Gastric Emptying Scintigraphy Before Gastric per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy: Imaging May Inform Treatment.

Gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) helps to diagnose gastroparesis and is typically only used for whole stomach retention patterns. However, it may provide significantly more information when looking specifically at proximal and distal retention patterns. This article reviews global GES changes following gastric per oral endoscopic myotomy; how global, proximal, and distal GES measurements correlate to gastroparesis symptoms; and how proximal and distal GES may serve as proxies for the various mechanisms involved in gastroparesis.

Endoscopic needle-knife treatment for symptomatic esophageal Zenker's diverticulum: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety following endoscopic management of Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) using a needle-knife technique.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane library databases was performed. All original studies reporting efficacy and safety of needle-knife technique for treatment of ZD were included.

Yield of computed tomography of the cervical spine in cases of simple assault.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) of the cervical spine (C-spine) is routinely ordered for low-impact, non-penetrating or "simple" assault at our institution and others. Common clinical decision tools for C-spine imaging in the setting of trauma include the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) and the Canadian Cervical Spine Rule for Radiography (CCR). While NEXUS and CCR have served to decrease the amount of unnecessary imaging of the C-spine, overutilization of CT is still of concern.

Utility of computed tomographic imaging of the cervical spine in trauma evaluation of ground-level fall.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) of the cervical spine (C-spine) is routinely ordered for low-risk mechanisms of injury, including ground-level fall. Two commonly used clinical decision rules (CDRs) to guide C-spine imaging in trauma are the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) and the Canadian Cervical Spine Rule for Radiography (CCR).

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study of 3,753 consecutive adult patients presenting to an urban Level I emergency department who received C-spine CT scans were obtained over a 6-month period.