Endoscopic vacuum therapy for esophageal perforation: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND : Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) is a novel treatment for esophageal perforations. This study aimed to describe initial experience with EVT of esophageal perforations due to iatrogenic cause, Boerhaave syndrome, or other perforations not related to prior upper gastrointestinal surgery. METHODS : Data from patients treated with EVT for esophageal perforation at five hospitals in three European countries, between January 2018 and October 2021, were retrospectively collected. The primary end point was successful defect closure by EVT, with or without the use of other endoscopic treatment modalities. Secondary end points included mortality and adverse events. RESULTS : 27 patients were included (median age 71 years). The success rate was 89 % (24/27, 95 %CI 77-100). EVT failed in three patients: two deceased during EVT (septic embolic stroke, pulmonary embolism) and one underwent esophagectomy due to a persisting defect. Two adverse events occurred: one iatrogenic defect expansion during sponge exchange and one hemorrhage during sponge removal. Median treatment duration was 12 days (interquartile range [IQR] 6-16) with 1 sponge exchange (IQR 1-3). CONCLUSION : EVT is a promising organ-preserving treatment for esophageal perforations, with a success rate of 89 %. More experience with the technique and indications will likely improve success rates.

Clinical parameters associated with gastric portal hypertensive polyps.

OBJECTIVES: Portal hypertensive polyps (PHPs) are incompletely characterized lesions that can be found in the distal stomach of patients with portal hypertension. We aimed to delineate clinical factors associated with the appearance of these rare polyps. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of a cohort with 513 cirrhotic patients comparing patients with and without PHP using descriptive analyses and multivariable logistic regression. To address the problem of missing values, in particular for HVPG and liver stiffness, we used multiple imputation of missing values. RESULTS: The prevalence of macroscopically diagnosed PHP was 3.3% (95% confidence interval 2.0 - 5.4%). In 53% of cases, the correct classification was missed on index gastroscopy. Patients with PHP were older at gastroscopy (65 years vs. 59), had higher hepatic venous pressure gradients (HVPG, 28 mmHg vs. 19 mmHg), higher transient elastography (TE) measurements (50.7 kPa vs. 21.8 kPa) and more often had previous rubber band ligations (RBL, 64.7% vs. 25.8%). The multivariable logistic regression on the outcome macroscopically diagnosed PHP estimated an odds ratio (OR) for HPVG of 1.13 (CI 0.95-1.34), increased liver stiffness of 1.03 (1.00 - 1.07) and previous RBL of 3.84 (1.24 - 11.88), respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PHPs in the stomach was higher than assumed in previous studies and misclassification was commonly observed. The appearance of these rare polyps is associated with previous RBL and may correlate with severity of PH. Thus, PHPs may be regarded as marker for relevant PH, but clinical significance of these polyps is still uncertain.

Preemptive Endoluminal Vacuum Therapy to Reduce Morbidity After Minimally Invasive Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy: Including a Novel Grading System for Postoperative Endoscopic Assessment of GI-Anastomoses.

OBJECTIVE: Preemptive endoluminal vacuum therapy (pEVT) is a novel concept to reduce postoperative morbidity and has the potential to disrupt current treatment paradigms for patients undergoing esophagectomy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Endoluminal vacuum therapy is an accepted treatment for AL after esophagectomy. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy with pEVT between 11/2017 and 10/2020. The sponge was removed endoscopically after 4-6 days, and anastomosis and gastric conduit were assessed according to a novel endoscopic grading system. Further management was customized according to endoscopic appearance and clinical course. Endpoints were postoperative morbidity and AL rate, defined according to the Clavien-Dindo (CD) and International Esodata Study Group classifications. RESULTS: PEVT was performed in 67 consecutive patients, 57 (85%) were high-risk patients with an ASA score >2, WHO/ECOG score >1, age >65 years, or BMI >29 kg/m2. Thirty patients experienced textbook outcome, and overall minor (≤CD IIIa) and major (≥CD IIIb) morbidity was 40.3% and 14.9% respectively. 30-day-mortality was 0%. Forty-nine patients (73%) had uneventful anastomotic healing after pEVT without further endoscopic treatment. The remaining 18 patients (27%) underwent prolonged EVT with uneventful anastomotic healing in 13 patients (19%), contained AL in 4 patients (6%), and 1 uncontained leakage (1.5%) in a case with proximal gastric conduit necrosis, resulting in an overall AL rate of 7.5%. CONCLUSIONS: PEVT is an innovative and safe procedure with a promising potential to reduce postoperative morbidity after minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy and may be particularly valuable in highly comorbid cases.

Secondary sclerosing cholangitis as cause of persistent jaundice in patients with severe COVID-19.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Little is known about cholestasis, including its most severe variant secondary sclerosing cholangitis (SSC), in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). In this study, we analysed the occurrence of cholestatic liver injury and SSC, including clinical, serological, radiological and histopathological findings. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective single-centre analysis of all consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) as a result of severe COVID-19 at the University Hospital Zurich to describe cholestatic injury in these patients. The findings were compared to a retrospective cohort of patients with severe influenza A. RESULTS: A total of 34 patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to the ICU were included. Of these, 14 patients (41%) had no cholestasis (group 0), 11 patients (32%, group 1) developed mild and 9 patients (27%, group 2) severe cholestasis. Patients in group 2 had a more complicated disease course indicated by significantly longer ICU stay (median 51 days, IQR 25-86.5) than the other groups (group 0: median 9.5 days, IQR 3.8-18.3, P = .001; and group 1: median 16 days, IQR 8-30, P < .05 respectively). Four patients in group 2 developed SSC compared to none in the influenza A cohort. The available histopathological findings suggest an ischaemic damage to the perihilar bile ducts. CONCLUSIONS: The development of SSC represents an important complication of critically ill COVID-19 patients and needs to be considered in the diagnostic work up in prolonged cholestasis. The occurrence of SSC is of interest in the ongoing pandemic since it is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality.

Lower Risk of B1-to-pB3-Stage Migration in Crohn's Disease Upon Immunosuppressive and Anti-TNF Treatment in the Swiss IBD Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: While the long-term evolution of disease behavior in Crohn's disease has been well described in the pre-anti-TNF era, our knowledge thereon remains scarce after the introduction of anti-TNF. AIMS: Our investigation examined the long-term evolution of disease concerning Montreal classification's B-stages over time in patients enrolled into the Swiss IBD Cohort Study between 2006 and 2017. METHODS: We analyzed prospectively collected SIBDCS data using a Markov model and multivariate testing for effects of treatment and other confounders on B-stage migration over time. The primary outcome was a transition in disease behavior from B1 to either B2 or pB3, or from B2 to pB3, respectively. RESULTS: The 10- and 15-year probability of remaining in B1 was 0.61 and 0.48, as opposed to a probability to migrate to B2 or B3 of 0.25 or 0.14, and 0.32 or 0.2, after 10 and 15 years, respectively. In multivariate testing, the hazard ratio for migrating from B1 to pB3 (HR 0.27) and from B2 to pB3 (HR 0.12) was lower in patients > 40 years compared to patients < 17 years. We found that immunosuppression (HR 0.38) and treatment with anti-TNF for > 1 year (HR 0.30) were associated with a decreased likelihood of transitioning from stage B1 to pB3. CONCLUSIONS: While in the anti-TNF era most patients with Crohn's disease will eventually develop stricturing and/or penetrating complications, our data indicate that immunosuppressive and anti-TNF treatment for more than 1 year reduce the risk of transitioning from stage B1 to pB3 in the long-term run.

Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) for early infradiaphragmal leakage after bariatric surgery-outcomes of six consecutive cases in a single institution.

PURPOSE: Anastomotic leakages or staple line defects after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and primary laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), respectively, with consecutive bariatric revisional surgery are associated with relevant morbidity and mortality rates. Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) with or without stent-over-sponge (SOS) has been shown to be a promising therapy in foregut wall defects of various etiologies and may therefore be applied in the treatment of postbariatric leaks. METHODS: We report the results of six consecutive patients treated with EVT (83% in combination with SOS) for early postoperative leakages in close proximity to the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) after LSG (n = 2) and RYGB (n = 4) from May 2016 to May2018. RESULTS: All patients (2/6 male, median age 51 years, median BMI 44.2 kg/m2) were treated successfully without further signs of persisting leakage at the last gastroscopy. The lesions' size ranged from 0.5 cm2 to 9 cm2, and the leaks were connected to large (max. 225 cm2) abscess cavities in 80% of the cases. Median duration of treatment (= EVT in situ) was 23.5 days (range, 7-89). The number of endoscopic interventions ranged from 1 to 24 (median, n = 7), with a median duration between vacuum sponge replacements of 4 days. CONCLUSION: EVT is an effective and safe treatment for staple line defects or anastomotic leakage after bariatric surgeries and can therefore be adopted for the treatment of midgut wall defects. Further studies with a greater number of patients comparing surgical drainage alone or in combination with EVT versus EVT alone are needed.

Prospective clinical cohort study: low incidence of Barrett esophagus but high rate of reflux disease at 5-year follow-up after sleeve gastrectomy versus Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease seems more frequent after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) than Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). Retrospective case series have raised concerns about a high incidence of Barrett esophagus (BE) after LSG. OBJECTIVE: This prospective clinical cohort study compared the incidence of BE ≥5 years after LSG and LRYGB. SETTING: St. Clara Hospital, Basel, and University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland. METHODS: Patients were recruited from 2 bariatric centers where preoperative gastroscopy is standard practice and LRYGB is preferred for patients with preexisting gastroesophageal reflux disease. At follow-up ≥5 years after surgery, patients underwent gastroscopy with quadrantic biopsies from the squamocolumnar junction and metaplastic segment. Symptoms were assessed using validated questionnaires. Wireless pH measurement assessed esophageal acid exposure. RESULTS: A total of 169 patients were included, with a median 7.0 ± 1.5 years after surgery. In the LSG group (n = 83), 3 patients had endoscopically and histologically confirmed de novo BE; in the LRYGB group (n = 86), there were 2 patients with BE, 1 de novo and 1 preexisting (de novo BE, 3.6% versus 1.2%; P = .362). At follow-up, reflux symptoms were reported more frequently by the LSG group than by the LRYGB group (51.9% versus 10.5%). Similarly, moderate-to-severe reflux esophagitis (Los Angeles grade B-D) was more common (27.7% versus 5.8%) despite greater use of proton pump inhibitors (49.4% versus 19.7%), and pathologic acid exposure was more frequent in patients who underwent LSG than in patients who underwent LRYGB. CONCLUSIONS: After at least 5 years of follow-up, a higher incidence of reflux symptoms, reflux esophagitis, and pathologic esophageal acid exposure was found in patients who underwent LSG compared with patients who underwent LRYGB. However, the incidence of BE after LSG was low and not significantly different between the 2 groups.

Permanent Tunneled Drainage of Ascites in Palliative Patients: Timing Needs Evaluation.

Background: Treatment of refractory ascites remains challenging. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of permanent tunneled peritoneal catheters (PTPC) in this condition. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients in palliative situations in a tertiary referral center. Safety parameters, symptom relief, and survival were assessed. Results: Seventy patients were included from February 2012 to January 2021. Ninety percent had ascites due to malignancy, 10% due to end-stage liver disease. The technical procedure was successful in all cases; no deaths occurred. Procedure-related infections were rare and only observed in patients without peri-interventional antibiotics. Most patients experienced symptom relief (76%) and were satisfied with the device (83%). Survival after PTPC was relatively short (median 19 days). Discussion: PTPC is a safe option for refractory ascites in palliative settings with symptom relief in the majority of patients and should be considered early after onset of ascites. Periprocedural antibiotic prophylaxis may be considered to avoid procedure-related infections.

Synonymous mutation in adenosine triphosphatase copper-transporting beta causes enhanced exon skipping in Wilson disease.

Wilson disease (WD) is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in adenosine triphosphatase copper-transporting beta (ATP7B); however, genetic testing identifies only one or no pathogenic ATP7B variant in a number of patients with WD. Synonymous single-nucleotide sequence variants have been recognized as pathogenic in individual families. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence and disease mechanism of the synonymous variant c.2292C>T (p.Phe764=) in WD. A cohort of 280 patients with WD heterozygous for a single ATP7B variant was investigated for the presence of c.2292C>T (p.Phe764=). In this cohort of otherwise genetically unexplained WD, the allele frequency of c.2292C>T (p.Phe764=) was 2.5% (14 of 560) compared to 7.1 × 10-6 in the general population (2 of 280,964 in the Genome Aggregation Database; p < 10-5 ; Fisher exact test). In an independent United Kingdom (UK) cohort, 2 patients with WD homozygous for p.Phe764= were identified. RNA analysis of ATP7B transcripts from patients homozygous or heterozygous for c.2292C>T and control fibroblasts showed that this variant caused high expression of an ATP7B transcript variant lacking exon 8. Conclusion: The synonymous ATP7B variant c.2292C>T (p.Phe764=) causes abnormal messenger RNA processing of ATP7B transcripts and is associated with WD in compound heterozygotes and homozygotes.

[Liver transplantation - when and for whom it should be performed]. / Der leberkranke Patient - wann und bei wem eine Lebertransplantation?

During the past two decades, orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) emerged to the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage liver disease. In Switzerland, about 100 liver transplantations are performed every year, while the shortage of cadaveric organs considerably outmatches the demand. Common indications for OLT include cirrhosis due to alcoholic liver disease or chronic viral hepatitis related to hepatitis B or C, and hepatocellular carcinoma. With the advent of the new allocation policy in Switzerland in 2007, patients listed for OLT are mainly stratified based on the Model of End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. Using a patient's laboratory values for serum bilirubin, serum creatinin, and the international normalized ratio for prothrombin time (INR), the MELD score accurately predicts three-month mortality among patients on the waiting list. Compared to the pre-MELD era, patients with significantly higher MELD scores undergo transplantation which leads in turn to more complications and higher costs yet with a comparable outcome. Timely referral of potential candidates to a transplant center is crucial since thorough evaluation to rule out contraindications such as uncontrolled infection, extrahepatic malignancy or advanced cardiopulmonary disease is essential. Taken together, every patient presenting with acute liver failure, decompensated cirrhosis or suspected hepatocellular carcinoma should be evaluated in a center with liver transplantation capability.

Protein-losing enteropathy as precursor of inflammatory bowel disease: a review of the literature.

We report the case of a 63-year-old female patient with liver cirrhosis who presented with symptoms of severe hypoalbuminaemia and diarrhoea. After ruling out other causes of hypoalbuminaemia and confirmation of an elevated faecal α-1 antitrypsin clearance, the diagnosis of protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) could be established. Since PLE is a syndrome caused by various diseases, classified into erosive and non-erosive gastrointestinal diseases or lymphatic obstruction, an extensive work-up was necessary, establishing the final diagnosis of Crohn's disease.

Efficient treatment of esophageal nutrition bezoars: dissolution outmatches removal-the Zurich approach.

Enteral feed bezoars are difficult to treat and can lead to serious adverse events. There is no standardized treatment approach and various strategies have been suggested. We herein describe three cases of successful dissolutions of feed bezoars consisting of Promote® Fibre Plus with sodium bicarbonate 8.4% in critically ill patients. To provide the rationale for this approach, the effect of sodium bicarbonate 8.4% on enteral feed concretions was studied in vitro. First, Promote® Fibres Plus was incubated with hydrochloric acid with gradually decreasing pH values to establish a pH at which the solution solidifies. The resulting enteral feed concretion was exposed to sodium bicarbonate 8.4% and Coca Cola®. All patients were successfully treated with sodium bicarbonate 8.4% without the need of lengthy or repeat endoscopies. In vitro, Promote® Fibres Plus solidifies when acidified below a pH of 4.6. The resulting enteral feed concretions dissolved when exposed to sodium bicarbonate 8.4%. Incubation with Coca Cola® had no effect. We provide evidence that enteral feed bezoars consisting of Promote® Fibres Plus can be efficiently and safely treated with sodium bicarbonate 8.4% offering a new approach for daily patient care.

Pre-Emptive Endoluminal Negative Pressure Therapy at the Anastomotic Site in Minimally Invasive Transthoracic Esophagectomy (the preSPONGE Trial): Study Protocol for a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Anastomotic leakage (AL) accounts for a significant proportion of morbidity following oesophagectomy. Endoluminal negative pressure (ENP) therapy via a specifically designed polyurethane foam (EsoSponge®, B.Braun Medical, Melsungen, Germany) has become the standard of care for AL in many specialized centres. The prophylactic (pENP) application of this technique aims to reduce postoperative morbidity and is a novel approach which has not yet been investigated in a prospective study. The aim of this study is therefore to assess the effect of pENP at the anastomotic site in high-risk patients undergoing minimally invasive transthoracic Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The study design is a prospective, multi-centre, two-arm, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial and will be conducted in two phases. Phase one is a randomised feasibility and safety pilot trial involving 40 consecutive patients. After definitive sample size calculation, additional patients will be included accordingly during phase two. The primary outcome of the study will be the postoperative length of hospitalization until reaching previously defined "fit for discharge criteria". Secondary outcomes will include postoperative morbidity, mortality and postoperative AL-rates based on 90-day follow-up. A confirmatory analysis based on intention-to-treat will be performed. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The ethics committee of the University of Zurich approved this study (2019-00562), which has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on 14.11.2019 (NCT04162860) and the Swiss National Clinical Trials Portal (SNCTP000003524). The results of the study will be published and presented at appropriate conferences.

ß6-Integrin Serves as a Potential Serum Marker for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Despite enormous efforts during the past decades, pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) remains one of the most deleterious cancer entities. A useful biomarker for early detection or prognosis of PAC does not yet exist. The goal of our study was the characterization of ß6-integrin (ITGB6) as a novel serum tumor marker for refined diagnosis and prognosis of PAC. Serum ITGB6 levels were analyzed in 3 independent PAC cohorts consisting of retrospectively and prospectively collected serum and/or (metastatic) PAC tissue specimens. METHODS: Using 2 independent cohorts, we measured serum ITGB6 concentrations in 10 chronic pancreatitis patients, 10 controls, as well as in 27 (cohort 1) and 24 (cohort 2) patients with PAC, respectively. In these patients, we investigated whether ITGB6 serum levels correlate with known clinical and prognostic markers for PAC and whether they might differ between patients with PAC or benign inflammatory diseases of the pancreas. RESULTS: We found that elevated serum ITGB6 levels (≥0.100 ng/mL) in patients suffering from metastasizing PAC presented an unfavorable prognostic outcome. By correlating the ITGB6 tissue expression in primary and metastatic PAC with clinical parameters, we found that positive ITGB6 expression in the tumor tissue is linked to increased serum ITGB6 levels in nonmetastatic PAC and correlates with carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and clinical outcome. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that ITGB6 might serve as a novel serum biomarker for early diagnosis and prognosis of PAC. Given the limited specificity and sensitivity of currently used carbohydrate antigen 19-9-based assays, ITGB6 may have the potential to improve the diagnostic accuracy for PAC.

Retrospective Analysis of Treatment and Complications of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Colitis: Histological Ulcerations as Potential Predictor for a Steroid-Refractory Disease Course.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Among the severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that occur with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, colitis is the most frequent one. This study aimed at describing the experience from the largest gastroenterology unit in Switzerland with immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated colitis (ICIAC), its clinical presentation, management, and outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients who were referred for the evaluation of ICIAC between January 2011 and October 2018 to the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients with immune-related colitis grade 3 or 4 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in detail: All patients had diarrhea, 64% had abdominal pain, 42% had bloody stool, 27% had emesis, and 18% developed fever. In total, 33% were successfully treated with corticosteroids alone; 66% were steroid-refractory and treated with infliximab or vedolizumab. Two of these patients developed severe complications requiring surgery. All patients reached complete remission of ICIAC and its symptoms. At colonoscopy, ulcerations were seen in 37% of steroid-refractory versus 63% of steroid-responsive cases. Deep histological ulcerations invading the submucosa were only present in steroid-refractory cases. CONCLUSION: ICIAC is a severe irAE which frequently requires high-dose steroids and a close follow-up due to deleterious complications. The detection of histologically diagnosed deep ulcerations may predict a steroid-refractory course and may warrant early application of infliximab. However, larger studies are required to confirm our findings.

Early Initiation of Anti-TNF is Associated with Favourable Long-term Outcome in Crohn's Disease: 10-Year-Follow-up Data from the Swiss IBD Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The optimal timing of treatment escalation in Crohn's disease [CD] remains a challenging issue, and very little is known about its long-term development following early versus late administration of anti-TNF antibodies. The long-term outcome of Swiss CD patients was comparatively assessed in an up to 10-year follow-up, using patients participating in the Swiss Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort Study [SIBDCS]. METHODS: Prospectively collected SIBDCS patient data, including disease history, baseline characteristics at enrolment, and course of disease, were analysed in patients with early versus late [<24 versus ≥24 months after diagnosis] and no anti-TNF treatment. RESULTS: A reduced risk of developing bowel stenosis was found in patients who received early anti-TNF treatment. This association was seen in patients overall and also in the subgroups of CD patients without pre-existing complications [Log-rank test: p < 0.001].Furthermore, osteoporosis and anaemia were observed significantly less frequently in patients who received early anti-TNF treatment, compared with either patients who received treatment late [p < 0.001 and p = 0.046, respectively] or were never [p < 0.001 for both] treated with anti-TNF antibodies. Patients with early anti-TNF administration sought medical consultations significantly less often, including gastroenterologists in private practice [p = 0.017], ambulatory [outpatient] hospital visits [p = 0.038], and a composite of any medical visits [p = 0.001]. The percentage of patients unable to work was lowest for early-anti-TNF-treated patients, in comparison with patients who were treated late or never [3.6% vs 8.8% vs 3.7%, p = 0.016]. CONCLUSIONS: In CD patients within the SIBDCS, early anti-TNF administration was found to be associated with several indicators of a more favourable long-term outcome.