Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a very common and troublesome gastrointestinal side effect following the use of opioids. Despite existing international guidelines, OIC is largely underdiagnosed and undertreated. ECHO OIC is a European project designed to improve the diagnosis and management of OIC at the primary care level.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Bowel preparation represents a significant issue to high-quality colonoscopy. Oral mannitol requires a single dose, is of low volume, and has a pleasant taste and rapid action.
Aims: This SATISFACTION study compared single-dose (same day) oral mannitol 100 g/750 mL with standard split-dose PEG-ASC2 L (MoviPrep®).
Background: Diverticular disease (DD) represents a common gastrointestinal condition that poses a heavy burden on healthcare systems worldwide. A high degree of uncertainty surrounds the therapeutic approaches for the control of symptoms in patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) and primary and secondary prevention of diverticulitis and its consequences.
Objectives: To review the current knowledge and discuss the unmet needs regarding the management of SUDD and the prevention of acute diverticulitis.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems could make the optical diagnosis (OD) of diminutive colorectal polyps (DCPs) more reliable and objective. This study was aimed at prospectively evaluating feasibility and diagnostic performance of AI-standalone and AI-assisted OD of DCPs in a real-life setting by using a white light-based system (GI Genius, Medtronic Co, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States). Consecutive colonoscopy outpatients with at least one DCP were evaluated by 11 endoscopists (5 experts and 6 non-experts in OD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The identification of early-stage colorectal cancers (CRC) and the resection of pre-cancerous neoplastic lesions through colonoscopy allows to decrease both CRC incidence and mortality. However, colonoscopy miss rates up to 26% for adenomas and 9% for advanced adenomas have been reported. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) systems have been emerging as easy-to-use tools, potentially lowering the risk of missing lesions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe implementation of FIT programs reduces incidence and mortality from CRC in the screened subjects. The ultimate efficacy for CRC morbidity and mortality prevention in a FIT program depends on the colonoscopy in FIT+ subjects that has the task of detecting and removing these advanced lesions. Recently, there has been growing evidence on factors that influence the quality of colonoscopy specifically withing organized FIT programs, prompting to dedicated interventions in order to maximize the benefit/harm ratio of post-FIT colonoscopy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBest Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol
December 2023
Several scoring systems have been developed for both upper and lower GI bleeding to predict the bleeding severity and discriminate between low-risk patients, who may be suitable for outpatient management, and those who would likely need hospital-based interventions and are at high risk for adverse outcomes. Risk scores created to identify low-risk patients (namely the Glasgow Blatchford Score and the Oakland score) showed very good discriminative performances and their implementation has proven to be effective in reducing hospital admissions and healthcare burden. Conversely, the performances of risk scores in identifying specific adverse events to define high-risk patients are less accurate, and whether their integration into routine clinical practice has a tangible impact on patient management remains unproven.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: Both computer-aided detection (CADe)-assisted and Endocuff-assisted colonoscopy have been found to increase adenoma detection. We investigated the performance of the combination of the 2 tools compared with CADe-assisted colonoscopy alone to detect colorectal neoplasias during colonoscopy in a multicenter randomized trial.
Methods: Men and women undergoing colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening, polyp surveillance, or clincial indications at 6 centers in Italy and Switzerland were enrolled.
This study tested the hypothesis that bowel preparation with mannitol should not affect the colonic concentration of H and CH . Therefore, the SATISFACTION study, an international, multicenter, randomized, parallel-group phase II-III study investigated this issue. The phase II dose-finding part of the study evaluated H , CH , and O concentrations in 179 patients randomized to treatment with 50 g, 100 g, or 150 g mannitol.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Clin Pharmacol
December 2022
Background: A relevant number of adenomas can be missed during colonoscopy.
Aims: Assess the current status of colonoscopy procedures in Italian centers.
Methods: A prospective observational study involving 17 hospitals (34 endoscopists) included consecutive patients undergoing standard colonoscopy.
Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common neoplasm in Western countries. Prioritizing access to colonoscopy appears of critical relevance. Alarm features are considered to increase the likelihood of CRC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Few studies focused on minor adverse events which may develop after colonoscopy.
Aims: To investigate the incidence and factors associated to post-colonoscopy symptoms.
Methods: This is a prospective study conducted in 10 Italian hospitals.
Background: Symptoms developing during bowel preparation are major concerns among subjects who refuse the procedure.
Aims: We aimed to explore the determinants of symptoms occurring during preparation among patients undergoing elective colonoscopy.
Methods: This is a prospective multicenter study conducted in 10 Italian hospitals.
Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol
July 2022
Introduction: Anemia is a common complication of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, with a prevalence up to 60% in celiac disease (CeD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most prevalent form of anemia in these conditions, but chronic inflammation and vitamin B12 deficiency represent other common contributing mechanisms, especially in IBD.
Areas Covered: We discuss the pathogenesis of anemia in various medical GI disorders, the sometime problematic distinction between IDA, anemia of inflammation (AI) and the association of the two, and therapeutic and preventive measures that can be useful for the management of anemia in GI disorders.
Background: Optical diagnosis of colonic polyps is poorly reproducible outside of high volume referral centers. The present study aimed to assess whether real-time artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted optical diagnosis is accurate enough to implement the leave-in-situ strategy for diminutive (≤ 5 mm) rectosigmoid polyps (DRSPs).
Methods: Consecutive colonoscopy outpatients with ≥ 1 DRSP were included.
Background: Computer-aided detection (CADe) increases adenoma detection in primary screening colonoscopy. The potential benefit of CADe in a fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program is unknown. This study assessed whether use of CADe increases the adenoma detection rate (ADR) in a FIT-based CRC screening program.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: Patients undergoing colonoscopy are often in the workforce. Therefore, colonoscopy may affect patients' work productivity in terms of missed working days and/or reduced working efficiency. We aimed to investigate the impact of colonoscopy on work productivity and factors influencing this impact.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Information on the management of Helicobacter (H.) pylori infection by gastroenterologists and gastroenterology fellows are scarce. We aimed to assess practice of gastroenterologists and gastroenterology fellows and their adherence to guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of H.
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