Recent advances in diagnostic upper endoscopy

BACKGROUND Esophageo-gastro-duodenoscopy(EGD)is an important procedure used for detection and diagnosis of esophago-gastric lesions.There exists no consensus on the technique of examination.AIM To identify recent advances in diagnostic EGDs to improve diagnostic yield.METHODS We queried the PubMed database for relevant articles published between January 2001 and August 2019 as well as hand searched references from recently published endoscopy guidelines.Keywords used included free text and MeSH terms addressing quality indicators and technological innovations in EGDs.Factors affecting diagnostic yield and EGD quality were identified and divided into the follow segments:Pre endoscopy preparation,sedation,examination schema,examination time,routine biopsy,image enhanced endoscopy and future developments.RESULTS We identified 120 relevant abstracts of which we utilized 67 of these studies in our review.Adequate pre-endoscopy preparation with simethicone and pronase increases gastric visibility.Proper sedation,especially with propofol,increases patient satisfaction after procedure and may improve detection of superficial gastrointestinal lesions.There is a movement towards mandatory picture documentation during EGD as well as dedicating sufficient time for examination improves diagnostic yield.The use of image enhanced endoscopy and magnifying endoscopy improves detection of squamous cell carcinoma and gastric neoplasm.The magnifying endoscopy simple diagnostic algorithm is useful for diagnosis of early gastric cancer.CONCLUSION There is a steady momentum in the past decade towards improving diagnostic yield,quality and reporting in EGDs.Other interesting innovations,such as Raman spectroscopy,endocytoscopy and artificial intelligence may have widespread endoscopic applications in the near future.

Indications and Findings of Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Elderly Patients in Parakou, Republic of Benin

Introduction: Elderly people are considered fragile and at greater risk of having malignant gastrointestinal tumors. The objective of this work was to report the reasons for performing gastrointestinal endoscopy and the lesions found during the endoscopy of this target population in Parakou. Patients and Study Methods: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study with a retrospective collection of data from January 2016 to December 2017, then from January 2020 to December 2021. It took place in the Regional Teaching Hospital of Borgou-Alibori in Parakou and in the private gastrointestinal endoscopy center of Parakou (Northern Gastrointestinal Exploration Center). All patients aged at least 60 years who had undergone an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy during the study period were included. The variables studied were: the sex, age, indications for the examination, endoscopic lesions and data from the anatomo-pathological examination. Results: In total, out of 1540 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies performed during the study period, 249 (16.17%) involved patients aged 60 years and over. The sex ratio was 1.26. The main indication for the examination was epigastric pain (123 cases, i.e. 49.40%) followed by vomiting (53 cases, i.e. 21.29%). In terms of lesions, non-tumorous gastropathy came first in the stomach (206 cases, i.e. 82.73%) while esophageal lesions were dominated by esophageal candidiasis and cardial incompetence (39 cases, i.e. 15.66% in each of the two situations). In the duodenum, ulcer was noted in 30 patients (12.05%). In 38 patients, 12 (31.58%) were tested positive for Helicobacter pylori infection. Cancers of the gastrointestinal tract were confirmed in 11 patients (4.42%). Conclusion: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy remains an excellent examination for the exploration of the upper gastrointestinal tract. In Parakou, epigastric pain represents the main indication for this examination in subjects over 60 years of age. Inflammatory or ulcerated non-tumorous gastropathy is the most commonly endoscopic lesion. Esophageal and gastric cancers are less common in this population group according to our study.

Rare causes of acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A comprehensive review

Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding(NVUGIB)is a common gastroenterological emergency associated with significant morbidity and mortality.Gastroenterologists and other involved clinicians are generally assisted by international guidelines in its management.However,NVUGIB due to peptic ulcer disease only is mainly addressed by current guidelines,with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy being recommended as the gold standard modality for both diagnosis and treatment.Conversely,the management of rare and extraordinary rare causes of NVUGIB is not covered by current guidelines.Given they are frequently lifethreatening conditions,all the involved clinicians,that is emergency physicians,diagnostic and interventional radiologists,surgeons,in addition obviously to gastroenterologists,should be aware of and familiar with their management.Indeed,they typically require a prompt diagnosis and treatment,engaging a dedicated,patient-tailored,multidisciplinary team approach.The aim of our review was to extensively summarize the current evidence with regard to the management of rare and extraordinary rare causes of NVUGIB.

Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Children Digestive Pathology in Abidjan

The aim of our study is to determine the demographic data, indications, performance, and security of gastroscopy in children in Ivory Coast. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective analytical study based on reports of upper digestive endoscopy per-formed in children (from 1 day to 15 years included) in 2 university hospitals in Abid-jan from March 2009 to March 2016. Results: 276 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies (UGIE) were performed in children during the study period. UGIE was performed with a diagnostic purpose in most cases (99%). The indications of UGIE were abdominal pains (38.95%), ingestion of caustic substances (29.82%), upper gastrointestinal bleeding (10.87%) and vomiting (10.17%). UGIE was normal in 39.49% of cases for all ages. The main anomalies observed in upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy for all ages were gastropathies (29%);caustic lesions (13.02%) and bile reflux (10.45%). Ul-cers were rarely found (2.54%). Histological examination of biopsies revealed chronic H. pylori gastritis in 67% of gastric samples examined. All endoscopic examinations were performed without incident. Conclusion: Gastroscopy is a harmless examination with a great diagnostic and therapeutic utility in digestive pathology of children in Ivory Coast.

High-flow oxygen via oxygenating mouthguard in short upper gastrointestinal endoscopy:A randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND Anaesthetic care during upper gastrointestinal(GI)endoscopy has the unique challenge of maintaining ventilation and oxygenation via a shared upper airway.Supplemental oxygen is recommended by international society guidelines,however,the optimal route or rate of oxygen delivery is not known.Various oxygen delivery devices have been investigated to improve oxygenation during upper GI endoscopy,however,these are limited by commercial availability,costs and in some cases,the expertise required for insertion.Anecdotally at our centre,higher flows of supplemental oxygen can safely be delivered via an oxygenating mouthguard routinely used during upper GI endoscopic procedures.AIM To assess the incidence of hypoxaemia(SpO2<90%)in patients undergoing upper GI endoscopy receiving supplemental oxygen using an oxygenating mouthguard at 20 L/min flow compared to standard nasal cannula(SNC)at 2 L/min flow.METHODS A single centre,prospective,randomised clinical trial at two sites of an Australian tertiary hospital between October 2020 and September 2021 was conducted.Patients undergoing elective upper gastrointestinal endoscopy under deep sedation were randomised to receive supplemental oxygen via high-flow via oxygenating mouthguard(HFMG)at 20 L/min flow or SNC at 2 L/min flow.The primary outcome was the incidence of hypoxaemia of any duration measured by pulse oximetry.Intraprocedural-related,procedural-related,and sedation-related adverse events and patient-reported outcomes were also recorded.RESULTS Three hundred patients were randomised.Eight patients were excluded after randomisation.292 patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis.The incidence of hypoxaemia was significantly reduced in those allocated HFMG.Six patients(4.4%)allocated to HFMG experienced an episode of hypoxaemia,compared to thirty-four(22.1%)patients allocated to SNC(P value<0.001).No significant difference was observed in the rates of adverse events or patient-reported outcome measures.CONCLUSION The use of HFMG offers a novel approach to reducing the incidence of hypoxaemia during short upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures in low-risk patients undergoing deep sedation.

Practice of Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy at the Mother-Child Hospital in Bamako/MALI: About 465 Cases

Introduction: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is an examination that involves exploring the upper part of the digestive tract using an endoscope. Our study was aimed to evaluate the practice of Upper GI endoscopy at the mother-child hospital in Mali. Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive retrospective study on reports of Upper GI endoscopy results in the digestive endoscopy unit at the mother-child hospital in Bamako from January to December 2018. Results: Endoscopy was performed in 465 patients including 231 males and 234 females. The sex ratio was 0.98. Patients were aged 46.69 years old on average with the extremes of 8 and 90 years old. Epigastralgia was the main referral in 50.5%. Endoscopy was normal in 24.7%. The main diagnostics were duodenogastric reflux in 32.5% and gastritis in 14.4%. Conclusion: The practice of Upper GI endoscopy at the mother-child hospital in Mali has allowed the exploration of the upper digestive tract to contribute to the diagnosis of esogastroduodenal lesions.

Patients’ Lived Experience and Injuries Observed during Upper Digestive Endoscopy at KARA Teaching Hospital (Togo)

Background: Endoscopy remains the most performant medical exam exploring the upper digestive tract;but depending on patients, its tolerance is variable. Objective: This study aimed at describing the experience and evaluating the tolerance, acceptability and injuries observed during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Methods: This is a prospective and descriptive study carried out from April to July 2017 in the digestive endoscopy unit of the Kara teaching hospital (Togo). The gastroscopy was performed by the same operator (Hepatogastroenteroloogist). The premedication was done with direct intravenous injection of 10 mg of Metoclopramide hydrochloride and viscous Lidocaine oral gel. Previously, essential information about the examination course was given to patients after obtaining their verbal consent. Patients’ impressions of the experience, tolerance and acceptability were collected on a survey sheet, before and after the examination. Results: One hundred and eleven patients were included, 62 women and 49 men. The average age was 45.9 years (15 - 88 years), and the sex ratio (F/M) was 1.2. Most of the patients (89.2%) were experiencing the gastroscopy for the first time, and the main reason was epigastralgia in 55%. The examination duration was good at 88.3% and tolerance was good at 72.1%. Tingling, irritation, pain or sore throat feelings were noted in 13.5%. Patients agreeing to make an ulterior UDE if necessary were up to 92.8%. Observed injuries were dominated by antral erythematous gastropathy (28.8%). Conclusion: UDE is well tolerated among our patients and its acceptability is high. Injuries are dominated by inflammatory pathologies of the stomach in our population.

Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Children’s Abdominal Pains in Ivory Coast

Since a longtime considered as functional and psychological, children’s abdominal pains (CAP) is a public health problem. Advances in digestive endoscopy and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) discovery have reignited the debate of the organicity of CAP. The aim of this study is to determine the diagnosis rentability of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) in CAP in Ivory Coast. Patients and Methods: This a retrospective analytical study based on reports of UGIE performed in 2 university hospital and 3 private clinics of Abidjan from march 2007 to march 2016. The children (from 1 day to 15 years) in which UGIE were performed for abdominal pains were included in the study. Results: 116 UGIE were performed in children for abdominal pains during the study period. Epigastric pain was the main indication of UGIE (88%). The diagnosis rentability of UGIE was more than 70% in this study. The main anomalies observed in UGIE were gastropathies. Ulcers were rarely found. Conclusion: UGIE play an important diagnosis role in CAP in Ivory Coast. However gastric biopsies for Helicobacter pylori research are not common practice in our country.

Artificial intelligence for cancer detection in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, current status, and future aspirations

This minireview discusses the benefits and pitfalls of machine learning,and artificial intelligence in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for the detection and characterization of neoplasms.We have reviewed the literature for relevant publications on the topic using PubMed,IEEE,Science Direct,and Google Scholar databases.We discussed the phases of machine learning and the importance of advanced imaging techniques in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and its association with artificial intelligence.

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in celiac disease at diagnosis:A multicenter international retrospective study

BACKGROUND Gastroduodenal endoscopy and biopsy following positive specific serology is considered the gold standard to diagnose celiac disease(CeD)in adults.Whether upper endoscopy helps detect comorbid conditions is unknown.AIM To investigate the prevalence of non-celiac endoscopic findings in patients in whom endoscopy was performed to confirm CeD diagnosis.METHODS This is an observational,descriptive,multicenter,retrospective study that reports endoscopic findings obtained in adult patients enrolled in local registries from four tertiary centers.We collected data reported on first endoscopy,indicated for investigation of CeD.Diagnosis of CeD was performed by histology(≥Marsh 2type mucosal damage)and specific serology.Two European and one North American center included biopsy-confirmed CeD following positive serology.A fourth center(South America)included symptomatic patients undergoing endoscopy,irrespective of CeD serology.The latter cohort included a non-CeD control group.RESULTS A total of 1328 patients(80%female;35 years median age)were enrolled,of whom 95.6%had positive specific serology.In 135 patients,endoscopy revealed 163 abnormalities unrelated to CeD(prevalence:10.1%).Erosive reflux esophagitis(6.4%),gastric erosions(2.0%),and suspicion of esophageal metaplasia(1.2%)were the most common findings.Biopsy-confirmed Barrett’s esophagus was infrequent(0.2%).No endoscopic cancer was detected.Older patients(≥51 years of age)had a higher prevalence of endoscopic findings than those≤50(P<0.01).Within the South American cohort,CeD was associated with a lower rate(8.2%)of comorbid endoscopic findings compared with controls(29.1%;P<0.001).In the adjusted multivariate analysis of this cohort,having CeD was associated with a 72%reduction in the risk of any endoscopic abnormality(P<0.0001),and having alarm symptoms was associated with a 37%reduction in the risk of finding at least one endoscopic lesion(P<0.02).CONCLUSION In this large multicenter study,young adults with positive CeD serology had few comorbid endoscopic findings.Although patients over 51 years had a high prevalence of non-CeD gastroduodenal mucosal damage,no malignancy or premalignant lesions were found.

Non-invasive model for predicting high-risk esophageal varices based on liver and spleen stiffness

BACKGROUND Acute bleeding due to esophageal varices(EVs)is a life-threatening complication in patients with cirrhosis.The diagnosis of EVs is mainly through upper gastrointestinal endoscopy,but the discomfort,contraindications and complications of gastrointestinal endoscopic screening reduce patient compliance.According to the bleeding risk of EVs,the Baveno VI consensus divides varices into high bleeding risk EVs(HEVs)and low bleeding risk EVs(LEVs).We sought to identify a non-invasive prediction model based on spleen stiffness measurement(SSM)and liver stiffness measurement(LSM)as an alternative to EVs screening.AIM To develop a safe,simple and non-invasive model to predict HEVs in patients with viral cirrhosis and identify patients who can be exempted from upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.METHODS Data from 200 patients with viral cirrhosis were included in this study,with 140 patients as the modelling group and 60 patients as the external validation group,and the EVs types of patients were determined by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and the Baveno Ⅵ consensus.Those patients were divided into the HEVs group(66 patients)and the LEVs group(74 patients).The effect of each parameter on HEVs was analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses,and a noninvasive prediction model was established.Finally,the discrimination ability,calibration ability and clinical efficacy of the new model were verified in the modelling group and the external validation group.RESULTS Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that SSM and LSM were associated with the occurrence of HEVs in patients with viral cirrhosis.On this basis,logistic regression analysis was used to construct a prediction model:Ln[P/(1-P)]=-8.184-0.228×SSM+0.642×LSM.The area under the curve of the new model was 0.965.When the cut-off value was 0.27,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the model for predicting HEVs were 100.00%,82.43%,83.52%,and 100%,respectively.Compared with the four prediction models of liver stiffness-spleen diameter to platelet ratio score,variceal risk index,aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio,and Baveno VI,the established model can better predict HEVs in patients with viral cirrhosis.CONCLUSION Based on the SSM and LSM measured by transient elastography,we established a non-invasive prediction model for HEVs.The new model is reliable in predicting HEVs and can be used as an alternative to routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy screening,which is helpful for clinical decision making.

Letter to editor‘Non-invasive model for predicting high-risk esophageal varices based on liver and spleen stiffness’

predicting high-risk esophageal varices based on liver and spleen stiffness".Acute bleeding caused by esophageal varices is a life-threatening complication in patients with liver cirrhosis.Due to the discomfort,contraindications,and associated complications of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy screening,it is crucial to identify an imaging-based non-invasive model for predicting high-risk esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis.

Noninvasive scores for the prediction of esophageal varices and risk stratification in patients with cirrhosis

The primary purpose of variceal screening in patients with cirrhosis is to detect gastroesophageal varices at high risk of hemorrhage and implement preventative intervention(s).It was previously recommended that all patients with cirrhosis undergo initial and periodic longitudinal variceal screening via upper endoscopy.However,there has been growing interest and methods to identify patients with cirrhosis who may not have clinically significant portal hypertension and therefore be unlikely to have varices requiring intervention or benefit from upper endoscopy.Because the population of patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease continues to grow,it is neither beneficial nor cost-effective to perform endoscopic variceal screening in all patients.Therefore,there is ongoing research into the development of methods to non-invasively risk stratify patients with cirrhosis for the presence of high-risk esophageal varices and effectively limit the population that undergoes endoscopic variceal screening.This is particularly important and timely in light of increasing healthcare reform and barriers to healthcare.In this review,we discuss and compare,with respect to test characteristics and clinical applicability,the available methods used to noninvasively predict the presence of esophageal varices.

Ileus Caused by Large Diverticulum of Postbulbar Duodenum: Case Report

Duodenal diverticula are common and are usually found in patients undergoing roentgenographic investigation of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The majority of these cases are asymptomatic and rarely require operative intervention. Occasionally they can result in the obstruction of the biliary and/or pancreatic ducts, haemorrhage or perforation. Symptomiatic cases may require endoscopic or surgical intervention. Herein, we present a case report of a female patient who underwent surgical procedure due to repetitive obstructive symptoms.

Impact of epinephrine volume on further bleeding due to high-risk peptic ulcer disease in the combination therapy era

BACKGROUND In monotherapy studies for bleeding peptic ulcers,large volumes of epinephrine were associated with a reduction in rebleeding.However,the impact of epinephrine volume in patients treated with combination endoscopic therapy remains unclear.AIM To assess whether epinephrine volume was associated with bleeding outcomes in individuals who also received endoscopic thermal therapy and/or clipping.METHODS Data from 132 patients with Forrest class Ia,Ib,and IIa peptic ulcers were reviewed.The primary outcome was further bleeding at 7 d;secondary outcomes included further bleeding at 30 d,need for additional therapeutic interventions,post-endoscopy blood transfusions,and 30-day mortality.Logistic and linear regression and Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed.RESULTS There was no association between epinephrine volume and all primary and secondary outcomes in multivariable analyses.Increased odds for further bleeding at 7 d occurred in patients with elevated creatinine values(aOR 1.96,95%CI 1.30-3.20;P<0.01)or hypotension requiring vasopressors(aOR 6.34,95%CI 1.87-25.52;P<0.01).Both factors were also associated with all secondary outcomes.CONCLUSION Epinephrine maintains an important role in the management of bleeding ulcers,but large volumes up to a range of 10-20 mL are not associated with improved bleeding outcomes among individuals receiving combination endoscopic therapy.Further bleeding is primarily associated with patient factors that likely cannot be overcome by increased volumes of epinephrine.However,in carefully-selected cases where ulcer location or size pose therapeutic challenges or when additional modalities are unavailable,it is conceivable that increased volumes of epinephrine may still be beneficial.

Application of an artificial intelligence system for endoscopic diagnosis of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is critical for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)detection;however,endoscopists require long-term training to avoid missing superficial lesions.AIM To develop a deep learning computer-assisted diagnosis(CAD)system for endoscopic detection of superficial ESCC and investigate its application value.METHODS We configured the CAD system for white-light and narrow-band imaging modes based on the YOLO v5 algorithm.A total of 4447 images from 837 patients and 1695 images from 323 patients were included in the training and testing datasets,respectively.Two experts and two non-expert endoscopists reviewed the testing dataset independently and with computer assistance.The diagnostic performance was evaluated in terms of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve,accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity.RESULTS The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve,accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity of the CAD system were 0.982[95%confidence interval(CI):0.969-0.994],92.9%(95%CI:89.5%-95.2%),91.9%(95%CI:87.4%-94.9%),and 94.7%(95%CI:89.0%-97.6%),respectively.The accuracy of CAD was significantly higher than that of non-expert endoscopists(78.3%,P<0.001 compared with CAD)and comparable to that of expert endoscopists(91.0%,P=0.129 compared with CAD).After referring to the CAD results,the accuracy of the non-expert endoscopists significantly improved(88.2%vs 78.3%,P<0.001).Lesions with Paris classification type 0-IIb were more likely to be inaccurately identified by the CAD system.CONCLUSION The diagnostic performance of the CAD system is promising and may assist in improving detectability,particularly for inexperienced endoscopists.