The Use of the Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX®) Tool in Predicting Risk of Fractures in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is associated with an increased prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia. We aim to evaluate the use of the World Health Organization Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX®) tool in these patients to assess 10-yr risk of fracture. Electronic searches were performed with key words relating to IBD and FRAX in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases. Summary estimates were calculated. A fixed or random-effects model was used depending on heterogeneity (I2). The search yielded 146 references; 7 that included research carried out in adult patients, were used in the systematic review and quantitative summary. No significant publication bias was noted according to the Harbord test. The 10-yr probability of hip and major osteoporotic fracture in adult IBD patients was 1.03% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.37%-2%; I2 = 0%) and 4.05% (95% CI: 2.61%-5.79%; I2 = 49%), respectively. In those patients with Crohn's disease, hip and major osteoporotic fractures calculated with FRAX increased to 1.74% (95% CI: 0.42%-3.93%; I2 = 37.5%) and 6.65% (95% CI: 2.97%-11.66%; I2 = 8.7%), respectively. Risks of fracture in adults with ulcerative colitis were provided by a single study only. The FRAX tool has been limitedly used in patients with IBD; however, the evidence currently available only shows a modest increase in the 10-yr risks of bone fracture and does not support unequivocally the need for specific interventions. Further well-designed studies are needed to confirm the results obtained from this systematic review.

Authors' reply: Spanish or English in scientific reporting.

We thank Professor Culebras Fernandez his letter and his praise to the content of our recently published narrative review on percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. A systematic review of the literature would have required a search in multiple languages, as we recently did for other research. Aware of the diffusivity of English language in Science, an increasing number of professional and scientific journals from varied geographical origin, including many from Arab countries, India and Singapore, have adopted English as language for publication in order to provide their contents with an improving visibility. This same strategy was followed by the Spanish Journal of Gastroenterology (Revista Española de Enfermedades Digestivas or REED) for all its contents several decades ago. As a result, the Web of Science search provided by the Professor in his letter reveals that all the documents published on endoscopic gastrostomy in REED since 1993 are written in English.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy: A Practical Overview on Its Indications, Placement Conditions, Management, and Nursing Care.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding represents the most effective and safest option for feeding patients with an impaired or diminished swallowing ability, despite having a functioning digestive system. The use of PEG has evolved to be useful in many situations beyond degenerative neuromuscular disorders, with an increasing body of evidence supporting the advantages of PEG tubes in oncologic and pediatric patients. Risk factors for complications after PEG tube placement include acute and chronic conditions associated with malnutrition and several organic disorders. Patients suitable for PEG tube placement should be individually identified to implement the advantages of this technique while minimizing risk events. The safety of placing a PEG tube in patients under antithrombotic medication has been investigated, as well as the advantages of antibiotic prophylaxis in reducing peristomal infection. Evidence supports the safety of early feeding after placement, thus resulting in lower costs. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy-related complications are rare and mostly prevented by appropriate nursing care. Best medical practice and nursing care will ensure optimal performance leading to a wider acceptance, and greater utility of PEG by healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers. This review aims to update knowledge relating to PEG tube indications, placement, management, and care in order to reinforce PEG feeding as the most valuable access for patients with a functional gastrointestinal system who have abnormalities in swallowing mechanisms.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: An update on its indications, management, complications, and care.

BACKGROUND: Numerous disorders impairing or diminishing a patient's ability to swallow may benefit from a PEG tube placement. This is considered the elective feeding technique if a functional digestive system is present. METHODS: A PubMed-based search restricted to the English literature from the last 20 years was conducted. References in the results were also reviewed to identify potential sources of information. RESULTS: PEG feeding has consistently demonstrated to be more effective and safe than nasogastric tube feeding, having also replaced surgical and radiological gastrostomy techniques for long term feeding. PEG is considered a minimally invasive procedure to ensure an adequate source for enteral nutrition in institutionalized and at home patients. Acute and chronic conditions associated with risk of malnutrition and dysphagia benefit from PEG placement: Beyond degenerative neuro-muscular disorders, an increasing body of evidence supports the advantages of PEG tubes in patients with head and neck cancer and in a wide range of situations in pediatric settings.The safety of PEG placement under antithrombotic medication is discussed. While antibiotic prophylaxis reduces peristomal wound infection rates, co-trimoxazole solutions administered through a newly inserted catheter constitutes an alternative to intravenous antibiotics. Early feeding (3-6 hours) after PEG placement firmly supports on safety evidences, additionally resulting in reduced costs and hospital stays. Complications of PEG are rare and the majority prevented with appropriated nursing cares. CONCLUSIONS: PEG feeding provides the most valuable access for nutrition in patients with a functional gastrointestinal system. Its high effectiveness, safety and reduced cost underlie increasing worldwide popularity.

Nonanesthesiologist-administered propofol sedation for colonoscopy is safe and effective: a prospective Spanish study over 1000 consecutive exams.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Propofol is increasingly being used in sedated colonoscopy. This paper assesses the safety and efficacy of nonanesthesiologist-administered propofol in a large series of colonoscopies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective registry of consecutive American Society of Anesthetics (ASA) class I and II outpatients undergoing colonoscopy was carried out. Propofol, administered by a nurse under an endoscopist's supervision, was the sole sedative agent used. RESULTS: Of the 1000 patients (563 women/437 men, mean age 57, range 8-89 years) included in the study, 57.4% showed ASA I and 42.6% ASA II characteristics. The cecal intubation rate was 96.9%. 48.2% of the procedures were for therapeutic purposes. The mean propofol dose was 177 mg (range 50-590 mg). Doses correlated inversely with patient age (r=-0.38; P<0.001) and were lower in ASA II patients (P<0.001) and in diagnostic (rather than therapeutic) exams (P<0.001). The average recovery time (from extracting the colonoscope to patient discharge) was 18.6 min (range 4-75) and longer in ASA II patients (P=0.05). A pulse oximetry saturation of less than 90% and a decrease in systolic blood pressure of more than 20 mmHg were observed in 24 (2.4%) and 385 (35.8%) patients, respectively. Both events were more frequent in patients older than 65 years (P<0.05); the latter was more common in ASA II patients. CONCLUSION: Colonoscopy under endoscopist-controlled propofol sedation in low-risk patients is safe and effective, allowing for a complete exploration, although patients at least 65 years old and/or classified as ASA II are more likely to present a decrease in blood pressure and have a prolonged recovery time.

[Endoscopic percutaneous gastrostomy: an update on the indications, technique and nursing care]. / Gastrostomía endoscópica percutánea: una actualización sobre indicaciones, técnica y cuidados de enfermería.

There are numerous conditions and pathologies in which the patient's swallowing ability is diminished or prevented despite having working digestive system. These are the fundamental requirements for the placement of a percutaneous gastrostomy tube (PEG) as a method of choice to provide safe, effective, and prolonged enteral nutrition for the patient at home or when admitted to hospital. Due to its simplicity, safety and low cost, PEG offers several advantages over other feeding techniques, particularly nasogastric tube and parenteral feeding, although it does require simple and accurate knowledge and application of care that ensures low incidence of complications. The placement of a PEG tube should be contemplated in several clinical situations: a) for temporal use in those patients with potentially reversible diseases; b) in non-reversible diseases in which a long survival (of more than 6 months) is foreseeable, and c) in patients affected of terminal and debilitating illnesses in whom a relatively long survival is probable. In these last cases the indication and implementation for PEG should be individualized and agreed jointly. The appropriate training of care professionals and familiar supporters in charge of the patients carrying a PEG tube ensures its continuous functioning and reduces the risk of complications. This paper aims to review the indications and appropriate care for patients carrying a PEG tube and presents the most accurate care that should be provided by both the professional health carers and caregivers.