Prospective evaluation of single-operator peroral cholangioscopy in liver transplant recipients requiring an evaluation of the biliary tract.

In this descriptive study, we examined the role of single-operator cholangioscopy (SOC) in the evaluation of biliary complications after liver transplantation (LT). We prospectively included adult recipients of deceased donor LT who were referred for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between June 2009 and July 2011. All patients underwent SOC with biopsy of the biliary anastomosis. Sixteen patients were included: 12 with biliary anastomotic strictures (ASs), 2 with common bile duct stones, 1 with a bile leak, and 1 with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Patients with ASs displayed 1 of 2 patterns: (A) mild erythema (n = 9) or (B) edema, ulceration, and sloughing (n = 3). Those without ASs displayed a pale mucosa with mild edema at the anastomosis. Patients with ASs and pattern B required a longer period of stenting than patients with pattern A (457 versus 167 days, P = 0.02). In addition, patients with pattern A had a better response and better resolution of their strictures with endoscopic therapy than those with pattern B (66% versus 33%, P = 0.13). Histological examinations of ASs showed nonspecific intraepithelial inflammation in patients with patterns A and B. Biopsy samples from patients without ASs showed normal columnar epithelial bile duct cells. The total cholangioscopy time for all procedures was 26.8 ± 10.1 minutes. In conclusion, SOC in LT recipients is feasible and allows adequate visualization and tissue sampling of ASs and bile ducts. Two distinct visual patterns that are easily identified with SOC may help to predict the outcomes of endoscopic therapy in patients with biliary complications after LT.

Risk factors and outcomes of failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in liver transplant recipients with anastomotic biliary strictures: a case-control study.

Anastomotic strictures (ASs) of the biliary duct after liver transplantation (LT) are primarily managed with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), but in some cases, this fails because of difficulties in passing the strictures. The aim of this case-control study was to examine specific risk factors for initial ERCP failure and the outcomes of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) as a second-line approach in LT recipients with ASs. Between January 2002 and December 2010, we identified LT recipients with ASs who experienced initial ERCP failure (which was defined as the inability to traverse the AS with guidewires in 2 or more consecutive procedures). A period-matched control group (ratio = 1:2) with ASs and initial ERCP success was analyzed. Preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative, and endoscopic variables were evaluated as risk factors. The outcomes of PTC and the need for hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) or retransplantation were evaluated. Seventeen cases who experienced initial ERCP failure were compared with 34 controls. The median times from LT to ERCP were similar (8.7 months for cases and 8.6 months for controls, P = not significant). A multivariate analysis revealed that previous bile leaks [odds ratio (OR) = 6.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.0-36.5] and more than 4 U of intraoperatively transfused red blood cells (OR = 11.51, 95% CI = 1.9-71.2) were independent risk factors for failure. PTC was an effective second-line treatment in only 3 of 12 cases (25%). The need for HJ was more frequent for the cases (13/17 or 76.5%) versus the controls (7/34 or 20.6%, P < 0.001). One patient in each group underwent retransplantation (P = not significant). In conclusion, previous bile leaks and high packed red blood cell transfusion requirements during surgery are risk factors for initial ERCP failure in LT recipients with ASs. A high proportion of these patients will need surgery as their final therapy.

Complications after ERCP in liver transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Complications of the biliary tract after liver transplantation are successfully managed with ERCP; however, the incidence and risk factors for post-ERCP complications remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine the incidence, risk factors, and short-term outcome of post-ERCP complications in liver transplant (LT) recipients. DESIGN: Retrospective evaluation of all ERCPs performed in LT recipients at our institution during a 7-year, 4-month period. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: A total of 243 ERCPs performed in 121 LT recipients with duct-to-duct anastomosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Incidence of post-ERCP complications. Predictive factors were determined by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Overall complications occurred in 22 procedures (9%) (13 mild, 9 moderate): pancreatitis in 9 patients (3.7%), cholangitis in 8 patients (3.3%), postsphincterotomy bleeding in 4 patients (1.6%), and subcapsular hematoma in 1 patient (0.4%). The mean hospitalization for post-ERCP complications was 4.8 days (range 2-11 days). Logistic regression identified mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (odds ratio [OR], 4.65; 95% CI, 1.01-21.81; P = .049), serum creatinine level greater than 2 mg/dL (OR, 4.17; 95% CI, 1.07-16.26; P = .04), biliary sphincterotomy (OR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.07-8.53; P = .037), and more than 2 pancreatic duct contrast injections (OR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.10-7.91; P = .032) as independent risk factors for post-ERCP complications, whereas steroid therapy (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.08-0.63; P = .004) was an independent protective factor. LIMITATIONS: Single-center retrospective study. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of complications after ERCP in LT recipients seems to be similar to that of non-LT recipients. Complications in this analysis were more common in LT recipients receiving mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors and those with renal failure, biliary sphincterotomy, and more than 2 pancreatic duct injections, whereas they were less common in those patients on steroid therapy.

[Endoscopic management of the complications of bariatric surgery. Experience of more than 400 interventions]. / Manejo endoscópico de las complicaciones de la cirugía bariátrica. Experiencia tras más de 400 intervenciones.

BACKGROUND: Many patients who undergo bariatric surgery develop postoperative gastrointestinal complications that can require upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. OBJECTIVE: To prospectively describe the gastrointestinal complications diagnosed by endoscopy after bariatric surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We followed up patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery between January 1998 and December 2006. The following data were recorded: age, sex, body mass index, comorbidity, type and duration of bariatric surgery, clinical presentation of complications, time of presentation, endoscopic treatment and follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 474 patients underwent surgery (74% women, 26% men) with a mean age of 44±11 years (range, 15-66) and a mean BMI of 47±7 (range, 33-82). The most frequent surgical procedure was Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (90%). We identified 68 complications (14%) requiring upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: anastomotic stenosis (21 cases, 5%), upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (16 cases, 3.6%), epigastric pain (12 cases, 2.5%), vomiting (7 cases, 1.5%), heartburn (6 cases, 1.3%) and other (6 cases, 1.3%). No prognostic factor for the development of complications requiring postsurgical endoscopy was identified. CONCLUSIONS: Anastomotic stenosis is the most common complication requiring endoscopic treatment after bariatric surgery. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the immediate and late postoperative period can be safely and effectively treated with endoscopic techniques.

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided brushing increases cellular diagnosis of pancreatic cysts: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions is still a challenge. AIM: To prospectively investigate the usefulness and safety of EUS-guided cytology brushing (EUS BR) in the cellular diagnosis of pancreatic cysts. METHODS: Cysts >15mm were sampled with a 19G needle. The fluid was aspirated and processed for cytology. The brush was introduced to scrub the cystic wall and processed as standard brushings. Antibiotic prophylaxis was administered. Complications were assessed in the first 24h and 7 days after the procedure. RESULTS: 30 patients were included. In 8 patients the technique failed for technical reasons. EUS BR provided with a cellular diagnosis in 20/22 cases (91%). The EUS BR was superior to the aspirated fluid for detecting diagnostic cells (73% vs. 36%, p=0.08) and mucinous cells (50% vs. 18%, p=0.016). In the 8 patients operated on, the specimen was consistent with EUS BR diagnosis. Three patients (10%) had complications, one of them a subacute retroperitoneal haemorrhage in a patient on anticoagulation therapy who died for complications 1 month later. CONCLUSIONS: EUS BR increases cellular diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions as compared with fluid analysis, mainly in mucinous lesions. Its use is not recommended in patients under anticoagulation therapy.

[Utility of single- and double-balloon enteroscopy]. / Utilidad de la enteroscopia de simple y de doble balón.

Single- and double-balloon enteroscopes have similar efficacy. The entire small bowel can be examined through the oral route in 60-90minutes in 25-40% of patients. Using the oral and rectal routes, complete examinations can be performed in 75% of patients The diagnostic indications are mid-gastrointestinal bleeding tumors, Crohn's disease, intestinal obstruction and atypical malabsorption. Therapeutic indications include access to enterostomy, hemostasis, foreign body withdrawal, dilatation and polypectomy in the small bowel. This procedure is also useful to place enteral feeding tubes in patients with an excluded stomach. Hemostatic efficacy is high in patients with elevated transfusional requirements. For polypectomy, this technique has not been demonstrated to have the same efficacy/risk as colonoscopy. Complications include pancreatitis (0.34%) and perforation (0.34-6.4%). The level of evidence for almost all indications is low, since few prospective and homogeneous studies have been performed.

The beneficial effects of argon plasma coagulation in the management of different types of gastric vascular ectasia lesions in patients admitted for GI hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Despite different forms of treatment, few studies have been performed on the outcome and prognosis of patients admitted to the hospital because of gastric vascular ectasia (GVE) and upper-GI bleeding (UGIB). There is also little knowledge on the efficacy of argon plasma coagulation (APC) in different subgroups of GVE lesions. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of APC in patients admitted to the hospital with UGIB because of GVE. DESIGN: Prospective evaluation of consecutive cases of UGIB because of GVE. SETTING: Tertiary and university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Twenty-nine patients were included and divided into 3 subgroups: focal vascular ectasia lesions (FVE) (n = 10), portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) (n = 11), and gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) (n = 8). Patients were followed at 3 months and every 6 months thereafter during a mean of 23.1 months (range 18-37 months). All patients received intensive APC treatment that was repeated, depending on the endoscopic appearance or clinical evaluation. RESULTS: The overall success of APC treatment was 86%, with only one recurrence of UGIB during the follow-up period. The number of APC sessions was 1.2, 2.2, and 2.3, in each subgroup (not significant), with a total number of sessions of 1.9 +/- 1.3. Treatment success was 90% in the FVE group, 81% in the PHG group, and 87.5% in the GAVE group (NS). The rise in hematocrit from baseline values in the overall group and in each subgroup was significant (P > .01). LIMITATIONS: A single-center study and small sample. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic thermal ablation with APC is effective in managing UGIB and in reducing transfusion requirements in patients admitted for GI hemorrhage because of different endoscopic types of GVE.

Endoscopic management of early GI hemorrhage after laparoscopic gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Early upper GI hemorrhage (UGH) is a potential complication after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP), and early reoperative intervention is the most accepted treatment. Experience with endoscopic treatment is limited. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to describe the role of endoscopy and injection therapy in the management of early UGH after laparoscopic RYGBP. DESIGN: Case series study. SETTING: Endoscopy Unit, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. PATIENTS: We describe the endoscopic treatment of 6 patients with early UGH within 24 hours after a RYGBP. INSTRUMENTATION: Upper endoscopy was performed in all 6 cases. The origin of the bleeding was identified at the staple line in all cases, and epinephrine alone or combined with polidocanol was successfully injected in 5 of 6 patients. RESULTS: Endoscopic therapy arrested active bleeding without any complications in all cases without the need for further surgery or endoscopic treatments. LIMITATION: Our experience is limited to 6 cases. CONCLUSION: Early postoperative UGH after RYGBP may be adequately controlled with endoscopic treatment and may obviate the need for surgery. Further data are necessary to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of this approach.

Endoscopic dilation with Savary-Gilliard bougies of stomal strictures after laparosocopic gastric bypass in morbidly obese patients.

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic strictures after bariatric surgery are a frequent complication that requires endoscopic management, but the optimal technique for dilation remains to be determined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of dilation with Savary-Gilliard bougies (SGB) in morbidly obese patients treated with laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data from a series of 474 consecutive patients with laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Four-hundred twenty four of these patients (90%) underwent a laparoscopic RYGBP. A total of 24 patients were referred for anastomotic stricture dilation with SGB from January 1998 to December 2006. RESULTS: A total of 24/424 patients (6%) developed a stricture that was successfully dilated with SGB. Patients were 17 females (71%) and seven males (29%) with a mean age of 41 +/- 11 years (range 24-63) and a mean BMI of 48 +/- 6 (range 40-69). The time between RYGBP and the appearance of stricture-related symptoms ranged from 29 to 154 days (mean, 69 days). The mean number of dilations was 1.6 +/- 0.6. The majority of patients required one (n = 11; 46%) or two (n = 12; 50%) dilations and only one patient required three dilations. During the initial dilation, a final diameter of 11 +/- 1.7 mm (range 7-12.8 mm) was achieved. In all cases, there was complete resolution of symptoms. There were no complications. CONCLUSIONS: Dilation with SGB is an effective, safe, and durable method for managing anastomotic strictures after laparoscopic RYGBP.

[Guidelines for the rational use of endoscopy to improve the detection of relevant lesions in an open-access endoscopy unit: a prospective study]. / Recomendaciones de utilización de la endoscopia: análisis de la probabilidad de encontrar lesiones significativas en los pacientes procedentes de la atención extrahospitalaria.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Almost 50% of gastrointestinal endoscopies performed in our Unit correspond to patients coming from primary care. Since resources are finite, adherence to appropriate indications for these procedures is essential. We prospectively assessed the appropriateness of gastrointestinal endoscopies referred from Primary Care according to the European Panel on the Appropriateness of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (EPAGE) criteria. PATIENTS AND METHOD: From May to June 2005, all consecutive patients referred from Primary care to our unit for open-access endoscopy were included (478 colonoscopies and 264 gastroscopies). Appropriateness of each exploration was established according to the EPAGE criteria. In order to evaluate whether appropriateness of use correlated with the diagnostic yield of endoscopies, relevant endoscopic findings were recorded. RESULTS: In 146 patients (20%), an endoscopy indication was not listed in the EPAGE guidelines or data were incomplete and they were not evaluated. In the remaining 596 patients, the indication of the procedure was considered appropriate in 401 (67%) patients (253 [69%], colonoscopies and 148 [65%], gastroscopies). The diagnostic yield was significantly higher for appropriate endoscopies (30% vs 7%, p < 0.001). Endoscopies were more appropriate in older patients and in non-foreigners. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic yield of gastrointestinal endoscopies in patients coming from primary Care increases with the appropriateness of indications according to the EPAGE criteria. Since a noteworthy proportion of these patients' endoscopies are considered inappropriate, the implementation of validated guidelines for its appropriate use could improve this situation.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration: predictive factors of accurate diagnosis and cost-minimization analysis of on-site pathologist.

AIMS: To evaluate a) new diagnoses by endoscopic ultrasound guided real-time fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) compared with EUS alone; b) the predictive factors for an accurate EUS-FNA diagnosis, and c) the cost-effectiveness of the presence of an on-site cytopathologist. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Demographic data, ultrasonographic characteristics, technical information on EUS-FNA and cytological results were prospectively collected in 213 patients. The gold standard used was pathological examination or clinical follow-up. Operating characteristics of EUS-FNA, multivariate analysis, and a cost-minimization study of on-site evaluation were performed with these variables. RESULTS: Samples were obtained from a total of 262 lesions: extramural masses (n = 115), lymph nodes (n = 96), cysts (n = 40) and intramural lesions (n = 11). The overall accuracy of EUS-FNA was 89% (234/262 lesions). The accuracy of EUS in discriminating between malignant and benign disease was 92% but 105 lesions (40% of the total) were classified as indeterminate. The addition of FNA to EUS allowed almost all lesions (89%) to be diagnosed with an accuracy of 90%. The only variable independently associated with an incorrect diagnosis was intramural location of the target lesion. The effectiveness of EUS-FNA in the complete series progressively increased, reaching a plateau in the fourth pass. The presence of an attendant cytopathologist was cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-FNA allows diagnosis of most lesions classified as indeterminate by EUS alone. The only factor independently associated with low accuracy is intramural location of the lesion. The availability of an on-site cytopathologist is cost-effective.

Comparison of endoscopic ultrasonography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in the diagnosis of pancreatobiliary diseases: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the diagnostic value of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in: (a) patients with a dilated biliary tree unexplained by ultrasonography (US) (group 1), and (b) the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis in patients with nondilated biliary tree (group 2). METHODS: Patients were prospectively evaluated with EUS and MRCP. The gold standard used was surgery or EUS-FNA and ERCP, intraoperative cholangiography, or follow-up when EUS and/or MRCP disclosed or precluded malignancy, respectively. Likelihood ratios (LR) and pretest and post-test probabilities for the diagnosis of malignancy and choledocholithiasis were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 159 patients met one of the inclusion criteria but 24 of them were excluded for different reasons. Thus, 135 patients constitute the study population. The most frequent diagnosis was choledocholithiasis (49% in group 1 and 42% in group 2, P= 0.380) and malignancy was more frequent in group 1 (35%vs 7%, respectively, P < 0.001). When EUS and MRCP diagnosed malignancy, its prevalence in our series (35%) increased up to 98% and 96%, respectively, whereas it decreased to 0% and 2.6% when EUS and MRCP precluded this diagnosis. In patients in group 2, when EUS and MRCP made a positive diagnosis of choledocholithiasis, its prevalence (42%) increased up to 78% and 92%, respectively, whereas it decreased to 6% and 9% when any pathologic finding was ruled out. CONCLUSIONS: EUS and MRCP are extremely useful in diagnosing or excluding malignancy and choledocholithiasis in patients with dilated and nondilated biliary tree. Therefore, they are critical in the approach to the management of these patients.

[High-grade dysplasia as a risk factor of metachronous advanced colorectal neoplasms in patients with advanced adenomas]. / Displasia de alto grado como factor de riesgo de neoplasia colorrectal avanzada metacrónica, en pacientes con adenomas avanzados.

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced adenomas (AA) have a high risk of developing advanced colorectal neoplasms. Therefore, shorter monitoring intervals have been recommended in this patient subgroup. High grade dysplasia (HGD) is the main marker of cancer transformation. However, its predictive value for developing advanced neoplams in patients with advanced adenoma is unknown. AIM: To investigate if HGD increases the risk for developing advanced neoplasms in patients with AA. METHODS: Between January 1996 and December 1997 every patient with an AA endoscopically resected were considered for inclusion. Patients with a history of colorectal cancer (CRC), inflammatory bowel disease, familial adenomatous polyposis or patients who met the Amsterdam criteria, and those without colonoscopic monitoring were excluded. We assessed the development of advanced neoplasms during the study period. RESULTS: 71 patients were included and classified into 2 groups, depending on the presence (n = 49) or lack (n = 22) of HGD in the initial colonoscopy. The probability of developing advanced neoplasms (log rank, p = 0.47; Breslow, p = 0.58) or AA with HGD (log rank, p = 0.47; Breslow, p = 0.53) in the study period was similar between both groups. The number of metachronic polyps (p = 0.67), adenomas (p = 0.73), AA (p = 0.93) and AA with HGD (p = 0.88) was also similar. CONCLUSION: The risk of developing advanced neoplasms is not different between AA with HGD and those with other characteristics of AA (villous pattern and larger than 1 cm). Therefore, changes in monitoring intervals are not warranted.

Transesophageal ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration improves mediastinal staging in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and normal mediastinum on computed tomography.

The aim of the current study was to prospectively assess the value of transesophageal ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in the mediastinal staging of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and CT negative for lymph node (LN) metastases, candidates for surgical resection. EUS-FNA was performed using the standard technique and LNs with at least one morphological feature suggestive of malignancy were sampled. Pathological exam of surgical specimens or tumor positive cytology was used as gold standard. Forty seven patients were included, 21% of whom had advanced disease (pN2) undetected by CT. EUS-FNA demonstrated LN metastases in 50% of them (11% of the whole series), and there were no false positives, resulting in a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of 50%, 100%, 100%, 88% and 89%, respectively. In conclusion, EUS-FNA improves mediastinal staging in patients with NSCLC and CT negative for mediastinal nodes. Therefore, EUS-FNA should be considered in any patient with NSCLC and no distant metastases before any therapeutic decision is taken.

Endoscopic ultrasonography in patients with large gastric folds at endoscopy and biopsies negative for malignancy: predictors of malignant disease and clinical impact.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to assess in patients with large gastric folds at endoscopy and endoscopic biopsies that tested negative for malignancy: (i) the predictive variables of malignancy in endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), (ii) the impact of EUS. METHODS: Patients with this condition evaluated with radial EUS (following the standard study protocol of our Unit in these patients) during a 5-yr period were included. Nine variables were evaluated as possible predictors of malignancy (chi2, t-test, and logistic regression procedure) using pathology results, or a minimum of 2 yr of follow-up as gold standard. Likelihood ratios (LR), pre-EUS, and post-EUS probabilities for the diagnosis of malignancy were used to assess the clinical impact of the technique. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients were included (40 benign and 21 malignant). Predictive factors of malignancy were as follows: thickened gastric wall, thickened deep layers, impaired gastric distension, loss of the wall structure, and presence of ascites or lymph nodes, whereas the enlargement of superficial layers was a predictor of a benign condition. The enlargement of deep layers, as assessed by EUS was the only independent predictive factor for malignancy. When using this parameter, the pre-EUS probability of malignancy in our series (34%) increased up to 95% when EUS suggested malignancy (positive LR = 45), whereas it decreased to 4.7% when EUS precluded this diagnosis (negative LR = 0.102). CONCLUSIONS: (i) The enlargement of deep layers is the only independent predictive factor for malignancy in patients with large gastric folds at endoscopy and biopsies testing negative for malignancy and (ii) EUS has a high clinical impact in these patients.

GI flexible endoscope disinfection: "in use" test comparative study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There is some confusion as to the effectiveness of the available disinfectants for achieving "high level" disinfection, and the microbiologic method to assess the efficacy of the selected disinfectant regime. The "in use" method is adequate for control and for establishing comparisons between different disinfectants. METHODOLOGY: This study compares the efficacy of the different disinfectants and disinfection regimes available, including automatic systems to the 20-minute immersion in 20 degrees C 2%-alkaline-glutaraldehyde (AG). After cleaning and disinfection the effluent obtained from each channel was collected under sterile conditions. A total of 0.1 mL of the effluent was introduced in liquid thioglycolate, an additional 0.1 mL was seeded in solid blood agar and in MacConkey agar medium, and maintained for 48 hours at 37 degrees C. Thioglycolate media turbidity after a 48-hour culture indicates bacterial growth. RESULTS: The disinfectants used were 2% AG, 0.125% and 0.27% glutaraldehyde, glutaraldehydephenol-phenate, peracetic acid, N-duopropenida, 13%-H2O2-27%-lactic acid and ortho-phtalaldehyde using manual and automated methods. Most of the disinfectants available obtain similar or better results compared with 20' 2% AG. The best results (bacterial reduction greater than 3 log10), were those obtained using 20-minute 1/4 or 1/2 glutaraldehydephenol-phenate, 10-minute peracetic acid, or hydrogen-peroxide compounds, 5-minute 0.125% and 0.27% AG at high temperature and 5-minute 0.5% ortho-phtalaldehyde. CONCLUSIONS: A sensitive microbiologic method described may be useful in the control of disinfection and allowed: 1) knowledge of the limits of the efficacy of the disinfection methods usually used, 2) effective comparison of the different disinfectants and disinfection regimes and 3) awareness of the need for microbiologic regulations in assessing "high level" disinfection.

A prospective trial comparing wireless capsule endoscopy and barium contrast series for small-bowel surveillance in hereditary GI polyposis syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Capsule endoscopy has demonstrated its clinical utility in the evaluation of the small bowel, and, accordingly, it has been suggested that it could be useful for the identification of small-intestinal polyps in patients with polyposis syndromes. The objective was to establish the effectiveness of wireless capsule endoscopy for detecting small-bowel polyps in patients with hereditary GI polyposis syndromes in comparison with barium contrast series. METHODS: Consecutive patients with GI polyposis syndromes were included. Small-bowel follow-through series and capsule endoscopy were performed within 1 week, in a blind fashion. The number and the location of polyps were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (n = 20) or Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (n = 4) were included. Capsule endoscopy detected small-bowel polyps in 7 of 24 patients (29%), whereas a barium contrast study identified small-intestinal polyps in only 3 of these 7 patients. In the 4 remaining patients, all of them with familial adenomatous polyposis, polyps detected by the capsule but missed in radiographic series were located at either ileum (2 patients), jejunum (1), or duodenum (1). No procedure-related complication was observed in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Wireless capsule endoscopy is a highly accurate technique for the detection of small-bowel polyps in patients with hereditary GI polyposis syndromes, and it represents a valuable alternative to barium contrast series in the surveillance of patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

ERCP in orthotopic liver transplanted patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) are still common. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of ERCP as a diagnostic and treatment tool in the management of biliary tract OLT complications. METHODOLOGY: The diagnostic and treatment effectiveness of ERCP in the management of biliary tract OLT complication from 1/1995 to 12/2001 was reviewed. RESULTS: 24/251 (9.6%) OLT patients presented biliary complications. These patients underwent a total of 31 ERCP (seven patients received two ERCP). The ERCP indication was cholestasis in 25 (80.6%). The success rate of these 31 ERCPs was 87%. In the 25 ERCPs indicated in patients with cholestasis, the procedure revealed strictures of the biliary anastomosis in 3, hepatic hilum strictures in 5, SOD in 4, lithiasis in 7 and sclerosing cholangitis in one. The final diagnosis of three patients with normal biliary tract was intrahepatic cholestasis. In three of the four patients with biliary leaks the ERCP's confirmed the diagnosis. The final treatment efficacy was 100% (7/7 patients), 50% (2/4 p.), 0% (0/3 p.), 75% (3/4 p.) and 100% (4/4 p.) for patients with biliary stones, strictures of the hilum, anastomotic strictures, biliary leaks and SOD, respectively. In the acute pancreatitis and in the PSC endoscopic treatment was not indicated. There were two mild cases of pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: Because of its availability, diagnostic accuracy, treatment efficacy and safety, ERCP should be used as the first-line procedure for treatment of biliary tract complications after OLT.

Detection of lymph node micrometastases by gene promoter hypermethylation in samples obtained by endosonography- guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has become a fundamental procedure for gastrointestinal and lung cancer staging. However, there is growing evidence that micrometastases are present in lymph nodes, which cannot be detected with standard pathological methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether hypermethylation gene promoter analysis was feasible on samples obtained by EUS-FNA from lymph nodes, as well as to establish the usefulness of this strategy for the detection of micrometastases in patients with gastrointestinal and non-small cell lung cancer. Suspicious lymph nodes based on EUS findings from consecutive patients with esophageal, gastric, rectal, and non-small cell lung cancer were sampled by EUS-FNA. Hypermethylation analysis of the MGMT, p16(INK4a), and p14(ARF) gene promoter CpG islands were performed by methylation-specific PCR. Effectiveness of conventional cytology, methylation analysis, and their combination were established with respect to the definitive diagnosis. Twenty-seven patients were included, thus representing a total of 42 lymph nodes (esophageal cancer, n = 11; rectal cancer, n = 7; gastric cancer, n = 3; and lung cancer, n = 21). According to definitive diagnosis, 21 (50%) corresponded to metastatic lymph nodes. Sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of conventional cytology were 76%, 100%, and 88%, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for the methylation analysis were 81%, 67%, and 74%, respectively. Combination of both techniques increased sensitivity (90%) but decreased specificity (67%) with respect to conventional cytology. In conclusion, it is feasible to detect occult neoplastic cells in EUS-FNA samples by hypermethylation gene promoter analysis. Moreover, addition of methylation analysis to conventional cytology may increase its sensitivity at the expenses of a decrease in its specificity.

[Usefulness of tomographic computer colonography for colorectal polyp detection]. / Utilidad de la colonografía por tomografía computarizada en la detección de pólipos colorrectales.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Colonoscopy is the procedure of choice for the diagnosis of colorectal neoplasms. CT colonography (CTC), a recently developed minimal invasive radiological technique, permits the identification of colorectal tumors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of CTC in the detection of colorectal polyps, and to establish the factors determining a diagnostic accuracy. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Patients with colorectal polyps admitted for endoscopic polypectomy were included. CTC was performed prior to colonoscopy in all patients. Demographic and clinical data were registered, as well as the polyp characteristics. Efficacy of CTC was analyzed with respect to each individual polyp and each patient. RESULTS: Colonoscopy identified 87 colorectal polyps in 30 patients. CTC had a sensitivity of 70% for the detection of polyps of any size, being 92%, 73% and 55% for polyps > or = 10 mm, 5-9 mm and < or = 4 mm, respectively. On the other hand, the sensitivity of CTC for the detection of pedunculated, semipedunculated and sessile polyps was 85%, 92% and 56%, respectively. Accuracy of CTC was associated with polyp size (p = 0.007) and shape (p = 0.007). Sensitivity and specificity of CTC for the identification of patients with polyps > or = 10 mm were 88% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CTC is a highly accurate technique for the identification of colorectal polyps. Its diagnostic accuracy depends on lesion's size and shape.