The efficacy of Elbasvir/Grazoprevir fixed-dose combination for 8 weeks in HCV treatment and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in treatment-naïve, non-cirrhotic, genotype 4-infected patients (ELEGANT-4): A single-center, single-arm, open-label, phase 3 trial.

Background: Cost, adverse events, and long treatment duration can be significant obstacles in treating hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected individuals. Shortening the treatment regimen can minimize these barriers, thereby enhancing adherence and increasing medication availability to more patients.

Methods: This is a single-centre, single-arm, open-label, phase 3 clinical trial on treatment naïve, non-cirrhotic, HCV genotype 4 patients.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for the treatment of achalasia: A multicenter Middle Eastern experience.

Background: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) was proposed in 2010 as a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of achalasia. In this article, we describe the Middle Eastern experience with the procedure in terms of efficacy, length of admission, and short- and long-term complications.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of our prospectively collected data on patients who underwent a POEM procedure was conducted between March 2019 and May 2020.

Importance Hierarchy of Surrogate Medical Decision Making Determinants: A Q-Methodology Study in Middle Eastern and East Asian Men.

Background: Factors other than patient's preference may influence surrogate medical decision making in a culture- and viewpoint-dependent way. We explored the importance hierarchy of potential surrogate medical decision making determinants to Middle-Eastern (ME) and East-Asian (EA) men according to their norm-perception (N-viewpoint), preference as patients (P-viewpoint), and preference as surrogate decision-makers (S-viewpoint).

Methods: Each respondent (120 ME, 120 EA) sorted 28 items reflecting potential determinants into a fixed distribution of importance hierarchy according to the three viewpoints.

Peripancreatic fluid collections, plastic stents, and different sub-types of metal stents: Where does the evidence land?

Background: Peripancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) are a frequent complication of acute pancreatitis. Symptomatic PFCs may need to be drained, and there are multiple endoscopic accessories that can facilitate the procedure. This paper aims to compare the success rate, number of procedures required for resolution and adverse events rate for PFCs EUS-guided drainage with plastic stents and lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS).

Factors underlying surrogate medical decision-making in middle eastern and east Asian women: a Q-methodology study.

Background: It is not clear how lay people prioritize the various, sometimes conflicting, interests when they make surrogate medical decisions, especially in non-Western cultures. The extent such decisions are perspective-related is also not well documented.

Methods: We explored the relative importance of 28 surrogate decision-making factors to 120 Middle-Eastern (ME) and 120 East-Asian (EA) women from three perspectives, norm-perception (N), preference as patient (P), and preference as surrogate decision-maker (S).

Removal of proximally migrated biliary stents by using single-operator cholangioscopy.

Background And Aims: Migration is a late adverse event of biliary stent placement. It occurs in 1% to 20% of cases and is associated with a diverse array of adverse events. In this article, we report our take on endoscopic extraction of proximally migrated biliary stents by the use of single-operator cholangioscopy.

The utility of digital cholangioscopy (SpyGlass DS) in biliary and pancreatic diseases: A clinical feasibility study at two tertiary care centers in Saudi Arabia (with Videos).

Background And Study Aim: Since its inception in 2007, single-operator cholangioscopy (SOC) has gained popularity for many diagnostically and therapeutically challenging biliary and pancreatic conditions. Many studies have been published to evaluate the feasibility, usefulness, cost-effectiveness, and safety profile of the first generation. This paper is a descriptive study in which we aim to share the experience of two tertiary care centers with the novel version of SOC, SpyGlass DS.

The utility of esophagogastroduodenoscopy and screening in the preoperative assessment of patients undergoing bariatric surgery: A cross-sectional, single-center study in Saudi Arabia.

Background/aim: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and Helicobacter pylori screening are routine parts of the preoperative assessment of patients undergoing bariatric surgery at many centers around the world. The reason for this step is to identify abnormalities that may change the surgical approach. In this study, we aim to evaluate the extent to which endoscopic findings and H.

Acute Pancreatitis: An Exploratory, Cross-sectional, Single-center Study of the Epidemiological Features of the Disease in a Sample of Saudi Patients.

Epidemiological studies on Acute Pancreatitis (AP) are significantly scarce in the Saudi Arabian Literature. In this paper, we aim to explore the current trends of AP in a sample of Saudi patients. This is a cross-sectional study in which we reviewed AP-related admissions from 2014 to 2017.

Prediction of life-story narrative for end-of-life surrogate's decision-making is inadequate: a Q-methodology study.

Background: Substituted judgment assumes adequate knowledge of patient's mind-set. However, surrogates' prediction of individual healthcare decisions is often inadequate and may be based on shared background rather than patient-specific knowledge. It is not known whether surrogate's prediction of patient's integrative life-story narrative is better.

ERCP quality indicators: The experience of a high-volume tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is one of the most technically demanding and high-risk procedures performed by GI endoscopists. Therefore, guidelines or position statements on various aspects of quality indicators, safety indicators and credentialing for ERCP have been developed by gastroenterology associations. In this paper, we evaluate the ERCP quality in a single, high-volume, tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia using a number of measures commonly stated by these organizations, and compare the experience of that center to the previously-published standards in this regard.

Endoscopic biodegradable stents as a rescue treatment in the management of post bariatric surgery leaks: a case series.

Background And Aims:  Postoperative leak is one of the most feared complications after bariatric surgery. Endoscopic stenting is used to manage leaks by decreasing the gastrointestinal intraluminal pressure. The main advantage of endoscopic management is providing healing while still allowing for oral nutrition.