Technical performance and diagnostic yield of motorised spiral enteroscopy compared with single-balloon enteroscopy in suspected Crohn's disease: a randomised controlled, open-label study (the MOTOR-CD trial).

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have shown that motorised spiral enteroscopy (MSE) enables deeper and total small bowel evaluation compared with single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) in suspected Crohn's disease (CD) when analysed per procedure. However, no randomised controlled study has compared bidirectional MSE with bidirectional SBE in suspected CD. DESIGN: Patients with suspected CD requiring small bowel enteroscopy were randomly assigned to either SBE or MSE between May 2022 and September 2022 in a high volume tertiary centre. Bidirectional enteroscopy was done if intended lesion could not be reached on unidirectional study. Comparison was made with regard to technical success (ability to reach lesion), diagnostic yield, depth of maximal insertion (DMI), procedure time and total enteroscopy rates. Depth:time ratio was calculated to avoid confounding for the location of lesion. RESULTS: Among 125 suspected patients with CD (28% female, 18-65 years, median 41 years), 62 and 63 underwent MSE and SBE, respectively. The overall technical success (98.4 %: MSE, 90.5 %: SBE; p=0.11), diagnostic yield (95.2%: MSE; 87.3%: SBE, p=0.2) and procedure time were not significantly different. However, MSE appeared to have higher technical success (96.8% vs 80.7%, p=0.08) in deeper small bowel (distal jejunum/proximal ileum) with higher DMI, higher depth:time ratio and total enteroscopy rates when attempted (77.8% vs 11.1%, p=0.0007). Both the modalities were safe although minor adverse events were more common with MSE. CONCLUSION: MSE and SBE have comparable technical success and diagnostic yield for small bowel evaluation in suspected CD. MSE scores over SBE with regard to deeper small bowel evaluation with complete small bowel coverage and higher depth of insertion in a shorter time. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05363930.

EUS versus MRCP to perform ERCP in patients with intermediate likelihood of choledocholithiasis: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: In patients with an intermediate likelihood of choledocholithiasis, European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) guidelines recommend endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) to diagnose choledocholithiasis to make the indication for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) treatment; there is no randomised control trial to compare both in this setting. DESIGN: Patients with suspected choledocholithiasis satisfying ESGE guideline's intermediate likelihood were screened for this single-centre randomised controlled trial between November 2019 and May 2020. The enrolled patients were randomised to either EUS or MRCP. ERCP was performed in stone positive cases or if clinical suspicion persisted during follow-up. Negative cases underwent a further 6-month clinical follow-up. Main outcome was accuracy (sensitivity/specificity) of both tests to diagnose choledocholithiasis, with ERCP or follow-up as a gold standard. RESULTS: Of 266 patients, 224 patients (mean age: 46.77±14.57 years; 50.9 % female) were enrolled; overall prevalence of choledocholithiasis was 49.6%, with a higher frequency in the MRCP group (63/112 vs 46/112 for EUS). Both sensitivity of EUS and MRCP were similarly high (92%-98%), without significant differences between the two groups. The negative predictive value and likelihood ratio + were significantly higher in EUS arm (p<0.05). The percentage of ERCPs either incorrectly halted back (false negatives: EUS: 2 vs MRCP: 5) or performed unnecessarily (false positives: EUS: 1 vs MRCP: 2) was low in both groups. CONCLUSION: The performance parameters of both EUS and MRCP are comparable for detecting choledocholithiasis in the intermediate-risk group of choledocholithiasis and the choice of a test should be based on local expertise, availability of resources and patient preference. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04173624.

Impact of transmural plastic stent on recurrence of pancreatic fluid collection after metal stent removal in disconnected pancreatic duct: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Disconnected pancreatic duct (DPD) after development of walled-off necrosis (WON) predisposes to recurrent (peri)pancreatic fluid collection (PFC). In this randomized controlled trial, we compared plastic stents with no plastic stent after removal of a large-caliber metal stent (LCMS) on incidence of recurrent PFCs in DPD. METHODS : Consecutive patients with WON who underwent endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage with LCMS between September 2017 and March 2020 were screened for eligibility. At LCMS removal (4 weeks after drainage), patients with DPD were randomized to plastic stent or no stent groups. The primary outcome was incidence of recurrent PFC at 3 months. Secondary outcomes were technical success of plastic stent deployment, adverse events, stent migration, and recurrence of PFC at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: 236 patients with WON underwent EUS-guided drainage using LCMS, and 104 (males 94, median age 34 years (interquartile range [IQR] 26-44.7) with DPD were randomized into stenting (n = 52) and no-stenting (n = 52) groups. Plastic stent deployment was successful in 88.5 %. Migration occurred in 19.2 % at median follow-up of 8 months (IQR 2.5-12). Recurrent PFCs occurred in six patients at 3 months (stent n = 3, no stent n = 3). There was no significant difference in PFC recurrence between the two groups at 3, 6, and 12 months. Reintervention was required in seven patients with recurrent PFCs, with no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In patients with WON and DPD, deployment of plastic stents after LCMS removal did not reduce recurrence of PFC.

Impact of ductal interventions on diabetes in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Even though ductal interventions in chronic pancreatitis (CP) are known to improve pain, its impact on diabetes is unclear. In this cohort study, we evaluated the impact of ductal interventions on diabetes in these patients. METHODS: Consecutive patients with CP visiting the pancreas clinic between August 1, 2011, and July 21, 2012, were enrolled and followed until December 2018. Detailed clinical, laboratory, imaging, and treatment data were recorded at enrolment and follow-up. Patients were followed up every 6 months through hospital visit and/or telephonic interview. Risk factors for diabetes were evaluated using logistic regression. The impact of ductal interventions on diabetes was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and Cox proportional hazards. RESULTS: A total of 644 patients were enrolled of which 137 were excluded. Of these, 326 (64.3%) patients had idiopathic CP, and 283 (55.8%) patients underwent ductal intervention. The cumulative incidence of diabetes was 57.9%. Median duration between symptom onset and ductal intervention was similar irrespective of diabetes (2.6 [0.6-6.0] vs 3.0 [1.0-5.5] years; P = 0.69). Alcohol intake and pancreatic ductal calculi were independent risk factors for diabetes (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] of 2.05 (1.18-3.55), P = 0.01, and 2.05 (1.28-3.28), P = 0.003, respectively). Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed that diabetes free interval was significantly longer in patients undergoing ductal interventions, predominantly in those with idiopathic CP with obstructive ductal calculi (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.39 [0.28-0.55]; P < 0.0001). There were no differences in glycemic status in patients with non-idiopathic CP and those with pre-existing diabetes. CONCLUSION: Early ductal intervention could delay development of diabetes in patients with idiopathic CP with obstructive ductal calculi.

Hungry Bone Syndrome in a Female Patient With Parathyroid Carcinoma Masquerading As a Thyroid Nodule.

Hungry bone syndrome (HBS) is a rare but severe complication following parathyroidectomy, characterized by profound hypocalcemia and increased bone mineralization. We present a unique case of HBS in a female patient initially diagnosed with a thyroid nodule, which was later diagnosed as parathyroid carcinoma. This case underscores the importance of considering HBS in patients undergoing parathyroidectomy, especially when preoperative diagnosis involves other endocrine pathologies such as thyroid nodules.

Double tunnel technique reduces technical failure during POEM in cases with severe submucosal fibrosis.

Background and study aims Submucosal fibrosis (SMF) is one of the major reasons for technical failure during per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of double tunnel technique (DT-POEM) on the technical success of POEM in cases with severe SMF. Patients and methods Data from patients with achalasia in whom SMF was encountered during POEM from Jan 2013 to Jan 2020 at our center were retrospectively evaluated. The technical success and adverse events (AEs) were analyzed and compared between cases with SMF who underwent POEM via single tunnel versus DT-POEM technique. Results A total of 1,150 patients underwent POEM during the study period. There were 14 technical failures (1.2 %). SMF and severe SMF was found in 104 (9 %) and 21 (1.8 %) patients, respectively. The majority of patients (17, 80.9 %) with severe SMF had type I achalasia. Overall, technical failures occurred in 14 cases (1.2 %) and severe SMF resulted in the majority of the technical failures (10, 71.4 %). DT-POEM was utilized in 11 cases (52.4 %) with severe SMF. The median procedure time with DT-POEM was 150 minutes (85-210). There were no major AEs and DT-POEM was technically successful in all the patients. The technical success of POEM in cases with SMF improved after the adoption of the double tunnel technique (98.4 % vs 68.3 %, P  = 0.0001). Conclusions Severe SMF is the most common reason for technical failure during POEM. DT-POEM improves the technical success rates of POEM in patients with severe SMF.

Fluid type and volume reduce risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis and length of hospital stay in high-risk patients: a secondary analysis of the INDIEH trial.

Background and study aims Impact of intravenous fluid administration on prophylaxis against post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) has not been rigorously evaluated among patients at high-risk for PEP. Patients and methods Effect of volume and type of fluid administered on PEP incidence was studied through a secondary analysis of high-risk patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangopancreatography (ERCP) as a part of a randomized controlled trial in which all patients received rectal indomethacin. Periprocedural fluid was defined as fluid infused during and after ERCP. Results A total 960 patients were randomized during the trial, of whom 476 (49.6 %) received periprocedural fluids (mean volume = 1245 mL [±â€Š629]). There was a trend towards a lower incidence of PEP in patients who received periprocedural fluid vs. those who did not (5.2 % vs. 8.0 %, P  = 0.079). Among those receiving fluids, those who did not develop PEP received a higher mean volume of fluid vs. who developed PEP (1012 ±â€Š725 mL vs. 752 ±â€Š783 mL, P  = 0.036). Among 174 patients (37 %) who received LR, patients who did not develop PEP received a higher mean volume of LR vs. those who developed PEP (570 ±â€Š559 mL vs. 329 ±â€Š356 mL, P  = 0.006). Length of hospital stay decreased as the volume of periprocedural volume administration increased (r = 0.16, P  < 0.001). Conclusion Higher fluid volume and lactated Ringer's use during the periprocedural period was associated with a decreased risk of PEP and length of hospital stay beyond rectal indomethacin in high risk patients.

Cerebral atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour arising in a child treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumours (ATRT) are rare, arising typically in childhood. ATRT arising as a secondary tumour in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia have not been reported so far. We report a case of ATRT in a 17-year-old boy, 11 years after he was treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with cranial radiation.