EUS-Guided Gallbladder Drainage Using a Lumen-Apposing Metal Stent for Acute Cholecystitis: Results of a Nationwide Study with Long-Term Follow-Up.

Background: Although endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) using lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) has become one of the treatments of choice for acute cholecystitis (AC) in fragile patients, scant data are available on real-life settings and long-term outcomes.

Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective study including EUS-guided GBD using LAMS for AC in 19 Italian centers from June 2014 to July 2020. The primary outcomes were technical and clinical success, and the secondary outcomes were the rate of adverse events (AE) and long-term follow-up.

EUS-guided gallbladder drainage using a lumen-apposing metal stent as rescue treatment for malignant distal biliary obstruction: a large multicenter experience.

Background And Aims: EUS-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) with lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMSs) has been reported as a rescue treatment with encouraging results for the relief of jaundice in patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction (DMBO) and after failure of both ERCP and EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy.

Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective analysis of all cases of consecutive EUS-GBD with LAMSs used as a rescue treatment for patients with DMBO in 14 Italian centers from June 2015 to June 2020. Primary endpoints were technical and clinical success, whereas the secondary endpoint was the adverse event (AE) rate.

Endoscopic Findings in Patients Infected With 2019 Novel Coronavirus in Lombardy, Italy.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a major worldwide threat caused by a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), rapidly spreading to a global pandemic. As of May 11, 2020, 4,176,346 cases have been reported worldwide, 219,814 in Italy, and of them, 81,871 occurred in the Lombardy region. Although the respiratory manifestations of COVID-19 have been widely described, the impact on the gastrointestinal (GI) system remains less clear.

Complications and early mortality in percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement in lombardy: A multicenter prospective cohort study.

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the most common endoscopic procedure used to provide nutritional support.

Aim: To prospectively evaluate the mortality and complication incidences after PEG insertion or replacement.

Methods: All patients who underwent PEG insertion or replacement were included.

First clinical experiences with a novel endoscopic over-the-scope clip system.

We describe our experience with a new over-the-scope clip (OTSC) system (Padlock Clip?) in the treatment of 14 patients. Eight of the 14 patients were treated for closure of gastrointestinal fistulas (n?=?4), iatrogenic gastrointestinal perforations (n?=?2), or hemostasis of post-polypectomy bleeding (n?=?2). The site of clipping was the lower gastrointestinal tract in five patients and the upper gastrointestinal tract in three patients.

A prospective evaluation of short-term and long-term results from colonic stenting for palliation or as a bridge to elective operation versus immediate surgery for large-bowel obstruction.

Background: The efficacy and safety of self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement as a bridge to elective surgery or definitive palliation versus emergency operation to treat colorectal obstruction is debated. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients with colorectal obstruction treated using different strategies.

Methods: Subjects admitted to the authors' department with colorectal obstruction (n = 134) were studied prospectively.

Fibrosis is associated with adiponectin resistance in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is frequently associated with insulin resistance which has been suggested to promote fibrotic progression. Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived insulin-sensitizing hormone, might play a protective role against hepatic fibrosis.

Materials And Methods: This observational case-control study investigated the adiponectin status in insulin resistant, nondiabetic, chronic HCV-infected patients (n=54; 13 women, 41 men) compared with age-, sex- and BMI-matched healthy controls.

Sustained virologic response prevents the development of esophageal varices in compensated, Child-Pugh class A hepatitis C virus-induced cirrhosis. A 12-year prospective follow-up study.

Unlabelled: The incidence of de novo development of esophageal varices (EV) in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis has been determined by few studies in the short term and never in the long term. The aims of the present study were to determine the incidence and the risk factors associated with the development of EV and to assess whether antiviral treatment and achievement of sustained virologic response (SVR) may prevent de novo EV development in patients with HCV-induced cirrhosis. We studied 218 patients with compensated EV-free, HCV-induced cirrhosis consecutively enrolled between 1989 and 1992 at three referral centers in Milan, Italy.

Predicting mortality risk in patients with compensated HCV-induced cirrhosis: a long-term prospective study.

Objectives: The identification of prognostic factors associated with mortality is crucial in any clinical setting.

Methods: We enrolled in a prospective study 352 patients with compensated hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced cirrhosis, consecutively observed between 1989 and 1992. At entry, patients underwent upper endoscopy to detect esophageal varices, and were then surveilled by serial clinical and ultrasonographic examination.

Iron accumulation in chronic hepatitis C: relation of hepatic iron distribution, HFE genotype, and disease course.

The aim of the present study was to describe the histopathologic features of hepatic iron accumulation in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) infection, the relation between HFE mutations and hepatic iron location and among iron distribution, HFE, and hepatic damage. We studied 206 patients with CH-C infection. Of 101 patients with hemosiderin deposits, 90.