Accurate and safe diagnosis and treatment of neoplastic biliary lesions using a novel 9F and 11F digital single-operator cholangioscope.

Background and study aims Digital single-operator cholangioscopy (DSOC) allows the diagnosis of biliary duct disorders and treatment for complicated stones. However, these technologies have limitations such as the size of the probe and working channel, excessive cost, and low image resolution. Recently, a novel DSOC system (eyeMAX, Micro-Tech, Nanjing, China) was developed to address these limitations. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness and safety of a novel 9F and 11F DSOC system in terms of neoplastic diagnostic accuracy based on visual examination, ability to evaluate tumor extension and to achieve complete biliary stone clearance, and procedure-related adverse events (AEs). Patients and methods Data from ≥ 18-year-old patients who underwent DSOC from July 2021 to April 2022 were retrospectively recovered and divided into a diagnostic and a therapeutic cohort. Results A total of 80 patients were included. In the diagnostic cohort (n = 49/80), neovascularity was identified in 26 of 49 patients (46.9%). Biopsy was performed in 65.3% patients with adequate tissue sample obtained in 96.8% of cases. Biopsy confirmed neoplasia in 23 of 32 cases. DSOC visual impression achieved 91.6% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity in diagnosing neoplasms. In the therapeutic cohort (n = 43/80), 26 of 43 patients required lithotripsy alone. Total stone removal was achieved in 71% patients in the first session. Neither early nor late AEs were documented in either the diagnostic or therapeutic cohort. Conclusions The novel DSOC device has excellent diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing neoplastic biliary lesions as well as therapeutic benefits in the context of total stone removal, with no documented AEs.

Assessing Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation in Unresectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Single-Center Historic Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: /aims: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) has emerged as an alternative for the local treatment of unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We aim to assess the feasibility and safety of EUS-RFA in patients with unresectable PDAC. METHODS: The following was a historic cohort compounded by locally advanced (LA) and metastatic (m) PDAC naïve patients, who underwent EUS-RFA between October 2019 to March 2022. EUS-RFA was performed with a 19-g needle electrode with a 10 mm active tip for energy delivery. Study primary endpoints were feasibility, safety, and clinical follow-up; secondary endpoints were performance status (PS), local control (LC) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were selected: 15/26 LA-PDAC and 11/26 mPDAC. Technical success was achieved in all patients with no major adverse events. Six months after EUS-RFA, OS was 11/26 (42.3%), with significant PS improvement (P=.03). LC was achieved, with tumor reduction from 39.5 to 26 mm (P=.04). Post-treatment hypodense necrotic area was observed at six-month follow-up in 11/11 alive cases. Metastatic disease was a significant factor for OS worsening (HR 5.021; IC 95% 1.589 - 15.87; P=.004) CONCLUSIONS: EUS-RFA of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a minimally invasive and safe technique that may have an important role as targeted therapy for local treatment of unresectable cases, as well as an alternative for poor surgical candidates. Also, RFA may play a role in downstaging cancer with potential OS increase in non-metastatic cases. Large prospective cohorts are required to evaluate this technique in clinical practice.

Artificial intelligence for diagnosing neoplasia on digital cholangioscopy: development and multicenter validation of a convolutional neural network model.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to develop a convolutional neural network (CNN) model for detecting neoplastic lesions during real-time digital single-operator cholangioscopy (DSOC) and to clinically validate the model through comparisons with DSOC expert and nonexpert endoscopists. METHODS: In this two-stage study, we first developed and validated CNN1. Then, we performed a multicenter diagnostic trial to compare four DSOC experts and nonexperts against an improved model (CNN2). Lesions were classified into neoplastic and non-neoplastic in accordance with Carlos Robles-Medranda (CRM) and Mendoza disaggregated criteria. The final diagnosis of neoplasia was based on histopathology and 12-month follow-up outcomes. RESULTS: In stage I, CNN2 achieved a mean average precision of 0.88, an intersection over the union value of 83.24 %, and a total loss of 0.0975. For clinical validation, a total of 170 videos from newly included patients were analyzed with the CNN2. Half of cases (50 %) had neoplastic lesions. This model achieved significant accuracy values for neoplastic diagnosis, with a 90.5 % sensitivity, 68.2 % specificity, and 74.0 % and 87.8 % positive and negative predictive values, respectively. The CNN2 model outperformed nonexpert #2 (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC]-CRM 0.657 vs. AUC-CNN2 0.794, P < 0.05; AUC-Mendoza 0.582 vs. AUC-CNN2 0.794, P < 0.05), nonexpert #4 (AUC-CRM 0.683 vs. AUC-CNN2 0.791, P < 0.05), and expert #4 (AUC-CRM 0.755 vs. AUC-CNN2 0.848, P < 0.05; AUC-Mendoza 0.753 vs. AUC-CNN2 0.848, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed CNN model distinguished neoplastic bile duct lesions with good accuracy and outperformed two nonexpert and one expert endoscopist.

Enteroscopia de doble balón: experiencia inicial en un hospital universitario / Double balloon enteroscopy: Initial experience in a university hospital

Resumen Introducción: el estudio de intestino delgado es un desafío, motivo de avance médico y de interés. La enteroscopia de doble balón (EDB) permite una visualización directa del intestino delgado. Objetivo: describir indicaciones, características del procedimiento, hallazgos, complicaciones y seguimiento de pacientes llevados a EDB en el Hospital de San José de Bogotá, entre noviembre de 2011 y abril de 2019. Metodología: estudio de serie de casos. Se incluyeron pacientes con indicación clínica o por imágenes diagnósticas sugerentes de lesión a nivel de intestino delgado. Se empleó estadística descriptiva. Resultados: se realizaron 45 enteroscopias a 44 pacientes, con una mediana de edad de 58 años. La principal indicación fue hemorragia digestiva potencial de intestino delgado (53,3 %) y diarrea crónica (11,1 %); fueron más frecuentes los procedimientos por vía anterógrada. La mayoría de los resultados fue normal (46,7 %); entre los hallazgos más frecuentes estuvieron los tumores (11,1 %), enfermedad de Crohn (8,9 %) y úlceras/erosiones (6,7 %). El rendimiento diagnóstico fue 53,3 %, la correlación con la videocápsula endoscópica (VCE) fue 37,5 % y con estudios de imagen, 42,9 %. No se presentaron complicaciones. Se hizo seguimiento al 91,1 % de los pacientes con una mediana de 56 meses y se observó la resolución de síntomas en el 78,1 %. La finalidad de la enteroscopia fue diagnóstica en el 84,4 %. Conclusiones: La EDB es útil en la evaluación del intestino delgado con posibilidad terapéutica. Los resultados son similares a los reportados en la literatura mundial. Si se realiza seguimiento, se puede definir la necesidad de repetición del procedimiento, realización de estudios adicionales u observar resolución de los síntomas.

Abstract Introduction: The study of the small bowel is a challenging task that has sparked interest and progress in medicine. In this context, double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) has allowed the direct visualization of the small intestine. Objective: To describe indications, procedure characteristics, findings, complications, and follow-up of patients taken to DBE at the Hospital de San José, Bogotá, between November 2011 and April 2019. Methodology: Case series study. Patients with a clinical indication or diagnostic images suggestive of small bowel lesion were included. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: 45 enteroscopies were performed in 44 patients, with a median age of 58 years. The main indication was potential small bowel bleeding (53.3%) and chronic diarrhea (11.1%). Anterograde procedures were more frequent. Most of the results were normal (46.7%); tumors (11.1%), Crohn's disease (8.9%), and ulcers/erosions (6.7%) were among the most frequent findings. The diagnostic yield was 53.3% and the correlation with capsule endoscopy (CE) was 37.5%, and with imaging studies 42.9%. There were no complications. 91.1 % of patients were followed up on after a median of 56 months, with 78.1 % reporting symptom remission. The aim of enteroscopy was diagnostic in 84.4%. Conclusions: DBE is useful in the evaluation of the small intestine with a therapeutic possibility. The results are similar to those reported in the world literature. Follow-up can define the need for repeating the procedure, performing further studies, or symptom resolution.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography results three days after a failed pre-cut.

INTRODUCTION: deep cannulation of the common bile duct is essential in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, cannulation is not possible in approximately 20 % of the cases with the usual techniques. Pre-cutting is an alternative that allows cannulation in difficult cases although its success is not guaranteed. Repeating the ERCP within three days of a failed pre-cut is an acceptable option. OBJECTIVE: to determine if an ERCP performed three days after a failed pre-cut papillotomy allows the bile duct to be cannulated without increasing complication rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: patients who underwent an ERCP plus pre-cut were included, in whom the common bile duct could not be cannulated and who also underwent a new ERCP three days after the initial pre-cut. The primary objective was a successful biliary cannulation in the second ERCP and the secondary objective were the complications of the initial pre-cut. RESULTS: forty patients with an average age of 65 years were identified and 57 % were male. The indications for ERCP were choledocholithiasis in 95 %, biliary fistula in 2.5 % and pancreatic neoplasia in 2.5 %. The ERCP was repeated three days later in 92.5 % of the cases and the biliary cannulation was successful in 78.3 %. CONCLUSIONS: a new ERCP performed within three days of a failed pre-cut is justifiable since it has a significant success rate. Bile duct cannulation is achieved in three out of four patients, with an acceptable percentage of complications.

Covid-19: herramientas de prevención actual en las unidades de endoscopia / Covid-19: current prevention tools in endoscopy units

A finales de 2019 surgió en Wuhan (China) el SARS-CoV-2, un nuevo coronavirus causante del COVID-19. Al 13 de abril 2020 ha causado en el mundo 1.807.308 infecciones y 119.410 muertes. Por la forma de transmisión del virus y teniendo en cuenta que los servicios de gastroenterología y endoscopia digestiva son una fuente de fácil diseminación, dado a la exposición con aerosoles de manera constante que se emiten durante los procedimientos generando un mayor riesgo tanto para los profesionales de la salud como para los pacientes intervenidos. Es de gran importancia establecer herramientas de prevención dentro de los servicios de gastroenterología y endoscopia digestiva , teniendo en cuenta la evidencia al día de hoy y reconociendo que se está en una búsqueda constante de medidas que disminuyan el riesgo de contagio que permitan generar un ambiente seguro al personal de salud y pacientes. Se realizó una búsqueda en Pubmed con los siguientes términos: ("COVID-19" OR "coronavirus" OR "SARS-Cov-2") y ("gastrointestinal" OR "transmission" OR "intestinal" OR "digestive" OR "endoscopy" OR "esophagogastroduodenoscopy" OR "colonoscopy"). Por lo anterior se debe considerar que todos los pacientes llevados a procedimientos endoscópicos son de alto riesgo y se dará a conocer las herramientas de prevención actuales a nivel mundial.

In late 2019, SARS-CoV-2, a new coronavirus causing COVID-19, emerged in Wuhan (China). As of April 13 2020 it has caused 1.807.308 infections and 119.410 deaths worldwide. Due to the way this virus is transmitted and considering gastroenterology and digestive endoscopy services are a source of easy dissemination given the constant exposure with aerosols that are emitted during procedures there is an increased risk for both health care professionals and patients undergoing endoscopy. It is of great importance to establish prevention tools within the gastroenterology and digestive endoscopy services, based on the evidence gathered to date and recognizing that we are in a constant search for measures to reduce risk of infection that will provide a safe environment to staff and patients. Pubmed database was searched for the following terms: ("COVID-19" OR "coronavirus" OR "SARS-Cov-2") and "gastrointestinal" OR "transmission" OR "intestinal" OR "digestive" OR "endoscopy" OR "esophagogastroduodenoscopy" OR "colonoscopy"). Therefore, all patients brought in to undergo endoscopic procedures should be considered high-risk and current prevention tools will be made known worldwide.