Nurse observation during colonoscopy increases polyp detection: a randomized prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a second observer during colonoscopy increases adenoma detection. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing screening colonoscopy were prospectively randomized to routine colonoscopy or physician and nurse observation during withdrawal. RESULTS: Of 502 patients, 249 were randomized to routine colonoscopy, and 253 to physician plus nurse observation during withdrawal. A total of 592 polyps were detected, 40 identified by the endoscopy nurse only. With nurse observation, 1.32 polyps and 0.82 adenomas were found per colonoscopy, vs. 1.03 polyps and 0.64 adenomas in the routine group, demonstrating a 1.29-fold and a 1.28-fold increase in the average number of polyps and of adenomas detected, respectively. The overall adenoma detection rate (ADR) was 44.1%, with trends toward increased ADR and all-polyp detection rate with nurse observation. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse observation during colonoscopy resulted in an increase in the number of polyps and adenomas found per colonoscopy, along with a trend toward improved overall ADR and all-polyp detection rate.

MiraLAX-Gatorade bowel prep versus GoLytely before screening colonoscopy: an endoscopic database study in a community hospital.

BACKGROUND: Polyethylene glycol-3350 without electrolytes (MiraLAX; Schering-Plough Healthcare Products Inc.)+a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution (Gatorade; PepsiCo Inc.)+bisacodyl is frequently used for bowel cleansing, although limited data quantifies its efficacy and safety. No prior studies have assessed this in a community setting or with PM-only dosing, which is still used frequently. AIM: To compare the frequency of excellent/good/fair/poor bowel cleansing with PM-only dosing of MiraLAX-Gatorade-bisacodyl versus 4-liter GoLytely. METHODS: This is a retrospective endoscopic database analysis of 50 years and older average-risk individuals with a normal screening colonoscopy at a community hospital and ambulatory endoscopy center. Data were extracted for the last 4 months when 4-liter GoLytely was the preferred bowel purgative and the first 4 months when 238-g MiraLAX in 64-ounce Gatorade and four 5-mg bisacodyl tablets became the preferred purgative. All patients used PM-only dosing of bowel purgative. RESULTS: A total of 778 subjects [GoLytely (n=395) vs. MiraLAX+Gatorade+bisacodyl (n=383)] were identified. Patients who took the MiraLAX bowel preparation were more likely to achieve an excellent/good bowel cleansing compared with patients taking the GoLytely preparation (93.3% vs. 89.3%, respectively; P=0.048). However, when only American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) class I patients are studied, there was no difference in frequency of excellent/good bowel cleansing (91.1% vs 93.6%, respectively; P=0.498). No serious adverse events were identified. An excellent/good bowel cleansing was strongly associated with a recommendation for repeat colonoscopy in 10 years compared with patients with a fair cleansing (odds ratio=28.01; 95% confidence interval, 13.96-56.19). CONCLUSIONS: The MiraLAX+Gatorade+bisacodyl combination produces similar rates of excellent/good bowel cleansing as compared with GoLytely in most average-risk individuals undergoing colonoscopy for colorectal screening in a community setting.

High-definition confocal endomicroscopy of the common bile duct.

BACKGROUND: Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) of the common bile duct (CBD) is a new procedure that can be used for assessing indeterminate billiary strictures. The CBD has been examined using the CholangioFlex miniprobe (Mauna Kea Technologies, Paris, France), which has a lateral resolution of 3.5 µm and diameter of <1.0 mm. However, larger-diameter higher-resolution confocal probes are available. We aimed to determine if pCLE of the CBD with the high-definition GastroFlex(UHD) miniprobe (UHDp) was feasible. This probe has a lateral resolution of 1 µm and an outer diameter of 2.6 mm. METHODS: Eleven consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for various indications at a single, large, academic center were included in the study. Examination of the CBD was attempted with the UHDp after injection of 2.5 mL of 10% fluorescein. A 0.035 inch guidewire was first placed into the CBD and the confocal probe was subsequently inserted adjacent to the guidewire. Position of the miniprobe was identified fluoroscopically. RESULTS: The GastroFlex(UHD) miniprobe was successfully introduced into the CBD in 10 of 11 patients. Cellular structures and individual cell morphology seemed to be more clearly visualized with the UHDp compared with the CholangioFlex probe. No significant side effects except 1 case of mild pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that high-definition pCLE of the CBD by the GastroFlex(UHD) miniprobe is feasible and may offer improved image quality over the standard CholangioFlex probe. Further studies are needed to see if this improves the diagnostic accuracy of bile duct lesions.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided liver biopsy: a multicenter experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided (EUS) liver biopsy (LB) is proposed as a newer method that offers several advantages over existing techniques for sampling liver tissue. This study evaluated the diagnostic yield of EUS-LB as the primary outcome measure. In addition, the safety of the technique in a large patient cohort was assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing EUS for evaluation of elevated liver enzymes or hepatic disease were included in this prospective, non-randomized, multicenter study. EUS-LB was performed with EUS-fine needle aspiration (FNA; 19-gauge needle). Tissue was formalin-fixed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and trichrome. Using a microscope micrometer, specimen length was measured and the number of complete portal triads (CPTs) were counted. The main outcome measure was to assess the diagnostic yield of EUS-LB, and to monitor for any procedure-related complications. RESULTS: Patients (110; median age, 53 years; 62 women) underwent EUS-LB at eight centers. The indication was abnormal liver enzymes in 96 patients. LB specimens sufficient for pathological diagnosis were obtained in 108 of 110 patients (98 %). The overall tissue yield from 110 patients was a median aggregate length of 38 mm (range, 0 - 203), with median of 14 CPTs (range, 0 - 68). There was no statistical difference in the yield between bilobar, left lobe only, or right lobe only biopsies. There was one complication (0.9 %) where self-limited bleeding occurred in a coagulopathic and thrombocytopenic patient. This complication was managed conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-guided LB was a safe technique that yields tissue adequate for diagnosis among 98 % of patients evaluated.

Aldosterone and cardiovascular remodelling: focus on myocardial failure.

Heart failure is a clinical syndrome that may result from different disease states or conditions that injure the myocardium. The activation of circulating neurohormones, particularly aldosterone, may play a pivotal role in left ventricular (LV) remodelling. The Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study and Eplerenone Post-Acute Myocardial Infarction Heart Failure Efficacy and Survival trial have emphasised the clinical importance of aldosterone. This review addresses some of the proposed mechanisms of LV remodelling in heart failure.

Improved endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography brush increases diagnostic yield of malignant biliary strictures.

AIM: To determine if a new brush design could improve the diagnostic yield of biliary stricture brushings. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed of all endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures with malignant biliary stricture brushing between January 2008 and October 2012. A standard wire-guided cytology brush was used prior to protocol implementation in July 2011, after which, a new 9 French wire-guided cytology brush (Infinity sampling device, US Endoscopy, Mentor, OH) was used for all cases. All specimens were reviewed by blinded pathologists who determined whether the sample was positive or negative for malignancy. Cellular yield was quantified by describing the number of cell clusters seen. RESULTS: Thirty-two new brush cases were compared to 46 historical controls. Twenty-five of 32 (78%) cases in the new brush group showed abnormal cellular findings consistent with malignancy as compared to 17 of 46 (37%) in the historical control group (P = 0.0003). There was also a significant increase in the average number of cell clusters of all sizes (21.1 vs 9.9 clusters, P = 0.0007) in the new brush group compared to historical controls. CONCLUSION: The use of a new brush design for brush cytology of biliary strictures shows increased diagnostic accuracy, likely due to improved cellular yield, as evidenced by an increase in number of cellular clusters obtained.