Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Colonoscopy in Real-World Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Artificial intelligence (AI) could minimize the operator-dependent variation in colonoscopy quality. Computer-aided detection (CADe) has improved adenoma detection rate (ADR) and adenomas per colonoscopy (APC) in randomized controlled trials. There is a need to assess the impact of CADe in real-world settings. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science for nonrandomized real-world studies of CADe in colonoscopy. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to examine the effect of CADe on ADR and APC. The study is registered under PROSPERO (CRD42023424037). There was no funding for this study. RESULTS: Twelve of 1,314 studies met inclusion criteria. Overall, ADR was statistically significantly higher with vs without CADe (36.3% vs 35.8%, risk ratio [RR] 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.28). This difference remained significant in subgroup analyses evaluating 6 prospective (37.3% vs 35.2%, RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.32) but not 6 retrospective (35.7% vs 36.2%, RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.92-1.36) studies. Among 6 studies with APC data, APC rate ratio with vs without CADe was 1.12 (95% CI 0.95-1.33). In 4 studies with GI Genius (Medtronic), there was no difference in ADR with vs without CADe (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.85-1.07). DISCUSSION: ADR, but not APC, was slightly higher with vs without CADe among all available real-world studies. This difference was attributed to the results of prospective but not retrospective studies. The discrepancies between these findings and those of randomized controlled trials call for future research on the true impact of current AI technology on colonoscopy quality and the subtleties of human-AI interactions.

Short-term Results and Return to Duty Following Hip Arthroscopy in Soldiers.

BACKGROUND: Over the past several years there has been a marked increase in the number of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers having hip arthroscopy based on magnetic resonance arthrography diagnosis of hip labral tears and/or impingement. OBJECTIVES: To detail characteristics of soldiers who underwent hip arthroscopy and assess outcomes and rate of return to duty. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of all soldiers who underwent hip arthroscopy 2018 to 2020, and soldiers referred for hip arthroscopy during 2021. Demographic, medical, and military service data were collected from the computerized patient record. RESULTS: Our study comprised 117 soldiers (29% combatants, 24% females) who underwent hip arthroscopy, mean age 22 ± 3 years, range 18-42; 45% had physiotherapy before surgery; 31% were diagnosed during or within 3 months of having back pain and 20% had been referred for psychological assistance (not related to the hip pain); 15.4% had serious adverse events. The mean time to return to any duty (including clerical work) was 8.0 ± 0.6 months; 56% of the soldiers never returned to service and were discharged from the military. During the one-year follow-up, only 6% returned to their full pre-symptom activity. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term results of IDF soldiers who underwent hip arthroscopy during the study period were much inferior to those reported among athletes. The lack of specificity of the diagnostic tools (history, examination, and imaging) used to determine whether surgery for hip pain is likely to be beneficial in this population may be contributing to over-diagnosis and over-treatment.

Fecal calprotectin for detection of postoperative endoscopic recurrence in Crohn's disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic recurrence is frequent in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) following ileocecal resection. The degree of endoscopic recurrence, quantified by the Rutgeerts score (RS), correlates with risk of clinical and surgical recurrence. Several studies demonstrate the accuracy of fecal calprotectin (FC) for detection of endoscopic recurrence, however the optimal threshold FC value remains to be established. The aim of our meta-analysis was to evaluate the accuracy of common FC cut-offs for detection of endoscopic recurrence. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search for studies evaluating postoperative recurrence in CD which reported RS and FC levels. Endoscopic recurrence was defined as RS = 2-4 (or RS ⩾ 2). We calculated pooled diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves for each available FC cut-off value. RESULTS: A total of 54 studies were retrieved; 9 studies were eligible for analysis. Diagnostic accuracy was calculated for FC values of 50, 100, 150 and 200 µg/g. A significant threshold effect was observed for all FC values. The optimal diagnostic accuracy was obtained for FC value of 150 µg/g, with a pooled sensitivity of 70% [95% confidence interval (CI) 59-81%], specificity 69% (95% CI 61-77%), and DOR 5.92 (95% CI 2.61-12.17). The area under the SROC curve was 0.73. CONCLUSION: FC is an accurate surrogate marker of postoperative endoscopic recurrence in CD patients. The FC cut-off 150 µg/g appears to have the best overall accuracy. Serial FC evaluations may eliminate or defer the need for colonoscopic evaluation in up to 70% of postoperative CD patients.

The Association Between Drug Levels and Endoscopic Recurrence in Postoperative Patients with Crohn's Disease Treated with Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic recurrence is associated with a risk of clinical recurrence in patients with Crohn's disease after ileocecal or small bowel resection. Drug levels and presence of antidrug antibodies are associated with important clinical and endoscopic outcomes in patients with Crohn's disease treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, such association was not evaluated for endoscopic postsurgical recurrence. METHODS: Consecutive patients with Crohn's disease treated with anti-tumor necrosis factors after surgery were identified in the databases of the participating centers. Anti-tumor necrosis factor levels and antidrug antibodies were correlated with Rutgeerts score on colonoscopy performed ≥6 months postoperatively. Significant endoscopic recurrence (SER) was defined as Rutgeerts score >2. RESULTS: Seventy-three consecutive patients (32-infliximab, 41-adalimumab) were included in the study. The colonoscopies were performed after a median of 15 (7-43) months after surgery and 8 (6-15) months from treatment onset. SER was demonstrated in 26/73 (35.6%) of the patients. The need for dose optimization, as well as trough infliximab levels (2.4 µg/mL [0.45-4.1] versus 1.1 (0-0.6), P = 0.008) and presence of antidrug antibodies (1/18 [5.6%] versus 10/14 [71.4%], P = 0.0001) were significantly associated with a risk of SER. The optimal cutoff infliximab level for prediction of SER was 1.8 µg/mL. No association between adalimumab levels and antiadalimumab antibodies was demonstrated.

Needle Thoracotomy in Trauma.

Tension pneumothorax is one of the leading causes of preventable death in trauma patients. Needle thoracotomy (NT) is the currently accepted first-line intervention but has not been well validated. In this review, we have critically discussed the evidence for NT procedure, re-examined the recommendations by the Advanced Trauma Life Support organization and investigated the safest and most effective way of NT. The current evidence to support the use of NT is limited. However, when used, it should be applied in the 2nd intercostal space at midclavicular line using a catheter length of at least 4.5 cm. Alternative measures should be studied for better prehospital management of tension pneumothorax.