A prospective randomized study comparing jumbo biopsy forceps to cold snare for the resection of diminutive colorectal polyps.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The quality of colonoscopy is essential for successful colon cancer screening. Inadequate polypectomy technique can contribute to incomplete polypectomy. The primary outcome of this study was to compare the incomplete resection rate (IRR) for cold jumbo forceps polypectomy (JFP) and cold snare polypectomy (CSP). Secondary outcomes were to compare the rates of tissue retrieval and rates of procedure-related complications. METHODS: This prospective randomized parallel-group study assigned patients undergoing colonoscopy to jumbo biopsy forceps polypectomy (JFP) or cold snare polypectomy (CSP) for polyps ≤ 6 mm in size. After polyp removal was complete, the base of the polypectomy site was biopsied to evaluate for the presence of residual polyp tissue. RESULTS: The resection quality was evaluated in 151 patients with 261 polyps ≤ 6 mm. The IRR was 9.6% (25/261) for all polyps, 11.1% (16/144) for JFP, and 7.7% (9/117) for CSP (P = 0.41). Failure of tissue retrieval was noted in 0/144 (0%) of JFP and 5/117 (4.3%) of CSP (P = 0.02). There were no procedure-related complications in either group. CONCLUSION: Colon polyps are incompletely resected in a small but potentially significant percentage of cases. IRR are similar with the use of cold jumbo forceps and cold snare. Use of cold jumbo forceps may result in more successful tissue retrieval as compared to cold snare.

Cardiovascular risk factors following orthotopic liver transplantation: predisposing factors, incidence and management.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is the standard of care for acute and chronic causes of end-stage liver disease. Advances in medical therapy and surgical techniques have led to improvement of patient and graft survival rates following orthotopic liver transplantation. However, the prevalence of post-transplant cardiovascular complications has been rising with increased life expectancy after liver transplantation. AIMS: To determine the incidences, risk factors, and treatment for hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, and obesity in the post-liver transplantation population. METHODS: We performed a review of relevant studies available on the PubMed database that provided information on the incidence, risk factors and treatment for cardiovascular complications that develop in the post-liver transplantation population. RESULTS: Current immunosuppressive agents have improved patient and graft survival rates. However, long-term exposure to these agents has been associated with development of systemic and metabolic complications including hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus and obesity. Cardiovascular disease remains one of the most common causes of death in liver transplant patients with functional grafts. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplant recipients have a higher risk of cardiovascular complications compared with the nontransplant population. Post-transplant cardiac risk stratification and aggressive treatment of cardiovascular complications, including modification of risk factors and tailoring of immunosuppressive regimen, is imperative to prevent serious complications.

Serum ferritin concentration predicts mortality in patients awaiting liver transplantation.

UNLABELLED: Additional markers are required to identify patients on the orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) waiting list at increased risk of death and adverse clinical events. Serum ferritin concentration is a marker of varied pathophysiological events and is elevated with increased liver iron concentration, hepatic necroinflammation, and systemic illness, all of which may cause a deterioration in liver function and clinical status. The aim of this study was to determine whether serum ferritin concentration is an independent prognostic factor in subjects awaiting OLT. This is a dual-center retrospective study. The study cohort consisted of 191 consecutive adults with cirrhosis accepted by the Queensland (Australia) Liver Transplant Service between January 2000 and June 2006 and a validation cohort of 131 patients from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Transplant Center. In the study cohort, baseline serum ferritin greater than 200 microg/L was an independent factor predicting increased 180-day and 1-year waiting list mortality. This effect was independent of model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), hepatocellular carcinoma, age, and sex. Subjects with higher serum ferritin had increased frequency of liver-related clinical events. The relationship between serum ferritin and waiting list mortality was confirmed in the UCLA cohort; all deceased patients had serum ferritin greater than 400 microg/L. Serum ferritin greater than 500 microg/L and MELD were independent risk factors for death. CONCLUSION: Serum ferritin concentration is an independent predictor of mortality-related and liver-related clinical events. Baseline serum ferritin identifies a group of "higher-risk" patients awaiting OLT and should be investigated as an adjunct to MELD in organ allocation.