Appropriateness of colonoscopy: diagnostic yield and safety in guidelines.

AIM: To evaluate if the guidelines for the appropriateness of performing colonoscopy by American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (AGSE) and Italian Society of Digestive Endoscopy (SIED) yield a good diagnostic efficacy and do not present risks of missing important colonic pathologies in an Italian population sample. METHODS: A total of 1017 consecutive patients (560 men and 457 women; mean age 64.4 +/- 16 years) referred to an open-access endoscopy unit for colonoscopy from July 2004 to May 2006 were evaluated according to ASGE and SIED guidelines for appropriateness of performing the procedure. Diagnostic yield was defined as the percentage of relevant colonic pathologies of the total number of colonoscopies performed. RESULTS: About 85.2% patients underwent colonoscopy that was considered appropriate based on at least one ASGE or SIED criterion, while it was considered inappropriate for 14.8% of patients. The diagnostic yield of colonoscopy was significantly higher for appropriate colonoscopies (26.94% vs 10.6%, P < 0.001) than for inappropriate colonoscopies (5.3%). There was no missed colorectal cancer following the ASGE/SIED criteria. CONCLUSION: ASGE/SIED guidelines have shown a good diagnostic yield and the rate of missing relevant colonic pathologies seems very low. Unfortunately, the percentage of inappropriate referrals for colonoscopy in an open-access endoscopy system is still high, despite the number of papers published on the issue and the definition of international guidelines. Further steps are required to update and standardize the guidelines to increase their diffusion and to promote educational programs for general practitioners.

Effects of symbiotic preparations on constipated irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Prebiotic and probiotic therapies are new strategies that are being used to treat different gastrointestinal diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease and inflammatory bowel diseases. AIMS: Evaluating the effects of a symbiotic preparation on symptoms and colonic transit in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and significant bloating. METHODS: We carried out an open-label, prospective, uncontrolled, multicenter trial on 129 patients meeting Rome II criteria for irritable bowel syndrome who did not have lactose malabsorption, abdominal surgery, overt psychiatric disorders and ongoing psychotropic drug therapy or ethanol abuse. For three months, the patients were treated with a symbiotic preparation and were investigated trough questionnaires on symptoms. Data on bloating and abdominal pain were obtained using the McNemar-Bowker's test, while data on stool frequency were evaluated using the t-test. RESULTS: The administration of a symbiotic preparation to these patients modified the clinical picture and intestinal function, with a significant increase of stool frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Our data, although the study had an open design, represent a further analysis of positive symbiotic effects on clinical manifestations and intestinal function in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Long-Term Results of Radiofrequency Energy Delivery for the Treatment of GERD: Results of a Prospective 48-Month Study.

Since 2000, radiofrequency (RF) energy treatment has been increasingly offered as an alternative option to invasive surgical procedures for selected patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Out of 69 patients treated since June 2002 to December 2007 with the Stretta procedure, 56 of them reached by the end of 2010 a 48-month followup. RF treatment significantly improved heartburn scores, GERD-specific quality of life scores, and general quality of life scores at 24 and 48 months in 52 out of 56 patients (92,8%). At each control time both mean heartburn and GERD HRQL scores decreased (P = 0.001 and P = 0.003, resp.) and both mental SF-36 and physical SF-36 ameliorated (P = 0.001 and 0.05, resp.). At 48 months, 41 out of 56 patients (72,3%) were completely off PPIs. Morbidity was minimal, with only one relevant but transient complication. According to other literature data, this study shows that RF delivery to LES is safe and durably improves symptoms and quality of life in well-selected GERD patients.

Education improves colonoscopy appropriateness.

BACKGROUND: Appropriateness in GI endoscopy is critical to face the rising amount of demands. Education of physicians has been advocated to reduce the level of inappropriateness. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the effectiveness of an educational program in determining a reduction of inappropriate colonoscopies in an open access system. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: A single endoscopy unit in Italy. PATIENTS: A total of 495 consecutive outpatients referred to our endoscopy unit by family physicians for diagnostic colonoscopy before the educational course and 522 after its completion, for a total of 1017 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Inappropriate colonoscopy reduction rates, cost savings, and reduction of waiting lists were evaluated. RESULTS: With regard to inappropriate colonoscopies, the post-course group rate of inappropriateness was significantly lower than that of the pre-course group (P < or = .001). The economic savings for 1 year was estimated to be euro19,000. The reduction of the waiting list was about 15% of the original value. CONCLUSIONS: Education has a high incidence in reducing inappropriate colonoscopies in an open-access system determining reduction of costs and waiting lists.

Human leukocyte interferon-alpha treatment for chronic HCV-related hepatitis in hemophilic patients previously intolerant to other interferons-alpha.

Thirty patients affected by hemophilia A or B or von-Willebrand's disease and chronic posttransfusional active HCV hepatitis who developed major side effects during the course of a previous treatment with recombinant interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) were studied. In all patients IFN-alpha therapy had to be discontinued and those who achieved a primary serologic and viral response to HCV relapsed within a few months. After a washout period, patients were retreated with human leukocyte IFN-alpha, 6 MU thrice weekly for 12 months. In about 90% of patients, a primary response, with normal AST and GGT values and undetectable HCV-RNA, was achieved within the third month of treatment and for the entire duration of treatment none of the patients had to discontinue therapy because of severe adverse reactions. During posttherapy follow-up only one patient relapsed. The human leukocyte IFN-alpha regimen looks to be very effective and safe for carriers of inherited clotting disorders who developed major side effects with recombinant IFN-alpha therapy for HCV-related chronic hepatitis.

Decreased expression of stem cell factor in esophageal and gastric mucosa after esophagogastric anastomosis for cancer: potential relevance to motility.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal replacement with gastric tube is a well-established reconstruction of the alimentary tract after esophagectomy in cancer patients. The resulting molecular events in the transposed gastric tube and residual esophagus have yet to be investigated. Stem cell factor (SCF) was recently shown to be critical for signaling in gastrointestinal motility. SCF expression is here correlated with changes in mucosal morphology, acid and biliary reflux, and motility in the residual esophagus and gastric tube. METHODS: Thirteen patients surgically resected for squamous esophageal carcinoma with gastric tube replaced by esophagogastric anastomosis underwent upper endoscopy, esophageal manometry, 24-hour pH monitoring, and bile reflux detection. Esophageal and gastric mucosa samples were examined for SCF expression by immunohistochemical and semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis and for SCF serum levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: All patients showed severe residual esophagus hypoperistalsis and no gastric tube motor activity. The 24-hour pH monitoring was positive in most; 24-hour bile detection was mostly negative. SCF levels in the residual esophageal and gastric tube mucosa were dramatically decreased compared with those of normal subjects. The correlation between SCF and slow-wave activity was positive. CONCLUSIONS: Hypomotility of the residual esophagus and gastric tube seems closely associated with disruption of the SCF/c-kit signaling pathway. However, the absence of notable relations between mucosal changes after chronic exposure to acid, biliary gastric content, and SCF expression indicates that this analysis cannot be considered part of endoscopic follow-up.