A novel ultrasound-based algorithm for the detection of pancreatic stents placed for prophylaxis of post-ERCP pancreatitis: a prospective trial.

Before removal of retained pancreatic stents placed during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography to avoid post-ERCP pancreatitis, imaging is recommended. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a new ultrasound-based algorithm.Patients who received a pancreatic stent for PEP prophylaxis were included. Straight 5Fr (0.035inch) 6cm stents with an external flap that were visualized by ultrasound were removed endoscopically with no further imaging. If the ultrasound result reported the stent to be dislodged or was inconclusive, X-ray imaging was performed. The endpoints were positive and negative predictive value, specificity, sensitivity, and contingency coefficient between ultrasound and X-ray and/or endoscopy.88 patients were enrolled in the present study. X-ray was performed in 23 (26%) patients. Accordingly, the ultrasound algorithm saved an X-ray examination in 65 cases, leading to a reduction of 74%. Stents were retained in 67 patients (76%) and visualized correctly by ultrasound in 54 patients with a sensitivity of 81%. The positive predictive value was 83%. The specificity was 48%, because ultrasound described 10/21 dislodged stents correctly. The negative predictive value was 43%, since 10/23 stents were correctly classified by ultrasound as dislodged. In 11 patients (13%), esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed even though the pancreatic stent was already dislodged.A novel ultrasound-based algorithm reduced the need for X-ray imaging by three quarters. To avoid unnecessary endoscopic examinations, the algorithm should be implemented with a learning phase and procedures should be performed by experienced examiners. An important limitation might be stent length since shorter stents might be more difficult to visualize by ultrasound.

Correction: Is a higher frequency of esophageal dilations more effective in treating benign esophageal strictures? Retrospective, multicenter study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/a-2117-8197.].

Is a higher frequency of esophageal dilations more effective in treating benign esophageal strictures? Retrospective, multicenter study.

Background and study aims There is still a lack of evidence-based recommendations concerning endoscopic bougienage in benign esophageal strictures. Our study aimed to assess the relevance of the time interval between endoscopic dilation (ED) sessions with regard to endoscopic and clinical response. Patients and methods We performed a retrospective study including patients treated with endoscopic bougienage for a benign esophageal stricture in two German centers. Primary endpoint was the number of ED until freedom from dysphagia was achieved. Secondary endpoints were analyses on reaching a diameter of 15 mm and on achieving clinical freedom from symptoms. Results Between April 2014 and March 2020, bougienage was used as the primary treatment for benign esophageal strictures in 238 patients (194 patients in Center 1; 44 patients in Center 2). Both centers differed in their endoscopic bougienage regime: Center 1 was characterized by a higher frequency of interventions compared to Center 2 (median: 2 days [range 1-28] vs. 10 days [range 1-41]; P <0.001). Clinical response was achieved significantly earlier using the high-frequency regimen in all patients except for those with post-radiogen strictures, who clinically benefited from a low-frequency ED program. Accordingly, patients receiving higher-frequency ED reached a significantly larger post-dilation diameter and considerably larger diameter differences. Conclusions The results of our study demonstrate that a treatment concept consisting of higher-frequency bougienages seems to be more effective in treating most types of esophageal stricture. Radiogenic strictures were the only types of stenoses that benefited from a lower frequency ED program.

Endoscopic powered resection device for residual colonic lesions: the first multicenter, prospective, international clinical study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic resection is standard treatment for adenomatous colorectal lesions. Depending on lesion morphology and resection technique, recurrence can occur. Scarred adenomas are challenging to resect and may require surgical management. This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of an endoscopic powered resection (EPR) system for scarred adenomatous colorectal lesions. METHODS: This single-arm, prospective, multicenter study was conducted from January 2018 to January 2021 at 12 sites. Patients with persistent flat or sessile colorectal lesions were enrolled. Primary end points were technical success (the ability of the device to resect the lesion[s] without use of other resection devices without device-related serious adverse events [AEs]) and safety (the occurrence of AEs through 90 days). Secondary end points included endoscopic confirmation of resection completeness, occurrence of colon stenosis, disease persistence, and diagnostic value of resected specimens. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were in the intention-to-treat/safety analysis population. Primary analysis was performed on 45 per-protocol (PP) patients with 48 lesions. All PP patients were solely treated by using the EPR device. Technical success was achieved in 44 (98%) patients. Three (5%) serious AEs occurred: 2 delayed self-limited bleeds and 1 perforation. Nonserious AEs included 4 (6%) cases of mild intraprocedural bleeding. Completeness of resection and histopathologic diagnosis of tissue specimens were achieved in all patients. Twenty-one (46.7%) patients had disease persistence after the first treatment, and there was no colon stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: EPR is safe and effective for benign, persistent, large (>20 mm), scarred colorectal adenomas and should be considered as an alternative treatment in lieu of surgery. A persistence rate of 46.7% indicates that >1 treatment is necessary for effective endoscopic treatment. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT04203667.).

Radiofrequency ablation versus hybrid argon plasma coagulation in Barrett's esophagus: a prospective randomised trial.

INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and hybrid argon plasma coagulation (H-APC) are established thermal ablation techniques for eradicating Barrett's esophagus after endoscopic resection. This study aimed to compare RFA with H-APC in relation to safety, effectiveness and eradication rates. METHODS: After endoscopic resection, patients were randomly assigned to H-APC or RFA. A simplified H-APC technique was applied at 60 W. RFA was used with a 90° focal catheter and a simplified protocol of 12 J/cm2 × 3 or with a Halo 360° balloon and 10 J/cm2/cleaning/10 J/cm2. Eradication rates and adverse events were recorded. Patients received follow-up examinations after 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. RESULTS: One hundred and one patients were finally included in the study (RFA N = 47, H-APC N = 54). The median follow-up period for short-term was 6.0 (CI 5.4-6.9) months and for long term 21 (CI 19.2.5-22.7) months. In total 211 ablations were performed. The eradication rates after long-term follow-up were 74.2% in the RFA group and 82.9% in the H-APC group. Post-interventional pain was significantly greater in the RFA group, with a mean score of 4.56/10 and duration of 7.54 days, in comparison with a mean score of 2.07/10 over 3.59 days in the H-APC group. Stenoses requiring intervention were noted in 3.7% of patients in the H-APC arm and 14.9% of those in the RFA arm. CONCLUSIONS: Both ablation techniques have good results in relation to the eradication rate, with a slightly better outcome in the H-APC group. The severity and duration of pain were significantly greater in the RFA group.

Treatment of Non-Anastomotic Biliary Strictures after Liver Transplantation: How Effective Is Our Current Treatment Strategy?

BACKGROUND: Non-anastomotic biliary strictures (NAS) are a common cause of morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation. METHODS: All patients with NAS from 2008 to 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The success rate and overall mortality of an ERCP-based stent program (EBSP) were the primary outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 40 (13.9%) patients with NAS were identified, of which 35 patients were further treated in an EBSP. Furthermore, 16 (46%) patients terminated EBSP successfully, and nine (26%) patients died during the program. All deaths were caused by cholangitis. Of those, one (11%) patient had an extrahepatic stricture, while the other eight patients had either intrahepatic (3, 33%) or combined extra- and intrahepatic strictures (5, 56%). Risk factors of overall mortality were age (p = 0.03), bilirubin (p < 0.0001), alanine transaminase (p = 0.006), and aspartate transaminase (p = 0.0003). The median duration of the stent program was 34 months (ITBL: 36 months; IBL: 10 months), and procedural complications were rare. CONCLUSIONS: EBSP is safe, but lengthy and successful in only about half the patients. Intrahepatic strictures were associated with an increased risk of cholangitis.

Bile acid sequestrants in poor healing after endoscopic therapy of Barrett's esophagus.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic therapy for neoplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE) has become the standard of care over the past two decades. In clinical practice, we regularly encounter patients who fail to achieve complete squamous epithelialization of the esophagus. Although the therapeutic strategies in the individual stages of BE, dysplasia, and esophageal adenocarcinoma are well studied and largely standardized, the problem of inadequate healing after endoscopic therapy is only marginally considered. This study aimed to shed light on the variables influencing inadequate wound healing after endoscopic therapy and the effect of bile acid sequestrants (BAS) on healing. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of endoscopically treated neoplastic BE in a single referral center. RESULTS: In 12.1% out of 627 patients, insufficient healing was present 8 to 12 weeks after previous endoscopic therapy. The average follow-up duration was 38.8±18.4 months. Complete healing was achieved in 13 patients already after intensifying proton pump inhibitor therapy. Out of 48 patients under BAS, 29 patients (60.4%) showed complete healing. An additional eight patients (16.7%) improved, but only partial healing was achieved. Eleven (22.9%) patients showed no response to BAS augmented therapy. CONCLUSION: In cases of insufficient healing even under exhaustion of proton pump inhibitors, treatment with BAS can be an option as an ultimate healing attempt.

Comparison of short-course antibiotic therapy of 6 or less days with a longer treatment in patients with cholangitis after liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: Stenosis of the biliary anastomosis predisposes liver graft recipients to bacterial cholangitis. Antibiotic therapy (AT) is performed according to individual clinical judgment, but duration of AT remains unclear. METHODS: All liver graft recipients with acute cholangitis according to the Tokyo criteria grade 1 and 2 after endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) were included. Outcome of patients treated with short AT (<7 days) was compared to long AT (>6 days). Recurrent cholangitis (RC) within 28 days was the primary end point. RESULTS: In total, 30 patients were included with a median of 313 (range 34-9849) days after liver transplantation until first proven cholangitis. Among 62 cases in total, 51/62 (82%) were graded as Tokyo-1 and 11/62 (18%) as Tokyo-2. Overall median duration of AT was 6 days (1-14) with 36 cases (58%) receiving short AT and 26 (42%) receiving long AT. RC was observed in 10 (16%) cases, without significant difference in occurrence of RC in short versus long AT cases. CRP and bilirubin were significantly higher in patients with long AT, while low serum albumin and low platelets were associated with risk of RC. CONCLUSION: A shorter antibiotic course than 7 days shows good results in selected, ERC-treated patients for post-transplantation biliary strictures.

Motorized spiral enteroscopy: results of an international multicenter prospective observational clinical study in patients with normal and altered gastrointestinal anatomy.

BACKGROUND : Motorized spiral enteroscopy (MSE) has been shown to be safe and effective for deep enteroscopy in studies performed at expert centers with limited numbers of patients without previous abdominal surgery. This study aimed to investigate the safety, efficacy, and learning curve associated with MSE in a real-life scenario, with the inclusion of patients after abdominal surgery and with altered anatomy. METHODS : Patients with indications for deep enteroscopy were enrolled in a prospective observational multicenter study. The primary objective was the serious adverse event (SAE) rate; secondary objectives were the diagnostic and therapeutic yield, procedural success, time, and insertion depth. Data analysis was subdivided into training and core (post-training) study phases at centers with different levels of MSE experience. RESULTS : 298 patients (120 women; median age 68, range 19-92) were enrolled. In the post-training phase, 21.5 % (n = 54) had previous abdominal surgery, 10.0 % (n = 25) had surgically altered anatomy. Overall, SAEs occurred in 2.3 % (7/298; 95 %CI 0.9 %-4.8 %). The SAE rate was 2.0 % (5/251) in the core group and 4.3 % (2/47) in the training group, and was not increased after abdominal surgery (1.9 %). Total enteroscopy was achieved in half of the patients (n = 42) undergoing planned total enteroscopy. In 295/337 procedures (87.5 %), the anatomical region of interest could be reached. CONCLUSIONS : This prospective multicenter study showed that MSE was feasible and safe in a large cohort of patients in a real-life setting, after a short learning curve. MSE was shown to be feasible in postsurgical patients, including those with altered anatomy, without an increase in the SAE rate.

Artificial intelligence-assisted staging in Barrett's carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used to detect neoplasia and interpret endoscopic images. The T stage of Barrett's carcinoma is a major criterion for subsequent treatment decisions. Although endoscopic ultrasound is still the standard for preoperative staging, its value is debatable. Novel tools are required to assist with staging, to optimize results. This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of T stage of Barrett's carcinoma by an AI system based on endoscopic images. METHODS: 1020 images (minimum one per patient, maximum three) from 577 patients with Barrett's adenocarcinoma were used for training and internal validation of a convolutional neural network. In all, 821 images were selected to train the model and 199 images were used for validation. RESULTS: AI recognized Barrett's mucosa without neoplasia with an accuracy of 85 % (95 %CI 82.7-87.1). Mucosal cancer was identified with a sensitivity of 72 % (95 %CI 67.5-76.4), specificity of 64 % (95 %CI 60.0-68.4), and accuracy of 68 % (95 %CI 64.6-70.7). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for early Barrett's neoplasia < T1b sm2 were 57 % (95 %CI 51.8-61.0), 77 % (95 %CI 72.3-80.2), and 67 % (95 %CI 63.4-69.5), respectively. More advanced stages (T3/T4) were diagnosed correctly with a sensitivity of 71 % (95 %CI 65.1-76.7) and specificity of 73 % (95 %CI 69.7-76.5). The overall accuracy was 73 % (95 %CI 69.6-75.5). CONCLUSIONS: The AI system identified esophageal cancer with high accuracy, suggesting its potential to assist endoscopists in clinical decision making.