Upper GI endoscopy in elderly patients: predictive factors of relevant endoscopic findings.

Elderly patients are at increased risk for peptic ulcer and cancer. Predictive factors of relevant endoscopic findings at upper endoscopy in the elderly are unknown. This was a post hoc analysis of a nationwide, endoscopic study.

Italian consensus guidelines for chronic pancreatitis.

This paper gives practical guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of chronic pancreatitis. Statements have been elaborated by working teams of experts, by searching for and analysing the literature, and submitted to a consensus process by using a Delphi modified procedure. The statements report recommendations on clinical and nutritional approach, assessment of pancreatic function, treatment of exocrine pancreatic failure and of secondary diabetes, treatment of pain and prevention of painful relapses.

How to predict a high rate of inappropriateness for upper endoscopy in an endoscopic centre?

Background: Inappropriateness of upper endoscopy (EGD) indication causes decreased diagnostic yield. Our aim of was to identify predictors of appropriateness rate for EGD among endoscopic centres.

Methods: A post-hoc analysis of two multicentre cross-sectional studies, including 6270 and 8252 patients consecutively referred to EGD in 44 (group A) and 55 (group B) endoscopic Italian centres in 2003 and 2007, respectively, was performed.

Appropriateness guidelines and predictive rules to select patients for upper endoscopy: a nationwide multicenter study.

Objectives: Selecting patients appropriately for upper endoscopy (EGD) is crucial for efficient use of endoscopy. The objective of this study was to compare different clinical strategies and statistical methods to select patients for EGD, namely appropriateness guidelines, age and/or alarm features, and multivariate and artificial neural network (ANN) models.

Methods: A nationwide, multicenter, prospective study was undertaken in which consecutive patients referred for EGD during a 1-month period were enrolled.

Appropriateness of upper-GI endoscopy: an Italian survey on behalf of the Italian Society of Digestive Endoscopy.

Background And Objective: Open-access endoscopy allows physicians to directly schedule endoscopic procedures for their patients without prior consultation. An evaluation of both appropriateness and diagnostic yield of endoscopic procedures is critical when assessing the costs and benefits of endoscopy in an open-access setting. The aim of this Italian multicenter study was to assess the appropriate use of upper endoscopy (EGD) in an open-access system and to establish the yield of diagnostic information relevant to patient care.

Ranitidine bismuth citrate with either clarithromycin 1 g/day or 1.5 g/day is equally effective in the eradication of H. pylori and healing of duodenal ulcer.

Background: No randomized double-blind studies have been performed to compare clarithromycin 1 g/day with higher doses of the macrolide (1.5 g/day) when combined with ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC).

Aim: To compare H.

Hyperplastic polyp of the stomach simulating hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

We describe a rare case of hyperplastic polyp of the stomach having its clinical origin in the neonatal period and initially stimulating hypertrophic stenosis of the pylorus. After this neoformation, which almost completely obstructed the pylorus, was endoscopically removed, vomiting ceased and a rapid weight gain was observed. It is known that tumors are a rare cause of gastric outlet obstruction if compared with hypertrophic stenosis of the pylorus.

Intrahepatic lithiasis. Study of thirty-six cases and review of the literature.

In 2,700 operations for biliary tract stones, intrahepatic lithiasis (stones located proximal to the confluence of the main hepatic ducts) was discovered in 36 patients (1.3 per cent). The diagnosis of intrahepatic lithiasis was determined only via intraoperative chalangiography in thirty-two cases (88.

[Intrahepatic lithiasis. Apropos of 36 cases of "regional" intraheptic lithiasis].

Out of 2,700 operations for cholelithiasis and its sequelae (1960-1976), 36 cases (1.3%) of intrahepatic lithiasis (i.l.

Spontaneous internal biliary fistulas.

Etiology, diagnostic investigations and surgical procedures on 58 patients with spontaneous internal biliary fistulas are reported. Cholelithiasis and peptic ulcer were found to be the presumptive cause of fistula respectively in 53 and five patients. Preoperative diagnosis was established on 31 patients while in the remaining 27 fistula was found incidentally at surgery.