A water-soluble alternative to simethicone for gastrointestinal endoscopy: Results of a clinical trial.

During endoscopy, simethicone defoaming agents are commonly used to improve visualization, but they leave residues and impact drying. This clinical trial involved patients undergoing colonoscopy procedures with substantial bubbles that impeded mucosal wall visibility. As an alternative to simethicone, investigators evaluated a water-soluble, ginger-based gastrointestinal supplement (GI-Ease) that did not contain sugars, thickeners, or binding agents.

Role of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in the Diagnosis and Management of Cholestatic Liver Diseases.

Cholestatic liver diseases (CLDs) occur as a result of bile duct injury, emanating into duct obstruction and bile stasis. Advances in radiological imaging in the last decade has replaced endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) as the first diagnostic tool, except in certain groups of patients, such as those with ischemic cholangiopathy (IsC) or early stages of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). ERCP provides an opportunity for targeted tissue acquisition for histopathological evaluation and carries a diverse therapeutic profile to restore bile flow.

Semiautomated Glasgow-Blatchford Bleeding Score helps direct bed placement for patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Objective: The Glasgow-Blatchford Bleeding Score (GBS) was designed to identify patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) who do not require hospitalisation. It may also help stratify patients unlikely to benefit from intensive care.

Design: We reviewed patients assigned a GBS in the emergency room (ER) via a semiautomated calculator.

Resolving external pancreatic fistulas in patients with disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome: using rendezvous techniques to avoid surgery (with video).

Background: An external pancreatic fistula (EPF) generally results from an iatrogenic manipulation of a pancreatic fluid collection (PFC), such as walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN). Severe necrotizing pancreatitis can lead to complete duct disruption, causing disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome (DPDS) with viable upstream pancreas draining out of a low-pressure fistula created surgically or by a percutaneous catheter. The EPF can persist for months to years, and distal pancreatectomy, often the only permanent solution, carries a high morbidity and defined mortality.

Long-term outcomes associated with pancreatic extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for chronic calcific pancreatitis.

Background: Most outcomes data on pancreatic extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (P-ESWL) for chronic calcific pancreatitis (CCP) are based on studies with <4 years' follow-up, and U.S. long-term studies are lacking.

Laparoscopy-assisted versus balloon enteroscopy-assisted ERCP in bariatric post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients.

Background: Data on balloon enteroscopy-assisted ERCP (BEA-ERCP) versus laparoscopy-assisted ERCP (LA-ERCP) in post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) patients are lacking.

Objectives: To compare BEA-ERCP with LA-ERCP in post-RYGB patients and to identify factors that predict therapeutic success with BEA-ERCP.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Afferent limb syndrome and delayed GI problems after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer: single-center, 14-year experience.

Background: There are limited data on the incidence of afferent limb syndrome and other delayed GI problems in pancreatic cancer (PaC) patients, especially among long-term survivors (>2 years).

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of afferent limb syndrome (chronic afferent limb obstruction resulting in pancreatobiliary obstruction) and delayed GI problems in PaC patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Design: Retrospective case series.

Spiral overtube-assisted colonoscopy after incomplete colonoscopy in the redundant colon.

Background: A redundant colon can lead to incomplete colonoscopy. A variety of tools and techniques are available to complete colonoscopy but have limitations.

Objective: To determine the feasibility and safety of using a spiral overtube to complete a difficult colonoscopy.

Outcomes of interventional ERCP in hereditary pancreatitis.

Goals: To clinically evaluate the patients with hereditary pancreatitis (HP) before the first, after the first and last interventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and at follow-up.

Background: There are limited data evaluating the outcomes and role of interventional ERCP in HP.

Study: Between 1990 and 2008, 21 consecutive patients with HP were retrospectively assessed for response to therapeutic ERCP.

Improved oral intake after palliative duodenal stenting for malignant obstruction: a prospective multicenter clinical trial.

Objectives: We sought to test the hypothesis that placement of a new nitinol duodenal self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) for palliation of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction is effective and safe in allowing patients to tolerate an oral diet.

Methods: In a prospective multicenter study, SEMSs (Duodenal WallFlex, Boston Scientific) were placed to alleviate gastroduodenal obstruction in inoperable patients without the ability to tolerate solid food. The primary study end point was improvement in oral intake monitored according to the 4-point Gastric Outlet Obstruction Scoring System (GOOSS) up to 24 weeks after stent placement.

Papillectomy for ampullary neoplasm: results of a single referral center over a 10-year period.

Background: Tumors arising from the duodenal papilla account for approximately 5% of GI neoplasms, but are increasingly identified.

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes in a large single-center experience with patients referred for ampullary lesions.

Design: A retrospective review of the Virginia Mason Medical Center endoscopy and hospital service database.

Good stents gone bad: endoscopic treatment of proximally migrated pancreatic duct stents.

Background: Pancreatic duct stents are used for a variety of endoscopic pancreatic manipulations, and small surgical stents are used prophylactically to bridge pancreatic-enteric anastomoses. With increasing use of pancreatic stents, many complications have been recognized.

Objective: To determine the complications and outcomes of pancreatic stent migration.

A twenty-year experience with endoscopic therapy for symptomatic primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Goals: The current study presents 1 tertiary endoscopy center's 20-year experience using endoscopic therapy to treat patients with symptomatic primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

Background: Endoscopic therapy for patients with PSC and dominant strictures has been used for more than 20 years, but there is concern that instrumenting a sclerotic biliary tree induces risks that outweigh anticipated benefits.

Study: In this retrospective chart review, 117 patients with PSC were identified using ICD-9 codes.

Acute symptomatic small bowel obstruction due to capsule impaction.

Background: Capsule impaction is a well-recognized complication of capsule endoscopy, with an incidence rate of 0.75% to 21%, depending on indication. There have been only 2 reported cases of capsule impaction causing symptomatic obstruction.

Blinded comparison of esophageal capsule endoscopy versus conventional endoscopy for a diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus in patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux.

Background: Esophageal capsule endoscopy (ECE) is an alternative to EGD for Barrett's esophagus screening. A multicenter study found ECE to be safe, well tolerated, and accurate; however, a post hoc adjudication process was used that may have biased results.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of ECE for the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus.

Palliation of gastric outlet obstruction and proximal small bowel obstruction with self-expandable metal stents: a single center series.

Background: Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) are being increasingly used to palliate malignant stenoses of the gastric outlet and proximal small bowel. Accordingly, we reviewed our experience in this setting.

Methods: Patients with gastric outlet or proximal small bowel stents were identified by reviewing hospital charts.

Use of self-expandable metallic stents in benign GI diseases.

Background: The self-expandable metallic stent is of proven benefit in patients with malignant disease; however, its use in patients with benign disease is not well established. There are few data available regarding long-term complications and outcomes with use of self-expandable metallic stents in benign disease and virtually none regarding attempted removal once the acute problem is resolved.

Methods: Thirteen patients who had a self-expandable metallic stent placed for benign GI disorders were included in a retrospective analysis.

Percutaneous embolization of the pancreatic duct with cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive in disconnected duct syndrome.

Traditionally, patients with chronic end-pancreatic fistulas caused by pancreatic necrosis have been treated with long-term percutaneous catheter drainage and/or surgical procedures such as resection or open drainage. With surgical treatment, the endocrine and exocrine functions of the removed pancreatic segment are sacrificed. Surgery in this patient population presents additional risks because of the inflammatory changes of pancreatitis and associated venous thromboses.

Clinical outcomes in patients who undergo extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for chronic calcific pancreatitis.

Background: There is controversy as to whether extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy fragmentation and ERCP retrieval of pancreatic stones are associated with relief of chronic pain or relapsing attacks of pancreatitis. Our most recent experience with this technology is reviewed.

Methods: Forty patients with chronic calcific pancreatitis who required extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy between 1995 and 2000 to facilitate pancreatic duct stone removal were retrospectively reviewed.