Simple feedback of colonoscopy performance improved the number of adenomas per colonoscopy and serrated polyp detection rate.

Background and study aims High-quality endoscopy requires improvement of not only the adenoma detection rate (ADR) but also the serrated polyp (SP) detection rate and the mean number of adenomas per positive procedure (MAP +). We evaluated whether a simple feedback of colonoscopy performance improves those quality indicators using propensity-score matching. Patients and methods Eleven endoscopists were evaluated regarding colonoscopy performance including ADRs, SP detection rates, mean numbers of adenomas per procedure (MAPs), and MAPs + with their ranking in the clinic. Endoscopic performance was compared before and after the feedback. Results Colonoscopies were performed for 874 patients before the feedback and 1,272 patients after the feedback. Using propensity-score matching, 803 patients before the feedback and 803 patients after the feedback were matched. ADR after the feedback was significantly higher than that before the feedback (50.8 % and 40.8 %, respectively). MAP after feedback was significantly larger than that before the feedback (0.92 and 0.69, respectively), as well as MAP + (1.96 and 1.69, respectively). Clinically significant SP detection rate was also improved from 10.0 % to 14.9 %. Conclusions Feedback including ADR, MAP, MAP +, and clinically significant SR detection rate could improve on those quality indicators. Further studies are needed to effectively prevent colorectal cancer in colonoscopy practice.

Helicobacter pylori eradication improved the Kyoto classification score on endoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Endoscopy-based Kyoto classification predicts the risk of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer; however, the change in score following H. pylori eradication remains unknown. We retrospectively compared the Kyoto score before and after H. pylori eradication. METHODS: H. pylori-positive patients who underwent baseline esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), successful H. pylori eradication, and surveillance EGD were enrolled. The Kyoto score is a sum of scores for atrophy (Kimura-Takemoto atrophic-border classification none or C1: 0, C-II or C-III: 1, O-I to O-III: 2), intestinal metaplasia (none: 0, antrum: 1, corpus and antrum: 2), enlarged folds (absence: 0, presence: 1), nodularity (absence: 0, presence: 1), and diffuse redness (none: 0, mild: 1, severe: 2) and ranges from 0 to 8. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients (mean age: 54.9 years; 65.1% women) were enrolled. The mean duration from successful eradication to surveillance EGD was 256 days. The Kyoto score significantly decreased from 3.90 to 2.78 following H. pylori eradication (P < 0.001). Scores for endoscopic atrophy (from 1.43 to 1.46, P = 0.638) and endoscopic intestinal metaplasia (from 0.53 to 0.47, P = 0.543) did not change; however, there was significant improvement in the scores for enlarged folds (from 0.14 to 0.00, P = 0.002), nodularity (from 0.18 to 0.04, P = 0.002), and diffuse redness (from 1.61 to 0.82, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The Kyoto classification score decreased following H. pylori eradication. A decrease in the scores for enlarged folds, nodularity, and diffuse redness contributed to the decrease in Kyoto score.

Colonoscopy using back brace support belt: A randomized, prospective trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Looping is a major problem in colonoscopy, and it prolongs procedure time. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of an external abdominal compression device (back brace support belt; Maxbelt) with respect to cecal insertion time and other outcomes. METHODS: We performed a prospective study on outpatients undergoing elective colonoscopy in Toyoshima Endoscopy Clinic. Subjects were randomly assigned to groups and were subjected to either Maxbelt (n = 39) or no device (control, n = 38) during colonoscopy. The colonoscopist was blinded to the study. The primary outcome that was observed was insertion time. RESULTS: The intubation time of the Maxbelt group was shorter than that of the no device group, but the difference was not significant (3.29 vs 4.49 min, P = 0.069). After stratifying by age, the use of Maxbelt significantly decreased cecal intubation time in elderly participants (age ≥ 45) compared to no device group (3.27 vs 5.00 min, P = 0.032). The use of the Maxbelt significantly decreased insertion difficulty encountered by the colonoscopist (P = 0.01). There was no difference in adenoma detection rate, manual pressure, position change, and adverse event. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a back brace support belt could be a viable approach for colonoscopy in elderly patients. (University Hospital Medical Information Network: UMIN000029361).

Nodularity-like appearance in the cardia: novel endoscopic findings for Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background and study aims Helicobacter pylori -associated nodular gastritis, which is associated with follicular lymphoid hyperplasia, is mainly recognized in the antrum. However, we have also observed nodularity-like appearance in the cardia. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of cardiac nodularity-like appearance in H. pylori -associated gastritis. Patients and methods Patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and were evaluated for H. pylori infection for the first time were enrolled. A nodularity-like appearance in the cardia was defined as a miliary nodular appearance or scattered appearances of small circular whitish coloration. H. pylori infection was diagnosed according to serum anti- H. pylori antibody and the urea breath test or histology. Accuracy of the H. pylori infection diagnoses based on nodularity-like appearance were assessed. Results Among 265 patients, 42 patients (15.8 %) were diagnosed as positive for H. pylori . Cardiac nodularity-like appearance and antral nodularity were recognized in 25 and 15 patients, respectively. In accuracy of predicting H. pylori by cardiac nodularity-like appearance, specificity was 0.996, sensitivity was 0.571, positive predictive value was 0.960, negative predictive value was 0.925, and accuracy was 0.928. The sensitivity of cardiac nodularity-like appearance was significantly higher than that of antral nodularity ( P  = 0.0284). Conclusions Cardiac nodularity-like appearance had a high accuracy rate for H. pylori infection diagnosis. Cardiac nodularity-like appearance was found more frequently than antral nodularity.

Adverse events associated with bidirectional endoscopy with midazolam and pethidine.

Same-day bidirectional endoscopy has been reported to reduce recovery time, and procedure-related cost. The safety of bidirectional endoscopy vs colonoscopy only, while using midazolam and pethidine, has never been evaluated. We reviewed 1,202 consecutive patients who underwent bidirectional endoscopy or colonoscopy only with administration of midazolam and pethidine in Toyoshima Ensdoscopy Clinic. We compared the clinical characteristics and adverse events associated with method of endoscopy (colonoscopy only vs bidirectional endoscopy). Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to study the role of age, sex, use of sedative, polypectomy, and bidirectional endoscopy in adverse events. In the bidirectional endoscopy group, the doses of pethidine and midazolam, and the incidence rates of hypoxia and posto-endoscopic nausea were significantly higher. On multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio = 1.061, p<0.001), use of pethidine (odds ratio = 4.311, p = 0.003), and bidirectional endoscopy (odds ratio = 3.658, p<0.001) were independently associated with hypoxia. On multivariate analysis, female sex (odds ratio = 10.25, p = 0.027) and bidirectional endoscopy (odds ratio = 6.051, p = 0.022) were independently associated with post-endoscopic nausea. In conclusion, bidirectional endoscopy could increase hypoxia in elderly patients using pethidine and post-endoscopic nausea in female patients.

Small-caliber endoscopes are more fragile than conventional endoscopes.

Background and study aims The repair costs of gastrointestinal endoscopes account for a significant proportion of the total budget of an endoscopy unit. This study evaluated the repair costs of small-caliber endoscopes and conventional endoscopes used in esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Patients and methods A retrospective analysis of upper gastrointestinal endoscope damage and repair costs between April 2012 and May 2019 was performed at the Toyoshima Endoscopy Clinic. Conventional endoscopes (GIF-H260, GIF-HQ290, and GIF-H290Z) were used for transoral EGD while small-caliber endoscopes (GIF-XP260N and GIF-XP290N) were used for transnasal or transoral EGD. Results Three small-caliber endoscopes and five conventional endoscopes were used for 1,031 procedures and 31,192 procedures, respectively. The number of procedures/damage incidence for small-caliber endoscope and conventional endoscopes was 344 and 1950, respectively. Damage incidence for small-caliber endoscopes was significantly higher than for conventional endoscopes ( P  = 0.014). Repair costs/procedure were $ 5.95 ±â€Š$132 for small-caliber endoscopes and $2.41 ±â€Š$115 for conventional endoscopes. Repair costs/procedure for small-caliber endoscopes were more than twice those for conventional endoscopes. Conclusions Small-caliber endoscopes are more fragile than conventional endoscopes.

CF290 for pancolonic chromoendoscopy improved sessile serrated polyp detection and procedure time: a propensity score-matching study.

Background and study aims The benefits of the new-generation CF290 (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) for pancolonic chromoendoscopy (PCC) for colorectal polyp detection and its procedure time remain questionable. We compared the CF290 with the previous CF260 for PCC. Methods We performed a propensity score-matching study using baseline characteristics such as age, sex, indications, endoscopist, and bowel preparation. We compared the detection of adenomas and sessile serrated polyps (SSPs) and procedure times of two expert endoscopists who performed PCC using the CF290 series (high-quality system with flushing pump) and the CF260 series (high-definition system). Results We matched 374 patients who underwent PCC using the CF290 and 187 patients who underwent PCC using the CF260. The adenoma detection rate of the 290 series was higher than that of the 260 series, but not significantly. The SSP detection rate for the 290 series was higher than that for the 260 series ( P  = 0.01). Insertion time required for the 290 series was shorter than that required for the 260 series ( P  < 0.0001). Withdrawal time of the 290 series was shorter than that of the 260 series ( P  < 0.0001). Conclusion Advanced technology can provide accuracy and help save time, and therefore, should be applied whenever possible.

A combination of serum anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody titer and Kyoto classification score could provide a more accurate diagnosis of H pylori.

Background: We previously showed that the endoscopic Kyoto classification for gastritis could predict Helicobacter pylori infection in individuals with a high negative titer of serum anti-H pylori antibodies. This study evaluated H pylori infection and the Kyoto classification score in patients with a low negative titer (<3 U/ml), high negative titer (3-9.9 U/ml), low positive titer (10-49.9 U/ml), and high positive titer (≥50 U/ml). Methods: Serum antibody levels, Kyoto classification score and histology were investigated in 870 individuals with no history of H pylori-eradication therapy. Urea breath tests (UBTs) were additionally conducted for patients with a low negative titer and a Kyoto score ≥1 or an antibody titer ≥10 U/ml and a Kyoto score of 0 or 1. UBTs and/or histological studies were conducted for participants with a high negative titer. Results: False diagnoses based on anti-H pylori antibody titers were observed in 0.3% of the low-negative-titer group, 11.7% of the high-negative-titer group, 18.9% of the low-positive-titer group and 2.2% of the high-positive-titer group. Surprisingly, false diagnoses based on antibody titers were noted in 63.2% of patients with a low positive titer and a Kyoto score of 0 and in 62.5% of patients with a high negative titer and a Kyoto score ≥2, respectively. Conclusions: Endoscopic findings could predict false diagnoses determined using serum antibody titers.

Serum anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody titer and its association with gastric nodularity, atrophy, and age: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: To clarify the role of serum anti-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) antibody titers in gastric cancer. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the effect of patients' baseline characteristics and endoscopic findings on their serum antibody titers were assessed. We evaluated consecutive patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and their first evaluation for H. pylori infection using a serum antibody test. We excluded patients with a history of eradication therapy. The participants were divided into four groups according to their E-plate serum antibody titer. Patients with serum antibody titers < 3, 3-9.9, 10-49.9, and ≥ 50 U/mL were classified into groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. RESULTS: In total, 874 participants were analyzed with 70%, 16%, 8.7%, and 5.1% of them in the groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Patients in group C were older than patients in groups A and B. Gastric open-type atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, enlarged folds, diffuse redness, and duodenal ulcers were associated with a high titer. Regular arrangements of collecting venules, fundic gland polyps, superficial gastritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease were related to a low titer. Multivariate analysis revealed that nodularity (P = 0.0094), atrophy (P = 0.0076), and age 40-59 years (vs age ≥ 60 years, P = 0.0090) were correlated with a high serum antibody titer in H. pylori-infected patients. Intestinal metaplasia and atrophy were related to age ≥ 60 years in group C and D. CONCLUSION: Serum antibody titer changes with age, reflects gastric mucosal inflammation, and is useful in predicting the risk of gastric cancer.