Long-Term Outcomes of Early Surgery vs Endoscopy First in Chronic Pancreatitis: Follow-Up Analysis of the ESCAPE Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Patients with painful chronic pancreatitis and a dilated pancreatic duct can be treated by early surgery or an endoscopy-first approach.

Objective: To compare long-term clinical outcomes of early surgery vs an endoscopy-first approach using follow-up data from the ESCAPE randomized clinical trial.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Between April 2011 and September 2018, 88 patients with painful chronic pancreatitis were randomly assigned to early surgery or an endoscopy-first approach in 30 hospitals in the Netherlands collaborating in the Dutch Pancreatitis Study Group as part of the ESCAPE randomized clinical trial.

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided gastroenterostomy versus surgical gastrojejunostomy for palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction (ENDURO): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is a debilitating condition that frequently occurs in patients with malignancies of the distal stomach and (peri)ampullary region. The standard palliative treatment for patients with a reasonable life expectancy and adequate performance status is a laparoscopic surgical gastrojejunostomy (SGJ). Recently, endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) emerged as a promising alternative to the surgical approach.

Diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided tissue acquisition prior to resection of pancreatic carcinoma: a nationwide analysis.

Introduction: Endoscopic ultrasonography guided tissue acquisition (EUS + TA) is used to provide a tissue diagnosis in patients with suspected pancreatic cancer. Key performance indicators (KPI) for these procedures are rate of adequate sample (RAS) and sensitivity for malignancy (SFM).

Aim: assess practice variation regarding KPI of EUS + TA prior to resection of pancreatic carcinoma in the Netherlands.

Long-Term Outcome of Immediate Versus Postponed Intervention in Patients With Infected Necrotizing Pancreatitis (POINTER): Multicenter Randomized Trial.

Objective: To compare the long-term outcomes of immediate drainage versus the postponed-drainage approach in patients with infected necrotizing pancreatitis.

Background: In the randomized POINTER trial, patients assigned to the postponed-drainage approach using antibiotic treatment required fewer interventions, as compared with immediate drainage, and over a third were treated without any intervention.

Methods: Clinical data of those patients alive after the initial 6-month follow-up were re-evaluated.

Patient selection for urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography by endoscopic ultrasound in predicted severe acute biliary pancreatitis (APEC-2): a multicentre prospective study.

Objective: Routine urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (ES) does not improve outcome in patients with predicted severe acute biliary pancreatitis. Improved patient selection for ERCP by means of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for stone/sludge detection may challenge these findings.

Design: A multicentre, prospective cohort study included patients with predicted severe acute biliary pancreatitis without cholangitis.

Health-related quality of life in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A longitudinal population-based cohort study.

Background & Aims: Data regarding health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are sparse and have only been studied cross-sectionally in a disease which runs a fluctuating and unpredictable course. We aim to describe HRQoL longitudinally by using repeated measurements in a population-based cohort.

Methods: Every 3 months from May 2017 up to August 2020, patients received digital questionnaires at home.

Suspected common bile duct stones: reduction of unnecessary ERCP by pre-procedural imaging and timing of ERCP.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the procedure of choice to remove sludge/stones from the common bile duct (CBD). In a small but clinically important proportion of patients with suspected choledocholithiasis ERCP is negative. This is undesirable because of ERCP associated morbidity.

Optimal timing of rectal diclofenac in preventing post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis.

Rectal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prophylaxis reduces incidence of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis. Direct comparisons to the optimal timing of administration, before or after ERCP, are lacking. Therefore, we aimed to assess whether timing of rectal NSAID prophylaxis affects the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Performance of diagnostic tools for acute cholangitis in patients with suspected biliary obstruction.

Background: Acute cholangitis is an infection requiring endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and antibiotics. Several diagnostic tools help to diagnose cholangitis. Because diagnostic performance of these tools has not been studied and might therefore impose unnecessary ERCPs, we aimed to evaluate this.

Immediate versus Postponed Intervention for Infected Necrotizing Pancreatitis.

Background: Infected necrotizing pancreatitis is a potentially lethal disease that is treated with the use of a step-up approach, with catheter drainage often delayed until the infected necrosis is encapsulated. Whether outcomes could be improved by earlier catheter drainage is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized superiority trial involving patients with infected necrotizing pancreatitis, in which we compared immediate drainage within 24 hours after randomization once infected necrosis was diagnosed with drainage that was postponed until the stage of walled-off necrosis was reached.

Aggressive fluid hydration plus non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs versus non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs alone for post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (FLUYT): a multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled trial.

Background: Pancreatitis is the most common complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Prophylactic rectal administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is considered as standard of care to reduce the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis. It has been suggested that aggressive hydration might further reduce this risk.

Increased Use of Prophylactic Measures in Preventing Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis.

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), pancreatic duct stenting, and intensive intravenous hydration have been proven to prevent post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis. Trial participation and guideline changes demanded an assessment of the clinical practice of post-ERCP pancreatitis prophylaxis.

Aims: The surveys aim to identify points of improvement to inform and educate ERCPists about current evidence-based practice.

Natural Course and Treatment of Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency in a Nationwide Cohort of Chronic Pancreatitis.

Objectives: Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) is a common complication of chronic pancreatitis. However, little is known about the natural course of PEI and the effect of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy on symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the natural course and treatment of PEI in a nationwide cohort of patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Effect of Early Surgery vs Endoscopy-First Approach on Pain in Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis: The ESCAPE Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: For patients with painful chronic pancreatitis, surgical treatment is postponed until medical and endoscopic treatment have failed. Observational studies have suggested that earlier surgery could mitigate disease progression, providing better pain control and preserving pancreatic function.

Objective: To determine whether early surgery is more effective than the endoscopy-first approach in terms of clinical outcomes.

Postponed or immediate drainage of infected necrotizing pancreatitis (POINTER trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Infected necrosis complicates 10% of all acute pancreatitis episodes and is associated with 15-20% mortality. The current standard treatment for infected necrotizing pancreatitis is the step-up approach (catheter drainage, followed, if necessary, by minimally invasive necrosectomy). Catheter drainage is preferably postponed until the stage of walled-off necrosis, which usually takes 4 weeks.

Fluid hydration to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis in average- to high-risk patients receiving prophylactic rectal NSAIDs (FLUYT trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) is the most common complication of ERCP and may run a severe course. Evidence suggests that vigorous periprocedural hydration can prevent PEP, but studies to date have significant methodological drawbacks. Importantly, evidence for its added value in patients already receiving prophylactic rectal non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is lacking and the cost-effectiveness of the approach has not been investigated.

Risk factors for primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Background & Aims: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a progressive cholestatic liver disease of unknown cause, but strongly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Potential risk factors triggering PSC have never been studied on a population level. The aim of this study was to evaluate smoking, appendectomy, family history and geographical distribution in a population-based cohort of PSC patients, as compared to IBD control patients and healthy controls (HC).

Increased cancer risk in a large population-based cohort of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis: follow-up for up to 36 years.

Background And Aims: The natural history of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) has so far mainly been studied in tertiary referral centres. The aim of the present investigation was to describe the natural history of PBC in a large population-based cohort in order to identify risk factors for development of malignancies and disease progression.

Methods: Four independent hospital databases were searched in 44 hospitals in a geographically defined area, after which all medical records were evaluated on site.

Rising incidence and prevalence of primary biliary cirrhosis: a large population-based study.

Background & Aims: Large population-based studies are much needed to accurately establish the epidemiology of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). We aimed to collect all PBC patients in a geographically defined area to evaluate the epidemiology of PBC and examine the possible association of PBC with smoking, age at menarche, age at first pregnancy and number of pregnancies.

Methods: All PBC patients between 2000 and 2008 were identified in a geographically defined area of the Netherlands, comprising 50% of the Dutch population.

Serum immunoglobulin G4 and immunoglobulin G1 for distinguishing immunoglobulin G4-associated cholangitis from primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Unlabelled: The recent addition of immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-associated cholangitis (IAC), also called IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IRSC), to the spectrum of chronic cholangiopathies has created the clinical need for reliable methods to discriminate between IAC and the more common cholestatic entities, primary (PSC) and secondary sclerosing cholangitis. The current American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases practice guidelines for PSC advise on the measurement of specific Ig (sIg)G4 in PSC patients, but interpretation of elevated sIgG4 levels remains unclear. We aimed to provide an algorithm to distinguish IAC from PSC using sIgG analyses.

Population-based epidemiology, malignancy risk, and outcome of primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Unlabelled: Extensive population-based studies are much needed to accurately establish epidemiology and disease course in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). We aimed to obtain population-based prevalence and incidence figures, insight in disease course with regard to survival, liver transplantation (LT), and occurrence of malignancies, as well as risk factors thereof. Four independent hospital databases were searched in 44 hospitals in a large geographically defined area of the Netherlands, comprising 50% of the population.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is associated with a distinct phenotype of inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is strongly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to assess the IBD phenotype associated with PSC in a large well-phenotyped population-based PSC cohort using endoscopic and histopathologic criteria.

Methods: PSC cases were identified and ascertained, fulfilling well-established criteria, in 39 hospitals in a geographically defined region of The Netherlands.

Local application of tacrolimus in distal colitis: feasible and safe.

Background: Tacrolimus is a potent immunomodulator that is effective in the systemic treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). However, potential toxicity and systemic (side) effects after oral intake limit its use. We investigated the local applicability and safety of tacrolimus for distal colitis.