The pre- and postprocedure assessment of patients undergoing sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy.

A thorough and efficient pre-procedure evaluation of the patient's readiness to undergo sedation for endoscopy is essential. This evaluation will allow the formulation of an appropriate sedation plan for the patient, resulting in a safe and effective examination. The post procedure assessment of the patient confirms readiness for discharge and allows for appropriate patient education and follow-up planning.

Esophageal food impaction during cultural holidays and national athletic events.

BACKGROUND: Although intrinsic risk factors contributing to esophageal food impaction are well established, whether social behavior affects its occurrence has not yet been examined. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of the gastroenterology endoscopy procedural documentation software for the period of 2001-2012 to identify all patients who presented to our emergency department for esophageal foreign-body removal at the time of national athletic events and holidays associated with dietary indiscretions. RESULTS: We found that adults undergoing emergent esophagogastroduodenoscopy during periods celebrating cultural holidays and national athletic events were more likely to experience esophageal food impaction compared with those undergoing emergent endoscopy during periods not associated with these events (36.8% vs 3.6%; P < 0.001): a 10-fold increase. During a national holiday/athletic event period, the most common impacted food item was turkey (50%) followed by chicken (29%) and beef (21%). CONCLUSIONS: Esophageal food impaction is more likely to occur on American holidays and national athletic events and is associated with large meals. Patients with intrinsic risk factors should be advised to modify their diet during cultural events associated with tachyphagia and large meals to prevent esophageal food impaction.

Randomized trial in malignant biliary obstruction: plastic vs partially covered metal stents.

AIM: To compare efficacy and complications of partially covered self-expandable metal stent (pcSEMS) to plastic stent (PS) in patients treated for malignant, infrahilar biliary obstruction. METHODS: Multicenter prospective randomized clinical trial with treatment allocation to a pcWallstent(®) (SEMS) or a 10 French PS. Palliative patients aged ≥ 18, for infrahilar malignant biliary obstruction and a Karnofsky performance scale index > 60% from 6 participating North American university centers. Primary endpoint was time to stent failure, with secondary outcomes of death, adverse events, Karnofsky performance score and short-form-36 scale administered on a three-monthly basis for up to 2 years. Survival analyses were performed for stent failure and death, with Cox proportional hazards regression models to determine significant predictive characteristics. RESULTS: Eighty-five patients were accrued over 37 mo, 42 were randomized to the SEMS group and 83 patients were available for analyses. Time to stent failure was 385.3 ± 52.5 d in the SEMS and 153.3 ± 19.8 d in the PS group, P = 0.006. Time to death did not differ between groups (192.3 ± 23.4 d for SEMS vs 211.5 ± 28.0 d for PS, P = 0.70). The only significant predictor was treatment allocation, relating to the time to stent failure (P = 0.01). Amongst other measured outcomes, only cholangitis differed, being more common in the PS group (4.9% vs 24.5%, P = 0.029). The small number of patients in follow-up limits longitudinal assessments of performance and quality of life. From an initially planned 120 patients, only 85 patients were recruited. CONCLUSION: Partially covered SEMS result in a longer duration till stent failure without increased complication rates, yet without accompanying measurable benefits in survival, performance, or quality of life.

A prospective study of the diagnostic accuracy of PillCam ESO esophageal capsule endoscopy versus conventional upper endoscopy in patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux diseases.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopy is commonly performed to evaluate for suspected or established esophageal diseases including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and its complications. The newly developed PillCam ESO Esophageal Capsule offers an alternative approach to visualize the esophagus and to evaluate patients with suspected esophageal disease. AIM: Compare the accuracy (specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value [PPV], and negative predictive value [NPV]) of esophageal capsule endoscopy (ECE) compared with esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in evaluating patients with GERD. METHODS: A multicenter pivotal trial was conducted at seven sites. The PillCam ESO esophageal capsule is similar to the standard capsule endoscope used for the small bowel but acquires video images from both ends of the device at 2 frames/second/end. A total of 106 patients (93 GERD; 13 Barrett) underwent ECE followed by EGD. ECE videos were evaluated by an investigator blinded to EGD findings. A blinded adjudication committee reviewed all discrepant findings between ECE and EGD. RESULTS: Sixty-six of 106 patients had positive esophageal findings, ECE identified esophageal abnormalities in 61 (sensitivity, 92%; specificity, 95%). The per-protocol sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of ECE for Barrett esophagus were 97%, 99%, 97%, and 99%, respectively, and for esophagitis 89%, 99%, 97%, and 94%, respectively. ECE was preferred over EGD by all patients. There were no adverse events related to ECE. CONCLUSIONS: ECE is a convenient and sensitive method for visualization of esophageal mucosal pathology and may provide an effective method to evaluate patients for esophageal disease.