Efficacy, risk factors and complications of endoscopic polypectomy: Ten year experience at a single center

AIM: To examine the efficacy and complications of colonoscopic resection of colorectal polypoid lesions. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 1354 polypectomies performed on 1038 patients over a ten- year period. One hundred and sixty of these were performed for large polyps, those measuring ≥ 20 mm. Size, shape, location, histology, the technique of polypectomy used, complications, drugs assumption and associated intestinal or extra intestinal diseases were analyzed. For statistical analysis, the Pearson χ2 test, NPC test and a Binary Logistic Regression were used. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 65.9 ± 12.4 years, with 671 men and 367 women. The mean size of polyps removed was 9.45 ± 9.56 mm while the size of large polyps was 31.5 ± 10.8 mm. There were 388 pedunculated and 966 sessile polyps and the most common location was the sigmoid colon (41.3%). The most frequent histology was tubular adenoma (55.9%) while for the large polyps was villous (92/160 -57.5%). Coexistent malignancy was observed in 28 polyps (2.1%) and of these, 20 were large polyps. There were 17 procedural bleeding (1.3%) and one perforation. The statistical analysis showed that cancer is correlated to polyp size (P < 0.0001); sessile shape (P < 0.0001) and bleeding are correlated to cardiac disease (P = 0.034), tubular adenoma (P = 0.016) and polyp size.CONCLUSION: The endoscopic resection is a simple and safe procedure for removing colon rectal neoplastic lesions and should be considered the treatment of choice for large colorectal polyps. The polyp size is an important risk factor for malignancy and for bleeding.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided treatments: Are we getting evidence based- a systematic review

The continued need to develop less invasive alternatives to surgical and radiologic interventions has driven the development of endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)-guided treatments.These include EUS-guided drainage of pancreatic fluid collections,EUS-guided necrosectomy,EUS-guided cholangiography and biliary drainage,EUSguided pancreatography and pancreatic duct drainage,EUS-guided gallbladder drainage,EUS-guided drainage of abdominal and pelvic fluid collections,EUS-guided celiac plexus block and celiac plexus neurolysis,EUSguided pancreatic cyst ablation,EUS-guided vascular interventions,EUS-guided delivery of antitumoral agents and EUS-guided fiducial placement and brachytherapy.However these procedures are technically challenging and require expertise in both EUS and interventional endoscopy,such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and gastrointestinal stenting.We undertook a systematic review to record the entire body of literature accumulated over the past 2decades on EUS-guided interventions with the objective of performing a critical appraisal of published articles,based on the classification of studies according to levels of evidence,in order to assess the scientific progress made in this field.

High circulating D-dimers are associated with ascites and hepatocellular carcinoma in liver cirrhosis

AIM: To measure plasma D-dimer levels in cirrhotic patients with and without ascites, assessing the effect of ascites resolution in D-dimer concentration. METHODS: Seventy consecutive cirrhotic patients (M = 44, F = 26, mean age 65 years, SD ± 13), observed from October 2005 to March 2006 were enrolled. Circulating D-dimer levels were measured using a latex-enhanced, immunoturbidimetric test. In patients with ascites (n = 42) the test was repeated after ascites resolution. RESULTS: Ascites was present in 42 patients (group A) and absent in 28 (group B). Group A patients had more advanced liver disease. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was diagnosed in 14 patients and was more frequent in group B. Above normal range D-dimers were found in 45/70 patients. High D-dimers were more frequent in group A than in group B (P = 0.001). High D-dimers were associated with presence of HCC (P = 0.048) only in group B. After ascites resolution, obtained in all patients, mean D-dimer values decreased in those 34 patients with high basal levels (P = 0.007), returning to normal in 17. CONCLUSION: In patients with liver cirrhosis, ascites and HCC are the main factors associated with increased fibrinolytic activity.

胰腺的液体集合的内视镜的指导超声的排水

Pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) develop secondary to either fluid leakage or liquefaction of pancreatic necrosis following acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, surgery or abdominal trauma. Pancreatic fluid collections include acute fluid collections, acute and chronic pancreatic pseudocysts, pancreatic abscesses and pancreatic necrosis. Before the introduction of linear endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the 1990s and the subsequent development of endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage (EUS-GD) procedures, the available options for drainage in symptomatic PFCs included surgical drainage, percutaneous drainage using radiological guidance and conventional endoscopic transmural drainage. In recent years, it has gradually been recog-nized that, due to its lower morbidity rate compared to the surgical and percutaneous approaches, endoscopic treatment may be the preferred first-line approach for managing symptomatic PFCs. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage has the following advantages, when compared to other alternatives such as surgical, per-cutaneous and non-EUS-guided endoscopic drainage.EUS-GD is less invasive than surgery and therefore does not require general anesthesia. The morbidity rate is lower, recovery is faster and the costs are lower. EUS-GD can avoid local complications related to per-cutaneous drainage. Because the endoscope is placed adjacent to the fluid collection, it can have direct ac-cess to the fluid cavity, unlike percutaneous drainage which traverses the abdominal wall. Complications such as bleeding, inadvertent puncture of adjacent viscera, secondary infection and prolonged periods of drainage with resultant pancreatico-cutaneous fistulae may be avoided. The only difference between EUS and non-EUS drainage is the initial step, namely, gaining access to the pancreatic fluid collection. All the sub-sequent steps are similar, i.e., insertion of guide-wires with fluoroscopic guidance, balloon dilatation of the cystogastrostomy and insertion of transmural stents or nasocystic catheters. With the introduction of the EUS-scope equipped with a large operative channel which permits drainage of the PFCs in 'one step', EUS-GD has been increasingly carried out in many tertiary care centers and has expanded the safety and efficacy of this modality, allowing access to and drainage of overly challenging fluid collections. However, the nature of the PFCs determines the outcome of this procedure. The technique and review of current literature regarding EUS-GD of PFCs will be discussed.

Outcome of stenting in biliary and pancreatic benign and malignant diseases:A comprehensive review

Endoscopic stenting has become a widely method for the management of various malignant and benign pancreatico-biliary disorders. Biliary and pancreatic stents are devices made of plastic or metal used primarily to establish patency of an obstructed bile or pancreatic duct and may also be used to treat biliary or pancreatic leaks,pancreatic fluid collections and to prevent post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis. In this review,relevant literature search and expert opinions have been used to evaluate the outcome of stenting in biliary and pancreatic benign and malignant diseases.

Biliary and pancreatic stenting:Devices and insertiontechniques in therapeutic endoscopic retrogradecholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasonography

Stents are tubular devices made of plastic or metal. Endoscopic stenting is the most common treatment for obstruction of the common bile duct or of the main pancreatic duct, but also employed for the treatment of bilio-pancreatic leakages, for preventing post- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis and to drain the gallbladder and pancreatic fluid collections. Recent progresses in techniques of stent insertion and metal stent design are represented by new, fullycovered lumen apposing metal stents. These stents are specifically designed for transmural drainage, with a saddle-shape design and bilateral flanges, to provide lumen-to-lumen anchoring, reducing the risk of migration and leakage. This review is an update of the technique of stent insertion and metal stent deployment, of the most recent data available on stent types and characteristics and the new applications for biliopancreatic stents.

Serum chromogranin-A in hepatocellular carcinoma: Diagnostic utility and limits

AIM: The utility of serum alpha-fetoprotein (α-FP) for the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is questionable.High serum levels of chromogranin-A (CgA) have recently been reported in HCC. Impaired hepatic, renal, and heart functions influence circulating CgA. The aim of this study was to assess sensitivity and specificity of serum CgA as a marker of HCC in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC).METHODS: Serum CgA levels were measured by RIA in 339 patients of which 54 HCC, 132 LC, 45 chronic hepatitis (CH), 27 chronic heart failure (CHF), 36 chronic renal failure (CRF), 45 chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)as disease controls and in 75 healthy controls. Patients with liver disease or IBD and concomitant renal and/or heart failure were excluded. Pearson correlation, nonparametric combination test and confidence interval analysis were used for statistical analysis.RESULTS: Serum CgA above normal values (100 ng/mL)were found in 83% of HCC patients, in 48% of LC patients,in 20% of CH patients, in 33% of IBD patients, in 92% of CRF patients, in 100% of CHF patients, and in none of the healthy controls. The mean CgA values in HCC (769±1 046), in LC (249±369), in CH (87±94), in CRF (1 390±1 401), in CHF (577±539), in IBD (146±287) were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (48±18).HCC patients had higher CgA values (P＜0.01) than LC,CH, and IBD patients but did not differ from those with CRF or CHF. The 95% CI for the mean (250-1 289 ng/mL)in HCC patients was selected as a CgA range and the lower value of such range was assumed as cut-off.Sensitivity and specificity of CgA, calculated in relation to the cut-off in patients with cirrhosis and HCC, were respectively 61% (CI 48-73%) and 82% (CI 75-88%).Serum α-FP values were ＞200 ng/mL in 21% of the HCC patients and in none of the LC patients. No significant correlation was found between α-FP and CgA in patients with HCC and in patients with cirrhosis.CONCLUSION: When HCC is suspected and α-FP is normal or ＜200 ng/mL, CgA serum values represent a complementary diagnostic tool, unless kidney or heart failure is present.

Role of endoscopy in management of gastrointestinal complications of portal hypertension

The management of patients with gastrointestinal complications of portal hypertension is often complex and challenging. The endoscopy plays an important role in the management of these patients. The role of endoscopy is both diagnostic and interventional and in the last years the techniques have undergone a rapid expansion with the advent of different and novel endoscopic modalities, with consequent improvement of investigation and treatment of these patients. The choice of best therapeutic strategy depends on many factors: baseline disease, patient's clinical performance and the timing when it is done if in emergency or a prophylactic approaches. In this review we evaluate the endoscopic management of patients with the gastrointestinal complications of portal hypertension.

Over-the-scope clips in the treatment of gastrointestinal tract iatrogenic perforation: A multicenter retrospective study and a classification of gastrointestinal tract perforations

AIM: To determine the outcome of the management of iatrogenic gastrointestinal tract perforations treated by over-the-scope clip(OTSC) placement.METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 20 patients(13 female and 7 male; mean age: 70.6 ± 9.8 years) in eight high-volume tertiary referral centers with upper or lower iatrogenic gastrointestinal tract perforation treated by OTSC placement. Gastrointestinal tract perforation could be with oval-shape or with round-shape. Ovalshape perforations were closed by OTSC only by suction and the round-shape by the "twin-grasper" plus suction. RESULTS: Main perforation diameter was 10.1 ± 4.3 mm(range 3-18 mm). The technical success rate was 100%(20/20 patients) and the clinical success rate was 90%(18/20 patients). Two patients(10%) who did not have complete sealing of the defect underwent surgery. Based upon our observations we propose two types of perforation: Round-shape "type-1 perforation" and oval-shape "type-2 perforation". Eight(40%) out of the 20 patients had a type-1 perforation and 12 patients a type-2(60%). CONCLUSION: OTSC placement should be attempted after perforation occurring during diagnostic or therapeutic endoscopy. A failed closure attempt does not impair subsequent surgical treatment.

Novel frontiers of agents for bowel cleansing for colonoscopy

The incidence of colorectal cancer(CRC)is characterized by rapid declines in the wake of widespread screening.Colonoscopy is the gold standard for CRC screening,but its accuracy is related to high quality of bowel preparation(BP).In this review,we aimed to summarized the current strategy to increase bowel cleansing before colonoscopy.Newly bowel cleansing agents were developed with the same efficacy of previous agent but requiring less amount of liquid to improve patients’acceptability.The role of the diet before colonoscopy was also changed,as well the contribution of educational intervention and the use of adjunctive drugs to improve patients’tolerance and/or quality of BP.The review also described BP in special situations,as lower gastrointestinal bleeding,elderly people,patients with chronic kidney disease,patients with inflammatory bowel disease,patients with congestive heart failure,inpatient,patient with previous bowel resection,pregnant/lactating patients.The review underlined the quality of BP should be described using a validate scale in colonoscopy report and it explored the available scales.Finally,the review explored the possible contribution of bowel cleansing in post-colonoscopy syndrome that can be related by a transient alteration of gut microbiota.Moreover,the study underlined several points needed to further investigations.

Diagnosis, treatment, and current concepts in the endoscopic management of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms(GEP-NENs)are rare tumors derived from the neuroendocrine cell system,which that have increased in incidence and prevalence in recent years.Despite improvements in radiological and metabolic imaging,endoscopy still plays a pivotal role in the number of GEPNENs.Tumor detection,characterization,and staging are essential in management and treatment planning.Upper and lower gastrointestinal(GI)endoscopy is essential for correct localization of the primary tumor site of GI NENs.Endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)has an important role in the imaging and tissue acquisition of pancreatic NENs and locoregional staging of GI neuroendocrine tumors.Correct staging and histological diagnosis have important prognostic implications.Endoscopic operating techniques allow the removal of small GI NENs in the early stage of mucosal or submucosal invasion of the intestinal wall.Preoperative EUS-guided techniques may help the surgeon locate small and deep tumors,thus avoiding formal pancreatic resections in favor of parenchymal-sparing surgery.Finally,locoregional ablative treatments have been proposed in recent studies with promising results in selected patients.

Serologic diagnosis of celiac disease: May it be suitable for adults?

The diagnosis of coeliac disease(CD)in adult patients requires the simultaneous assessment of clinical presentation,serology,and typical histological picture of villous atrophy.However,several years ago,the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology,Hepatology,and Nutrition guidelines approved new criteria for the diagnosis in children:Biopsy could be avoided when antitransglutaminase antibody(TGA)values exceed the cut-off of×10 upper limit of normal(ULN)and anti-endomysium antibodies are positive,independently from value.This“no biopsy”approach is a decisive need for pediatric population,allowing to avoid stressful endoscopic procedures in children,if unnecessary.This approach relies on the correlation existing in children between TGA levels and assessment of mucosal atrophy according to Marsh’s classification.Several lines of evidence have shown that patients with villous atrophy have markedly elevated TGA levels.Therefore,we aim to perform a narrative review on the topic in adults.Despite that some studies confirmed that the×10 ULN threshold value has a very good diagnostic performance,several lines of evidence in adults suggest that TGA cut off should be different from that of pediatric population for reaching a good correlation with histological picture.In conclusion,the heterogeneity of study reports as well as some conditions,which may hamper the serological diagnosis of CD(such as seronegative CD and non-celiac villous atrophy)and are much more common in adults than in children,could represent a limitation for the“no biopsy”approach to CD diagnosis in patients outside the pediatric age.

Low utility of plasma Nociceptin/orphanin FQ in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

瞄准：在肝细胞癌(HCC ) 的察觉的浆液 alpha-fetoprotein (alpha-FP ) 的用途是可疑的。nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ ) 的很高的传播层次，为新奇 opioid 受体的 ligand，最近在 HCC 被报导了。这研究的目的是在与肝肝硬化在病人产生的 HCC 的诊断估计血浆 N/OFQ 的角色。方法：血浆 N/OFQ 层次被 ELISA 在 58 个病人(28 HCC 和 30 肝肝硬化) 并且在 25 健康控制测量。价值被相关与临床并且实验室特征包括 alpha-FP。枪兵索引，寒风伊朗的银币相关系数，非参量的联合(NPC ) 测试和判别式逐步的分析被用于数据的统计评估。结果：nociceptin 的上面的正常限度是 122 pg/mL。在这上面的血浆层次截止与 HCC 在 21.4% 病人被发现，在 23.3% 那些与肝硬化并且在 8% 健康题目。200 ng/mL 与肝硬化那些与 HCC 并且在没有在 46.4% 病人被发现的 alpha-FP 浆液层次 】 。没有关联在 N/OFQ 层次和任何东西之间被发现临床并且实验室特征，包括 alpha-FP。由 NPC 测试， HCC 和肝脏硬化症的病人关于 alpha-FP 是不同的(P = 0.000 ) 然而并非以 nociceptin (P = 0.595 ) 。由点寒风伊朗的银币关联， HCC 存在断然与 alpha-FP 被相关(rpb = 0.52， P = 0.000 ) 然而并非与 N/OFQ (rpb = 0.16， P = 0.157 ) 。在判别式分析， alpha-FP 在 Wilks 测试是重要的(Y =-0.709 + 0.03 alpha-FP ) 并且适当地分类 81% 所有病人和 61% HCC。N/OFQ 比 alpha-FP 有更低的敏感，特性和预兆的价值。结论：Nociceptin 与长期的肝疾病在病人被增加，独立于 HCC 的存在，尽管内在的机制还得被澄清。我们断定它不是为 HCC 的一个有用标记。