Systematic review and meta-analysis of colon capsule endoscopy accuracy for colorectal cancer screening. An alternative during the Covid-19 pandemic?

AIM: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of colon capsule endoscopy for colorectal cancer screening. METHODS: Studies that compared the diagnostic performance of colonoscopy and second-generation colon capsule endoscopy (CCE-2) for screening of asymptomatic patients aged 50-75 years were included. The primary outcomes were sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios for polyps and adenomas measuring at least 6 mm or 10 mm. RESULTS: Eight full-text studies that evaluated 1602 patients were included for systematic review. Of these, 840 (52.43%) patients participated in an opportunistic screening program. The pooled outcomes of CCE-2 for polyps at least 6 mm / 10 mm were (CI = confidence interval): sensitivity: 88% (95% CI: 0.84-0.91) / 88% (95% CI: 0.82-0.93), specificity: 94% (95% CI: 0.92-0.95) / 95.5% (95% CI: 0.94-0.97); positive likelihood ratio: 11.86 (95% CI: 5.53-25.46) / 23.07 (95% CI: 6.163-86.36); negative likelihood ratio: 0.14 (95% CI: 0.1-0.21) / 0.14 (95% CI: 0.09-0.21). The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve for polyps at least 6 and 10 mm was 96.3% and 96.7%, respectively. The only cancer missed by complete CCE-2 was shown at multiple frames in the unblinded review. In total, 125 (7.8%) patients presented mild adverse events mostly related to bowel preparation. CONCLUSION: CCE-2 is demonstrated to be an effective and safe alternative method for colorectal cancer screening. Diagnostic performance of CCE-2 for polyps of at least 6 and 10 mm was similar. Completion rates still need to be improved.

Endoscopic versus surgical treatment for pancreatic pseudocysts: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to compare surgical and endoscopic treatment for pancreatic pseudocyst (PP). METHODS: The researchers did a search in Medline, EMBASE, Scielo/Lilacs, and Cochrane electronic databases for studies comparing surgical and endoscopic drainage of PP s in adult patients. Then, the extracted data were used to perform a meta-analysis. The outcomes were therapeutic success, drainage-related adverse events, general adverse events, recurrence rate, cost, and time of hospitalization. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between treatment success rate (risk difference [RD] -0.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.20,0.01]; P = .07), drainage-related adverse events (RD -0.02; 95% CI [-0.04,0.08]; P = .48), general adverse events (RD -0.05; 95% CI [-0.12, 0.02]; P = .13) and recurrence (RD: 0.02; 95% CI [-0.04,0.07]; P = .58) between surgical and endoscopic treatment.Regarding time of hospitalization, the endoscopic group had better results (RD: -4.23; 95% CI [-5.18, -3.29]; P < .00001). When it comes to treatment cost, the endoscopic arm also had better outcomes (RD: -4.68; 95% CI [-5.43,-3.94]; P < .00001). CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference between surgical and endoscopic treatment success rates, adverse events and recurrence for PP. However, time of hospitalization and treatment costs were lower in the endoscopic group.

Computed tomography colonography versus colonoscopy for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Optical colonoscopy (OC) is the first choice of investigation for assessing the state of the colon and it is excellent for CRC screening. Newer technologies such as computed tomography colonography (CTC) may also be useful in CRC screening. This systematic review compares the benefits of CTC and OC for CRC screening. This review includes all the available randomized clinical trials comparing CTC and OC for CRC screening in asymptomatic patients. Three studies were included in the systematic review and were submitted for meta-analysis. In the analysis of participation rates, only 2,333 of 8,104 (29%) patients who were invited for screening underwent the CTC, and only 1,486 of the 7,310 (20%) patients who were invited for screening underwent OC. The absolute risk difference in participation rate in the two procedures was 0.1 (95% CI, 0.05-0.14) in favor of CTC. In the analysis of advanced colorectal neoplasia (ACN) detection rates, 2,357 patients undergoing CTC and 1,524 patients undergoing OC were included. Of these, 135 patients (5.7%) who underwent a CTC and 130 patients (8.5%) who underwent an OC were diagnosed with ACN. The absolute risk difference in ACN detection rate in the two procedure types was -0.02 (with a 95% CI between -0.04 and -0.00) in favor of OC. CTC is an option for CRC screening in asymptomatic patients. However, as CTC was inferior in detecting ACN, it should not replace OC, which remains the gold standard.

Management of common bile duct stones in cirrhotic patients with coagulopathy: a comparison of supra-papillary puncture and standard cannulation technique.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Bleeding is not uncommon following endoscopic sphincterotomy. Supra-papillary puncture (SPP) might be safer than standard cannulation (SC) techniques in patients with coagulopathy. The aim of the study was to compare the safety and effectiveness of SPP and SC. PATIENT AND METHODS: This was a prospective case control intervention study. Decompensated cirrhotic patients with coagulopathy and choledocolithiasis underwent SC and SPP methods for biliary access. RESULTS: One hundred five patients (56 [53.3%] men, mean [SD] age 56 [15.8]) underwent ERCP. SC and SPP were performed in 63 and 42 patients, respectively. Biliary access was achieved in 56/63 (89%) and 40/42 (95%) of patients undergoing SC and SPP, respectively (P = 0.13; 95% CI [-0.16; 0.03]). Complications occurred in 10/63 (15.8%) patients undergoing SC and 5/42 (11.9%) SPP (P = 0.28; 95% CI [-0.17, 0.16]). Five (7.9%) and two (3.2%) episodes of post-sphincterotomy bleeding was seen in the SC and SPP groups, respectively (P = 0.36; 95% CI [-0.16, 0.05]). In contrast, three (4.8%) episodes of pancreatitis were seen in the SC and none in the SPP group (P = 0.05; 95% CI [0.001; 0.004]). A cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrated that SPP is an acceptable alternative at an ICER of US$ 5,974.92 per additional successful procedure. CONCLUSION: SPP is a safe and effective technique for the management of common bile duct stones in decompensated cirrhotic patients. Conditional to the willingness-to-pay and to the local ERCP-related costs, SPP is also a cost-effective alternative to the SC methods. SPP is associated with a lower rate of complications but larger studies to validate these findings are necessary.

Fistulopapilotomia por sobre balão transpapilar em pacientes com Billroth II: uma nova técnica / Fistulotomy over transpapillary balloon in patientes with Billroth II: a new technique

Introdução: A CPRE diagnóstica e terapêutica, em pacientes com gastrectomia à Billroth 11, é mais difícil devido às alterações anatômicas. Acessórios e técnicas têm sido desenvolvidos para minimizar estas adversidades. Objetivo: Nova técnica de acesso biliar em pacientes gastrectomizados à Billroth 11. Pacientes: No período de fevereiro de 2003 a agosto de 2007, foram realizadas 157 CPRE em pacientes gastrectomizados à Billroth 11, por coledocolitíase. Em 37 desses pacientes, não foi possível cateterização pela técnica convencional, sendo submetidos a nova técnica. Métodos: Após fistulopapilotomia para acessar via biliar principal, passava-se fio-guia de 0,035mm, seguido por balão dilatador de 8mm, que se mantinha transpapilar. Pelo canal de trabalho, passava-se o estilete; ao posicionar em frente à papila, procedia-se secção do esfíncter por sobre balão insuflado com contraste até desaparecimento da cintura na radioscopia. Resultados: Dos 37 pacientes submetidos ao novo procedimento, seis foram excluídos. Dezesseis pacientes (51,6%) eram do sexo feminino e quinze (48,4%) do masculino. A idade variou de 29 a 89 anos, com média de 62,3 anos. Todos tinham icterícia clínica e laboratorial. O tempo do procedimento variou de 18 a 48 minutos (30 minutos). O diâmetro da via biliar foi de 4,5 a 12,8mm (7,7mm), apresentando de um a quatro cálculos. Ocorreram seis (19,3%) complicações relacionadas ao procedimento, sendo três (9,7%) pancreatites, duas (6,4%) hemorragias e uma (3,2%) perfuração. Não houve óbitos relacionados ao procedimento. Conclusão: O sucesso desta técnica foi de 83,8% (31 dos 37 casos), sendo 88,6% (31 de 35 casos) se considerarmos apenas a canulação da via biliar, portanto método seguro e eficaz em pacientes com Billroth 11 e papila duodenal difícil.

Análise do papel da colangiopancreatografia retrógrada endoscópica (CPRE) como método terapêutica na terceira idadé / Analysis of the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) as a therapeutic method for the elderly

Introdução: Tem-se observado mudança demográfica im»portante nas sociedades ocidentais decorrente do aumento da expectativa de vida, com aumento progressivo do número de pacientes idosos. Paralelamente a isso, observou-se incidência aumentada de afecções das vias biliares, particularmente a doen»ça litiásica e as suas complicações nesse grupo populacional. A Baixada Santista atrai a população idosa por ser uma região que detém o segundo melhor índice de desenvolvimento social do Estado de São Paulo (IEME-2002) e o terceiro melhor índice de desenvolvimento humano do Estado, ocupando o quinto lugar no Brasil, segundo o Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento - PNUD. Objetivo: O presente estudo objeti»vou avaliar e discutir o impacto da colangiopancreatografia re»trógrada endoscópica (CPRE) como método diagnóstico e tera»pêutico das afecções biliodigestivas em pacientes idosos na Baixada Santista. Métodos: Foram analisados retrospectivamente dados referentes a 247 pacientes submetidos a CPRE no HAC»Santos, no período de janeiro de 2003 a janeiro de 2006, con»siderando-se como variáveis: sexo, idade, etnia, indicações, diag»nósticos obtidos, procedimentos realizados, complicações relacionadas ao procedimento e mortalidade, enfatizando-se os dados em pacientes idosos (acima de 60 anos de idade). Resul»tados: Considerando-se os idosos, verificou-se que a CPRE foi realizada em 146 (62,9%) do total de pacientes efetivamente estudados (232). As principais indicações para o procedimento foram a suspeita de coledocolitíase em 122/232 (52,7%), icterí»cia obstrutiva em 86/232 (37%) e pancreatite aguda em 24/ 232.