Preoperative Management of Gastrointestinal and Pulmonary Medications: Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) Consensus Statement.

Perioperative medication management is integral to preoperative optimization but remains challenging because of a paucity of literature guidance. Published recommendations are based on the expert opinion of a small number of authors without collaboration from multiple specialties. The Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) recognized the need for consensus recommendations in this area as well as the unique opportunity for its multidisciplinary membership to fill this void.

Use of adenosine triphosphate to audit reprocessing of flexible endoscopes with an elevator mechanism.

Background: There have been reported outbreaks of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections linked to endoscopes with elevator mechanisms. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) testing has been used as a marker for bioburden and monitoring manual cleaning for flexible endoscopes with and without an elevator mechanism. The objective of this study was to determine whether routine ATP testing could identify areas of improvement in cleaning of endoscopes with an elevator mechanism.

Dyssynergic defecation: a treatable cause of persistent symptoms when inflammatory bowel disease is in remission.

Background: Introduction of biologic agents in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has increased the likelihood of disease remission. Despite resolution of active inflammation, a subset of IBD patients report persistent defecatory symptoms.

Aim: To evaluate a group of patients with inflammatory bowel disease with suspected functional defecatory disorders, by use of anorectal manometric testing and subsequent biofeedback therapy.

Surgical outcomes in the elderly with inflammatory bowel disease are similar to those in the younger population.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has a bimodal distribution with approximately 15 % of patients manifesting after age 65. Previous reports suggest an increased risk of surgical complications in the elderly.

Aim: To compare surgical outcomes in elderly IBD patients (≥ 65 years at the time of surgery) to matched younger IBD cohorts.

Impact of pregnancy on health-related quality of life of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: To examine the impact of pregnancy on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: This was a retrospective study in a tertiary referral center and included women with ≥2 short inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (SIBDQ) scores obtained during their pregnancy. Regression models were used to identify independent factors influencing SIBDQ scores and changes of SIBDQ scores at different time points.

Vitamin D deficiency in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: association with disease activity and quality of life.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in an IBD cohort. It was hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased disease activity and lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

QuantiFERON TB gold testing for tuberculosis screening in an inflammatory bowel disease cohort in the United States.

Background: Reactivation of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) is a rare, yet devastating infectious complication associated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) therapy. We evaluated the performance of the QuantiFERON TB Gold test (QFT-G) for TB screening in a cohort of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in the United States.

Methods: We performed a retrospective, observational study of patients initiated and/or maintained on an anti-TNF-α agent in a single IBD referral center and recorded the frequency and the test results of QFT-G testing and the rate of TB reactivation.

Does primary sclerosing cholangitis impact quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease?

Background: Impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important concern in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; ulcerative colitis [UC], Crohn's disease [CD]). Between 2%-10% of patients with IBD have primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). There has been limited examination of the disease-specific HRQoL in this population compared to non-PSC IBD controls.