Diagnostic yield from symptomatic gastroscopy in the UK: British Society of Gastroenterology analysis using data from the National Endoscopy Database.

OBJECTIVE: This national analysis aimed to calculate the diagnostic yield from gastroscopy for common symptoms, guiding improved resource utilisation. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted of diagnostic gastroscopies between 1 March 2019 and 29 February 2020 using the UK National Endoscopy Database. Mixed-effect logistic regression models were used, incorporating random (endoscopist) and fixed (symptoms, age and sex) effects on two dependent variables (endoscopic cancer; Barrett's oesophagus (BO) diagnosis). Adjusted positive predictive values (aPPVs) were calculated. RESULTS: 382 370 diagnostic gastroscopies were analysed; 30.4% were performed in patients aged <50 and 57.7% on female patients. The overall unadjusted PPV for cancer was 1.0% (males 1.7%; females 0.6%, p<0.01). Other major pathology was found in 9.1% of procedures, whereas 89.9% reported only normal findings or minor pathology (92.5% in females; 94.6% in patients <50).Highest cancer aPPVs were reached in the over 50s (1.3%), in those with dysphagia (3.0%) or weight loss plus another symptom (1.4%). Cancer aPPVs for all other symptoms were below 1%, and for those under 50, remained below 1% regardless of symptom. Overall, 73.7% of gastroscopies were carried out in patient groups where aPPV cancer was <1%.The overall unadjusted PPV for BO was 4.1% (males 6.1%; females 2.7%, p<0.01). The aPPV for BO for reflux was 5.8% and ranged from 3.2% to 4.0% for other symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer yield was highest in elderly male patients, and those over 50 with dysphagia. Three-quarters of all gastroscopies were performed on patients whose cancer risk was <1%, suggesting inefficient resource utilisation.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on monitoring and management of Barrett's oesophagus and stage I oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Barrett's oesophagus is the only known precursor to oesophageal adenocarcinoma, a cancer with very poor prognosis. The main risk factors for Barrett's oesophagus are a history of gastro-oesophageal acid reflux symptoms and obesity. Men, smokers and those with a family history are also at increased risk. Progression from Barrett's oesophagus to cancer occurs via an intermediate stage, known as dysplasia. However, dysplasia and early cancer usually develop without any clinical signs, often in individuals whose symptoms are well controlled by acid suppressant medications; therefore, endoscopic surveillance is recommended to allow for early diagnosis and timely clinical intervention. Individuals with Barrett's oesophagus need to be fully informed about the implications of this diagnosis and the benefits and risks of monitoring strategies. Pharmacological treatments are recommended for control of symptoms, but not for chemoprevention. Dysplasia and stage 1 oesophageal adenocarcinoma have excellent prognoses, since they can be cured with endoscopic or surgical therapies. Endoscopic resection is the most accurate staging technique for early Barrett's-related oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic ablation is effective and indicated to eradicate Barrett's oesophagus in patients with dysplasia. Future research should focus on improved accuracy for dysplasia detection via new technologies and providing more robust evidence to support pathways for follow-up and treatment.

British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on sedation in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Over 2.5 million gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures are carried out in the United Kingdom (UK) every year. Procedures are carried out with local anaesthetic r with sedation. Sedation is commonly used for gastrointestinal endoscopy, but the type and amount of sedation administered is influenced by the complexity and nature of the procedure and patient factors. The elective and emergency nature of endoscopy procedures and local resources also have a significant impact on the delivery of sedation. In the UK, the vast majority of sedated procedures are carried out using benzodiazepines, with or without opiates, whereas deeper sedation using propofol or general anaesthetic requires the involvement of an anaesthetic team. Patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy need to have good understanding of the options for sedation, including the option for no sedation and alternatives, balancing the intended aims of the procedure and reducing the risk of complications. These guidelines were commissioned by the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) Endoscopy Committee with input from major stakeholders, to provide a detailed update, incorporating recent advances in sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy.This guideline covers aspects from pre-assessment of the elective 'well' patient to patients with significant comorbidity requiring emergency procedures. Types of sedation are discussed, procedure and room requirements and the recovery period, providing guidance to enhance safety and minimise complications. These guidelines are intended to inform practising clinicians and all staff involved in the delivery of gastrointestinal endoscopy with an expectation that this guideline will be revised in 5-years' time.

Novel Impedance-pH Parameters in Pre-Bariatric Assessment of Patients: A Pilot Study.

Novel impedance-pH parameters, Mean Nocturnal Baseline Impedance (MNBI) and Post-Reflux Swallow-Induced Peristaltic Wave (PSPW) index, have been proposed to improve the gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) diagnostic yield. This study aims to determine the integrity of the esophageal epithelial barrier and chemical clearance using these novel parameters and to correlate them with acid exposure time (AET) and acid clearance time (ACT) in obese patients who are candidates for bariatric surgery (BS). Twenty impedance-pHmetry tracings of patients prior to BS were reviewed. Nine (45%) patients with a conclusive diagnosis of GERD had significantly higher ACT, lower MNBI in the distal esophagus and lower PSPW indexes compared to obese patients without GERD. Moreover, 100% of obese patients with GERD had a pathological ACT compared to obese patients without GERD (p = 0.003). However, the percentage of pathological MNBI and PSPW index did not differ between obese patients with and without GERD. The PSPW index and MNBI of the distal channel significantly correlated with ACT and AET. Further studies are needed to assess the role of time-consuming novel parameters in the routine evaluation of morbidly obese patients candidates for BS. The value of acid clearance time is confirmed as a relevant impedance-pH parameter in these patients.

Venous Thromboembolism Following Discharge from Hospital in Patients Admitted for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients admitted to hospital with inflammatory bowel disease[IBD] are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism[VTE]. This study aims to identify IBD patients at increased VTE risk on hospital discharge and to develop a risk scoring system to recognise them. METHODS: Hospital episode statistics data were used to identify all patients admitted with IBD as an emergency or electively for surgery. All patients with VTE within 90 days of hospital discharge were identified. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to identify patient- and admission-level factors associated with VTE. A scoring system to identify patients at higher risk for VTE was constructed. RESULTS: A total of 201 779 admissions in 101 966 patients were included. The rate of VTE within 90 days was 17.2 per 1000 patient-years at risk and was highest in patients admitted as an emergency who underwent surgery[36.9]. VTE was associated with: female sex (odds ratio 0.65 [95% confidence interval 0.53-0.80], p <0.001); increasing age [49-60 years] (4.67 [3.36-6.49], p <0.001); increasing length of hospital stay [>10 days] (3.80 [2.80-5.15], p <0.001); more than two hospital admissions in previous 3 months (2.23 [1.60-3.10], p <0.001); ulcerative colitis (1.48 [1.21-1.82], p <0.001); and emergency admission including surgery (1.59 [1.12-2.27], p = 0.010); or emergency admission not including surgery (1.59 [1.08-2.35], p = 0.019) compared with elective surgery. A score >12 in the VTE scoring system gave a positive predictive value [PPV] of VTE of 1%. The area under the curve [AUC] was 0.714 [95% CI 0.70-0.73]. CONCLUSION: IBD patients admitted to hospital with a prolonged length of stay, increasing age, male sex, or as an emergency were at increased risk of VTE following discharge. Higher-risk patients were identifiable by a VTE risk scoring system.

A root cause analysis system to establish the most plausible explanation for post-endoscopy upper gastrointestinal cancer.

BACKGROUND : Missing upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGIC) at endoscopy may prevent curative treatment. We have developed a root cause analysis system for potentially missed UGICs at endoscopy (post-endoscopy UGIC [PEUGIC]) to establish the most plausible explanations. METHODS : The electronic records of patients with UGIC at two National Health Service providers were examined. PEUGICs were defined as UGICs diagnosed 6-36 months after an endoscopy that did not diagnose cancer. An algorithm based on the World Endoscopy Organization post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer algorithm was developed to categorize and identify potentially avoidable PEUGICs. RESULTS : Of 1327 UGICs studied, 89 (6.7 %) were PEUGICs (patient median [IQR] age at endoscopy 73.5 (63.5-81.0); 60.7 % men). Of the PEUGICs, 40 % were diagnosed in patients with Barrett's esophagus. PEUGICs were categorized as: A - lesion detected, adequate assessment and decision-making, but PEUGIC occurred (16.9 %); B - lesion detected, inadequate assessment or decision-making (34.8 %); C - possible missed lesion, endoscopy and decision-making adequate (8.9 %); D - possible missed lesion, endoscopy or decision-making inadequate (33.7 %); E - deviated from management pathway but appropriate (5.6 %); F - deviated inappropriately from management pathway (3.4 %). The majority of PEUGICs (71 %) were potentially avoidable and in 45 % the cancer outcome could have been different if it had been diagnosed on the initial endoscopy. There was a negative correlation between endoscopists' mean annual number of endoscopies and the technically attributable PEUGIC rate (correlation coefficient -0.57; P = 0.004). CONCLUSION : Missed opportunities to avoid PEUGIC were identified in 71 % of cases. Root cause analysis can standardize future investigation of PEUGIC and guide quality improvement efforts.

Complications of diagnostic upper Gastrointestinal endoscopy: common and rare - recognition, assessment and management.

A clear understanding of the potential complications or adverse events (AEs) of diagnostic endoscopy is an essential component of being an endoscopist. Creating a culture of safety and prevention of AEs should be part of routine endoscopy practice. Appropriate patient selection for procedures, informed consent, periprocedure risk assessments and a team approach, all contribute to reducing AEs. Early recognition, prompt management and transparent communication with patients are essential for the holistic and optimal management of AEs. In this review, we discuss the complications of diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, including their recognition, treatment and prevention.

British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (BSPGHAN) joint consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of eosinophilic oesophagitis in children and adults.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is an increasingly common cause of dysphagia in both children and adults, as well as one of the most prevalent oesophageal diseases with a significant impact on physical health and quality of life. We have provided a single comprehensive guideline for both paediatric and adult gastroenterologists on current best practice for the evaluation and management of EoE. METHODS: The Oesophageal Section of the British Society of Gastroenterology was commissioned by the Clinical Standards Service Committee to develop these guidelines. The Guideline Development Group included adult and paediatric gastroenterologists, surgeons, dietitians, allergists, pathologists and patient representatives. The Population, Intervention, Comparator and Outcomes process was used to generate questions for a systematic review of the evidence. Published evidence was reviewed and updated to June 2021. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to assess the evidence and make recommendations. Two rounds of voting were held to assess the level of agreement and the strength of recommendations, with 80% consensus required for acceptance. RESULTS: Fifty-seven statements on EoE presentation, diagnosis, investigation, management and complications were produced with further statements created on areas for future research. CONCLUSIONS: These comprehensive adult and paediatric guidelines of the British Society of Gastroenterology and British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition are based on evidence and expert consensus from a multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals, including patient advocates and patient support groups, to help clinicians with the management patients with EoE and its complications.

Risk of a subsequent diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease in subjects with ophthalmic disorders associated with inflammatory bowel disease: a retrospective cohort analysis of UK primary care data.

OBJECTIVES: Ophthalmic conditions including anterior uveitis (AU), episcleritis and scleritis may occur in association with the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) as ophthalmic extraintestinal manifestations. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of a later IBD diagnosis in those presenting with IBD associated ocular inflammation (IAOI). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Primary care UK database. PARTICIPANTS: 38 805 subjects with an IAOI were identified (median age 51 (38-65), 57% women) and matched to 153 018 subjects without IAOI. MEASURES: The risk of a subsequent diagnosis of IBD in subjects with IAOIs compared with age/sex matched subjects without IAOI. HRs were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, deprivation, comorbidity, smoking, baseline axial arthropathy, diarrhoea, loperamide prescription, anaemia, lower gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal pain.Logistic regression was used to produce a prediction model for a diagnosis of IBD within 3 years of an AU diagnosis. RESULTS: 213 (0.6%) subsequent IBD diagnoses (102 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 111 Crohn's disease (CD)) were recorded in those with IAOIs and 329 (0.2%) (215 UC and 114 CD) in those without. Median time to IBD diagnosis was 882 (IQR 365-2043) days in those with IAOI and 1403 (IQR 623-2516) in those without. The adjusted HR for a subsequent diagnosis of IBD was 2.25 (95% CI 1.89 to 2.68), p<0.001; for UC 1.65 (95% CI 1.30 to 2.09), p<0.001; and for CD 3.37 (95% CI 2.59 to 4.40), p<0.001 in subjects with IAOI compared with those without.Within 3 years of an AU diagnosis, 84 (0.5%) subjects had a recorded diagnosis of IBD. The prediction model performed well with a C-statistic of 0.75 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.80). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with IAOI have a twofold increased risk of a subsequent IBD diagnosis. Healthcare professionals should be alert for potential signs and symptoms of IBD in those presenting with ophthalmic conditions associated with IBD.

Rate of pancreatic cancer following a negative endoscopic ultrasound and associated factors.

BACKGROUND : Data are limited regarding pancreatic cancer diagnosed following a pancreaticobiliary endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) that does not diagnose pancreatic cancer. We have studied the frequency of, and factors associated with, post-EUS pancreatic cancer (PEPC) and 1-year mortality. METHODS : Between 2010 and 2017, patients with pancreatic cancer and a preceding pancreaticobiliary EUS were identified in a national cohort using Hospital Episode Statistics. Patients with a pancreaticobiliary EUS 6-18 months before a later pancreatic cancer diagnosis were the PEPC cases; controls were those with pancreatic cancer diagnosed within 6 months of pancreaticobiliary EUS. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the factors associated with PEPC and a Cox regression model examined factors associated with 1-year cumulative mortality. RESULTS : 9363 pancreatic cancer patients were studied; 93.5 % identified as controls (men 53.2 %; median age 68 [interquartile range (IQR) 61-75]); 6.5 % as PEPC cases (men 58.2 %; median age 69 [IQR 61-77]). PEPC was associated with older age (≥ 75 years compared with < 65 years, odds ratio [OR] 1.42, 95 %CI 1.15-1.76), increasing co-morbidity (Charlson co-morbidity score > 5, OR 1.90, 95 %CI 1.49-2.43), chronic pancreatitis (OR 3.13, 95 %CI 2.50-3.92), and diabetes mellitus (OR 1.58, 95 %CI 1.31-1.90). Metal biliary stents (OR 0.57, 95 %CI 0.38-0.86) and EUS-FNA (OR 0.49, 95 %CI 0.41-0.58) were inversely associated with PEPC. PEPC was associated with a higher cumulative mortality at 1 year (hazard ratio 1.12, 95 %CI 1.02-1.24), with only 14 % of PEPC patients (95 %CI 12 %-17 %) having a surgical resection, compared with 21 % (95 %CI 20 %-22 %) of controls. CONCLUSIONS : PEPC occurred in 6.5 % of patients and was associated with chronic pancreatitis, older age, more co-morbidities, and specifically diabetes mellitus. PEPC was associated with a worse prognosis and lower surgical resection rates.

The association between physician staff numbers and mortality in English hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Physician medical specialties place specific demands on medical staff. Often patients have multiple co-morbidities, frailty is common, and mortality rates are higher than other specialties such as surgery. The key intervention for patients admitted under physician subspecialties is the care provided on the ward. The current evidence base to inform staffing in physician medical specialty wards is limited. The aim of this analysis is to investigate the association between medical staffing levels within physician medical specialties and mortality. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of national data, which is aggregated at provider level. Medical beds per senior, middle grade and junior physicians employed in physician medical specialties were calculated from national employment records for acute hospitals in England, in 2017. Outcome measures included unadjusted mortality rate and Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI) in physician medical specialties. Both Raw mortality and SHMI include deaths during admission or within 30 days following discharge. Linear regression models were constructed for each medical staffing grade for unadjusted mortality, SHMI and SHMI adjusted for local provider factors. FINDINGS: The mean number of medical beds per senior, middle grade and junior physicians were 7.3(SD 2.5), 19.7(11.5), 10.1(3.1) respectively. Lower bed numbers per medical staff grade were associated with lower than expected mortality by SHMI; senior(Coefficient 0.012(95%CI:0.005-0.018),p = 0.001), middle grade(0.002(0.0002-0.005),p = 0.032) and junior(0.008(0.002-0.015),p = 0.014). Hospital providers were more likely to achieve a better than expected mortality (SHMI<1) if  beds per physician were lower than; 5.3, 14.6 and 9.0 for senior, middle grade and junior doctors respectively. INTERPRETATION: Acute hospital providers with fewer beds per medical staff of all grades are associated with lower than expected mortality. FUNDING: No external funding is associated with this analysis.

The risk of later surgery at the anastomotic site following right hemicolectomy for Crohn's disease in a national cohort of 12 230 patients.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) has a high-risk of bowel resection and later surgery for recurrent disease. Recent guidelines recommend colonoscopy 6-12 months following surgery to reduce further surgical intervention through medical therapy intensification. AIMS: To investigate the risk of further surgery at the anastomosis following right hemicolectomy for CD. METHODS: Hospital Episode Statistics were used to identify patients with CD and a right hemicolectomy between 2007 and 2016. Adherence to post-resection colonoscopy guidance timing and risk of further surgery at the anastomosis were examined. Cox proportional hazards models assessed risk factors for further surgery. RESULTS: 12 230 patients were identified: 45% male; median age 36 (IQR 26-49) years. Median follow-up was 5.9 (IQR 3.6-8.6) years: totalling 74 960 person-years. Median time to further surgery was 2.9 (IQR 1.2-5.3) years. By 5 years 9% and by 10 years 16.9% of those with sufficient follow-up had at least one further surgery involving the anastomotic site. Older, less deprived patients and those whose index surgery took place on an elective admission had a reduced risk of further surgery. The annual number of right hemicolectomies increased over the study from 1063 to 1317, driven by the increasing prevalence of CD. Overall, 78% of patients did not have a colonoscopy, as recommended, within 6-12 months following index resection. CONCLUSIONS: Further surgery involving the anastomotic site remains common following index right hemicolectomy for CD. Post-surgical colonoscopy was only undertaken in 22% of patients within suggested timeframes. Increased colonoscopy may lead to a reduced need for surgery if early optimisation of medical therapy is undertaken for recurrence.

The association between low birth weight, childhood recollections of parental response to illness, and irritable bowel syndrome: a twin study.

BACKGROUND: The aetiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is multifactorial, including genetic and environmental factors. Previous studies have suggested that low birth weight and family environment during childhood are associated with developing IBS. METHODS: A survey was sent to all individuals in a UK twin registry. Questions included IBS diagnosed by the Rome IV criteria and if a doctor had previously diagnosed them with IBS. Subjects were categorized as having IBS by Rome IV criteria, a medical diagnosis of IBS or no IBS. Further questions included subjects' recollections of their parents' responses to illness in both the respondent as a child and in the parents themselves. Information regarding birth weight and gestational age have been collected previously. KEY RESULTS: 4258 subjects responded to the questionnaire (51.7%), mean age of 52 (SD 14) years, of whom 98.5% were white and 89.6% female. The mean birth weight was 2.4  (0.6) kg. 5.1% satisfied the Rome IV IBS criteria, the same prevalence as the UK population. However, 14.1% had a previous medical diagnosis of IBS. There was no association found between birth weight and IBS or a medical diagnosis of IBS. On multivariable regression analysis, including parental responses to illness, subjects recalling a parent responding to the parent's bowel symptoms by excusing themselves from household chores were associated with a Rome IV diagnosis of IBS (OR 2.19 (95% CI 1.17-4.10), P = .013). CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: There was no association between birth weight and IBS. However, observing their parents excuse themselves from household chores when they had bowel symptoms was associated with IBS in later life.

Higher volume providers are associated with improved outcomes following ERCP for the palliation of malignant biliary obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Relieving malignant biliary obstruction improves quality of life and permits chemotherapy. Outcomes of endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancratography(ERCP) in inoperable malignant biliary obstruction have been examined in a national cohort to establish factors associated with poor outcomes. METHODS: Hospital Episode Statistics include diagnostic and procedural data for all NHS hospital attendances in England. Patients from 2006 to 2017 with a Hepaticopancreaticobiliary (HPB) malignancy who had undergone ERCP were studied. Patients undergoing a potentially curative operation were excluded. Associations between demographics, co-morbidities, unit ERCP volume and mortality were examined by logistic regression. FINDINGS: 39,702 patients were included; 49.4% were male; median age was 75 (IQR 66-88)years. Pancreatic cancer was the most common tumour (63.9%). Mortality was 4.1%, 9.7% and 19.1% for 7-day, in hospital and 30-day respectively. On multivariable analysis: men (OR 1.20(95%CI 1.14-1.26), p < 0.001); increasing age quintile 78-83(1.73(1.59-1.89), p < 0.001), >83(2.70(2.48-2.94),p < 0.001); most deprived quintile (1.21(1.11-1.32), p < 0.001); increasing co-morbidity score >20(3.36(2.94-3.84),p < 0.001); small bowel malignancy (1.45(1.22-1.72), p < 0.001), intrahepatic biliary malignancy(1.10(1.03-1.17), p = 0.005) and year of ERCP 2006/07 (1.37(1.22-1.55), p < 0.001) were associated with increased 30-day mortality. Extrahepatic biliary tree cancers (0.67(0.61-0.73), p<0.001), high volume providers of ERCP (>318 annually, 0.91(0.84-0.98), p = 0.01) and high volume of ERCP for malignant obstruction (>40 annually (0.91(0.85-0.98), p = 0.014) were negatively associated with 30-day mortality. Patients were less likely to require a second ERCP in high volume providers (>318, 8.0%) compared to low volume ((<204, 13.4%), p<0.001). INTERPRETATION: Short term mortality in patients with malignant biliary obstruction following ERCP was high. 30-day mortality was positively associated with increasing age and co-morbidity, men, deprivation, and earlier year of ERCP and negatively with extrahepatic biliary tree cancer and high volume ERCP providers. FUNDING: Internal funding only.

British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for oesophageal manometry and oesophageal reflux monitoring.

These guidelines on oesophageal manometry and gastro-oesophageal reflux monitoring supersede those produced in 2006. Since 2006 there have been significant technological advances, in particular, the development of high resolution manometry (HRM) and oesophageal impedance monitoring. The guidelines were developed by a guideline development group of patients and representatives of all the relevant professional groups using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) tool. A systematic literature search was performed and the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) tool was used to evaluate the quality of evidence and decide on the strength of the recommendations made. Key strong recommendations are made regarding the benefit of: (i) HRM over standard manometry in the investigation of dysphagia and, in particular, in characterising achalasia, (ii) adjunctive testing with larger volumes of water or solids during HRM, (iii) oesophageal manometry prior to antireflux surgery, (iv) pH/impedance monitoring in patients with reflux symptoms not responding to high dose proton pump inhibitors and (v) pH monitoring in all patients with reflux symptoms responsive to proton pump inhibitors in whom surgery is planned, but combined pH/impedance monitoring in those not responsive to proton pump inhibitors in whom surgery is planned. This work has been endorsed by the Clinical Services and Standards Committee of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) under the auspices of the oesophageal section of the BSG.

Outcomes following feeding gastrostomy (FG) insertion in patients with learning disability: a retrospective cohort study using the health improvement network (THIN) database.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the rates of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and mortality following feeding gastrostomy (FG) placement in patients with learning disability (LD). Following this to compare these rates between those having LRTI prior to FG placement and those with no recent LRTI. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The study population included patients with LD undergoing FG placement in the 'The Health Improvement Network' database. Patients with LRTI in the year prior (LYP) to their FG placement were compared with patients without a history of LRTI in the year prior (non-LYP) to FG placement. FG placement and LD were identified using Read codes previously developed by an expert panel. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence rate ratio (IRR) of developing LRTI and mortality following FG, comparing patients with LRTI in the year prior to FG placement to patients without a history of LRTI. RESULTS: 214 patients with LD had a FG inserted including 743.4 person years follow-up. 53.7% were males and the median age was 27.6 (IQR 19.6 to 38.6) years. 27.1% were in the LYP patients. 18.7% had a LRTI in the year following FG, with an estimated incidence rate of 254 per 1000-person years. Over the study period the incidence rate of LRTI in LYP patients was 369 per 1000-person years, in non-LYP patients this was 91 per 1000-person years (adjusted IRR 4.21 (95% CI 2.68 to 6.63) p<0.001). 27.1% of patients died during study follow-up. Incidence rate of death was 80 and 45 per 1000-person year for LYP and non-LYP patients, respectively (adjusted IRR 1.80 (1.00 to 3.23) p=0.05). CONCLUSION: In LD patients, no clinically meaningful reduction in LRTI incidence was observed following FG placement. Mortality and LRTI were higher in patients with at least one LRTI in the year preceding FG placement, compared with those without a preceding LRTI.

Outcomes of colorectal stents when used as a bridge to curative resection in obstruction secondary to colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Up to 25% of colorectal cancers present with bowel obstruction. Metal stents (MS) can provide a bridge to surgery by relieving obstruction and allowing the subject's condition to improve pre-operatively. METHODS: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) is a database of all NHS funded secondary care episodes in England. Subjects admitted with bowel obstruction secondary to colorectal cancer without metastases were identified and subdivided into two groups: MS insertion prior to surgery and surgery only. Due to demographic differences between the groups, propensity score matching was used to analyse procedural outcomes, mortality and readmission within 30 days in left-sided cancers based upon age, sex and Charlson co-morbidity score. RESULTS: Over 10 years, 4571 subjects were identified; 401 received a MS and 4170 underwent surgery only. Median age of MS subjects was 71 (IQR 62-79) years; 226 (56.4%) were male. Median age of surgery-only subjects was 73 (64-81); 2165 (51.9%) were male. Following propensity matching 375 MS and 375 surgery-only subjects remained; MS had fewer readmissions within 30 days (28 (7.5%) versus 44 (11.7%), p = 0.047), fewer respiratory complications (< 6 (< 1.5%) versus 28 (7.5%), p < 0.001), lower stoma rates (49 (13.1%) versus 159 (42.4%), p < 0.001) and higher rates of laparoscopic surgery (154 (41.1%) versus 25 (6.7%), p < 0.001). Mortality was lower in the MS group at 30 days (7 (1.9%) versus 33 (8.8%), p < 0.001) and 1 year (37 (9.9%) versus 71 (19.0%), p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In subjects presenting with obstructing colorectal cancer outcomes including respiratory complications, readmission and mortality appear to be better in subjects undergoing MS as a bridge to surgery compared to surgery alone.