Experimental model standardizing polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel to simulate endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasoundelastography

BACKGROUND Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)and endoscopic ultrasound elastography(EUS-E)simulation lessens the learning curve;however,models lack realism,diminishing competitiveness.AIM To standardize the mechanical properties of polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)hydrogel for simulating organs and digestive lesions.METHODS PVA hydrogel(Sigma Aldrich,degree of hydrolysis 99%)for simulating EUS/EUS-E lesions was investigated in Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico at Hospital General de México“Dr.Eduardo Liceaga”,Mexico City.We evaluated physical,contrast,elasticity and deformation coefficient characteristics in lesions,applying Kappa’s concordance and satisfaction questionnaire(Likert 4-points).RESULTS PVA hydrogel showed stable mechanical properties.Density depended on molecular weight(MW)and concentration(C).PVA bblocks with the greatest density showed lowest tensile strength(r=-0.8,P=0.01).Lesions were EUSgraphically visible.Homogeneous and heterogeneous examples were created from PVA blocks or PVA phantoms,exceeding(MW2=146000-186000,C9=15%and C10=20%)with a density under(MW1=85000-124000,C1=7%and C2=9%).We calculated elasticity and deformation parameters of solid(blue)areas,contrasting with the norm(Kappa=0.8;high degree of satisfaction).CONCLUSION PVA hydrogels were appropriate for simulating organs and digestive lesions using EUS/EUS-E,facilitating practice and reducing risk.Repetition amplified skills,while reducing the learning curve.

Novel approach of ultrasound-guided lateral recess block for a patient with lateral recess stenosis: A case report

BACKGROUND Ultrasound guide technology,which can provide real-time visualization of the needle tip and tissues and avoid many adverse events,is widely used in mini-mally invasive therapy.However,the studies on ultrasound-guided Lateral recess block(LRB)are limited,this is probably because there is no recognized standard method for ultrasound scanning.This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided LRB in patients with lateral recess stenosis(LRS).CASE SUMMARY A 65-year-old patient complained of low back pain accompanied occasionally by pain and numbness in the left lower limb.Physical examination showed ten-derness on the spinous process and paraspinal muscles from L1 to S1,extensor hallucis longus and tibialis anterior weakness(muscle strength:4-),and a positive straight leg raising test in the left lower limb(60°).Magnetic resonance imaging showed L4–L5 disc degeneration with left LRS and nerve root entrapment.Subsequently,the patient was diagnosed with LRS.This patient was treated with a novel ultrasound-guided LRB approach.The patient’s symptoms significantly improved without any complications at 1 wk postoperatively and at the 3-month follow-up.CONCLUSION This is the first report on the LRS treatment with ultrasound-guided LRB from the contralateral spinous process along the inner side of the articular process by out-plane technique.Further studies are expected to investigate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided LRB for patients with LRS.

Evaluation of hand infections in the emergency department using point-of-care ultrasound

BACKGROUND:We aimed to evaluate the utility of point-of-care ultrasound(POCUS)in the assessment of hand infections that present to the emergency department(ED)and its impact on medical decision making and patient management.METHODS:We conducted a retrospective review of patients who presented to two urban academic EDs with clinical presentations concerning for skin and soft tissue infections(SSTI)of the hand between December 2015 and December 2021.Two trained POCUS fellowship physicians reviewed an ED POCUS database for POCUS examinations of the hand.We then reviewed patients’electronic health records(EHR)for demographic characteristics,history,physical examination findings,ED course,additional imaging studies,consultations,impact of POCUS on patient care and final disposition.RESULTS:We included a total of 50 cases(28 male,22 female)in the final analysis.The most common presenting symptoms and exam findings were pain(100%),swelling(90%),and erythema(74%).The most common sonographic findings were edema(76%),soft tissue swelling(78%),and fluid surrounding the tendon(57%).POCUS was used in medical decision making 68%of the time(n=34),with the use of POCUS leading to changes in management 38%of the time(n=19).POCUS use led to early antibiotic use(11/19),early consultation(10/19),and led to the performance of a required procedure(8/19).The POCUS diagnosis was consistent with the discharge diagnosis of flexor tenosynovitis 8/12 times,abscess 12/16 times,and cellulitis 14/20 times.CONCLUSION:POCUS is beneficial for evaluating of hand infections that present to the ED and can be used as an important part of medical decision making to expedite patient care.

Is endoscopic ultrasound a promising technique in the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases?

Percutaneous ultrasound has been a longstanding method in the diagnostics and interventional procedures of liver diseases.In some countries,its use is restricted to radiologists,limiting access for other clinicians,such as gastroenterologists.Endoscopic ultrasound,as a novel technique,plays a crucial role in diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases.However,its use is sometimes recommended for conditions where no clear advantage over percutaneous ultrasound exists,leaving the impression that clinicians sometimes resort to an endoscopic approach due to the unavailability of percutaneous options.

Mechanism study of Cu(Ⅱ) adsorption from acidic wastewater by ultrasonic-modified municipal solid waste incineration fly ash

High concentrations of copper ions(Cu(Ⅱ)) in water will pose health risks to humans and the ecological environment. Therefore, this study aims to utilize ultrasonic-cured modified municipal solid waste incineration(MSWI) fly ash for Cu(Ⅱ) adsorption to achieve the purpose of “treating waste by waste.” The effects of p H, adsorption time, initial concentration, and temperature on the modified MSWI fly ash’s adsorption efficiency were systematically studied in this article. The adsorption performance of the modified MSWI fly ash can be enhanced by the ultrasonic modification. At pH = 2, 3 and 4, the adsorption capacity of the modified MSWI fly ash for Cu(Ⅱ) increased by 2.7, 1.9 and 1.2 times, respectively. Furthermore, it was suggested that the adsorption process of the modified MSWI fly ash can be better simulated by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, with a maximum adsorption capacity calculated by the Langmuir model of 24.196 mg.g-1. Additionally, the adsorption process is spontaneous,endothermic, and chemisorption-dominated from the thermodynamic studies(ΔH and ΔS > 0, ΔG < 0).Finally, the enhanced adsorption performance of the modified MSWI fly ash for Cu(Ⅱ) may be attributed to electrostatic interaction and chelation effects.

Dynamic modeling of cavitation bubble clusters:Effects of evaporation,condensation,and bubble-bubble interaction

We present a dynamic model of cavitation bubbles in a cluster,in which the effects of evaporation,condensation,and bubble-bubble interactions are taken into consideration.Under different ultrasound conditions,we examine how the dynamics of cavitation bubbles are affected by several factors,such as the locations of the bubbles,the ambient radius,and the number of bubbles.Herein the variations of bubble radius,energy,temperature,pressure,and the quantity of vapor molecules are analyzed.Our findings reveal that bubble-bubble interactions can restrict the expansion of bubbles,reduce the exchange of energy among vapor molecules,and diminish the maximum internal temperature and pressure when bursting.The ambient radius of bubbles can influence the intensities of their oscillations,with clusters comprised of smaller bubbles creating optimal conditions for generating high-temperature and high-pressure regions.Moreover,an increase in the number of bubbles can further inhibit cavitation activities.The frequency,pressure and waveform of the driving wave can also exert a significant influence on cavitation activities,with rectangular waves enhancing and triangular waves weakening the cavitation of bubbles in the cluster.These results provide a theoretical basis for understanding the dynamics of cavitation bubbles in a bubble cluster,and the factors that affect their behaviors.

Endohepatology:Arrival at the frontier of interventional endosonography

Endohepatology describes the emerging field where diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)are used for the diagnosis and management of liver disease and its sequelae.In this editorial we comment on the article by Gadour et al.The spectrum of EUS-guided procedures includes liver parenchymal and lesional biopsy,abscess drainage,treatment of focal liver lesions,diagnosis of portal hypertension and management of gastric varices.The data suggest that the application of EUS to hepatology is technically feasible and safe,heralding the arrival at a new frontier for EUS.More data,specifically randomised trials comparing EUS to interventional radiology techniques,and continued partnership between endoscopy and hepatology are required to see this field establish itself outside expert tertiary centres.

Non-anatomical liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma:the SegSubTe classification to overcome the problem of heterogeneity

Background:The superiority of anatomical resection(AR)vs.non-anatomical resection(NAR)in the surgical management of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is debated.ARs are well-defined procedures,whereas the lack of NAR standardization results in heterogeneous outcomes.This study aimed to introduce the SegSubTe classification for NAR detailing the appropriateness of the level of surgical section of the Glissonean pedicles feeding the tumor.Methods:A single-center retrospective analysis of pre-and postoperative imaging of consecutive patients treated with NAR for single HCC between 2012 and 2020 was conducted.The quality of surgery was assessed classifying the type of vascular supply and the level of surgical section(segmental,subsegmental or terminal next to the tumor)of vascular pedicles feeding the HCCs;then,the population was divided in“SegSubTe-IN”or“SegSubTe-OUT”groups,and the tumor recurrence and survival were analyzed.Results:Ninety-seven patients who underwent NAR were included;76%were SegSubTe-IN and 24%were SegSubTe-OUT.Total disease recurrence,local recurrence and cut-edge recurrence in the SegSubTe-IN vs.SegSubTe-OUT groups were 50%vs.83%(P=0.006),20%vs.52%(P=0.003)and 16%vs.39%(P=0.020),respectively.SegSubTe-OUT odds ratio for local recurrence was 4.1 at univariate regression analysis.One-,three-,and five-year disease-free survival rates in the SegSubTe-IN vs.SegSubTe-OUT groups were 81%,58%and 35%vs.46%,21%and 11%,respectively(P<0.001).Conclusions:The SegSubTe classification is a useful tool to stratify and standardize NAR for HCC,aiming at improving long-term oncological outcomes and reducing the heterogeneity of quality of NAR for HCC.

Suppression of low-frequency ultrasound broadband vibration using star-shaped single-phase metamaterials

In order to suppress the low-frequency ultrasound vibration in the broadband range of 20 k Hz—100 k Hz,this paper proposes and discusses an acoustic metamaterial with low-frequency ultrasound vibration attenuation properties,which is configured by hybrid arc and sharp-angle convergent star-shaped lattices.The effect of the dispersion relation and the bandgap characteristic for the scatterers in star-shaped are simulated and analyzed.The target bandgap width is extended by optimizing the geometry parameters of arc and sharp-angle convergent lattices.The proposed metamaterial configured by optimized hybrid lattices exhibits remarkable broad bandgap characteristics by bandgap complementarity,and the simulation results verify a 99%vibration attenuation amplitude can be obtained in the frequency of20 k Hz—100 k Hz.After the fabrication of the proposed hybrid configurational star-shaped metamaterial by 3D printing technique,the transmission loss experiments are performed,and the experimental results indicate that the fabricated metamaterial has the characteristics of broadband vibration attenuation and an amplitude greater than 85%attenuation for the target frequency.These results demonstrate that the hybrid configurational star-shaped metamaterials can effectively widen the bandgap and realize high efficiency attenuation,which has capability for the vibration attenuation in the application of highprecise equipment.

Quick and easy assessment of sarcopenia in cirrhosis: Can ultrasound be the solution?

Cirrhosis is frequently associated with sarcopenia,with reported rates of over 80%in patients with decompensated alcohol-related liver disease.Sarcopenia nega-tively impacts the prognosis of cirrhotic patients and affects the response to treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).For these reasons,identifying an easy-to-perform method to assess sarcopenia in is a key element in the optimization of care in this patient population.Assessment of muscle mass by computed tomography is considered the standard of care for the diagnosis of sarcopenia,but exposure to radiation and high costs limit its application in this setting,especially for repeated assessments.We believe that ultrasound,a cheap and harmless technique also used for HCC screening in cirrhotic patients,could have an expanding role in the diagnosis and follow-up of sarcopenia in these patients.

Can serum immunoglobulin G4 levels and age serve as reliable predictors of relapse in autoimmune pancreatitis?

We are writing in response to the paper published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology by Zhou et al.The authors identified higher serum immunoglobulin(Ig)G4 levels and age over 55 years as independent risk factors for disease relapse.Despite notable strengths,it is crucial to address potential biases.Firstly,the cohort study included 189 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis(AIP)type 1(with higher IgG4 seropositivity and higher relapse)and 24 with type 2(with lower IgG4 seropositivity and lower relapse).Consequently,most,if not all,AIP type 2 patients were assigned to the normal group,possibly inflating the association of higher serum IgG4 levels with relapse and potentially exaggerating the association of older age with relapse.Secondly,the authors did not provide sufficient details regarding AIP diagnosis,such as the ratio of definitive vs probable cases and the proportion of biopsies.In cases where histological evidence is unavailable or indeterminate,AIP type 2 may be misdiagnosed as definitive type 1,and type 1 may also be misdiagnosed as probable type 2,particularly in cases with normal or mildly elevated serum IgG4 levels.Lastly,in this retrospective study,approximately one-third of the consecutive patients initially collected were excluded for various reasons.Accordingly,the impact of nonrandom exclusion on relapse outcomes should be carefully considered.In conclusion,the paper by Zhou et al offers plausible,though not entirely compelling,evidence suggesting a predictive role of elevated serum IgG4 levels and advanced age in AIP relapse.The foundation for future investigations lies in ensuring a reliable diagnosis and accurate disease subtyping,heavily dependent on obtaining histological specimens.In this regard,endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy emerges as a pivotal component of the diagnostic process,contributing to mitigating biases in future explorations of the disease.

Dynamic contrast enhanced ultrasound in differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Non-invasive differential diagnosis between hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and other liver cancer(i.e.cholangiocarcinoma or metastasis)is highly challenging and definitive diagnosis still relies on histological exam.The patterns of enhancement and wash-out of liver nodules can be used to stratify the risk of malignancy only in cirrhotic patients and HCC frequently shows atypical features.Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound(DCEUS)with standardized software could help to overcome these obstacles,providing functional and quantitative parameters and potentially improving accuracy in the evaluation of tumor perfusion.AIM To explore clinical evidence regarding the application of DCEUS in the differential diagnosis of liver nodules.METHODS A comprehensive literature search of clinical studies was performed to identify the parameters of DCEUS that could relate to histological diagnosis.In accordance with the study protocol,a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the evidence was planned.RESULTS Rise time was significantly higher in HCC patients with a standardized mean difference(SMD)of 0.83(95%CI:0.48-1.18).Similarly,other statistically significant parameters were mean transit time local with a SMD of 0.73(95%CI:0.20-1.27),peak enhancement with a SMD of 0.37(95%CI:0.03-0.70),area wash-in area under the curve with a SMD of 0.47(95%CI:0.13-0.81),wash-out area under the curve with a SMD of 0.55(95%CI:0.21-0.89)and wash-in and wash-out area under the curve with SMD of 0.51(95%CI:0.17-0.85).SMD resulted not significant in fall time and wash-in rate,but the latter presented a trend towards greater values in HCC compared to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.CONCLUSION DCEUS could improve non-invasive diagnosis of HCC,leading to less liver biopsy and early treatment.This quantitative analysis needs to be applied on larger cohorts to confirm these preliminary results.

A Novel Approach to Breast Tumor Detection: Enhanced Speckle Reduction and Hybrid Classification in Ultrasound Imaging

Breast cancer detection heavily relies on medical imaging, particularly ultrasound, for early diagnosis and effectivetreatment. This research addresses the challenges associated with computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) of breastcancer fromultrasound images. The primary challenge is accurately distinguishing between malignant and benigntumors, complicated by factors such as speckle noise, variable image quality, and the need for precise segmentationand classification. The main objective of the research paper is to develop an advanced methodology for breastultrasound image classification, focusing on speckle noise reduction, precise segmentation, feature extraction, andmachine learning-based classification. A unique approach is introduced that combines Enhanced Speckle ReducedAnisotropic Diffusion (SRAD) filters for speckle noise reduction, U-NET-based segmentation, Genetic Algorithm(GA)-based feature selection, and Random Forest and Bagging Tree classifiers, resulting in a novel and efficientmodel. To test and validate the hybrid model, rigorous experimentations were performed and results state thatthe proposed hybrid model achieved accuracy rate of 99.9%, outperforming other existing techniques, and alsosignificantly reducing computational time. This enhanced accuracy, along with improved sensitivity and specificity,makes the proposed hybrid model a valuable addition to CAD systems in breast cancer diagnosis, ultimatelyenhancing diagnostic accuracy in clinical applications.

Survival Analysis of Patients Undergoing Intraoperative Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound in the Surgical Treatment of Malignant Glioma

Objective:Complete resection of malignant gliomas is often challenging.Our previous study indicated that intraoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasound(ICEUS)could aid in the detection of residual tumor remnants and the total removal of brain lesions.This study aimed to investigate the survival rates of patients undergoing resection with or without the use of ICEUS and to assess the impact of ICEUS on the prognosis of patients with malignant glioma.Methods:A total of 64 patients diagnosed with malignant glioma(WHO grade HI and IV)who underwent surgery between 2012 and 2018 were included.Among them,29 patients received ICEUS.The effects of ICEUS on overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)of patients were evaluated.A quantitative analysis was performed to compare ICEUS parameters between gliomas and the surrounding tissues.Results:The ICEUS group showed better survival rates both in OS and PFS than the control group.The univariate analysis revealed that age,pathology and ICEUS were significant prognostic factors for PFS,with only age being a significant prognostic factor for OS.In multivariate analysis,age and ICEUS were significant prognostic factors for both OS and PFS.The quantitative analysis showed that the intensity and transit time of microbubbles reaching the tumors were significantly different from those of microbubbles reaching the surrounding tissue.Conclusion:ICEUS facilitates the identification of residual tumors.Age and ICEUS are prognostic factors for malignant glioma surgery,and use of ICEUS offers a better prognosis for patients with malignant glioma.

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound for essential tremor:a prospective,single center,single-arm study

The safety and effectiveness of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy has been broadly established and validated for the treatment of essential tremor.In 2018,the first magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound system in Chinese mainland was installed at the First Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital.This prospective,single center,open-label,single-arm study was part of a worldwide prospective multicenter clinical trial(ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT03253991)conducted to confirm the safety and efficacy of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound for treating essential tremor in the local population.From 2019 to 2020,10 patients with medication refractory essential tremor were recruited into this open-label,single arm study.The treatment efficacy was determined using the Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor.Safety was evaluated according to the incidence and severity of adverse events.All of the subjects underwent a unilateral thalamotomy targeting the ventral intermediate nucleus.At the baseline assessment,the estimated marginal mean of the Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor total score was 58.3±3.6,and this improved after treatment to 23.1±6.4 at a 12-month follow-up assessment.A total of 50 adverse events were recorded,and 2 were defined as serious.The most common intraoperative adverse events were nausea and headache.The most frequent postoperative adverse events were paresthesia and equilibrium disorder.Most of the adverse events were mild and usually disappeared within a few days.Our findings suggest that magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound for the treatment of essential tremor is effective,with a good safety profile,for patients in Chinese mainland.

Ultrasound unveiling:Decoding venous congestion in heart failure for precision management of fluid status

This editorial discusses the manuscript by Di Maria et al,published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Cardiology.We here focus on the still elusive pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cardio-renal syndrome(CRS),despite its high prevalence and the substantial worsening of both kidney function and heart failure.While the measure of right atrial pressure through right cardiac catheterization remains the most accurate albeit invasive and costly procedure,integrating bedside ultrasound into diagnostic protocols may substantially enhance the staging of venous congestion and guide therapeutic decisions.In particular,with the assessment of Doppler patterns across multiple venous districts,the Venous Excess Ultrasound(VExUS)score improves the management of fluid overload and provides insight into the underlying factors contributing to cardio-renal interactions.Integrating specific echocardiographic parameters,particularly those concerning the right heart,may thus improve the VExUS score sensitivity,offering perspective into the nuanced comprehension of cardio-renal dynamics.A multidisciplinary approach that consistently incorporates the use of ultrasound is emerging as a promising advance in the understanding and management of CRS.

Gastrointestinal contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for diagnosis and treatment of peptic ulcer in children

BACKGROUND The detection rate of peptic ulcer in children is improving,with development of diagnostic procedures.Gastroscopy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of peptic ulcer,but it is an invasive procedure.Gastrointestinal contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS)has the advantages of being painless,noninvasive,nonradioactive,easy to use,and safe.AIM To investigate the clinical value of CEUS for diagnosis and treatment of peptic ulcer in children.METHODS We investigated 43 children with digestive tract symptoms in our hospital from January 2021 to June 2022.All children were examined by routine ultrasound,gastrointestinal CEUS,and gastroscopy.The pathological results of gastroscopy were taken as the gold standard.Routine ultrasonography was performed before gastrointestinal CEUS.Conventional ultrasound showed the thickness of the gastroduodenal wall,gastric peristalsis,and the adjacent organs and tissues around the abdominal cavity.Gastrointestinal CEUS recorded the thickness of the gastroduodenal wall;the size,location and shape of the ulcer;gastric peristalsis;and adjacent organs and tissues around the abdominal cavity.The results of routine ultrasound and gastrointestinal ultrasound were compared with those of gastroscopy to evaluate the diagnostic results and coincidence rate of routine ultrasound and gastrointestinal CEUS.All children received informed consent from their guardians for CEUS.This study was reviewed and approved by the hospital medical ethics committee.RESULTS Among the 43 children,17(15 male,2 female)were diagnosed with peptic ulcer by gastroscopy.There were 26 children with nonpeptic ulcer.There were eight cases of peptic ulcer and 35 of nonpeptic ulcer diagnosed by conventional ultrasound.The diagnostic coincidence rate of peptic ulcer in children diagnosed by conventional ultrasound was 79.1%(34/43),which was significantly different from that of gastroscopy(P=0.033).It indicates that the coincidence rate of gastrointestinal contrast-enhanced ultrasound and gastroscope is low.Fifteen cases of peptic ulcer and 28 of nonpeptic ulcer were diagnosed by CEUS.The diagnostic coincidence rate of peptic ulcer in children was 95.3%(41/43).There was no significant difference between CEUS and gastroscopy(P=0.655).It indicates that the coincidence rate of gastrointestinal contrast-enhanced ultrasound and gastroscope is high.CONCLUSION Gastrointestinal CEUS has a high coincidence rate in the diagnosis of peptic ulcer in children,and can be used as a preliminary examination method.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs before endoscopic ultrasound guided tissue acquisition to reduce the incidence of post procedural pancreatitis

Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)with fine needle aspiration or fine needle biopsy is the gold standard for sampling tissue to diagnose pancreatic cancer and auto-immune pancreatitis or to analyze cyst fluid.The most common reported adverse event of fine needle aspiration and/or fine needle biopsy is acute pancreatitis,which is likely induced by the same pathophysiological mechanisms as after en-doscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP).According to the current European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guideline,nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are administered prior to ERCP as a scientifically proven treatment to reduce post-ERCP pancreatitis incidence rate.A single suppository of diclofenac or indomethacin prior to EUS guided tissue acquisition(TA)is harm-less in healthy adults.Since it is associated with low costs and,most important,may prevent a dreadsome complication,we strongly recommend the adminis-tration of 100 mg diclofenac rectally prior to EUS-TA.We will explain this recom-mendation in more detail in this review as well as the risk and pathophysiology of post-EUS TA pancreatitis.

Defining failure of endoluminal biliary drainage in the era of endoscopic ultrasound and lumen apposing metal stents

The role of endoscopy in pathologies of the bile duct and gallbladder has seen notable advancements over the past two decades.With advancements in stent technology,such as the development of lumen-apposing metal stents,and adoption of endoscopic ultrasound and electrosurgical principles in therapeutic endoscopy,what was once considered endoscopic failure has transformed into failure of an approach that could be salvaged by a second-or third-line endoscopic strategy.Incorporation of these advancements in routine patient care will require formal training and multidisciplinary acceptance of established techniques and collaboration for advancement of experimental techniques to generate robust evidence that can be utilized to serve patients to the best of our ability.

Transanal eco-Doppler evaluation after hemorrhoidal artery embolization

BACKGROUND Hemorrhoidal artery embolization(Emborrhoid)is a novel method for the treatment of severe hemorrhoidal bleeding.Despite having a technical success rate of 93%-100%,the clinical success ranges between 63%and 94%,with a rebleeding rate of 13.6%.AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of this procedure in reducing hemorrhoidal flow and hemorrhoidal bleeding.METHODS This prospective observational pilot study was conducted at Division of General Surgery 1 and Tertiary Referral Pelvic Floor Center,Treviso Regional Hospital,Italy.In a 2 months period(February-March 2022),consecutive patients with hemorrhoidal bleeding scores(HBSs)≥4,Goligher scores of II or III,failure of non-operative management,and a candidate for Emborrhoid were included.Endoanal ultrasound with eco-Doppler was performed preoperatively and 1 month after the procedure.The primary endpoint was to quantify the changes in arterial hemorrhoidal flow after treatment.The secondary endpoint was to evaluate the correlation between the flow changes and the HBS.RESULTS Eleven patients underwent Emborrhoid.The overall pretreatment mean systolic peak(MSP)was 14.66 cm/s.The highest MSP values were found in the anterior left lateral(17.82 cm/s at 1 o’clock and 15.88 cm/s at 3 o’clock)and in the posterior right lateral(14.62 cm/s at 7 o’clock and 16.71 cm/s at 9 o’clock)quadrants of the anal canal.After treatment,the overall MSP values were significantly reduced(P=0.008)although the correlation between MSP and HBS changes was weak(P=0.570).A statistical difference was found between distal embolization compared with proximal embolization(P=0.047).However,the coil landing zone was not related to symptoms improvement(P=1.000).A significant difference in MSP changes was also reported between patients with type 1 and type 2 superior rectal artery(SRA)anatomy(P=0.040).No relationship between hemorrhoidal grades(P=1.000),SRA anatomy(P=1.000)and treatment outcomes was found.CONCLUSION The preliminary findings of this pilot study confirm that Emborrhoid was effective in reducing the arterial hemorrhoidal flow in hemorrhoidal disease.However,the correlation between the post-operative MSP and HBS changes was weak.Hemorrhoidal grade,SRA anatomy and type of embolization were not related to treatment outcomes.