Survival analyses of elderly gastric cancer patients with or without surgery.

PURPOSE: Deciding whether or not surgery should be performed for elderly patients is sometimes difficult. This study examined the prognosis of patients ≥ 80 years old with gastric cancer who underwent surgery or not. METHODS: The medical records of 111 patients who underwent surgery (surgery group) and 35 who received best supportive care (BSC group) were retrospectively reviewed, excluding those with clinical stage IVB disease, those with a performance status of 4, and those who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection. The overall survival was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The patients in the BSC group were significantly older and had worse performance status scores, worse physiological scores, and lower prognostic nutritional indexes than those in the surgery group. The patients in the surgery group showed a significantly better survival than those in the BSC group (median survival time, 38.9 vs. 11.4 months; p = 0.01) even after propensity score matching. In the subgroups of patients ≥ 90 years old and those with a performance status of 3, no marked difference in the survival between the 2 groups was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery imbued a survival benefit to elderly gastric cancer patients, except for those ≥ 90 years old and those with a performance status of ≥ 3. The surgical indication of patients ≥ 90 years old and those with a performance status of ≥ 3 requires careful deliberation.

Utility of Endoscopy in Hospitalized Patients with Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage and Pulmonary Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal hemorrhage (GIH) has been reported as one of the most common GI complications in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). There is paucity of data on the national burden of GIH in patients with PH. We aimed to assess the prevalence, trends and outcomes of endoscopic interventions in patients with PH who were admitted with GIH. METHOD: We queried National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2005 to 2014 and identified the patients hospitalized with primary or secondary discharge diagnosis of PH (ICD 9 CM Code: 416.0, 416.8, and 416.9). Using Clinical Classification Software Coding system (153) patients with concurrent diagnosis of GIH were then identified. We studied the prevalence and trends of GIH in PH, factors associated with GIH, use of endoscopy, factors associated with utilization of endoscopic interventions, endoscopy outcomes including mortality, and overall healthcare burden. RESULTS: Out of 7,586,973 PH hospitalizations 3.2% (N = 246,358) had concurrent GIH, with a rising prevalence of GIH in PH patients during the last decade. Clinical predictors for GIH in PH included older age, congestive heart failure, anticoagulation therapy and concurrent alcohol abuse. Mean length of stay (LOS) in PH patients hospitalized with GIH was significantly higher than without GIH (8.6 vs. 6.4 days, p < 0.01) along with a significant increase in hospitalization cost ($20,189 vs. $14,807, p < 0.01). Similarly, odds of in-hospital mortality increase by ~ 1.5 times in PH patients with GIH than those without it (adjusted odds ratio [aOR: 1.45, 95%CI: 1.43-1.47]). Endoscopic interventions were performed in 48.6% of patients with PH and GIH during their hospitalization. Older patients were more likely to undergo endoscopy, as well as the patients who received blood transfusion, and those with hypovolemic shock. Patients with acute respiratory failure and acute renal failure were less likely to get endoscopy. Mean LOS in patients undergoing endoscopic intervention was significantly higher than those who did not receive any intervention (8.7 vs. 8.4 days, p < 0.01), without a substantial increase in hospitalization cost ($20,344 vs. $20,041, p < 0.01). Also, there was a significant decrease in in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing endoscopic interventions. CONCLUSION: Concurrent GIH in patients with PH increases length of stay; healthcare costs and increases in-hospital mortality. Use of endoscopic interventions in these patients is associated with reduced length of stay, in-hospital mortality without significantly increasing the overall health care burden and should be considered in hospitalized patients with PH who are admitted with GIH. Future studies comparing GIH patients with and without PH should be done to assess if PH is a risk factor for worse outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: No IRB required due to use of national de-identified data.

Open colectomy vs. laparoscopic colectomy in Japan: a retrospective study using real-world data from the diagnosis procedure combination database.

PURPOSE: To compare the short-term outcomes of conventional open colectomy with those of laparoscopic colectomy for colon cancer. METHODS: We retrieved data between January 2014 and March 2016 from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. A total of 69,418 patients who underwent colectomy for colon cancer were analyzed from among 15,901,766 cases of colorectal cancer. We applied a multilevel logistic regression model using a 2-level structure of individuals nested from 1065 hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 22,440 open colectomy and 46,978 laparoscopic colectomy procedures were performed. The in-hospital mortality rate was significantly lower in the laparoscopic group than in the open group (0.28% vs. 0.06%, odds ratio [OR] 0.40, p < 0.001). Similarly, the 30-day postoperative mortality rate (0.14% vs. 0.03%, OR 0.47, p = 0.019) and surgical morbidity rate (43.0% vs. 25.3%, OR 0.47, p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the laparoscopic group than in the open group. The postoperative length of stay was significantly longer in the open group (mean difference - 5.6 days, p < 0.001) than in the open group. The admission cost was significantly greater in the open group than in the laparoscopic group (mean difference - 95,080 yen, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colectomy is safe and effective in the short term.

Acute sedation-associated complications in GI endoscopy (ProSed 2 Study): results from the prospective multicentre electronic registry of sedation-associated complications.

OBJECTIVES: Sedation has been established for GI endoscopic procedures in most countries, but it is also associated with an added risk of complications. Reported complication rates are variable due to different study methodologies and often limited sample size. DESIGNS: Acute sedation-associated complications were prospectively recorded in an electronic endoscopy documentation in 39 study centres between December 2011 and August 2014 (median inclusion period 24 months). The sedation regimen was decided by each study centre. RESULTS: A total of 368 206 endoscopies was recorded; 11% without sedation. Propofol was the dominant drug used (62% only, 22.5% in combination with midazolam). Of the sedated patients, 38 (0.01%) suffered a major complication, and overall mortality was 0.005% (n=15); minor complications occurred in 0.3%. Multivariate analysis showed the following independent risk factors for all complications: American Society of Anesthesiologists class >2 (OR 2.29) and type and duration of endoscopy. Of the sedation regimens, propofol monosedation had the lowest rate (OR 0.75) compared with midazolam (reference) and combinations (OR 1.0-1.5). Compared with primary care hospitals, tertiary referral centres had higher complication rates (OR 1.61). Notably, compared with sedation by a two-person endoscopy team (endoscopist/assistant; 53.5% of all procedures), adding another person for sedation (nurse, physician) was associated with higher complication rates (ORs 1.40-4.46), probably due to higher complexity of procedures not evident in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This large multicentre registry study confirmed that severe acute sedation-related complications are rare during GI endoscopy with a very low mortality. The data are useful for planning risk factor-adapted sedation management to further prevent sedation-associated complications in selected patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: DRKS00007768; Pre-results.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in older patients with and without dementia: Survival and ethical considerations.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Notwithstanding multiple recommendations in guidelines, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)-tube placement is still performed in patients with dementia. In this study, we aim to investigate survival in patients with and without dementia after PEG-tube placement. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study in four different hospitals in the Netherlands. Furthermore, we explored the ethical considerations that may play a role in the decision whether or not to insert a PEG tube in a patient with dementia. RESULTS: Three-hundred-and-three patients were included, mean age of 77.4 years. Forty-two (13.9%) patients had dementia. Short-term complications did not differ between patients with and without cognitive disorders (P 0.224). However, patients with dementia survived significantly shorter after PEG placement than did patients without dementia. Adjusted for age and sex, patients with dementia had a 49% increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.19). In our exploratory literature search, we found that several ethical concerns and considerations play a role in the decision process of PEG placement. These considerations are both medical and nonmedical and include beliefs regarding the benefits of a PEG tube, a lack of knowledge about the natural course of dementia in both professionals and family of patients, and a fear of letting a patient die hungry. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with dementia had higher mortality rates after PEG placement than patients without dementia. Although multiple ethical concerns and considerations play a role, insertion of a PEG tube in patients with dementia is not appropriate.

Endoscopy Is Relatively Safe in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal hemorrhage (GIH) is reported to occur in 1-8% of patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). AIS is considered to be a relative contraindication to GIE. AIMS: Evaluate the outcomes of gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) in patients hospitalized with AIS and GIH. METHODS: Patients hospitalized with AIS and GIH were included from the National Inpatient Sample 2005-2014. Primary outcome measure was in-hospital mortality in patients with AIS and GIH who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy. Secondary outcomes were (1) resource utilization as measured by length of stay (LOS) and total hospitalization costs and (2) to identify independent predictors of undergoing GIE in patients with AIS and GIH. Confounders were adjusted for by using multivariable regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 75,756 hospitalizations were included in the analysis. Using a multivariate analysis, the in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in patients who underwent GIE as compared to those who did not [aOR: 0.4, P < 0.001]. Patients who underwent GIE also had significantly shorter adjusted mean LOS [adjusted mean difference in LOS: 0.587 days, P < 0.001]. Patients with AIS and GIH who did not undergo GIE had significantly higher adjusted total hospitalization costs. [Mean adjusted difference in total hospitalization costs was $5801 (P < 0.001).] Independent predictors of undergoing GIE in this population were male gender, age > 65 years, Asian or Pacific race, hypovolemic shock, need for blood transfusion and admission to urban non-teaching hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal endoscopy can be safely performed in a substantial number of patients with AIS and GIH.

There Is No Excuse for Mortality Due to Lack of Competency and Training of Paediatric Endoscopists in Gastrointestinal Bleeding Therapy in 2018.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in children is possibly the last medical emergency which continues to lead to the death of a child due to the lack of competency/clinical judgement of the doctor, as opposed to the disease itself, leading to mortality despite optimum medical intervention. This is unacceptable in any circumstances in 2018. It occurs due to a number of conspiring factors including lack of appreciation of the clinical presentation requiring urgent endoscopic intervention; misapprehension of the urgency of timing required of such an intervention predicated on the severity of the gastrointestinal (GI) bleed; lack of application of a paediatric-specific validated score predicting for such endoscopic intervention; lack of skill in endo-haemostatic intervention techniques by paediatric endoscopists; poor training in such techniques among paediatric endoscopists; paucity of cases with lack of exposure of the paediatric endoscopist regularly to enable skills to be maintained, once acquired; reluctance of adult endoscopists in many centres to support paediatric GI bleeding services. In essence then the paediatric GI community urgently needs to identify centres of excellence to whom these children should be transferred. Transfer is safe in all but the most critical cases once stabilised with transfusion, octreotide/terlipressin and iv proton pump inhibitors. The resources are country-dependent but this is really no excuse. We must not let this parlous state of affairs continue. Solutions are explored in this article and please let this serve as a call to action for all those involved in this continuing debacle in order to save "save-able" lives.

Safety of sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy in a group of university-affiliated hospitals: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Service models for gastrointestinal endoscopy sedation must be safe, as endoscopy is the most common procedure performed under sedation in many countries. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to determine the patient risk profile, and incidence of and risk factors for significant unplanned events, in adult patients presenting for gastrointestinal endoscopy in a group of university-affiliated hospitals where most sedation is managed by anaesthetists. METHODS: Patients aged ≥18 yr presenting for elective and emergency gastrointestinal endoscopy under anaesthetist-managed sedation at nine hospitals affiliated with the University of Melbourne, Australia, were included. Outcomes included significant airway obstruction, hypoxia, hypotension and bradycardia; unplanned tracheal intubation; abandoned procedure; advanced life support; prolonged post-procedure stay; unplanned over-night admission and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: 2,132 patients were included. Fifty percent of patients were aged >60 yr, 50% had a BMI >27 kg m -2, 42% were ASA physical status III-V and 17% were emergency patients. The incidence of significant unplanned events was 23.0% (including significant hypotension 11.8%). Significant unplanned intraoperative events were associated with increasing age, BMI <18.5 kg m -2, ASA physical status III-V, colonoscopy and planned tracheal intubation. Thirty-day mortality was 1.2% (0.2% in electives and 6.0% in emergencies) and was associated with ASA physical status IV-V and emergency status. CONCLUSIONS: Patients presenting for gastrointestinal endoscopy at a group of public university-affiliated hospitals where most sedation is managed by anaesthetists, had a high risk profile and a substantial incidence of significant unplanned intraoperative events and 30-day mortality.

Endoscopic Cyanoacrylate Injection with Post-injection Audible Doppler Assessment of Gastric Varices: A Single-Institution Experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Gastric varices (GV) have higher rates of morbidity and mortality from hemorrhage than esophageal varices. Several studies have shown the safety and efficacy of cyanoacrylate (CA) injection for acute gastric variceal hemorrhage. We report data from our experience with CA injection for GV before and after routine use of post-injection audible Doppler assessment (ADA) for GV obturation and describe long-term outcomes after this therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients who had documented GV, underwent CA injection, and had at least 2 weeks of follow-up. We recorded and analyzed the survival and rebleeding rates with patient demographics, clinical data, and endoscopy findings between two groups of patients who were categorized by CA injection prior to and after inception of the ADA technique. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were identified with 16 patients analyzed in a group where ADA was not used (Pre-ADA) and 55 analyzed where ADA was used (Post-ADA). No rebleeding events were observed within 1 week of initial CA injection. No embolic events were reported after any initial CA injection within 4 weeks. The rate of bleed-free survival at 1 year was 69.6% in the Pre-ADA group and 85.8% in the Post-ADA without statistical significance. The all-cause 1-year mortality was 13.8% in the Pre-ADA group and 10.7% in the Post-ADA group without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: ADA of CA-injected GV does not appear to significantly affect adverse events or clinical outcomes; however, our findings are limited by small sample size and cohort proportions allowing for significant type II statistical error. Further prospective investigation is required to determine the impact of ADA on clinical outcomes after GV obturation.

Patient safety under deep sedation for digestive endoscopic procedures.

Deep sedation with Propofol has become popular in recent years. The safety of this technique when administered by non-anaesthesiologists has created much controversy which at times is masked in a contentious debate on the economic sustainability of the health system. In 2011, the Spanish Society of Anaesthesiology, Resuscitation and Pain Therapy, along with 20 other organisations from European countries, revoked the recommendations of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy on the administration of Propofol by non-anaesthesiologists, citing that it is "extremely dangerous for the safety and quality of endoscopic procedures". The FDA in 2005 had already rejected the use of Propofol by non-anaesthesiologists in the United States, a prohibition which was reiterated in 2010 and is still in force, basing its evidence, among others, on the recommendations and guidelines of the Joint Commission and the Declaration of Helsinki. In Spain, the data sheet of Propofol restricts the use of the drug to anaesthesiologists and intensivists in intensive care units. In our opinion, the key elements to discuss (which we develop in our paper) are those related to: a) the morbidity and mortality of sedation (which is the same as speaking about the factors that influence its safety); b) the appropriate professionals to use this technique; and c) economic aspects related to the use of said technique. Our conclusion is that a technique cannot be declared safe when a high percentage of patients present with varying respiratory depression (and therefore hypoxaemia) and hypotension. We are confident that the collaboration of the Spanish Society of Digestive Pathology and the Spanish Society of Digestive Endoscopy with the Spanish Society of Anaesthesiology, Resuscitation and Pain Therapy is the first step towards finding a satisfactory solution for everyone, and especially for our patients.

TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH COMPLICATIONS OF COLON CANCER IN CONDITIONS OF MULTIFIELD GERONTOLOGICAL HOSPITAL.

The article analyzes treatment results of 482 patients of elderly and senile age with complicated colon cancer forms who were in the hospital for war veterans at the period from 2008 to 2014. The more frequent complication of colon cancer was an acute intestinal obstruction (76,8%). Peritumorous inflammation with abscess formation was noted in 13,5% cases, hemorrhage - in 5,6% tumor perforation - in 4,1% cases. The operations were performed by conventional methods and using endovideosurgical technologies in case of complication of colon cancer. Laparoscopic operations had less volume of intraoperative hemorrhage, lower rate of postoperative complications and reduction of the level of postoperative lethality. The rate of lethality was 31,18% after conventional operations and it consisted of 1,81% after laparoscopic surgery. Total postoperative lethality was 24,5%. The maximal level of postoperative lethality was noted in cases of colon cancer complications and it had an ultimate rate (100%) in cases of perforation of locally advanced tumor.

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt for Acute Variceal Bleeding: A Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Acute variceal bleeding is the most common lethal complication of liver cirrhosis. A meta-analysis was conducted to compare the outcomes of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) to those of medical/endoscopic therapy for acute variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients. METHODS: The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for all relevant comparative studies. Odds ratios (OR) and hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI)were pooled for dichotomous and time-dependent variables, respectively. Subgroup analyses were performed according to the type of study design (randomized or nonrandomized studies), source of bleeding (esophageal or gastric varices), type of stent (covered or bare stent), and patient selection (high risk or unselected patients). RESULTS: Six papers were eligible. TIPS was superior to medical/endoscopic therapy in decreasing the incidence of treatment failure (OR=0.22; 95% CI, 0.11-0.44), improving overall survival (HR=0.55; 95% CI, 0.38-0.812), and decreasing the incidence of bleeding-related death (OR=0.19; 95% CI, 0.06-0.59). Although TIPS did not significantly decrease the incidence of rebleeding (OR=0.27; 95% CI, 0.06-1.29), it became significantly greater in the subgroup meta-analyses of randomized studies (OR=0.09; 95% CI, 0.03-0.32) than in those of nonrandomized studies (OR=0.76; 95% CI, 0.40-1.45; subgroup difference, P=0.003), and in the subgroup meta-analyses of studies including high-risk patients (OR=0.06; 95% CI, 0.01-0.23) than in those including low-risk patients (OR=0.83; 95% CI, 0.44-1.56; subgroup difference, P=0.0007). In addition, TIPS did not significantly increase the incidence of posttreatment hepatic encephalopathy (OR=1.37; 95% CI, 0.63-2.99). CONCLUSIONS: With the exception of the benefit of prevention from treatment failure, TIPS with covered stents might improve the overall survival of high-risk patients with acute variceal bleeding.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in cancer patients: predictors of 30-day complications, 30-day mortality, and overall mortality.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients benefit from percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in many ways including nutritional support and venting in cases of malignant obstruction. Lack of high-quality studies with adequate follow-up has led to limited information regarding risk stratification and predictors of morbidity and mortality. AIMS: Elucidate predictors of complications and mortality with long-term follow-up in cancer patients undergoing PEG. METHOD: Retrospective review of all patients undergoing PEG placement at MD Anderson Cancer Center from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2006. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 218 subjects underwent PEG. Those with American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) scores of 4, 4E, or 5E were at significant risk of a major complication in the first 30 days. Multivariate analysis revealed ASA scores ≥4, elevated WBC count, and advanced tumor stage to be independent predictors of mortality in the first 30 days and INR >1.5 and diversion/venting as an indication for PEG placement to be independent predictors of overall mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with high baseline illness severity are more likely to have complications and are at increased risk of mortality after PEG. Our study results suggest that particular attention be directed to ASA score, INR, WBC counts, transfusion requirements, presence of advanced malignancies, and the indication for PEG placement when determining risk of complications or death. Patients undergoing venting PEG are expected to have short post-PEG survival but improvement in quality of life likely justifies the risks associated with PEG placement.

[How safe is sedation in gastrointestinal endoscopy? A multicentre analysis of 388,404 endoscopies and analysis of data from prospective registries of complications managed by members of the Working Group of Leading Hospital Gastroenterologists (ALGK)]. / Wie sicher ist die Sedierung in der gastrointestinalen Endoskopie? Eine multizentrische Auswertung von 388 404 Endoskopien und Auswertung der Daten aus prospektiv geführten Komplikationsregistern von Mitgliedern der Arbeitsgemeinschaft leitender Gastroenterologen im Krankenhaus (ALGK).

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal endoscopies are increasingly being carried out with sedation. All of the drugs used for sedation are associated with a certain risk of complications. Data currently available on sedation-associated morbidity and mortality rates are limited and in most cases have substantial methodological limitations. The aim of this study was to record severe sedation-associated complications in a large number of gastrointestinal endoscopies. METHODS: Data on severe sedation-associated complications were collected on a multicentre basis from prospectively recorded registries of complications in the participating hospitals (median documentation period 27 months, range 9 - 129 months). RESULTS: Data for 388,404 endoscopies from 15 departments were included in the study. Severe sedation-associated complications occurred in 57 patients (0.01 %). Forty-one percent of the complications and 50 % of all complications with a fatal outcome (10/20 patients) occurred during emergency endoscopies. In addition, it was found that 95 % of the complications and 100 % of all fatal complications affected patients in ASA class ≥ 3. CONCLUSIONS: Including nearly 400,000 endoscopies, this study represents the largest prospective, multicenter record of the complications of sedation worldwide. The analysis shows that sedation is carried out safely in gastrointestinal endoscopy. The morbidity and mortality rates are much lower than previously reported in the literature in similar groups of patients. Risk factors for the occurrence of serious complications include emergency examinations and patients in ASA class ≥ 3.

Sedation-associated complications in endoscopy--prospective multicentre survey of 191142 patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Propofol sedation is applied as moderate sedation for almost all diagnostic and interventional endoscopies. Propofol sedation bears the risk of complications such as respiratory as well as cardiopulmonary insufficiency including sedation-induced death. According to recent guidelines, non-anesthesiologist-administered propofol (NAAP) should be performed by an additional person who has NAAP as their sole task. METHODS: In a prospective multicentre survey involving 191,142 patients, clinically relevant endoscopy-associated complications were registered from 02/2010 to 01/2012. RESULTS: The majority of propofol sedations were applied without additional persons for NAAP. Overall endoscopy-related complication rate was 0.0022 % (n = 424) and sedation-related complications 0.00 042 % (n = 82). Variability over time and between the clinics was low and not influenced by the number of endoscopies performed during the investigation period. Sedation-related death occurred in 6 patients (0.00 003 %), 50 % during emergency endoscopies. In all sedation-associated deaths the patients had ASA class 3 before endoscopy. All fatal complications occurred in the presence of an additional trained person for NAAP. CONCLUSION: This large prospective survey shows that propofol sedation in gastrointestinal endoscopy is a safe procedure with a low potential of risk in daily routine. However, high risk patients (ASA ≥ 3) should be identified, especially before emergency endoscopies and managed by additional persons for NAAP and under intensive care surveillance.

Submucosal tumors: comprehensive guide for the diagnosis and therapy of gastrointestinal submucosal tumors.

Small submucosal tumors (SMT) without symptoms are frequently found by endoscopic and radiological examinations. To find proper diagnostic measures and therapeutic indications for histologically undiagnosed SMT, we reviewed published articles in PubMed between 1990 and March 2013 using the key words 'submucosal tumor' and the name of a specific disease. SMT is observed in a wide range of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and conditions, including compression by extra-GI organs and lesions, congenital tumors, inflammation, and benign as well as malignant neoplastic lesions. In the diagnosis of diseases and decision-making for therapy, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) may play a key role. Symptomatic SMT and SMT histologically diagnosed as malignant or potentially malignant tumors such as gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) should be treated by surgery. SMT >5 cm, SMT increasing in size and those with'high-risk features' including irregular border, heterogeneous internal echo such as anechoic area, and heterogeneous enhancement by contrast media may also be removed by surgery. Laparoscopic approach is feasible for gastric GIST <5 cm and this is considered less invasive than the open approach. Emerging techniques using flexible endoscopes appear less invasive, but require further evidence and are still under clinical study. Correct diagnosis of SMT is challenging; however, EUS and EUS-FNA are useful in the histological diagnosis and clinical decision-making. In the future, minimally invasive approaches may be a mainstream of surgical treatment for small SMT.

[The role of endoscopy in the therapy for perforations and leakages of the gastrointestinal tract]. / Endoskopische Therapieoptionen für Perforationen und Insuffizienzen des Gastrointestinaltrakts.

Perforations and leakages of hollow organs of the gastrointestinal tract can occur spontaneously among other causes. They can also develop as complications of an endoscopic intervention or after surgical construction of an anastomosis. For the patient, these situations usually are serious and life-threatening. Standard therapy has always been - and most of the time still is - major surgery. These procedures usually are technically difficult and their mortality and morbidity are not satisfactory due to, among others, the occurrence of local infections. Thus, various endoscopic techniques as therapy for perforations and leakages have been developed over the last years. These include above all the endoscopic placement of clip systems and stents and the relatively new vacuum drainage systems. In case of perforations and leakages of the bile duct and the rectum especially, these minimal invasive techniques are widely used, also increasingly in lesions of the esophagus. However, these new, endoscopic procedures suffer from a lack of evidence. This paper highlights the possibilities and limitations of endoscopic options in therapy for perforations and leakages of organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

[Prognostic factors in patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy].

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) serves as a major artificial hydration/feeding method in the terminal care of elderly patients. We surveyed the state of patients who underwent PEG at our hospital and investigated the clinical characteristics of patients in the long-term survival group, and the short-term survival group. METHODS: The subjects were 125 patients who underwent PEG at our hospital between January 2007 and June 2011. Two kinds of examination were performed. In the first examination, subjects were divided into a short-term group of 37 patients who survived <181 days and a long-term group of 88 patients who survived ≥181 days. In the second examination, subjects were divided into 2 purpose-oriented groups: a prolongation of life group of 76 patients and a being able to eat group of 49 patients. We analyzed the clinical records of these patients and conducted a telephone-based survey. RESULTS: In the short-term group, there were many cases of PEG after hospitalization due to medical diseases such as pneumonia. In the long-term group, many subjects were young, female, suffered from recurrence of cranial nerve disease, or slowly developed dysphagia. The involvement of rehabilitation doctors, the rate of undergoing rehabilitation for dysphagia, and cases who were able to achieve oral ingestion were significantly high. Of 49 patients who underwent PEG with the aim of being able to eat, 24 achieved oral ingestion. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that involving rehabilitation doctors and undergoing rehabilitation for swallowing effectively promote long-term survival after PEG.

Endoscopic vs. laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy for duodenal obstruction: a randomized study in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Open or laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy is an established treatment for malignant duodenal obstruction but may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to develop a model for an entirely endoscopic gastrojejunostomy to treat duodenal obstruction, and to compare this with the laparoscopic technique. METHODS: During the first part of the study the endoscopic technique was developed and tested in porcine nonsurvival and survival experiments (n=12). During the second part of the study (n=10), endoscopic gastrojejunostomy for duodenal occlusion was compared with laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy in a survival randomized controlled trial (RCT). For both groups duodenal occlusion was achieved by the laparoscopic approach. RESULTS: In the RCT, the median times for laparoscopic vs. endoscopic gastrojejunostomy were 70 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] 65-75) vs. 210 minutes (IQR 197-220; P=0.01). There was a trend toward increased anastomotic diameter at necropsy in the laparoscopic group (2 cm, IQR 2-3) compared to the endoscopic group (1.8 cm, IQR 1.6-1.8; P=0.06). One animal in the endoscopic group died secondarily to bowel ischemia from volvulus of the jejunal loop. One animal in the laparoscopic group was prematurely sacrificed due to extensive pulmonary congestion and edema. All anastomoses were intact and patent. CONCLUSIONS: Purely endoscopic gastrojejunostomy using the developed technique and devices is feasible and can result in adequate relief of duodenal obstruction. Endoscopic anastomoses tend to be smaller than laparoscopic anastomoses, with the procedures being more time-consuming and associated with higher complication rates.

Upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy mortality: the medical examiner's perspective.

Fiberoptic endoscopy is utilized to diagnose and treat a wide variety of gastrointestinal tract diseases and is currently one of the most commonly performed invasive medical procedures. Though generally considered to be safe, the procedure may be associated with serious complications including death. Herein, we correlate the clinical history with the autopsy findings in gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) related fatalities that were reported to the New York City Medical Examiner Office over a 5 year period. The complication rate is higher in therapeutic procedures when compared to diagnostic procedures. Though fatalities following iatrogenic complications are four times more common, emphasis is placed on patients who died following a cardiorespiratory event during or immediately following the procedure. Of 41 upper and 36 lower GIE related fatalities, 10 and 9 respectively, fit this category. The comorbidities frequently associated with fatal cardiorespiratory events were: hypertension and obesity with associated cardiac hypertrophy, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery atherosclerosis. For colonoscopies, the approximate incidence of perforation was 0.00625% and the procedure-related fatality rate was 0.014%. The literature on anesthesia for GIE is also discussed.