Sarcopenia is common in ulcerative colitis and correlates with disease activity.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Association of sarcopenia with disease severity in ulcerative colitis (UC) is not clearly defined. We planned to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with UC as per the revised definition and its relation with the disease severity. METHODS: A cross-sectional assessment of sarcopenia in patients with UC was performed. Disease activity was graded according to complete Mayo score. Hand grip strength was assessed with Jamar hand dynamometer, muscle mass using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, and physical performance with 4-m walk test. Sarcopenia was defined as a reduction of both muscle mass and strength. Severe sarcopenia was defined as reduced gait speed in presence of sarcopenia. RESULTS: Of 114 patients (62 males, mean age: 36.49±12.41 years), 32 (28%) were in remission, 46 (40.4%) had mild-moderate activity, and 36 (31.6%) had severe UC. Forty-three patients (37.7%) had probable sarcopenia, 25 (21.9%) had sarcopenia, and 14 (12.2%) had severe sarcopenia. Prevalence of sarcopenia was higher in active disease (2 in remission, 6 in active, and 17 in severe, P<0.001). Of 14 with severe sarcopenia, 13 had severe UC while 1 had moderate UC. On multivariate analysis, lower body mass index and higher Mayo score were associated with sarcopenia. Of 37 patients with acute severe colitis, 16 had sarcopenia. Requirement of second-line therapy was similar between patients with and without sarcopenia. On follow-up (median: 18 months), there was a non-significant higher rate of major adverse events in those with sarcopenia (47.4% vs. 33.8%, P=0.273). CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia in UC correlate with the disease activity.

Conventional vs Short Duration of Antibiotics in Patients With Moderate or Severe Cholangitis: Noninferiority Randomized Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Successful biliary drainage and antibiotics are the mainstays of therapy in management of patients with acute cholangitis. However, the duration of antibiotic therapy after successful biliary drainage has not been prospectively evaluated. We conducted a single-center, randomized, noninferiority trial to compare short duration of antibiotic therapy with conventional duration of antibiotic therapy in patients with moderate or severe cholangitis. METHODS: Consecutive patients were screened for the inclusion criteria and randomized into either conventional duration (CD) group (8 days) or short duration (SD) group (4 days) of antibiotic therapy. The primary outcome was clinical cure (absence of recurrence of cholangitis at day 30 and >50% reduction of bilirubin at day 15). Secondary outcomes were total days of antibiotic therapy and hospitalization within 30 days, antibiotic-related adverse events, and all-cause mortality at day 30. RESULTS: The study included 120 patients (the mean age was 55.85 ± 13.52 years, and 50% were male patients). Of them, 51.7% patients had malignant etiology and 76.7% patients had moderate cholangitis. Clinical cure was seen in 79.66% (95% confidence interval, 67.58%-88.12%) patients in the CD group and 77.97% (95% confidence interval, 65.74%-86.78%) patients in the SD group ( P = 0.822). On multivariate analysis, malignant etiology and hypotension at presentation were associated with lower clinical cure. Total duration of antibiotics required postintervention was lower in the SD group (8.58 ± 1.92 and 4.75 ± 2.32 days; P < 0.001). Duration of hospitalization and mortality were similar in both the groups. DISCUSSION: Short duration of antibiotics is noninferior to conventional duration in patients with moderate-to-severe cholangitis in terms of clinical cure, recurrence of cholangitis, and overall mortality.

Role of Biliary Stent in Recurrence of Biliary Stones and Complications After Stone Clearance in Patients Awaiting Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Trial.

INTRODUCTION: The role of prophylactic biliary stenting after clearance of choledocholithiasis in patients awaiting cholecystectomy for concomitant cholelithiasis is controversial. We planned a randomized controlled trial to study the effect of prophylactic biliary stenting after achieving biliary clearance in reducing recurrence of choledocholithiasis and biliary complications in patients awaiting cholecystectomy. METHODS: Patients with concomitant cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis were included, and those who had evidence of clearance of choledocholithaisis (documented on occlusion cholangiogram during endoscopic retrograde cholangiography [ERC]) were randomized to prophylactic biliary stenting or no stenting. Choledocholithaisis recurrence rate (primary outcome), biliary complications and need for repeat/emergency ERC (secondary outcomes) were compared till 3 months after clearance. RESULTS: Between September 2021 and July 2022, 70 patients were randomized into group A, stenting (n = 35), and group B, no stenting (n = 35). Sixty-six patients were included in the final analysis. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the 2 groups. Ten (15.2%) patients had recurrence of choledocholithiasis, and it was comparable between the 2 groups (7/34 [20.6%] and 3/34 [9.4%], P = 0.306). Five patients (2 cholecystitis and 3 post-ERC pancreatitis) from the stent group while none from the no stent group developed complications, and this difference was statistically significant ( P = 0.024). None of the patients in both the groups needed emergency ERC during the follow-up. DISCUSSION: This randomized trial shows a higher complication rate with prophylactic stenting, while there is no benefit in preventing choledocholithiasis recurrence in patients waiting for cholecystectomy after biliary clearance (CTRI registration number: CTRI/2021/09/036538).

Randomized crossover trial of 'Roll-over' technique of abdominal paracentesis versus standard technique in suspected malignant ascites.

BACKGROUND: The sensitivity of single abdominal paracentesis for diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) varies from 40-70%. We hypothesized that rolling-over the patient before paracentesis might improve the cytological yield. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a single center pilot study with a randomized cross-over design. We compared the cytological yield of fluid obtained by roll-over technique (ROG) with standard paracentesis (SPG) in suspected PC. In the ROG group, patients were rolled side-to-side thrice, and the paracentesis was done within 1 minute. Each patient served as their own control, and the outcome assessor (cytopathologist) was blinded. The primary objective was to compare the tumor cell positivity between SPG and ROG groups. RESULTS: Of 71 patients, 62 were analyzed. Of 53 patients with malignancy-related ascites, 39 had PC. Most of the tumor cells were adenocarcinoma (30, 94%) with one patient each having suspicious cytology and one having lymphoma. The sensitivity for diagnosis of PC was (31/39) 79.49% in SPG group and (32/39) 82.05% in ROG group (p = 1.00). The cellularity was similar between both the groups (good cellularity in 58% of SPG and 60% of ROG, p = 1.00). CONCLUSIONS: Rollover paracentesis did not improve the cytological yield of abdominal paracentesis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CTRI/2020/06/025887 and NCT04232384.

Deep Venous Thrombosis in Acute Pancreatitis Is Associated with High Mortality: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Incidence and risk factors for the development of extremity deep vein thrombosis (eDVT) in admitted patients of acute pancreatitis have been rarely explored. AIMS: To identify the incidence of eDVT and to explore role of clinical scores for predicting eDVT in admitted patients of acute pancreatitis. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled admitted patients of acute pancreatitis and performed a weekly eDVT screen for the duration of their admission. Well's score and Padua's score were also calculated weekly. The incidence of venous thrombosis (eDVT and splanchnic thrombosis based on contrast-enhanced CT scan abdomen) was noted, and the risk factors were determined using multivariate analysis. The correlation between Well's score, Padua's score, and development of DVT was calculated using Pearson's correlation. RESULTS: Of the 102 patients of acute pancreatitis enrolled, 73.5% of patients had necrotizing pancreatitis. Total of 46 patients (45.1%) developed thrombosis: 43 patients had splanchnic vein thrombosis; 5 patients had eDVT; and 1 patient had pulmonary embolism. Patients with eDVT had higher BISAP score (2.6 ± 0.9 vs 1.7 ± 0.8; p = 0.039), requirement of mechanical ventilation (60% vs 8.2%; p = 0.008), and mortality (60% vs 12.4%; p = 0.022). Well's score of ≥ 2 had sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 96.9% for prediction of eDVT and it had better correlation with the development of eDVT compared to Pauda's score. CONCLUSION: Incidence of DVT is 5% in patients with acute pancreatitis requiring admission. It is associated with higher disease severity and mortality. The Well's score is useful to predict the development of eDVT in routine clinical practice.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for esophageal diverticula.

Esophageal diverticula (ED) are uncommon, mostly seen in elderly and can present with a multitude of symptoms. Of the three types of ED, epiphrenic and mid-esophageal diverticulum are still rare. These are often associated with esophageal motility disorder, which contributes to its development. The key step in the management of such symptomatic ED is the division of the septum and tackling the underlying motility dysfunction, if any. Traditional surgical options have high morbidity and mortality while flexible endoscopic septal division cannot adequately manage epiphrenic diverticulum with motility dysfunction. The technique of submucosal space creation and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has been used to treat a host of esophageal diseases such as achalasia. POEM has been recently described for the management of ED. Two different strategies have been described for tackling using POEM, namely, diverticular POEM (D-POEM) and salvage POEM (S-POEM). While D-POEM entails division of the septum and esophageal myotomy, S-POEM requires only esophageal myotomy without septum division. Multiple retrospective studies in the recent years have described use of POEM for the management of different types of ED with good safety and efficacy with low recurrence rate. This review encompasses a detailed account of the technical steps, pre- and post-procedure evaluation and literature review of safety, efficacy, adverse events, and recurrence rates of the use of POEM for ephiprenic and mid-esophageal diverticulum. We have also proposed a management algorithm based on the type of underlying motility dysfunction and the size of the diverticulum.

Plastic versus metal stents for transmural drainage of walled-off necrosis with significant solid debris: a randomized controlled trial.

Background and study aims Recently, larger-caliber metal stents have been increasingly used, resulting in higher efficacy in walled-off necrosis (WON) with more solid debris. However, none of the trials have included WON with significant solid debris. The aim of this study was to compare plastic stents and metal stents for drainage of symptomatic WON with significant solid debris (≥20%). Patients and methods We conducted a single-center, open-label, noninferiority trial including 48 patients. The primary endpoint was treatment success. Secondary outcomes were technical success, total number of procedures, adverse events (AEs), duration of procedure, and treatment failure. All the outcomes were assessed at 3 weeks after drainage. Patients were followed up for 3 months to assess recurrence. Results Treatment succeeded in 21 of 24 patients (87.5%) and 20 of 24 patients (83.3%) in the metal and plastic stent groups, respectively with P =1.05 (95% confidence interval 0.81-1.39). Assuming 10% non-inferiority margin, P <0.001 for non-inferiority, suggesting that plastic stents are non-inferior to metal stents. The technical success rate was 100%. Procedure duration was significantly shorter in the metal stent group (12.95±5.3 minutes versus 29.77±6.6 minutes, P <0.001). The number of total procedures was comparable (2.8±1 vs 2.2±1, P =0.097). There were more minor AEs in plastic stent arm but no significant difference between the two groups. A single asymptomatic recurrence was observed in the metal stent arm. Conclusions Plastic stents are not inferior to metal stents for WON drainage with significant solid debris. However, larger sample-size studies are needed to make definite conclusions.

OUTCOME OF PER ORAL ENDOSCOPIC MYOTOMY (POEM) IN SIGMOID ACHALASIA AT A MEDIAN FOLLOW UP OF 17 MONTHS.

BACKGROUND: Advanced achalasia cardia (AC) represents the end stage in the natural history of AC. Role of per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) in this technically difficult subset is emerging. METHODS: Retrospective review of the patients who had undergone POEM for advanced AC with sigmoid esophagus. We assessed the technical success, clinical success and adverse event rate. Pre and post POEM Eckardt score (ES), integrated relaxation pressure-4sec (IRP-4), lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) and height and width of barium column at 5 minutes were noted. RESULTS: Of the 85 patients who underwent POEM for AC, 10 patients had advanced AC with sigmoid esophagus of which eight were sigmoid and two were advanced sigmoid. The clinical and technical success was 100% with significant reduction of ES, IRP-4, LESP and height and width of barium column at 5 minutes. One patient had a minor adverse event in the form of mucosal injury that was closed with hemoclips. At a median follow up of 17 months there was no recurrence. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates POEM to be a safe and effective modality of treatment in this technically difficult subset of AC with sigmoid morphology.

Resultado da miotomia endoscópica peroral (POEM) em acalasia avançada em um seguimento mediano de 17 meses / Outcome of per oral endoscopic myotomy (poem) in sigmoid achalasia at a median follow up of 17 months

ABSTRACT Background: Advanced achalasia cardia (AC) represents the end stage in the natural history of AC. Role of per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) in this technically difficult subset is emerging. Methods: Retrospective review of the patients who had undergone POEM for advanced AC with sigmoid esophagus. We assessed the technical success, clinical success and adverse event rate. Pre and post POEM Eckardt score (ES), integrated relaxation pressure-4sec (IRP-4), lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) and height and width of barium column at 5 minutes were noted. Results: Of the 85 patients who underwent POEM for AC, 10 patients had advanced AC with sigmoid esophagus of which eight were sigmoid and two were advanced sigmoid. The clinical and technical success was 100% with significant reduction of ES, IRP-4, LESP and height and width of barium column at 5 minutes. One patient had a minor adverse event in the form of mucosal injury that was closed with hemoclips. At a median follow up of 17 months there was no recurrence. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates POEM to be a safe and effective modality of treatment in this technically difficult subset of AC with sigmoid morphology.

RESUMO Contexto: Acalasia cárdia avançada representa o estágio final na história natural do megaesôfago. Está emergindo o papel da miotomia endoscópica peroral (POEM) neste subconjunto tecnicamente difícil. Métodos: Foi realizada uma revisão retrospectiva dos pacientes submetidos a POEM para tratamento do megaesôfago avançado. Avaliamos o sucesso técnico, o sucesso clínico e a taxa de eventos adversos. O escore de Eckardt, pré e pós POEM, a pressão integral de relaxamento de 4 seg (IRP-4), a pressão do esfíncter inferior do esôfago e a altura e largura da coluna de bário em 5 minutos, foram anotadas. Resultados: Dos 85 pacientes submetidos a POEM para acalasia cárdia, 10 pacientes apresentaram acalasia cárdia avançado com esôfago com aspecto sigmoide, dos quais dois eram muito avançados. O sucesso clínico e técnico foi de 100% com redução significativa do escore de Eckardt, do IRP-4, da pressão do esfíncter inferior do esôfago e da altura e largura da coluna bário em 5 minutos. Um paciente teve um pequeno evento adverso na forma de lesão mucosa que foi fechada com hemoclipes. Em um seguimento mediano de 17 meses não houve recorrência. Conclusão: Nosso estudo demonstra que a POEM é uma modalidade segura e eficaz de tratamento neste subconjunto tecnicamente difícil de megaesôfago com morfologia sigmoide.

Recurrence after Zenker's peroral endoscopic myotomy despite complete septotomy: how far to go with myotomy on the esophageal side.

Video 1A case of recurrence after Z-POEM because of incomplete myotomy on the esophageal side.

Drainage of pancreatic fluid collections in acute pancreatitis: A comprehensive overview.

Moderately severe and severe acute pancreatitis is characterized by local and systemic complications. Systemic complications predominate the early phase of acute pancreatitis while local complications are important in the late phase of the disease. Necrotic fluid collections represent the most important local complication. Drainage of these collections is indicated in the setting of infection, persistent or new onset organ failure, compressive or pressure symptoms, and intraabdominal hypertension. Percutaneous, endoscopic, and minimally invasive surgical drainage represents the various methods of drainage with each having its own advantages and disadvantages. These methods are often complementary. In this minireview, we discuss the indications, timing, and techniques of drainage of pancreatic fluid collections with focus on percutaneous catheter drainage. We also discuss the novel methods and techniques to improve the outcomes of percutaneous catheter drainage.

ROLE OF CHANGE IN THE LEVELS OF INFLAMMATORY MARKERS POST DRAINAGE IN PREDICTING OUTCOME IN ACUTE CHOLANGITIS.

BACKGROUND: Acute cholangitis (AC) is a gastro-intestinal emergency associated with significant mortality. Role of change in the levels of inflammatory markers post drainage in predicting outcome in acute cholangitis is uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin levels after biliary drainage in relation to outcomes (survival or mortality) at 1 month. METHODS: A prospective observational study of consecutive adults presenting with AC was performed. At admission and at 48 hours post biliary drainage, procalcitonin and CRP were sent. RESULTS: Between August 2020 till December 2020 we recruited 72 consecutive patients of AC. The median age of the patients was 55 years (range 43-62 years) and 42 (58.33%) were females. Although the delta change in serum procalcitonin (P value<0.001) and CRP (P value<0.001) was significant, it had no bearing on the outcome. Altered sensorium and INR were independently associated with mortality at 1 month. The 30-day mortality prediction of day 0 procalcitonin was measured by receiver operating characteristic analysis which resulted in an area under the curve of 0.697 with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of 0.545-0.849. The optimal cut-off of procalcitonin would be 0.57ng/mL with a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 60% respectively to predict mortality. CONCLUSION: Change in serum procalcitonin and CRP levels at 48 hours post drainage although significant, had no impact on the outcome of acute cholangitis.

Papel da mudança nos níveis de marcadores inflamatórios pós drenagem na previsão de resultado em colangite aguda / Role of change in the levels of inflammatory markers post drainage in predicting outcome in acute cholangitis

ABSTRACT Background: Acute cholangitis (AC) is a gastro-intestinal emergency associated with significant mortality. Role of change in the levels of inflammatory markers post drainage in predicting outcome in acute cholangitis is uncertain. Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin levels after biliary drainage in relation to outcomes (survival or mortality) at 1 month. Methods A prospective observational study of consecutive adults presenting with AC was performed. At admission and at 48 hours post biliary drainage, procalcitonin and CRP were sent. Results: Between August 2020 till December 2020 we recruited 72 consecutive patients of AC. The median age of the patients was 55 years (range 43-62 years) and 42 (58.33%) were females. Although the delta change in serum procalcitonin (P value<0.001) and CRP (P value<0.001) was significant, it had no bearing on the outcome. Altered sensorium and INR were independently associated with mortality at 1 month. The 30-day mortality prediction of day 0 procalcitonin was measured by receiver operating characteristic analysis which resulted in an area under the curve of 0.697 with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of 0.545-0.849. The optimal cut-off of procalcitonin would be 0.57ng/mL with a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 60% respectively to predict mortality. Conclusion: Change in serum procalcitonin and CRP levels at 48 hours post drainage although significant, had no impact on the outcome of acute cholangitis.

RESUMO Contexto: A colangite aguda (CA) é uma emergência gastro-intestinal associada à significativa mortalidade. O papel da mudança nos níveis de marcadores inflamatórios pós drenagem na previsão do desfecho em CA é incerto. Objetivo: Avaliar o valor preditivo das alterações nos níveis de proteína reativa C (PCR) e procalcitonina após drenagem biliar em relação aos desfechos (sobrevida ou mortalidade) em um mês. Métodos Realizou-se estudo observacional prospectivo de adultos consecutivos que apresentam CA. Na admissão e após 48 horas de drenagem biliar, foram analisadas a procalcitonina e a PCR. Resultados Entre agosto de 2020 e dezembro de 2020, foram recrutados 72 pacientes consecutivos de CA. A idade mediana dos pacientes foi de 55 anos (faixa de 43 a 62 anos) e 42 (58,33%) do sexo feminino. Embora a variação delta no soro procalcitonina (valor P<0,001) e PCR (valor P<0,001) tenha sido significativa, não houve influência sobre o resultado. Sensório alterado e INR foram independentemente associados à mortalidade em 1 mês. A previsão de mortalidade de 30 dias no dia 0 da procalcitonina foi medida pela análise característica operacional receptora que resultou em uma área sob a curva de 0,697 com intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%) de 0,545-0,849. O corte ideal de procalcitonina seria de 0,57ng/mL com sensibilidade e especificidade de 80% e 60% respectivamente para prever a mortalidade. Conclusão: A mudança nos níveis de procalcitonina sérica e PCR em 48 horas após a drenagem, embora significativa, não teve impacto no resultado da colangite aguda.

Role of Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy in Advanced Achalasia Cardia With Sigmoid and/or Megaesophagus: A Systematic Review and Metanalysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Sigmoid esophagus and/or megaesophagus are considered as an advanced stage in the natural history of achalasia cardia. The role of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) in these subset of patients is emerging. We performed a systematic review and metanalysis to study the efficacy of POEM in advanced achalasia cardia with sigmoid and megaesophagus. METHODS: A literature search in PubMed and Embase was done from inception till August 3, 2021 to look for studies reporting exclusively on the role of POEM in advanced achalasia cardia with sigmoid and/or megaesophagus. The random effect method with inverse variance approach was used for the computation of pooled prevalence. For 2 groups' analysis of continuous outcome standardized mean difference was used as the summary measure. RESULTS: Eleven studies with 428 patients were included for analysis. The pooled technical and clinical success was 98.27% (95% CI, 96.19-99.22; I2 = 0%) and 89.38% (95% CI, 84.49-92.86; I2 = 26%) and on subgroup analysis into sigmoid and megaesophagus it was (98.06% [95% CI, 95.41-99.19; I2 = 0%], 98.47% [95% CI, 92.72-99.69; I2 = 0%] and 87.92% [95% CI, 80.68-92.70; I2 = 37%], 88.36% [95% CI, 62.62-97.17; I2 = 77%]) respectively. The clinical success at < 1 year and 1-3 year follow-up was 89.37% (95% CI, 82.82-93.61; I2 = 0%) and 88.66% (95% CI, 81.65-91.22; I2 = 46%) respectively. There was a significant reduction in the post-POEM scores with standardized mean difference for Eckardt score (4.81), for integrated relaxation pressure at 4 seconds (1.93), and for lower esophageal sphincter pressure (2.06). CONCLUSIONS: POEM is an effective modality of treatment even in the subset of patients of advanced achalasia cardia with sigmoid and megaesophagus.