White Paper: American Gastroenterological Association Position Statement: The Future of IBD Care in the United States-Removing Barriers and Embracing Opportunities.

Despite incredible growth in systems of care and rapidly expanding therapeutic options for people with inflammatory bowel disease, there are significant barriers that prevent patients from benefiting from these advances. These barriers include restrictions in the form of prior authorization, step therapy, and prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, inadequate use of multidisciplinary care and inflammatory bowel disease specialists limits patient access to high-quality care, particularly for medically vulnerable populations. However, there are opportunities to improve access to high-quality, patient-centered care. This position statement outlines the policy and advocacy goals that the American Gastroenterological Association will prioritize for collaborative efforts with patients, providers, and payors.

AGA Clinical Practice Update on Diagnosis and Management of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Commentary.

DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute Clinical Practice Update (CPU) is to review the available evidence and provide expert advice regarding diagnosis and management of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. METHODS: This CPU was commissioned and approved by the AGA Institute Clinical Practice Updates Committee (CPUC) and the AGA Governing Board to provide timely guidance on a topic of high clinical importance to the AGA membership and underwent internal peer review by the CPUC and external peer review through standard procedures of Gastroenterology. This expert commentary incorporates important as well as recently published studies in this field, and it reflects the experiences of the authors.

[Update points for the 2022 edition of the European Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy and comparison with China's 2018 edition guidelines].

The European Association for the Study of Liver Diseases issued the "Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy" in 2022, which included recommendations for clinical diagnosis, assessment, treatment, management, and prevention. The Society's "Hepatic Encephalopathy Clinical Practice Guidelines in Chronic Liver Disease," which was last published in 2014, and the "Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhosis," which the Chinese Society of Hepatology, Chinese Medical Association, released in 2018, have certain differences and updates in terms of comparison to terminology, grading and classification, diagnosis, clinical evaluation and treatment, management, and prevention. Herein, the updated points of this guideline and the differences between it and our nation's guidelines are summarized in order to refine and understand the guiding role of the new version of the guideline for the clinical treatment of hepatic encephalopathy and provide aid for standardizing clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Guidelines on optimizing the use of proton pump inhibitors: PPI stewardship.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been available for over three decades and are among the most commonly prescribed medications. They are effective in treating a variety of gastric acid-related disorders. They are freely available and based on current evidence, use of PPIs for inappropriate indications and duration appears to be common. Over the years, concerns have been raised on the safety of PPIs as they have been associated with several adverse effects. Hence, there is a need for PPI stewardship to promote the use of PPIs for appropriate indication and duration. With this objective, the Indian Society of Gastroenterology has formulated guidelines on the rational use of PPIs. The guidelines were developed using a modified Delphi process. This paper presents these guidelines in detail, including the statements, review of literature, level of evidence and recommendations. This would help the clinicians in optimizing the use of PPIs in their practice and promote PPI stewardship.

Evaluation of financial conflicts of interest and quality of evidence in Japanese gastroenterology clinical practice guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Clinical practice guidelines assist healthcare professionals in providing evidence-based care. However, pharmaceutical companies' financial interests often influence guideline content. This study aimed to elucidate the magnitude of financial ties among Japanese gastroenterology guideline authors and the pharmaceutical industry. METHODS: Using pharmaceutical company disclosed payment data, we evaluated financial conflicts of interest (COI) among Japanese Society of Gastroenterology guideline authors between 2016 and 2021. Additionally, we assessed the evidence quality supporting guideline recommendations and associations with financial COI. Finally, we evaluated author COI management during guideline development against global standards. RESULTS: Overall, 88.2% (231/262) of guideline authors received a median of $12 968 (interquartile range [IQR]: $1839-$70 374) in payments between 2016 and 2019 for lectures, writings, and consulting. Chairpersons received significantly higher payments (median: $86 444 [IQR: $15 455-$165 679]). Notably, 41 (15.6%) authors had undeclared payments exceeding declaration requirements. Low or very low-quality evidence supported 41.0% of recommendations. There was a negative association between the median 4-year payment per author and the proportion of recommendations based on low-quality evidence (odds ratio: 0.966 [95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.945-0.987], P = 0.002) and positive association with moderate-quality evidence (odds ratio: 1.018 [95% CI: 1.011-1.025], P < 0.001). Still, the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology guideline development process remains less transparent, with insufficient COI policies relative to global standards. CONCLUSION: There were extensive financial COI between pharmaceutical companies and guideline authors, and more than 40% of recommendations were based on low-quality evidence. More rigorous and transparent COI policies for guideline development adhering to global standards are warranted.

Enhanced Communication for Interhospital Transfers Increases Preparedness in an Academic Tertiary Care Center.

OBJECTIVES: This quality improvement project sought to enhance clinical information sharing for interhospital transfers to an inpatient hepatology service comprised of internal medicine resident frontline providers (housestaff) with the specific aims of making housestaff aware of 100% of incoming transfers and providing timely access to clinical summaries. INTERVENTIONS: In February 2020, an email notification system to senior medicine residents responsible for patient triage shared planned arrival time for patients pending transfer. In July 2020, a clinical data repository ("Transfer Log") updated daily by accepting providers (attending physicians and subspecialty fellows) became available to senior medicine residents responsible for triage. METHODS: Likert scale surveys were administered to housestaff before email intervention (pre) and after transfer log intervention (post). The time from patient arrival to team assignment (TTA) in the electronic medical record was used as a proxy for time to patient assessment and was measured pre- and postinterventions; >2 hours to TTA was considered an extreme delay. RESULTS: Housestaff reported frequency of access to clinical information as follows: preinterventions 4/31 (13%) sometimes/very often and 27/31 (87%) never/rarely; postinterventions 11/26 (42%) sometimes/very often and 15/26 (58%) never/rarely (p = 0.02). Preinterventions 12/39 (31%) felt "not at all prepared" versus 27/39 (69%) "somewhat" or "adequately"; postinterventions 2/24 (8%) felt "not at all prepared" versus 22/24 (92%) somewhat/adequately prepared (p = 0.06). There was a significant difference in mean TTA between pre- and posttransfer log groups (62 vs. 40 minutes, p = 0.01) and a significant reduction in patients with extreme delays in TTA post-email (18/180 pre-email vs. 7/174 post-email, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Early notification and increased access to clinical information were associated with better sense of preparedness for admitting housestaff, reduction in TTA, and reduced frequency of extreme delays in team assignment.

ESPEN practical guideline: Home enteral nutrition.

This ESPEN practical guideline will inform physicians, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, caregivers and other home enteral nutrition (HEN) providers in a concise way about the indications and contraindications for HEN, as well as its implementation and monitoring. This guideline will also inform interested patients requiring HEN. Home parenteral nutrition is not included but will be addressed in a separate ESPEN guideline. The guideline is based on the ESPEN scientific guideline published before, which consists of 61 recommendations that have been reproduced and renumbered, along with the associated commentaries that have been shorted compared to the scientific guideline. Evidence grades and consensus levels are indicated. The guideline was commissioned and financially supported by ESPEN and the members of the guideline group were selected by ESPEN.

Diagnostic approach to neonatal and infantile cholestasis: A position paper by the SIGENP liver disease working group.

Neonatal and infantile cholestasis (NIC) can represent the onset of a surgically correctable disease and of a genetic or metabolic disorder worthy of medical treatment. Timely recognition of NIC and identification of the underlying etiology are paramount to improve outcomes. Upon invitation by the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), an expert working grouped was formed to formulate evidence-based positions on current knowledge about the diagnosis of NIC. A systematic literature search was conducted to collect evidence about epidemiology, etiology, clinical aspects and accuracy of available diagnostic tests in NIC. Evidence was scored using the GRADE system. All recommendations were approved by a panel of experts upon agreement of at least 75% of the members. The final document was approved by all the panel components. This position document summarizes the collected statements and defines the best-evidence diagnostic approach to cholestasis in the first year of life.

The EPAGE guidelines are not an effective strategy for managing colonoscopies during the COVID-19 pandemic. / EPAGE no es una estrategia eficaz para la gestión de colonoscopias durante la pandemia por COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has had a serious impact on the functioning of gastrointestinal endoscopy Units. The Asociación Española de Gastroenterología (AEG) and the Sociedad Española de Endoscopia Digestiva (SEED) have proposed the EPAGE guidelines for managing postponed colonoscopies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the EPAGE guidelines as a management tool compared to the immunologic faecal occult blood test (iFOBT) and compared to risk score (RS) that combines age, sex and the iFOBT for the detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) and significant bowel disease (SBD). METHODS: A prospective, single-centre study enrolling 743 symptomatic patients referred for a diagnostic colonoscopy. Each order was classified according to the EPAGE guidelines as appropriate, indeterminate or inappropriate. Patients underwent an iFOBT and had their RS calculated. RESULTS: The iFOBT (p<0.001), but not the EPAGE guidelines (p = 0.742), was an independent predictive factor of risk of CRC. The ROC AUCs for the EPAGE guidelines, the iFOBT and the RS were 0.61 (95% CI 0.49-0.75), 0.95 (0.93-0.97) and 0.90 (0.87-0.93) for CRC, and 0.55 (0.49-0.61), 0.75 (0.69-0.813) and 0.78 (0.73-0.83) for SBD, respectively. The numbers of colonoscopies needed to detect a case of CRC and a case of SBD were 38 and seven for the EPAGE guidelines, seven and two for the iFOBT, and 19 and four for a RS ≥5 points, respectively. CONCLUSION: The EPAGE guidelines, unlike the iFOBT, is not suitable for screening candidate patients for a diagnostic colonoscopy to detect CRC. The iFOBT, in combination with age and sex, is the most suitable strategy for managing demand for endoscopy in a restricted-access situation.

Appendiceal tumors and pseudomyxoma peritonei: French Intergroup Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatments and follow-up (RENAPE, RENAPATH, SNFGE, FFCD, GERCOR, UNICANCER, SFCD, SFED, SFRO, ACHBT, SFR).

INTRODUCTION: This document is a summary of the French Intergroup guidelines regarding the management of appendicular epithelial tumors (AT) and pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) published in March 2020, available on the website of the French Society of Gastroenterology (SNFGE) (www.tncd.org). METHODS: All French medical societies specialized in the management of AT and PMP collaboratively established these recommendations based on literature until December 2019 and the results of a Delphi vote carried out by the Peritoneal Surface Oncology Group International experts, and graded into 4 categories (A, B, C, Expert Agreement) according to their level of evidence. RESULTS: AT and PMP are rare but represent a wide range of clinico-pathological entities with several pathological classification systems and different biological behaviors. Their treatment modalities may vary accordingly and range from simple surveillance or laparoscopic appendectomy to complete cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and / or systemic chemotherapy. The prognosis of these neoplasms may also largely vary according to their pathological grade and spreading at diagnosis or during the follow-up. Given the rarity of certain situations, the therapeutic strategy adapted to each patient, must be discussed in a specialized multidisciplinary meeting after a specialized pathological and radiological pre-therapeutic assessment and a clinical examination by a surgeon specializing in the management of rare peritoneal malignancies. CONCLUSION: These recommendations are proposed to achieve the most beneficial strategy in a daily practice as the wide range and the rareness of these entities renders their management challenging. These guidelines are permanently being reviewed.

How to get new guidelines in United European Gastroenterology: Follow the gold!

Development of new high-quality guidelines is necessary to improve patients' care and reduce diseases burden. United European Gastroenterology (UEG) quality of care taskforce in collaboration with specialist member societies promote and guide guidelines developers through an activity grant scheme that fund new guidelines in gap areas of GI diseases with high-quality methodology and multidisciplinary collaborative project teams. UEG quality of care taskforce helps dissemination and implementation of guidelines published in UEG journal through different initiatives including a free of charge GI guidelines app. The guidelines included are user friendly, interactive and patient oriented.

Kidney function monitoring in inflammatory bowel disease: The MONITORED consensus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are exposed to drug-related nephrotoxicity and kidney-related extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs). Patients should be monitored but guidance is lacking in current international recommendations. The objective of the Kidney Function Monitoring in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (MONITORED) initiative was to achieve an expert consensus about monitoring kidney function in IBD. METHODS: A literature review was first conducted. Then, an expert consensus meeting, involving 28 attendees representing French-speaking gastroenterologists and nephrologists, was held as part of an academic initiative on May 28, 2021. An anonymous Delphi process was used to discuss and vote on statements. Agreement was defined as at least 75% of participants voting for any one statement. RESULTS: Experts reached consensus on 11 criteria for referral to the nephrologist. Concerning kidney function monitoring, participants unanimously validated the use of serum creatinine with estimation of the glomerular filtration rate via the MDRD or CKD-EPI equations. A blood ionogram and a urine sample with measurement of a protein-to-creatinine ratio were also broadly agreed validated. Experts recommended performing this monitoring at IBD diagnosis, prior introducing a new treatment, and annually for EIMs screening and evaluation of treatment tolerance. An evaluation 3 months after starting mesalamine and then every 6 months was felt necessary, while for biologics an annually monitoring was deemed sufficient. CONCLUSION: The MONITORED consensus proposed guidelines on how to monitor kidney function in IBD. These recommendations should be considered in clinical practice to preserve kidney function and ensure the best approach to our patients.

Clinical Presentation of Celiac Disease and Diagnosis Accuracy in a Single-Center European Pediatric Cohort over 10 Years.

(1) Background: Changes in the clinical presentation of celiac disease (CD) in children have been reported. The guidelines of the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) allow esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with biopsies to be avoided under specific circumstances. We aimed to assess the clinical picture of pediatric CD patients at diagnosis and to validate ESPGHAN non-biopsy criteria. (2) Methods: Patients with suspected CD or undergoing screening from 2004 to 2014 at the University Hospital in Modena, Italy were enrolled. The accuracy of ESPGHAN non-biopsy criteria and modified versions were assessed. (3) Results: In total, 410 patients were enrolled, of whom 403 were considered for analysis. Of the patients considered, 45 were asymptomatic and diagnosed with CD (11.2%) while 358 patients (88.2%) were symptomatic, of whom 295 were diagnosed with CD. Among symptomatic CD patients, 57 (19.3%) had gastrointestinal symptoms, 98 (33%) had atypical symptoms and 140 (47.4%) had both. No difference was found for the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms at different ages. The non-biopsy ESPGHAN criteria yielded an accuracy of 59.4% with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100%; 173 out of 308 EGD (56.2%) could have been avoided. The modified 7× and 5× upper limit of normal cut-offs for IgA anti tissue-transglutaminase reached 60.7% and 64.3% of EGD avoided, respectively. (4) Conclusions: Over 10 years, late age at diagnosis and increased rates of atypical CD presentation were found. ESPGHAN non-biopsy criteria are accurate for CD diagnosis and allow half of unneeded EGD to be avoided. Modified versions allowed sparing a greater number of EGD.

AGA Clinical Practice Update on Surveillance After Pathologically Curative Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection of Early Gastrointestinal Neoplasia in the United States: Commentary.

The purpose of this American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute Clinical Practice Update was to review the available evidence and provide expert advice regarding surveillance using endoscopy and other relevant modalities after removal of dysplastic lesions and early gastrointestinal cancers with endoscopic submucosal dissection deemed to be pathologically curative. This Clinical Practice Update was commissioned and approved by the AGA Institute Clinical Practice Updates Committee and the AGA Governing Board to provide timely guidance on a topic of high clinical importance to the AGA membership, and underwent internal peer review by the Clinical Practice Updates Committee and external peer review through standard procedures of Gastroenterology. This expert commentary incorporates important as well as recently published studies in this field, and it reflects the experiences of the authors, who are advanced endoscopists with high-level expertise in performing endoscopic submucosal dissection to treat dysplasia and early cancers in the luminal gastrointestinal tract.

Clinical Care Pathway for the Risk Stratification and Management of Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Find AGA's NASH Clinical Care Pathway App for iOS and Android mobile devices at nash.gastro.org. Scan this QR code to be taken directly to the website.Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming increasingly common, currently affecting approximately 37% of US adults. NAFLD is most often managed in primary care or endocrine clinics, where clinicians must determine which patients might benefit from secondary care to address hepatic manifestations, comorbid metabolic traits, and cardiovascular risks of the disease. Because NAFLD is largely asymptomatic, and because optimal timing of treatment depends on accurate staging of fibrosis risk, screening at the primary care level is critical, together with consistent, timely, evidence-based, widely accessible, and testable management processes. To achieve these goals, the American Gastroenterological Association assembled a multidisciplinary panel of experts to develop a Clinical Care Pathway providing explicit guidance on the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of NAFLD. This article describes the NAFLD Clinical Care Pathway they developed and provides a rationale supporting proposed steps to assist clinicians in diagnosing and managing NAFLD with clinically significant fibrosis (stage F2-F4) based on the best available evidence. This Pathway is intended to be applicable in any setting where care for patients with NAFLD is provided, including primary care, endocrine, obesity medicine, and gastroenterology practices.