Search

Colonoscopy is one of the most common procedures. Sedation and analgesia decrease anxiety and discomfort and minimize risks. Therefore, patients prefer to be sedated when undergoing examination, although the best combination of drugs has not been determined. The combination of opioids and benzodiazepines is used to relieve the patient's pain and discomfort. More recently, propofol has assumed a prominent position. This randomized prospective study is unique in medical literature that specifically compared the use of propofol and fentanyl with or without midazolam for colonoscopy sedation performed by anesthesiologists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the side effects of sedation, discharge conditions, quality of sedation, and propofol consumption during colonoscopy, with or without midazolam as preanesthetic. The study involved 140 patients who underwent colonoscopy at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I received intravenous midazolam as preanesthetic 5min before sedation, followed by fentanyl and propofol; Group II received intravenous anesthesia with fentanyl and propofol. Patients in Group II had a higher incidence of reaction (motor or verbal) to the colonoscope introduction, bradycardia, hypotension, and increased propofol consumption. Patient satisfaction was higher in Group I. According to the methodology used, the combination of midazolam, fentanyl, and propofol for colonoscopy sedation reduces propofol consumption and provides greater patient satisfaction., (Copyright © 2015 Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Colonoscopy is one of the most common procedures. Sedation and analgesia decrease anxiety and discomfort and minimize risks. Therefore, patients prefer to be sedated when undergoing examination, although the best combination of drugs has not been determined. The combination of opioids and benzodiazepines is used to relieve the patient's pain and discomfort. More recently, propofol has assumed a prominent position. This randomized prospective study is unique in medical literature that specifically compared the use of propofol and fentanyl with or without midazolam for colonoscopy sedation performed by anesthesiologists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the side effects of sedation, discharge conditions, quality of sedation, and propofol consumption during colonoscopy, with or without midazolam as preanesthetic. The study involved 140 patients who underwent colonoscopy at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I received intravenous midazolam as preanesthetic five minutes before sedation, followed by fentanyl and propofol; Group II received intravenous anesthesia with fentanyl and propofol. Patients in Group II had a higher incidence of reaction (motor or verbal) to the colonoscope introduction, bradycardia, hypotension, and increased propofol consumption. Patient satisfaction was higher in Group I. According to the methodology used, the combination of midazolam, fentanyl, and propofol for colonoscopy sedation reduces propofol consumption and provides greater patient satisfaction., (Copyright © 2015 Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia. Publicado por Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate and to compare the diagnostic yield of ERCP brush cytology (ERCP) and EUS-FNA in patients with biliary strictures and evaluates the agreement between general pathologists (GP) and expert GI pathologists (GIP) in the final diagnosis of biliary strictures., Methods: Patients with biliary strictures documented by ERCP were included. Brush cytology was performed and during EUS, only visible mass lesions or localized bile duct wall thickening were aspirated. The gold standard method for diagnosis was surgical histology and/or follow-up. Tissue sampling results were: malignant, suspicious, atypical, insufficiently or benign. Specimens were interpreted by GP and GIP, blinded for prior tests results., Results: 46 patients were included. Final diagnosis was malignancy in 37 (26 pancreatic--11 biliary) and benign in 9 (8 chronic pancreatitis--1 common bile duct inflammatory stricture). Sensitivity and accuracy for ERCP brush cytology were 43.2% and 52.2% for GP and 51.4% and 58.7% for GIP. Sensitivity and accuracy for EUS-FNA were 52.8% and 58.5%, respectively for GP and 69.4% e 73.2% for GIP. In comparison, the combination of brush cytology and EUS-FNA demonstrated higher sensitivity and accuracy for both GP (64.9% and 69.6%, respectively) and GIP (83.8% and 84.8%, respectively) and improved agreement with final diagnosis for both (mostly for GIP)., Conclusion: Both, ERCP brush cytology and EUS-FNA has a similar yield for the diagnosis of biliary strictures. However, the combination of these methods results in an improved diagnostic accuracy. In addition, GIP might be expected to interpret specimens with greater accuracy than GP.

Background: Covered self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) are designed to prevent tumor ingrowth and can be removed if necessary. Only limited comparative data are available on the performance of covered SEMSs after primary placement versus reintervention., Objective: To assess the effectiveness and safety of covered SEMS placement either as primary treatment or reintervention in patients requiring palliation of malignant biliary obstruction., Design: Retrospective clinical cohort study., Setting: Tertiary referral center., Patients: This study involved 104 patients with unresectable malignant biliary strictures., Intervention: Covered biliary SEMS placement., Main Outcome Measurements: Stent patency, technical success, and patient survival., Results: Covered SEMSs were placed as primary treatment in 48 patients (46%), and reintervention was performed in 56 patients (54%). At 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter, the Kaplan-Meier estimated fractions of all patients with patent stents were 94%, 84%, and 58%, respectively. Covered SEMSs remained patent until the patient's death in 75 of 89 nonsurvivors (84%). Although patency rates 3, 6, and 12 months after primary placement (100%, 93%, and 82%, respectively) were higher than those after reintervention (90%, 78%, and 48%, respectively), the differences were not statistically significant (P = .057). Overall, the most frequent adverse events were cholangitis (7%) and stent migration (4%)., Limitations: The distribution of stricture locations differed among the groups, and survival data suggested the presence of more extensive disease in the primary treatment group at baseline., Conclusion: The clinical utility and safety of primary covered SEMS placement were confirmed. This study provides the most extensive evidence to date that reintervention with a covered SEMS can provide a useful palliative option.

Background: Confirmation of malignancy within biliary strictures is endoscopically challenging. Dilation of strictures has been reported to enhance cytological diagnosis., Aim: To compare brush cytology results before and after biliary stricture dilation., Patients and Methods: Patients with extra-hepatic biliary stricture at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography were included in the study. Brushing was performed before and immediately after dilation using a 10 Fr dilating catheter. Cytology samples were classified as: negative for malignancy, presence of atypical cells, insufficient material, suspicious for malignancy or positive for malignancy. Final diagnosis was established by surgery, biopsy or follow-up., Results: Biliary brush cytology was performed in 50 patients, with an overall sensitivity of 40% and 27.5%, before and after dilation, respectively. The combination of results increased cancer detection rate to 45%. There were 5/50 (10%) minor complications and one death related to the procedure., Conclusions: Brush cytology performed before biliary stricture dilation has a similar cancer detection rate to that following dilation, although the combination of results enhances sensitivity.

Background: Pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma are the main causes of malignant biliary stricture. Both types of cancers have dismal survival rates, and treatment has little or no effect on prolonging the patients lives. Prognostic definition at initial endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is important to choose the most suitable management., Aim: To analyse endoscopic brushing and bilirubinemia importance in determination of the survival of patients with malignant biliary stricture., Methods: Patients with biliary strictures diagnosed during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography were submitted to double brushing cytology. Serum samples were taken from all patients for bilirubinemia assay. Patients were followed to determine the final diagnosis and survival rates., Results: A total of 50 patients with biliary stricture underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (40 ultimately found to have a final diagnosis of malignant disease). Hyperbilirubinemia or cytology brushing positive for malignancy was related to a shorter survival rate., Conclusion: This research data demonstrate the possibility of determining the prognosis of patients with malignant biliary stricture using endoscopic brushing results and bilirubinemia levels.

Background: Magnification colonoscopy and contrast chromoscopy with indigo carmine dye solution have been used to differentiate neoplastic polyps (adenomas and adenocarcinomas) from non-neoplastic (hyperplastic, inflammatory, juvenile) in an attempt to obviate endoscopic polypectomy. On the other hand, little published information exists concerning conventional video colonoscopes and chromoscopy for polyp histology prediction. Aim - To assess usefullness of conventional video colonoscopes and contrast chromoscopy with indigo carmine solution for differential diagnosis of colon polyps., Methods: In a routine colonoscopy series, we performed chromoscopy with conventional video colonoscopes before endoscopic excision of detected polyps. If a sulcus pattern was observed on the surface of the lesion, it was classified as neoplastic. Polyps were classified as non-neoplastic if no sulcus was detected on its surface. These observations were then compared with histology., Results: In the study period (18 months), we detected 133 polyps in 53 patients. We were able to compare results of histology and chromoscopy in 126 lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value were 56,4%, 79,2%, 65,1%, 52,8%, and 81,5%, respectively., Conclusion: On the base of the presented data, we concluded that conventional video colonoscopes and contrast chromoscopy with indigo carmine solution is not a good technique for differential diagnosis of colon polyps.

Unlabelled: The rapid urease test is an accurate and cheap method, which results are readily available, and broadly used for routine Helicobacter pylori infection diagnosis., Aim: The evaluation of rapid urease test stored in refrigerator at 4 degrees C (SRUT) compared to regular rapid urease test., Patients and Method: Endoscopic biopsies were obtained from gastric antrum in 104 consecutive patients. Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection was accomplished by rapid urease test, histology and rapid urease test stored (kept in refrigerator by a period ranging from 1 to 8 days)., Results: Infection was considered present if both rapid urease test and histology were positive. Helicobacter pylori was present in 45/104 patients (42%). Rapid urease test stored had specificity comparable to rapid urease test (93%), with sensitivity of 88%., Conclusion: We concluded that rapid urease test can be stored in refrigerator for up to 1 week, without loss of clinical applicability, and that can make the test even easier to use for routine Helicobacter pylori tests in a busy endoscopy unit.

Context: The diagnosis of primary melanoma is easily confirmed after histological analysis of the lesion, whereas it is rarely diagnosed when the patient even has distant metastases., Design: Case report, Case Report: Malignant melanoma is responsible for about 1% of all deaths caused by cancer in the USA and only 3% of all malignant skin diseases. Malignant melanoma is a rare disease, although it corresponds to 65% of all deaths caused by skin cancer. The liver and spleen are rarely the first sites of melanoma metastases. This paper reports on the clinical picture of a patient with fatal malignant melanoma and hepatic and spleen metastases. As this was an un-usual presentation, the melanoma diagnosis could only be made after pathological analysis of the skin and hepatic lesions.

Background and Aims: Dyspepsia is a common complaint that may signal the presence of diseases like cancer or peptic ulcer. The aim of our study was to assess if the clinical patterns of dyspepsia can be considered a valid guideline for the appropriate use of endoscopy., Methods: According to the symptomatological patterns, our 243 patients were defined as sufferers from: ulcer-like (93 patients), reflux-like (25) and dismotility-like dyspepsia (125). Erosive gastritis and erosive duodenitis were regarded as minor inflammatory lesions., Results: A negative endoscopy (normal or presenting minor inflammatory lesions) was found in 36.6% of ulcer-like dyspepsia patients: this rate was 52% in the reflux-like group, and 49.6% in the dismotility-like one. Duodenal ulcer was the most frequent abnormal lesion in the three groups. The frequency of negative endoscopies was significantly higher in dismotility-like than in ulcer-like (49.6% vs. 36.6%--P < 0.05) dyspepsia. In those patients with dismotility-like dyspepsia under 41 years, the rate of negative endoscopies was 72.7%, and neoplasms were not observed., Conclusion: Our data indicate that endoscopy could be considered inappropriate for patients under 41 years old with dismotility-like dyspepsia. These subjects account for 18.1% of the patients studied, what could lead to a good percentage of reduction in endoscopic service load.