Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic fluid collection drainage: Where are we?

Pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) result from injury to the pancreas from acute or chronic pancreatitis, surgery, or trauma. Management of these collections has evolved over the last 2 decades. The choice of interventions includes percutaneous, endoscopic, minimally invasive surgery, or a combined approach. Endoscopic drainage is the drainage of PFCs by creating an artificial communication between the collection and gastrointestinal lumen that is maintained by placing a stent across the fistulous tract. In this editorial, we endeavored to update the current status of endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of PFCs.

Corrosive induced esophageal and gastric injury: Histopathological evaluation of surgically resected specimens over a decade in a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND: Caustic ingestion is associated with long-term sequelae like esophageal stricture, gastric cicatrization, and long-term risk of dysplasia or even carcinoma. However, only a few small studies have explored histopathological aspects of caustic-induced esophageal/gastric injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated specimens of patients undergoing surgery due to caustic ingestion-related complications from 2008 to 2020. Pathological examination was conducted by two independent gastro-pathologists to evaluate the extent and depth of the caustic injury, presence or absence of tissue necrosis, type and degree of inflammation, or presence of any dysplastic cells. RESULTS: A total of 54 patients underwent surgical exploration during the inclusion period and complete details of 39 specimens could be retrieved. The mean age of the included patients was 28.66 ± 9.31 years and 25 (64.1%) were male. The majority of patients (30; 76.9%) had a history of caustic ingestion more than three months before the surgery and the presence of long or refractory stricture was the most common indication for the surgery (20; 51.28%). In the resected specimen, a majority of patients had superficial esophageal or gastric ulcer (90.6%; 60.0%), transmural inflammation (68.8%; 65.6%), transmural fibrosis (62.5%; 34.4%), and hypertrophied muscularis mucosa (78.13%; 53.3%). However, none of the patients had dysplasia in the resected esophageal or gastric specimens. CONCLUSION: Caustic ingestion leads to mucosal ulceration, transmural inflammation, and transmural fibrosis which might be the reason for refractory stricture in such patients.

Validation of no-biopsy pathway for the diagnosis of celiac disease in Asian adults: a multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: While European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition advocates a no-biopsy pathway for the diagnosis of celiac disease (CeD) in children if IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody (anti-tTG ab) titer is ≥10-fold upper limit of normal (ULN) and have a positive IgA anti-endomysial antibody (EMA); the data for anti-tTG Ab titer-based diagnosis of CeD in adults is still emerging. We planned to validate if IgA anti-tTG Ab titer ≥10-fold predicts villous abnormalities of modified Marsh grade ≥2 in Asian adult patients with CeD. METHODS: We recruited 937 adult patients with positive anti-tTG Ab from two databases, including AIIMS Celiac Clinic and Indian National Biorepository. The diagnosis of definite CeD was made on the basis of a positive anti-tTG Ab and the presence of villous abnormalities of modified Marsh grade ≥2. RESULTS: Of 937 adult patients with positive anti-tTG Ab, 889 (91.2%) showed villous abnormalities of modified Marsh grade ≥2. Only 47.6% of 889 adults with CeD had anti- tTG Ab titers of ≥10-fold. The positive predictive value (PPV) and specificity of anti tTG Ab titer ≥10-fold for predicting modified Marsh grade ≥2 were 99.8% and 98%, respectively. At anti-tTG Ab titer ≥11-fold, specificity and PPV were 100% for predicting villous abnormalities of modified Marsh grade ≥2. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 50% of adults with CeD may benefit from the no biopsy pathway, reducing the health burden and risks of gastroscopy/anesthesia.

Imaging Diagnosis and Management of Fistulas in Pancreatitis.

Pancreatic fistula is a highly morbid complication of pancreatitis. External pancreatic fistulas result when pancreatic secretions leak externally into the percutaneous drains or external wound (following surgery) due to the communication of the peripancreatic collection with the main pancreatic duct (MPD). Internal pancreatic fistulas include communication of the pancreatic duct (directly or via intervening collection) with the pleura, pericardium, mediastinum, peritoneal cavity, or gastrointestinal tract. Cross-sectional imaging plays an essential role in the management of pancreatic fistulas. With the help of multiplanar imaging, fistulous tracts can be delineated clearly. Thin computed tomography sections and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography images may demonstrate the communication between MPD and pancreatic fluid collections or body cavities. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) is diagnostic as well as therapeutic. In this review, we discuss the imaging diagnosis and management of various types of pancreatic fistulas with the aim to sensitize radiologists to timely diagnosis of this critical complication of pancreatitis.

Endoscopic dilation with bougies versus balloons in caustic esophageal strictures: 17-year experience from a tertiary care center.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic dilation is the preferred management strategy for caustic esophageal strictures (CES). However, the differences in outcome for different dilators are not clear. We compared the outcome of CES using bougie and balloon dilators. METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2016, the following data of all the patients with CES were collected: demographic parameters, substance ingestion, number of strictures, number of dilations required to achieve ≥ 14 mm dilation, post-dilation recurrence, and total dilations. Patients were divided into two groups for the type of dilator, i.e., bougie or balloon. The two groups were compared for baseline parameter, technical success, short- and long-term clinical success, refractory strictures, recurrence rates, and major complications. RESULTS: Of the 189 patients (mean age 32.17 ± 12.12 years) studied, 119 (62.9%) were males. 122 (64.5%) patients underwent bougie dilation and 67 (35.5%) received balloon dilation. Technical success (90.1% vs. 68.7%, p < 0.001), short-term clinical success (65.6% vs. 46.3%, p value 0.01), and long-term clinical success (86.9% vs. 64.2%, p < 0.01) were higher for bougie dilators compared to balloon dilators. Twenty-four (12.7%) patients developed adverse events which were similar for two groups. On multivariate analysis, use of bougie dilators (aOR 4.868, 95% CI 1.027-23.079), short-term clinical success (aOR 5.785, 95% CI 1.203-27.825), and refractory strictures (aOR 0.151, 95% CI 0.033-0.690) were independent predictors of long-term clinical success. CONCLUSION: Use of bougie dilators is associated with better clinical success in patients with CES compared to balloon dilators with similar rates of adverse events.

Frequent guidewire passage into the pancreatic duct is an independent risk factor for postendoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) among high-risk individuals: A post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial data.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically evaluate the patient and procedural risk factors for post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) among patients receiving rectal indomethacin. METHODS: Data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of high-risk patients undergoing ERCP who received rectal indomethacin with or without topical epinephrine was evaluated. PEP was defined based on the consensus criteria. Pancreatic stenting was excluded to avoid confounding results with the role of epinephrine spray. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify patient and procedural risk factors for PEP. RESULTS: Among 960 patients enrolled in the RCT, the PEP incidence was 6.4%. An increased risk of PEP was seen with age <50 years and female gender (odds ratio [OR] 2.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35-4.26), malignant biliary stricture(s) (OR 3.51, 95% CI 1.52-8.10), >2 guidewire passes into the pancreatic duct (PD) (OR 2.84, 95% CI 1.43-5.64), and pancreatic brush cytology (OR 6.37, 95% CI 1.10-36.90), whereas a decreased risk of PEP was seen with contrast- over guidewire-assisted cannulation (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.02-0.99) and the use of lactated Ringer's (LR) over other fluid types (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.27-0.98). There was a significant trend between the number of guidewire passes into the PD and PEP risk (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: More than two guidewire passes into the PD and pancreatic brush cytology increased while the use of LR decreased the risk of PEP among high-risk patients receiving rectal indomethacin. Pancreatic stent placement and/or LR should be considered in patients with >2 guidewire passes into the PD.

Emergency surgical intervention in acute corrosive ingestion: single-center experience from India.

BACKGROUND: Surgical intervention for acute corrosive injury is often required. It is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Sparce data is available on the types and timing of surgery after acute corrosive ingestion and complications associated with the same. METHODS: This is a retrospective single-center study from a tertiary care center in India. All patients who underwent surgical exploration after acute corrosive intake between January 2003 and June 2014 were enrolled in the study. Data on patients' presentation, their endoscopic findings, indications of surgery, type of surgery and post-operative follow-up was retrieved. RESULTS: Out of 170 patients who presented with acute corrosive ingestion, 24 patients (14.11%) required emergency surgery. The mean interval between ingestion and surgery was 9.92 ± 9.03 days. Presence of peritonitis was the most common indication for surgery (n = 10; 41.7%) followed by mediastinitis (n = 7; 29.2%). A total of 17 resectional and 7 non-resectional procedures were performed. Thirteen (54%) patients succumbed to their illness post-operatively due to multi-organ failure (n = 9), refractory shock (n = 3) or pulmonary thromboembolism (n = 1). Patients with early surgery (≤7 days) after corrosive ingestion had similar mortality compared to patients with late surgery (>7 days) (50% versus 67%; P = 0.30). Of the 11 surviving patients, eight patients (72%) underwent successful reconstructive surgery on follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency surgery after corrosive ingestion carries high morbidity and mortality. However, after the initial stormy acute phase, majority of patients can undergo successful reconstructive surgery on follow-up.

Position statement from the Indian Society of Gastroenterology, Cardiological Society of India, Indian Academy of Neurology and Vascular Society of India on gastrointestinal bleeding and endoscopic procedures in patients on antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant therapy.

Antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant agents (collectively known as antithrombotic agents) are used to reduce the risk of thromboembolic events in patients with conditions such as atrial fibrillation, acute coronary syndrome, recurrent stroke prevention, deep vein thrombosis, hypercoagulable states and endoprostheses. Antithrombotic-associated gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is an increasing burden due to the growing population of advanced age with multiple comorbidities and the expanding indications for the use of antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants. GI bleeding in antithrombotic users is associated with an increase in short-term and long-term mortality. In addition, in recent decades, there has been an exponential increase in the use of diagnostic and therapeutic GI endoscopic procedures. Since endoscopic procedures hold an inherent risk of bleeding that depends on the type of endoscopy and patients' comorbidities, in patients already on antithrombotic therapies, the risk of procedure-related bleeding is further increased. Interrupting or modifying doses of these agents prior to any invasive procedures put these patients at increased risk of thromboembolic events. Although many international GI societies have published guidelines for the management of antithrombotic agents during an event of GI bleeding and during urgent and elective endoscopic procedures, no Indian guidelines exist that cater to Indian gastroenterologists and their patients. In this regard, the Indian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG), in association with the Cardiological Society of India (CSI), Indian Academy of Neurology (IAN) and Vascular Society of India (VSI), have developed a "Guidance Document" for the management of antithrombotic agents during an event of GI bleeding and during urgent and elective endoscopic procedures.

Controversies in the management of acute pancreatitis: An update.

This review summarized the current controversies in the management of acute pancreatitis (AP). The controversies in management range from issues involving fluid resuscitation, nutrition, the role of antibiotics and antifungals, which analgesic to use, role of anticoagulation and intervention for complications in AP. The interventions vary from percutaneous drainage, endoscopy or surgery. Active research and emerging data are helping to formulate better guidelines. The available evidence favors crystalloids, although the choice and type of fluid resuscitation is an area of dynamic research. The nutrition aspect does not have controversy as of now as early enteral feeding is preferred most often than not. The empirical use of antibiotics and antifungals are gray zones, and more data is needed for conclusive guidelines. The choice of analgesic is being studied, and the recommendations are still evolving. The position of using anticoagulation is still awaiting consensus. The role of intervention is well established, although the modality is constantly changing and favoring endoscopy or percutaneous drainage rather than surgery. It is evident that more multicenter randomized controlled trials are required for establishing the standard of care in these crucial management issues of AP to improve the morbidity and mortality worldwide.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Clinical Response to Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage in Acute Cholangitis.

Background: Predicting response to biliary drainage is critical to stratify patients with acute cholangitis. Total leucocyte count (TLC) is one of the criteria for predicting the severity of cholangitis and is routinely performed. We aim to investigate the performance of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting clinical response to percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) in acute cholangitis. Patients and methods: This retrospective study comprised consecutive patients with acute cholangitis who underwent PTBD and had serial (baseline, day 1, and day 3) TLC and NLR measurements. Technical success, complications of PTBD, and clinical response to PTBD (based on multiple outcomes) were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors significantly associated with clinical response to PTBD. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of serial TLC and NLR for predicting clinical response to PTBD were calculated. Results: Forty-five patients (mean age 51.5 years, range 22-84) met the inclusion criteria. PTBD was technically successful in all the patients. Eleven (24.4%) minor complications were recorded. Clinical response to PTBD was recorded in 22 (48.9%) patients. At univariate analysis, the clinical response to PTBD was significantly associated with baseline TLC (P = 0.035), baseline NLR (P = 0.028), and NLR at day 1 (P=0.011). There was no association with age, the presence of comorbidities, prior endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, admission to PTBD interval, diagnosis (benign vs. malignant), severity of cholangitis, organ failure at baseline, and blood culture positivity. At multivariate analysis, NLR-1 independently predicted the clinical response. Area under the curve of NLR at day 1 for predicting clinical response was 0.901. NLR-1 cut-off value of 3.95 was associated with sensitivity and specificity of 87% and 78%, respectively. Conclusion: TLC and NLR are simple tests that can predict clinical response to PTBD in acute cholangitis. NLR-1 cut-off value of 3.95 can be used in clinical practice to predict response.

Early vs. late percutaneous catheter drainage of acute necrotic collections in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis.

PURPOSE: It is recommended to drain the pancreatic fluid collections later in the course of the acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). However, earlier drainage may be indicated. We compared early (≤ 2 weeks) vs. late (3rd to 4th week) percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) of acute necrotic collections (ANC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study comprised ANP patients who underwent PCD of ANC. The diagnosis of ANP was based on revised Atlanta classification criteria and computed tomography performed between 5 and 7 days of illness. Patients were divided into two groups [1st 2 weeks (group I) and 3rd-4th weeks (group II)] based on the interval between the onset of pain and insertion of catheter. The technical success, clinical success, complications, and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: One hundred forty-eight patients (74 in each group) were evaluated. The procedures were technically successful in all patients. The clinical success rate was 67.6% in group I vs. 77% in group II (p = 0.069). The incidence of complications was significantly higher in group I (n = 12, 16%) than group II (n = 4, 5.4%) (p = 0.034). These included 15 minor (11 in group I and 4 in group II) and one major complication (group I). Of the clinical outcomes, the need for surgery was significantly higher in group I than in group II (13 patients vs. 5 patients, p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: Early PCD is as technically successful as late PCD in the management of ANC. However, early PCD is associated with higher surgical rate and higher incidence of complications.

MTBDRplus and MTBDRsl for simultaneous diagnosis of gastrointestinal tuberculosis and detection of first-line and second-line drug resistance.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Emergence of drug resistance, especially to second-line drugs, hampers tuberculosis elimination efforts. The present study aimed to evaluate MTBDRplus and MTBDRsl assays for detecting first-line and second-line drug resistance, respectively, in gastrointestinal tuberculosis (GITB). METHODS: Thirty ileocecal biopsy specimens, processed in the Department of Microbiology between 2012 and 2022, that showed growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on culture were included in the study. DNA, extracted from culture, was subjected to MTBDRplus and MTBDRsl (Hain Lifescience GmbH, Nehren, Germany), following manufacturer's instructions. Their performance was compared against phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (pDST) and gene sequencing. RESULTS: Out of the 30 specimens, 4 (13.33%) were mono-isoniazid resistant, 4 (13.33%) were multidrug resistant (MDR), 2 (6.67%) were pre-extensively drug resistant (pre-XDR), and 2 (6.67%) were mono-fluoroquinolone resistant. The results were 100% concordant with pDST and gene sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: In the wake of growing drug resistance in all forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, including GITB, MTBDRplus and MTBDRsl are reliable tools for screening of resistance to both first-line and second-line drugs.

Dynamics of Serum Procalcitonin Can Predict Outcome in Patients of Infected Pancreatic Necrosis: A Prospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Timely intervention can alter outcome in patients of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) but lacks adequate biomarker. Role of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in the management of IPN is understudied, and hence, this study was planned. METHODOLOGY: All patients of acute pancreatitis with IPN without prior intervention were included. Baseline demographic, radiological and laboratory parameters were documented. PCT was measured at baseline, prior to intervention, and thereafter every 72 h. Patients were grouped into those having baseline PCT < 1.0 ng/mL and those with PCT ≥ 1.0 ng/mL and various outcome measures were compared. RESULTS: Of the 242 patients screened, 103 cases (66 males; 64.1%) with IPN were grouped into 2: PCT < 1.0 ng/mL (n = 29) and PCT ≥ 1.0 ng/mL (n = 74). Patients with baseline PCT ≥ 1.0 ng/mL had significantly more severe disease scores. 16 out of 19 patients with rise in PCT on day-7 post-intervention expired. PCT ≥ 1.0 ng/mL group had higher need for ICU (p = 0.001) and mortality (p = 0.044). PCT > 2.25 ng/mL (aOR 22.56; p = 0.013) at baseline and failure in reduction of PCT levels to < 60% of baseline at day-7 post-intervention (aOR 53.76; p = 0.001) were significant mortality predictors. CONCLUSION: Baseline PCT > 1.0 ng/mL is associated with poor outcome. PCT > 2.25 ng/mL and failure in reduction of PCT levels to < 60% of its baseline at day-7 post-intervention can identify high-mortality risk patients.

EUS-guided biliary drainage in patients with moderate-severe cholangitis is safe and effective: a multi-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Patients with moderate-severe cholangitis require urgent/early biliary drainage and failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) warrants use of percutaneous drainage. While endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has evolved as an effective salvage modality but its safety and efficacy data in moderate-severe cholangitis are limited. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All consecutive moderate-severe cholangitis patients, with failed/technically non-feasible ERCP requiring EUS-BD in two tertiary care centers were included. Baseline laboratory and demographic parameters were documented. Technical and clinical success were primary outcome measures. Additionally, effective biliary drainage, adverse events due to procedure, hospital stay, ICU stay, and mortality were noted. RESULTS: Of the 49 patients (23 male; 46.9%) presenting with moderate/severe cholangitis, 23 (46.9%) had severe cholangitis. The median Charleston comorbidity index was 7.0 (IQR 2.0). Majority had malignant disease (87.8%) and 25 (51.0%) had inaccessible papilla. Technical success was achieved in 48 cases (98.0%), while clinical success with improvement of cholangitis was noted in 44 of 48 cases (91.7%). Effective biliary drainage was noted in 85.4% (41/48) cases. Adverse events in the form of mostly bleeding and bile leak were noted in 5 cases (10.2%) but managed conservatively. Distal obstruction exhibited significantly better clinical success (100% vs. 78.9%; p = 0.02) than hilar obstruction. Severe cholangitis had significantly lower clinical success (81.8% vs. 100%; p = 0.04) than moderate cholangitis. CONCLUSION: EUS-BD can be a safe and effective alternative option for patients with moderate to severe cholangitis, even with significant pre-morbid conditions, with acceptable adverse events rate.

"Impact of Preoperative Biliary Drainage in Patients Undergoing Pancreaticoduodenectomy" - a Prospective Comparative Study from a Tertiary Care Centre in India.

Preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) was primarily introduced to reduce perioperative complications following hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeries. There is no proper consensus on the routine use of PBD before pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). This is a prospective observational study of patients who underwent PD between July 2013 and December 2014. The study group was divided into two groups based on whether a preoperative biliary drainage was performed or not. The intraoperative and postoperative complications were compared among the two groups. A total of 59 patients, predominantly males (64.4%) with a median age of 58 years, were included in study. All except 5 (8.5%) had undergone PD for periampullary malignancy. Thirty-eight patients (64.4%) underwent an upfront PD and the remaining 21 (35.5%) had undergone PBD. Cholangitis was the indication for PBD in all patients. The mean operative time (307.89 ± 52.51 min vs. 314.29 ± 36.273; p value = 0.62) and postoperative complications like delayed gastric emptying (63.2% vs. 61.9%; p value-0.924), postoperative pancreatic fistula (21.1% vs. 33.3%; p value 0.3), post-pancreaticoduodenectomy haemorrhage (5.3% vs. 9.5%; p value-0.611) and mean in-hospital stay were comparable among two groups. Even though the incidence of positive intraoperative bile cultures is significantly higher among the stented group (95.2% vs. 26.3%; p value = 0.0), no significant difference in surgical site infections (47.6% vs. 28.9%; p value 0.152) was noted. The overall mortality was 1.7% (1/59; grade C PPH). This study showed no significant difference in the postoperative complications following PBD despite increase in bile culture positivity. However, notable differences in the spectrum of microbial growths between stented and non-stented groups were observed.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of solid pancreatic head lesions: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differential diagnosis of solid pancreatic head lesions (SPHL). METHODS: This prospective study comprised consecutive patients with SPHL who underwent CEUS evaluation of the pancreas. Findings recorded at CEUS were enhancement patterns (degree, completeness, centripetal enhancement, and percentage enhancement) and presence of central vessels. In addition, time to peak (TTP) and washout time (WT) were recorded. The final diagnosis was based on histopathology or cytology. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify parameters that were significantly associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients (median age 53.8 years, 59 males) were evaluated. The final diagnosis was PDAC (n = 64, 65.3%), inflammatory mass (n = 16, 16.3%), neuroendocrine tumor (NET, n = 14, 14.3%), and other tumors (n = 4, 4.1%). Hypoenhancement, incomplete enhancement, and centripetal enhancement were significantly more common in PDAC than non-PDAC lesions (p = 0.001, p = 0.031, and p = 0.002, respectively). Central vessels were present in a significantly greater number of non-PDAC lesions (p = 0.0001). Hypoenhancement with < 30% enhancement at CEUS had sensitivity and specificity of 80.6% and 67.7%, respectively, for PDAC. There was no significant difference in the TTP and WT between PDAC and non - PDAC lesions. However, the WT was significantly shorter in PDAC compared to NET (p = 0.011). In multivariate analysis, lack of central vessels was significantly associated with a PDAC diagnosis. CONCLUSION: CEUS is a useful tool for the evaluation of SPHL. CEUS can be incorporated into the diagnostic algorithm to differentiate PDAC from non-PDAC lesions. KEY POINTS: • Hypoenhancement and incomplete enhancement at CEUS were significantly more common in PDAC than in non-PDAC. • Central vessels at CEUS were significantly associated with PDAC. • There was no difference in TTP and WT between PDAC and non-PDAC lesions.

Role of Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage as an Adjunct to Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography.

Background: There is limited literature on the role of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) as an adjunct to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This study evaluates the role of PTBD in patients with failed ERCP or post-ERCP cholangitis. Methods: Retrospective evaluation of clinical and intervention records of patients with biliary obstruction referred for PTBD following failed ERCP or post-ERCP cholangitis was performed. The cause of biliary obstruction, baseline serum bilirubin, white blood cell (WBC) count, serum creatinine, and procalcitonin were recorded. Technical success and clinical success (resolution of cholangitis, reduction in bilirubin levels, WBC count, creatinine, and procalcitonin) were assessed. Results: Sixty-three patients (35 females, mean age 51.4 years) were included. Indications for ERCP included malignant causes in 47 (74.6%) cases and benign causes in 16 (25.4%) cases. Indications for PTBD were failed ERCP in 21 (33.3%) and post-ERCP cholangitis in 42 (66.7%). PTBD was technically successful in all patients. Clinical success rate was 68.2% in the overall group. Mild hemobilia was noted in five (7.9%) patients. There were no major complications or PTBD related mortality. Cholangitis and acute kidney injury resolved following PTBD in 63.1% and 80% of the patients, respectively. Total serum bilirubin reduced by 47.8% and 69.4% after one week and one month of the PTBD, respectively. The average fall in procalcitonin was 5.17 ng/mL after one week of the PTBD. Conclusion: PTBD is an important adjunctive drainage procedure in patients with ERCP failure or post-ERCP cholangitis.

Evaluating diagnostic performance of Truenat MTB Plus for gastrointestinal tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Prompt and accurate diagnosis of gastrointestinal tuberculosis (GITB) along with simultaneous detection of drug resistance is inevitable for tuberculosis elimination. Truenat MTB Plus (TruPlus), a chip-based real-time polymerase chain reaction assay, was evaluated for the first time for diagnosing GITB and detecting rifampicin resistance. METHODS: Fifty ileocecal biopsy specimens (5 microbiologically confirmed GITB [culture-positive], 25 clinically confirmed GITB [culture-negative], and 20 control patients) processed in the Department of Microbiology between 2011 and 2021 were subjected to TruPlus assay, Xpert MTB RIF assay multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Their performance was evaluated against both culture and composite reference standard. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity and specificity of TruPlus in diagnosing GITB was 70% (21/30) and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity was 60% (3/5) for microbiologically confirmed cases and 72% (18/25) for clinically confirmed cases. Performance of TruPlus was superior to Xpert (sensitivity = 30%; P = 0.001) and comparable with MPCR (sensitivity = 83.33%; P = 0.13). Both TruPlus and MPCR had moderate agreement with reference standards, and MPCR detected additional three cases. Both TruPlus and Xpert correctly reported Rifampicin resistance in three cases. CONCLUSIONS: TruPlus, with its greater portability and higher sensitivity than Xpert, could serve as an important tool for diagnosing GITB and rifampicin resistance at outreach endemic areas.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Drainage of Patients With Infected Walled-off Necrosis: Which Stent to Choose?

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage is the preferred treatment of pancreatic fluid collections (PFC). However, the choice of the stent for EUS-guided drainage in critically ill PFC cases with infected walled-off necrosis (WON) and/or organ failure (OF) remains unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2018 and December 2019, consecutive patients with symptomatic PFC subjected to EUS-guided drainage using biflanged metal stents (BFMS) or double-pigtail plastic stents (DPPS) were compared for technical success, clinical success, duration of the procedure, need for intensive care unit stay, duration of intensive care unit stay, ventilator need, resolution of OF, the duration for resolution of OF, complications, need for salvage percutaneous drainage or surgery and mortality. A subgroup of patients having infected WON with/without OF were analyzed separately. RESULTS: Among 120 patients (84.6% males) with PFC (108 WON, 22 pseudocyst) who underwent EUS-guided drainage, there was no difference in outcome parameters in BFMS and DPPS groups. Among patients with WON, clinical success was significantly higher (96.2% vs. 81.8%, P=0.04), with significantly shorter hospital stay (6 vs. 10 d) and procedure duration (17.18±4.6 vs. 43.6±9.7 min, P<0.0001) in the BFMS group. Among patients with infected WON with/without OF, the clinical success was significantly higher (100% vs. 73.9%, P=0.02), and the duration of the procedure was significantly lower (16.28±4.4 vs. 44.39±10.7, P<0.0001) in BFMS compared with DPPS group. CONCLUSION: EUS-guided drainage of WON using BFMS scores over DPPS. In patients having infected WON with/without OF, BFMS may be preferred over DPPS.

Value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in evaluating response to percutaneous catheter drainage in patients with acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Early prediction of response to percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) of necrotic collections in acute pancreatitis (AP) using simple and objective tests is critical as it may determine patient prognosis. The role of white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has not been assessed as a tool of early prediction of PCD success and is the focus of this study. AIM: To assess the value of WBC and NLR in predicting response to PCD in AP. METHODS: This retrospective study comprised consecutive patients with AP who underwent PCD between June 2018 and December 2019. Severity and fluid collections were classified according to the revised Atlanta classification and organ failure was defined according to the modified Marshall Score. WBC and NLR were monitored 24 h prior PCD (WBC-0/NLR-0) and 24 h (WBC-1/NLR-1), 48 h (WBC-2/NLR-2) and 72 h (WBC-3/NLR-3) after PCD. NLR was calculated by dividing the number of neutrophils by the number of lymphocytes. The association of success of PCD (defined as survival without the need for surgery) with WBC and NLR was assessed. The trend of WBC and NLR was also assessed post PCD. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-five patients [median age 40 ± 13.6 (SD), 64.5% males, 53.5% severe AP] were included in the final analysis. PCD was done for acute necrotic collection in 99 (63.8%) patients and walled-off necrosis in 56 (36.1%) patients. Median pain to PCD interval was 24 ± 69.89 d. PCD was successful in 109 patients (group 1) and 46 patients (group 2) who failed to respond. There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics between the two groups except the severity of AP and frequency of organ failure. Both WBC and NLR showed an overall decreasing trend. There was a significant difference between WBC-0 and WBC-1 (P = 0.0001). WBC-1 and NLR-1 were significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.048 and 0.003, respectively). The area under the curve of WBC-1 and NLR-1 for predicting the success of PCD was 0.602 and 0.682, respectively. At a cut-off value of 9.87 for NLR-1, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting the success of PCD were calculated to be 75% and 65.4% respectively. CONCLUSION: WBC and NLR can be used as simple tests for predicting response to PCD in patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis.