Capsule endoscopy and panendoscopy:A journey to the future of gastrointestinal endoscopy

In 2000,the small bowel capsule revolutionized the management of patients with small bowel disorders.Currently,the technological development achieved by the new models of double-headed endoscopic capsules,as miniaturized devices to evaluate the small bowel and colon[pan-intestinal capsule endoscopy(PCE)],makes this non-invasive procedure a disruptive concept for the management of patients with digestive disorders.This technology is expected to identify which patients will require conventional invasive endoscopic procedures(colonoscopy or balloon-assisted enteroscopy),based on the lesions detected by the capsule,i.e.,those with an indication for biopsies or endoscopic treatment.The use of PCE in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases,namely Crohn’s disease,as well as in patients with iron deficiency anaemia and/or overt gastrointestinal(GI)bleeding,after a non-diagnostic upper endoscopy(esophagogastroduodenoscopy),enables an effective,safe and comfortable way to identify patients with relevant lesions,who should undergo subsequent invasive endoscopic procedures.The recent development of magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy to evaluate the upper GI tract,is a further step towards the possibility of an entirely non-invasive assessment of all the segments of the digestive tract,from mouth-to-anus,meeting the expectations of the early developers of capsule endoscopy.

Virtual reality tools for training in gastrointestinal endoscopy:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Virtual reality(VR)has emerged as an innovative technology in endoscopy training,providing a simulated environment that closely resembles real-life scenarios and offering trainees a valuable platform to acquire and enhance their endoscopic skills.This systematic review will critically evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of VR-based training compared to traditional methods.AIM To evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of VR-based training compared to traditional methods.By examining the current state of the field,this review seeks to identify gaps,challenges,and opportunities for further research and implementation of VR in endoscopic training.METHODS The study is a systematic review,following the guidelines for reporting systematic reviews set out by the PRISMA statement.A comprehensive search command was designed and implemented and run in September 2023 to identify relevant studies available,from electronic databases such as PubMed,Scopus,Cochrane,and Google Scholar.The results were systematically reviewed.RESULTS Sixteen articles were included in the final analysis.The total number of participants was 523.Five studies focused on both upper endoscopy and colonoscopy training,two on upper endoscopy training only,eight on colonoscopy training only,and one on sigmoidoscopy training only.Gastrointestinal Mentor virtual endoscopy simulator was commonly used.Fifteen reported positive results,indicating that VR-based training was feasible and acceptable for endoscopy learners.VR technology helped the trainees enhance their skills in manipulating the endoscope,reducing the procedure time or increasing the technical accuracy,in VR scenarios and real patients.Some studies show that the patient discomfort level decreased significantly.However,some studies show there were no significant differences in patient discomfort and pain scores between VR group and other groups.CONCLUSION VR training is effective for endoscopy training.There are several well-designed randomized controlled trials with large sample sizes,proving the potential of this innovative tool.Thus,VR should be more widely adopted in endoscopy training.Furthermore,combining VR training with conventional methods could be a promising approach that should be implemented in training.

Indications and Results of Lower Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in a Regional Hospital Center in Senegal

Introduction: Gastrointestinal endoscopy plays a crucial role in the management of gastrointestinal diseases. The aim of this study was to report the indications and results of lower digestive endoscopy in a hospital center in Senegal. Patients and Methods: We conducted a descriptive retrospective study from September 1st, 2017, to September 30, 2018 at the gastrointestinal endoscopy unit of the regional hospital center of Thiès. All patients received for lower gastrointestinal endoscopy and whose reports were usable, were included. In the reports, we collected and analyzed sociodemographic data, indication and results of the endoscopic examination. Results: We included 250 patients. There were 140 men (sex ratio 1.27). The average age was 42 years [range 1 - 92 years]. There were 37 colonoscopies (14.8%), 51 rectosigmoidoscopies (20.4%) and 162 anorectoscopies (64.8%). The patients were from the region of Thiès in 82% of cases. In most cases, they were most often referred by general practitioners (22.8%) and surgeons (20.8%). The main indications were rectal bleeding (36.8%), hemorrhoidal disease (23.2%) and proctalgia (11.6%). Hemorrhoidal disease (63.6%), anal fistula (14%) and tumors (8.8%) were the most common pathologies. Conclusion: Admitted patients at the gastrointestinal endoscopy unit of the regional hospital center of Thiès have many indications as well as pathologies. Anal pathology is dominated by hemorrhoidal disease.

Orientation in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy—the only way is up

BACKGROUND Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy is the gold standard investigation for the upper gastrointestinal(UGI)tract.Orientation during endoscopy is challenging and United Kingdom training focusses on technical competence and procedural safety.The reported location of UGI pathologies is crucial to post-endoscopic planning.AIM To evaluate endoscopists’ability to spatially orientate themselves within the UGI tract.METHODS A cross sectional descriptive study elicited,using an anonymised survey,the ability of endoscopists to orientate themselves within the UGI tract.The primary outcome was percentage of correct answers from all surveyed;secondary outcomes were percentage of correct answers from experienced vs novice endoscopists.Pearson’sχ2 test was applied to compare groups.RESULTS Of 188 respondents,86 were experienced endoscopists having completed over 1000 endoscopies.44.4%of respondents correctly identified the anterior stomach and 47.3%correctly identified the posterior of the second part of the duodenum(D2).Experienced endoscopists were significantly more likely than novice to identify the anterior stomach correctly[61.6%vs 31.3%,X2(1,n=188)=11.10,P=0.001].There was no significant difference between the two groups in identifying the posterior of D2.CONCLUSION The majority of endoscopists surveyed were unable to identify key landmarks within the UGI tract.Endoscopic orientation appears to improve with experience yet there are some areas still not well recognised.This has potential considerable impact on post-endoscopic management of patients with posterior duodenal ulcers being more likely to perforate and associated with a higher rebleeding risk.We suggest the development of a consensus statement on endoscopic description.

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.

Paediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy in the Asian-Pacific region:Recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques

There has been a rapid expansion in the knowledge of paediatric gastroenterology over the recent decade,with a fast-growing repertoire of diagnostic techniques and management strategies for a wide spectrum of childhood gastrointestinal(GI)diseases.Paediatric GI endoscopy is a core competency every paediatric gastroenterologist should possess,and represents one of the most common procedures performed in children for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.Yet there remains a dearth of literature on the utility and outcomes of paediatric GI endoscopy in the Asia-Pacific region.Data on the diagnostic value of paediatric GI endoscopy would be an important aspect of discussion,with the emergence of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)and eosinophilic GI disease as increasingly common endoscopic diagnoses.Time-based trends in paediatric GI endoscopy do point towards more IBD and gastroesophageal reflux disease-related complications being diagnosed,with a declining incidence of GI bleeding.However,the real-world diagnostic value of endoscopy in Asia must be contextualised to the region-specific prevalence of paediatric GI diseases.Helicobacter pylori infection,particularly that of multidrug-resistant strains,remains a highly prevalent problem in specific regions.Paediatric functional GI disorders still account for the majority of childhood GI complaints in most centres,hence the diagnostic yield of endoscopy should be critically evaluated in the absence of alarm symptoms.GI therapeutic endoscopy is also occasionally required for children with ingested foreign bodies,intestinal polyposis or oesophageal strictures requiring dilation.Endoscopic haemostasis is a potentially life-saving skill in cases of massive GI bleeding typically from varices or peptic ulcers.Advanced endoscopic techniques such as capsule endoscopy and balloon-assisted enteroscopy have found traction,particularly in East Asian centres,as invaluable diagnostic and therapeutic tools in the management of IBD,obscure GI bleeding and intestinal polyposis.State of the art endoscopic diagnostics and therapeutics,including the use of artificial intelligence-aided endoscopy algorithms,real-time confocal laser endomicroscopy and peroral endoscopic myotomy,are expected to gain more utility in paediatrics.As paediatric gastroenterology matures as a subspecialty in Asia,it is essential current paediatric endoscopists and future trainees adhere to minimum practice standards,and keep abreast of the evolving trends in the diagnostic and therapeutic value of endoscopy.This review discusses the available published literature on the utility of paediatric GI endoscopy in Asia Pacific,with the relevant clinical outcomes.

Three cases of jejunal tumors detected by standard upper gastrointestinal endoscopy:A case series

BACKGROUND In patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding,re-examination with standard upper endoscopes by experienced physicians will identify culprit lesions in a substantial proportion of patients.A common practice is to insert an adult-sized forward-viewing endoscope into the second part of the duodenum.When the endoscope tip enters after the papilla,which is a marker for the descending part of the duodenum,it is difficult to endoscopically judge how far the duodenum has been traversed beyond the second part.CASE SUMMARY We experienced three cases of proximal jejunal masses that were diagnosed by standard upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and confirmed with surgery.The patients visited the hospital with a history of melena;during the initial upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy,the bleeding site was not confirmed.Upper gastrointestinal bleeding was suspected;thus,according to guidelines,upper endoscopy was performed again.A hemorrhagic mass was discovered in the small intestine.The lesion of the first patient was thought to be located in the duodenum when considering the general insertion depth of a typical upper gastrointestinal endoscope;however,during surgery,it was confirmed that it was in the jejunum.After the first case,lesions in the second and third patients were detected at the jejunum by inserting the standard upper endoscope as deep as possible.CONCLUSION The deep insertion of standard endoscopes is useful for the diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Relationships of hospitalization outcomes and timing to endoscopy in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding:A nationwide analysis

BACKGROUND The optimal timing of esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)and the impact of clinico-demographic factors on hospitalization outcomes in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding(NVUGIB)remains an area of active research.AIM To identify independent predictors of outcomes in patients with NVUGIB,with a particular focus on EGD timing,anticoagulation(AC)status,and demographic features.METHODS A retrospective analysis of adult patients with NVUGIB from 2009 to 2014 was performed using validated ICD-9 codes from the National Inpatient Sample database.Patients were stratified by EGD timing relative to hospital admission(≤24 h,24-48 h,48-72 h,and>72 h)and then by AC status(yes/no).The primary outcome was all-cause inpatient mortality.Secondary outcomes included healthcare usage.RESULTS Of the 1082516 patients admitted for NVUGIB,553186(51.1%)underwent EGD.The mean time to EGD was 52.8 h.Early(<24 h from admission)EGD was associated with significantly decreased mortality,less frequent intensive care unit admission,shorter length of hospital stays,lower hospital costs,and an increased likelihood of discharge to home(all with P<0.001).AC status was not associated with mortality among patients who underwent early EGD(aOR 0.88,P=0.193).Male sex(OR 1.30)and Hispanic(OR 1.10)or Asian(aOR 1.38)race were also independent predictors of adverse hospitalization outcomes in NVUGIB.CONCLUSION Based on this large,nationwide study,early EGD in NVUGIB is associated with lower mortality and decreased healthcare usage,irrespective of AC status.These findings may help guide clinical management and would benefit from prospective validation.

Cardiopulmonary prognosis of prophylactic endotracheal intubation in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding undergoing endoscopy

BACKGROUND:It is controversial whether prophylactic endotracheal intubation(PEI)protects the airway before endoscopy in critically ill patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding(UGIB).The study aimed to explore the predictive value of PEI for cardiopulmonary outcomes and identify high-risk patients with UGIB undergoing endoscopy.METHODS:Patients undergoing endoscopy for UGIB were retrospectively enrolled in the eICU Collaborative Research Database(eICU-CRD).The composite cardiopulmonary outcomes included aspiration,pneumonia,pulmonary edema,shock or hypotension,cardiac arrest,myocardial infarction,and arrhythmia.The incidence of cardiopulmonary outcomes within 48 h after endoscopy was compared between the PEI and non-PEI groups.Logistic regression analyses and propensity score matching analyses were performed to estimate effects of PEI on cardiopulmonary outcomes.Moreover,restricted cubic spline plots were used to assess for any threshold effects in the association between baseline variables and risk of cardiopulmonary outcomes(yes/no)in the PEI group.RESULTS:A total of 946 patients were divided into the PEI group(108/946,11.4%)and the non-PEI group(838/946,88.6%).After propensity score matching,the PEI group(n=50)had a higher incidence of cardiopulmonary outcomes(58.0%vs.30.3%,P=0.001).PEI was a risk factor for cardiopulmonary outcomes after adjusting for confounders(odds ratio[OR]3.176,95%confidence interval[95%CI]1.567-6.438,P=0.001).The subgroup analysis indicated the similar results.A shock index>0.77 was a predictor for cardiopulmonary outcomes in patients undergoing PEI(P=0.015).The probability of cardiopulmonary outcomes in the PEI group depended on the Charlson Comorbidity Index(OR 1.465,95%CI 1.079-1.989,P=0.014)and shock index>0.77(compared with shock index≤0.77[OR 2.981,95%CI 1.186-7.492,P=0.020,AUC=0.764]).CONCLUSION:PEI may be associated with cardiopulmonary outcomes in elderly and critically ill patients with UGIB undergoing endoscopy.Furthermore,a shock index greater than 0.77 could be used as a predictor of a worse prognosis in patients undergoing PEI.

Recent upper gastrointestinal panendoscopy increases the risk of pyogenic liver abscess

AIM To investigate the association between a recent gastrointestinal(GI) endoscopy and the subsequent risk of pyogenic liver abscess(PLA).METHODS We designed a nested case control study. Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, 2135 patients with a first diagnosis of PLA were identified from 1998 to 2011. Another 10675 patients without PLA matched by age and sex were selected as reference controls. We identified and compared the possible risk factors for PLA and GI endoscopies performed before the index date(when PLA was diagnosed) between the two cohorts. Multivariate analysis was conducted to examine the risk of PLA within the 90 d after the GI endoscopies.RESULTS Patients with a history of diabetes [adjusted odds ratio(a OR) = 4.92, 95%CI: 1.78-13.61], end-stage renal disease(a OR = 3.98, 95%CI: 1.45-10.91), biliary tract infection(a OR = 2.68, 95%CI: 2.11-3.40), liver cirrhosis(a OR = 2.19, 95%CI: 1.39-3.46), GI malignancies(a OR = 5.68, 95%CI: 4.23-7.64), appendicitis(a OR = 3.16, 95%CI: 2.27-4.41), diverticulitis(a OR = 1.64, 95%CI: 1.01-2.64), and recent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(a OR = 27.04, 95%CI: 11.65-62.72) were significantly associated with an increased risk of PLA. After adjusting for the above risk factors and the frequency of outpatient department visits and abdominal ultrasounds during 90 d before the index date, an upper GI panendoscopy(a OR = 2.75, 95%CI: 2.05-3.69) but not a lower GI endoscopy(a OR = 1.07, 95%CI: 0.62-1.86) was significantly associated with PLA.CONCLUSION An upper GI panendoscopy performed before 90 d may increase the risk of PLA.

Evaluating the accuracy of American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guidelines in patients with acute gallstone pancreatitis with choledocholithiasis

BACKGROUND Acute gallstone pancreatitis(AGP) is the most common cause of acute pancreatitis(AP) in the United States. Patients with AGP may also present with choledocholithiasis. In 2010, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy(ASGE) suggested a management algorithm based on probability for choledocholithiasis, recommending additional imaging for patients at intermediate risk and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) for patients at high risk of choledocholithiasis. In 2019, the ASGE guidelines were updated using more specific criteria to categorize individuals at high risk for choledocholithiasis. Neither ASGE guideline has been studied in AGP to determine the probability of having choledocholithiasis.AIM To determine compliance with ASGE guidelines, assess outcomes, and compare 2019 vs 2010 ASGE criteria for suspected choledocholithiasis in AGP.METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 882 patients admitted with AP to a single tertiary care center from 2008-2018. AP was diagnosed using revised Atlanta criteria and AGP was defined as the presence of gallstones on imaging or with cholestatic pattern of liver injury in the absence of another cause. Patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic malignancy were excluded as were those who went directly to cholecystectomy prior to assessment for choledocholithiasis. Patients were assigned low, intermediate or high risk based on ASGE guidelines. Our primary outcomes of interest were the proportion of patients in the intermediate risk group undergoing magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(MRCP) first and the proportion of patients in the high risk group undergoing ERCP directly without preceding imaging. Secondary outcomes of interest included outcome differences based on if guidelines were not adhered to. We then evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of 2019 in comparison to the 2010 ASGE criteria for patients with suspected choledocholithiasis. We performed the t test or Wilcoxon rank sum test, as appropriate, to analyze if there were outcome differences based on if guidelines were not adhered to. Kappa coefficients were calculated to measure the degree of agreement between pairs of variables.RESULTS In this cohort, we identified 235 patients with AGP of which 79 patients were excluded as they went directly to surgery for cholecystectomy without prior MRCP or ERCP. Of the remaining 156 patients, 79 patients were categorized as intermediate risk and 77 patients were high risk for choledocholithiasis according to the 2010 ASGE guidelines. Among 79 intermediate risk patients, 54(68%) underwent MRCP first whereas 25 patients(32%) went directly to ERCP. For the 54 patients with intermediate risk who had MRCP first, 36 patients had no choledocholithiasis while 18 patients had evidence of choledocholithiasis prompting ERCP. Of these patients, ERCP confirmed stone disease in 11 patients. Of the 25 intermediate risk patients who directly underwent ERCP, 18 patients had stone disease. One patient with a normal ERCP developed post ERCP pancreatitis. Patients undergoing MRCP in this group had a significantly longer length of stay(5.0 vs 4.0 d, P = 0.02). In the high risk group, 64 patients(83%) had ERCP without preceding imaging, of which, 53 patients had findings consistent with choledocholithiasis, of which 13 patients(17%) underwent MRCP before ERCP, all of which showed evidence of stone disease. Furthermore, all of these patients ultimately had an ERCP, of which 8 patients had evidence of stones and 5 had normal examination.RESULTS Our cohort also demonstrated that 58% of all 156 patients with AGP had confirmed choledocholithiasis(79% of the high risk group and 37% of the intermediate group when risk was assigned based on the 2010 ASGE guidelines). When the updated 2019 ASGE guidelines were applied instead of the original 2010 guidelines, there was moderate agreement between the 2010 and 2019 guidelines(kappa = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.34-0.58). Forty-two of 77 patients were still deemed to be high risk and 35 patients were downgraded to intermediate risk. Thirty-five patients who were originally assigned high risk were reclassified as intermediate risk. For these 35 patients, 26 patients had ERCP findings consistent with choledocholithiasis and 9 patients had a normal examination. Based on the 2019 criteria, 9/35 patients who were downgraded to intermediate risk had an unnecessary ERCP with normal findings(without a preceding MRCP).CONCLUSION Two-thirds in intermediate risk and 83% in high risk group followed ASGE guidelines for choledocholithiasis. One intermediate-group patient with normal ERCP had post-ERCP AP, highlighting the risk of unnecessary procedures.

Urgent Endoscopy in Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage:A Retrospective Analysis

Objective:The role of urgent endoscopy in nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage(NVUGIH)remains controversial.We designed a retrospective study to compare the outcomes between urgent endoscopy(within 12 h)and non-urgent endoscopy for patients with NVUGIH.Methods:A total of 540 hospitalized patients with NVUGIH were included in our study.Patients who received endoscopy within 12 h or after 12 h were divided into two groups,the urgent and non-urgent endoscopy groups,respectively.The clinical outcomes including rebleeding,mortality,endoscopic re-intervention,need for emergency surgery and interventional radiotherapy were compared between the groups.Patients with Glasgow-Blatchford scores(GBS)<12 and>12 were defined as the lower-and high-risk groups,respectively,and the predictors of rebleeding and mortality in both groups were analyzed individually.Results:Patients with NVUGIH in the urgent endoscopy group had a higher rate of rebleeding(27.6%vs.16.9%,P=0.003)and blood transfusion(73.2%vs.55.5%,P<0.001)than those in the non-urgent endoscopy group,while the mortality and the length of hospitalization were not significantly different between the groups(P>0.05).For lower-risk patients,urgent endoscopy was independently associated with a higher likelihood of rebleeding(adjusted OR:1.73,95%CI:1.03-2.88),while it was not associated with in-hospital mortality.However,the urgent need for endoscopy was not associated with rebleeding and in-hospital mortality in high-risk patients.Conclusion:Endoscopy within 12 h did not provide any advantage in the outcomes of patients with NVUGIH,and may even lead to an increased rebleeding rate in lower-risk patients.

Impact of the timing of capsule endoscopy in overt obscure gastrointestinal bleeding on yield and rebleeding rate-is sooner than 14 d advisable?

AIM To evaluate the impact of the timing of capsule endoscopy(CE) in overt-obscure gastrointestinal bleeding(OGIB). METHODS Retrospective, single-center study, including patients submitted to CE in the setting of overt-OGIB between January 2005 and August 2017. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the timing of CE(≤ 48 h; 48 h-14 d; ≥ 14 d). The diagnostic and therapeutic yield(DY and TY), the rebleeding rate and the time to rebleed were calculated and compared between groups. The outcomes of patients in whom CE was performed before(≤ 48 h) and after 48 h(> 48 h), and before(< 14 d) and after 14 d(≥ 14 d), were alsocompared.RESULTS One hundred and fifteen patients underwent CE for overt-OGIB. The DY was 80%, TY-46.1% and rebleeding rate-32.2%. At 1 year 17.8% of the patients had rebled. 33.9% of the patients performed CE in the first 48 h, 30.4% between 48 h-14 d and 35.7% after 14 d. The DY was similar between the 3 groups(P = 0.37). In the ≤ 48 h group, the TY was the highest(66.7% vs 40% vs 31.7%, P = 0.005) and the rebleeding rate was the lowest(15.4% vs 34.3% vs 46.3% P = 0.007). The time to rebleed was longer in the ≤ 48 h group when compared to the > 48 h groups(P = 0.03).CONCLUSION Performing CE within 48 h from overt-OGIB is associated to a higher TY and a lower rebleeding rate and longer time to rebleed.

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.

Acknowledgments to reviewers of World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Many reviewers have contributed their expertise and time to the peer review, a critical process to ensure the quality of World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. The editors and authors of the articles submitted to the journal are grateful to the following reviewers for evaluating the articles (including those published in this issue and those rejected for this issue) during the last editing time period. Philip Wai Yan Chiu, Associate Professor, Department of Sur-

Lack of proper reimbursement is hampering adoption of minimally invasive gastrointestinal endoscopy in North America

Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)and related procedures are minimally invasive and cost-effective alternates to surgery.However,there is no approved or listed current procedural terminology(CPT)for ESD.We aimed to review the current reimbursement process hurdles for ESD procedures in private practice model in United States.We reviewed the data of two advanced endoscopists(one in New York and other in Pennsylvania State)performing ESD in their private practice set-ups.We found the reimbursement process was complex,with number of refusals varied from 0-9 for ESD procedures.It was not paid at all in 8.3%of cases by the medical insurance.Endoscopic mucosal resection,which is considered inferior as compared to ESD,but has a listed CPT,was denied in only 0.83%cases.Our data highlights the billing hurdles by the endoscopists to adopt ESD-related procedures in private practice model.

Yield of capsule endoscopy in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding:A comparative study between premenopausal and menopausal women

AIM To evaluate differences in capsule endoscopy(CE) performed in the setting of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding(OGIB) among premenopausal women(PMW) and menopausal women(MW).METHODS Retrospective, single-center study, including female patients submitted to CE in the setting of OGIB between May 2011 and December 2016. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to age, considering fertile age as ≤ 55 years and postmenopausal age as > 55 years. The diagnostic yield(DY), the rebleeding rate and the time to rebleed were evaluated and compared between groups. Rebleeding was defined as a drop of Hb > 2 g/dL or need for transfusional support or presence of melena/hematochezia.RESULTS A hundred and eighty three female patients underwent CE for OGIB, of whom 30.6%(n = 56) were PMW and 69.4%(n = 127) were MW. The DY was 30.4% in PMW and 63.8% in MW. The most common findings were angiodysplasias in both groups(PMW: 21.4%, MW: 44.9%)(P = 0.003). In PMW, only 1.8% required therapeutic endoscopy. In 17.3% of MW, CE findingsled to additional endoscopic treatment. Rebleeding at 1, 3 and 5 years in PMW was 3.6%, 10.2%, 10.2% and 22.0%, 32.3% and 34.2% in MW. Postmenopausal status was significantly associated with higher DY(P < 0.001), TY(P = 0.003), rebleeding(P = 0.031) and lower time to rebleed(P = 0.001).CONCLUSION PMW with suspected OGIB are less likely to have significant findings in CE. In MW DY, need for endoscopic treatment and rebleeding were significantly higher while time to rebleed was lower.

Acknowledgments to reviewers of World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Many reviewers have contributed their expertise and time to the peer review,a critical process to ensure the quality of World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.The editors and authors of the articles submitted to the journal are grateful to the following reviewers for evaluating the articles(including those published in this issue and those rejected for

Acknowledgments to reviewers of World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Many reviewers have contributed their expertise and time to the peer review,a critical process to ensure the quality of World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. The editors and authors of the articles submitted to the journal are grateful to the following reviewers

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.