Segmental Withdrawal During Screening Colonoscopy Does Not Increase Adenoma Detection Rate.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare a standard versus segmental withdrawal during screening colonoscopy and its effect on the adenoma detection rate (ADR). METHODS: We performed a single-center clinical trial of average-risk patients 50 years of age and older undergoing screening colonoscopy. Patients were randomized into four groups: a standard withdrawal of at least 6 or 8 minutes and a segmental withdrawal, in which ≥3 or ≥4 minutes were dedicated to the right side of the colon, with a minimum withdrawal time of at least 6 or 8 minutes, respectively. RESULTS: There were 311 patients in the study. There was no difference in ADR between the standard and segmental groups (relative ratio [RR] 0.91, P = 0.50), even after stratifying for right-sided adenomas. During standard withdrawal, an increased continuous withdrawal time was associated with a higher ADR (RR 1.08, P <0.001) and total adenomas per patient (RR 1.12, P < 0.001). A binary analysis of ≥8 minutes or <8 minutes withdrawal was associated with an increased adenomas per colonoscopy (RR 1.86, P = 0.04). These differences were not observed in the segmental group. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there was no benefit from a segmental withdrawal protocol on ADR, but this may have been the result of the inherent limitations in the study design. After sensitivity analysis, a segmental withdrawal protocol led to an improvement in the detection of adenomas per colonoscopy and polyps per colonoscopy. A larger sample size is needed to confirm these findings.

Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI): A Single Institution Experience of 15 Years.

Transfusion related acute Lung injury (TRALI) though a serious blood transfusion reaction with a fatality rate of 5-25 % presents with acute respiratory distress with hypoxaemia and noncardiac pulmonary oedema within 6 h of transfusion. In non fatal cases, it may resolve within 72 h or earlier. Although reported with an incidence of 1:5000, its true occurrence is rather unknown. Pathogenesis is believed to be related to sequestration and adhesion of neutrophils to the pulmonary capillary endothelium and its activation leading to its destruction and leaks. The patient's underlying condition, anti-neutrophil antibody in the transfused donor plasma and certain lipids that accumulate in routinely stores blood and components are important in its aetiopathogenesis. Patient's predisposing conditions include haematological malignancy, major surgery (especially cardiac), trauma and infections. The more commonly incriminated products include fresh frozen plasma (FFP), platelets (whole blood derived and apheresis), whole blood and Packed RBC. Occasional cases involving cryoprecipitate and Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVig) have also been reported. We present a 15 year single institution experience of TRALI, during which we observed 9 cases among 170,871 transfusions, giving an incidence of 1:19,000. We did not encounter cases of haematological malignancy or cardiac surgery in our TRALI patients. Among the blood products, that could be related to TRALI in our patients included solitary cases receiving cryoprecipitate, IVIg, and recombinant Factor VII apart from platelets and FFP. All patients were treated with oxygen support. Six patients required mechanical ventilation. Off label hydrocortisone was given to all patients. There were no cases of fatality among our patients.

Essential thrombocythaemia: a single institution experience of 16 years.

This presentation is a clinical narrative and long term follow up (6-16 years) of 21 prospectively studied patients with essential thrombocythaemia (ET) in Kuwait. The median age (55.9 years) is younger than reported by others. Two patients were below the age of 40 years with one of them presenting as post-polycytheamia ET at 16 years of age. Twelve patients (57.1 %) remained asymptomatic throughout the period of follow up. Four patients complained of erythromelalgia, three (19 %) suffered from thrombotic episodes and only one (4.3 %) had excessive bleeding. Four patients presented with splenomegaly. Intensity of thrombocytosis or duration of very high platelet count had no relationship with these complications. Two patients transformed to post-ET myelofibrosis and one patient developed chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). None transitioned to acute leukaemia. All patients are still alive after follow up for 6-16 years. Janus kinase 2 mutation was positive in eight (38 %) patients. It had no bearing on transition of our ET patients to post-ET myelofibrosis or CML. Platelet aggregation tests were performed in 14 patients. Six (42.9 %) showed defective response to ADP. Only one of these patients suffered from bleeding. All patients were given aspirin (81 mg/day). Cyto-reductive therapy with hydroxyurea was taken by six (42.9 %) subjects. Two patients who were treated with anagrelide and one with alpha-interferon did not continue treatment for long.