Incidence, prevalence and clinical management of achalasia since the introduction of high-resolution manometry in Western Australia.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies in achalasia and its clinical management in Australia are limited. AIMS: To determine the prevalence and trends in incidence rates and describe the types of treatment stratified by subtypes of achalasia. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted at a single site that offers a state-wide high-resolution manometry (HRM) service in Western Australia (WA). Patients (aged ≥ 18 years) newly diagnosed with achalasia based on HRM findings between 2012 and 2021 were extracted from the HRM database. The crude incidence rate and age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR) along with the 2021-point prevalence were calculated. Trends were assessed by the Kendall τb test. The patients' initial and subsequent treatment modalities were described. RESULTS: A total of 296 new cases were identified, and the median age at diagnosis was 56 years. The patient's median age, sex and year of the first treatment did not vary significantly with the subtypes. The lowest and highest ASIR (cases/100 000 person-years) were 0.8 in 2012 and 2.1 in 2021, respectively. Only type 2 achalasia showed a significant increasing trend (P = 0.009). The 2021-point prevalence was 16.9 cases/100 000 people and increased with age. Pneumatic balloon dilatation (PBD) was the most common treatment for types 1 and 2, while laparoscopic Heller myotomy was most common for type 3. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has become common in the past 5 years. CONCLUSION: The ASIR of type 2 achalasia significantly increased in WA. PBD was most commonly performed, although peroral endoscopic myotomy has recently increased as a preferred treatment option.

To investigate outcomes in endoscopic management of early oesophageal adenocarcinoma in Barrett oesophagus: experience at three Australian tertiary centres.

BACKGROUND: Barrett oesophagus is a known precursor of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Early EAC includes T1a (invasion into mucosa) and T1b (invasion into submucosa but not muscularis propria). Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) provides accurate histological staging and definitive treatment for early EAC. Post EMR, the remaining Barrett is eradicated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). However, there is a paucity of long-term Australian data. AIM: To investigate the efficacy and long-term outcomes of EMR and RFA in the management of early EAC. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients early EAC treated endoscopically at three Western Australian tertiary centres, with at least 12-months follow up, over the past 10 years. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients with early EAC (61 T1a and 6 T1b) were treated with EMR. Complete Barrett eradication was done by EMR in 31 of 67 patients whereas 36/67 patients underwent RFA for residual Barrett. EMR changed pinch biopsy histology from HGD (n = 33), HGD suspicious for IMC (n = 5) and LGD (n = 1) to early EAC in 58.2% (n = 39) patients. During a mean follow up of 37.2 months (interquartile range: 20, 56), complete remission of dysplasia and intestinal metaplasia was seen in 97% (n = 65) and 89.5% (n = 60) patients. One patient with T1b EAC underwent oesophagectomy. No cases developed metachronous EAC, progression to invasive adenocarcinoma or development of nodal/distant metastasis. Complications were endoscopically treated haematemesis (n = 1) and strictures (n = 16) requiring dilatations. Three patients died due to causes unrelated to IMC. CONCLUSION: EMR in conjunction with RFA is an effective and safe management for early EAC. EMR provides accurate staging and has low complication rates.

Outcomes of preoperative biliary drainage from a single tertiary center: Is there still a role for plastic stents?

OBJECTIVES: Preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) can relieve symptoms of cholestasis, but carries risk of procedural complications. Metal stents have wider lumens and longer patency, although plastic stents (PS) remain in use. We reviewed the outcomes after PBD in patients with cholestasis. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic cholestasis who were likely to wait for over 2 weeks before surgery and were thus treated with PBD between January 2011 and May 2015 were included. Patients were evaluated for stenting-related complications, time interval to surgery, resection rate, improvement in bilirubin level and surgical complications. RESULTS: Forty patients underwent PBD by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Of these, 36 patients received the placement of PS, one received a metal stent and the remaining three required percutaneous drainage due to unsuccessful biliary cannulation. Serum bilirubin declined from 172 µmol/L (baseline) to 14 µmol/L at 30 days (P < 0.0001). Median time interval from ERCP to surgery in all patients was 5 weeks (range 2-36 weeks). Preoperative stenting-related complications occurred in seven patients after a median of 3 weeks (range 1-6 weeks). Median time to surgery was similar in patients with and without stenting-related complications (5 weeks vs 4 weeks, respectively, P = 0.33). Surgery was completed in 32 (80%) patients, with a post-Whipple complication rate of 53%. CONCLUSIONS: PBD using mostly PS was effective in reducing bilirubin levels and did not detrimentally affect time interval to surgery. Median time interval to stenting-related complication occurred after 3 weeks, suggesting PS may be most useful for short-term PBD.

Clinical outcomes after double-balloon enteroscopy in patients with obscure GI bleeding and a positive capsule endoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Obscure GI bleeding (OGIB) accounts for about 5% of all patients with GI bleeding. There are limited data on double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) after a positive finding on capsule endoscopy (CE) in this setting. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical outcomes after DBE therapy. DESIGN: Prospective single-center cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary referral university hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Recurrent bleeding and blood transfusion requirements. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study of 60 consecutive patients with OGIB was conducted between July 2004 and March 2006. Patients underwent CE before DBE to target the lesion for either further diagnostic evaluation or therapeutic intervention. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) duration of follow-up was 10.0 +/- 5.2 months. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age was 62 +/- 18 years, with 31 men. A total of 74 DBE procedures were performed. An abnormality was seen by DBE in 45 patients (75%). In 12 patients (20%), a diagnosis was clarified or a new diagnosis was made. Therapy at DBE was performed in 34 patients (57%): 30 diathermies and 4 polypectomies. Endoscopic tattooing for targeted surgical removal was made in 3 additional patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified previous blood transfusion (odds ratio 10.5, 95% confidence interval 3.1-35; P < .001) to be the only independent predictor that required endoscopic therapy at DBE. Forty-eight patients (80%) had no further bleeding, and 46 patients (77%) had a normal Hb. Blood transfusion requirements fell from 34 patients to 10, P < .001. One patient had a perforation after therapeutic diathermy. LIMITATIONS: Nonrandomized study. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with OGIB and a positive finding on CE, DBE provided a safe and ambulatory method to achieve an excellent clinical outcome with significant reductions in recurrent bleeding and blood-transfusion requirements.

Normal iron metabolism and the pathophysiology of iron overload disorders.

Iron overload disorders represent a heterogenous group of conditions resulting from inherited and acquired causes. If undiagnosed they can be progressive and fatal. Early detection and phlebotomy prior to the onset of cirrhosis can reduce morbidity and normalise life expectancy. We now have greater insight into the complex mechanisms of normal and disordered iron homeostasis following the discovery of new proteins and genetic defects. Here we review the normal mechanisms and regulation of gastrointestinal iron absorption and liver iron transport and their dysregulation in iron overload states. Advances in the understanding of the natural history of iron overload disorders and new methods for clinical detection and management of hereditary haemochromatosis are also reviewed. The current screening strategies target high-risk groups such as first-degree relatives of affected individuals and those with clinical features suggestive of iron loading. Potential ethical, legal and psychosocial issues arising through application of genetic screening programs need to be resolved prior to implementation of general population screening programs.

Iron overload.

Iron overload disorders represent a heterogenous group of conditions resulting from inherited and acquired causes. With the discovery of new proteins and genetic defects we have gained greater insight into their causation at the molecular level and the complex mechanisms of normal and disordered iron homeostasis. Here we review the normal mechanisms and regulation of gastrointestinal iron absorption and liver iron transport and their dysregulation in iron overload states. Advances in the understanding of the natural history of iron overload disorders and new methods for clinical detection and management of hereditary hemochromatosis are also reviewed.