Environmental impact of small-bowel capsule endoscopy.

INTRODUCTION: The environmental impact of endoscopy, including small-bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE), has gained attention due to its contribution to the global carbon footprint. This study aimed to evaluate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (kgCO2e) of SBCE, including devices life cycle and capsule journey. METHODS: SBCE devices (3 brands) were evaluated using life cycle assessment methodology (ISO 14040), including patient travelling, bowel preparation, capsule examination and video recording. A survey was conducted on 120 patients undergoing a SBCE to gather data on their transportation, activities during the procedure, and awareness of pollution generated and on 87 physicians reading capsules. RESULTS: For the 3 different capsules, the weight was 4 g (3.9-5.2% of total), while 43 to 119 g were attributed for packaging (9-97%) including 5 g of deactivation magnets (4-6%) and 11 to 50 g for instruction forms (40%). A full SBCE generated between 19 and 20 kgCO2e, including 0.04 kgCO2e (0.2%) for the capsule itself and 18 kgCO2e related to patient travelling (94.7%). Capsule retrieval would add 0.98 kgCO2e using dedicated devices. Capsule deconstruction revealed components (e.g. Neodymium) that are prohibited from environmental disposal. 76% of patients were not aware of the illegal nature of flushing capsules, and 63% would be willing to retrieve it. Data storage and physician impact were negligible. CONCLUSION: The GHG emission of SBCE is mainly determined by patient travelling. The capsule device itself has a comparably low carbon footprint. Considering capsule components disposal is illegal, retrieval of the capsule seems crucial but increasing device-related emissions.

Safety and efficacy of salvage endoscopic submucosal dissection for Barrett's neoplasia recurrence after radiofrequency ablation.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of salvage endoscopic submucosal dissection for Barrett's neoplasia recurrence after radiofrequency ablation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from patients at sixteen centers were collected for a multicentric retrospective study. Patients who underwent at least one RFA treatment for Barrett's esophagus and thereafter underwent further esophageal ESD for neoplasia recurrence were included. RESULTS: Data from 56 patients treated by salvage ESD performed between April 2014 and November 2022 were collected. Immediate complications included one muscular tear (1.8%) treated with stent (Agree classification: grade IIIa), two patients had transmural perforations (4%) and five patients had muscular tears (9%) treated with clips and without clinical impact and not considered as adverse event. Seven patients (12.5%) developed strictures, treated by balloon dilation (grade IIIa). Histological analysis showed 36 adenocarcinomas, 17 high-grade dysplasia, and 3 low-grade dysplasia. En-bloc and R0 resection rates were 89% and 66%, respectively. Resections were curative in thirty-three patients (59%), non-curative in 22 patients (39%), including 11 "local risk" (19.5%) and 11 "high risk" resections (19.5%). At the end of follow-up with a median time of 14 [0-75] months after salvage ESD eventually associated with further endoscopic treatment (RFA, argon plasma coagulation, endoscopic mucosal resection, ESD), neoplasia remission ratio was 37/53 (70%) and the median remission time was 13 [1-75] months. CONCLUSION: In expert hands, salvage ESD is a safe and effective treatment for recurrence of Barrett's neoplasia after RFA treatment.

Curative criteria for endoscopic treatment of colorectal cancer.

As endoscopic treatment enables en bloc resection of T1 colorectal cancers, the risk of recurrence, often assimilated to the risk of lymph node metastases, must be assessed in order to offer patients an additional treatment if this risk is deemed significant. The curative criteria currently used by most guidelines are depth of invasion <1 mm, well or moderately differentiated tumour, absence of lympho-vascular invasion, absence of significant budding and tumour-free resection margins. However, these factors must be assessed by qualified pathologists, as they are difficult to evaluate. Moreover, the combination of these factors leads to unnecessary surgery in over 80 % of patients whose tumours are classified as high risk. Refinement of current criteria and research into new tumour and immunological markers are needed to better predict the actual risk of our patients.

Epidemiology, treatment and outcomes of infected pancreatic necrosis in France: a bicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: Acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) mortality increases when pancreatic necrosis is infected (IPN). Current treatment of IPN relies on prolonged antibiotic therapies associated with a step-up strategy of drainage. The objective of this study was to analyze IPN treatment outcomes in two referral centers in France. METHODS: Data of consecutive patients with documented IPN hospitalized in two expert centers in France between 2014 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The composite primary outcome was the proportion of unsuccessful management outcome, defined as new emergency drainage to treat sepsis with organ failure, an unplanned new antibiotic course, an unplanned prolongation of antibiotic course and/or death by septic shock, within three months following the diagnosis of ANP. RESULTS: All in all, 187 patients (138 males; 74.0%), with documented IPN were included. The most frequently identified microorganism was Escherichia coli (26.2%). Ninety-eight patients (52.4%) were admitted to an intensive care unit or resuscitation ward within the first two days of ANP care. Overall, 126 patients (67.4%) endured an unsuccessful outcome: new emergency drainage to treat acute sepsis (62.0%), unplanned new antibiotic course (47.1%), unplanned prolongation of antibiotic course (44.9%) and/or death by septic shock complicating IPN (8.0%). CONCLUSION: The unfavorable evolution in two thirds of patients shows that determination of optimal drainage timing and choice of antibiotic therapy remain major challenges in 2024.

Perspectives and awareness of endoscopy healthcare professionals on sustainable practices in gastrointestinal endoscopy: results of the LEAFGREEN survey.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is one of healthcare's main contributors to climate change. We aimed to assess healthcare professionals' attitudes and the perceived barriers to implementation of sustainable GI endoscopy. METHODS: The LEAFGREEN web-based survey was a cross-sectional study conducted by the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Green Endoscopy Working Group. The questionnaire comprised 39 questions divided into five sections (respondent demographics; climate change and sustainability beliefs; waste and resource management; single-use endoscopes and accessories; education and research). The survey was available via email to all active members of the ESGE and the European Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Nurses and Associates (ESGENA) in March 2023. RESULTS: 407 respondents participated in the survey (11% response rate). Most participants (86%) agreed climate change is real and anthropogenic, but one-third did not consider GI endoscopy to be a significant contributor to climate change. Improvement in the appropriateness of endoscopic procedures (41%) and reduction in single-use accessories (34%) were considered the most important strategies to reduce the environmental impact of GI endoscopy. Respondents deemed lack of institutional support and knowledge from staff to be the main barriers to sustainable endoscopy. Strategies to reduce unnecessary GI endoscopic procedures and comparative studies of single-use versus reusable accessories were identified as research priorities. CONCLUSIONS: In this survey, ESGE and ESGENA members acknowledge climate change as a major threat to humanity. Further improvement in sustainability beliefs and professional attitudes, reduction in inappropriate GI endoscopy, and rational use of single-use accessories and endoscopes are critically required.

Histopronostic factors in superficial colorectal adenocarcinomas treated by endoscopy: reproducibility and impact of immunohistochemistry and digital pathology.

Endoscopic dissection is the first-choice treatment for superficial pT1 colorectal adenocarcinoma (sCRC). Complementary surgery decision is influenced by histopronostic factors. Prognostic significance and reproducibility of each factor are not well established. The role of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and digital pathology in this context is unknown. Our aims were (1) to evaluate each histopronostic factor reproducibility comparing HES and IHC ± digital pathology and (2) to evaluate how the different techniques would affect indications for additional surgery. We performed a single-centre retrospective study of 98 patients treated between 2010 and 2019 in Hospices Civils de Lyon, France. We analyzed physical or digital slides of HES and keratin/desmin immunostaining of 98 sCRC dissection specimens. Three pathologists evaluate the histopronostic factors including submucosal invasion depth (SMI) measured using different recommended methods. Assessment of SMI with Ueno or JSCCR methods showed good to excellent interobserver reproducibility (IOR) (ICCs of 0.858 to 0.925) using HES staining and IHC. Assessment of budding on HES sections was poorly reproducible compared to IHC which exhibit moderate IOR (κ = 0.714). IHC increased high-grade budding detection. For lymphovascular invasion and poor differentiation, the IOR was poor (κ = 0.141, 0.196 and 0.313 respectively). IHC gave a better reproducibility for further treatment indication according to JSCCR criteria (κ = 0.763) or forthcoming European guidelines (κ = 0.659). Digital pathology was equivalent to the microscope for all analyses. Histopronostic factor reproducibility in sCRC is moderate. Immunohistochemistry may facilitate the evaluation of certain criteria and improve the reproducibility of treatment decisions.