Partially covered vs uncovered sphincterotome and post-endoscopic sphincterotomy bleeding.

Aim: To prospectively compare partially covered vs uncovered sphincterotome use on post-endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (ES) hemorrhage and other complications.

Methods: All patients referred for therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were randomly assigned to undergo ES either with a partially covered or an uncovered sphincterotome. Both patient and technical risk factors contributing to the development of post-ES bleeding were recorded and analyzed.

Migration of plastic biliary stents and endoscopic retrieval: an experience of three referral centers.

Background: Proximal or distal migration of a plastic biliary stent is uncommon, but its management can be a technical challenge to the pancreatobiliary endoscopist.

Patients And Methods: All cases (n=51) of proximally and distally migrated plastic biliary stents over an 8-year period at 3 referral pancreaticobiliary centers were included in this retrospective study. Indications for stenting, risk factors for migration, presentation of migration, and various techniques used for stent's retrieval are herein analyzed.

Prevalence, bowel habit subtypes and medical care-seeking behaviour of patients with irritable bowel syndrome in Northern Greece.

Aim: Although irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) prevalence ranges between 10 and 20% in the general population, it appears to be considerably undiagnosed with only 25-50% of patients with IBS seeking medical advice. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of IBS in Northern Greece and the prevalence by symptom subtype including diarrhoea-predominant IBS, constipation-predominant IBS (C-IBS) and mixed type IBS; to identify factors contributing to the development of this syndrome; to assess its effect on health-related quality of life and to evaluate the medical care-seeking behaviour of IBS patients.

Patients And Methods: Between January 2004 and December 2007, 3112 participants were requested to fill out a questionnaire during an interview with a primary health care clinician.

A comparative study of 50% dextrose and normal saline solution on their ability to create submucosal fluid cushions for endoscopic resection of sessile rectosigmoid polyps.

Background: EMR traditionally performed by using normal saline solution (NS) plus epinephrine (E) as a submucosal fluid cushion does not maintain the submucosal elevation for a prolonged time. It was hypothesized that 50% dextrose (D(50)) plus E as a hypertonic, inexpensive, and easily available solution might be an ideal alternative for producing and maintaining more-prolonged mucosal elevation.

Objective: To evaluate D(50)+E versus NS+E during an EMR of sessile rectosigmoid polyps (> 10 mm).

Endoscopic treatment and follow-up of gastrointestinal Dieulafoy's lesions.

Aim: To investigate retrospectively the clinical and endoscopic features of bleeding Dieulafoy's lesions and to assess the short- and long-term effectiveness of endoscopic treatment.

Methods: Twenty-three patients who had gastrointestinal bleeding from Dieulafoy's lesions underwent endoscopic therapy. Demographic data, mode of presentation, risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding, blood transfusion requirements, endoscopic findings, details of endoscopic therapy, recurrence of bleeding and mortality rates were collected and analyzed retrospectively.