Preexisting opioid use disorder is associated with poor outcomes in hospitalized acute pancreatitis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Although opioids are widely used for pain management in acute pancreatitis, the impact of opioid use disorder (OUD) on outcomes in patients with acute pancreatitis remains unknown. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of the OUD on outcomes in patients hospitalized with acute pancreatitis and delineate the trends associated with OUD and acute pancreatitis using a nationally representative sample. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with acute pancreatitis using the combined releases of the year 2005-2014 of the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Patients over the age of 18 years with a principal diagnosis of acute pancreatitis were divided into cohorts of patients with opioid use disorders and those without. The primary measured outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcomes were healthcare utilization measures, including length of stay (LOS) and hospitalization costs. RESULTS: A total of 2 593 831 hospitalizations of acute pancreatitis were included; of which, 37 849 (1.46%) had a secondary diagnosis of OUD. Total acute pancreatitis-related hospitalizations increased from 237 882 in 2005 to 274 006 in 2014. At the same time prevalence of OUD in acute pancreatitis patients also increased from 1 to 2.1%. Patients with OUD had significantly increased mortality as compared to patients without OUD (aOR: 1.4; P < 0.001). At the same time, acute pancreatitis patients with OUD were associated with 1.3 days longer LOS as compared to other acute pancreatitis patients (P < 0.001]. The mean adjusted difference in total hospitalization costs was $2353 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: OUD is associated with a significant increase in LOS, healthcare utilization cost and in-hospital mortality in patients admitted for acute pancreatitis. Therefore, clinicians should exercise caution in prescribing opioid medications to this high-risk patient population and other modalities such as nonopioid pain medications should be tried as alternatives to opioid analgesics.

Predictors of Early Readmissions in Hospitalized Patients With Gastroparesis: A Nationwide Analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastroparesis is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that frequently presents with symptoms that are difficult to manage, necessitating frequent hospitalizations. We sought to determine the predictors of early readmission due to gastroparesis based on etiology. METHODS: We identified all adults discharged with a principal diagnosis of gastroparesis after hospitalization from the 2014 Nationwide Readmission Database. We compared etiology wise (diabetes, post-surgical, and idiopathic) early readmission. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify significant predictors of 30-day readmission. RESULTS: A total of 12 689 patients were identified, 30.7% diabetic, 2.6% post-surgical, and 66.7% were idiopathic. Patients with diabetic gastroparesis were more likely to be readmitted within 30 days than idiopathic (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69-0.94) and post-surgical gastroparesis (aOR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.34-0.98). Pyloroplasty was associated with less likelihood of 30-day readmission (aOR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.20-0.97). In addition, male gender (aOR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.02-1.37), modified Elixhauser comorbidity score ≥ 3 (aOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.18-1.61), chronic pain syndrome (aOR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.11-1.78), younger (18-64 years) age (aOR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.34-2.00), need for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy/jejunostomy tube (aOR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.21-3.52), and need for total parenteral nutrition (aOR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.24-2.35) were associated with increased risk of 30-day readmission. CONCLUSION: s One in 5 patients was readmitted with gastroparesis within 30 days. In the diabetic group, diabetes-related complications contributed to readmissions than gastroparesis. Pyloroplasty is associated with reduced early hospital readmission. Prospective studies are needed for validation of these results.

Triage of General Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a National Delphi Consensus Panel.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: As the COVID-19 pandemic moves into the postpeak period, the focus has now shifted to resuming endoscopy services to meet the needs of patients who were deferred. By using a modified Delphi process, we sought to develop a structured framework to provide guidance regarding procedure indications and procedure time intervals. METHODS: A national panel of 14 expert gastroenterologists from throughout the US used a modified Delphi process, to achieve consensus regarding: (1) common indications for general endoscopy, (2) critical patient-important outcomes for endoscopy, (3) defining time-sensitive intervals, (4) assigning time-sensitive intervals to procedure indications. Two anonymous rounds of voting were allowed before attempts at consensus were abandoned. RESULTS: Expert panel reached consensus that procedures should be allocated to one of three timing categories: (1) time-sensitive emergent = scheduled within 1 week, (2) time-sensitive urgent = scheduled within 1-8 weeks, (3) nontime sensitive = defer to > 8 weeks and reassess timing then. The panel identified 62 common general endoscopy indications (33 for EGD, 21 for colonoscopy, 5 for sigmoidoscopy). Consensus was reached on patient-important outcomes for each procedure indication, and consensus regarding timing of the procedure indication was achieved for 74% of indications. Panelists also identified adequate personal-protective-equipment, rapid point-of-care testing, and staff training as critical preconditions before endoscopy services could be resumed. CONCLUSION: We used the validated Delphi methodology, while prioritized patient-important outcomes, to provide consensus recommendations regarding triaging a comprehensive list of general endoscopic procedures.

Management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) continues to be one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal tract disorders. Management of GERD is individualized for each patient depending on severity of symptoms, complications of GERD and patient/physician preference. The different management options include life style modification, pharmacological therapy, minimally invasive procedures and surgery. The final decision regarding management should be made based on an individualized patient centered approach on a case-by-case basis in consultation with a multidisciplinary team including primary care physician, gastroenterologist and surgeon. We provide a comprehensive review for the management of GERD.

Select group of patients might benefit from early colonoscopic screening for colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the American Cancer Society made a qualified recommendation to start colorectal cancer (CRC) screening at 45 years of age in all average-risk individuals. In this study, our primary aim is to calculate the prevalence and also evaluate the predictors of increased prevalence of detected adenomas in the 40-49-year-old individuals undergoing colonoscopy. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using our endoscopy database. Study subjects included all 40-49-year-old patients undergoing their first colonoscopy at our institution from January 1, 2010 to September 30, 2017. Exclusion criteria included patients who underwent colonoscopy for overt gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, a history of familial adenomatous polyposis, hereditary non-polyposis CRC. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were performed to identify factors associated with increased adenoma detection rate (ADR). RESULTS: A total of 2059 patients were included in the study, and 317 of these patients had family history (FH) of CRC. Patients with FH of CRC had significantly higher ADR (27.8% vs. 19.7%, p = 0.001) as compared to those without FH of CRC. There was no significant difference in ADR in patients between 40-44 years and 45-49 years of age (17.7% vs. 21.4%, p = 0.058). On a multivariate analysis while adjusting for multiple patient and procedural variables, FH of CRC, male sex, BMI > 30 kg/m2, chronic kidney disease, and age were associated with high ADR. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that in addition to FH of CRC, age, male sex, BMI, and CKD are independent predictors of increased ADR in patients between 40 and 49 years of age.

Predictors of 30-Day Readmission After Inpatient Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Single-Center Experience.

INTRODUCTION: The 30-day hospital readmission rate is a nationally recognized quality measure. Nearly one-fifth of medicare beneficiaries are hospitalized within 30 days of discharge, resulting in a cost of over $26 billion dollars annually. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) remains the endoscopic procedure with the highest risk of morbidity and mortality. We set out to analyze the clinical characteristics predictive of 30-day readmission after an inpatient ERCP. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of all inpatient ERCPs performed at our institution between 12/1/2014 and 9/30/2018. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of these patients were compared to determine predictors of 30-day readmission. RESULTS: A total of 497 inpatient ERCP procedures done for biliary or pancreatic indications, constituting 483 patients, were identified. There were 52 readmissions that occurred among 48 patients within 30 days of discharge. Basic demographic characteristics were similar between both groups. Comorbidities were significantly higher in those who were readmitted. Multivariate analysis revealed significantly greater odds of readmission with prior liver transplantation (OR = 4.15), cirrhosis (OR = 3.20), and pancreatic duct stent placement (OR = 2.56). Subgroup analysis for biliary indications revealed cholecystectomy before discharge and early ERCP to be protective against readmission. CONCLUSION: A history of liver transplantation and cirrhosis are predictive of increased 30-day readmission rates after an inpatient ERCP. Pancreatic duct stent placement is associated with readmission; however, this phenomenon is likely related to stenting for pancreatic endotherapy. Cholecystectomy before discharge and early ERCP are predictive of decreased need for readmission in procedures done for biliary indications.

Serrated polyp detection rate and advanced adenoma detection rate from a US multicenter cohort.

BACKGROUND: Interval colorectal cancers may be associated with a low serrated polyp detection rate (SDR) and advanced adenoma detection rate (AADR). We aimed to determine the SDR and AADR for endoscopists in a United States multicenter cohort. METHODS: We included average-risk screening colonoscopies from five medical centers in the United States. Endoscopists with data on at least 100 average-risk screening colonoscopies were included. We calculated median SDR and AADR for endoscopists with adequate adenoma detection rates (ADRs) > 25 %. We analyzed the relationship between ADR and SDR, and between ADR and AADR using nonparametric Spearman correlation coefficients, scatter plots, and linear regression. RESULTS: We included 3513 screening colonoscopies performed by 26 gastroenterologists. The mean age of patients was 56.8 years (SD 7.4) and 1585 (45 %) were male. All but one endoscopist had an ADR above 25 %. There was a significant positive but modest correlation between ADR and SDR (rho = 0.67, P < 0.01), and between ADR and AADR (rho = 0.56, P < 0.01). For endoscopists with an adequate ADR, median (interquartile range) ADR was 43 % (32.0 % - 48.6 %), median SDR was 8.4 % (7.3 % - 11.4 %), and median AADR was 9.3 % (6.4 % - 12.6 %). CONCLUSION: A significant percentage of endoscopists have either a low SDR or low AADR despite an adequate ADR, justifying the need for separate SDR and AADR benchmarks. Based on our multicenter cohort, endoscopists with adequate ADRs had a median SDR and median AADR of about 8 % and 9 %, respectively.

Outcomes of delayed endoscopic management for esophageal soft food impactions.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Food impactions are a common reason for emergent upper endoscopy. Current guidelines call for urgent upper endoscopy (within 24 hours) for food impactions without complete esophageal obstruction and emergent endoscopy (within 6 hours) for those with complete esophageal obstruction. Multiple adverse events can arise from esophageal foreign bodies. Cases with longer delays from symptom onset to presentation have been associated with higher rates of surgical intervention. However, data on esophageal soft food impactions are scant. We set out to determine differences in outcomes for food impactions undergoing intervention within 12 hours versus over 12 hours of symptom onset. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was conducted to identify patients who presented to our hospital with an esophageal soft food impaction and underwent an EGD between January 2010 and January 2018. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the timing from symptom onset to EGD. An EGD within 12 hours was considered an early intervention and over 12 hours was considered a delayed intervention. Patients who had ingested bones or hard objects were not included. Primary outcomes studied were rates of aspiration, admission, local esophageal adverse events, and 30-day all-cause mortality. RESULTS: We identified 110 patients with a soft food impaction who underwent an EGD. Forty- two patients had an early intervention and 68 a delayed intervention. There were no differences in basic demographics and comorbidities. Additionally, there were no differences in rates of local esophageal adverse events, aspiration, admission, or 30-day mortality. Multivariate analysis revealed endoscopic accessory use was associated with increased odds of local esophageal adverse events (odds ratio, 6.37; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: The overall rates of serious adverse events in esophageal soft food impactions are low. Delayed intervention is not associated with increased adverse events or 30-day mortality compared with early intervention. However, accessory use is associated with higher adverse event rates.

Accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound in esophageal cancer staging.

Since its advent in the 1980s endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has played an important role in the diagnosis, staging, and therapeutic management of various gastrointestinal malignancies. EUS has emerged as a vital tool in the evaluation of esophageal cancer as it provides a detailed view of the layers of the esophageal wall and surrounding tissues. This permits determination of tumor invasion depth and local lymph node metastases. It is the most sensitive and specific method available for locoregional staging of esophageal cancer. The information obtained via EUS is vital in determining the appropriate diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options. Thus, this article aims to present a review of the accuracy and utilization of EUS in the staging of esophageal cancer.

Evaluation and management of acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common gastrointestinal causes for hospi-talization in the United States. In 2015, AP accounted for approximately 390000 hospitalizations. The burden of AP is only expected to increase over time. Despite recent advances in medicine, pancreatitis continues to be associated with a substantial morbidity and mortality. The most common cause of AP is gallstones, followed closely by alcohol use. The diagnosis of pancreatitis is established with any two of three following criteria: (1) Abdominal pain consistent with that of AP; (2) Serum amylase and/or lipase greater than three times the upper limit of normal; and (3) Characteristics findings seen in cross-sectional abdominal imaging. Multiple criteria and scoring systems have been established for assessing severity of AP. The cornerstones of management include aggressive intravenous hydration, appropriate nutrition and pain management. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and surgery are important aspects in management of acute gallstone pancreatitis. We provide a comprehensive review of evaluation and management of AP.

Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage is associated with poor outcomes among patients with acute cholangitis: a nationwide analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Acute cholangitis (AC) and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH) are common emergencies encountered by gastroenterologists. We aimed to evaluate the impact of UGIH on in-hospital mortality, morbidity and resource utilization among patients with AC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adult admissions with a principal diagnosis of AC were selected from the National Inpatient Sample 2010-2014. The exposure of interest was significant UGIH (requiring red blood cell transfusion). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were significant UGIH's incidence, morbidity (shock, prolonged mechanical ventilation and total parenteral nutrition), and resource utilization (length of hospital stay and total hospitalization charges and costs). Confounders were adjusted for using propensity matching and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 50 375 admissions were included in the analysis, 747 of whom developed significant UGIH. After adjusting for confounders, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of in-hospital mortality for patients who developed UGIH was 7.1 (95% confidence interval: 2.1-23.9, P<0.01) compared with those who did not. Significant UGIH was associated with substantial increase in morbidity [shock: aOR: 4.1 (2.1-9.3), P<0.01, prolonged mechanical ventilation: aOR: 5.8 (2.2-12.4), P<0.01, total parenteral nutrition: aOR: 4.7 (1.9-10.7), P<0.01], and resource utilization [mean adjusted difference in: length of hospital stay: 7.01 (4.72-9.29), P<0.01 and total hospitalization charges: $81 818 ($58 109-$105 527), P<0.01 and costs: $25 230 ($17 805-$32 653), P<0.01]. Similar results were obtained using multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Onset of significant UGIH among patients hospitalized with AC has a detrimental effect on in-hospital mortality, morbidity and resource utilization.

Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma at the porta-hepatis following liver transplantation diagnosed on EUS-FNA.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a potentially fatal complication of chronic liver disease. Liver transplantation is now the preferred treatment due to good outcomes. We present a unique case of recurrence of HCC at the porta hepatis four years after orthotopic liver transplantation diagnosed via endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). Our report also highlights that intrahepatic recurrence of HCC can be surgically treated. However, further studies are needed to develop treatment algorithms for intra-hepatic recurrence of HCC post liver transplantation.

Evaluation and management of Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The most common causes include peptic ulcer disease, Mallory-Weiss syndrome, erosive gastritis, duodenitis, esophagitis, malignancy, angiodysplasias and Dieulafoy's lesion. Initial assessment and early aggressive resuscitation significantly improves outcomes. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy continues to be the gold standard for diagnosis and treatment. We present a comprehensive review of literature for the evaluation and management of non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Acute Renal Failure with Overdose of Labetalol: Special Considerations in Management.

We report a case of acute renal failure in a patient with labetalol overdose, discuss the possible pathogenesis, and highlight special considerations in the management of labetalol overdose as compared with other beta-blocking agent overdoses.