Endoscopic ultrasound guided radiofrequency ablation for pancreatic tumors: A critical review focusing on safety, efficacy and controversies

The role of endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)in the last two decades has shifted from a diagnostic tool to an important therapeutic tool treating mainly pancreatobiliary disorders.In recent years,its applications for treating pancreatic diseases have broadened,including the implementation of radiofrequency ablation(RFA),which has been traditionally used for treating solid tumors.In this critical indepth review,we summarized all the papers throughout the literature regarding EUS-RFA for pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms,adenocarcinoma,and pancreatic cystic lesions.Overall,for pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms we identified 16 papers that reported 96 patients who underwent EUS-RFA,with acceptable adverse events that were rated mild to moderate and a high complete radiological resolution rate of 90%.For pancreatic adenocarcinoma,we identified 8 papers with 121 patients.Adverse events occurred in 13%of patients,mostly rated mild.However,no clear survival benefit was demonstrated.For pancreatic cystic lesions,we identified 4 papers with 38 patients.The adverse events were mostly mild and occurred in 9.1%of patients,and complete or partial radiological resolution of the cysts was reported in 36.8%.Notably,the procedure was technically feasible for most of the patients.Nevertheless,a long road remains before this technique finds its definite place in guidelines due to several controversies.EUS-RFA for pancreatic tumors seems to be safe and effective,especially for pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms,but multicenter prospective trials are needed to consider this treatment as a gold standard.

Predictors of recurrent bile duct stone after clearance by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography:A case-control study

Background:Recurrent common bile duct(CBD)stone is a long-term sequalae among patients who un-derwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)with CBD stone extraction.Data regard-ing risk factors for recurrent CBD stone are scarce.We aimed to identify predictors of recurrent CBD stone.Methods:We performed a retrospective case-controlled study from January 2010 to December 2019.In-clusion criteria included patients who had recurrent CBD stone at least 6 months after the index ERCP,in which complete stone extraction was performed and normal cholangiogram was obtained.Overall,457 patients were included.Forty-two patients(9.2%)had recurrent CBD stone,and 415 patients(90.8%)did not have recurrent CBD stone.Results:In univariate analysis,male sex[odds ratio(OR)=0.49,P=0.033]was a protective factor,while endoscopic stone extraction by basket vs.balloon(OR=2.55,P=0.005),older age(OR=1.03,P=0.003),number of CBD stones(OR=1.99,P=0.037),size of CBD stone(OR=4.06,P=0.003)and mechanical lithotripsy(OR=9.22,P=0.004)were risk factors for recurrent CBD stone.In multivariate logistic regression analysis,mechanical lithotripsy[OR=9.73,95%confidence interval(CI):1.69-55.89,P=0.010],basket clearance vs.combined basket and balloon(OR=18.25,95%CI:1.05-318.35,P=0.046)and older age(OR=1.02,95%CI:1.00-1.05,P=0.023)were risk factors,and male sex(OR=0.39,95%CI:0.19-0.81,P=0.012)was a protective factor.

Diagnostic approach to faecal incontinence:What test and when to perform?

Faecal incontinence(FI)is a debilitating common end result of several diseases affecting the quality of life and leading to patient disability,morbidity,and increased societal burden.Given the various causes of FI,it is important to assess and identify the underlying pathomechanisms.Several investigatory tools are available including high-resolution anorectal manometry,transrectal ultrasound,magnetic resonance imaging,and electromyography.This review article provides an overview on the causes and pathophysiology of FI and the author’s perspective of the stepwise investigation of patients with FI based on the available literature.Overall,high-resolution anorectal manometry should be the first investigatory tool for FI,followed by either transrectal ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging for anal internal sphincter and external anal sphincter injury,respectively.

Predicting common bile duct stones by non-invasive parameters

Background:Common bile duct(CBD)stone affect about 10%of patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis.The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy(ASGE)published a strategy in 2010 for managing patients with suspected choledocholithiasis.This study aimed to assess the performance of different clinical parameters in predicting CBD stones.Methods:A total of 344 patients suspected to suffer from CBD stone and referred to endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)were included.Parameters were collected and their prediction power for CBD stones was assessed.Results:One hundred and sixty-seven patients without CBD stone according to EUS(group A)were compared to 177 patients with CBD stones(group B).Several predictive factors for CBD stone were identified on univariate analysis.In multivariate regression analysis,CBD width by US(OR=1.224,95%CI:1.073–1.359;P=0.0026),age(OR=1.023,95%CI:1.011–1.035;P=0.0002)and gamma glutamyl transferase(GGT)level(OR=1.001,95%CI:1.000–1.002;P=0.0018)were significantly correlated with CBD stone,with receiver operator characteristics(ROC)of 0.7259.We generated a diagnostic equation[age(yr)×0.1+CBD width(mm)by US×1+GGT(U/L)×0.005]to predict CBD stone with ROC of 0.7287.Conclusions:We suggest this score as a very strong predictor for CBD stones,and to reduce the strength of total bilirubin and transaminases as predictors.

Inflammatory bowel disease patient profiles are related to specific information needs: A nationwide survey

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD) is a heterogenous, lifelong disease, with an unpredictable and potentially progressive course, that may impose negative psychosocial impact on patients.While informed patients with chronic illness have improved adherence and outcomes, previous research showed that the majority of IBD patients receive insufficient information regarding their disease.The large heterogeneity of IBD and the wide range of information topics makes a one-size fits all knowledge resource overwhelming and cumbersome.We hypothesized that different patient profiles may have different and specific information needs, the identification of which will allow building personalized computer-based information resources in the future.AIM To evaluate the scope of disease-related knowledge among IBD patients and determine whether different patient profiles drive unique information needs.METHODS We conducted a nationwide survey addressing hospital-based IBD clinics.A Total of 571 patients completed a 28-item questionnaire, rating the amount of information received at time of diagnosis and the importance of information, as perceived by participants, for a newly diagnosed patient, and for the participants themselves, at current time.We performed an exploratory factor analysis of the crude responses aiming to create a number of representative knowledge domains(factors), and analyzed the responses of a set of 15 real-life patient profiles generated by the study team.RESULTS Participants gave low ratings for the amount of information received at disease onset(averaging 0.9/5) and high ratings for importance, both for the newly diagnosed patients(mean 4.2/5) and for the participants themselves at current time(mean 3.5/5).Factor analysis grouped responses into six informationdomains.The responses of selected profiles, compared with the rest of the participants, yielded significant associations(defined as a difference in rating of >0.5 points with a P < 0.05).Patients with active disease showed a higher interest in work-disability, stress-coping, and therapy-complications.Patients newly diagnosed at age > 50, and patients with long-standing disease(> 10 years)showed less interest in work-disability.Patients in remission with mesalamine or no therapy showed less interest in all domains except for nutrition and long-term complications.CONCLUSION We demonstrate unmet patient information needs.Analysis of various patient profiles revealed associations with specific information topics, paving the way for building patient-tailored information resources.

Endoscopic ultrasound role in pancreatic adenocarcinoma treatment:A review focusing on technical success,safety and efficacy

The impressive technological advances in recent years have rapidly translated into the shift of endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)from diagnostic modality into an interventional and therapeutic tool.Despite the great advance in its diagnosis,the majority of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cases are inoperable when diagnosed,thus demanding alternative optional therapies.EUS has emerged as an easy,minimally invasive modality targeting this carcinoma with different interventions that have been reported recently.In this review we summarize the evolving role of interventional therapeutic EUS in pancreatic adenocarcinoma management.

Concise review on the comparative efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration vs core biopsy in pancreatic masses, upper and lower gastrointestinal submucosal tumors

Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration with or without biopsy(FNA/FNB) are the primary diagnostic tools for gastrointestinal submucosal tumors. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration(EUS-FNA) is considered a first line diagnostic method for the characterization of pancreatic and upper gastrointestinal lesions, since it allows for the direct visualization of the collection of specimens for cytopathologic analysis. EUSFNA is most effective and accurate when immediate cytologic assessment is permitted by the presence of a cytopathologist on site. Unfortunately, the accuracy and thus the diagnostic yield of collected specimens suffer without this immediate analysis. Recently, a EUS-FNB needle capable of obtaining core samples(fine needle biopsy, FNB) has been developed and has shown promising results. This new tool adds a new dimension to the diagnostic and therapeutic utility of this technique. The aim of the present review is to compare the efficacy of EUS-FNA to that afforded by EUS-FNB in the characterization of pancreatic masses and of upper and lower gastrointestinal submucosal tumors.

Baseline moderate-range albuminuria is associated with protection against severe COVID-19 pneumonia

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus is considered a leading contributor to severe coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).AIM To characterize differences between hospitalized diabetic patients with vs without COVID-19,and parameters associated with COVID-19 severity for prediction.METHODS This case-control study included 209 patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus hospitalized at the Galilee Medical Center(Nahariya,Israel)and recruited between September 2020 and May 2021,65 patients with COVID-19 infection in dedicated wards and 144 COVID-19-negative patients in internal medicine wards hospitalized due to other reasons.Clinical parameters-including age,type of antiglycemic medications,presence of retinopathy,smoking history,body mass index(BMI),glycosylated hemoglobin,maximum neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio(NLR_(max)),C-reactive protein(CRP),estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),and albumin(blood and urine)-were compared between the two primary patient groups,and then between COVID-19-negative patients hospitalized due to infectious vs non-infectious disease.Finally,we explored which parameters were associated with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.RESULTS COVID-19-negative patients were older(63.9±9.9 vs 59.8±9.2,P=0.005),and had longer duration of diabetes(P=0.031),lower eGFR(P=0.033),higher albumin(P=0.026),lower CRP(P<0.001),greater smoking prevalence(P<0.001),and more baseline albuminuria(54.9%vs 30.8%,P=0.005)at admission;70%of COVID-19 patients with albuminuria had moderate-range albuminuria(albumin:creatinine 30-300 mg/g).Most of the patients with albuminuria had chronic kidney disease stage II(CKD II).Oral antiglycemic therapies were not significantly different between the two groups.Multivariable logistic regression showed that higher BMI was significantly associated with severe COVID-19(OR 1.24,95%CI:1.01-1.53,P=0.04),as was higher NLR_(max)(OR 1.2,95%CI:1.06-1.37,P=0.005).Surprisingly,pre-hospitalization albuminuria,mostly moderate-range,was associated with reduced risk(OR 0.09,95%CI:0.01-0.62,P=0.015).Moderate-range albuminuria was not associated with bacterial infections.CONCLUSION Moderate-range albuminuria in COVID-19-positive diabetic patients with CKD II is associated with less severe COVID-19.Further studies should explore this potential biomarker for risk of COVID-19-related deterioration and early interventions.

Bedside score predicting retained common bile duct stone in acute biliary pancreatitis

BACKGROUND Retained common bile duct(CBD) stone after an acute episode of biliary pancreatitis is of paramount importance since stone extraction is mandatory.AIM To generate a simple non-invasive score to predict the presence of CBD stone in patients with biliary pancreatitis.METHODS We performed a retrospective study including patients with a diagnosis of biliary pancreatitis. One hundred and fifty-four patients were included. Thirty-three patients(21.5%) were diagnosed with CBD stone by endoscopic ultrasound(US).RESULTS In univariate analysis, age(OR: 1.048, P = 0.0004), aspartate transaminase(OR:1.002, P = 0.0015), alkaline phosphatase(OR: 1.005, P = 0.0005), gamma-glutamyl transferase(OR: 1.003, P = 0.0002) and CBD width by US(OR: 1.187, P = 0.0445)were associated with CBD stone. In multivariate analysis, three parameters were identified to predict CBD stone;age(OR: 1.062, P = 0.0005), gamma-glutamyl transferase level(OR: 1.003, P = 0.0003) and dilated CBD(OR: 3.685, P = 0.027),with area under the curve of 0.8433. We developed a diagnostic score that included the three significant parameters on multivariate analysis, with assignment of weights for each variable according to the co-efficient estimate. A score that ranges from 51.28 to 73.7 has a very high specificity(90%-100%) for CBD stones, while a low score that ranges from 9.16 to 41.04 has a high sensitivity(82%-100%). By performing internal validation, the negative predictive value of the low score group was 93%.CONCLUSION We recommend incorporating this score as an aid for stratifying patients with acute biliary pancreatitis into low or high probability for the presence of CBD stone.

The Use of Cortical Bone Wedges from the Mandibular Ramus “Wedge Technique”: For 3-Dimensional Bone Augmentation of the Atrophic Ridges. Technique Presentation and Report of Case Series

Purpose: Autogenous bone was still considered as the gold standard in bone augmentations prior to implants insertion at the atrophic ridges. However if large bone grafts are needed to augment multiple edentulous atrophic segments, extraoral donor sites may be mandatory. The aim of this report is to introduce the Fares Wedge Technique, as a new bone augmentation method that can augment multiple edentulous ridges with intraoral cortical bone grafts. Methods: This report includes patients with moderate to severe ridge atrophy in different regions of the both jaws who were treated over 6-years period (2009-215) with wedge Technique (WT). Patients received panorex immediately after the surgery, and they were examined clinically and radiographically (periapical) every 2 weeks. At 4 months, computed tomography was performed to evaluate the bone gain. Reentry was performed after 4 to 5 months to evaluate the new bone volume and quality and to insert implants. At this stage specimens for histologic examination were also obtained. Results: 39 augmentation sites in 22 patients (15 women, 7 men: mean age 47 years) were followed 12 to 52 months. The healing process was uneventful, with minimal morbidity. The success rate was 95%, and the bone gain average was 3 - 6 mm vertically and 3 - 9 mm horizontally. In two patients the graft was partially exposed and treated with shaving and rounding the exposed wedges, but the augmentations were saved. In one case the majority of the bone graft was lost. At 38 sites the patients had successfully received 114 implants. Conclusions: wedge technique can augment multiple segments of atrophic ridges with small amount of autogenic graft. The bone volume that achieved was satisfying, especially that the majority of the augmented areas were at posterior mandibular defects.

Yield of alarm features in predicting significant endoscopic findings among hospitalized patients with dyspepsia

BACKGROUND Dyspepsia is a very prevalent upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms complex.Some of these symptoms might arise from serious underlying diseases,so the promotion of evidence-based guidelines could potentially better align evaluation and treatment.AIM To determine the value of alarm features as a predictive factor for significant endoscopic findings(SEFs)among hospitalized patients presenting with dyspepsia.METHODS We conducted a retrospective case-control study including information about 6208 endoscopic procedures performed for hospitalized patients.Patients were divided into two groups,with and without SEFs,and compared to elucidate the ability of the different alarm features to predict SEFs.RESULTS During the study,605 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria.When the demographics and clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared,tachycardia(P<0.05),normocytic anemia,(P<0.05),leukocytosis(P<0.05),and hypoalbuminemia(P<0.05)documented on admission prior to endoscopy were strong predictors of SEFs.Among the alarm features,upper gastrointestinal bleeding,persistent vomiting,odynophagia[odds ratio(OR)=3.81,P<0.05;OR=1.75,P=0.03;and OR=7.81,P=0.07,respectively]were associated with SEFs.Unexplained weight loss was strongly associated with malignancy as an endoscopic finding(OR=2.05;P<0.05).In addition,long-term use of anti-aggregate medications other than aspirin(P<0.05)was correlated to SEFs.CONCLUSION Novel predictors of SEFs were elucidated in this study.These parameters could be used as an adjunctive in decision making regarding performing upper endoscopy in hospitalized patients with dyspepsia.

Minimizing treatment complexity of combat-related soft tissue injuries using a dedicated tension relief system and negative pressure therapy augmented by high-dose in situ antibiotic therapy and oxygen delivery: a retrospective study

Background:Following combat-related,extensive soft tissue injury from gunshot wounds or blasts,prolonged duration from injury to full wound closure is associated with infection,increased morbidity and mortality,failure to mobilize,poor functional outcome and increased cost.The purpose of this study was to evaluate a novel treatment enabling early primary closure of combat wounds.Methods:This was a retrospective study of 10 soldiers and civilians with extensive combat-related soft tissue limb injuries(5 gunshot wounds,5 blasts)treated using the TopClosure^(■)Tension Relief System(TRS)with simultaneous administration of regulated oxygen-enriched and irrigation negative pressure-assisted wound therapy(ROINPT)via the Vcareα^(■)device.Results:Nine patients were treated during the acute phase of injury and one was treated following removal of a flap due to deep infection 20 years after injury and flap reconstruction.Two patients had upper limb injury and the rest lower limb injury.With the aid of the TRS and/or ROINPT,immediate primary closure during reconstruction was achieved in 6 patients and delayed primary closure in three.Only one patient required a skin graft to close a small area of the wound after most of the wound had been closed by delayed primary closure.Wound closure was achieved within 0–37 days(median:12.5 days,interquartile range:2.75–19.75)from injury.Conclusions:The TRS is a novel device for effective,early skin stretching and secure wound closure through the application of stress relaxation and mechanical creep,achieving primary closure of large defects using a simplified surgical technique and reducing the need for closure using skin grafts and flaps and the use of tissue expanders.Delivering supplemental oxygen to the wound by ROINPT reverses the reduced oxygen levels inherent in conventional negative pressure-assisted wound therapy,mitigating anaerobic contamination and reducing infection.Irrigation may accelerate the evacuation of infectious material from the wound and provide a novel method for antibiotic administration.The combination of TRS and ROINPT devices allow for early primary closure with improved functionality of combat-related limb injuries.

International consensus statement on robotic pancreatic surgery

The robotic surgical system has been applied to various types of pancreatic surgery. However, controversies exist regarding a variety of factors including the safety, feasibility, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of robotic surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the current status of robotic pancreatic surgery and put forth experts' consensus and recommendations to promote its development. Based on the WHO Handbook for Guideline Development, a Consensus Steering Group* and a Consensus Development Group were established to determine the topics, prepare evidence-based documents, and generate recommendations. The GRADE Grid method and Delphi vote were used to formulate the recommendations. A total of 19 topics were analyzed. The first 16 recommendations were generated by GRADE using an evidence-based method (EBM) and focused on the safety, feasibility, indication, techniques, certification of the robotic surgeon, and cost-effectiveness of robotic pancreatic surgery. The remaining three recommendations were based on literature review and expert panel opinion due to insufficient EBM results. Since the current amount of;evidence was low/meager as evaluated by the GRADE method, further randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed in the future to validate these recommendations.