Esophageal function tests are not helpful in symptoms suspicious of extraesophageal reflux - a prospective study in 74 patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Symptoms suspicious of extraesophageal reflux (SSEER) include globus, chronic cough, mucous obstruction and hoarseness. Reports of conventional esophageal function tests and measurement of extraesophageal reflux (EER) in these patients are spare providing conflicting results. METHODS: In a prospective study we evaluated 60 patients with SSEER by esophageal function tests (esophageal manometry, combined 24 h pH - metry - impedance and oropharyngeal pH measurement, Dx - pH measurement) and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The patients were stratified into 2 groups according to their accompanying reflux symptoms. Group 1, n = 23, comprised patients with SSEER solely and group 2, n = 37 patients with SSEER and reflux symptoms. The patients were compared to patients with reflux symptoms solely (group 3, n = 14). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups according to age, sex and BMI. Patients with SSEER and reflux symptoms (group 2) showed significantly increased proportion of pathological acid reflux, de Meester Score, pH < 4 overall and in upright positon and hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter pressure compared to patients with SSEER solely (group 1) but no significant difference to patients with reflux symptoms solely (group 3). All the other parameters of esophageal testing including non-acid reflux and EER were not significantly different between the three groups. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study do not support a causal link between SSEER and esophageal motility disorders, acid or non-acid reflux and EER as measured by conventional esophageal function tests and oropharyngeal pH measurement.

[Chest pain - not always the heart! Clinical impact of gastrointestinal diseases in non-cardiac chest pain]. / Brustschmerz - nicht immer das Herz! Klinische Bedeutung gastrointestinaler Erkrankungen beim nicht-kardialen Thoraxschmerz.

Non cardiac chest pain (NCCP) are recurrent angina pectoris like pain without evidence of coronary heart disease in conventional diagnostic evaluation. The prevalence of NCCP is up to 70 % and may be detected in this order at all levels of the medical health care system (general practitioner, emergency department, chest pain unit, coronary care). Reduction of quality of life in NCCP is comparable, partially even higher compared to cardiac chest pain. Reasons for psychological strain are symptom recurrence in app. 50 %, nonspecific diagnosis with resulting uncertainty and insufficient integration of other medical disciplines in diagnostic work-up. Managing of patients with NCCP has to be interdisciplinary because non cardiac causes of chest pain may be found frequently. Especially gastroenterological expertise is required because in 50 - 60 % of cases gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), in 15 - 18 % hypercontractile esophageal motility disorders with nutcracker, jackhammer esophagus or distal esophageal spasmus or achalasia and in 32 - 35 % other esophageal alterations (e. g. infectious esophageal inflammation, drug-induced ulcer, rings, webs, eosinophilic esophagitis) as cause of chest pain may be detected. This implicates that regular interdisciplinary round wards and management of chest pain units are mandatory.

Clinical impact of esophageal function tests and argon plasma coagulation in heterotopic gastric mucosa of the esophagus and extraesophageal reflux symptoms - a prospective study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Globus, chronic cough, mucous obstruction and hoarseness are frequently interpreted and classified as manifestation of extraesophageal reflux (EER) or laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Recent studies have indicated that ablation of heterotopic gastric mucosa of the proximal esophagus (HGMPE) by argon plasma coagulation (APC) significantly reduces EER/LPR symptoms. METHODS: In a prospective study we evaluated 14 patients with HGMPE and EER/LPR symptoms by esophageal function testing (esophageal manometry, combined 24 h-pH-metry-impedance - oropharyngeal-pH measurement), standardized symptom questionnaire (visual analogue scales), and esophagealgastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The patients were stratified into 3 groups: GERD (n = 5), functional heartburn (n = 5) and non-GERD-non-functional heartburn (n = 4). Patients (n = 12) received endoscopic ablation of HGMPE by APC. RESULTS: 73 % of the patients responded to APC with a reduction of frequency and intensity of their EER/LPR symptoms. The response to APC varied between the quality of symptoms and was most frequently seen in globus, swallowing difficulty and mucous obstruction. The magnitude of symptom reduction was highest in heartburn, sore throat, and globus. The response to APC was comparable between the three groups of patients irrespective of GERD and the presence or absence of reflux symptoms. Although 50 % of the patients showed an increased Ryan Score as measured by acid reflux in the posterior oropharynx, comparison between responders and non-responders to APC showed no significant differences with regard to symptom quality, acid and non-acid reflux, LES resting pressure, esophageal motility and Ryan Score. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that a large proportion of patients with HGMPE and EER/LPR symptoms responded to APC. However, we could not demonstrate a clinical or functional parameter that differentiated between responders and non-responders to APC or could predict the response to APC.

Sedation-associated complications in endoscopy--prospective multicentre survey of 191142 patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Propofol sedation is applied as moderate sedation for almost all diagnostic and interventional endoscopies. Propofol sedation bears the risk of complications such as respiratory as well as cardiopulmonary insufficiency including sedation-induced death. According to recent guidelines, non-anesthesiologist-administered propofol (NAAP) should be performed by an additional person who has NAAP as their sole task. METHODS: In a prospective multicentre survey involving 191,142 patients, clinically relevant endoscopy-associated complications were registered from 02/2010 to 01/2012. RESULTS: The majority of propofol sedations were applied without additional persons for NAAP. Overall endoscopy-related complication rate was 0.0022 % (n = 424) and sedation-related complications 0.00 042 % (n = 82). Variability over time and between the clinics was low and not influenced by the number of endoscopies performed during the investigation period. Sedation-related death occurred in 6 patients (0.00 003 %), 50 % during emergency endoscopies. In all sedation-associated deaths the patients had ASA class 3 before endoscopy. All fatal complications occurred in the presence of an additional trained person for NAAP. CONCLUSION: This large prospective survey shows that propofol sedation in gastrointestinal endoscopy is a safe procedure with a low potential of risk in daily routine. However, high risk patients (ASA ≥ 3) should be identified, especially before emergency endoscopies and managed by additional persons for NAAP and under intensive care surveillance.

Prospective and randomized study to evaluate the clinical impact of cap assisted colonoscopy (CAC).

BACKGROUND: Although colonoscopy is the standard procedure in the diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia, a significant number of clinical relevant lesions may be missed even by experienced endoscopists using current technology. A transparent cap mounted at the tip of a colonoscope may be an easy way to extend the visual field during colonoscopy and may improve the detection rate of mucosal lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The significance of cap assisted (CAC) vs. conventional colonoscopy (CC) on polyp detection rate was evaluated in a prospective randomized controlled trial in 504 patients. RESULTS: CC and CAC detected polyps in 39.3 % and 31.8, not significantly different. There was also no significant difference between CAC and CC according to age, sex, indication for colonoscopy, diverticulosis, sedation, bowel cleansing, withdrawal time, time/number of attempts to intubate the cecal walve, number, localization, size or histology of polyps,. However, the time to reach the cecal floor and the overall time of colonoscopy were significantly lower for CAC (1 minute). CONCLUSION: CAC was without clinical impact on polyp detection rate or performance of colonoscopy.

[How safe is sedation in gastrointestinal endoscopy? A multicentre analysis of 388,404 endoscopies and analysis of data from prospective registries of complications managed by members of the Working Group of Leading Hospital Gastroenterologists (ALGK)]. / Wie sicher ist die Sedierung in der gastrointestinalen Endoskopie? Eine multizentrische Auswertung von 388 404 Endoskopien und Auswertung der Daten aus prospektiv geführten Komplikationsregistern von Mitgliedern der Arbeitsgemeinschaft leitender Gastroenterologen im Krankenhaus (ALGK).

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal endoscopies are increasingly being carried out with sedation. All of the drugs used for sedation are associated with a certain risk of complications. Data currently available on sedation-associated morbidity and mortality rates are limited and in most cases have substantial methodological limitations. The aim of this study was to record severe sedation-associated complications in a large number of gastrointestinal endoscopies. METHODS: Data on severe sedation-associated complications were collected on a multicentre basis from prospectively recorded registries of complications in the participating hospitals (median documentation period 27 months, range 9 - 129 months). RESULTS: Data for 388,404 endoscopies from 15 departments were included in the study. Severe sedation-associated complications occurred in 57 patients (0.01 %). Forty-one percent of the complications and 50 % of all complications with a fatal outcome (10/20 patients) occurred during emergency endoscopies. In addition, it was found that 95 % of the complications and 100 % of all fatal complications affected patients in ASA class ≥ 3. CONCLUSIONS: Including nearly 400,000 endoscopies, this study represents the largest prospective, multicenter record of the complications of sedation worldwide. The analysis shows that sedation is carried out safely in gastrointestinal endoscopy. The morbidity and mortality rates are much lower than previously reported in the literature in similar groups of patients. Risk factors for the occurrence of serious complications include emergency examinations and patients in ASA class ≥ 3.

Cap-assisted colonoscopy (CAC) significantly extends visualization in the right colon.

BACKGROUND: Although colonoscopy is the standard procedure in the diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia, a significant number of clinically relevant lesions may be missed even by experienced endoscopists using current technology. Particular problems may occur with blind spots behind the semilunar folds and within the right colon. A transparent cap mounted at the tip of a colonoscope may be an easy way to extend the visual field during colonoscopy and may improve the detection rate of mucosal lesions. However, data in the literature are controversial and the quantity of the potential extension of visualization by a transparent cap has not been reported yet. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The significance of cap-assisted colonoscopy (CAC) to increase visualization within different colonic segments (rectum, sigmoid colon, descending colon, transverse colon, ascending colon, cecum) was quantitatively analyzed by randomized back-to-back colonoscopies with and without cap. The investigations were performed in a colonic training model by 5 investigators. The inner colonic surface was stained by a raster of dots and the number of dots counted during colonoscopy served as a measure for the visible surface area of each segment. RESULTS: The time to advance the colonoscope to the respective colonic segments and the overall time to reach the cecum were not significantly different between conventional and CAC. In contrast, overall withdrawal time and withdrawal times for the cecum, ascending colon, descending colon and rectum were significantly longer for CAC, but not for the transverse and sigmoid colon. Visualization of the colonic surface was significantly increased during CAC. Overall, 59.76 ± 2.70 % of the maximal countable dots were visualized without cap and 85.36 ± 9.62 % with cap. The improvement of visualization was only significant for the right colon, but not for the rectum, sigmoid or descending colon. CONCLUSION: The finding of the present study suggests that the extension of visualization by CAC may be of particular value for the right colon.

[Diagnosis of oesophageal reflux by PH, impedance, and bilirubin measurement: recommendations of the German Society of Neurogastroenterology and of the working group for neurogastroenterology of the German Society for Digestive and Metabolic Diseases]. / Ösophageale Refluxdiagnostik - pH-Metrie, Impedanzmessung, Bilirubin-Messung: Empfehlungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurogastroenterologie und Motilität und der Arbeitsgruppe Neurogastroenterologie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten.

The current recommendations on indications, technical performance, and interpretation of diagnostic techniques for oesophageal reflux update the German recommandations about 24 hour pH measurement of 2003. The recommendations encompass conventional pH measurement, wireless pH measurement, pH and impedance measurements, and bilirubin measurement (duodenogastro-oesophageal reflux).

Fructose malabsorption: how much fructose can a healthy subject tolerate?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In a prospective study, we evaluated fructose absorption capacity in 17 healthy female volunteers aged 16-27 years. METHODS: All volunteers underwent analysis of their daily food intake diary and standardized breath tests. The volunteers were challenged consecutively with oral intake of 50, 25 and 15 g of fructose. RESULTS: The average daily ingestion of fructose (19.54 ± 14.95 g) was not different between volunteers with positive and negative breath tests. On day 1, 53% of subjects exhibited a significant (≥20 ppm) increase in breath hydrogen and gastrointestinal symptoms upon challenge with 50 g of fructose. Moreover, 37.5% of the volunteers with a negative breath test became positive upon a second challenge with 50 g of fructose but remained asymptomatic. On day 2, 1 of the 9 volunteers (12.5%) with a positive breath test on day 1 exhibited an asymptomatic positive breath test upon exposure to 25 and 15 g of fructose on day 3. The 8 volunteers with a negative test (25 g of fructose) remained negative after a second exposure to 25 g of fructose. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that hydrogen breath tests with fructose challenge of 50 g of fructose are inappropriate to characterize clinically significant fructose malabsorption.

[Age-related functional gastrointestinal disorders]. / Funktionelle gastrointestinale Erkrankungen und Alter.

The demographic development will lead to a disproportionate increase of older people and to a significant increase of functional gastrointestinal disorders including dysphagia due to motility and reflux-related disorders, nausea and vomiting by gastrointestinal dysfunction and abdominal and pelvic pain caused by chronic obstipation, stool impaction and incontinence. This implies significant consequences with regard to the development of weight loss, anorexia, social disadvantages and increased mortality with serious socio-economic burden. Ageing processes are determined by differentiated neurogeneration of the myenteric plexus (cholinergic degeneration) through reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and alteration of protective and regenerative processes. Age-related gastrointestinal dysfunctions may be caused by the ageing gastrointestinal tract itself or by other age-related diseases such as tumour, neurological or inflammatory diseases, anatomic changes, therapeutic medication, polymorbidity or malnutrition. Because of the significant therapeutic options, differential diagnostic work-up is mandatory also in elderly patients.

[Endoscopic therapy for leaks in the gastrointestinal tract, the bile ducts and the pancreas]. / Endoskopische Therapie von Leckagen im Gastrointestinaltrakt, an den Gallenwegen und im Pankreas.

Surgery has been the mainstay of therapy in patients with gastrointestinal perforations, leakage or fistulas. New techniques for endoscopic closure of gastrointestinal perforations provide tools for an effective treatment by less invasive procedures. Temporary placement of covered self-expanding stents is an established therapy for oesophageal perforations and anastomotic leaks. Using conventional endoclips small perforations and leaks in the oesophagus and gastrointestinal tract may be closed. With the new over-the-scope-clips a more effective endoscopic full wall closure is possible in the upper gastrointestinal tract and the rectum. Endoscopically guided endoluminal vacuum therapy using polyurethane sponges is an established method for treating rectal leaks and is now increasingly used also in oesophageal leaks. Biliary leakage following endoscopic or surgical interventions is effectively treated with temporary bile stenting in most cases, but closure using metal stents or coiling may be necessary. Pancreatic leaks are a major therapeutic problem and may require multimodal therapies.

Evidence for mast cell activation in patients with therapy-resistant irritable bowel syndrome.

Previous findings suggested an involvement of mast cells in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The pathophysiological significance of mast cells is defined both by their number in tissue and by their activity. In the present pilot study activity of mast cells in patients with therapy-resistant IBS was investigated for the first time systematically. Twenty patients with therapy-resistant IBS were investigated for the presence of a pathologically increased mast cell mediator release by means of a validated structured interview suitable to identify mast cell mediator-related symptoms and by determing selected surrogate parameters for mast cell activity. Nineteen of the 20 patients presented mast cell mediator-related symptoms. Pathologically increased mast cell activity-related coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters were detected in 11 of 12 patients investigated in that regard. One patient had an elevated level of methylhistamine in urine. The present data provide evidence that in patients with therapy-resistant IBS a pathologically increased systemic mast cell activity may occur with high prevalence. This finding fits to the idea of an assumed contribution of activated mast cells in the pathophysiology of IBS.

Prospective comparison between double-balloon enteroscopy and spiral enteroscopy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Push enteroscopy, balloon-guided, and single- and double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) are now well established techniques in gastrointestinal endoscopy for small-bowel imaging and therapy. There are no published prospective studies comparing DBE with spiral enteroscopy and so the aim of the current study was to compare the performance of the two techniques in patients undergoing diagnostic enteroscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January and December 2009, 35 patients referred for diagnostic enteroscopy were prospectively assigned to either spiral enteroscopy (n=18) or DBE (n=17). The performance of the two techniques was compared. RESULTS: The patients were comparable with regard to age, sex, and indication for enteroscopy. Investigation performance, as assessed by time of insertion into the pylorus, the depth of insertion, the duration of the enteroscopy, and the amount of sedoanalgesia required were not significantly different between spiral enteroscopy and DBE. In 40% of the investigations, enteroscopy could detect abnormalities in the intestinal mucosa, in particular inflammatory changes and ulcers and, to a lesser extent, angiodysplasia. No significant difference in pathological findings could be detected between the two groups; however, clinically, diagnostic yield appeared to be higher for DBE (47.1% vs. 33.4%; n.s.). CONCLUSION: Although this small study appears to show that DBE has a clinically higher diagnostic yield than spiral enteroscopy, larger studies are needed to confirm this preliminary finding.

Prospective comparison of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and surgical histology in upper gastrointestinal submucosal tumors.

STUDY AIM: To assess the accuracy of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal stroma cell tumors (GIST) from other submucosal tumors, using both cytology and histology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective study from May 2005 to September 2008 in all patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal submucosal tumors. Only patients in whom surgical resection was carried out were included in the final analysis. In cases of mesenchymal tumor, immunocytochemistry was attempted for further differentiation between GIST and non-GIST. Surgical histopathology served as the gold standard. RESULTS: A total of 47 patients were analyzable, with a final histologic diagnosis of 35 mesenchymal tumors. Sufficient tissue for conventional cytologic diagnosis was obtained only in the 35 patients with mesenchymal tumors; in this subgroup, immunocytochemistry was possible in 46 %. If and only if enough material was available for immunocytochemistry, the sensitivity for (correct recognition of) GIST tumors was 93 %. In all 12 patients with nonmesenchymal tumors and lesions, cytology was nondiagnostic and the diagnosis had to be based on clinical suspicion and the appearance on endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). On an intention-to-diagnose basis, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) had a positive predictive value for mesenchymal tumors of 100 %, but no value for the diagnosis of other lesions; using immunocytochemistry, a GIST tumor was recognized among the mesenchymal tumors with a sensitivity of 58 % and a specificity of 8 %. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-FNA-based cytology is safe and has only limited value for the differential diagnosis of submucosal tumors, mainly because insufficient material is harvested. Better tissue acquisition techniques are necessary for better differential diagnosis.

Krefeld CONTRA study: conventional peroral Esophago-Gastro-Duodenoscopy (EGD) vs. transnasal EGD--a prospective and randomised study with independent evaluation of conscious sedation, endoscope diameter, and access path.

BACKGROUND: The guidelines of the German Gastroenterology Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten, DGVS) demand the presence of an additional qualified person solely responsible for patient monitoring during sedated endoscopy. Transnasal esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) allows easy access to the upper gastrointestinal tract and may avoid the complications induced by conscious sedation and reduce medical costs. PATIENT AND METHOD: 120 patients referred to diagnostic EGD were assigned to six groups: group 1, unsedated peroral EGD with normal-caliber endoscope; group 2, unsedated peroral EGD with small-caliber endoscope; group 3, sedated peroral EGD with normal-caliber endoscope; group 4, sedated peroral EGD with small-caliber endoscope; group 5, unsedated transnasal EGD with small-caliber endoscope; group 6, sedated transnasal EGD with small-caliber endoscope. Outcome parameters included objective (duration, oxygen saturation) and subjective measures (standardised visual analogue scales) of the endoscopy staff (handling, insertion, retroflexion, tolerability, overall assessment) and patients (pain, unpleasantness, sore throat, choking, gagging, meteorism, anxiety, acceptability). RESULTS: The patients were comparable according to age, sex, anxiety, and respiratory function before EGD. Sedoanalgesia was without effect on EGD handling and duration, patient tolerability and overall assessment by endoscopists and assistants. Negative effects of sedoanalgesia (decreased oxygen saturation, patient acceptability) were much lower and without significance for transnasal compared to peroral EGD. Patient tolerability and acceptability of the endoscopic staff (handling, insertion, retroflexion) were significantly better for the small-caliber endoscope. Duration of unsedated transnasal EGD was slightly but significantly longer, pain, unpleasantness, and anxiety slightly but significantly higher compared to sedated peroral EGD. However, these differences could no loner be detected seven days after endoscopy. Cost analysis revealed major advantage for transnasal EGD. CONCLUSION: Unsedated transnasal EGD may replace diagnostic peroral EGD, reduces costs with acceptable patient discomfort and has advantagous acceptability of the endoscopic staff.

Computed virtual chromoendoscopy versus standard colonoscopy with targeted indigocarmine chromoscopy: a randomised multicentre trial.

OBJECTIVE: Colonoscopy is the accepted gold standard for screening of neoplastic colorectal lesions, but the substantial miss rate remains a challenge. Computed virtual chromoendoscopy with the Fujinon intelligent colour enhancement (FICE) system is a new dyeless imaging technique that might allow higher rates of adenoma detection. METHODS: This is a prospective randomised five tertiary care centre trial of colonoscopy in the FICE mode versus standard colonoscopy with targeted indigocarmine chromoscopy (control group) in consecutive patients attending for routine colonoscopy. Histopathology of detected lesions was confirmed by evaluation of endoscopic resection or biopsy specimens. RESULTS: 871 patients were enrolled, and 764 patients (344 female, mean age 64 years) were subjected to final analysis (368 in the FICE group, 396 in the control group). In total, 236 adenomas (mean of 0.64 per case) were detected in the FICE group and 271 adenomas (mean of 0.68 per case) in the control group (p = 0.92). There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of patients with >or=1 adenoma between the control group (35.4%) and the FICE group (35.6%) (p = 1.0). For the differential diagnosis of adenomas and non-neoplastic polyps, the sensitivity of FICE (92.7%) was comparable with that of indigocarmine (90.4%) (p = 0.44). CONCLUSIONS: At colonoscopy, adenoma detection rates are not improved by virtual chromoendoscopy with the FICE system compared with white light endoscopy with targeted indigocarmine spraying. However, FICE can effectively substitute for chromoscopy concerning the differentiation of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions.