Effect of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on colorectal cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Our aim was to determine the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included individuals diagnosed with CRC between March 13, 2019 and June 20, 2021 across 21 Spanish hospitals. Two time periods were compared: prepandemic (from March 13, 2019 to March 13, 2020) and pandemic (from March 14, 2020 to June 20, 2021, lockdown period and 1 year after lockdown). RESULTS: We observed a 46.9% decrease in the number of CRC diagnoses (95% confidence interval (CI): 45.1%-48.7%) during the lockdown and 29.7% decrease (95% CI: 28.1%-31.4%) in the year after the lockdown. The proportion of patients diagnosed at stage I significantly decreased during the pandemic (21.7% vs. 19.0%; p = 0.025). Centers that applied universal preprocedure SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing experienced a higher reduction in the number of colonoscopies performed during the pandemic post-lockdown (34.0% reduction; 95% CI: 33.6%-34.4% vs. 13.7; 95% CI: 13.4%-13.9%) and in the number of CRCs diagnosed (34.1% reduction; 95% CI: 31.4%-36.8% vs. 26.7%; 95% CI: 24.6%-28.8%). Curative treatment was received by 87.5% of patients diagnosed with rectal cancer prepandemic and 80.7% of patients during the pandemic post-lockdown period (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decrease in the number of diagnosed CRC cases and in the proportion of stage I CRC. The reduction in the number of colonoscopies and CRC diagnoses was higher in centers that applied universal SARS-CoV-2 PCR screening before colonoscopy. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected curative treatment of rectal cancers.

Screening and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with advanced fibrosis after hepatitis C virus eradication.

INTRODUCTION: The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after eradication of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is highly variable in patients with advanced fibrosis (F3). Long-term surveillance for HCC after sustained virological response (SVR) is controversial in these patients. Our objective is to describe the post-SVR follow-up in clinical practice in patients with F3 and determine the predictive factors for the development of HCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: a multicenter, observational, and retrospective study, which included HCV-monoinfected patients with F3 fibrosis determined by transient elastography who achieved SVR between 2015 and 2022 and with follow-up until May 2023. Clinical-demographic, laboratory, elastography, and ultrasound variables were recorded before and after treatment. A descriptive and inferential analysis, Cox regression analysis, and survival analysis were carried out with the R statistical software. RESULTS: 219 patients were included (65.3% men, median age 57 years). 175 (79.9%) received ultrasound screening after SVR for 62 [6-90] months. The prescribing service was the only independent variable related to performing ultrasound surveillance (p=0.004). Eight patients developed HCC. In multivariate analysis adjusted for sex, age, presence of diabetes, and alcohol consumption, a post-SVR FIB-4 ≥ 3.25 was associated with a 12-fold increase in HCC risk. The cumulative probability of HCC was higher in the group of patients with FIB-4 ≥ 3.25 after SVR (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: post-SVR follow-up of patients with F3 fibrosis is variable in clinical practice. Using the FIB-4 after SVR allows us to identify those patients with a higher risk of HCC who benefit from biannual ultrasound screening.

Advances in the pharmacotherapeutic management of refractory peptic ulcers.

INTRODUCTION: Refractory peptic ulcer is now a rare disease since most peptic ulcers heal with appropriate treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and/or Helicobacter pylori eradication. AREAS COVERED: The most frequent cause of apparent refractoriness is lack of adherence to treatment. Persistence of H. pylori infection, use or abuse (often surreptitious) of high dose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or aspirin (ASA) are the two major causes of true refractory ulcers. There is a growing number of peptic ulcers which are not linked to either NSAIDs or H. pylori infection. Refractoriness in these ulcers can be linked to gastric acid hypersecretion, rapid PPI metabolization, ischemia, chemo-radiotherapy, immune diseases, more rarely to other drugs or be fully idiopathic. Treatment of the cause of the ulcer, if known, is essential. This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective search in PubMed, with particular attention to refractory peptic ulcer. EXPERT OPINION: High-dose PPI or the new potassium competitive acid blocker or the combination of PPIs with misoprostol can be recommended in these cases. Other more experimental treatments such the topical application of platelet-rich plasma or mesenchymal stem cells have also been suggested. Surgery is the last option, but there is no guarantee of success, especially in NSAID or ASA abusers.

Rotura de Pseudoaneurisma tras Pancreatitis Aguda Necrotizante que debuta como Hemorragia Digestiva Alta por Fistulización del Duodeno

Presentamos el caso de un varón de 64 años quien, tras un primer episodio de pancreatitis aguda necrotizante, reingresa a los 20 días por cuadro de dolor epigástrico intenso y posteriormente episodio de hemorragia digestiva alta en forma de hematemesis y melenas con inestabilización hemodinámica. Se realiza en ese momento gastroscopia urgente objetivándose probable fistula gastrointestinal en bulbo duodenal con coágulo adherido sin sangrado activo en ese momento por lo que se realiza angio-TC urgente que revela colección peripancreática necrótica con presencia de sangrado activo en su interior, procedente de la arteria pancreatoduodenal. La arteriografía urgente identificó imagen compatible con pseudoaneurisma arterial dependiente de la rama de arteria pancreatoduodenal, que fue embolizada con éxito. Desgraciadamente el paciente falleció en las horas posteriores, como consecuencia de un shock séptico secundario a colección pancreática infectada.

We present the case of a 64-year-old man who, after a first episode of acute pancreatitis, was readmitted 20 days later due to severe epigastric pain and later an episode of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the form of hematemesis and melena with hemodynamic instability. An urgent gastroscopy was performed at that time, revealing a probable gastrointestinal fistula in the duodenal bulb with an adherent clot without active bleeding at that time, so an urgent CT angiography was performed that revealed a necrotic peripancreatic collection with the presence of active bleeding inside from the pancreatoduodenal artery. Urgent arteriography identified an image compatible with arterial pseudoaneurysm dependent on the pancreaticoduodenal artery branch, which was successfully embolized. Unfortunately, the patient died a few hours later as a result of septic shock secondary to an infected pancreatic collection.

[Pseudoaneurysm rupture after Acute Necrosis Pancreatitis debuting as Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding due to Fistulization of the Duodenum]. / Rotura de Pseudoaneurisma tras Pancreatitis Aguda Necrotizante que debuta como Hemorragia Digestiva Alta por Fistulización del Duodeno.

We present the case of a 64-year-old man who, after a first episode of acute pancreatitis, was readmitted 20 days later due to severe epigastric pain and later an episode of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the form of hematemesis and melena with hemodynamic instability. An urgent gastroscopy was performed at that time, revealing a probable gastrointestinal fistula in the duodenal bulb with an adherent clot without active bleeding at that time, so an urgent CT angiography was performed that revealed a necrotic peripancreatic collection with the presence of active bleeding inside from the pancreatoduodenal artery. Urgent arteriography identified an image compatible with arterial pseudoaneurysm dependent on the pancreaticoduodenal artery branch, which was successfully embolized. Unfortunately, the patient died a few hours later as a result of septic shock secondary to an infected pancreatic collection.

Ischemic cholangiopathy following hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm with thrombosis.

We report the case of a 73-year-old male, with a history of liver cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Due to this condition he underwent a liver transplant (LT) in 1993. From then on he was given immunosuppressive treatment with cyclosporin in monotherapy.