Natural orifice translumenal surgery:Flexible platform review

Natural orifice translumenal surgery(NOTES) has garnished significant attention from surgeons and gastroenterologists,due to the fusion of flexible endoscopy and operative technique.Preliminary efforts suggest that NOTES holds potential for a less invasive approach with certain surgical conditions.Many of the hurdles encountered during the shift from open to laparoscopic surgery are now being revisited in the development of NOTES.Physician directed efforts,coupled with industry support,have brought about several NOTES specific devices and platforms to help address limitations with current instrumentation.This review addresses current flexible platforms and their attributes,advantages,disadvantages and limitations.

Role of endoscopic vacuum therapy in the management of gastrointestinal transmural defects

A gastrointestinal(GI) transmural defect is defined as total rupture of the GI wall,and these defects can be divided into three categories: perforations,leaks,and fistulas. Surgical management of these defects is usually challenging and may be associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Recently,several novel endoscopic techniques have been developed,and endoscopy has become a firstline approach for therapy of these conditions. The use of endoscopic vacuum therapy(EVT) is increasing with favorable results. This technique involves endoscopic placement of a sponge connected to a nasogastric tube into the defect cavity or lumen. This promotes healing via five mechanisms,including macrodeformation,microdeformation,changes in perfusion,exudate control,and bacterial clearance,which is similar to the mechanisms in which skin wounds are treated with commonly employed wound vacuums. EVT can be used in the upper GI tract,small bowel,biliopancreatic regions,and lower GI tract,with variable success rates and a satisfactory safety profile. In this article,we review and discuss the mechanism of action,materials,techniques,efficacy,and safety of EVT in the management of patients with GI transmural defects.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus neurolysis using a reverse phase polymer

AIM:To assess the feasibility of endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)guided celiac plexus neurolysis(CPN) using a poloxamer. METHODS:In this prospective evaluation,six Yorkshire pigs underwent EUS-guided CPN.Three received an injection of 10 mL of 0.25%Lidocaine plus methylene blue(group 1) and three received an injection of 10 mL of 0.25%Lidocaine plus blue colored poloxamer(PS137-25)(group 2) .Necropsy was performed immediately after the animals were sacrificed.The abdominal and pelvic cavities were examined for the presence of methylene blue and the blue colored poloxamer.RESULTS:EUS-guided CPN was successfully performed in all 6 pigs without immediate complication.Methylene blue was identified throughout the peritoneal and retroperitoneal cavity in group 1.The blue colored poloxamer was found in the retroperitoneal cavity immediately adjacent to the aorta,in the exact location of the celiac plexus in group 2.CONCLUSION:EUS-guided CPN using a reverse phase polymer in a non-survival porcine model was technically feasible.The presence of a poloxamer gel at the site of the celiac plexus at necropsy indicates a precise delivery of the neurolytic agent.

Gallbladder perforation due to endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND The healthcare impact of obesity is enormous,and there have been calls for new approaches to containing the epidemic worldwide.Minimally invasive procedures have become more popular,with one of the most widely used being endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty(ESG).Although major adverse events after ESG are rare,some can cause considerable mortality.To our knowledge,there has been no previous report of biliary ascites after ESG.CASE SUMMARY A 48-year-old female with obesity refractory to lifestyle changes and prior gastric balloon placement underwent uncomplicated ESG and was discharged on the following day.On postoperative day 3,she developed abdominal pain,which led to an emergency department visit the following day.She was readmitted to the hospital,with poor general health status and signs of peritoneal irritation.Computed tomography imaging showed fluid in the abdominal cavity.Laparoscopy revealed biliary ascites and showed that the gallbladder was sutured to the gastric wall.The patient underwent cholecystectomy and lavage of the abdominal cavity and was admitted to the intensive care unit postoperatively.After 7 d of antibiotic therapy and 20 d of hospitalization,she was discharged.Fortunately,6 mo later,she presented in excellent general condition and with a 20.2%weight loss.CONCLUSION ESG is a safe procedure.However,adverse events can still occur,and precautions should be taken by the endoscopist.In general,patient position,depth of tissue acquisition,location of stitch placement,and endoscopist experience are all important factors to consider to mitigate procedural risk.

Safety of direct endoscopic necrosectomy in patients with gastric varices

AIM: To determine the feasibility and safety of transgastric direct endoscopic necrosectomy(DEN) in patients with walled-off necrosis(WON) and gastric varices. METHODS: A single center retrospective study of consecutive DEN for WON was performed from 2012 to 2015. All DEN cases with gastric fundal varices noted on endoscopy, computed tomography(CT) or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) during the admission for DEN were collected for analysis. In all cases, external urethral sphincter(EUS) with doppler was used to exclude the presence of intervening gastric varices or other vascular structures prior to 19 gauge fine-needle aspiration(FNA) needle access into the cavity. The tract was serially dilated to 20 mm and was entered with an endoscope for DEN. Pigtail stents were placed to facilitate drainage of the cavity. Procedure details were recorded. Comprehensive chart review was performed to evaluate for complications and WON recurrence. RESULTS: Fifteen patients who underwent DEN for WON had gastric varices at the time of their procedure. All patients had an INR < 1.5 and platelets > 50. Of these patients, 11 had splenic vein thrombosis and 2 had portal vein thrombosis. Two patients had isolated gastric varices, type 1 and the remaining 13 had > 5 mm gastric submucosal varices on imaging by CT, MRI or EUS. No procedures were terminated without completing the DEN for any reason. One patient had self-limited intraprocedural bleeding related to balloon dilation of the tract. Two patients experienced delayed bleeding at 2 and 5 d post-op respectively. One required no therapy or intervention and the other received 1unit transfusion and had an EGD which revealed no active bleeding. Resolution rate of WON was 100%(after up to 2 additional DEN in one patient) and no patients required interventional radiology or surgical interventions. CONCLUSION: In patients with WON and gastric varices, DEN using EUS and doppler guidance may be performed safely. Successful resolution of WON does not appear to be compromised by the presence of gastric varices, with similar rates of resolution and only minor bleeding events. Experienced centers should not consider gastric varices a contraindication to DEN.

Acute bleeding after argon plasma coagulation for weight regain after gastric bypass: A case report

BACKGROUND Roux-en-Y gastric bypass(RYGB) is the most commonly performed surgical procedure used to treat obesity worldwide. Despite satisfactory results in terms of weight loss, over time many patients experience weight regain. There are many factors that contribute to weight regain after RYGB, including the diameter of the gastric-jejunal anastomosis(GJA). One of the most commonly performed endoscopic procedures for weight regain after RYGB is argon plasma coagulation(APC). We report a case of hematemesis after outlet revision with APC. We highlight several treatment modalities that can be used to treat this complication.CASE SUMMARY A 45-year-old female with a history of weight regain after RYGB was referred for possible endoscopic treatment for weight regain. On endoscopic evaluation, the diameter of the GJA was 22 mm. Due to the dilated GJA, treatment with APC was performed. Several months later she reported a return of poor satiety and an increased appetite. A repeat endoscopy was then performed. The GJA was approximately 15 mm and was incompetent. APC was performed. One day post procedure she had four episodes of hematemesis. An endoscopy was performed and a large ulcer with a visible arterial vessel was visualized at the GJA.Coagulation was attempted using a Coagrasper and after initial contact with the vessel, the vessel started oozing. Due to fibrosis and the depth of ulceration in the area, clips and repeat APC could not be used. Therefore, an attempt to inject epinephrine injection was made. However, persistent oozing was noted. As a result, hemostatic powder was applied to the region of the bleeding vessel.Subsequently, no more bleeding was observed. On follow-up, the patient remained hemodynamically stable and a second look endoscopy was not performed. The patient was discharged three days later.CONCLUSION APC revision of the GJA is known to be a relatively safe and effective strategy to manage weight regain post RYGB. Anastomotic site bleeding is an infrequent and potentially life-threatening complication associated with this therapy. Endoscopic management is the first line therapy used to achieve hemostasis in these cases.

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty: From whence we came and where we are going

The most effective and durable treatment for obesity is bariatric surgery.However,less than 2% of eligible patients who fulfill the criteria for bariatric surgery undergo the procedure. As a result,there is a drive to develop less invasive therapies to combat obesity. Endoscopic bariatric therapies(EBT) for weight loss are important since they are more effective than pharmacological treatments and lifestyle changes and present lower adverse event rates compared to bariatric surgery. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty(ESG) is a minimally invasive EBT that involves remodeling of the greater curvature. ESG demonstrated favorable outcomes in several centers,with up to 20.9% total body weight loss and 60.4% excess weight loss(EWL) on 2-year follow-up,with a low rate of severe adverse events(SAE). As such,it could be considered safe and effective in light of ASGE/ASMBS thresholds of > 25% EWL and ≤ 5% SAE,although there are no comparative trials to support this. Additionally,ESG showed improvement in diabetes mellitus type 2,hypertension,and other obesity-related comorbidities. As this procedure continues to develop there are several areas that can be addressed to improve outcomes,including device improvements,technique standardization,patient selection,personalized medicine,combination therapies,and training standardization. In this editorial we discuss the origins of the ESG,current data,and future developments.

Endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration vs fine needle biopsy in solid lesions:A multi-center analysis

BACKGROUND While endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration(FNA)is considered a preferred technique for tissue sampling for solid lesions,fine needle biopsy(FNB)has recently been developed.AIM To compare the accuracy of FNB vs FNA in determining the diagnosis of solid lesions.METHODS A retrospective,multi-center study of EUS-guided tissue sampling using FNA vs FNB needles.Measured outcomes included diagnostic test characteristics(i.e.,sensitivity,specificity,accuracy),use of rapid on-site evaluation(ROSE),and adverse events.Subgroup analyses were performed by type of lesion and diagnostic yield with or without ROSE.A multivariable logistic regression was also performed.RESULTS A total of 1168 patients with solid lesions(n=468 FNA;n=700 FNB)underwent EUS-guided sampling.Mean age was 65.02±12.13 years.Overall,sensitivity,specificity and accuracy were superior for FNB vs FNA(84.70%vs 74.53%;99.29%vs 96.62%;and 87.62%vs 81.55%,respectively;P<0.001).On subgroup analyses,sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of FNB alone were similar to FNA+ROSE[(81.66%vs 86.45%;P=0.142),(100%vs 100%;P=1.00)and(88.40%vs 85.43%;P=0.320].There were no difference in diagnostic yield of FNB alone vs FNB+ROSE(P>0.05).Multivariate analysis showed no significant predictor for better accuracy.On subgroup analyses,FNB was superior to FNA for non-pancreatic lesions;however,there was no difference between the techniques among pancreatic lesions.One adverse event was reported in each group.CONCLUSION FNB is superior to FNA with equivalent diagnostic test characteristics compared to FNA+ROSE in the diagnosis of non-pancreatic solid lesions.Our results suggest that EUS-FNB may eliminate the need of ROSE and should be employed as a first-line method in the diagnosis of solid lesions.

Acute abdominal obstruction:Colon stent or emergency surgery? An evidence-based review

According to the American Cancer Society and Colorectal Cancer Statistics 2017,colorectal cancer(CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death in the world in 2018.Previous studies demonstrated that 8%-29% of patients with primary CRC present malignant colonic obstruction(MCO). In the past, emergency surgery has been the primary treatment for MCO, although morbidity and surgical mortality rates are higher in these settings than in elective procedures. In the 1990 s, selfexpanding metal stents appeared and was a watershed in the treatment of patients in gastrointestinal surgical emergencies. The studies led to high expectations because the use of stents could prevent surgical intervention, such as colostomy, leading to lower morbidity and mortality, possibly resulting in higher quality of life. This review was designed to provide present evidence of the indication, technique, outcomes, benefits, and risks of these treatments in acute MCO through the analysis of previously published studies and current guidelines.

Assessment of the July effect in post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis:Nationwide Inpatient Sample

To assess incidence of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (post-ERCP) pancreatitis in the early (July/August/September) vs the late (April/May/June) academic year and evaluate in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), and total hospitalization charge between these time periods. METHODSThis was a retrospective cohort study using the 2012 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). Patients with International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9 CM) procedure codes for ERCP were included. Patients were excluded from the study if they had an ICD-9 CM code for a principal diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, if the ERCP was performed before or on the day of admission or if they were admitted to non-teaching hospitals. Post-ERCP pancreatitis was defined as an ICD-9 CM code for a secondary diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in patients who received an ERCP as delineated above. ERCPs performed during the months of July, August and September was compared to those performed in April, May and June in academic hospitals. ERCPs performed at academic hospitals during the early vs late year were compared. Primary outcome was incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, length LOS, and total hospitalization charge. Proportions were compared using fisher’s exact test and continuous variables using student t-test. Multivariable regression was performed. RESULTSFrom the 36480032 hospitalizations in 2012 in the United States, 6248 were included in the study (3065 in July/August/September and 3183 in April/May/June) in the 2012 academic year. Compared with patients admitted in July/August/September, patients admitted in April/May/June had no statistical difference in all variables including mean age, percent female, Charleston comorbidity index, race, median income, and hospital characteristics including region, bed size, and location. Incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis in early vs late academic year were not statistically significant (OR = 1.03, 95%CI: 0.71-1.51, P = 0.415). Similarly, the adjusted odds ratio of mortality, LOS, and total hospitalization charge in early compared to late academic year were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONIncidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis does not differ at academic institutions depending on the time of year. Similarly, mortality, LOS, and total hospital charge do not demonstrate the existence of a temporal effect, suggesting that trainee level of experience does not impact clinical outcomes in patients undergoing ERCP.

Alternative uses of lumen apposing metal stents

The advent of lumen apposing metal stents(LAMS)has revolutionized the management of many complex gastroenterological conditions that previously required surgical or radiological interventions.These procedures have garnered popularity due to their minimally invasive nature,higher technical and clinical success rate and lower rate of adverse events.By virtue of their unique design,LAMS provide more efficient drainage,serve as conduit for endoscopic access,are associated with lower rates of leakage and are easy to be removed.Initially used for drainage of pancreatic fluid collections,the use of LAMS has been extended to gallbladder and biliary drainage,treatment of luminal strictures,creation of gastrointestinal fistulae,pancreaticobiliary drainage,improved access for surgically altered anatomy,and drainage of intra-abdominal and pelvic abscesses as well as post-surgical fluid collections.As new indications of endosonographic techniques and LAMS continue to evolve,this review summarizes the current role of LAMS in the management of these various complex conditions and also highlights clinical pearls to guide successful placement of LAMS.