Impact of endoscopic assessment and treatment on operative and non-operative management of acute oesophageal perforation.

BACKGROUND: Surgeons have not typically utilized an endoscopic approach for diagnosis and management of acute oesophageal perforation, mainly due to fears of increased mediastinal contamination. This study assessed the evolution of endoscopic approaches and their effect on outcomes over time in acute oesophageal perforation. METHODS: All patients with documented acute oesophageal perforation between 1990 and 2009 were enrolled prospectively in an Institutional Review Board-approved database. RESULTS: Of 81 patients who presented during the study period, 52 had upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for diagnosis alone (12 patients; 23 per cent) or as a component of acute management (40 patients; 77 per cent). Use of endoscopy increased from four of 13 patients in the first 5 years of the study to 20 of 24 patients in the final 5 years. Endoscopy was used in conjunction with surgery in 28 patients, of whom 21 underwent primary repair, three had resection, and one a diversion; 12 patients in this group had hybrid operations (combination of surgical and endoscopic management). Primary endoscopic treatment was used in 15 patients (29 per cent), most commonly involving stent placement (7). Of those having endoscopy, complication rates improved (from 3 of 4 to 8 of 20 patients), as did mean length of stay (from 21·8 to 13·4 days) between the initial and final 5 years of the study. There were two deaths (4 per cent). Of 21 patients who had both endoscopic assessment and management in the operating room, endoscopy identified additional pathology in ten, leading to a change in management plan in five patients. CONCLUSION: Endoscopy is a safe and important component of the management of acute oesophageal perforation. It provides additional information that modifies treatment, and its wider use should result in improved outcomes.

Esophageal reconstitution by simultaneous antegrade/retrograde endoscopy: re-establishing patency of the completely obstructed esophagus.

Complete obstruction of the proximal esophagus is an uncommon complication of radiotherapy. Standard endoscopic dilation is not possible because no lumen exists. We describe a retrospective case series in which rendezvous endoscopy, tissue puncture, dilation, and stenting were used to restore function to a group of patients with complete esophageal obstruction. The series consisted of patients referred for complete esophageal obstruction after radiation therapy over 5 years. Ultimately, five patients underwent successful initial recanalization via rendezvous endoscopy. All patients were able to resume eating and four have been able to maintain oral alimentation with periodic dilation. One patient developed self-limited pneumomediastinum after needle puncture and cervical osteomyelitis after stenting, and another developed an anterior neck abscess after stenting. Rendezvous endoscopy can successfully treat complete esophageal obstruction resulting from radiation therapy. Temporary stenting may allow patients to swallow immediately and leave the hospital sooner but does not appear to reduce the need for subsequent dilation and may result in serious complications.

Quality of life after esophagectomy and endoscopic therapy for Barrett's esophagus with dysplasia.

Esophagectomy (EG) and endoscopic therapy (ET) can eradicate Barrett's esophagus with early neoplasia. Their relative effect on quality of life is unknown. The 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) questionnaires were sent to all patients who underwent either EG or ET at our institution over the last 9 years. Groups were stratified by age and American Society of Anesthesia (ASA) class. Surveys were sent to 77 patients and completed by 14 EG (50%) and by 28 ET patients (57%). The average time between treatment and survey was 4 years in the ET group and 5 years in the EG group. There were no significant differences in SF-36 scores between EG and ET patients except for superior physical functioning among EG patients 65 and older QOL scores among EG and ET groups were not significantly different than sex age-matched controls. GIQLI scores were similar between ET and EG patients of all ages (P= 0.60). GIQLI scores were higher among younger ET patients than young EG patients (P= 0.049). GIQLI scores also tended to be higher among ASA 1 and 2 ET patients than ASA 1 and 2 EG patients, but this did not reach statistical significance (P= 0.09). EG and ET for early Barrett's neoplasia appear to have similar impact on QOL 1 year or more after treatment compared with age-matched controls. Negative QOL impact appears to be greater for younger patients undergoing EG than for ET.

Polyflex self-expanding, removable plastic stents: assessment of treatment efficacy and safety in a variety of benign and malignant conditions of the esophagus.

BACKGROUND: Historically, esophageal fistulas, perforations, and benign and malignant strictures have been managed surgically or with the placement of permanent endoprostheses or metallic stents. Recently, a removable, self-expanding, plastic stent has become available. The authors investigated the use of this new stent at their institution. METHODS: The study reviewed all the patients who received a Polyflex stent for an esophageal indication at the authors' institution between January 2004 and October 2006. Duration of placement, complications, and treatment efficacy were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 37 stents were placed in 30 patients (14 women and 16 men) with a mean age of 68 years (range, 28-92 years). Stent placement included 7 for fistulas, 3 for perforations, 1 for an anastomotic leak, 7 for malignant strictures, and 19 for benign strictures (8 anastomotic, 1 caustic, 5 reflux, 2 radiation, and 2 autoimmune esophagitis strictures, and 1 post-Nissen gas bloat stricture). The mean follow-up period was 6 months. Stent deployment was successful for all the patients, and no complications resulted from stent placement or removal. Nine stents migrated spontaneously. Three of three perforations and three of five fistulas sealed. Only one stent was removed because of patient discomfort. One patient with a radiation stricture experienced tracheoesophageal fistulas secondary to pressure necrosis. Of 20 patients with stricture, 18 experienced improvement in their dysphagia. CONCLUSION: Self-expanding, removable plastic stents are easily and safely placed and removed from the esophagus. This has facilitated their use in the authors' institution for an increasing number of esophageal conditions. Further studies to help define their ultimate role in benign and malignant esophageal pathology are warranted.

Frequency and costs of echo endoscope repairs: results of a survey of endosonographers.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The need for repair of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) equipment appears to be frequent and expensive. To better quantify the costs associated with echo endoscope failure, a survey of endosonographers was carried out. METHODS: A survey questionnaire concerning echo endoscope damage and repair and consequences of echo endoscope downtime over a 12-month period was sent to members of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy who had cited an interest in EUS. RESULTS: Responses were received from 56 of 138 institutions where EUS was carried out (41 %). A median of 325 EUS procedures had been carried out in the past year and a median of two endosonographers were employed who used an average of three echo endoscopes. Two-thirds of institutions trained fellows. A total of 225 repairs were reported for leaks (47 %), mechanical failures (33 %), images or optics difficulties (26 %), or other problems (1 %). Mechanical radial-scanning echo endoscopes tended to break, on average, after 68 procedures, while curved linear-array echo endoscopes failed after an average of 107 procedures. Echo endoscope failures led to rescheduling of procedures at three-quarters of institutions. Institutions paid an average of $ 10 534 over 12 months for echo endoscope repairs. The average repair cost per procedure was $ 41. There was an inverse relationship between quantity of procedures and the per-procedure repair rate ( P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Direct and indirect costs of echo endoscope repairs are significant. Instrument failures are multifactorial; however instrument complexity, instrument age, and institutional inexperience may contribute to repair costs.

Reusable biopsy forceps: a prospective evaluation of cleaning, function, adequacy of tissue specimen, and durability.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have indicated that reusable biopsy forceps remain contaminated after reprocessing and can only be used a mean of 12 to 25 times without malfunction. Because this contradicts traditional endoscopic practice, our study investigated the ability to sterilize a type of commercially available biopsy forceps and prospectively evaluated their function in vivo until malfunction and/or breakage. METHODS: Thirty reusable biopsy forceps were studied, 15 of which were contaminated for 5 trials each with 10(6) Bacillus stearothermophilus, and 15 of which were prospectively evaluated clinically over an 18-month period (9/98-3/00). Contaminated forceps were reprocessed by using a standard protocol and placed in a sterile bag containing soy broth. The latter was passed through a 0.2 micron filter and was subsequently cultured. In vivo data included biopsy site, size, adequacy, problems obtaining a biopsy specimen, and reasons for ultimate forceps failure. RESULTS: After contamination, all biopsy forceps yielded a heavy growth of B stearothermophilus. No forceps, including 5 that were piecemeal dismantled with a wire cutter, had residual bacteria after reprocessing. In the in vivo study, 1507 biopsy sessions were undertaken in 1339 procedures. Forceps were categorized as new or like-new in 1259 of 1339 (94%) procedures, some loss of function but usable in 72 of 1339 (5.4%), and inadequate function or broken at use in 8 of 1339 (0.6%). Histologically, 1501 specimen sets were adequate (99.6%) and mean specimen size was 2.7 +/- 0.1 mm. Mechanical problems were noted in only 38 of 1507 (3%) sessions to include such things as sticky forceps, and the mean number of uses to malfunction or breakage was 91 +/- 15 (SEM) (range 19-132). CONCLUSIONS: This reusable biopsy forceps can be sterilized and used a mean of 91 times with adequate tissue sampling. Mechanical problems were minor to time of breakage. Contingent on acquisition and reprocessing costs as well as the number of procedures performed, this reusable forceps has the potential for significant cost savings.

Prospective evaluation of balloon-sheathed catheter US system.

BACKGROUND: Catheter US probes must rely on luminal water to create images because they do not incorporate a water-filled balloon such as that used with a designated echoendoscope. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness and safety of a balloon sheath for the US catheter system. METHODS: Catheter EUS was performed on 50 patients by using a 2.3 mm 12 MHz or 20 MHz catheter probe. Catheter EUS was used in 47 cases, and a newly developed water-filled balloon sheath was used in 41 cases. Both devices were used in 39 cases. Procedure time, depth of ultrasound penetration, and a subjective assessment of image quality and ease of use were recorded, along with TMN stage as applicable. Catheter EUS findings were confirmed with a standard radial scanning echoendoscopy (S-EUS) in 18 cases. RESULTS: Catheter probe EUS (C-EUS) and catheter probe plus balloon (CB-EUS) imaging was obtained of 25 esophageal, 8 gastric, 4 rectal, 1 biliary, and 1 duodenal lesion. Time required for the ultrasound portion of the examination was identical with C-EUS and CB-EUS. Depth of penetration increased with CB-EUS with both the 12 MHz and 20 MHz probes (p < 0.05). Subjective assessment of image clarity improved when CB-EUS was used in the esophagus. C-EUS failed to identify 2 esophageal cancers and 2 sets of paraesophageal lymph nodes, and understaged 1 esophageal cancer. The remaining 14 cancers were staged identically by both modalities. The catheter probes with and without the balloon sheath were easy to use, even in markedly narrow esophageal strictures. CB-EUS did not significantly improve resolution in the stomach or rectum. S-EUS confirmed findings of CB-EUS in all 18 cases in which both instruments were used. There were no procedure-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: For esophageal lesions, CB-EUS improves images compared with C-EUS, and enhances depth of penetration without prolonging or encumbering the examination. CB-EUS offers no advantage over C-EUS in organs other than the esophagus. S-EUS, when possible, remains the preferred imaging modality for esophageal cancers because of the ability to image the celiac axis and other deep structures.

Endoscopic therapeutic esophageal interventions.

Despite numerous advances in the chemotherapeutic, radiotherapeutic, and surgical treatment of esophageal cancer, most patients require some type of endoscopic palliation for dysphagia during the course of their illness. Numerous modalities exist, including thermal ablation with neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser, argon plasma coagulation, electrocautery, nonthermal ablation with alcohol injection or photodynamic therapy, or displacement of tumor with endoscopically placed stents. Each therapy carries with it a unique profile of efficacy and complications. Some therapies may be more appropriate for certain tumor locations and morphologies than others. During the past year, new studies have defined these parameters further. However, it remains essential that the endoscopist have both a thorough knowledge of these various modalities and an ability to chose among them when undertaking endoscopic palliation of this difficult and rapidly rising disease.

Infectious complications associated with gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Infectious complications resulting from endoscopy rarely occur. This is probably due as much to the efficiency of the gastrointestinal immune system as to effective endoscope disinfection practices. The low incidence may also represent the difficulty linking infections to endoscopy. Recent reports of probable interpersonal transmission of hepatitis C infection during colonoscopy has heightened this concern. This article examines the documented cases of endoscopy related infections and reviews the risk factors for these infections and details guidelines which have been designed to keep the incidence of these complications low.

Endoscopic therapeutic esophageal interventions.

At the close of the 20th century, therapeutic endoscopy in the esophagus has expanded to encompass a broad array of interventions. As the number of procedures grows, emphasis in the medical literature has begun to shift to analyses of which procedures should be performed. Many studies published in 1999 on topics ranging from endoscopic treatment of benign and malignant strictures, to variceal bleeding, to Barrett esophagus have focused on which of several methods provides the best long-term response with the fewest interventions. This is a review of the major published studies of endoscopic interventions in the esophagus as well as selected abstracts. The conclusions of these studies and reports of new endoscopic therapies draw a clear map of where nonoperative esophageal therapeutics are headed in the next several years.

A multicenter U.S. experience with EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration using the Olympus GF-UM30P echoendoscope: safety and effectiveness.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the safety, efficacy, and accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration using the GF-UM30P echoendoscope. METHODS: GF-UM30P-guided EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration results from 3 EUS referral centers were prospectively recorded. Successful sampling required that the needle tip be seen within the lesion on at least 1 pass. Aspirates were considered adequate if they were diagnostic for cancer, contained suspicious or atypical cells, or were adequately cellular for interpretation but nondiagnostic. RESULTS: EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration was attempted on 162 lesions in 152 patients with no complications. Sampling was successful in 150 of 162 (93%) attempts (mean lesion size 2.5 +/- 1.2 cm (range 0.7 to 6.0 cm). Aspirates were adequately cellular in 138 of 162 (85%) attempts (43% diagnostic, 15% suspicious and/or atypical cells, 27% adequate cellularity but nondiagnostic). Sampling failed in 12 of 162 (7%) attempts. Ten of 12 (83%) failures and 11 of 12 (92%) inadequate aspirates occurred when lesions measured less than 2 cm. The sensitivity for malignancy was 93% if only successfully sampled lesions with surgically confirmed negative results were included. However, it was 68% if all attempts were included and when unconfirmed high/moderate suspicion negative results were counted as false negatives and low suspicion negative results as true negatives. CONCLUSIONS: The GF-UM30P may be clinically useful for EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration if a curved linear array instrument is unavailable.

A rational approach to giving antibiotic prophylaxis before endoscopy. Who needs it? Which procedures pose the greatest risk?

Although transient bacteremia occasionally occurs after many GI endoscopic procedures, the incidence of actual infection is low. However, in addition to endocarditis, peritonitis, abscesses, meningitis, portacaval anastomotic infection, and sepsis have been reported. Prophylaxis may reduce the risk of infection; whether it is needed depends on two factors: Is the procedure to be performed associated with an increased likelihood of infection? Does the patient have an underlying condition (such as valvular heart disease or immune system incompetence) that increases the risk of such an infection? Antibiotics that are frequently used for prophylaxis include amoxicillin or gentamicin and ampicillin.

Review article: endoscopy-related infections.

Endoscopic procedures generate bacteraemia to different degrees. Under certain conditions, most notably valvular heart disease, clinically significant infections may occur. A large body of literature has grown around recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent procedure-related infections. Most of this literature is in the form of anecdotal reports. Few prospective randomized studies have been performed. In this paper, the literature on endoscopy-related infections is reviewed. Recommendations for antibiotics from different sources are compared and a rational approach to prophylactic antibiotic therapy is presented.

Post-sclerotherapy bacterial peritonitis.

Endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy has been associated with a number of complications. Peritonitis after sclerotherapy has rarely been reported. In this retrospective review of 213 consecutive sclerotherapy procedures among 65 patients over a 3-yr period, we found that six cases of peritonitis occurred, for an incidence of approximately 3%. All patients developing post-sclerotherapy peritonitis had low ascitic fluid protein. However, this did not differ from patients who did not develop peritonitis. No patient on antibiotics at the time of sclerotherapy developed peritonitis. Peritonitis should be considered in the diagnosis of post-sclerotherapy fever. The role of prophylactic antibiotics to prevent this complication is uncertain.

Dermatobia hominis myiasis masquerading as an infected sebaceous cyst.

In an apparently routine case, what appeared to be infected sebaceous cysts of the scalp turned out to harbour botfly larvae imported from a tropical country. Although the parasite Dermatobia hominis is not indigenous to the United States, cutaneous myiasis caused by the fly is fairly common in Central and South America, and several cases have been reported in people returning or emigrating from these regions. The authors therefore suggest that infection resulting from D. hominis invasion be considered in persons who present with furuncular lesions and give a history of travel to endemic areas.