High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen in Patients Having Anesthesia for Advanced Esophagogastroduodenoscopy: HIFLOW-ENDO, a Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Over 6 million esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) procedures are performed in the United States each year. Patients having anesthesia for advanced EGD procedures, such as interventional procedures, are at high risk for hypoxemia. METHODS: Our primary study aim was to evaluate whether high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen reduces the incidence of hypoxemia during anesthesia for advanced EGD. Secondarily, we studied whether HFNC oxygen reduces hypercarbia or hypotension. After obtaining written informed consent, adults having anesthesia for advanced EGD, expected to last longer than 15 minutes, were randomly assigned to receive HFNC oxygen or standard nasal cannula (SNC) oxygen. The primary outcome was occurrence of one or more hypoxemia events during anesthesia, defined by arterial oxygen saturation <92% for at least 15 consecutive seconds. Secondary outcomes were occurrence of one or more hypercarbia or hypotension events. A hypercarbia event was defined by a transcutaneous CO2 measurement 20 mm Hg or more above baseline, and a hypotension event was defined by a mean arterial blood pressure measurement 25% or more below baseline. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy-one adult patients were enrolled and randomized, and 262 patients completed study procedures. Eight randomized patients did not complete study procedures due to changes in their anesthesia or endoscopy plan. One patient was excluded from analysis because their procedure was aborted after 1 minute. Patients who received HFNC oxygen (N = 132) had a significantly lower incidence of hypoxemia than those who received SNC oxygen (N = 130; 21.2% vs 33.1%; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.59 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.36-0.95]; P = .03). There was no difference in the incidence of hypercarbia or hypotension between the groups. The HR for hypercarbia with HFNC oxygen was 1.29 (95% CI, 0.89-1.88; P = .17), and the HR for hypotension was 1.25 (95% CI, 0.86-1.82; P = .25). CONCLUSIONS: HFNC oxygen reduces the incidence of hypoxemia during anesthesia for advanced EGD and may offer an opportunity to enhance patient safety during these procedures.

International multicenter experience with an over-the-scope clipping device for endoscopic management of GI defects (with video).

BACKGROUND: The over-the-scope clip (OTSC) provides more durable and full-thickness closure as compared with standard clips. Only case reports and small case series have reported on outcomes of OTSC closure of GI defects. OBJECTIVE: To describe a large, multicenter experience with OTSCs for the management of GI defects. Secondary goals were to determine success rate by type of defect and type of therapy and to determine predictors of treatment outcomes. DESIGN: Multicenter, retrospective study. SETTING: Multiple, international, academic centers. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients who underwent attempted OTSC placement for GI defects, either as a primary or as a rescue therapy. INTERVENTIONS: OTSC placement to attempt closure of GI defects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Long-term success of the procedure. RESULTS: A total of 188 patients (108 fistulae, 48 perforations, 32 leaks) were included. Long-term success was achieved in 60.2% of patients during a median follow-up of 146 days. Rate of successful closure of perforations (90%) and leaks (73.3%) was significantly higher than that of fistulae (42.9%) (P < .05). Long-term success was significantly higher when OTSCs were applied as primary therapy (primary 69.1% vs rescue 46.9%; P = .004). On multivariate analysis, patients who had OTSC placement for perforations and leaks had significantly higher long-term success compared with those who had fistulae (OR 51.4 and 8.36, respectively). LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design and multiple operators with variable expertise with the OTSC device. CONCLUSION: OTSC is safe and effective therapy for closure of GI defects. Clinical success is best achieved in patients undergoing closure of perforations or leaks when OTSC is used for primary or rescue therapy. Type of defect is the best predictor of successful long-term closure.

The Efficacy and Safety of Treatment Outcomes for Refractory Benign Esophageal Strictures Using a Novel Combination of Needle-Knife Stricturoplasty, Balloon Dilation, and Steroid Injection (with Video).

Background and Aims: Benign esophageal strictures often present with dysphagia and can significantly impair a patient's quality of life, especially when refractory to standard endoscopic techniques. When repeat dilations fail to achieve an adequate luminal diameter or resolve dysphagia, further therapy with needle-knife or steroid injections is needed. However, patients can still clinically fail. To manage such strictures, we employed a novel combination of all three techniques. Methods: Single-center case series of adult patients with benign strictures that were refractory to conventional endoscopic therapy and removable self-expanding metal stenting. Primary clinical success was defined as complete resolution in dysphagia. Secondary outcomes included periodic dilation index (frequency of dilations over the follow-up time), esophageal diameter changes, technical success, and complications. Results: Four patients (median age 49.7 years old, interquartile range [IQR] 30-59) underwent endoscopic therapy for complex, benign strictures using our triple therapy technique. Etiologies of the strictures included peptic strictures (n = 3) and an anastomotic stricture (n = 1). There was 100% technical success rate with no associated adverse events. There was a 50% clinical success rate, with 1 additional patient having partial improvement in dysphagia. The median diameter of the esophagus before and after triple therapy was 3.2 mm (IQR 3.5-5.5) and 12.8 mm (IQR 11.7-14.2), respectively. The periodic dilation index was 6.3 before and 1.5 after triple therapy. The median length of follow-up was 362.5 days. Conclusion: Triple combination therapy may be useful in benign strictures that are refractory to standard techniques. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings.

Introdução e objectivos: As estenoses esofágicas benignas apresentam-se frequentemente com disfagia e podem prejudicar significativamente a qualidade de vida, especialmente quando refractárias às técnicas de dilatação endoscópicas padrão. Quando as dilatações não conseguem isoladamente atingir um diâmetro luminal adequado ou resolver a disfagia, são necessárias terapêuticas adicionais (incisão com faca ou injecções de esteróides), embora a taxa de falha clínica não seja desprezível. Para abordagem destas estenoses refratárias utilizámos uma nova combinação das três técnicas. Métodos: Série de casos incluindo doentes adultos com estenoses benignas refractárias à dilatação convencional e à colocação de prótese metálica auto-expansível removível. O endpoint primário foi definido como resolução completa da disfagia. Os endpoints secundários incluíram o índice de dilatação periódica (frequência de dilatações ao longo do tempo de seguimento), alterações do diâmetro esofágico, sucesso técnico e complicações. Resultados: Quatro doentes (idade média 49.7 anos, intervalo interquartil [IQR] 30­59) foram submetidos a terapia endoscópica para estenoses benignas complexas utilizando a técnica de terapêutica tripla. As etiologias das estenoses incluíam estenoses pépticas (n = 3) e estenose anastomótica (n = 1). A taxa de sucesso técnico foi de 100%, sem eventos adversos associados. A taxa de sucesso clínico foi 50%, com um doente adicional apresentando melhoria parcial da disfagia. O diâmetro médio do esófago antes e depois da terapêutica tripla foi de 3,2 mm (IQR 3.5­5.5) e 12.8 mm (IQR 11.7­14.2), respetivamente. O índice de dilatação periódica foi de 6.3 antes e 1.5 após a terapêutica tripla. A duração média do seguimento foi de 362.5 dias. Conclusão: A terapêutica tripla de combinação pode ser útil em estenoses benignas refractários às técnicas convencionais embora sejam necessários estudos adicionais de validação da técnica.

The diagnostic utility of endocytoscopy for the detection of gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endocytoscopy (ECS) is an evolving technology that utilizes ultra-high power magnification for real time cellular imaging without the need for physical biopsy. Its application for gastric cancer (GC) detection is not well evaluated at the current time, but there is potential that ECS can make a real time histopathological diagnosis to differentiate neoplastic from benign lesions. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic utility of ECS for GC detection. METHODS: Literature searches through multiple databases were performed for studies using ECS for GC detection until November 2021. Measured outcomes included the pooled sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Quality assessment of diagnostic studies tool was used to assess the risk of bias. RESULTS: Four studies (n=245) were included. The pooled sensitivity was 83.5% (95% CI: 75% - 89%, I2: 0) and specificity was 91.7% (95% CI: 79% - 97%, I2: 58%). The pooled accuracy was 89.2% (95% CI: 83% - 94%, I2: 38%). There was a low risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: ECS is an accurate diagnostic modality and has the potential to serve as a complimentary tool in screening for GC. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these findings before its further widespread use.

A faculty development program to train tutors to be discussion leaders rather than facilitators.

PURPOSE: During 2003, 2004, and 2005, the role of 70 tutors was changed from that of facilitator to discussion leader, in a preclinical PBL learning course, Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology, by use of three key business school teaching strategies: questions, summaries, and schematics. The purpose of this study was to learn what difference this new approach made. METHOD: During each of the three study years, 171 (2003), 167 (2004), and 170 (2005) students were given Likert-scale attitudinal questionnaires to rate whether their tutors encouraged student direction of the tutorials and whether the summaries and closure schematics benefited their learning. Students' overall course evaluations and mean USMLE scores were quantitatively analyzed, pre- and postintervention. A variety of statistical tests were used to assess the statistical significance of means at the confidence level of .05. RESULTS: In the third year of the program, student ratings indicated that their tutors were significantly better at encouraging student direction of the tutorials than in the first year (P < .05). The students reported that the tutorial made a more important contribution to their learning (P < .05), and the course objectives were better stated (P = .038) and better met (P = .007). Overall satisfaction with the course also improved significantly (P = .006). Part I gastrointestinal system mean scores of the USMLE showed a statistically significant increase in 2005 compared with 2001 or 2002. CONCLUSIONS: The tutor as a discussion leader who questions, summarizes, and uses schematics to illustrate concepts had a significant and positive impact on learning in tutorials, achieving course objectives, improving overall course satisfaction, and increasing a standardized national exam's mean score.

Performance characteristics of retrograde single-balloon endoscopy: A single center experience.

AIM: To evaluate the technical success, diagnostic yield (DY) and therapeutic potential of retrograde single balloon enteroscopy (rSBE). METHODS: A retrospective review of 136 rSBE procedures performed at a tertiary academic referral center from January 2006 and September 2013 was completed. Patient characteristics including age, gender and inpatient status were collected. The indication for the procedure was categorized into one of three groups: Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), evaluation for Crohn's disease and abnormal imaging. Procedural characteristics including insertion depth (ID), procedure time, concordance with pre-procedural imaging and complications were also recorded. Lastly, DY, defined as the percentage of cases producing either a definitive diagnosis or findings that could explain clinical symptoms and therapeutic yield (TY), defined as the percentage of cases in which a definitive intervention was performed, were determined. Mucosal tattooing and biopsy alone were not included in the TY. RESULTS: A total of 136 rSBE procedures were identified. Mean patient age was 57.5 (± 16.2) years, 67 (49.2%) were male, and 110 (80.9%) procedures were performed on an outpatient basis. Indications for rSBE included GIB in 55 (40.4%), evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in 29 (21.3%), and imaging suggestive of pathology other than GIB or IBD in 43 (31.6%). Nine (6.6%) rSBEs were performed for other indications. Mean ID was 68.3 (± 39.3) cm proximal to the ileocecal valve and mean time to completion was 41.7 (± 15.5) min. Overall, 73 (53.7%) cases were diagnostic and 25 (18.4%) cases were therapeutic in which interventions (argon plasma coagulation, stricture dilatation, polypectomy, etc.) were performed. Pre-procedural imaging was performed in 88 (64.7%) patients. Endoscopic concordance of positive imaging findings was seen in 31 (35.2%) cases. Follow up data was available in 93 (68.4%) patients; 2 (2.2%) reported post-procedural abdominal pain within 30 d following rSBE. There were no other reported complications. CONCLUSION: rSBE exhibits an acceptable diagnostic and TY, rendering it a safe and effective procedure for the evaluation and treatment of small bowel diseases.

Time-limited fluoroscopy to reduce radiation exposure during ERCP: a prospective randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Measures should be used to limit radiation exposure of the staff and patients during ERCP. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether "time-limited fluoroscopy" reduces radiation exposure and fluoroscopy time (FT) compared with continuous fluoroscopy. DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial. SETTING: Tertiary academic medical center. PATIENTS: Consecutive adult patients presenting for ERCP. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomized into 2 fluoroscopy setting groups: (1) time-limited, where x-ray exposure is limited to 3 seconds each time the foot-operated switch is depressed; (2) continuous, where x-ray exposure continues for as long as the switch is depressed. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASUREMENTS: FT, patient, and procedure-related data were recorded. Radiation dosimetry badges were used to estimate cumulative exposure. RESULTS: Ninety-nine procedures were performed in the time-limited group and 100 by using continuous fluoroscopy. The mean FT for time-limited fluoroscopy was 284.4 seconds (95% confidence interval [CI] 247.1-321.6) and for continuous fluoroscopy was 314 seconds (95% CI 265.6-362.4; P=.34). Longer FT was associated with moderate or difficult cannulation (P=.008), lithotripsy (P<.001), stent placement (P=.007), sphincterotomy (P<.001), and longer overall procedure length (P<0.001). After controlling for confounding factors and interactions with a multiple linear regression model, time-limited fluoroscopy was associated with a 16.4% lower FT (P=.029). The average radiation dose was not amenable to multivariate analysis, and, therefore, no significant difference between groups was found. LIMITATIONS: Endoscopists were not blinded to the study group assignments. CONCLUSIONS: FT and radiation exposure are dependent upon numerous patient-, operator-, and procedure-related factors. This study found that, after controlling for the impact of confounding factors, time-limited fluoroscopy significantly decreases FTs.