Endometriosis mimicking colonic stromal tumor.

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma at extra-uterine sites; it is a common disease affecting women of reproductive age. Endometrial tissue can implant itself to various organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, and can cause significant gastrointestinal symptoms. These ectopic endometrial tissue implants are usually located in the pelvis but can be present almost anywhere in the body. Endometriosis seems to be the most frequent cause of chronic pelvic pain in women of reproductive age and may cause prolonged suffering and disability that negatively affect health-related quality of life. We report a case in a generally healthy young female patient who presented for evaluation of diarrhea.

Use of a cap in single-balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: Cannulation of the native papilla in surgically altered anatomy is difficult in endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). There are limited data regarding the success of single-balloon enteroscopy-assisted ERC (SBE-ERC) in patients with a native papilla and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Use of a plastic cap may assist cannulation in these cases. The aim of the current study was to investigate the use of SBE-ERC with a cap (Cap-SBE-ERC) in patients with surgically altered anatomy referred for ERC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with surgically altered anatomy (hepaticojejunostomy, gastric bypass surgery, and Whipple's surgery) who underwent Cap-SBE-ERC were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Outcomes were diagnostic and procedural success. Patients with a native papilla were compared with those with a biliary-enteric anastomosis. RESULTS: Among 56 patients with surgically altered anatomy, high rates of diagnostic and procedural success were observed (78.6 % and 71.4 %, respectively). High diagnostic and procedural success rates of 72.7 % and 65.9 %, respectively, were also observed for patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass anatomy with a native papilla (n = 44). CONCLUSION: High rates of diagnostic and procedural success were reported for SBE-ERC with the use of a cap, including a large subgroup of patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and a native papilla.

Prior capsule endoscopy improves the diagnostic and therapeutic yield of single-balloon enteroscopy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although there is substantial literature addressing double-balloon enteroscopy, evidence is more limited with regard to the clinical utility of single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) in evaluating and treating small-bowel diseases. We sought to determine the diagnostic and therapeutic yield of SBE in patients with suspected small-bowel disorders, as well as the impact of preceding capsule endoscopy (CE) on these outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database at a tertiary-care academic medical center between 2011 and 2013 for all patients referred for SBE. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients underwent 170 SBE procedures during the study period. The most frequent indications for SBE included anemia, overt or occult gastrointestinal bleeding, and suspected mass. CE was performed prior to SBE in 113 of 150 patients (75%). The overall diagnostic yield for small-bowel disease by CE was 62%. Therapeutic interventions included hemostasis, polypectomy, and foreign body removal. Total diagnostic and therapeutic yield of SBE was 60 and 28%, respectively. The diagnostic yield of SBE with prior CE was 68 versus 44% for SBE without prior CE (P = 0.002). The therapeutic yield of SBE with prior CE was 35 versus 12% without prior CE (P = 0.001). One endoscopic complication was observed out of 170 procedures, and there were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: SBE appears to be a safe and effective technique for the diagnosis and treatment of small-bowel disease; however, we recommend performing a CE prior to SBE to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic yield of the procedure.

Monitored anesthesia care without endotracheal intubation is safe and efficacious for single-balloon enteroscopy.

BACKGROUND: General endotracheal (GET) anesthesia is often used during single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE). However, there is currently limited data regarding monitored anesthesia care (MAC) without endotracheal intubation for this procedure. AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine the safety and efficacy of MAC sedation during SBE and to identify risk factors for adverse events. METHODS: All patients who underwent SBE and SBE-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between June 2011 and July 2013 at a tertiary-care referral center were studied in a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database. Patients received MAC anesthesia or GET. The main outcome measurements were sedation-related adverse events, diagnostic yield, and therapeutic yield. RESULTS: Of the 178 cases in the study, 166 cases (93 %) were performed with MAC and 12 (7 %) with GET. Intra-procedure sedation-related adverse events occurred in 17 % of cases. The most frequent event was transient hypotension requiring pharmacologic intervention in 11.8 % of procedures. In MAC cases, the diagnostic yield was 58.4 % and the therapeutic yield was 30.1 %. Anesthesia duration was strongly associated with the occurrence of a sedation-related adverse event (P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: MAC is a safe and efficacious sedation approach for most patients undergoing SBE. Sedation-related complications in SBE are uncommon, but are more frequent in longer procedures.

A meta-analysis on the role of rectal diclofenac and indomethacin in the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis.

Clinical trials evaluating the protective effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) have yielded inconclusive results. Our objective was to conduct a meta-analysis of the data to date to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rectal NSAIDs for PEP prophylaxis. We did a systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The meta-analysis was performed using a fixed-effect method because of the absence of significant heterogeneity in the included trials. Seven randomized, controlled trials involving 2133 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that rectal NSAIDs decreased the overall incidence of PEP (risk ratio, 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-0.57; P < 0.01). The number needed to treat was 11. The NSAID prophylaxis also decreased the incidence of moderate to severe PEP (risk ratio, 0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.63; P < 0.01). The number needed to treat was 34. No differences of the adverse events attributable to NSAIDs were observed. In conclusion, prophylactic use of rectal NSAIDs reduces the incidence and severity of PEP. There is neither a difference in efficacy between rectal indomethacin and diclofenac nor a difference in efficacy between the timing of administration of rectal NSAIDs, that is, immediate pre-ERCP and post-ERCP.

Health resource utilization and multidisciplinary impact of endoscopic ultrasonography in a tertiary referral medical center.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a resource-intensive endoscopic procedure, but may result in high downstream health resource utilization and multispecialty impact. Our aim was to examine the downstream impact of EUS by specialty and by indication. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed at an academic medical center for patients for whom EUS represented the first point of contact at the study institution within a 20-month period. RESULTS: A total of 552 EUS procedures were reviewed and 208 represented the first point of contact. The most common principle indication involved the pancreas (n = 117, 56%). Downstream health utilization was calculated for an average of 313 days postprocedure (range: 35-632 days). Following unique referral for endoscopic ultrasound, 52% of the patients in the study were retained within the institution for further management and, of these, 34% had a major intervention in the form of surgery or chemoradiotherapy. Compared with other indications, patients presenting with a pancreatic mass were significantly more likely to remain in the study institution for further management (62% versus 39%, p = 0.005), were more likely to have a downstream surgery (29% versus 14%, p = 0.020) and were more likely to have downstream chemo-radiotherapy (11% versus 3%, p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: EUS represents a unique portal of entry into tertiary referral medical centers. First point of contact EUS referrals are associated with major downstream health resource utilization and significantly increased utilization for mass lesions of the pancreas.

Increased diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirates with flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is the most sensitive and specific test for establishing a tissue diagnosis for many gastrointestinal malignancies; however, cytologic morphology alone may not be definitive for subsets of tumors. Our aim was to quantify the impact of the broad application of flow cytometry (FC) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) on EUS-FNA diagnostic yield. A retrospective chart review was performed on EUS procedures at a tertiary referral, academic medical center. All EUS-FNA cases performed over a 21-month period were examined. Of 606 EUS procedures reviewed during the period of study, 264 utilized FNA. After pancreatic cyst cases were excluded, 235 EUS-FNA cases for 221 patients were selected for analysis. For cases with subsequent histological evaluation, including the subset utilizing FC/IHC, the sensitivity of EUS-FNA was 89%, specificity was 100%, and accuracy was 91%. One quarter (58/235, 25%) of the tissue specimens underwent further testing by FC/IHC. There were 48 definitive diagnoses made in the subset utilizing FC/IHC. In 20 of the 48 diagnoses (42%), FC/IHC was deemed critical to the diagnosis, and without FC/IHC testing in those cases, the overall sensitivity and accuracy of EUS-FNA would be reduced to 74 and 77%, respectively. FC/IHC allowed for six diagnoses rarely or not previously described by EUS-FNA. Application of FC/IHC improves characterization predominantly for nonadenocarcinoma tumor subtypes and may lead to a diagnostic result for tumors not previously characterized by EUS-FNA. With an adequate tissue sample, broad application of FC/IHC increases the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA.

Molecular analysis of cyst fluid aspiration in the diagnosis and risk assessment of cystic lesions of the pancreas.

Pancreatic cyst detection is increasing largely due to increasing use of cross-sectional imaging. The management of pancreatic cysts differs for true cysts, pseudocysts, mucinous cysts, nonmucinous cysts, and malignant lesions. Depending on the setting, diagnostic tests, such as cross-sectional imaging, endoscopic ultrasound, cyst fluid chemistry, and cytology, have moderate accuracy in characterizing the cyst subtype. Molecular analysis of cyst fluid aspirates has shown promise in preliminary studies and may require smaller fluid volumes than is needed for carcinoembryonic antigen level and cytology. This article reviews published studies in which molecular analysis was performed in the evaluation of pancreatic cysts. The molecular studies are compared with the conventional tests. Most studies have had moderate sample sizes (16-124) and have characterized a high proportion of patients with malignant cysts. Evaluation of molecular analysis as a diagnostic tool merits larger prospective trials with long-term follow-up of patients who are not sent to surgery. Larger cysts may meet size criteria for resection, and it is the smaller cysts for which molecular analysis may be of benefit if additional molecular testing results in a change in management.

Cyclosporine is safe and effective in patients with severe ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Cyclosporine (CSA) is effective in the short-term for severe, steroid refractory ulcerative colitis; but its use has been limited by concerns about safety and colectomy-sparing rates. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term colectomy-sparing effects and safety of CSA in patients hospitalized for ulcerative colitis. METHODS: Review of the patients who underwent intravenous CSA for ulcerative colitis between 1989 and 2003. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients with severe ulcerative colitis were treated with IV CSA. The median length of follow-up was 1.5 years (mean=3 y) (range 1 mo to 14 y) (IQR 0.6 to 4.6). Eighty-five percent (60/71) of patients responded to IV CSA and were discharged on oral CSA. Of these 60 patients, 26 were transitioned from CSA to 6MP. Of the 26 patients who were transitioned from CSA to 6MP, only 1 patient (4%) ultimately required colectomy; whereas colectomy was carried out in 76% (26/34) of the patients who were not transitioned from CSA to 6MP. Only concomitant 6MP therapy was associated with a reduced risk of colectomy (OR 0.01, 95% CI 0.001, 0.09, P<0.0001) on long-term follow-up in this group. Cumulative colectomy rates for the entire cohort were 39% (28/71) at 1 year, 42% (30/71) at 2 years, and 46% (33/71) at 5 years. Side effects were noted in two-thirds of the patients, the majority of which were mild. CONCLUSION: CSA is an effective therapy for severe ulcerative colitis. Long-term efficacy is improved with transition to 6MP. Adverse events with CSA are frequent, but most are mild.

Diagnosis and management of Barrett's esophagus for the endoscopist.

In Barrett's esophagus, the stratified squamous epithelium lining the esophagus is replaced by specialized intestinal-type columnar epithelium. The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus has ranged from 0.9% to 4.5%. The rate of progression from Barrett's esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma is 0.5% per patient-year. Proton-pump inhibitors are the mainstay of symptom control in Barrett's patients. Nondysplastic Barrett's and Barrett's with low-grade dysplasia (LGD) are typically managed by periodic surveillance. Radiofrequency ablation is being evaluated as a modality for managing nondysplastic Barrett's and Barrett's with LGD. The options for the management of Barrett's patients with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) include endoscopic therapy, surgery, and intensive surveillance until biopsy reveals adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic therapy involves endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and ablation. More aggressive techniques such as endoscopic submucosal dissection and larger segment endoscopic mucosal resection are under study. In this review, we discuss the diagnosis and management of Barrett's esophagus. The recommendations from the major gastroenterologic societies and the current and investigational endoscopic modalities for the management of Barrett's esophagus with and without dysplasia are reviewed.

The incidence and cost of unexpected hospital use after scheduled outpatient endoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Data on complications of gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures are limited. We evaluated prospectively the incidence and cost of hospital visits resulting from outpatient endoscopy. METHODS: We developed an electronic medical record-based system to record automatically admissions to the emergency department (ED) within 14 days after endoscopy. Physicians evaluated all reported cases for relatedness of the ED visit to the prior endoscopy based on predetermined criteria. RESULTS: We evaluated 6383 esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs) and 11 632 colonoscopies (7392 for screening and surveillance). Among these, 419 ED visits and 266 hospitalizations occurred within 14 days after the procedure. One hundred thirty-four (32%) of the ED visits and 76 (29%) of the hospitalizations were procedure related, whereas 31 complications were recorded by standard physician reporting (P < .001). Procedure-related hospital visits occurred in 1.07%, 0.84%, and 0.95% of all EGDs, all colonoscopies, and screening colonoscopies, respectively. The mean costs were $1403 per ED visit and $10 123 per hospitalization based on Medicare standardized rates. Across the overall screening/surveillance colonoscopy program, these episodes added $48 per examination. CONCLUSIONS: Using a novel automated system, we observed a 1% incidence of related hospital visits within 14 days of outpatient endoscopy, 2- to 3-fold higher than recent estimates. Most events were not captured by standard reporting, and strategies for automating adverse event reporting should be developed. The cost of unexpected hospital visits postendoscopy may be significant and should be taken into account in screening or surveillance programs.

Ulcerative colitis: current treatment strategies and future prospects.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by inflammation of the mucosa and occasionally the submucosa of the colon. Conventional drug therapy for UC involves use of aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine, cyclosporine and anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy. Alternative therapies include probiotics, nicotine and fish oil. Drugs like tacrolimus, rosiglitazone and Trichuris suis ova are being evaluated for use in UC patients. With the new biologic agents, new treatment options for UC continue to evolve. In this article we will discuss the conventional drugs, the alternative therapies and the management strategies according to the severity and extent of UC.

Meta-analysis of the placebo response in ulcerative colitis.

PURPOSE: The placebo response rate in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in ulcerative colitis (UC) varies from 0 to 76%. The aims of this study were to quantify the pooled placebo response rate and identify the factors affecting it. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of 110 RCTs carried out between 1955 and 2005 and published in English. Regression analysis was used to identify factors significantly modifying placebo response. RESULTS: The pooled placebo remission rate was 23% (95%CI: 18.4-28%) and the pooled placebo improvement rate was 32.1% (95%CI: 28.1-36.3%). Multivariate analysis showed that the country where the study was performed (P = 0.025 for placebo remission and P = 0.0083 for placebo response rates) significantly influenced the placebo remission and response rates. CONCLUSION: Placebo remission and response rates in RCTs of UC are highly variable and are significantly influenced by the country in which the RCT is performed.

Clostridium difficile colitis that fails conventional metronidazole therapy: response to nitazoxanide.

OBJECTIVES: Clostridium difficile-associated disease has increased in incidence and severity. Recommended treatments include metronidazole and vancomycin. Recent investigations, however, document the failure of metronidazole to cure a substantial proportion of patients with Clostridium difficile colitis, but oral administration of vancomycin raises concerns over selection of antibiotic-resistant organisms in the hospital environment. We have recently shown that nitazoxanide is as effective as metronidazole in initial therapy for C. difficile colitis. We hypothesized that this drug might be effective in treating patients who fail therapy with metronidazole. METHODS: In the present study, we identified 35 patients who failed treatment with metronidazole for C. difficile colitis; failure was defined as either no improvement in symptoms or signs of disease (28 patients) after >or= 14 days of treatment with metronidazole or prompt recurrence on at least two occasions after initially responding to such treatment (seven patients). These patients were ill with numerous co-morbidities. Nitazoxanide, 500 mg twice daily, was given for 10 days; results from all patients are included. RESULTS: Twenty-six (74%) of 35 patients responded to nitazoxanide, of whom seven later had recurrent disease, yielding a cure rate of 19 of 35 (54%) from initial therapy. Three who initially failed and one who had recurrent disease were re-treated with, and responded to, nitazoxanide. Thus, the aggregate cure with nitazoxanide in this difficult-to-treat population was 23 of 35 (66%). CONCLUSIONS: Nitazoxanide appears to provide effective therapy for patients with C. difficile colitis who fail treatment with metronidazole.