High Efficacy of Repeating Colonoscopy by an Advanced Endoscopist after an Incomplete Colonoscopy.

Background And Aims: This study aims to evaluate the role of an advanced endoscopist to study the entire colon after an incomplete colonoscopy.

Methods: All patients with an elective incomplete colonoscopy performed under deep sedation in our department between January 2010 and October 2016 were included. Patients with a colonic stenosis, an inadequate bowel preparation, or a colonoscopy performed without deep sedation were excluded.

Yield of capsule endoscopy in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: A comparative study between premenopausal and menopausal women.

Aim: To evaluate differences in capsule endoscopy (CE) performed in the setting of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) among premenopausal women (PMW) and menopausal women (MW).

Methods: Retrospective, single-center study, including female patients submitted to CE in the setting of OGIB between May 2011 and December 2016. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to age, considering fertile age as ≤ 55 years and postmenopausal age as > 55 years.

Diagnostic and therapeutic yields of urgent balloon-assisted enteroscopy in overt obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Background And Aims: Balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) is one of the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the algorithm for the evaluation of overt obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). There is currently no consensus regarding the role of urgent BAE in overt OGIB. The aims of this study were to compare the diagnostic and therapeutic yields of urgent and nonurgent BAE in patients with overt OGIB.

Impact of the timing of capsule endoscopy in overt obscure gastrointestinal bleeding on yield and rebleeding rate - is sooner than 14 d advisable?

Aim: To evaluate the impact of the timing of capsule endoscopy (CE) in overt-obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB).

Methods: Retrospective, single-center study, including patients submitted to CE in the setting of overt-OGIB between January 2005 and August 2017. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the timing of CE (≤ 48 h; 48 h-14 d; ≥ 14 d).

Mechanisms of regulation of normal and metaplastic intestinal differentiation.

The gastrointestinal tract is an organized structure originating from the three embryonic germ layers: endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. Morphological changes that accompany its formation are relatively well known, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly defined. Intestinal metaplasia, resulting from an epithelial transdifferentiation process, is considered a precursor lesion of gastric adenocarcinoma, a malignancy with serious consequences in terms of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

Appropriateness of the study of iron deficiency anemia prior to referral for small bowel evaluation at a tertiary center.

Aim: To evaluate the adequacy of the study of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in real life practice prior to referral to a gastroenterology department for small bowel evaluation.

Methods: All consecutive patients referred to a gastroenterology department for small bowel investigation due to iron deficiency anemia, between January 2013 and December 2015 were included. Both patients referred from general practitioners or directly from different hospital departments were selected.

Validation of SPICE, a method to differentiate small bowel submucosal lesions from innocent bulges on capsule endoscopy.

Background And Aims: Small bowel submucosal lesions (SBSL) and innocent bulges may have an identical appearance and be difficult to distinguish on small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE). Recently, Girelli et al. proposed a score, smooth, protruding lesion index on capsule endoscopy (SPICE), in order to differentiate between the two.

A typical but seldom recognized foreign body in the esophagus of a laryngectomized patient.

A 57-year-old man with a past medical history of total laryngectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx was admitted to our institution 5 months after the procedure, for surgical resection of a local recurrence of the tumor. In the postoperative period, endoscopically guided placement of a nasogastric tube was scheduled, after previous failed attempts. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an anastomotic dehiscence, 13 cm distal to the incisors, and a foreign body penetrating through the esophageal wall, 20cm distal to the incisors.