Outcomes of patients with delayed surveillance colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Surveillance colonoscopy has been shown to be an effective tool for prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC) in high-risk populations, if adhered to. AIM: To discover the sequelae of late surveillance in a cohort of patient's overdue for colonoscopy. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on all patients from the Bay of Plenty District Health Board region, New Zealand, placed on the colonoscopy surveillance waitlist from 2006 onwards who had their procedure completed between 1 November 2016 and 31 January 2018. Patients with overdue surveillance, defined as done later than 90 days after the recommended due date, were compared with patients who were done either early or on time. RESULTS: A total of 786 patients was recorded as overdue for surveillance colonoscopy and 386 were completed early or on time. The median time overdue was 22 months. Three (0.4%) cases of CRC were found in overdue patients compared with four (1%) cases for those done on time (adjusted P = 0.24). There were 86 (11%) advanced adenomas (AA) in patients overdue compared with 27 (7%) in those not overdue (odds ratio (OR) 1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-2.5; P = 0.04). Surveillance of 180 high-risk post-polypectomy patients identified 2 CRC and 8/43 AA in those overdue compared with no CRC and 9/137 AA (18.6% vs 6.6%; OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.07-2.0; unadjusted P = 0.03) in those done on time. CONCLUSION: While overdue surveillance is not predictive of increased CRC, it is associated with an increase in expected number of AA, particularly in patients having surveillance for previous high-risk polypectomy.

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer: updated clinical practice guidelines.

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) is an autosomal dominant cancer syndrome that is characterised by a high prevalence of diffuse gastric cancer and lobular breast cancer. It is largely caused by inactivating germline mutations in the tumour suppressor gene CDH1, although pathogenic variants in CTNNA1 occur in a minority of families with HDGC. In this Policy Review, we present updated clinical practice guidelines for HDGC from the International Gastric Cancer Linkage Consortium (IGCLC), which recognise the emerging evidence of variability in gastric cancer risk between families with HDGC, the growing capability of endoscopic and histological surveillance in HDGC, and increased experience of managing long-term sequelae of total gastrectomy in young patients. To redress the balance between the accessibility, cost, and acceptance of genetic testing and the increased identification of pathogenic variant carriers, the HDGC genetic testing criteria have been relaxed, mainly through less restrictive age limits. Prophylactic total gastrectomy remains the recommended option for gastric cancer risk management in pathogenic CDH1 variant carriers. However, there is increasing confidence from the IGCLC that endoscopic surveillance in expert centres can be safely offered to patients who wish to postpone surgery, or to those whose risk of developing gastric cancer is not well defined.

The role of capsule endoscopy in small bowel pathology: a review of 122 cases.

AIM: Small bowel capsule endoscopy (CE) has been introduced in New Zealand (NZ) in all of the tertiary and some secondary centres over the last few years. We describe our experience with CE from a single centre in NZ. METHODS: In this 2-year, retrospective, study of 122 consecutive patients, data was collected on multiple variables from the patient clinical, laboratory, and radiology records. Pillcam of Given Imaging Diagnostic System (Given Imaging Ltd, Yogneam, Israel) was used to image the small bowel. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Good preparation was noted in 69% of the cases. The most common indication for referral was obscure GI bleeding (70%). The overall diagnostic yield for relevant findings was 52%, with angioectasia as the most common specific finding (37%). The diagnostic yield in those with overt bleeds improved with inpatient status (74%). Incomplete examinations were noted in 12% and were significantly more common in the male gender. Preliminary imaging (barium, CT/MR) was noted to have a lower diagnostic yield. Enteroscopies were considered in 25% of the patients post CE procedure. CONCLUSION: Apart from a lower diagnostic yield in patients with overt bleeds, our data is consistent with that reported in literature and support the role of CE as the minimally invasive gold standard investigation for small bowel imaging.

Colonic self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) in acute large bowel obstruction.

AIM: Colonic SEMS are increasing used in the management of acute large bowel obstruction, both as a bridge to surgery and as a definitive palliative measure in patients unfit for surgery. We describe our experience from a New Zealand hospital and compare our data with that already published in literature. METHODS: In this retrospective 4-year study, data was collected from the case notes of 28 consecutive patients with acute large bowel obstruction referred for colonic SEMS. Uncovered Boston Scientific colonic SEMS were placed endoscopically under fluoroscopic guidance. Technical success was considered as correct placement of stent after deployment and clinical success as the passage of flatus and faeces after stent insertion. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Our technical and clinical success rates were 90% and 88% respectively. The procedure was palliative in 15 patients and as a bridge to elective surgery in 13 cases. Procedure-related mortality was 7%. It was because of one early and one late perforation. The average length of stay post procedure was 2 days. Mean survival post stent insertion in the palliative group was 2.4 months and for those with a bridge to surgery was 14 months. CONCLUSION: n Our results support the data published from international centres in terms of deployment of SEMS in patients with acute large bowel obstruction, both as a bridge to surgery and as a definitive palliative measure.