Factors predicting the presence of esophageal or gastric varices in patients with advanced liver disease.

OBJECTIVE: Recently it has been recommended that all cirrhotic patients without previous variceal hemorrhage undergo endoscopic screening to detect varices and that those with large varices should be treated with beta-blockers (American College of Gastroenterology guidelines). However, endoscopic screening only of patients at highest risk for varices may be the most cost effective. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients without a history of variceal hemorrhage underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy as part of a liver transplant evaluation. Univariate/multivariate analysis was used to evaluate associations between the presence of varices and patient characteristics including etiology of liver disease, Child-Pugh class, physical findings (spider angiomata, splenomegaly, and ascites), encephalopathy, laboratory parameters (prothrombin time, albumin, bilirubin, BUN, creatinine, and platelets), and abdominal ultrasound findings (portal vein diameter/flow, splenomegaly, and ascites). RESULTS: The causes of cirrhosis among the 67 men and 31 women (mean age, 48 yr) included 28% Hepatitis C/alcoholism, 25% Hepatitis C, 13% alcoholism, 9% primary sclerosing cholangitis/primary biliary cirrhosis, 9% cryptogenic, 6% Hepatitis B, 1% Hepatitis B and C, and 9% other. Patients were Child-Pugh class A 34%, B 51%, and C 15%. Endoscopic findings included esophageal varices in 68% of patients (30% were large), gastric varices in 15%, and portal hypertensive gastropathy in 58%. Platelet count <88,000 was the only parameter identified by univariate/multivariate analysis (p < 0.05) as associated with the presence of large esophageal varices (odds ratio 5.5; 95% confidence interval 1.8-20.6) or gastric varices (odds ratio 5; 95% confidence interval 1.4-23). CONCLUSIONS: Platelet count <88,000 is associated with the presence of esophagogastric varices. A large prospective study is needed to verify and validate these findings and may allow identification of a group of patients who would most benefit from endoscopic screening for varices.

Prevalence of upper and lower gastrointestinal tract findings in liver transplant candidates undergoing screening endoscopic evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of esophageal and gastric varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) has been well studied in cirrhotic patients. Because little is known of the prevalence of other upper and lower gastrointestinal tract pathology in pre-liver transplant candidates, we retrospectively studied the prevalence of and factors associated with these findings. METHODS: One hundred and twenty pre-liver transplant candidates underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy to evaluate for varices, and 71 of them also underwent flexible sigmoidoscopy to screen for colorectal carcinoma. The association of upper and lower GI tract pathology with Child-Pugh Class, etiology of cirrhosis, and signs of portal hypertension, including presence and size of esophageal varices, presence of gastric varices, PHG, ascites, and splenomegaly, was analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Etiology of cirrhosis among 87 men and 33 women (mean age, 52 yr) included 25% hepatitis C, 27% hepatitis C/alcohol, 15% alcohol, 10% primary sclerosing cholangitis/primary biliary cirrhosis, 9% cryptogenic, 8% metabolic, and 6% hepatitis B. Prevalence of Child-Pugh Classes A, B, and C were 34%, 49%, and 17%, respectively; 73% of patients had esophageal varices (23% were large), 62% PHG (23% were severe), and 16% gastric varices. Excluding varices and PHG, endoscopic findings in the upper GI tract (n = 120) included: 13% esophagitis/ulcers, 7.5% gastritis, 8% duodenitis, 2% Barrett's esophagus, 3% duodenal ulcers, and 2% gastric ulcers. Findings in the lower gastrointestinal tract (n = 71) included 21% adenomatous polyps, 21% internal hemorrhoids, 15% diverticulosis, 7% rectal varices, 3% colopathy, and 3% vascular ectasias. Univariate analysis revealed that there was a significant association between rectal varices and severe PHG (p < 0.05). This association was not maintained when multivariate analysis was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Among all the findings, only rectal varices and colopathy were of higher prevalence in the pre-liver transplant population than that reported for the general population. No significant associations were found between these gastrointestinal tract lesions and patient characteristics.

A randomized trial of peroral versus transnasal unsedated endoscopy using an ultrathin videoendoscope.

BACKGROUND: Potential advantages of unsedated endoscopy include the prevention of side effects or morbidity related to the use of sedative drugs, less intensive patient monitoring, and less expense. We compared transnasal (T-EGD) with peroral (P-EGD) unsedated endoscopy by using an ultrathin video instrument with respect to patient tolerance and acceptance. METHOD: Patients were randomized to T-EGD or P-EGD. If the initial route of insertion failed, the patient was crossed over to the other route. If this also failed, the patient underwent endoscopy under conscious sedation with an ultrathin instrument. A questionnaire for tolerance was completed by the patient (a validated 0-10 scale where "0" represents none/well tolerated and "10" represents severe/poorly tolerated). RESULTS: Of 105 recruited patients, 60 consented to undergo unsedated endoscopy. There were 20 men and 11 women (mean age 45 years) in the P-EGD group and 15 men and 14 women (mean age 48 years) in the T-EGD group. Of 35 total P-EGD patients (4 were crossed over T-EGD patients), 34 (97%) completed an unsedated examination. Of 29 T-EGD patients, 25 (86%) had a complete examination. Three T-EGD examinations failed for anatomical reasons; all 3 patients when crossed over to the P-EGD route had a successful examination. One patient was unable to tolerate either route. Between the P-EGD and the T-EGD groups, pre-procedure anxiety (3.6 +/- 0.5 vs. 3.0 +/- 0.6), discomfort during insertion (2.1 +/- 0.5 vs 3.3 +/- 0.7), gagging (4.7 +/- 0.5 vs. 3.2 +/- 0. 6), and overall tolerance (2.4 +/- 0.5 vs. 3.8 +/- 0.7) were similar (p > 0.05). However, discomfort on insertion was significantly greater in the T-EGD versus the P-EGD group (4.4 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.7 +/- 0.5: p < 0. 05). Eighty-nine percent of P-EGD patients and 69% of T-EGD patients, p = 0.07, were willing to undergo unsedated endoscopy in the future. CONCLUSION: T-EGD patients experienced significantly more pain on insertion than did P-EGD patients. Otherwise, unsedated endoscopy by either the transnasal or the peroral route is generally well tolerated. In this study it was completed in 59 of 60 patients.

Unsedated peroral endoscopy with a video ultrathin endoscope: patient acceptance, tolerance, and diagnostic accuracy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess patient tolerance of unsedated routine upper endoscopy using a 6-mm ultrathin (UT) video endoscope (Olympus XGIF-N200H) and to compare its optical quality to a standard endoscope (Olympus GIF100). METHODS: A total of 62 outpatients were recruited for unsedated UT endoscopy using topical spray followed by sedated endoscopy using a standard endoscope. After unsedated endoscopy, patients were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing tolerance. When both endoscopies were completed, the endoscopist recorded findings and optical quality of the UT. RESULTS: Of 62 patients, 19 refused unsedated endoscopy because of anxiety (12), fear of gagging (3), and unwillingness to be study patients (4). TOLERANCE: Of 43 patients, 37 (86%) had a complete, unsedated UT exam (five patients did not have a GIF100 exam). During insertion, 60% of the patients reported none/mild discomfort, whereas, during the remainder of the examination, 73% had none/mild discomfort. Of 37 patients, 30 (81%) were willing to undergo future unsedated endoscopy with the UT and they tolerated UT endoscopy better than the patients who were unwilling (none/mild discomfort: 83% vs 29%). Of 43 patients, six (14%) failed UT endoscopy because of severe gagging (all were male, mean age 44 yr). OPTICS: Optical quality was rated as good 84%, 65%, and 78% of the time in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, respectively. Optical quality was diminished by excessive fluid and tenacious secretions. The UT missed five of 59 lesions: three hiatal hernias and two gastric erosions. CONCLUSION: A total of 69% of outpatients agreed to undergo peroral unsedated endoscopy with a UT endoscope. A total of 86% of patients tolerated a complete unsedated examination, and 81% of these were willing to undergo future unsedated examinations. Diagnostic accuracy of this ultrathin video endoscope was good, with 92% of lesions discovered when compared with a standard instrument.

Factors associated with the use of flexible sigmoidoscopy as a screening test for the detection of colorectal carcinoma by primary care physicians.

BACKGROUND: Despite current recommendations of flexible sigmoidoscopy as a screening test for the detection of colorectal carcinoma, relatively few asymptomatic patients undergo this procedure. To enhance the use of sigmoidoscopy, differences in the use of screening, as well as barriers to screening among specific physician groups, should be defined. METHODS: The authors surveyed 1762 practicing primary care physicians to determine their self-reported ability to perform sigmoidoscopy and perceived obstacles to either initiating or enhancing screening. RESULTS: A total of 884 physicians (50%) responded. Ninety percent of primary care physicians reported that they offered sigmoidoscopic screening to their patients, with 46% referring patients and 44% performing the procedure themselves. Physician characteristics were not associated with the overall use of sigmoidoscopy. In contrast, compared with physicians who referred patients for the procedure, physicians who performed sigmoidoscopy themselves were more often board certified, male, and graduated from medical school after 1970 (P < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, these characteristics were also independently associated with the ability to perform sigmoidoscopy. The barrier to sigmoidoscopy cited most often was poor patient acceptance, whether or not the physician performed or referred patients for sigmoidoscopic screening. Other barriers cited were lack of training, lack of equipment, and time required, each of which was identified most often by physicians who did not screen at all. CONCLUSIONS: Most physicians surveyed reported using sigmoidoscopic screening to some degree in their practice, although many did not perform the procedure themselves. Population-based interventions to increase screening may benefit from targeting specific physician subgroups and attempting to improve patient acceptance of the procedure.

Primary care physician recommendations for colorectal cancer screening. Patient and practitioner factors.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines for colorectal cancer screening do not specify the role of age or comorbidity in patient selection. Reported screening practices may thus be influenced by patient, as well as physician, characteristics. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to primary care physicians in 10 states to determine recommendations for fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) and sigmoidoscopy in 4 pairs of clinical vignettes that varied by patient age (65 or 75 years) and comorbidity (none, mild, moderate, and terminal). RESULTS: Among the 884 respondents (50%), most physicians recommended FOBT in all vignettes except those with a terminal illness and fewer than half recommended sigmoidoscopy in any vignette. Physician recommendations were influenced by comorbidity, but one third still recommended FOBT for terminally ill patients and less than 50% recommended sigmoidoscopy for patients with no comorbidity. Differences in recommended screening between vignettes that differed only in patient age were small. Among all subgroups of physicians, at least 30% recommended FOBT in terminally ill patients and no more than 60% recommended sigmoidoscopy in healthy patients. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care physicians were much more likely to recommend screening with FOBT than sigmoidoscopy, regardless of patient and practitioner factors. Although physician recommendations were influenced by patient comorbidity and age, they frequently recommended FOBT in clinically inappropriate settings and failed to recommend sigmoidoscopy when appropriate. Broad-based interventions to improve appropriate screening practices may be needed.

A follow-up study of intractable seizures in childhood.

One hundred forty-five children with seizures that were refractory to medical therapy for at least 2 years were followed 5 to 20 years after onset. The majority of children with uncontrollable seizures (61%) were mentally retarded, and most of these (73%) had onset of seizures at younger than 2 years of age. Age of onset was significantly later (mean 5.0 +/- 0.5 yr [SEM]) in the group of children with borderline to normal intelligence. Follow-up data showed remission of seizures in a significant proportion of children with borderline or normal intelligence, with a linear decrease of the percentage with persistent seizures at a rate of about 4% per year. Remission of seizures was much less frequent (1.5%/yr) in the group with mental retardation. Seizure type had some effects on outcome. Children with focal atrophic brain lesions did no worse than those without definable pathology on brain-imaging studies.