Fully Covered Self-expandable Metallic Stents for Refractory Benign Pancreatic Duct Strictures: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Endoscopic treatment of refractory pancreatic duct (PD) strictures includes the placement of multiple plastic stents. Recent studies have shown the benefit of fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMS). This systematic review analyzes the efficacy and safety of FCSEMS in PD strictures.

Standard and Extended Thromboprophylaxis in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Literature Review.

Unlabelled: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, frequently experience venous thromboembolism (VTE), a potentially fatal consequence. The pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to VTE include inflammation, modifications in coagulation factors, endothelial dysfunction, and platelet activation. Numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6, have a significant impact on the thrombotic cascade.

Diagnostic efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided liver biopsy for diffuse liver diseases and its predictors - a multicentric retrospective analysis.

Aim Of The Study: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided liver biopsy (LB) has become an increasingly popular method of tissue acquisition for evaluating liver diseases. Despite its advantages, EUS-LB has not been widely adopted in clinical practice due to concerns regarding efficacy and safety. Present data on EUS-LB from India are scarce.

Does a coaxial double pigtail stent reduce adverse events after lumen apposing metal stent placement for pancreatic fluid collections? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Lumen apposing metal stents (LAMSs) have a higher clinical success rate for managing pancreatic fluid collections. But they are associated with adverse events (AEs) like bleeding, migration, buried stent, occlusion, and infection. It has been hypothesized that placing a double pigtail stent (DPS) within LAMS may mitigate these AEs.

Comparison of suction techniques for EUS-guided tissue acquisition: Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Despite the widespread use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition, the choice of optimal suction technique remains a subject of debate. Multiple studies have shown conflicting results with respect to the four suction techniques: Dry suction (DS), no suction (NS), stylet slow-pull (SSP) and wet suction (WS). Thus, the present network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted to compare the diagnostic yields of above suction techniques during EUS-guided tissue acquisition.

The Role of Gastroenterologists in Preoperative Assessment and Management of Prospective Renal Transplantation Candidates.

Unlabelled: Renal transplant is the most common organ transplant worldwide, accounting for 65% of the total number of transplants. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) often has multiple significant comorbidities. Among the gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), cholelithiasis, and colon and liver diseases increase the risk of posttransplant morbidity.

Adverse events with EUS-guided biliary drainage: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Multiple meta-analyses have evaluated the technical and clinical success of EUS-guided biliary drainage (BD), but meta-analyses concerning adverse events (AEs) are limited. The present meta-analysis analyzed AEs associated with various types of EUS-BD.

Methods: A literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus was conducted from 2005 to September 2022 for studies analyzing the outcome of EUS-BD.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Versus Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage After Failed ERCP: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) may fail to achieve biliary drainage in 5% to 10% of cases. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) are alternative therapeutic options in such cases. The present meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of EUS-BD and PTBD for biliary decompression after failed ERCP.

Diagnostic performance and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition of gallbladder lesions: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition (TA) is widely used for various target samples, but its efficacy in gallbladder (GB) lesions is unknown. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to assess the pooled adequacy, accuracy and safety of EUS-TA of GB lesions.

Methods: A literature search from January 2000 to August 2022 was done for studies analyzing the outcome of EUS-guided TA in patients with GB lesions.

Influence of biliary stents on the diagnostic outcome of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition from solid pancreatic lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background/aims: This meta-analysis analyzed the effect of an indwelling biliary stent on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition from pancreatic lesions.

Methods: A literature search was performed to identify studies published between 2000 and July 2022 comparing the diagnostic outcomes of EUS-TA in patients with or without biliary stents. For non-strict criteria, samples reported as malignant or suspicious for malignancy were included, whereas for strict criteria, only samples reported as malignant were included in the analysis.

Transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition of lung masses: a case series with systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The diagnosis of intraparenchymal lung masses is challenging when lesions are located at sites inaccessible through bronchoscopy or endobronchial ultrasound. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition (TA)-fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or fine-needle biopsy-provides a potentially useful diagnostic tool for lesions located adjacent to the esophagus. This study was conducted to analyze the diagnostic outcome and safety of EUS-guided tissue sampling of lung masses.

Efficacy and safety of endosonography-guided transvascular needle aspiration of thoracic and abdominal lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The diagnosis of intrathoracic and abdominal masses is challenging when lesions are located behind major vessels. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided transvascular needle aspiration (TVNA) provides a potentially useful diagnostic tool for such lesions. Data with respect to the safety and outcome of E-TVNA are scarce.

Role of artificial intelligence-guided esophagogastroduodenoscopy in assessing the procedural completeness and quality.

Background And Aims: The quality of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) can have great impact on the detection of esophageal and gastric lesions, including malignancies. The aim of the study is to investigate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) during EGD by the  endoscopists-in-training so that a real-time feedback can be provided, ensuring compliance to a pre-decided protocol for examination.

Methods: This is an observational pilot study.

Kinetics of Covid-19 antibodies in terms of titre and duration among healthcare workers: A longitudinal study.

Background Most individuals with Covid-19 infection develop antibodies specific to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the dynamics of these antibodies is variable and not well-studied. We aimed to determine the titres of naturally acquired antibodies over a 12-week follow-up.

Risk of Bleeding with Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Tissue Acquisition in Patients on Antithrombotic Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The present guidelines stratify endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) as a high-bleeding risk procedure in patients on antithrombotics. However, the data regarding the same are conflicting. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to analyze the bleeding event rates associated with EUS-TA in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy.

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background/aims: The data on the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are conflicting. The present systematic review was thus conducted to study the prevalence of HBV and HCV markers in patients with IBD.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search of 3 databases was conducted from 2000 to April 2022 for studies evaluating the prevalence of HBV or HCV in patients with IBD.

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography versus endoscopic ultrasound for diagnosis of choledocholithiasis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Both endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) are used for the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis (CDL). Previous studies have shown conflicting results regarding the optimal diagnostic strategy for suspected CDL; hence, this meta-analysis was conducted.

Methods: A comprehensive search of literature from 1990 till April 2022 was done of three databases for studies comparing EUS and MRCP to diagnose CDL.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Among Pregnant Women in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection during pregnancy is associated with perinatal transmission contributing to the pool of HBV infection in the population. There is a wide variation in the reported data on the seroprevalence of HBV in pregnant patients from various parts of India. Hence, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the pooled seroprevalence of HBV and its associated demographic factors.

Tenofovir versus entecavir for tertiary prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B infection after curative therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Entecavir (ETV) and Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) are the first-line drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, the impact of these two antiviral agents on the outcome of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative therapy remains to be explored. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of ETV and TDF on recurrence and mortality after curative treatment for HBV-related HCC.

Mucosal incision-assisted biopsy versus endoscopic ultrasound-assisted tissue acquisition for subepithelial lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background/aims: Mucosal incision-assisted biopsy (MIAB) for tissue acquisition (TA) from subepithelial lesions (SELs) is emerging as an alternative to endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided TA. Only a limited number of studies compared the diagnostic utility of MIAB and EUS for upper gastrointestinal (GI) SELs; therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search from January 2020 to January 2022 was performed to compare the diagnostic accuracy and safety of MIAB and EUS-guided TA for upper GI SELs.