Impact of margin ablation after EMR of large nonpedunculated colonic polyps in routine clinical practice.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Owing to its simplicity, effectiveness, and safety, EMR is the preferred treatment for the majority of large (≥20 mm) nonpedunculated colonic polyps (LNPCPs); however, residual and recurrent adenomas (RRAs) encountered during surveillance constitute a major limitation. Thermal ablation of the post-EMR mucosal defect margin has been shown to be highly efficacious in reducing RRA in a randomized trial setting, but data on effectiveness in clinical practice are scarce. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of this technique for reducing RRAs in routine clinical practice. METHODS: We analyzed data collected in 3 hospitals in Israel: Prospective data were available in 2 hospitals where margin thermal ablation with snare-tip soft coagulation (STSC) is routinely performed after EMR of LNPCP (TA-EMR). Only retrospective data were available from the third center, which exclusively did not perform STSC (standard EMR] [S-EMR]), during the study period. Surveillance was performed 4 to 6 months after resection. RRA was assessed endoscopically with high-definition white light and optical chromoendoscopy. The primary endpoint was RRA at first surveillance colonoscopy. RESULTS: Data from 764 patients with 824 LNPCPs were analyzed. The patient and lesion characteristics were similar between the groups. Four hundred sixty-four LNPCPs were treated by TA-EMR and 360 LNPCPs by S-EMR. RRA at first surveillance colonoscopy was detected in 14 (3.6%) of lesions in the TA-EMR group compared with 96 (31.6%) in the S-EMR group (P < .001; RR = .14; 95% CI, .07-.29). Adverse events were comparable between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: TA-EMR leads to a significant reduction in post-EMR recurrence in routine clinical practice.

Admission Hypocalcemia and the Need for Endoscopic and Clinical Interventions among Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

INTRODUCTION: Calcium is an essential co-factor in the coagulation cascade, and hypocalcemia is associated with adverse outcomes in bleeding patients, including trauma patients, women with postpartum hemorrhage, and patients with intracranial hemorrhage. In this retrospective, single-center, cohort study, we aimed to determine whether admission-ionized calcium (Ca++) is associated with higher rates of therapeutic interventions among patients presenting with acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NV-UGIB). METHODS: Adult patients admitted due to NV-UGIB between January 2009 and April 2020 were identified. The primary outcome was defined as a need for clinical intervention (two or more packed cell transfusions, need for endoscopic, surgical, or angiographic intervention). Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine whether Ca++ was an independent predictor of the need for therapeutic interventions. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust the imbalances of covariates between the groups. RESULTS: A total of 434 patients were included, of whom 148 (34.1%) had hypocalcemia (Ca++ <1.15 mmol/L). Patients with hypocalcemia were more likely to require therapeutic interventions than those without hypocalcemia (48.0% vs. 18.5%, p < 0.001). Specifically, patients with hypocalcemia were more likely to require endoscopic intervention for control of bleeding (25.0% vs. 15.7%, p = 0.03) and multiple packed cell transfusions (6.8% vs. 0.3%, p < 0.001). Additionally, they had significantly longer hospital stay (5.0 days [IQR 3.0-8.0] vs. 4.0 days [IQR 3.0-6.0], p = 0.01). After adjusting for multiple covariates, Ca++ was an independent predictor of the need for therapeutic intervention (aOR 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22-2.14, p < 0.001). The addition of Ca++ to the Modified Glasgow Blatchford score improved its accuracy in the prediction of therapeutic intervention from AUC of 0.68 (95% CI 0.63-0.72) to 0.72 (95% CI 0.67-0.76), p = 0.02. After incorporation of the propensity score, the results did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that hypocalcemia is common and is associated with an adverse clinical course in patients with NV-UGIB. Measurement of Ca++ on admission may facilitate risk stratification in these patients. Trials are needed to assess whether the correction of hypocalcemia will lead to improved outcomes.

INCIDENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR HYPOTONY AFTER 25-GAUGE PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY WITH NONEXPANSILE ENDOTAMPONADE.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence and risk factors for early postoperative hypotony after 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with nonexpansile endotamponade. METHODS: A retrospective study of consecutive patients who underwent 25-G pars plana vitrectomy. Hypotony was defined as an intraocular pressure of 5 mmHg or less after surgery and ocular hypertension as an intraocular pressure greater than 21 mmHg. RESULTS: Overall, 307 eyes of 307 patients with a mean age of 61.7 ± 14.3 of which 56.7% were males were included. Hypotony was identified in 5.2% of cases (n = 16) at Day 1 and 0.7% (n = 2) at Week 1 with no hypotony-related complications. The hypotony group had a higher number of previous vitreoretinal surgeries (1.5 ± 1.1 vs. 0.4 ± 0.7, P < 0.001) and a higher prevalence of preoperative ocular hypertension (22.2% vs. 4.8%, P = 0.02), pseudophakia (77.8% vs. 48.4%, P = 0.01), silicone oil removal (61.1% vs. 8.3%, P < 0.001), and external diathermy performed (55.6% vs. 20.1%, P = 0.001). In stepwise multivariate analysis, significant parameters were silicone oil removal (R = 16.34%, odds ratio 13.45, P < 0.001), pseudophakia (R = 5.69%, odds ratio 3.65, P = 0.03), and younger age (R = 2.68%, odds ratio 0.96, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Silicone oil removal is a significant risk factor for early postoperative hypotony after 25-G pars plana vitrectomy.

Patients' Experience of Anxiety and Pain during Retrobulbar Injections prior to Vitrectomy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between pain associated with retrobulbar block and anxiety levels before the injection. METHODS: This prospective observational, noninterventional study included consecutive patients who received a retrobulbar block by a single surgeon prior to undergoing 25G PPV at the Department of Ophthalmology, Rambam Health Care Campus, between April 2016 and August 2017. Patients plotted their anxiety levels (scale 0-10) using the visual analogue scale for anxiety (VASA), and immediately after receiving the injection, they plotted their experienced level of pain (scale 0-10) using the visual analogue scale for pain (VAS), with scores ≥7 defined as severe. RESULTS: Overall, 48 eyes of 48 patients aged 68.4 ± 10.3 years were included, of which 62.5% were of male gender. Severe anxiety and pain were experienced by 10.4% and 12.5%, respectively. There was a significant correlation between VASA and VAS scores (r = 0.43, p=0.002) with no other preprocedural parameters demonstrating a significant association with the VAS score. In multivariate analysis, the VASA score was the only factor that was significant (p=0.01), and a patient with a severe VASA score was 20 times more likely of experiencing severe pain (p=0.006). The ROC curve analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.89 (p < 0.001), and a VASA score >4 demonstrated a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 73.8% in predicting severe pain. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 10% of patients experience severe anxiety and pain during retrobulbar blocks. Considering the importance of compliance, reducing anxiety and premedication may be considered, particularly in high-risk patients (VASA score > 4).