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Treatment of malignant biliary strictures with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) guided stent placement is highly effective. Our objective was to compare the efficacy and adverse outcomes between plastic stents (PS) and self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS).A cohort study was performed of all consecutive patients who underwent ERCP with stent placement for the management of malignant biliary stricture. Comparisons on clinical success, patency duration, stent dysfunction, unplanned reintervention and adverse outcomes were performed. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors associated with clinical success, need for reintervention, and stent dysfunction.From 2012 to 2019, 1139 patients underwent ERCP with PS placement while 1008 patients received SEMS for the management of malignant biliary stricture. In distal strictures, SEMS reported a significantly higher rate of clinical success compared with PS (94.1% vs 87.4%, P0.001) and a lower rate of unplanned reintervention (17.1% vs 27.4%, P0.001). In hilar strictures, the rates of clinical success and unplanned intervention were comparable. The patency duration and time to unplanned reintervention were significantly longer with SEMS than PS, irrespective of stricture location. In distal stricture, PS was associated with a significantly higher rate of cholangitis than SEMS (6.9% vs 2.4%; P.001) but a lower rate of pancreatitis (3.6% vs 6%; P = 0.021).Given superior efficacy, durability and lower rates of cholangitis, SEMS should be offered as the first line endoscopic treatment option for malignant distal biliary stricture. For malignant hilar stricture, SEMS is an attractive alternative to PS in some cases by offering a comparable efficacy with a superior durability.

Background Endoscopic procedures are performed commonly with moderate sedation. Obesity can pose a challenge in its safe administration. This study was aimed at assessing outcomes of endoscopy procedures performed with moderate sedation in obese patients. Patients and methods This was a retrospective study of patients undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and/or colonoscopy with moderate sedation from July 17, 2017 to December 31, 2019. Demographics, comorbidities, outpatient medications and procedure-related outcomes (procedure time, recovery time, cardiopulmonary adverse events, 7-day post-procedure hospitalization, cecal intubation time, withdrawal time, tolerance of moderate sedation and sedation medications administered) were compared for patient with and without obesity after propensity score matching. Standard statistical methods were used for analysis. Results A total of 7601 procedures were performed with moderate sedation for 5746 patients. Propensity score matching identified 1360 and 1740 pairs of EGDs and colonoscopies with moderate sedation for patients with and without obesity. Recovery time was found to be shorter for obese patients undergoing EGD (OR: 0.989, 95 % CI: 0.981–.998; P = 0.01). Obese patients did not differ from non-obese patients in any other procedure-related outcomes for EGDs or colonoscopies. Conclusions Outcomes for endoscopy procedures performed with moderate sedation were noted to be similar between obese and non-obese patients. These findings suggest that moderate sedation can be used safely for endoscopic procedures in patients with obesity.

Background The difference in clinical outcomes after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for early Barrett's esophagus (BE) neoplasia remains unclear. We compared the recurrence/residual tissue rates, resection outcomes, and adverse events after ESD and EMR for early BE neoplasia. Methods We included patients who underwent EMR or ESD for BE-associated high grade dysplasia (HGD) or T1a esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) at eight academic hospitals. We compared demographic, procedural, and histologic characteristics, and follow-up data. A time-to-event analysis was performed to evaluate recurrence/residual disease and a Kaplan–Meier curve was used to compare the groups. Results 243 patients (150 EMR; 93 ESD) were included. EMR had lower en bloc (43 % vs. 89 %; P 0.99), early bleeding (0.7 % vs. 1 %; P > 0.99), delayed bleeding (3.3 % vs. 2.1 %; P = 0.71), and stricture (10 % vs. 16 %; P = 0.16) between EMR and ESD. Patients with non-curative resections who underwent further therapy were excluded from the recurrence analysis. Recurrent/residual disease was 31.4 % [44/140] for EMR and 3.5 % [3/85] for ESD during a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 15.5 (6.75–30) and 8 (2–18) months, respectively. Recurrence-/residual disease-free survival was significantly higher in the ESD group. More patients required additional endoscopic resection procedures to treat recurrent/residual disease after EMR (EMR 24.2 % vs. ESD 3.5 %; P Conclusions ESD is safe and results in more definitive treatment of early BE neoplasia, with significantly lower recurrence/residual disease rates and less need for repeat endoscopic treatments than with EMR.

Background Symptomatic pancreatic duct (PD) strictures in chronic pancreatitis refractory to single plastic stenting are usually managed by placement of multiple plastic stents (MPS). Fully covered self-expanding metallic stents (FCSEMS) have also been used in the management of these patients. However, the overall efficacy and safety of different types of stents is unclear from the currently available studies. We performed this meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and complications from MPS and FCSEMS in patients with PD strictures refractory to treatment with single plastic stents. Methods Several electronic databases were searched for all the studies evaluating the outcome of placement of multiple plastic stents and fully covered metal stents in patients with PD strictures refractory to single plastic stenting. We calculated the Weighted Pooled Ratio (WPR) with Confidence Interval (CI) between the MPS and FCSEMS. Results A total of 13 studies (including 2 abstracts) were included in the analysis. MPS were placed in 106 patients and FCSEMS in 192 patients. Improvement in pain after stenting ( P = 0.794 ), risk of recurrence of pain after removal of stent (P = 0.48) and stricture recurrence after stent removal ( P = 0.52 ) were comparable between MPS and FCSEMS. Risk of endoscopic re-intervention was also comparable between metal stents and MPS. However, FCSEMS was associated with overall higher risk of adverse events (P Conclusion FCSEMS are comparable to multiple plastic stents in the treatment of symptomatic refractory PD strictures. However, use of FCSEMS is associated with increased risk of adverse events.

Bariatric surgery (BSx) is one of the most common surgical procedures in North America. Readmissions may be associated with a high burden to the healthcare system. Retrospective study of the 2016 National Readmission Database of adult patients readmitted within 30 days after an index admission for BSx. Outcomes were: 30-day readmission rate, mortality, healthcare-related utilization resources, and independent predictors of readmission. Comparison groups were index admission, readmitted, and non-readmitted patients. A total of 161,141 patients underwent BSx. The 30-day readmission rate was 3.3%. Main causes for readmission were dehydration, acute kidney injury, venous thromboembolism events, and sepsis. Readmitted patients were more likely to develop shock (0.5% vs. 0.1%; P

Background and Aims: Men are at a higher risk for Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), but little is known about BE progression to dysplasia and EAC in women. We performed a retrospective, multicenter cohort study to assess risk of BE progression to dysplasia and EAC in women compared with men. We also investigated comorbidities, medication use, and endoscopic features that contribute to sex differences in risk of BE progression. Methods: We collected data from large cohort of patients with BE seen at 6 centers in the United States and Europe, followed for a median 5.7 years. We obtained demographic information (age, sex, ethnicity), clinical history (tobacco use, body mass index, comorbidities), endoscopy results (procedure date, BE segment length), and histopathology findings. Neoplasia was graded as low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia (HGD), or EAC. Rates of disease progression between women and men were compared using χ2analysis and the Student t test. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between sex and disease progression after adjusting for possible confounding variables. Results: Of the total 4263 patients in the cohort, 2145 met the inclusion criteria, including 324 (15%) women. There was a total of 34 (1.6%) incident EACs, with an overall annual incidence of 0.3% (95% confidence interval: 0.2%-0.4%). We found significant differences between women and men in annual incidence rates of EAC (0.05% for women vs. 0.3% in men; P=0.04) and in the combined endpoint of HGD or EAC (0.1% for women vs. 1.1% for men; P

Alcoholic acute pancreatitis (AAP) comprises the second most common cause of acute pancreatitis in the USA, and there is lack of data regarding 30-day specific readmission causes and predictors. We aim to identify 30-day readmission rate, causes, and predictors of readmission. Retrospective analysis of the 2016 National Readmission Database of adult patients readmitted within 30 days after an index admission for AAP. Totally, 76,609 AAP patients were discharged from the hospital in 2016. The 30-day readmission rate was 12%. The main cause of readmission was another episode of AAP. Readmission was not associated with higher mortality (1.3% vs. 1.2%; P = 0.21) or prolonged length of stay (5.2 vs. 5.0 days; P = 0.06). The total health care economic burden was $354 million in charges and $90 million in costs. Independent predictors of readmission were having Medicaid insurance, a Charlson comorbidity index score ≥ 3, use of total parenteral nutrition, opioid abuse disorder, prior pancreatic cyst, chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, and other chronic pancreatitis. Obesity was associated with lower odds of readmission. Readmission rate for AAP is high and its primary cause are recurrent episodes of AAP. Alcohol and substance abuse pose a high burden on our health care system. Public health strategies should be targeted to provide alcohol abuse disorder rehabilitation and cessation resources to alleviate the burden on readmission, the health care system and to improve patient outcomes.

Background & Aims Esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) can be challenging, and technique innovation is needed to make it easier to perform, especially in the West, where experience and procedure volumes are less. The loose esophageal submucosa allows easy entry of the entire ceramic tip of an insulated-tip (IT) knife, allowing the electrocautery blade to dissect the submucosa, while the tip protects the muscle layer. This technique is called IT-knife tunneling and has been described in Japan. We evaluated the safety and feasibility of IT-knife tunneling esophageal ESD in the West. Methods A prospective, single-center observational study evaluating the outcomes of IT-knife tunneling esophageal ESD from April 2016-December 2019. Lesions with expected fibrosis were excluded. All ESDs were performed by a single expert. Primary aim was to determine safety and feasibility of the technique. Results 42 patients underwent IT-knife tunneling esophageal ESD. 35 were Barrett's-related neoplasms, three squamous cell cancers, three granular cell tumors, and one submucosal cyst. Mean lesion size was 3.1cm, procedure time 69 min, and resection speed 9.7 mm2/min. No esophageal perforations. One case each with delayed bleeding and significant intraprocedural bleeding. En-bloc, R0, and curative resection rates were 97.6%, 88.1%, and 78.6%, respectively. 7/9 of the non-curative lesions were high-risk lesions in poor surgical candidates. 36 patients are under post-procedure surveillance. Mean follow-up time was 12.1 months with no local/metastatic recurrence. Conclusion IT-knife tunneling technique allowed for safe and feasible esophageal ESD of non-fibrotic lesions at our Western center. Further use of this technique in the West is warranted.

In the West, piecemeal endoscopic resection remains the primary treatment for large colon polyps (LCP), as most recurrences are believed to be benign and resectable with follow-up endoscopy. However, invasive malignancy at the site of prior piecemeal endoscopic mucosal resection has been reported in the Asian literature. This study aims to identify the incidence of and the risk factors for local recurrence with malignancy after endoscopic resection of LCP with high-grade dysplasia (HGD). In this retrospective cohort study, we identified patients undergoing complete endoscopic resection of LCPs (≥ 20 mm) with HGD at the Cleveland Clinic between January 2000 and December 2016. Demographic, endoscopic, and pathologic data were collected. All subsequent endoscopic and pathology reports were reviewed to identify recurrence. The cumulative incidence of malignancy at the polypectomy site was determined and univariate analysis was performed to assess risk factors. A total of 254 LCPs with HGD were resected in 229 patients. Mean polyp size was 29.2 mm. There were 138 lesions resected in piecemeal fashion and 116 en-bloc. After a median follow-up of 28.7 months for the entire cohort, local recurrence with malignancy was diagnosed in six cases. Median time to malignancy diagnosis was 28.5 months. All malignant cases occurred after piecemeal resection and none after en-bloc resection (HR 11.4; 95% CI 0.48–273). Malignancy after endoscopic resection of LCPs with HGD is uncommon and may be associated with piecemeal resection. When possible, en-bloc resection should be the goal for the management of LCPs.

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has been used since the mid-1980s. Initially a diagnostic tool, it has since evolved into a therapeutic, minimally invasive surgical tool with significant impact on the diagnosis and management of a range of benign and malignant conditions. The authors review current indications, safety, and efficacy of EUS for diseases of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, posterior mediastinum, pancreas, bile duct, gallbladder, retroperitoneum, liver, adrenal glands, and kidneys.

Bariatric surgery (BSx) leads to weight loss and causes alterations in gastrointestinal and pancreatic peptides. This raises questions on acute pancreatitis (AP) occurrence and outcomes in this cohort of patients. We aim to assess mortality, morbidity, and resource utilization of AP in patients with BSx. Observational retrospective cohort study (2012–2016) with propensity score match. Patients with a principal diagnostic ICD9-10CM code for AP were included. Stratification for the coexistence of history of BSx was performed. The primary outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes were morbidity, resource utilization, length of hospital stay (LOS), total hospital charges, and costs. Out of 920,615 AP patients, 15,345 had undergone BSx. After propensity matching, 8220 patients with BSx had AP. The mortality for AP was 0.42 (p

Anesthesia assistance is commonly used for ERCP. General anesthesia (GA) may provide greater airway protection but may lead to hypotension. We aimed to compare GA versus sedation without planned intubation (SWPI) on the incidence of hypoxemia and hypotension. We also explored risk factors for conversion from SWPI to GA.This observational study used data from the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group. Adults with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class I to IV undergoing ERCP between 2006 and 2019 were included. We compared GA and SWPI on incidence of hypoxemia (oxygen saturation 90% for ≥3 minutes) and hypotension (mean arterial pressure 65 mm Hg for ≥5 minutes) using joint hypothesis testing. The association between anesthetic approach and outcomes was assessed using logistic regression. The noninferiority delta for hypoxemia and hypotension was an odds ratio of 1.20. One approach was deemed better if it was noninferior on both outcomes and superior on at least 1 outcome. To explore risk factors associated with conversion from SWPI to GA, we constructed a logistic regression model.Among 61,735 cases from 42 institutions, 38,830 (63%) received GA and 22,905 (37%) received SWPI. The GA group had 1.27 times (97.5% confidence interval, 1.19-1.35) higher odds of hypotension but .71 times (97.5% confidence interval, .63-.80) lower odds of hypoxemia. Neither group was noninferior to the other on both outcomes. Conversion from SWPI to GA occurred in 6.5% of cases and was associated with baseline comorbidities and higher institutional procedure volume.GA for ERCP was associated with less hypoxemia, whereas SWPI was associated with less hypotension. Neither approach was better on the combined incidence of hypotension and hypoxemia.

Despite the high prevalence of asymptomatic gallstones (AGs), there are limited data on their natural history. We aimed to determine the rate of symptom development in a contemporary population, determine factors associated with progression to symptomatic gallstones (SGs), and develop a clinical prediction model.We used a retrospective cohort design. The time to first SG was shown using Kaplan-Meier curves. Multivariable competing risk (death) regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with SGs. A prediction model for the development of SGs after 10 years was generated and calibration curves were plotted. Participants were patients with AGs based on ultrasound or computed tomography from the general medical population.From 1996 to 2016, 22,257 patients (51% female) with AGs were identified; 14.5% developed SG with a median follow-up period of 4.6 years. The cumulative incidence was 10.1% (±0.22%) at 5 years, 21.5% (±0.39%) at 10 years, and 32.6% (±0.83%) at 15 years. In a multivariable model, the strongest predictors of developing SGs were female gender (hazard ratio [HR], 1.50; 95% CI, 1.39-1.61), younger age (HR per 5 years, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.14-1.16), multiple stones (HR, 2.42; 95% CI, 2.25-2.61), gallbladder polyps (HR, 2.55; 95% CI, 2.14-3.05), large stones (HR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.80-2.29), and chronic hemolytic anemia (HR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.33-2.72). The model showed good discrimination (C-statistic, 0.70) and calibration.In general medical patients with AGs, symptoms developed at approximately 2% per year. A predictive model with good calibration could be used to inform patients of their risk of SGs.

The economic burden of health care in the United States continues to rise with no sign of letting up. The shift to value-based reimbursement offers a potential solution to maximize the outcome by pegging health care reimbursement to the quality of care provided. The service line concept of gastrointestinal disorders incorporates a multidisciplinary treatment model and maximizes the efficiency of patient-care giver encounters. The concept and implementation of a service line approach in endoscopy operation remain largely nascent even among large health care institutions. This article submits a multidisciplinary endoscopy operation model implemented in the author's institution as a suggestion.

Leaving no significant polyp behind while avoiding risks due to unnecessary resections is a commonsense strategy to safely and effectively prevent colorectal cancer (CRC) with colonoscopy. It also alludes to polyps worth removing and, therefore, worth finding. The majority of "worthy" precancerous polyps are adenomas, which for over 2 decades, have received the most attention in performance research and metrics. Consequently, the detection rate of adenomas is currently the only validated, outcome-based measure of colonoscopy demonstrated to correlate with reduced risk of postcolonoscopy CRC. However, a third or more of postcolonoscopy CRCs originate from sessile serrated polyps (SSPs), which are notoriously difficult to find, diagnose and completely resect. Among serrated polyps, the agreement among pathologists differentiating SSPs from non-neoplastic hyperplastic polyps is moderate at best. This lack of ground truth precludes SSPs from consideration in primary metrics of colonoscopy quality or performance of novel polyp detection technologies. By instead leveraging the distinct endoscopic and clinical features of serrated polyps, including those considered important due to proximal location and larger size, clinically significant serrated polyps represent serrated polyps worth removing, enriched with subtle precancerous SSPs. With the explosion of technologies to assist polyp detection, now is the time to broaden benchmarks to include clinically significant serrated polypss alongside adenomas, a measure that is relevant both for assessing the performance of endoscopists, and for assessing new polyp detection technologies.

Leaving no significant polyp behind while avoiding risks due to unnecessary resections is a commonsense strategy to safely and effectively prevent colorectal cancer (CRC) with colonoscopy. It also alludes to polyps worth removing and, therefore, worth finding. The majority of "worthy" precancerous polyps are adenomas, which for over 2 decades, have received the most attention in performance research and metrics. Consequently, the detection rate of adenomas is currently the only validated, outcome-based measure of colonoscopy demonstrated to correlate with reduced risk of postcolonoscopy CRC. However, a third or more of postcolonoscopy CRCs originate from sessile serrated polyps (SSPs), which are notoriously difficult to find, diagnose and completely resect. Among serrated polyps, the agreement among pathologists differentiating SSPs from non-neoplastic hyperplastic polyps is moderate at best. This lack of ground truth precludes SSPs from consideration in primary metrics of colonoscopy quality or performance of novel polyp detection technologies. By instead leveraging the distinct endoscopic and clinical features of serrated polyps, including those considered important due to proximal location and larger size, clinically significant serrated polyps represent serrated polyps worth removing, enriched with subtle precancerous SSPs. With the explosion of technologies to assist polyp detection, now is the time to broaden benchmarks to include clinically significant serrated polypss alongside adenomas, a measure that is relevant both for assessing the performance of endoscopists, and for assessing new polyp detection technologies.

Significance Statement Pharyngeal fistulas to the cervical spine resulting in vertebral osteomyelitis are a rare, yet clinically important, complication of total laryngectomy performed in conjunction with chemoradiotherapy or radiation therapy. This complication is likely underdiagnosed and can have a high mortality rate. It is very important that clinicians are aware of this complication as early diagnosis and management may improve patient outcomes.

Purpose of review Capnography is an excellent tool for early detection of hypoxemia and apnea in patients undergoing sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy. The current American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) guidelines recommend the use of capnography in any patient undergoing moderate sedation. The purpose of this review was to compile the most recent data available on capnography use in gastrointestinal endoscopy with the focus primarily on the use of capnography in moderate sedation cases. Recent findings Recent high-quality studies have evaluated the utility of capnography in low risk patients undergoing moderate sedation and have found no benefit with addition of capnography. Summary Capnography is beneficial when used for patients who are at a higher risk for sedation-related complications. There is no benefit when capnography is used in low risk patients undergoing routine upper endoscopy and colonoscopy under moderate sedation but there is benefit when used in advanced endoscopic procedures that require deeper sedation and have longer procedure times.

The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of cannabis use among all patients admitted with acute pancreatitis (AP) in the United States and to investigate the impact of cannabis use on AP mortality, morbidity, and cost of care.The National Inpatient Sample database from 2003 to 2013 was queried for all patients with AP and active exposure to cannabis. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, length of stay, inflation adjusted charges, acute kidney injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and shock. Results were adjusted for age, sex, race, Charlson comorbidity index, median income quartile, and hospital characteristics.More than 2.8 million patients with AP patients were analyzed. Cannabis-exposed (CE) patients' prevalence was 0.3%. Patients exposed to cannabis were younger and mostly males compared with non-cannabis-exposed patients. After adjusting for these factors, the CE group had significantly lower inpatient mortality compared with the noncannabis group (odds ratio, 0.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.06-0.53). Cannabis-exposed patients also had decreased length of stay, inflation-adjusted charges, acute kidney injury, ileus, shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and parenteral nutrition requirement.Cannabis-exposed hospitalized patients with AP had lower age-adjusted, mortality, morbidity, and hospitalization-cost than non-cannabis-exposed patients.

BACKGROUND Endoscopic management of symptomatic pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) using self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) placement has emerged as an innovative therapeutic approach with excellent efficacy, safety, and relatively few adverse outcomes. However, their use has not been studied in patients with cirrhosis. Cirrhotics tend to be considered less than optimal candidates due to concern for portal hypertension and coagulopathy related complications. AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of using SEMS for drainage of symptomatic PFCs in cirrhotic vs non-cirrhotic patients. METHODS We conducted a retrospective comparative analysis of patients with symptomatic PFCs [pancreatic pseudocyst (PP) or walled-off necrosis (WON)] who underwent endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided placement of fully covered self-expandable metals stents or lumen-apposing self-expandable metal stents. All patients were followed clinically until resolution of PFCs or death. Definition: (1) Technical success was defined as successful placement of SEMS; and (2) Clinical success was defined as complete resolution of the PFCs without additional interventions including interventional radiology or surgery. Number of procedures performed per patient, number of patients who achieved complete resolution of the PFCs without additional interventions and procedure related adverse events were recorded. RESULTS From January 2012 to December 2017, a total of 88 patients underwent EUS-guided drainage of symptomatic PFCs. Of these, 58 non cirrhotic patients underwent plastic stent insertion for management of PFC and 30 patients, 5 with cirrhosis and 25 without cirrhosis, underwent EUS-guided transmural drainage with SEMS, including 18 (60%) PP and 12 (40%) WON. Technical success was achieved in all 30 patients. Clinical success was achieved in 60% cirrhotic patients and 92% non-cirrhotics (P = 0.12). Procedure-related adverse events were 60% in cirrhotic and 28% non-cirrhotic (P = 0.62). Moreover, fatal adverse events were statistically more common in cirrhotics compared with non-cirrhotics (0 vs 40%; P = 0.023). Successful stent removal following resolution of the PFC, was 60% in cirrhotics and 80% in non-cirrhotics (P = 0.57). Post-procedure length of hospitalization was 18.6 ± 20.3 d in cirrhotics and 5.6 ± 13.7 d in non-cirrhotics (P = 0.084). CONCLUSION EUS-guided management of PFC using SEMS placement has a high technical and clinical success rate in non-cirrhotics. However, in cirrhotics caution must be exercised given the high morbidity and mortality as evidenced by our cohort, particularly for the endoscopic debridement of WONs. Larger, multicenter studies are warranted to further characterize the risk profile and outcomes in these patients.

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) organized a multidisciplinary effort to create a clinical practice guideline specific to unscheduled, time-sensitive procedural sedation, which differs in important ways from scheduled, elective procedural sedation. The purpose of this guideline is to serve as a resource for practitioners who perform unscheduled procedural sedation regardless of location or patient age. This document outlines the underlying background and rationale, and issues relating to staffing, practice, and quality improvement.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: European guidelines recommend different surveillance intervals of non-dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus (NDBE) based on segment length, as opposed to guidelines in the United States, which do recommend surveillance intervals based on BE length. We studied rates of progression of NDBE to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) in patients with short-segment BE using the definition of BE in the latest guidelines (length ≥1 cm). METHODS: We collected demographic, clinical, endoscopy, and histopathology data from 1883 patients with endoscopic evidence of NDBE (mean age, 57.3 years; 83.5% male; 88.1% Caucasians) seen at 7 tertiary referral centers. Patients were followed for a median 6.4 years. Cases of dysplasia or EAC detected within 1 year of index endoscopy were considered prevalent and were excluded. Unadjusted rates of progression to HGD or EAC were compared between patients with short (≥1 and

Background/Aims: Few studies have measured the accuracy of prognostic scores for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) among cancer patients. Thereby, we compared the prognostic scores for predicting major outcomes in cancer patients with UGIB. Secondarily, we developed a new model to detect patients who might require hemostatic care.Methods: A prospective research was performed in a tertiary hospital by enrolling cancer patients admitted with UGIB. Clinical and endoscopic findings were obtained through a prospective database. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to gauge the power of each score.Results: From April 2015 to May 2016, 243 patients met the inclusion criteria. The AIMS65 (area under the curve [AUC] 0.85) best predicted intensive care unit admission, while the Glasgow-Blatchford score best predicted blood transfusion (AUC 0.82) and the low-risk group (AUC 0.92). All scores failed to predict hemostatic therapy and rebleeding. The new score was superior (AUC 0.74) in predicting hemostatic therapy. The AIMS65 (AUC 0.84) best predicted in-hospital mortality.Conclusions: The scoring systems for prognostication were validated in the group of cancer patients with UGIB. A new score was developed to predict hemostatic therapy. Following this result, future prospective research should be performed to validate the new score.

The use of magnets in endoscopy is of great interest, as they allow the endoscopist to remotely control endoscopic tools or devices by exerting magnetic force over the distance. Importantly, there are multiple gastrointestinal tract lesions that are challenging to reach endoscopically, and magnets could overcome this issue as well as to allow more precise control of multiple endoscopic devices. Magnets can improve the care of multiple diseases that involve endoscopic procedures, giving an amazing opportunity for research, patient care improvement, and to advance the field of endoscopy. In recent years, there have been multiple emerging applications for magnets in gastrointestinal endoscopy and although, in most cases, randomized clinical trials (RCT) are lacking; the current evidence come from multiple prospective observational studies that have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of endoscopic magnetic devices. In this chapter, we review the evidence-based applications of magnets in flexible endoscopy of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and related evolving technology.

Background and Aims Artificial intelligence (AI), specifically deep learning, offers the potential to enhance the field of GI endoscopy in areas ranging from lesion detection and classification to quality metrics and documentation. Progress in this field will be measured by whether AI implementation can lead to improved patient outcomes and more efficient clinical workflow for GI endoscopists. The aims of this article are to report the findings of a multidisciplinary group of experts focusing on issues in AI research and applications related to gastroenterology and endoscopy, to review the current status of the field, and to produce recommendations for investigators developing and studying new AI technologies for gastroenterology. Methods A multidisciplinary meeting was held on September 28, 2019, bringing together academic, industry, and regulatory experts in diverse fields including gastroenterology, computer and imaging sciences, machine learning, computer vision, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. Recent and ongoing studies in gastroenterology and current technology in AI were presented and discussed, key gaps in knowledge were identified, and recommendations were made for research that would have the highest impact in making advances and implementation in the field of AI to gastroenterology. Results There was a consensus that AI will transform the field of gastroenterology, particularly endoscopy and image interpretation. Powered by advanced machine learning algorithms, the use of computer vision in endoscopy has the potential to result in better prediction and treatment outcomes for patients with gastroenterology disorders and cancer. Large libraries of endoscopic images, “EndoNet,” will be important to facilitate development and application of AI systems. The regulatory environment for implementation of AI systems is evolving, but common outcomes such as colon polyp detection have been highlighted as potential clinical trial endpoints. Other threshold outcomes will be important, as well as clarity on iterative improvement of clinical systems. Conclusions Gastroenterology is a prime candidate for early adoption of AI. AI is rapidly moving from an experimental phase to a clinical implementation phase in gastroenterology. It is anticipated that the implementation of AI in gastroenterology over the next decade will have a significant and positive impact on patient care and clinical workflows. Ongoing collaboration among gastroenterologists, industry experts, and regulatory agencies will be important to ensure that progress is rapid and clinically meaningful. However, several constraints and areas will benefit from further exploration, including potential clinical applications, implementation, structure and governance, role of gastroenterologists, and potential impact of AI in gastroenterology.

Background Early and accurate diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is important. Our aim was to identify potential volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the bile that can help distinguish pancreatic cancer from chronic pancreatitis. Methods In this prospective observational study, bile was aspirated from patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, and the gaseous headspace was analyzed using mass spectrometry. Results The study included a discovery cohort of 57 patients (46 pancreatic cancer, 11 chronic pancreatitis) and a validation cohort of 31 patients (19 and 12, respectively). Using logistic regression analysis, the model [0.158 × age + 9.747 × log (ammonia) – 3.994 × log (acetonitrile) + 5.044 × log (trimethylamine) – 30.23] successfully identified patients with pancreatic cancer with a sensitivity of 93.5 % and specificity of 100 % (likelihood ratio 40.9, area under the curve 0.98, 95 % confidence interval 0.95 – 1.00). The diagnostic accuracy of this model was confirmed in the second independent validation cohort. Conclusion The measurement of VOCs in bile helped to accurately distinguish pancreatic cancer from chronic pancreatitis.

Evidence shows that COVID-19 can exacerbate symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and pancreaticobiliary disorders, and it is important to distinguish between an IBD exacerbation and symptoms caused by COVID-19. Although IBD does not appear to increase the risk for COVID-19 or worsen outcomes, corticosteroids can increase the risk and should be avoided when treating these patients. Pancreatic and biliary disease have been described in patients with COVID-19, but it is not clear whether COVID-19 induces these diseases. For facilities resuming endoscopic procedures, there are consensus guidelines for minimizing the COVID-19 transmission risks with these procedures.

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage (GIH) has been reported as one of the most common GI complications in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). There is paucity of data on the national burden of GIH in patients with PH. We aimed to assess the prevalence, trends and outcomes of endoscopic interventions in patients with PH who were admitted with GIH. We queried National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2005 to 2014 and identified the patients hospitalized with primary or secondary discharge diagnosis of PH (ICD 9 CM Code: 416.0, 416.8, and 416.9). Using Clinical Classification Software Coding system (153) patients with concurrent diagnosis of GIH were then identified. We studied the prevalence and trends of GIH in PH, factors associated with GIH, use of endoscopy, factors associated with utilization of endoscopic interventions, endoscopy outcomes including mortality, and overall healthcare burden. Out of 7,586,973 PH hospitalizations 3.2% (N = 246,358) had concurrent GIH, with a rising prevalence of GIH in PH patients during the last decade. Clinical predictors for GIH in PH included older age, congestive heart failure, anticoagulation therapy and concurrent alcohol abuse. Mean length of stay (LOS) in PH patients hospitalized with GIH was significantly higher than without GIH (8.6 vs. 6.4 days, p

Alcoholic acute pancreatitis (AAP) comprises the second most common cause of acute pancreatitis in the USA, and there is lack of data regarding 30-day specific readmission causes and predictors. We aim to identify 30-day readmission rate, causes, and predictors of readmission.Retrospective analysis of the 2016 National Readmission Database of adult patients readmitted within 30 days after an index admission for AAP.Totally, 76,609 AAP patients were discharged from the hospital in 2016. The 30-day readmission rate was 12%. The main cause of readmission was another episode of AAP. Readmission was not associated with higher mortality (1.3% vs. 1.2%; P = 0.21) or prolonged length of stay (5.2 vs. 5.0 days; P = 0.06). The total health care economic burden was $354 million in charges and $90 million in costs. Independent predictors of readmission were having Medicaid insurance, a Charlson comorbidity index score ≥ 3, use of total parenteral nutrition, opioid abuse disorder, prior pancreatic cyst, chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, and other chronic pancreatitis. Obesity was associated with lower odds of readmission.Readmission rate for AAP is high and its primary cause are recurrent episodes of AAP. Alcohol and substance abuse pose a high burden on our health care system. Public health strategies should be targeted to provide alcohol abuse disorder rehabilitation and cessation resources to alleviate the burden on readmission, the health care system and to improve patient outcomes.

Background Differentiating benign non-mucinous from potentially malignant mucinous pancreatic cysts is still a challenge. This study aims to improve this distinction with cyst fluid analysis. Methods A cohort study of pancreatic cyst undergoing EUS/FNA was performed from a prospectively maintained database between 2014 and 2018 was performed. Results 113 patients were analyzed (40 non-mucinous and 73 mucinous). For differentiating mucinous from non-mucinous cyst: intracyst glucose ≤41 mg/dl had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 92%; positive predictive value (PPV) of 96 and negative predictive value (NPV) of 86. Glucose ≤21 mg/dl had a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 97%, PPV of 98 and NPV of 81. CEA ≥192 ng/mL had a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 92%; PPV of 92 and NPV of 50. Glucose ≤21 mg/dl or CEA ≥192 ng/mL combined had a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 92%, PPV of 96 and NPV of 87 (Fig. 1, Table 1). Conclusion Intra-cyst glucose levels (≤41 mg/dl) outperforms classic CEA testing for differentiation of mucinous from non-mucinous pancreatic cysts. It was found to be an excellent diagnostic test with an AUC of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.81, 0.97).