Scissor-assisted vs. conventional endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal lesions: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a technically complex procedure. The scissor knife mechanism may potentially provide easier and safer colorectal ESD. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of scissor-assisted vs. conventional ESD for colorectal lesions. METHODS: A search strategy was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and Lilacs databases from January 1990 to November 2023 according to PRISMA guidelines. Fixed and random-effects models were used for statistical analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 test. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I and RoB-2 tools. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation tool. RESULTS: A total of five studies (three retrospective and two randomized controlled trials, including a total of 1575 colorectal ESD) were selected. The intraoperative perforation rate was statistically lower (risk difference [RD] -0.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.04 to -0.01; P = 0.001; I2 = 0%) and the self-completion rate was statistically higher (RD 0.14; 95% CI 0.06, 0.23; P = 0.0006; I2 = 0%) in the scissor-assisted group compared with the conventional ESD group. There was no statistical difference in R0 resection rate, en bloc resection rate, mean procedure time, or delayed bleeding rate between the groups. CONCLUSION: Scissor knife-assisted ESD is as effective as conventional knife-assisted ESD for colorectal lesions with lower intraoperative perforation rate and a higher self-completion rate.

Pure Cut or Endocut for Biliary Sphincterotomy? A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Adverse events (AE) after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are not uncommon and post-ERCP acute pancreatitis (PEP) is the most important one. Thermal injury from biliary sphincterotomy may play an important role and trigger PEP or bleeding. Therefore, this study evaluated the outcomes of 2 electric current modes used during biliary sphincterotomy. METHODS: From October 2019 to August 2021, consecutive patients with native papilla undergoing ERCP with biliary sphincterotomy were randomized to either the pure cut or endocut after cannulation. The primary outcome was PEP incidence. Secondary outcomes included intraprocedural and delayed bleeding, infection, and perforation. RESULTS: A total of 550 patients were randomized (272 pure cut and 278 endocut). The overall PEP rate was 4.0% and significantly higher in the endocut group (5.8% vs 2.2%, P = 0.034). Univariate analysis revealed >5 attempts ( P = 0.004) and endocut mode ( P = 0.034) as risk factors for PEP. Multivariate analysis revealed >5 attempts ( P = 0.005) and a trend for endocut mode as risk factors for PEP ( P = 0.052). Intraprocedural bleeding occurred more often with pure cut ( P = 0.018), but all cases were controlled endoscopically during the ERCP. Delayed bleeding was more frequent with endocut ( P = 0.047). There was no difference in perforation ( P = 1.0) or infection ( P = 0.4999) between the groups. DISCUSSION: Endocut mode may increase thermal injury leading to higher rates of PEP and delayed bleeding, whereas pure cut is associated with increased intraprocedural bleeding without clinical repercussion. The electric current mode is not related to perforation or infection. Further RCT assessing the impact of electric current on AE with overlapping preventive measures such as rectal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hyperhydration are needed. The study was submitted to the Brazilian Clinical Trials Platform ( http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br ) under the registry number RBR-5d27tn.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided cholecystostomy versus percutaneous cholecystostomy (PTC) in the management of acute cholecystitis in patients unfit for surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Surgical cholecystectomy is the gold standard strategy for the management of acute cholecystitis (AC). However, some patients are considered unfit for surgery due to certain comorbid conditions. As such, we aimed to compare less invasive treatment strategies such as endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) and percutaneous gallbladder drainage (PT-GBD) for the management of patients with AC who are suboptimal candidates for surgical cholecystectomy. METHODS: A comprehensive search of multiple electronic databases was performed to identify all the studies comparing EUS-GBD versus PT-GBD for patients with AC who were unfit for surgery. A subgroup analysis was also performed for comparison of the group undergoing drainage via cautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) versus PT-GBD. The outcomes included technical and clinical success, adverse events (AEs), recurrent cholecystitis, reintervention, and hospital readmission. RESULTS: Eleven studies including 1155 patients were included in the statistical analysis. There was no difference between PT-GBD and EUS-GBD in all the evaluated outcomes. On the subgroup analysis, the endoscopic approach with cautery-enhanced LAMS was associated with lower rates of adverse events (RD = - 0.33 (95% CI - 0.52 to - 0.14; p = 0.0006), recurrent cholecystitis (- 0.05 RD (95% CI - 0.09 to - 0.02; p = 0.02), and hospital readmission (- 0.36 RD (95% CI-0.70 to - 0.03; p = 0.03) when compared to PT-GBD. All other outcomes were similar in the subgroup analyses. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-GBD using cautery-enhanced LAMS is superior to PT-GBD in terms of safety profile, recurrent cholecystitis, and hospital readmission rates in the management of patients with acute cholecystitis who are suboptimal candidates for cholecystectomy. However, when cautery-enhanced LAMS are not used, the outcomes of EUS-GBD and PT-GBD are similar. Thus, EUS-GBD with cautery-enhanced LAMS should be considered the preferable approach for gallbladder drainage for this challenging population.

Homemade endoscopic vacuum therapy device for the management of transmural gastrointestinal defects.

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) possesses a unique mechanism of action providing a less invasive alternative for the management of transmural gastrointestinal defects (TGID). This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of a novel homemade EVT (H-EVT) for the treatment of TGID. METHODS: Retrospective multicenter study including patients who underwent H-EVT for TGID between January 2019 and January 2022. Main outcomes included technical and clinical success as well as safety outcomes. Subgroup analyses were included by defect location and classification. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine predictors for successful closure. RESULTS: A total of 144 patients were included. Technical success was achieved in all patients, with clinical success achieved in 88.89% after a mean of 3.49 H-EVT exchanges over an average of 23.51 days. After excluding 10 cases wherein it was not possible to achieve negative pressure, successful closure occurred in 95.52% of patients. Time to clinical success was less for defects caused by endoscopic (hazard ratio [HR] 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33-1.20) compared to surgical procedures and for patients with simultaneous intracavitary and intraluminal H-EVT placement (HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.55-0.91). Location and classification of defect did not impact clinical success rate. Simultaneous placement of both an intraluminal and intracavitary H-EVT (odds ratio 3.08; 95% CI 1.19-7.95) was a significant predictor of clinical success. Three device-related adverse events (2.08%) occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the H-EVT is feasible, safe, and effective for the management of TGID.

A case of esophageal histoplasmosis mimicking carcinoma on endoscopy.

A 54-year-old woman with progressive and non-acute dysphagia to solid foods, post-feeding vomiting, and weight loss of 10 kg in 1 year. As personal history, she was a former smoker of 60 pack-year, heart transplant for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, and type 2 diabetes. She was on daily use of metformin and immunosuppressive drugs. The laboratory tests were all normal. Upper digestive endoscopy (UDE) revealed in the middle third of the esophagus a lesion of 3 cm presenting atypical rectified vessels, covering 50% of the esophageal lumen, suggestive type 0-IIc+IIa1 (A). The chromoendoscopy with Lugol iodine at 1.25% showed a positive pink sign (B). Biopsies showed esophagitis with mixed inflammatory infiltrate and numerous macrophages (C-upper panel). The Periodic Acid-Schiff staining showed small yeasts compatible with Histoplasma capsulatum, measuring 0.5 to 2.5 µm, within the cytoplasm of macrophages (arrows), with a clear halo (inset, arrows) (C-lower panel). These findings were compatible with esophageal histoplasmosis. Treatment was started with oral Itraconazole 400mg/day. After 3 months, a new UDE with biopsies showed complete esophageal healing. Gastrointestinal histoplasmosis manifests mainly in the small bowel and colon, related to a great amount of lymphoid tissue in these areas. Patients can present with fever, weight loss, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In endoscopy, we may find ulcerations, thickened wall, plaques and pseudopolyps2. It is considered a rare condition, and in only 3% of cases, there is esophageal involvement. This manifestation is mainly in immunosuppressed patients. It can be related to direct involvement of the esophagus or secondary to infiltration of mediastinal nodes2. In endoscopy, ulcerations, inflammatory masses, strictures, and external compressions can be found. This case illustrated the difficulty in differentiating early cancer from an esophageal histoplasmosis.

Advanced Cancer-A Bad Consequence of a Missed Follow-Up after ESD in Barrett's Esophagus.

Barrett's esophagus(BE)is a precursor to adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric transition. Thus, endoscopic surveillance is essential for the early diagnosis of dysplasia and neoplasm, allowing proper therapeutic. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, surveillance frequently failed. We present a case of a male, caucasian, 65 years old, patient with early adenocarcinoma in BE. Submitted an endoscopic resection, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic patient lost the follow-up endoscopic exams. Returned with a T3N1 adenocarcinoma esophagus in resection area. The present report illustrates the consequences of the failure in follow-up after submucosal resection in COVID-19 pandemic context.

Safety and efficacy of hydrothermal duodenal mucosal resurfacing in patients with type 2 diabetes: the randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled, multicentre REVITA-2 feasibility trial.

OBJECTIVE: Hydrothermal duodenal mucosal resurfacing (DMR) is a safe, outpatient endoscopic procedure. REVITA-2, a double-blind, superiority randomised controlled trial, investigates safety and efficacy of DMR using the single catheter Revita system (Revita DMR (catheter and system)), on glycaemic control and liver fat content in type 2 diabetes (T2D). DESIGN: Eligible patients (haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 59-86 mmol/mol, body mass index≥24 and ≤40 kg/m2, fasting insulin >48.6 pmol/L, ≥1 oral antidiabetic medication) enrolled in Europe and Brazil. Primary endpoints were safety, change from baseline in HbA1c at 24 weeks, and liver MRI proton-density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) at 12 weeks. RESULTS: Overall mITT (DMR n=56; sham n=52), 24 weeks post DMR, median (IQR) HbA1c change was -10.4 (18.6) mmol/mol in DMR group versus -7.1 (16.4) mmol/mol in sham group (p=0.147). In patients with baseline liver MRI-PDFF >5% (DMR n=48; sham n=43), 12-week post-DMR liver-fat change was -5.4 (5.6)% in DMR group versus -2.9 (6.2)% in sham group (p=0.096). Results from prespecified interaction testing and clinical parameter assessment showed heterogeneity between European (DMR n=39; sham n=37) and Brazilian (DMR n=17; sham n=16) populations (p=0.063); therefore, results were stratified by region. In European mITT, 24 weeks post DMR, median (IQR) HbA1c change was -6.6 mmol/mol (17.5 mmol/mol) versus -3.3 mmol/mol (10.9 mmol/mol) post-sham (p=0.033); 12-week post-DMR liver-fat change was -5.4% (6.1%) versus -2.2% (4.3%) post-sham (p=0.035). Brazilian mITT results trended towards DMR benefit in HbA1c, but not liver fat, in context of a large sham effect. In overall PP, patients with high baseline fasting plasma glucose ((FPG)≥10 mmol/L) had significantly greater reductions in HbA1c post-DMR versus sham (p=0.002). Most adverse events were mild and transient. CONCLUSIONS: DMR is safe and exerts beneficial disease-modifying metabolic effects in T2D with or without non-alcoholic liver disease, particularly in patients with high FPG. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02879383.

Gastrointestinal genetic reprogramming of vitamin A metabolic pathways in response of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is one of the most performed bariatric surgical techniques. However, RYGB commonly results, as side effects, in nutritional deficiencies. This study aimed to examine changes in the expression of vitamin A pathway encoding genes in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and to evaluate the potential mechanisms associated with hypovitaminosis A after RYGB. Intestinal biopsies were obtained through double-balloon endoscopy in 20 women with obesity (age 46.9±6.2 years; body mass index [BMI] 46.5±5.3 kg/m2 [mean±SD]) before and three months after RYGB (BMI, 38.2±4.2 kg/m2). Intestinal mucosal gene microarray analyses were performed in samples using a Human GeneChip 1.0 ST array (Affymetrix). Vitamin A intake was assessed from 7-day food records and serum retinol levels were evaluated by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Our results showed the following genes with significant downregulation (p≤0.05): LIPF (-0.60), NPC1L1 (-0.71), BCO1 (-0.45), and RBP4 (-0.13) in duodenum; CD36 (-0.33), and ISX (-0.43) in jejunum and BCO1 (-0.29) in ileum. No significant changes in vitamin A intake were found (784±694 retinol equivalents [RE] pre-operative vs. 809±753 RE post-operative [mean±SD]). Although patients were routinely supplemented with 3500 international units IU/day (equivalent to 1050 µg RE/day) of oral retinol palmitate, serum concentrations were lower in the post-operative when compared to pre-operative period (0.35±0.14 µg/L vs. 0.52±0.33 µg/L, respectively - P=0.07), both within the normal range. After RYGB, the simultaneous change in expression of GI genes, may impair carotenoid metabolism in the enterocytes, formation of nascent chylomicrons and transport of retinol, resulting in lower availability of vitamin A.

Managing adverse events after endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of the biliary tract and pancreatic fluid collections: Narrative review (with video).

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided therapeutic procedures have become increasingly common in clinical practice. The development of EUS-guided fine needle aspiration cytology led to the concept of interventional EUS. However, it carries a considerable risk of adverse events (AEs), which occur in approximately 23% of the procedures performed for the drainage of pancreatic fluid collections and 2.5-37.0% of those performed for drainage of the biliary tract. Although the vast majority of AEs occurring after EUS-guided drainage are mild, a deep understanding of such events is necessary for their appropriate management. Because EUS-guided drainage is a novel procedure, there have been few studies of the topic. To our knowledge, this is the first narrative review that focuses on the management and resolution of AEs occurring after EUS-guided drainage of pancreatic fluid collections or the biliary tract. We also include an explanatory video.

Does it matter which plastic stents we use for the treatment of post-surgical leaks? Or does one-size-fit-all?

We congratulate Fuentes-Valenzuela et al. on their study entitled "Endoscopic internal drainage using transmural double-pigtail stents in leaks following upper gastrointestinal tract surgery." The authors report a technical and clinical success of 100 % and 77.8 %, respectively. Although double-pigtail stents (DPS) have been a mainstay in the treatment of leaks and post-surgical fluid collections, we would like to share our reservations with the type of DPS used.

A novel treatment for esophageal lesions following atrial fibrillation ablation.

This study presents a novel technique for the treatment of a deep esophageal ulcer after ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Pulmonary vein isolation was performed using a radiofrequency irrigated tip catheter. On Day 5 of follow-up, a deep esophageal ulcer was observed. No significant visual improvement was observed after conventional treatment. Endoscopic negative pressure therapy in the esophagus was then applied for 5 days. A significant decrease in diameter and depth of the lesion was observed, possibly preventing perforation. Endoscopic negative pressure therapy can be used to heal thermal lesions after AF ablation procedures.

Risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux after POEM for achalasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) demonstrated similar efficacy to surgical myotomy in the management of achalasia. However, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common after POEM. The aim of this study is to identify factors associated with GERD after POEM. METHOD: After searching electronic databases, randomized trials and observational studies including patients with achalasia or other spastic esophageal disorders, treated by POEM, and providing GERD data were selected. GERD was evaluated by 3 methods: pH monitoring, endoscopic findings, and symptoms. For each method, an analysis was performed comparing the outcomes related to the following independent variables: full-thickness (FT) vs circular myotomy, anterior vs posterior, long myotomy vs short myotomy, naive vs previous treatment failure, previous Heller myotomy (HM) vs non-previous-HM, Type I vs II, Type I vs III, and Type II vs III. RESULTS: 2869 publications were identified, and 25 studies met criteria for inclusion in the qualitative analysis. Of these, 18 were included in the meta-analysis. According to the endoscopic findings, circular and anterior myotomy demonstrated a lower trend of GERD with borderline significance (p = 0.06; p = 0.07, respectively). In the pH monitoring and symptom analyses, circular myotomy, anterior myotomy, treatment naive, and non-HM patients were associated with a lower occurrence of GERD; however, no statistically significant difference was found. When comparing achalasia subtypes, no statistical difference was found in all analyses. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that a circular anterior approach may limit post-POEM GERD and should be considered in appropriate patients.

Endoscopic resection of esophageal and gastric submucosal tumors from the muscularis propria layer: submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection versus endoscopic submucosal excavation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER) and endoscopic submucosal excavation (ESE) are less-invasive therapeutic alternatives to surgical resection for the removal of esophageal or gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs). This study aimed to comparing STER versus ESE for the resection of esophageal and gastric SMTs from the muscularis propria. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis was reported in accordance with PRISMA guidelines through December 2020. Pooled outcome measures included complete resection, en bloc resection, bleeding, perforation, adverse events, recurrence, procedure duration, and length of hospital stay. Risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) was calculated as well as Peto time-to-event analyses to determine recurrence rate. RESULTS: Five retrospective cohort studies (n = 269 STER versus n = 319 ESE) were included. There was no difference in rates of complete resection [RR: 1.01 (95% CI 0.94, 1.07)], en bloc resection [RR: 0.95 (95% CI 0.84, 1.08)], recurrence [OR: 1.18 (95% CI 0.33, 4.16)], and total adverse events [RR: 1.33 (95% CI 0.78, 2.27)]. Specific adverse events including rates of perforation [RR: 0.57 (95% CI 0.12, 2.74)] and bleeding [RR: 1.21 (95% CI 0.30, 4.88)] were not different between STER and ESE. There was a statistical difference when evaluating procedure time, with the STER group presenting significantly larger values [MD: 24.62 min (95% CI 20.04, 29.20)]. CONCLUSION: STER and ESE were associated with similar efficacy and safety; however, ESE was associated with a significantly decreased time to complete the procedure.

Pain relief in chronic pancreatitis: endoscopic or surgical treatment? a systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pain is one of the consequences of chronic pancreatitis (CP) that has the greatest impact on the quality of life of patients. Endoscopic and surgical interventions, by producing a decrease in intraductal pancreatic pressure, can provide pain relief. This is the first systematic review that includes only randomized clinical trials (RTCs) comparing outcomes in the short-term (less than 2 years) and long-term (more than 2 years) between these two types of interventions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A comprehensive search of multiple electronic databases to identify RTCs comparing short and long-term pain relief, procedural complications, and days of hospitalization between endoscopic and surgical interventions was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Three RCTs evaluating a total of 199 patients (99 in the endoscopy group and 100 in the surgery group) were included in this study. Surgical interventions provided complete pain relief, with statistical difference, in the long-term (16,4% vs 35.7%; RD 0.19; 95% CI 0.03-0.35; p = 0.02; I2 = 0%), without significant difference in short-term (17.5% vs 31.2%; RD 0.14; 95% CI -0.01-0.28; p = 0.07; I2 = 0%) when compared to endoscopy. There was no statistical difference in short-term (17.5% vs 28.1%; RD 0.11; 95% CI -0.04-0.25; p = 0.15; I2 = 0%) and long-term (34% vs 41.1%; RD 0.07; 95% CI -0.10-0.24; p = 0.42; I2 0%) in partial relief of pain between both interventions. In the short-term, both complications (34.9% vs 29.7%; RD 0.05; 95% CI -0.10-0.21; p = 0.50; I2 = 48%) and days of hospitalization (MD -1.02; 95% CI -2.61-0.58; p = 0.21; I2 = 0%) showed no significant differences. CONCLUSION: Surgical interventions showed superior results when compared to endoscopy in terms of complete long-term pain relief. The number of complications and length of hospitalization in both groups were similar.

EUS-guided gastroenterostomy versus duodenal stent placement and surgical gastrojejunostomy for the palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is associated with significant morbidity and decreased quality of life, thereby necessitating effective and safe palliative treatment. As such, we sought to compare endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) versus duodenal stent (DS) placement and surgical gastrojejunostomy (SGJ) for palliation of malignant GOO. METHODS: Searches of electronic databases were performed to identify studies comparing EUS-GE versus DS and/or SGJ for palliative treatment of GOO. Outcomes included technical and clinical success, severe adverse events (SAEs), rate of stent obstruction (including tumor ingrowth), length of hospital stay (LOS), reintervention, and 30-day all-cause mortality. Differences in dichotomous and continuous outcomes were reported as risk difference and mean difference, respectively. RESULTS: Seven studies (n = 513 patients) were included. When compared to DS placement, EUS-GE was associated with a higher clinical success, fewer SAEs, decreased stent obstruction, lower rate of tumor ingrowth, and decreased need for reintervention. Compared to SGJ, EUS-GE was associated with a lower technical success; however, LOS was significantly decreased. All other outcomes including clinical success, SAEs, reintervention rate, and 30-day mortality were not significantly different between an EUS-guided versus surgical approach. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-GE was associated with significantly improved outcomes compared to DS placement for palliative treatment of malignant GOO. Despite SGJ possessing a higher technical success compared to EUS-GE, LOS was significantly longer with no difference in clinical success or rate of adverse events.

Endoscopic vacuum therapy versus endoscopic stenting for upper gastrointestinal transmural defects: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal fistulas, leaks, and perforations represent a high cost burden to health systems worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates for affected patients. Management of these transmural defects remains therapeutically challenging. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy and safety of self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) versus endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) for treatment of upper gastrointestinal transmural defects. METHODS: Searches were performed on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Central Cochrane, Latin American and Caribbean Health (LILACS), and gray literature, as well as a manual search to identify studies comparing SEMS versus EVT to treat upper gastrointestinal transmural defects. Evaluated outcomes were: rates of successful closure, mortality, length of hospital stay, duration of treatment, and adverse events. RESULTS: Five studies with a total of 274 patients were included. There was a 21% increase in successful fistula closure attributed to EVT compared with the SEMS group (RD 0.21, CI 0.10-0.32; P = 0.0003). EVT demonstrated a 12% reduction in mortality compared to stenting (RD 0.12, CI 0.03-0.21; P = 0.006) and an average reduction of 14.22 days in duration of treatment (CI 8.38-20.07; P < 0.00001). There was a 24% reduction in adverse events (RD 0.24, CI 0.13-0.35; P = 0.0001. There were no statistical differences between the studied therapies regarding the length of hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic vacuum therapy proves to be superior in successful defect closure, mortality, adverse events and duration of treatment.

Recovery of endoscopy services in the era of COVID-19: recommendations from an international Delphi consensus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on provision of endoscopy services globally as staff and real estate were repurposed. As we begin to recover from the pandemic, a cohesive international approach is needed, and guidance on how to resume endoscopy services safely to avoid unintended harm from diagnostic delays. The aim of these guidelines is to provide consensus recommendations that clinicians can use to facilitate the swift and safe resumption of endoscopy services. An evidence-based literature review was carried out on the various strategies used globally to manage endoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic and control infection. A modified Delphi process involving international endoscopy experts was used to agree on the consensus statements. A threshold of 80% agreement was used to establish consensus for each statement. 27 of 30 statements achieved consensus after two rounds of voting by 34 experts. The statements were categorised as pre-endoscopy, during endoscopy and postendoscopy addressing relevant areas of practice, such as screening, personal protective equipment, appropriate environments for endoscopy and infection control precautions, particularly in areas of high disease prevalence. Recommendations for testing of patients and for healthcare workers, appropriate locations of donning and doffing areas and social distancing measures before endoscopy are unique and not dealt with by any other guidelines. This international consensus using a modified Delphi method to produce a series of best practice recommendations to aid the safe resumption of endoscopy services globally in the era of COVID-19.

Argon plasma coagulation alone versus argon plasma coagulation plus full-thickness endoscopic suturing to treat weight regain after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a prospective randomized trial (with videos).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A significant number of patients regain weight after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Ablation with argon plasma coagulation (APC) plus endoscopic full-thickness suturing (FTS-APC) and ablation alone have been reported for treating weight regain when associated with gastrojejunostomy (GJ) dilation. However, comparative controlled data are still lacking. METHODS: This was a pilot single-center open-label randomized trial comparing the effectiveness and safety of APC alone versus FTS-APC for transoral outlet reduction. Patients with at least 20% weight regain from the nadir, and GJ ≥15 mm were considered eligible. The primary outcome was percentage total weight loss (%TWL) at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of adverse events, amelioration of metabolic laboratory parameters, and improvement in quality of life and eating behavior. RESULTS: Forty patients meeting the eligibility criteria were enrolled from October 2017 to July 2018. Technical and clinical success rates were similar between the groups. At 12 months, the mean %TWL was 8.3% ± 5.5% in the APC alone group versus 7.5% ± 7.7% in the FTS-APC group (P = .71). The pre-revisional % solid gastric retention at 1 hour positively correlated with the probability of achieving ≥10% TWL at 12 months. Both groups experienced significant reductions in low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels at 12 months, and improvement in eating behavior and quality of life at 3 months. There were 2 cases of stenoses (1 from each group), which were successfully treated with endoscopic balloon dilation. CONCLUSION: APC alone is similar to FTS-APC in terms of technical and clinical outcomes within 1 year of follow-up. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT03094936.).

Narrow-band imaging for scar (NBI-SCAR) classification: from conception to multicenter validation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Surveillance post-endoscopic resection (ER) currently warrants biopsy samples from the resection site scar in most cases, although clinical practice is variable. A classification with standard criteria for scars has not yet been established. We aimed to create and validate a novel classification for post-ER scars by using specific criteria based on advanced imaging. METHODS: Key endoscopic features for scars with and without recurrence were (1) dark brown color, elongated/branched pit pattern, and dense capillary pattern and (2) whitish, pale appearance, round/slightly large pits, and irregular sparse vessels. Scars were first assessed with high-definition white-light endoscopy (HD-WLE) followed by interrogation with narrow-band imaging (NBI). Scars with at least 2 concordant characteristics were diagnosed with "high confidence" for NBI for scar (NBI-SCAR) classification. The final endoscopic predictions were correlated with histopathology. The primary outcome was the difference in sensitivity between NBI-SCAR and HD-WLE predictions. Secondary outcomes included the validation of our findings in 6 different endoscopy settings (Australia, United States, Japan, Brazil, Singapore, and Malaysia). The validation took place in 2 sessions separated by 2 to 3 weeks, each with 10 one-minute videos of post-ER scars on underwater NBI with dual focus. Inter-rater and intrarater reliability were calculated with Fleiss' free-marginal kappa and Bennett et al. S score, respectively. RESULTS: One hundred scars from 82 patients were included. Ninety-five scars were accurately predicted with high confidence by NBI-SCAR in the exploratory phase. NBI-SCAR sensitivity was significantly higher compared with HD-WLE (100% vs 73.7%, P < .05). In the validation phase, similar results were found for endoscopists who routinely perform colonoscopies and use NBI (sensitivity of 96.4%). The inter-rater and intrarater reliability throughout all centers were, respectively, substantial (κ = .61) and moderate (average S = .52) for this subset. CONCLUSIONS: NBI-SCAR has a high sensitivity and negative predictive value for excluding recurrence for endoscopists experienced in colonoscopy and NBI. In this setting, this approach may help to accurately evaluate or resect scars and potentially mitigate the burden of unnecessary biopsy samples.

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty in the management of weight regain after sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Sleeve gastrectomy is a well-standardized surgical treatment for obesity. However, rates of weight regain after sleeve gastrectomy in long-term follow-up are relatively high. This multicenter study is the first to evaluate the use of an endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) technique for the management of this population. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective study, including patients with weight regain following sleeve gastrectomy who underwent ESG for weight loss. Primary outcomes included absolute weight loss, percent total weight loss (%TWL), change in body mass index (BMI), percent excess weight loss (%EWL) at 6 and 12 months, and safety profile. Clinical success was defined as achieving ≥ 25 % EWL at 1 year, ≤ 5 % serious adverse event (SAE) rate following society-recommended thresholds, and %TWL ≥ 10 %. RESULTS: 34 patients underwent ESG after sleeve gastrectomy. Technical success was 100 %. At 1 year, 82.4 % and 100 % of patients achieved ≥ 10 %TWL and ≥ 25 % EWL, respectively. Mean (SD) %TWL was 13.2 % (3.9) and 18.3 % (5.5), and %EWL was 51.9 % (19.1) and 69.9 % (29.9) at 6 months and 1 year, respectively. Mean (SD) %TWL was 14.2 % (12.5), 19.3 % (5.3), 17.5 % (5.2), and 20.4 % (3.3), and %EWL was 88.5 % (52.8), 84.4 % (22.4), 55.4 % (14.8), and 47.8 % (11.2) for BMI categories of overweight and obesity class I, II, and III, respectively, at 1 year. No predictors of success were identified in the multivariable regression analysis. No SAEs were reported. CONCLUSION: ESG appears to be safe and effective in the management of weight regain following sleeve gastrectomy.