Natural history and growth prediction model of pancreatic serous cystic neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE: Serous cystic neoplasms (SCN) are benign pancreatic cystic neoplasms that may require resection based on local complications and rate of growth. We aimed to develop a predictive model for the growth curve of SCNs to aid in the clinical decision making of determining need for surgical resection. METHODS: Utilizing a prospectively maintained pancreatic cyst database from a single institution, patients with SCNs were identified. Diagnosis confirmation included imaging, cyst aspiration, pathology, or expert opinion. Cyst size diameter was measured by radiology or surgery. Patients with interval imaging ≥3 months from diagnosis were included. Flexible restricted cubic splines were utilized for modeling of non-linearities in time and previous measurements. Model fitting and analysis were performed using R (V3.50, Vienna, Austria) with the rms package. RESULTS: Among 203 eligible patients from 1998 to 2021, the mean initial cyst size was 31 mm (range 5-160 mm), with a mean follow-up of 72 months (range 3-266 months). The model effectively captured the non-linear relationship between cyst size and time, with both time and previous cyst size (not initial cyst size) significantly predicting current cyst growth (p < 0.01). The root mean square error for overall prediction was 10.74. Validation through bootstrapping demonstrated consistent performance, particularly for shorter follow-up intervals. CONCLUSION: SCNs typically have a similar growth rate regardless of initial size. An accurate predictive model can be used to identify rapidly growing outliers that may warrant surgical intervention, and this free model (https://riskcalc.org/SerousCystadenomaSize/) can be incorporated in the electronic medical record.

Comparative Effectiveness of Virtual Versus In-person Visits for Abdominal Pain During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of telemedicine in improving healthcare access and reducing costs. This study aimed to assess order compliance in the virtual versus in-person setting for the initial evaluation of abdominal pain (AP) prior to and during the pandemic. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of virtual and in-person outpatient gastroenterology visits for AP were identified through natural language processing from January 2019 through September 2021 at the Cleveland Clinic main campus and regional hospitals in Ohio. We assessed the number and type of orders placed for patients and measured compliance through order completion. This study received Institutional Review Board approval (IRB 21-514). RESULTS: Among 20,356 patients at their initial visit, 79% had orders placed, of which 40% had pandemic in-person visits, 13% had pandemic virtual visits, and 47% had pre-pandemic in-person visits. Patients seen virtually were 65.1% less likely to complete orders compared to patients seen in-person (p < 0.001) during the pandemic. Patients seen in a pandemic virtual setting were 71.0% less likely to complete imaging orders (p < 0.001), 82.6% less likely to complete procedure orders (p < 0.001), and 60.5% less likely to complete lab orders (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Compared with in-person visits, patients seen virtually for their first presentation of AP were less likely to complete labs, imaging, and endoscopic evaluations. In-person visits were more successful with patient order completion during the pandemic. These findings highlight that virtual visits for AP, despite convenience, may compromise care delivery and warrant additional care coordination to achieve compliance with medical recommendations.

Impact of Clinical and Endoscopic Features on the Development of Metachronous Colorectal Advanced Serrated Lesions.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: High-risk adenomas predict metachronous advanced adenomatous neoplasia. Limited data exist on predictors of metachronous advanced serrated lesions (mASLs). We analyzed clinical and endoscopic predictors of mASLs. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, adults with >1 outpatient colonoscopy between 2008 and 2019 at a tertiary center were included. Serrated lesions (SLs) included sessile SLs (SSLs), traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs), and hyperplastic polyps (HPs). Patient and endoscopic characteristics were obtained using electronic medical records. Five-year cumulative incidence of mASL (HP ≥10 mm, SSL ≥10 mm or with dysplasia, any TSA) and factors associated with mASL were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: A total of 4990 patients were included and 45.4% were women. Mean age was 60.9 ± 9.2 years and median follow-up time was 3.7 years. Female sex and active smoking were associated with mASL. Endoscopically, any SSL and TSA were associated with mASL. The 5-year cumulative incidence for mASL was 26% (95% confidence interval [CI], 18%-32%) for SSL ≥10 mm, 17% (95% CI, 3.5%-29%) for HP ≥10 mm, 21% (95% CI, 0%-42%) for 3-4 SSLs <10 mm, 18% (95% CI, 0%-38%) for TSA, and 27% (95% CI, 3.6%-45%) for SSL with low-grade dysplasia. Baseline synchronous nonadvanced SL and nonadvanced adenoma were not associated with mASL. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support current recommendations for a 3-year surveillance interval in patients with baseline SSL ≥10 mm, SSL with dysplasia, and TSA. A 3-year interval may be more appropriate than 3-5 years for patients with baseline HP ≥10 mm or 3-4 SSLs <10 mm. Patients with synchronous nonadvanced SLs and adenomas do not appear to be at increased risk of mASL.

Increased Risk of Hospitalization in Celiac Disease With COVID-19 Infection Is Mitigated by Vaccination.

BACKGROUND: We sought to describe clinical characteristics of celiac disease (CD) patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and estimate hospitalization risk, intensive care unit (ICU) requirement, mortality, and thrombosis, and the impact of vaccination on these outcomes. METHODS: We performed a single-center, retrospective cohort study comparing biopsy-proven CD patients with a matched sample of non-CD (referent) patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 2020 and January 2022. Matching ensured 2 referent patients for every 1 CD patient by age, sex, ethnicity, and COVID-19 diagnosis date. We also adjusted for general and celiac-specific comorbidity. The primary outcome was hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included ICU requirement, mortality, and thrombosis. We also compared these outcomes between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. RESULTS: We included 330 patients: 110 with CD (mean age 47 years, 83% female) and 220 matched referents. Hospitalization occurred in 27 CD patients (24%) and 25 referent patients (11%) (hazard ratio, 2.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-3.65; P = .009). Vaccination was associated with significantly decreased risk of hospitalization (hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.31-0.93; P = .026). Four unvaccinated CD patients and 2 unvaccinated referent patients required ICU. No mortality occurred among CD patients, and 2 referent patients died. No thrombosis occurred in either group. CONCLUSIONS: CD patients with COVID-19 have a higher risk of hospitalization compared with non-CD referents. This risk is mitigated by vaccination in CD patients as it is in non-CD referents. ICU requirement occurred only in unvaccinated CD patients, and no CD patient died. Vaccination against COVID-19 should be strongly recommended in patients with CD as it is for non-CD patients in the general population.

The Natural History of Asymptomatic Gallstones: A Longitudinal Study and Prediction Model.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Despite the high prevalence of asymptomatic gallstones (AGs), there are limited data on their natural history. We aimed to determine the rate of symptom development in a contemporary population, determine factors associated with progression to symptomatic gallstones (SGs), and develop a clinical prediction model. METHODS: We used a retrospective cohort design. The time to first SG was shown using Kaplan-Meier curves. Multivariable competing risk (death) regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with SGs. A prediction model for the development of SGs after 10 years was generated and calibration curves were plotted. Participants were patients with AGs based on ultrasound or computed tomography from the general medical population. RESULTS: From 1996 to 2016, 22,257 patients (51% female) with AGs were identified; 14.5% developed SG with a median follow-up period of 4.6 years. The cumulative incidence was 10.1% (±0.22%) at 5 years, 21.5% (±0.39%) at 10 years, and 32.6% (±0.83%) at 15 years. In a multivariable model, the strongest predictors of developing SGs were female gender (hazard ratio [HR], 1.50; 95% CI, 1.39-1.61), younger age (HR per 5 years, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.14-1.16), multiple stones (HR, 2.42; 95% CI, 2.25-2.61), gallbladder polyps (HR, 2.55; 95% CI, 2.14-3.05), large stones (HR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.80-2.29), and chronic hemolytic anemia (HR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.33-2.72). The model showed good discrimination (C-statistic, 0.70) and calibration. CONCLUSIONS: In general medical patients with AGs, symptoms developed at approximately 2% per year. A predictive model with good calibration could be used to inform patients of their risk of SGs.

Venous Thromboembolism in Patients Admitted for IBD: An Enterprise-Wide Experience of 86,000 Hospital Encounters.

BACKGROUND: Recommendations regarding venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in patients admitted to the hospital for IBD continue to evolve. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the 90-day rate and risk factors of deep venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism in cohorts of patients with IBD admitted to medical and surgical services. DESIGN: This was a retrospective review. SETTING: The study was conducted at a quaternary IBD referral center. PATIENTS: The study included adult patients ( > 18 y of age) with a known diagnosis of either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease who had an inpatient hospital admission for IBD between January 1, 2002, and January 1, 2020. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measures were 90-day rate of deep venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism among admitted patients. RESULTS: A total of 86,276 hospital admissions from 16,551 patients with IBD occurred between January 1, 2002, and January 1, 2020. A total of 35,992 patients (41.7%) were given subcutaneous heparin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, and 8188 patients (9.49%) were given enoxaparin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis during the inpatient hospital admission. From the date of hospital admission, the 90-day rate of deep venous thromboembolism was 4.3% (n = 3664); of these, 1731 patients (47%) were diagnosed during the admission and 1933 patients (53%) were diagnosed after discharge. From the date of hospital admission, the 90-day rate of pulmonary embolism was 2.4% (n = 2040); of these, 960 patients (47%) were diagnosed during admission and 1080 patients (53%) were diagnosed after discharge. LIMITATIONS: The study was limited by its retrospective nature and unmeasured severity of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Patients admitted for IBD had a 90-day deep venous thromboembolism event rate of 4.3% and pulmonary embolism event rate of 2.4%. More than half of the events occurred after discharge, and venous thromboembolism events were higher among patients with IBD admitted to a medical service than those admitted to a surgical service. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B947 . TROMBOEMBOLIA VENOSA EN PACIENTES INGRESADOS CON ENFERMEDAD INFLAMATORIA INTESTINAL UNA EXPERIENCIA EN TODA LA EMPRESA DE ENCUENTROS HOSPITALARIOS: ANTECEDENTES:Recomendaciones sobre la profilaxis de tromboembolia venosa en pacientes ingresados con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) continúa evolucionando.OBJETIVO:Determinar la tasa a 90 días y los factores de riesgo de tromboembolia venosa profunda y embolia pulmonar en cohortes de pacientes ingresados con EII médico y quirúrgico.DISEÑO:Esta fue una revisión retrospectiva.AJUSTE:El estudio se llevó a cabo en un centro cuaternario de derivación de EII.PACIENTES:Se incluyeron pacientes adultos (> 18 años) con diagnóstico conocido de colitis ulcerosa o enfermedad de Crohn que fueron hospitalizados por EII entre el 1 de Enero de 2002 y el 1 de Enero de 2020.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADOS:Las medidas principales fueron la tasa de tromboembolia venosa profunda a 90 días y la embolia pulmonar entre los pacientes ingresados.RESULTADOS:Un total de 86.276 ingresos hospitalarios de 16.551 pacientes con EII ocurrieron entre el 1 de Enero de 2002 y el 1 de Enero de 2020. A un total de 35.992 (41,7%) se les administró heparina subcutánea para profilaxis de tromboembolia venosa y a 8.188 (9,49%) se les administró enoxaparina para profilaxis de tromboembolia venosa durante el ingreso hospitalario. A partir de la fecha de ingreso hospitalario, la tasa de tromboembolia venosa profunda a 90 días fue del 4,3% (n = 3.664); de estos 1.731 (47%) se diagnosticaron durante el ingreso y 1.933 (53%) se diagnosticaron después del alta. Desde la fecha de ingreso hospitalario, la tasa de embolia pulmonar a los 90 días fue de 2,4% (n = 2.040); De estos, 960 (47%) fueron diagnosticados durante el ingreso y 1.080 (53%) fueron diagnosticados después del alta.LIMITACIONES:El estudio fue retrospectivo y no se midió la gravedad de la enfermedad.CONCLUSIÓNES:Los pacientes ingresados por EII tuvieron una tasa de tromboembolia venosa profunda y de eventos de embolia pulmonar de 4,3% y 2,4%, respectivamente, a 90 días. Más de la mitad de los eventos ocurrieron después del alta y los eventos de TEV fueron más altos entre los pacientes de EII médicos que quirúrgicos. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B947 . (Traducción- Dr. Yesenia Rojas-Khalil ).

Evaluating approaches to diagnosis and management of idiopathic acute pancreatitis.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic acute pancreatitis (IAP) is a diagnosis of exclusion; systematic work-up is challenging but essential. Recent advances suggest IAP results from micro-choledocholithiasis, and that laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) or endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) may prevent recurrence. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with IAP from 2015-21 were identified from discharge billing records. Acute pancreatitis was defined by the 2012 Atlanta classification. Complete workup was defined per Dutch and Japanese guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 1499 patients were diagnosed with IAP; 455 screened positive for pancreatitis. Most (N = 256, 56.2%) were screened for hypertriglyceridemia, 182 (40.0%) for IgG-4, and 18 (4.0%) MRCP or EUS, leaving 434 (29.0%) patients with potentially idiopathic pancreatitis. Only 61 (14.0%) received LC and 16 (3.7%) ES. Overall, 40% (N = 172) had recurrent pancreatitis versus 46% (N = 28/61) following LC and 19% (N = 3/16) following ES. Forty-three percent had stones on pathology after LC; none developed recurrence. CONCLUSION: Complete workup for IAP is necessary but was performed in <5% of cases. Patients who potentially had IAP and received LC were definitively treated 60% of the time. The high rate of stones on pathology further supports empiric LC in this population. A systematic approach to IAP is lacking. Interventions aimed at biliary-lithiasis to prevent recurrent IAP have merit.

Pouch Function Over Time and With Advancing Age.

BACKGROUND: No long-term pouch studies have included follow-up >30 years or an analysis in patients >80 years old. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate pouch function and pouch failure in patients with a pouch in situ >30 years and in patients >80 years old. DESIGN: This is a retrospective review. SETTING: This study was conducted at an IBD referral center. PATIENTS: Adult patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent an IPAA between 1983 and 1990 were selected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes measured were pouch function and pouch failure rates. METHODS: Data collection included diagnosis, age at IPAA, indication for IPAA, medications at IPAA, pathology at the time of IPAA, postoperative morbidity, functional outcomes, quality of life, pouch excision or ileostomy and indication, and date of last follow-up. All living patients were contacted in April 2020 to retrieve functional data and pouch failure rates. RESULTS: A total of 566 patients had a pouch constructed between 1983 and 1990; of the 145 at most recent contact, 75 had their pouch in situ ≥30 years and 14 were ≥80 years old. Mean age at diagnosis was 25.8 years (10.6 SD), age at surgery was 34.7 years (11.3 SD), and age at last follow-up was 60.5 years (13.2 SD). At a median of 30 years (IQR, 21-32), 145 patients responded to the functional survey. Significantly increased rates of urgency (always, mostly, sometimes: 71.5% vs 23.5%) and seepage during the day (71.4% vs 22.4%) were observed in patients ≥80 years. In patients ≥80 years with a pouch in situ ≥30 years, urgency and incontinence were sometimes experienced by nearly 50% and pouch failure occurred in one third of patients. The overall rate of pouch failure was 19.4% (n = 110) at a median follow-up of 15 years; risk factors were female sex, 3-stage approach, and pelvic sepsis. LIMITATIONS: A retrospective database was used. CONCLUSION: Patients with IPAA maintain good pouch function even after 30 years and in patients over the age of 80 years. Pouch function declines with time and failure rates increase over time. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B684.Función De La Bolsa Ileal En El Tiempo Y En Pacientes De Edad Avanzada. ANTECEDENTES: No se han efectuado estudios en pacientes con bolsa a largo plazo que incluyan un seguimiento por treinta años o más y en pacientes mayores de 80 años. OBJETIVO: Investigar la funcionalidad o la falla de la bolsa en pacientes bolsa in situ por mas de treinta años y en pacientes mayors de 80 años. DISEO: Revisión retrospective. ESCENARIO: Centro de referencia de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal. PACIENTES: Pacientes adultos con diagnóstico de colitis ulcerative sometidos a anastomosis bolsa ileal anal (IPAA) entre 1983 y 1990. PRINCIPALES PARAMETROS DE RESULTADOS: Indices de efectividad y disfunción de la bolsa ileal. METODOS: Recopilación de la información incluyendo diagnóstico, edad del procedimiento (IPAA), indicaciones para IPAA, medicamentos para IPAA, patología en el transcurso del IPAA, morbilidad postoperatoria, resultados funcionales, calidad de vida, excisión de la bolsa o ileostomía y su indicación y fecha de seguimiento mas reciente. Se contactaron a todos los pacientes vivos en abril de 202 para recuperar la información de los índices de funcionalidad o disfunción de la bolsa. RESULTADOS: Se les construyó una bolsa a un total de 566 pacientes entre 1983 y 1990; de los 145 mas recientemente contactados, 75 permanecían con su bolsa in situ ≥ 30 años y 14 eran mayores de 80 años. La edad media en el momento de diagnóstico fue de 25.8 años (con desviación estándar de 10.6, sd), edad al momento de la cirugía fue de 34.7 años (11.3sd), y la edad en el último seguimiento de 60.5 años (13.2,sd). A una media de 30 años (IQR: 21,32), 145 pacientes respondieron al cuestionario de funcionalidad. En pacientes mayores de 80 años se observaron tasas aumentadas de urgencia (siempre, la mayor parte de las veces, algunas veces: 71.5% vs 23.5%) y fuga durante el día (71.4% versus 22.4%). En pacientes mayores de 80 años con una bolsa in situ durante 30 años o más, experimentaron urgencia e incontinencia en cerca del 50% y disfunción de la bolsa en un tercio de los pacientes. La tasa global de fallo de la bolsa fue de 19.4% (n = 110) en un seguimiento a 15 años; los factores de riesgo asociados fueron: sexo femenino, abordaje de tres tiempos y sepsis pélvica. LIMITACIONES: Información retrospective. CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes con IPAA continúan con una función adecuada de la bolsa aún después de 30 años de efectuada así como en pacientes mayores de 80 años. La funcionalidad de la bolsa disminuye con el tiempo y las tasa de falla aumentan de igual forma con el tiempo. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B684. (Traducción- Dr. Miguel Esquivel-Herrera).

Clinical Risk Prediction Model for Neoadjuvant Therapy in Resectable Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.

GOALS AND BACKGROUND: Clinical staging with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and positron emission tomography (PET) is used to identify esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) patients with locally advanced disease and therefore, benefit from neoadjuvant therapy. However, EUS is operator dependent and subject to interobserver variability. Therefore, we aimed to identify clinical predictors of locally advanced EAC and build a predictive model that can be used as an adjunct to current staging methods. STUDY: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with EAC who underwent preoperative staging with EUS and PET scan followed by definitive therapy at our institution from January 2011 to December 2017. Demographic data, symptoms, endoscopic findings, EUS, and PET scan findings were obtained. RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty-six patients met the study criteria, of which 86 (20.2%) patients had limited stage EAC and 340 (79.8%) had locally advanced disease. The mean age was 65.4±10.3 years of which 356 (83.6%) were men and 393 (92.3%) were White. On multivariable analysis, age (above 75 or below 65 y), dysphagia [odds ratio (OR): 2.84], weight loss (OR: 2.06), protruding tumor (OR: 2.99), and tumor size >2 cm (OR: 3.3) were predictive of locally advanced disease, while gastrointestinal bleeding (OR: 0.36) and presence of visible Barrett's esophagus (OR: 0.4) were more likely to be associated with limited stage. A nomogram for predicting the risk of locally advanced EAC was constructed and internally validated. CONCLUSIONS: We constructed a nomogram to facilitate an individualized prediction of the risk of locally advanced EAC. This model can aid in decision making for neoadjuvant therapy in EAC.

Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction Is Associated with Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth.

BACKGROUND: Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIP) is a rare motility disorder characterized by dilated small bowel in the absence of mechanical obstruction. CIP has a known association with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO); however, data regarding association with specific subtypes such as methane-positive (M+) and hydrogen-positive (H+) SIBO are limited. Therefore, we conducted this study to characterize subtypes of SIBO in CIP and compare them with non-CIP patients. AIMS: The aim is to explore the association and prevalence of hydrogen and methane subtypes of SIBO in patients with CIP. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for 494 patients who underwent glucose breath tests (GBT) in 2019. CIP was diagnosed based on clinical suspicion and after ruling out mechanical obstruction. We also reviewed demographic data, including age, gender, body mass index, tobacco and alcohol history, medical comorbidities, use of proton pump inhibitors, and history of colectomy. RESULTS: Among 494 patients, 7.7% (38) had CIP. The prevalence of M+ GBT in CIP patients was higher compared with non-CIP patients, and it was significant [52.6% (20/38) versus 11.8% (54/456), p < 0.001]. The prevalence of H+ GBT in our cohort of CIP patients was similar to that of non-CIP patients [23.7% (9/38) versus 25.7% (117/456), p = 0.941]. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of methane-positive GBT was higher in CIP patients than in patients without CIP. This finding further strengthens the hypothesis that the relationship between motility disorders and methanogen overgrowth is facilitative.

Long term assessment of antibiotic prophylaxis and biliary microbiome in pancreaticoduodenectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical site infections (SSI) can represent a major complication of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). We summarize the outcomes of process improvement efforts to reduce the SSI rates in PD that includes replacing Cefazolin with Ceftriaxone-Metronidazole as antibiotic prophylaxis. Additional efforts included current assessment of biliary microbiome and potential prophylactic failures based on bile cultures and suspected antibiotic allergies. METHOD: A single-center review of PD patients from January-2012 to March-2021. Study groups were divided into Pre and Post May-2015 (Group 1 and 2, respectively) when Ceftriaxone-Metronidazole prophylaxis and routine intraoperative cultures were standardized. Univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to assess groups' differences and association with SSI. RESULTS: Six hundred ninety patients identified [267(38.7%) and 423(61.3%) in Group 1 and Group2, respectively]. After antibiotic change, SSI rates decreased from 28.1% to 16.5% (incisional: 17.6%-7.5%, organ-space or abscess: 17.2%-13.0%), Group 1 and Group 2, respectively, P<0.001. Ceftriaxone-Metronidazole was used in 75.9% of patients Group 2. When adjusting for other covariates, an SSI-decrease was associated only with Ceftriaxone-Metronidazole (OR 0.34, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Ongoing process improvement has resulted in decreased SSIs with Ceftriaxone-Metronidazole prophylaxis. The benefit of Ceftriaxone-Metronidazole is independent of the biliary microbiome. Improving prophylaxis for those with suspected penicillin allergy is warranted.

Short- and long-term surgical outcomes of total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation: A comparative analysis of surgical technique and intraoperative heparin dosing to optimize outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TP-IAT) is an uncommon surgical procedure with unique perioperative management. We evaluated the short- and long-term morbidity and mortality of TP-IAT to optimize surgical technique and heparin dosing during islet autotransplantation. METHODS: Eighty patients with chronic pancreatitis undergoing TP-IAT were reviewed. Primary outcome was to evaluate morbidity and mortality based on operative technique: classic (resection of antrum) vs pylorus-preserving. Secondary outcome was to evaluate the effect of heparin dosing (<60 vs ≥ 60 units/kg) during islet autotransplantation on postoperative hemorrhage and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) rates. RESULTS: There was no 90-day mortality, and median length of stay was 9 days. All patients underwent an open operation with 53 (66%) pylorus-preserving resections. The 30-day morbidity rate was 39%, with no difference between operative technique (p = 0.82). The median dose was different for each heparin group (<60: 52 units/kg vs ≥ 60: 66 units/kg, p < 0.0001). No difference was observed in postoperative hemorrhage rates between heparin groups (<60: 9% vs ≥ 60: 9%, p = 0.97), with no known incidence of PVT. Median follow-up was 36 months (IQR, 14-71). Morbidity >30 days after TP-IAT was 43% with a higher rate in the pylorus-preserving group (55% vs 15%, p < 0.0001), mainly attributed to marginal ulcer formation (15% vs 0%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: A classic TP-IAT technique should be universally adopted to achieve optimal outcomes, particularly to prevent the formation of marginal ulcers. When considering PVT versus postoperative hemorrhage risk, a lower heparin dose nearing 50 units/kg is optimal. These findings highlight potential areas for future improvement.

Application of optical character recognition with natural language processing for large-scale quality metric data extraction in colonoscopy reports.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Colonoscopy is commonly performed for colorectal cancer screening in the United States. Reports are often generated in a non-standardized format and are not always integrated into electronic health records. Thus, this information is not readily available for streamlining quality management, participating in endoscopy registries, or reporting of patient- and center-specific risk factors predictive of outcomes. We aim to demonstrate the use of a new hybrid approach using natural language processing of charts that have been elucidated with optical character recognition processing (OCR/NLP hybrid) to obtain relevant clinical information from scanned colonoscopy and pathology reports, a technology co-developed by Cleveland Clinic and eHealth Technologies (West Henrietta, NY, USA). METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. A randomly sampled list of outpatient screening colonoscopy procedures and pathology reports was selected. Desired variables were then collected. Two researchers first manually reviewed the reports for the desired variables. Then, the OCR/NLP algorithm was used to obtain the same variables from 3 electronic health records in use at our institution: Epic (Verona, Wisc, USA), ProVation (Minneapolis, Minn, USA) used for endoscopy reporting, and Sunquest PowerPath (Tucson, Ariz, USA) used for pathology reporting. RESULTS: Compared with manual data extraction, the accuracy of the hybrid OCR/NLP approach to detect polyps was 95.8%, adenomas 98.5%, sessile serrated polyps 99.3%, advanced adenomas 98%, inadequate bowel preparation 98.4%, and failed cecal intubation 99%. Comparison of the dataset collected via NLP alone with that collected using the hybrid OCR/NLP approach showed that the accuracy for almost all variables was >99%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to validate the use of a unique hybrid OCR/NLP technology to extract desired variables from scanned procedure and pathology reports contained in image format with an accuracy >95%.

Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Ulcerative Colitis: Can Pouches Withstand Traditional Treatment Protocols?

BACKGROUND: Anal squamous cell carcinoma has rarely been reported in the setting of ulcerative colitis. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the prognosis of anal squamous cell carcinoma in the setting of ulcerative colitis. DESIGN: This is a retrospective review. SETTING: This study was conducted at a referral center. PATIENTS: Adult patients with both ulcerative colitis (556.9/K51.9) and anal squamous cell carcinoma (154.3/C44.520) between January 1, 2000 and August 1, 2019 were included. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: The primary outcomes measured are treatment and survival of anal squamous cell carcinoma. RESULTS: Of the 13,499 patients with ulcerative colitis treated, 17 adult patients with ulcerative colitis and anal dysplasia and/or anal squamous cell carcinoma were included in the study: 6 had a diagnosis of anal squamous cell carcinoma, 8 had high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and 3 had low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. There were 4 men (23%) and a median age of 55 years (range, 32-69) years. At diagnosis, 6 had an IPAA, of which 5 had active pouchitis, 1 had an ileorectal anastomosis with active proctitis, 1 had a Hartmann stump with disuse proctitis, 5 had pancolitis, and 4 had left-sided colitis. Of the 6 with anal squamous cell carcinoma, all received 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C with external beam radiation therapy. Four patients had an IPAA, all of whom required intestinal diversion or pouch excision because of treatment intolerance. At a median follow-up of 60 months, 3 patients died: one at 0 months (treatment-related myocardial infarction), one at 60 months (metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma), and one at 129 months (malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor); the remaining patients had no residual disease. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited because of its retrospective nature and small number of patients. CONCLUSION: Anal squamous cell carcinoma in the setting of ulcerative colitis is extremely rare. In the setting of IPAA, diversion may be necessary to prevent radiation intolerance. Careful examination of the perianal region should be performed at the time of surveillance endoscopy. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B582. CARCINOMA ANAL DE CLULAS ESCAMOSAS EN COLITIS ULCEROSA PUEDE EL POUCH MODIFICAR LOS RESULTADOS DE LOS PROTOCOLOS DE TRATAMIENTO TRADICIONAL: ANTECEDENTES:La incidencia de cáncer anal de células escamosas es muy baja en pacientes con colitis ulcerosa.OBJETIVO:Comprender el pronóstico del cáncer anal de células escamosas en el contexto de la colitis ulcerosa.DISEÑO:Revisión retrospectiva.AJUSTE:Centro de referencia.PACIENTES:Pacientes adultos con colitis ulcerosa (556.9 / K51.9) y cáncer anal de células escamosas (154.3 / C44.520) entre el 1 de enero de 2000 y el 1 de agosto de 2019.RESULTADOS PRINCIPALES:Tratamiento y sobrevida del cáncer anal de células escamosas.RESULTADOS:De 13.499 pacientes en tratamiento por colitis ulcerosa, diecisiete presentaron displasia y/o cáncer de células escamosas: 6 con cáncer, 8 con lesiones intraepiteliales escamosas con displasia de alto grado y 3 con displasia de bajo grado.Cuatro son hombres (23 %) con una mediana de 55 años (rango 32-69). Al realizar el diagnóstico 6 tenían pouch, 5 con pouchitis activa; 1 con ileorecto anastomosis con proctitis activa y 1 con operación de Hartman y muñón con colitis por desuso; además 5 tenían pancolitis y 4 tenían colitis izquierdaTodos los casos con cáncer anal de células escamosas (6 pacientes), fueron tratados con 5-FU mas Mitomicina y radioterapia externa. Cuatro pacientes tenían pouch, todos requirieron derivación intestinal o escisión del pouch por intolerancia al tratamiento.En la mediana de seguimiento de 60 meses, tres pacientes fallecieron: uno a los 0 meses (infarto de miocardio relacionado con el tratamiento), uno a los 60 meses (cáncer de células escamosas metastásico) y uno a los 129 meses (tumor maligno de la vaina del nervio periférico); el resto no presentaba enfermedad residual.LIMITACIONES:Revisión retrospectiva, número pequeño de pacientes.CONCLUSIÓN:El cáncer anal de células escamosas en el contexto de la colitis ulcerosa es extremadamente raro. En el contexto de IPAA, la derivación puede ser necesaria para prevenir la intolerancia a la radiación. Se debe realizar un examen cuidadoso de la región perianal en el momento de la endoscopia de control. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B582.

The Fate of Unifocal Versus Multifocal Low-Grade Dysplasia at the Time of Colonoscopy in Patients With IBD.

BACKGROUND: Recommendations regarding management of colorectal dysplasia in the setting of IBD continue to evolve. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the rate of progression from dysplasia to adenocarcinoma, specifically focusing on the differences in unifocal and multifocal low-grade dysplasia and dysplasia found on random biopsy versus targeted biopsies. DESIGN: This is a retrospective review. SETTING: This study was conducted at an IBD referral center. PATIENTS: All adult patients (≥18 years of age) with a known diagnosis of either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, who underwent a surveillance colonoscopy between January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2019, were selected. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: The primary outcomes measured were the progression of dysplasia and the risk factors for progression. RESULTS: A total of 23,751 surveillance colonoscopies were performed among 12,289 patients between January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2019. The mean age at colonoscopy was 52.1 years (SD 16.9 years), 307 patients (2.5%) had a history of primary sclerosing cholangitis, and 3887 (3.15%) had a family history of colorectal cancer. There was a total of 668 patients (5.4%) with low-grade dysplasia, 76 patients (0.62%) with high-grade dysplasia, and 68 patients (0.55%) with adenocarcinoma in the series. The 1-, 2-, and 5-year cumulative incidence rate of progressing from low-grade dysplasia to high-grade dysplasia were 1.6%, 4.8%, and 7.8%. The 1- and 2-year cumulative incidence rates of progressing from low-grade dysplasia to adenocarcinoma were 0.7% and 1.6%. There were no significant differences in unifocal and multifocal progression. Primary sclerosing cholangitis, ulcerative colitis, male sex, and advanced age were all found to be significant risk factors for neoplasia on multivariable analysis. LIMITATIONS: A retrospective database was a source of information. CONCLUSION: Progression of low-grade dysplasia to adenocarcinoma, regardless of its being unifocal or multifocal, remains very low in the setting of adequate surveillance and medical management. The presence of multifocal low-grade dysplasia should not change the decision making to pursue ongoing endoscopic surveillance versus proctocolectomy. Patients who had primary sclerosing cholangitis with dysplasia found on random biopsies may be at highest risk for dysplasia progression. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A649. EL DESENLACE DE LA DISPLASIA DE BAJO GRADO UNIFOCAL VERSUS MULTIFOCAL DURANTE LA COLONOSCOPIA EN PACIENTES CON ENFERMEDAD INFLAMATORIA INTESTINAL: ANTECEDENTES:Las recomendaciones para el tratamiento de la displasia colorrectal en el contexto de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal siguen evolucionando.OBJETIVO:Determinar la tasa de progresión de displasia a adenocarcinoma, centrándose específicamente en las diferencias en displasia de bajo grado unifocal y multifocal, y displasia encontradas en biopsias aleatorias versus biopsias dirigidas.DISEÑO:Revisión retrospectiva.ÁMBITO:Centro de referencia de EII.PACIENTES:Todos los pacientes adultos (> 18 años) con un diagnóstico comprobado de colitis ulcerosa o enfermedad de Crohn que se sometieron a una colonoscopia de vigilancia entre el 1 de enero de 2010 y el 1 de enero de 2019.PRINCIPALES VARIABLES ANALIZADAS:Progresión de la displasia y factores de riesgo de progresión.RESULTADOS:Se realizaron un total de 23.751 colonoscopias de vigilancia en 12.289 pacientes entre el 1/1/2010 y el 1/1/2019. La edad media en el momento de la colonoscopia fue de 52,1 años (DE 16,9 años), 307 pacientes (2,5%) tenían antecedentes de colangitis esclerosante primaria y 3887 (3,15%) tenían antecedentes familiares de cáncer colorrectal. Hubo un total de 668 pacientes (5,4%) con displasia de bajo grado, 76 pacientes (0,62%) con displasia de alto grado y 68 pacientes (0,55%) con adenocarcinoma en la serie. La tasa de incidencia acumulada de 1, 2, 5 años de progresión de displasia de bajo grado a displasia de alto grado fue del 1,6%, 4,8% y 7,8%. Las tasas de incidencia acumulada de 1 y 2 años de progresión de displasia de bajo grado a adenocarcinoma fueron 0,7% y 1,6%, respectivamente. No hubo diferencias significativas en la progresión unifocal y multifocal. Se encontró que la colangitis esclerosante primaria, la colitis ulcerosa, el sexo masculino y la edad avanzada eran factores de riesgo significativos de neoplasia en el análisis multivariable.LIMITACIONES:Base de datos retrospectiva.CONCLUSIÓN:La progresión de la displasia de bajo grado a adenocarcinoma, independientemente de que sea unifocal o multifocal, sigue siendo muy baja en el contexto de una vigilancia y un tratamiento médico adecuados. La presencia de displasia multifocal de bajo grado no debería cambiar la toma de decisión para continuar con vigilancia endoscópica continua o realizar la proctocolectomía. Los pacientes con colangitis esclerosante primaria y displasia encontrada en biopsias aleatorias pueden tener una mayor progresión de la displasia. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/A649.

Survival impact based on hepatic artery lymph node status in pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A study of patients receiving modern chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has significantly improved in recent years. While the involvement of the hepatic artery lymph node (HALN; station 8a lymph node) likely represents advanced disease, a comparison to patients with metastases on modern chemotherapy is lacking. METHODS: Patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy with HALN sent for pathologic review at a single institution from 2003 to 2018 were reviewed. Patients who presented with liver-only metastases at the time of PDAC diagnosis (Stage IV) and received chemotherapy were identified. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression modeling was utilized and overall survival (OS) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Of the 112 patients with a HALN sent for analysis, 17 (15%) were positive and 13 (76%) received chemotherapy. Ninety-four stage IV patients were identified and were significantly more likely to have received a multiagent rather than single-agent chemotherapy regimen compared to HALN positive patients (79.8% vs. 38.5%, p < .001). Median OS was significantly longer in all patients who underwent surgical resection, regardless of HALN status, compared to stage IV patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy with HALN positivity have significantly improved OS compared to patients with stage IV disease. HALN involvement does not significantly alter survival among resected patients and does not warrant preoperative endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy.

≥3 Nonadvanced Adenomas are More Common in the Era of Contemporary Colonoscopy and Not Associated With Metachronous Advanced Neoplasia.

INTRODUCTION: Data from standard definition colonoscopy era demonstrate patients with an advanced adenoma (≥10 mm, villous features or high-grade dysplasia) or ≥3 nonadvanced adenomas are considered high-risk for metachronous advanced neoplasia (MAN). Low-risk adenoma (LRA) patients are those with 1 to 2, <10 mm tubular adenomas. High definition colonoscopy, split-dose bowel preparation, and attention to adenoma detection enhance diminutive adenoma detection. We compared baseline adenoma characteristics between patients undergoing colonoscopy in a historic cohort (HC) and contemporary cohort (CC) to determine if number of patients with ≥3 nonadvanced adenomas are increased in CC, and if those features are associated with MAN in CC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing their first colonoscopy in HC (<2006) and CC (≥2006) at age 50 and above were identified through natural language processing. Multivariable regression analysis compared baseline adenoma characteristics between HC and CC, and determined the association between baseline characteristics and MAN in CC patients. RESULTS: In total, 255,074 colonoscopies were performed between 1990 and 2015. A total of 9773 colonoscopies performed in the HC and 59,531 in the CC were included. At baseline, CC patients were more likely to have ≥3 nonadvanced adenomas [odds ratio (OR): 2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.7-2.6]. In 3,377 CC patients undergoing follow-up colonoscopy, the risk of MAN did not differ between patients with LRA versus those with ≥3 nonadvanced adenomas (6.3% vs. 4.6%, OR: 1.4, CI: 0.58-3.5) including 3-4 (6.1%, OR: 1.4, CI: 0.52-3.6) and ≥5 (7.7%, OR: 1.8, CI: 0.23-14.6), although few patients had ≥5 nonadvanced adenomas. CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopy in the contemporary era increases detection of patients with ≥3 nonadvanced adenomas, which do not increase the risk of MAN compared with LRA patients. A similar surveillance to LRA patients should be considered for those patients.

Colonic disease recurrence following proctectomy with end colostomy for anorectal Crohn's disease.

AIM: In patients with anorectal Crohn's disease, it remains uncertain whether a total proctocolectomy with end ileostomy or proctectomy with end colostomy should be recommended due to the unknown rate of disease recurrence in the remaining colon. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients with a known diagnosis of Crohn's disease who underwent a proctectomy with end colostomy for distal Crohn's disease between January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2019 at two IBD referral centres was conducted. Data collected included patient demographics, surgical variables at the time of proctectomy, and postoperative clinical, endoscopic and surgical recurrence rates. RESULTS: A total of 63 patients were included; mean age was 47 years (SD 15 years) and 32 (50.8%) were female. The majority of patients underwent a proctectomy with end colostomy (n = 56; 88.9%) while the remaining seven patients (11.1%) underwent a proctectomy with end colostomy and concurrent ileocectomy. A total of 55 patients (87.3%) had proctitis, 51 (81%) had perianal fistulating disease, and 34 (54%) had anal canal stenosis or ulceration. Most patients had medically refractory disease (n = 54; 85.7%) versus neoplasia (n = 9; 14.3%). The median length of long-term follow-up was 17.7 months (IQR: 4.72, 38.7 months). During that time, 14 (22.2%) experienced clinical recurrence, 10 of 34 evaluated (29.4%) had endoscopic recurrence, and 3 (4.76%) required a completion total abdominal colectomy for recurrent medically refractory disease in the colon. CONCLUSION: Colonic recurrence remains low following proctectomy and descending colostomy suggesting this operative management strategy is reasonable in Crohn's patients with distal disease.

Comparative Effectiveness of Commercial Bowel Preparations in Ambulatory Patients Presenting for Screening or Surveillance Colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate bowel preparation (IBP) is associated with reduced adenoma detection. However, limited research has examined the impact of different commercial bowel preparations (CBPs) on IBP and adenoma detection. We aim to determine whether type of CBP used is associated with IBP or adenoma detection. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated outpatient, screening or surveillance colonoscopies performed in the Cleveland Clinic health system between January 2011 and June 2017. IBP was defined by the Aronchick scale. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was performed to assess the association between CBP type and IBP and adenoma detection. Fixed effects were defined as demographics, comorbidities, medication use, and colonoscopy factors. Random effect of individual endoscopist was considered. RESULTS: Of 153,639 colonoscopies, 75,874 records met inclusion criteria. Median age was 54; 50% were female; 17.7% had IBP, and adenoma detection rate was 32.6%. In adjusted analyses, compared to GoLYTELY, only NuLYTELY [OR 0.66 (95% CI 0.60, 0.72)] and SuPREP [OR 0.53 (95% CI 0.40, 0.69)] were associated with reduced IBP. Adenoma detection did not vary based on the type of bowel preparation used. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients referred for screening or surveillance colonoscopy, choice of CBP was not associated with adenoma detection. Decisions about CBP should be based on other factors, such as tolerability, cost, or safety.

Development of an Automated Algorithm to Generate Guideline-based Recommendations for Follow-up Colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Physician adherence to published colonoscopy surveillance guidelines varies. We aimed to develop and validate an automated clinical decision support algorithm that can extract procedure and pathology data from the electronic medical record (EMR) and generate surveillance intervals congruent with guidelines, which might increase physician adherence. METHODS: We constructed a clinical decision support (CDS) algorithm based on guidelines from the United States Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. We used a randomly generated validation dataset of 300 outpatient colonoscopies performed at the Cleveland Clinic from 2012 through 2016 to evaluate the accuracy of extracting data from reports stored in the EMR using natural language processing (NLP). We compared colonoscopy follow-up recommendations from the CDS algorithm, endoscopists, and task force guidelines. Using a testing dataset of 2439 colonoscopies, we compared endoscopist recommendations with those of the algorithm. RESULTS: Manual review of the validation dataset confirmed the NLP program accurately extracted procedure and pathology data for all cases. Recommendations made by endoscopists and the CDS algorithm were guideline-concordant in 62% and 99% of cases, respectively. Discrepant recommendations by endoscopists were earlier than recommended in 94% of the cases. In the testing dataset, 69% of endoscopist and NLP-CDS algorithm recommendations were concordant. Discrepant recommendations by endoscopists were earlier than guidelines in 91% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: We constructed and tested an automated CDS algorithm that can use NLP-extracted data from the EMR to generate follow-up colonoscopy surveillance recommendations based on published guidelines.