Mobile health technology in pediatric EGD quality indicators assessment: results from a national program of the Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Upper endoscopy (UE) procedures (EGD and ERCP) are an established standard of care in pediatric gastroenterology. The Pediatric Endoscopy Quality Improvement Network (PEnQuIN) recently published its pediatric-specific endoscopy quality guidelines. This study, initiated by the Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, aims to evaluate the adherence of Italian pediatric endoscopy centers (PECs) to these established quality standards. METHODS: Conducted between April 2019 and March 2021, this nationwide study used a smartphone-based app approach. Data encompassing pediatric endoscopy facilities, patient profiles, endoscopy indications, 17 procedure-related PEnQuIN indicators, and a patient satisfaction questionnaire (Group Health Association of America-9) were systematically collected. RESULTS: A comprehensive analysis of 3582 procedures from 24 centers revealed that 2654 (76%) were UEs. The majority of centers (75%) involved >1 operator, with 9 centers incorporating adult endoscopists, responsible for 5% of UEs. Overall, adherence to quality standards was good; however, areas of improvement include suboptimal reporting of sedation details, adherence to disease-specific guidelines, and patient satisfaction questionnaire completeness (56%). The adverse event rate aligned with literature standards (1%), and patient satisfaction was generally high. A noteworthy observation was a 30% decreased monthly reporting rate and a shift in disease-specific patterns after the COVID-19 outbreak. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric UE practices in Italy adhere well to established quality standards. Emphasizing the adoption of disease-specific guidelines is crucial for optimizing resources, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, and minimizing unnecessary procedures. Prioritizing patient satisfaction is important for immediate enhancements in practice as well as for future research endeavors.

Hematemesis in Infants: The First Evidence-Based Score to Predict the Need for Timely Endoscopy.

OBJECTIVES: Infantile acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding involves a decision for therapeutic intervention that most pediatricians first coming into contact with the patient are, not unreasonably, unable to objectively provide. Therefore, some objective tools of individual risk assessment would seem to be crucial. The principal aim of the present study was to investigate the anamnestic and clinical parameters of infants with hematemesis, together with laboratory and instrumental findings, to create a scoring system that may help identify those infants requiring an appropriate and timely application of upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. METHODS: Clinical data of infants admitted for hematemesis to the participating centers over the study period were systematically collected. According to the outcome dealing with rebleeding, need for blood transfusion, mortality, finding of GI bleeding lesions, or need for surgical intervention, patients were blindly divided into a group with major clinical severity and a group with minor clinical severity. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to investigate significant prognostic factors for clinical severity. RESULTS: According to our findings, we drafted a practical diagnostic algorithm and a clinical score able to predict the need for timely upper GI endoscopy (BLOVO infant score). Our clinical scoring system was created by incorporating anamnestic factors, clinical parameters, and laboratory findings that emerged as predictors of a worst outcome. CONCLUSIONS: We provided the first objective tool of individual risk assessment for infants with hematemesis, which could be very useful for pediatricians first coming into contact with the patient in the emergency department.

Total Oesophagogastric Dissociation in Neurologically Impaired Children: 18 Years' Experience and Long-term Follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: Total oesophagogastric dissociation (TOGD) is an alternative antireflux surgery for neurologically impaired children because of a 16% to 38% fundoplication failure rate. This study evaluates TOGD's feasibility and its long-term efficacy both as a Primary and as a "Rescue" procedure after failed fundoplication. METHODS: Thirty patients (18 boys) who underwent TOGD between 2000 and 2018 in 2 Italian Centres were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-three were Primary procedures and 7 were "Rescue" ones. Inclusion criteria were severe neurodisability, intractable gastroesophageal reflux, and dysphagia. RESULTS: Preoperatively, all children had regurgitation, vomiting or retching, and 93% had unsafe swallowing and aspiration, with recurrent chest infections/aspiration pneumonia. Median relative weight was 77% (48%--118%). All patients were taking antireflux medication before surgery. Median age at TOGD was 6.48 years (0.69--22.18). Median follow-up was 3.5 years (0.6-17.7). No recurrence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and vomiting was recorded. The number of chest infections and length of hospital stay showed a significative decrease (P value <0.0001 for both), whereas median relative weight reached 101% (P value 0.002). Parents'/caregivers' perception of outcome showed a significative improvement. Six patients (20%) experienced early complications and 3 required surgical intervention. Three late complications (10%) also required surgery. There was no surgery-related mortality. CONCLUSION: TOGD is an effective procedure with an acceptably low complication rate for children with severe neurological impairment and is followed by a major improvement in general health and quality of life for children and families. There was no substantial difference in outcome between Primary and "Rescue" procedures.

Single Center Experience of Eus-Guided Cystogastrostomy and Lumen-Apposing Metal Stent (LAMS) Positioning in Children with Pancreatic Fluid Collections: A Case Series.

Pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) are a well-known complication of pancreatitis. PFCs operative management includes percutaneous, endoscopic or surgical drainage. Even if in adult patients, endoscopic drainage is a well-established treatment, few data are available in pediatric setting. We report our single-center experience of EUS-guided cystogastrostomy and lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) positioning in children with PFCs; this, at the best of our knowledge, has never been reported before. All consecutive children with PFCs between April 2020 and November 2022 were enrolled in this retrospective study. PFCs were preoperatively evaluated with MRI or CT scan. All the procedures were performed under general anesthesia. A LAMS Hot-AxiosTM 10 × 15 mm was placed in all patients. We evaluated technical feasibility and clinical outcomes, including complications and recurrence rates. Follow-up included clinical observation, blood tests and US. EUS-guided cystogastrostomy was performed in 3 children (2 males; median age 13.2 years). Median maximum cyst diameter was 14.7 cm (range 10-22 cm). Technical and clinical success rates were 100%. No intra or post-operative complications occurred. Our experience suggests that this can be considered a safe and feasible treatment of PCFs even in the pediatric population, as long as the procedure is performed by an expert Endoscopist in a pediatric tertiary-level Center.

Foreign body ingestion in children: Definition of a nomogram to predict surgical or endoscopic intervention.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Foreign body ingestion (FBI) in children requires early identification to prevent adverse outcomes and may necessitate endoscopic or surgical intervention. This study aims to develop a nomogram that identifies children who require urgent surgical or endoscopic intervention by using the patient's medical history and clinical parameters collected at admission. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review (01/2015-12/2020) of a multicenter case series of children admitted for FBI. Data from 5864 records from 24 hospitals in Italy were analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to establish the probability of requiring surgical or endoscopic intervention based on patient history and clinical characteristics. The nomogram representing the results from the multivariable model was reported to examine the propensity for surgery/endoscopy. RESULTS: The study identified a significant association between intervention and various factors, including type of foreign body (blunt: reference category, disk battery (odds ratio OR:4.89), food bolus (OR:1.88), magnets (OR:2.61), sharp-pointed (OR:1.65), unknown (OR:1.02)), pre-existing diseases or conditions (OR 3.42), drooling (OR 10.91), dysphagia (OR 5.58), vomiting (OR 3.30), retrosternal pain (OR 5.59), abdominal pain (OR 1.58), hematemesis (OR 2.82), food refusal/poor feeding (OR 2.99), and unexplained crying (OR 2.01). The multivariable regression model showed good calibration and discrimination ability, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.77. CONCLUSIONS: This study developed the first nomogram to predict the probability of the need for surgical or endoscopic intervention in children with FBI, based on the information collected at admission. The nomogram will aid clinicians in identifying children who require early intervention to prevent adverse outcomes.

Recent trends in foreign body ingestion (FBI) epidemiology: A national cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Foreign body ingestion (FBI) in children is a critical health concern. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of FBI in children in Italy. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled children <18 years admitted for FBI from January 2015 to December 2020. Data were collected across 21 hospitals with dedicated pediatric endoscopy services and normalized by the population of the corresponding municipalities. RESULTS: A total of 5,771 FBI cases were analyzed. FBI incidents showed consistent time trends across age groups, with most events occurring at home and being witnessed (94.7 %). Children <6 years accounted for 74.3 % of cases. Comorbidities were present in 5.3 % of cases, primarily neurologic/psychiatric disorders in older children (6-17 years). Blunt objects accounted for 65.5 % of ingestions. Young males commonly ingested button batteries, while females showed higher rates of ingesting hair products and jewelry. Most children were discharged (60 %) or observed briefly (75 % of total admissions), with endoscopic removal performed in 24 % of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of FBI have remained stable over the years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. FBI predominantly occurs in domestic settings among healthy young children, particularly those ≤5 years old. These findings emphasize the need for preventive measures to reduce the impact of FBI among children.

Technique for replacement of Groshong® peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) in children.

BACKGROUND: The use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in children is increasingly common due to their certain advantages and low rate of adverse events. Valved PICCs, when displaced, must be removed and new a PICC must be placed in another vein. We present our PICC replacement technique over a Seldinger guidewire using the same entrance vein. METHODS: This prospective study involved all consecutive patients with a previously inserted Groshong PICC (Bard Access Systems Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, USA) requiring replacement due to displacement managed at our institution between January 2018 and January 2019. All procedures were performed at the patients' bedside, under local anesthesia. All the steps of the procedure were described. RESULTS: The procedure was performed in 19 patients (mean 10.4 years, range 5-18 years) in a mean time of 12 minutes (range 10-35). In all cases, the maneuver was quick and painless. No complications were encountered during the procedure and at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary experience suggests that the PICC replacement technique using the same entrance vein is simple, safe, and feasible, and provides clear benefits to preserve children's venous patrimony.

Foreign body and caustic ingestions in children: A clinical practice guideline.

Foreign body and caustic ingestions in children are usually the most common clinical challenges for emergency physicians, general pediatricians and pediatric gastroenterologists. Management of these conditions often requires different levels of expertise and competence. Endoscopy is often necessary but there is a high risk of misusing this tool with incorrect timing and indications. The imprecise clinical history frequently leaves clinicians uncertain about timing and nature of the ingestion. Few clinical guidelines regarding management of these ingestions in children have been published, none of which from the Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (SIGENP). An expert panel of Italian endoscopists was convened by the SIGENP Endoscopy Working Group to produce the present article that outlines practical clinical approaches to the pediatric patient with a variety of foreign body and caustic ingestions. The Italian Association of Hospital Gastroenterologists and Endoscopists (AIGO) has also endorsed the project since many adult endoscopists usually manage children with these conditions. Differently from the other published guidelines, the proposed one focuses on the role of the endoscopists (regardless of whether they are adult or pediatric gastroenterologists) in the diagnostic process of children with foreign body and caustic ingestions.

Biliary atresia: 20-40-year follow-up with native liver in an Italian centre.

INTRODUCTION: Biliary atresia (BA) represents the leading indication for liver transplantation in childhood. Only few studies reported the outcome of patients who survived more than 20 years on their native liver, and up to date there are no Italian data available. We reported our 40-year single centre experience with long-term follow-up of BA patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) for BA managed at our Institution between 1975 and 1996 were retrospectively reviewed. Native liver (NLS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed with Kaplan-Meyer curves and LogRank test. A p value of <.05 was regarded as significant. Quality of life of patients currently surviving with their native liver was assessed through a quality of life questionnaire. RESULTS: During the 22-year period of the study 174 patients underwent surgery (median age 60 days). Clearance of jaundice at 6 months from surgery was achieved in 90 patients (51.7%). NLS was 41% at 5 years, 32% at 10 years, 17.8% at 20 years and 14.9% at 40 years. Cholangitis was recorded in 32%, hepatocellular carcinoma in 0.5%. Twenty-six patients (14.9%) survived with their liver more than 20 years; 84.6% had normal serum bilirubin level and 23% had esophageal varices. Quality of life was comparable with the healthy Italian population in all but one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Our Italian experience confirms KPE represents the cornerstone of treatment for children with BA. Multidisciplinary and meticulous lifelong post-operative follow-up should be guaranteed for these patients because of the possibility of late-onset cholangitis, portal hypertension, hepatic deterioration and liver malignant tumors. TYPE OF THE STUDY: retrospective case series. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Endoscopic management of sigmoid volvulus in children.

Sigmoid volvulus (SV) is extremely uncommon in children and is usually associated with a long-standing history of constipation or pseudo-obstruction. An early diagnosis and management are crucial in order to prevent the appearance of hemorrhagic infarction of the twisted loop, avoiding further complications such as necrosis, perforation and sepsis. In patients with no evidence of peritonitis or ischemic bowel, treatment starts with resuscitation and detorsion of the SV, accomplished by means of sigmoidoscopy and concomitant rectal tube placement. The bowel is then prepared and surgery is undertaken electively during the same hospitalization. We report a detailed review of the literature focusing on technical details, risks and benefits of endoscopic management of SV in childhood.

Heterotopic gastric mucosa in the cystic duct.

Heterotopic gastric mucosa in the gallbladder is rare (with about 100 reported cases), and its occurrence is even rarer in the biliary ductal system.The authors report a pediatric case of heterotopic gastric mucosa in the cystic duct associated with cholelitiasis.

Chronic cough and eosinophilic esophagitis: an uncommon association.

An increasing number of children, usually with gastrointestinal symptoms, is diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis (EE), and a particular subset of these patients complains of airway manifestations. We present the case of a 2-year-old child with chronic dry cough in whom EE was found after a first diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to pathological 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring. Traditional allergologic tests were negative, while patch tests were diagnostic for cow's milk allergy. We discuss the intriguing relationship between GERD and EE and the use of patch test for the allergologic screening of patients.