Retained Capsule Endoscopy in a Large Tertiary Care Academic Practice and Radiologic Predictors of Retention.

BACKGROUND: Capsule retention reported rates range between 1% and 13%. This study aims to determine the incidence of, risk factors for, and clinical outcomes of capsule retention in a large heterogenous cohort of patients and define cross-sectional imaging findings predictive of capsule retention. METHODS: A retrospective review of all capsule endoscopy (CE) examinations performed at our center from January 2002 to January 2013 was undertaken. Data on patient demographics, CE indication, findings, and details of management were analyzed. Radiologic images of patients with computed tomography scan performed 6 months before CE for patients with CE retention and for controls without CE retention but at high risk based on clinical computed tomography reports were examined by a gastrointestinal radiologist, blinded to history, and classified as worrisome based on the presence of stricture, partial obstruction, or small bowel (SB) anastomosis. RESULTS: Seventeen CE retentions (0.3%) occurred in 15 patients. Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (47%) was the most common indication. Outcomes included surgical intervention (n = 10), endoscopic retrieval (n = 2), passing of capsule after treatment of inflammation (n = 3), passage after conservative measures for SB obstruction (n = 1), and loss to follow-up (n = 1). Patients with CE retention were more likely to have SB anastomoses (88% versus 23%) and partial obstruction (63% versus 38%) than patients with high-risk features for capsule retention who passed the capsule. CONCLUSIONS: In a tertiary care population without obstructive symptoms, capsule retention occurred in only 0.3% of cases. Review of surgical history and prior imaging for obstruction or SB anastomoses may help to reduce retention.

Dyspepsia in the community: value of a community-based mailed survey to identify potential participants for a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of a community-based mailed survey to identify participants with functional dyspepsia (FD) for a clinical trial. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2008, a valid self-report questionnaire of gastrointestinal symptoms required for diagnosis of FD was mailed to randomly selected cohorts of Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents. From survey responses (54%), FD cases and controls were identified. Phone calls were completed in 2010 and 2011 to 54% of respondents offering participation to those meeting criteria. RESULTS: Of 937 people identified from the survey, 189 cases and 265 controls were contacted by phone using four questions similar to the written survey resulting in a moderate level of agreement (Kappa 0.43, 95% CI: 0.35- 0.51; p = 0.11). The proportion reporting FD symptoms by survey was 42%, while the proportion by phone was 38%. Comparing classification of cases and controls, 118 (62%) survey cases had dyspepsia symptoms on phone screening while 53 (20%) of the survey controls reported FD symptoms. Of 171 who had symptoms, 60 (35%) declined, 33 (19%) were over study age limit, 24 (14%) had inadequate symptom levels and 36 (21%) had comorbidities. Of survey respondents contacted, six (3%) people were enrolled with two screen fails resulting in four (1%) randomized. CONCLUSION: Agreement between survey and phone questions was modest. Classifications between case and control changed. People eligible and willing to participate were a fraction of people reporting symptoms. People participating in clinical trials do not broadly represent those in the population.

Irritable bowel syndrome and chronic pelvic pain: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) frequently report chronic pelvic pain, however, it is still unanswered whether these are truly separate entities. IBS negatively impacts on quality of life, but the impact of IBS on sexual function is not clear. GOALS: We aimed to (1) describe the impact of IBS on sexual function, and (2) evaluate the association between pelvic pain and IBS, and in particular identify if there are unique characteristics of the overlap group. STUDY: The Talley Bowel Disease Questionnaire was mailed to an age- and gender-stratified random sample of 1031 Olmsted County, Minnesota residents aged 30 to 64 years. Manning (at least 2 of 6 positive) and Rome criteria (Rome I and modified Rome III) were used to identify IBS. Pelvic pain was assessed by a single item. Somatization was assessed by the valid somatic symptom checklist. RESULTS: Overall 648 (69%) of 935 eligible participants responded (mean age 52 years, 52% female). Self-reported sexual dysfunction was rare (0.9%; 95% CI 0.3-2.0%). Among women, 20% (95% CI 16-24%) reported pain in the pelvic region; 40% of those with pelvic pain met IBS by Manning, or Rome criteria. IBS and pelvic pain occurred together more commonly than expected by chance (P<0.01). The overall somatization score (and specifically the depression and dizziness item scores) predicted IBS-pelvic pain overlap versus either IBS alone or pelvic pain alone. CONCLUSION: In a subset with pelvic pain, there is likely to be a common underlying psychologic process (somatization) that explains the link to IBS.

Endoscopic "no hole" full-thickness biopsy of the stomach to detect myenteric ganglia.

BACKGROUND: The etiology of several common gastric motility diseases remains largely unknown. Gastric wall biopsy specimens that include the muscularis propria to evaluate the enteric nervous system, interstitial cells of Cajal, and related cells are essential to promote our understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms. On the basis of our previous work, a double EMR technique provided sufficient tissue to identify myenteric ganglia. A serious limitation to the technique was the resultant gastric wall perforation after tissue resection. The optimal procedure would seal the gastric wall defect before tissue resection, eliminating the risk of peritonitis. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to (1) determine the technical feasibility and reproducibility of a full-thickness gastric biopsy by use of a novel double EMR technique without creating a perforation ("no hole") and to (2) determine safety of the procedure. DESIGN AND INTERVENTIONS: Preclinical study of 6 pigs. Each animal underwent a "no hole" double EMR survival procedure. To prevent perforation, detachable endoloops and prototype T-tag tissue anchors were placed before resection. At 2 weeks repeat endoscopy was performed followed by necropsy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to determine which muscle layers were included in the resected specimen, and an antibody to neuronal nitric oxide synthase was used to visualize myenteric ganglia in the sample. Technical feasibility, reproducibility, and safety of the procedure were evaluated. RESULTS: Full-thickness gastric biopsy specimens were obtained from all animals without overt perforation. There were no procedural complications. Histologic examination showed muscularis propria with all layers of muscle present, and immunochemical studies demonstrated myenteric ganglia in all tissue samples. Four animals had an uneventful clinical course, and repeat endoscopy at week 2 showed ulceration with stellate fibrosis. Necropsy showed mild localized adhesions. Two animals were killed at days 3 and 6, respectively, because of suspected peritonitis. At necropsy, delayed perforations at the resection sites were noted with displaced endoloops and tissue anchors. CONCLUSION: This study explored the concept of obtaining deep muscle wall biopsy specimens with use of a unique approach of resection without perforation. The novel "no hole" double EMR technique was technically feasible and reproducible with sufficient tissue obtained to identify myenteric ganglia. However, there was a high delayed perforation rate associated with displaced endoloops and tissue anchors. On the basis of this early experience, improved safety data may be anticipated with future studies using improved tissue closure devices.

Outcome of patients with a final diagnosis of chest pain of undetermined origin admitted under the suspicion of acute coronary syndrome: a report from the Rochester Epidemiology Project.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain after a recent negative inpatient evaluation for cardiac pathology represent a dilemma for the emergency physician. The purposes of this study were to assess the outcome of patients discharged with a diagnosis of chest pain of undetermined origin and to identify predisposing factors for further cardiac events. METHODS: The resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project were used to identify all admitted ED patients with chest pain with suspected acute coronary syndrome who received a discharge diagnosis of chest pain of undetermined origin from 1985 through 1992. Patient records were reviewed for the occurrence of adverse cardiac events and subsequent ED visits for recurrent chest pain within 12 months of discharge. Associations between patient characteristics and an adverse cardiac event were evaluated univariately and summarized by using odds ratios (ORs). Long-term mortality was also determined. RESULTS: Among 1,973 admitted ED patients with chest pain, 230 were given a diagnosis of chest pain of undetermined origin. Ten (4.4%) of 230 patients experienced an adverse cardiac event. Factors significantly associated with an adverse cardiac event included an abnormal ECG on admission (OR 9.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0 to 45.8), preexisting diabetes mellitus (OR 7.1; 95% CI 1.8 to 27.2), and preexisting coronary artery disease (OR 28.4; 95% CI 3.5 to 229.0). Thirty-three (14%) patients returned to the ED within 12 months of discharge; 5 patients were given a diagnosis of a cardiac condition, and 5 were given a diagnosis of a gastrointestinal condition. In long-term follow-up, 46 patients died, with a mean time from hospital discharge to death of any cause of 6.1 years and an estimated 5-year survival of 91.4%. CONCLUSION: Among patients discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of chest pain of undetermined origin, those with an initial abnormal ECG, preexisting diabetes, or preexisting coronary artery disease are at higher risk of a subsequent adverse cardiac event. In the absence of such factors, cardiac outcome is excellent.