Pancreatic parenchymal changes seen on endoscopic ultrasound are dynamic in the setting of fatty pancreas: A short-term follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: The impact of fatty pancreas on pancreatic parenchymal changes is unclear. The aim of this study is to assess parenchymal alterations over time in patients with fatty pancreas (FP). METHODS: This is a retrospective study (2014-2021) of patients with FP identified on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). Subjects with follow up imaging studies including Computed Tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and EUS at least two years after the initial EUS were included. RESULTS: A total of 39 patients with a mean age of 51.21 ± 12.34 years were included. Mean initial weight was 80.17 ± 17.75 kg. Diabetes, hepatic steatosis, and EPI were present in 15%, 46% and 33% of the patients at baseline, respectively. In 25 patients with available follow up EUS over 2.4 ± 0.76 years, 16% progressed to chronic pancreatitis (CP) and 24% had progressive parenchymal changes without meeting the criteria for CP. One patient progressed from focal to diffuse FP, while one patient had resolution of FP. In multivariate analysis, progressive parenchymal changes on EUS were associated with an increase in weight over time (p-value 0.04), independent of the effects of gender, alcohol, or tobacco. CONCLUSION: Progressive parenchymal changes were noted in 44%. Our result suggests that FP is a dynamic process with the possibility of progression or regression over time.

Impact of cap-assisted colonoscopy on the learning curve and quality in colonoscopy: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Colonoscopy competency assessment in trainees traditionally has been informal. Comprehensive metrics such as the Assessment of Competency in Endoscopy (ACE) tool suggest that competency thresholds are higher than assumed. Cap-assisted colonoscopy (CAC) may improve competency, but data regarding novice trainees are lacking. We compared CAC versus standard colonoscopy (SC) performed by novice trainees in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: All colonoscopies performed by 3 gastroenterology fellows without prior experience were eligible for the study. Exclusion criteria included patient age <18 or >90 years, pregnancy, prior colon resection, diverticulitis, colon obstruction, severe hematochezia, referral for EMR, or a procedure done without patient sedation. Patients were randomized to either CAC or SC in a 1:1 fashion. The primary outcome was the independent cecal intubation rate (ICIR). Secondary outcomes were cecal intubation time, polyp detection rate, polyp miss rate, adenoma detection rate, ACE tool scores, and cumulative summation learning curves. RESULTS: A total of 203 colonoscopies were analyzed, 101 in CAC and 102 in SC. CAC resulted in a significantly higher cecal intubation rate, at 79.2% in CAC compared with 66.7% in SC (P = .04). Overall cecal intubation time was significantly shorter at 13.7 minutes for CAC versus 16.5 minutes for SC (P =.02). Cecal intubation time in the case of successful independent fellow intubation was not significantly different between CAC and SC (11.6 minutes vs 12.7 minutes; P = .29). Overall ACE tool motor and cognitive scores were higher with CAC. Learning curves for ICIR approached the competency threshold earlier with cap use but reached competency for only 1 fellow. The polyp detection rate, polyp miss rate, and adenoma detection rate were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: CAC resulted in significant improvement in ICIR, overall ACE tool scores, and trend toward competency on learning curves when compared with SC in colonoscopy trainees without prior colonoscopy experience. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT02472730.).

Relief of malignant gastric outlet obstruction with lumen-apposing metallic stent-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

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Mechanical esophageal displacement during catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility and safety of esophageal displacement during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, to prevent thermal injury. BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing AF ablation are at risk of esophageal thermal injury, which ranges from superficial ulceration, to gastroparesis, to the rare but catastrophic atrioesophageal fistula. A common approach to avoid damage is luminal esophageal temperature (LET) monitoring; however, (1) temperature rises mandate interruptions in energy delivery that interrupt workflow and potentially decrease procedural efficacy, and (2) esophageal fistulas have been reported even with LET monitoring. METHODS: A cohort of 20 consecutive patients undergoing radiofrequency (RF) (16 patients) or laser balloon (4 patients) ablation of AF under general anesthesia. After barium instillation, the esophagus was deviated using an endotracheal stylet placed within a thoracic chest tube. LET monitoring was used during catheter ablation. Upper GI endoscopy was performed prior to discharge. RESULTS: At the pulmonary vein level, leftward deviation measured 2.8 ± 1.6 cm (range: 0.4-5.7) and rightward deviation 2.8 ± 1.8 cm (range: 0.5-4.9). The temperature rose to >38.5 °C in 3/20 (15%) patients. In these 3 patients, there was an average of 2 applications/patient that recorded temperatures >38.5 °C. No patient had a temperature rise > 40 °C. Endoscopy revealed no esophageal ulceration from thermal injury in 18/19 (95%) patients; the sole patient with a thermally mediated ulceration had an unusual esophageal diverticulum fully across the posterior left atrium. Twelve patients (63%) exhibited trauma related to instrumentation with no clinical sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical esophageal deviation is feasible and allows for uninterrupted energy delivery along the posterior wall during catheter ablation of AF.

Neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas: endoscopic diagnosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a valuable tool in the diagnosis and management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. This review highlights advances over the last year in EUS in the evaluation of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. RECENT FINDINGS: We will focus on recent findings regarding the accuracy of EUS, EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-fine needle aspiration), emerging cytologic markers obtained from fine needle aspiration samples, and the role of EUS screening for patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome. Additionally, we will introduce potential therapeutic EUS interventions in the treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. SUMMARY: The present review highlights recent advances in the utility of EUS in the clinical management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Key studies from the last year demonstrate the important role of EUS in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Comparison of endoscopic ultrasound guided 22-gauge core needle with standard 25-gauge fine-needle aspiration for diagnosing solid pancreatic lesions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is the standard modality for diagnosing pancreatic masses. We compared the diagnostic yield of a new EUS-guided 22-gauge core needle biopsy to a standard 25-gauge FNA in sampling the same pancreatic lesions during the same EUS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The main outcomes of the study were the sample adequacy of each method to provide a final pathological diagnosis, and the concordance in diagnosis between core and FNA specimens. The secondary outcomes were the sensitivity and specificity of the findings for each needle and the incremental yield of using both needles compared with using each needle alone. RESULTS: A total of 56 patients with 61 solid pancreatic lesions were evaluated. The mean number of passes with FNA was 3.5 (ranges 1-8) and with core biopsy needle was 1.7 (ranges 1-5). The proportions of adequate samples were 50/61 (81.9%) for FNA and 45/61 (73.8%) for core biopsy (P = 0.37). The diagnostic yield was 46/61 (75.4%), 42/61 (68.9%) and 47/61 (77.1%) for FNA, core, and both, respectively. There was a substantial agreement of 87.5% (κ = 0.77; P < 0.001) in the findings of core and FNA specimens. The sensitivity for the diagnosis of malignancy for FNA and core biopsy were 68.1% and 59.6%, respectively (P = no significant [NS]). The specificity was 100% for both methods. The incremental increase in sensitivity and specificity by combining both methods are 1.5% and 0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: There are NS differences in the diagnostic yield between EUS-guided 22-gauge core biopsy and standard 25-gauge FNA for diagnosing pancreatic lesions, but core biopsy required fewer numbers of passes. There was NS incremental diagnostic yield when using both needles during the same procedure.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration with on-site cytopathology versus core biopsy: a comparison of both techniques performed at the same endoscopic session.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) with bedside cytopathology is the gold standard for assessment of pancreatic, subepithelial, and other lesions in close proximity to the gastrointestinal tract, but it is time-consuming, has certain diagnostic limitations, and bedside cytopathology is not widely available. AIMS: The goal of this study is to compare the diagnostic yield of EUS-guided FNA with on-site cytopathology and EUS-guided core biopsy. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with gastrointestinal mass lesions requiring biopsy at a tertiary medical center were included in this retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort. Two core biopsies were taken using a 22 gauge needle followed by FNA guided by a bedside cytopathologist at the same endoscopic session. The diagnostic yield and test characteristics of EUS core biopsy and EUS FNA with bedside cytopathology were examined. RESULTS: The mean number of passes was 3.2 for FNA, and the mean procedure time was 39.4 minutes. The final diagnosis was malignant in 92.3 %. Sensitivity and specificity were 83 % and 100 %, respectively, for FNA, and 91.7 % and 100 %, respectively, for core biopsy. Diagnostic accuracy was 92.3 % for FNA and 84.6 % for core biopsy. The two approaches were in agreement in 88.4 % with a kappa statistic of 0.66 (95 % confidence interval 0.33 - 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: An approach using two passes with a core biopsy needle is comparable to the current gold standard of FNA with bedside cytopathology. The performance of two core biopsies is time-efficient and could represent a good alternative to FNA with bedside cytopathology.

Multidetector computed tomography in large bowel lesions-a study of 100 cases.

This study aims to evaluate the role of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in detecting and classifying the large bowel lesions. A prospective study of 100 adult patients was conducted from June 2007 to October 2009. Rectal and IV contrast were used for three dimensional reconstruction. Angiography was performed in cases of suspected ischemic pathology. CT colongraphy was done to evaluate adenomas. CT findings were correlated and confirmed by either colonoscopy, biopsy, postoperative findings or follow-up CT. The pathologies were common in 50-70 yrs (44%). M: F ratio was 2:1. Malignant lesions were seen in (55%) followed by inflammatory lesions in 26%, diverticulitis and ischemic colitis in 6% each. Miscellaneous conditions like polyps, volvulus and intussusceptions were seen in 7%. Adenocarcinoma was the common malignancy (81.2%). Present study showed that adenocarcinomas were associated with marked thickening of bowel wall (>1.5 cm) in 85.4% of patients, asymmetrical wall thickening (96.4%), focal involvement (length <10 cm) in 85.5% with heterogeneous post contrast enhancement (96.3%). Inflammatory lesions showed mild thickening (69%),segmental or diffuse involvement (77%), symmetrical wall thickening (89%) and homogenous post contrast enhancement (81%). Ischemic lesions showed marked thickening (83.4%), symmetrical thickening (100%) and homogenous enhancement (100%). Diverticulitis showed marked thickening (100%), asymmetrical wall thickening (66.7%) with heterogeneous post contrast enhancement (100%), with pericolic fluid. Arterial/venous thrombosis was diagnosed in 66.66%. Three per cent had benign adenomatous polyps on CT colonographic studies. MDCT was accurate in 98.2% cases for differentiating between benign and malignant etiology and is the modality of choice.