-0.05, P = 0.51). Five-year survival data (n = 2310) showed no difference between the two groups (RD = 0.01, 95%CI: -0.01-0.03, P = 0.46). Recurrence data were analized in five studies (1331 patients) and there was no difference between the approaches (RD = 0.01, 95%CI: -0.00-0.02, P = 0.09). Adverse event data were identified in eight studies (n = 2439). A significant difference was detected (RD = -0.08, 95%CI: -0.10--0.05, P < 0.05), demonstrating better results with endoscopy. Mortality data were obtained in four studies (n = 1107). There was no difference between the groups (RD = -0.01, 95%CI: -0.02-0.00, P = 0.22). CONCLUSION: Three-, 5-year survival, recurrence and mortality are similar for both groups. Considering complication, endoscopy is better and, analyzing complete resection data, it is worse than surgery.

Type I gastric carcinoids are indolent lesions that only rarely metastasize. Until now, lymph node metastasis had only being observed in large (≥10 mm) and usually invasive lesions (deep submucosa or beyond). This study reports a diminutive (8 mm) gastric carcinoid, limited to the superficial layer of the submucosa (sm1), with no angiovascular invasion, but with a high Ki-67 index (7%) and an involved perigastric lymph node. The aggressive behavior of this lesion ends the previous believe that small and superficial type I gastric carcinoids do not metastasize. This case also indicates that better parameters are necessary to evaluate the malignant potential of these lesions and presents a further support to the value of 2010 World Health Organization classification of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors.

To analyze through meta-analyses the benefits of two types of stents in the inoperable malignant biliary obstruction.A systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCT) was conducted, with the last update on March 2015, using EMBASE, CINAHL (EBSCO), MEDLINE, LILACS/CENTRAL (BVS), SCOPUS, CAPES (Brazil), and gray literature. Information of the selected studies was extracted in sight of six outcomes: primarily regarding dysfunction, complication and re-intervention rates; and secondarily costs, survival, and patency time. The data about characteristics of trial participants, inclusion and exclusion criteria and types of stents were also extracted. The bias was mainly assessed through the JADAD scale. This meta-analysis was registered in the PROSPERO database by the number CRD42014015078. The analysis of the absolute risk of the outcomes was performed using the software RevMan, by computing risk differences (RD) of dichotomous variables and mean differences (MD) of continuous variables. Data on RD and MD for each primary outcome were calculated using the Mantel-Haenszel test and inconsistency was qualified and reported in χ (2) and the Higgins method (I (2)). Sensitivity analysis was performed when heterogeneity was higher than 50%, a subsequent assay was done and other findings were compiled. Student's t-test was used for the comparison of weighted arithmetic means regarding secondary outcomes.Initial searching identified 3660 studies; 3539 were excluded through title, repetition, and/or abstract, while 121 studies were fully assessed and were excluded mainly because they did not compare self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) and plastic stents (PS), leading to thirteen RCT selected, with 13 articles and 1133 subjects meta-analyzed. The mean age was 69.5 years old, that were affected mostly by bile duct (proximal) and pancreatic tumors (distal). The preferred SEMS diameter used was the 10 mm (30 Fr) and the preferred PS diameter used was 10 Fr. In the meta-analysis, SEMS had lower overall stent dysfunction compared to PS (21.6% vs 46.8%, P0.00001) and fewer re-interventions (21.6% vs 56.6%, P0.00001), with no difference in complications (13.7% vs 15.9%, P = 0.16). In the secondary analysis, the mean survival rate was higher in the SEMS group (182 d vs 150 d, P0.0001), with a higher patency period (250 d vs 124 d, P0.0001) and a lower cost per patient (4193.98 vs 4728.65 Euros, P0.0985).SEMS are associated with lower stent dysfunction, lower re-intervention rates, better survival, and higher patency time. Complications and costs showed no difference.