Diagnostic Accuracy of Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Imaging in Detecting Biliary Strictures After Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is often required to diagnose post-liver transplant (LT) biliary strictures. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive laboratory and imaging tests in detecting post-LT biliary strictures. METHODS: Adult LT recipients who underwent ERCP between 2008 and 2015 were evaluated. Biliary strictures were diagnosed after blinded review of cholangiograms by three interventional endoscopists. The accuracy of liver enzymes, ultrasound, and MRI was determined using cholangiography as the reference standard. To evaluate the accuracy of change in liver enzymes, the difference between baseline and liver enzymes prior to ERCP (Δlab) was utilized. RESULTS: Biliary strictures were present on cholangiogram in 48 (58%) of 82 LT recipients meeting inclusion criteria. Baseline liver enzyme values did not differ significantly between patients with and without strictures. The optimal cutoffs for ΔALT, ΔAST, Δbilirubin, and Δalkaline phosphatase (AP) were determined to be 174 IU/L, 75 IU/L, 3.1 mg/dL, and 225 IU/L, respectively. ΔALT had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity 43%, and negative predictive value 100%. ΔAP had the highest specificity (53%) but modest sensitivity (69%) with a positive predictive value of 67%. Ultrasound had sensitivity of 29% and specificity of 69%, while MRI had sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 56%. DISCUSSION: The diagnostic accuracy of liver enzymes and imaging modalities is modest in detecting post-LT biliary strictures and cannot be used solely to identify patients needing further workup.

Requirement of a single high-risk feature as an indication for EUS for the diagnosis of asymptomatic pancreatic cysts.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is widely used to evaluate pancreatic cysts. Recent American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) guideline limits EUS for evaluation of cysts with at-least two high-risk features (size ≥ 3 cm, dilated main pancreatic duct or presence of a solid component). We have investigated the impact of this guideline on sensitivity of EUS for pancreatic cancer and the reduction of EUS procedures for pancreas cysts. METHODS: EUS procedures performed between 2004 and 2015 and related patient records were retrospectively reviewed to determine the presence or absence of high-risk features, and for the results of fine needle aspiration cytology. RESULTS: Two hundred ten patients (108 males) underwent EUS for diagnostic evaluation of pancreatic cysts. Four patients (1.9%), all with at-least one high-risk feature, were diagnosed with cytologically-proven pancreatic cancer. Only 2 patients with cancer had at-least two high-risk features that would have warranted EUS examination based on the new AGA guideline. The requirement for at-least two high-risk features would have decreased the number of EUS procedures by 91%, but reduced the sensitivity for pancreatic malignancy to 50%. If only one high-risk feature was required, EUS procedures would have been decreased by 67%, with a sensitivity of 100%. CONCLUSION: Limiting EUS to patients with pancreatic cysts with 2 or more high-risk features may substantially reduce the sensitivity for pancreatic malignancy. Performing EUS in patients with at least one high-risk feature may substantially decrease the need of invasive procedures without reducing sensitivity for detecting malignancy.

Patient Comorbidity and Serious Adverse Events after Outpatient Colonoscopy: Population-based Study From Three States, 2006 to 2009.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Serious GI adverse events in the outpatient setting were examined for patients with a full spectrum of comorbid conditions and combinations of multiple comorbidities. DESIGN: This is a retrospective follow-up study. SETTING: Ambulatory surgery and hospital discharge data sets from California, Florida, and New York, 2006 to 2009, were used. PATIENTS: The outpatient colonoscopies of 4,234,084 adults aged 19 to 85 and over and payers were examined. MAIN OUTCOME: Thirty-day hospitalizations due to colonic perforations and GI bleeding, measured as cumulative outcomes, were investigated. RESULTS: About 24% of patients undergoing outpatient colonoscopy had a comorbid condition. In comparison with patients without comorbidities, the adjusted risks of adverse events were greater for patients with several single comorbidities and combinations of multiple comorbid conditions. Elderly patients and those treated in freestanding Ambulatory Surgery Centers had higher odds of colonic perforations and GI bleeding than younger patients and patients treated in hospital outpatient departments. LIMITATION: The study was constrained by limitations inherent in administrative data. CONCLUSIONS: Given the large number of outpatient colonoscopies performed in the United States, these procedures should be provided with caution to patients with chronic and multiple comorbidities and the elderly, because these populations are associated with higher rates of colonic perforations and GI bleeding.

Polypectomy techniques, endoscopist characteristics, and serious gastrointestinal adverse events.

BACKGROUND: A use of polypectomy techniques by endoscopist specialty (primary care, surgery, and gastroenterology) and experience (volume), and associations with serious gastrointestinal adverse events, were examined. METHODS: A retrospective follow-up study with ambulatory surgery and hospital discharge datasets from Florida, 1999-2001, was used. Thirty-day hospitalizations due to colonic perforations and gastrointestinal bleeding were investigated for 323,585 patients. RESULTS: Primary care endoscopists and surgeons used hot biopsy forceps/ablation, while gastroenterologists provided snare polypectomy or complex colonoscopy. Low-volume endoscopists were more likely to use simpler rather than complex procedures. For hot forceps/ablation and snare polypectomy, low- and medium-volume endoscopists reported higher odds of adverse events. For complex colonoscopy, higher odds of adverse events were reported for primary care endoscopists (1.74 [95% CI, 1.18-2.56]) relative to gastroenterologists. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopists regardless of specialty and experience can safely use cold biopsy forceps. For hot biopsy and snare polypectomy, low volume, but not specialty, contributed to increased odds of adverse events. For complex colonoscopy, primary care specialty, but not low volume, added to the odds of adverse events. Comparable outcomes were reported for surgeons and gastroenterologists. Cross-training and continuing medical education of primary care endoscopists in high-volume endoscopy settings are recommended for complex colonoscopy procedures.

Delayed, recurrent bile leak from isolated right posterior sectoral duct injury after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: An unusual presentation.

Bile leak after cholecystectomy is associated with significant comorbidity. Biliary duct variant anatomy can complicate identification and management. We report a very rare presentation of recurrent delayed bile leaks years after laparoscopic cholecystectomy secondary to missed right posterior sectoral bile duct injury. Surgical intervention was required after the failure of conservative management.

Early laboratory values after liver transplantation are associated with anastomotic biliary strictures.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate longitudinal changes of post-liver transplantation (LT) biliary anatomy and to assess the association of increased laboratory values after LT with the development of post-LT anastomotic biliary stricture (ABS). METHODS: Adult deceased donor LT recipients from 2008 and 2019 were evaluated. ABS was defined after blinded review of endoscopic cholangiograms. Controls were patients who underwent LT for hepatocellular carcinoma who did not have any clinical or biochemical concerns for ABS. RESULTS: Of 534 patients who underwent LT, 57 patients had ABS and 57 patients served as controls. On MRI, ABS patients had a narrower anastomosis (2.47 ± 1.32 mm vs. 3.38 ± 1.05 mm; p < 0.01) and wider bile duct at 1-cm proximal to the anastomosis (6.73 ± 2.45 mm vs. 5.66 ± 1.95 mm; p = 0.01) than controls. Association between labs at day 7 and ABS formation was as follows: aspartate aminotransferase hazard ratio (HR): 1.014; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.008-1.020, p = 0.001; total bilirubin HR: 1.292, 95% CI: 1.100-1.517, p = 0.002; and conjugated bilirubin HR: 1.467, 95% CI: 1.216-1.768, p = 0.001. Corresponding analysis results for day 28 were alanine aminotransferase HR: 1.004, 95% CI: 1.002-1.006, p = 0.001; alkaline phosphatase HR: 1.005, 95% CI: 1.003-1.007, p = 0.001; total bilirubin HR: 1.233, 95% CI: 1.110-1.369, p = 0.001; and conjugated bilirubin HR: 1.272, 95% CI: 1.126-1.437, p = 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Elevation of laboratory values early after LT is associated with ABS formation.

Presence of SPINK-1 variant alters the course of chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is growing evidence that genetic mutations/variants increase susceptibility to the development and progression of chronic pancreatitis (CP). Several mutations have been identified that have a direct and indirect role in events leading to CP. Mutations in the serine protease inhibitor, Kazal type-1 (SPINK-1) gene have been reported to lower the threshold for pancreatitis in the presence of other genetic or environmental factors. The prevalence and impact of SPINK-1 mutations on the clinical course and outcomes of CP remains unclear. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of the SPINK-1/N34S variant in patients with CP, and to understand the impact of the SPINK-1 mutation on the natural history of CP. METHODS: A retrospective-prospective analysis of 239 patients with CP was performed. A detailed history, including duration of symptoms, type of pain (intermittent flares or chronic continuous pain), number of flares requiring hospital admission, alcohol and smoking history, and family history was obtained. The baseline morphological stage of CP was categorized by Cambridge classification. Clinical outcome variables included frequency and severity of pain episodes, presence of exocrine failure (defined by presence of steatorrhea and/or fecal elastase < 200 ug/g), and diabetes. The genetic tests included the cationic trypsinogen gene-1 mutation, cystic fibrosis gene mutations (Genzyme assay), and the SPINK-1/N34S mutation. RESULTS: Of the 239 patients with CP, 13 (5.4%) were positive for the SPINK-1/N34S mutation. There were 35 (14.6%) patients with idiopathic pancreatitis (IP) in this cohort. Most of the patients who were positive for the SPINK-1/N34S mutation had IP and were Caucasian (69.2%). The patients with the SPINK-1/N34S mutation had a younger age of onset (32.9 ± 10.2 vs 40.1 ± 13.6 years; P = 0.108) than those with IP and no mutation. Over a median follow up of 9.6 years, the patients with the SPINK-1/N34S mutation had a significantly greater number of acute flares each year, as compared to those without the mutation (11.8 ± 1.5 vs 4 ± 0.98; P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of the SPINK-1/N34S mutation in patients with CP is 5.4%, and is approximately 37.1% in patients with IP. These mutations are more prevalent in Caucasian patients with CP. The SPINK-1/N34S mutation predisposes to early onset IP and more frequent acute flares of pancreatitis that might ultimately lead to pancreatic insufficiency. The patients with IP and borderline alcohol history should be considered for testing for genetic analysis, including SPINK-1 mutations, initially restricted to clinical trials.

Complications associated with double balloon enteroscopy at nine US centers.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) was introduced into the US in 2004. Potential complications include perforation, pancreatitis, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Prevalence and risk factors for complications have not been described in a US population. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of DBE complications in 9 US centers. We obtained detailed information for each complication including patient history, maneuvers performed during the DBE, and presence of altered surgical anatomy. RESULTS: We collected data from 2478 DBE examinations performed from 2004 to 2008. The dataset included 1691 (68%) anterograde DBE, 722 (29%) retrograde DBE (including 5 per-stomal DBEs), and 65 (3%) DBE-facilitated endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP cases. There were a total of 22 (0.9%) major complications including perforation in 11 (0.4%), pancreatitis in 6 (0.2%), and bleeding in 4 (0.2%) patients. One of 6 cases of pancreatitis occurred post retrograde DBE. Perforations occurred in 3/1691 (0.2%) anterograde examinations and 8/719 (1.1%) retrograde DBEs (P = .004). Eight (73%) perforations occurred during diagnostic DBE examinations. Four of 8 retrograde DBE perforations occurred in patients with prior ileoanal or ileocolonic anastomoses. In the subset of 219 examinations performed in patients with surgically altered anatomy, perforations occurred in 7 (3%), including 1/159 (0.6%) anterograde DBE examinations, 6/60 (10%) retrograde DBEs, and 1 of 5 (20%) peristomal DBE examinations (P < .005 compared with patients without surgically altered anatomy). CONCLUSIONS: DBE is associated with a higher complication rate compared with standard endoscopic procedures. The perforation rate was significantly elevated in patients with altered surgical anatomy undergoing diagnostic retrograde DBE examinations.

Acute pancreatitis secondary to the use of the anabolic steroid trenbolone acetate.

BACKGROUND: The use of performance-enhancing drugs has increased dramatically in the last decade with high prevalence reported among the young athlete population. Many of these drugs contain anabolic steroids and may carry potential significant side effects and health risks. We report a case of anabolic steroid-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) that recurred after the reuse of the same drug by the patient, confirming the causative relationship. CASE REPORT: A 24 year-old male presented with severe epigastric pain. His past medical history was significant for two hospitalizations during the last year with AP. During his hospital admissions, extensive workup was performed ruling out the common and uncommon causes of AP. Upon further pressing, the patient admitted to a history of past and current anabolic steroid use for athletic performance enhancement. He began this use four years ago and most recently started using trenbolone acetate (TA). The correlation between the timing of the anabolic steroids administration and the attacks of AP, along with ruling out other causes, confirmed TA as the cause of pancreatitis. DISCUSSION: The side effects associated with the use of these increasingly prevalent drugs are difficult to study in clinical trials due to the unethical nature of their consumption. In addition, these medications are difficult to study due to the varied usage cycles and patterns, unknown origin and source, as well as often high dose ingestion. Physicians and body builders need to be aware of the possible serious consequences of their use.

Significant infections in liver transplant recipients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiography are few and unaffected by prophylactic antibiotics.

INTRODUCTION: Current practice guidelines recommend prophylactic antibiotics prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in liver transplant recipients (LTR). This study evaluated the risk of clinically significant infections after ERCP in LTR who received antibiotic prophylaxis compared to those who did not. METHODS: This retrospective case-cohort study evaluated all LTR who underwent elective, outpatient ERCP from 2008 to 2015. Hospitalized patients, pediatric allograft recipients and patients with cholangitis or incomplete biliary drainage were excluded. The primary outcome was unanticipated hospitalization from procedure-related clinically significant infection occurring within 3 days of ERCP. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients (48 males; mean age 60.5 ±â€¯7.4 years) underwent 191 ERCPs after liver transplantation. Prophylactic antibiotics were administered during 82 ERCPs and not administered for 109 ERCPs. Unscheduled admissions for fever within 3 days occurred in 4 patients. Only 2 patients had documented bacteremia, of which only 1 patient received prophylactic antibiotics and also met primary outcome. Interventions during ERCP, patient demographics, and time from transplantation were not associated with increased risk of hospitalization from infections or bacteremia. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of infectious complications after ERCP in LTR is low and not affected by administration of prophylactic antibiotics. A tailored approach to antibiotic prophylaxis may be more appropriate than universal prophylaxis in selected LTR at low risk of infections.

Recurrent flares of pancreatitis predict development of exocrine insufficiency in chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The natural history of specific morphologic stages of chronic pancreatitis (CP) is not well defined. The aim of this study was to determine if worsening morphologic stages of CP are associated with poorer clinical outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 159 subjects with CP was performed. The baseline stage of CP was categorized according to the Cambridge classification. Pain was categorized as type A (intermittent acute), B (continuous), or combined. Exocrine failure was defined by steatorrhea; endocrine failure was characterized as diabetes mellitus. Complications were defined clinically. RESULTS: Pancreatic duct (PD) morphology was equivocal in 37.1%, minimal in 12.6%, moderate in 7.5%, and severe in 42.8% of the patients. Over a median follow-up period of 3.7 years, the risk of developing exocrine insufficiency and diabetes was 28% and 19%, respectively. Recurrent acute flares of pancreatitis predicted the development of exocrine insufficiency (P = .004). Severe PD morphology predicted the likelihood of having persistent pain (P = .008). Patients with concurrent type A and B pain and older age at diagnosis had a greater likelihood of having persistent pain (P = .021). The risk of developing bile duct stricture was higher in the advanced morphologic stages of CP (P = .005). CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent flares of pancreatitis predispose to the development of exocrine insufficiency in CP. Patients with complex-type pain, older age at diagnosis, and advanced morphologic stage are more likely to have persistent pain. PD morphology does not correlate with the risk of developing exocrine failure and/or diabetes. Pain does not necessarily decrease or disappear with the onset of exocrine insufficiency and diabetes.

Critical appraisal of a fixed combination of esomeprazole and low dose aspirin in risk reduction.

Low dose aspirin (

A management algorithm for esophageal perforation.

Despite the prolonged morbidity caused by a major surgery and the high occurrence of continued leakage, primary repair has been the standard treatment for esophageal perforations. We believe that management using removable esophageal stents is both simpler and more effective. Over the past 3 years, we have treated 14 patients using esophageal stents, and the procedure was successful in all patients. Because of the shorter bed rest that follows endoscopic Polyflex stent (Rush, Inc; Teleflex Medical, Duluth, GA) placement, it is very likely that the care of patients with esophageal perforation will be changed over time.