Comparison of time to endoscopy and outcome between weekend/weekday hospital admissions in patients with upper GI hemorrhage.

Objective: Recent findings suggest that time to endoscopy is prolonged in patients admitted on the weekend with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH), which may result in increased adverse outcomes. This study was designed to determine if these findings hold true for a community gastroenterology practice.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed patients admitted to a community teaching hospital from January 1, 2008, through October 31, 2008 with the primary diagnosis of UGIH.

Colonoscopy completion and complication rates in a community gastroenterology practice.

Background: In the United States, colonoscopy completion and complication rates are rarely reported outside academic institutions. Increased transparency of quality measures and outcomes is being driven by professional societies, government agencies, and private enterprise.

Objective: To collect and report the completion and complication rates of colonoscopy in a community gastroenterology practice.

Usefulness of cytopathology and histology in the evaluation of Barrett's esophagus in a community hospital.

Background: Brush cytology and histology have been found to be complementary in the evaluation of Barrett's esophagus at a referral medical center. This study evaluated the usefulness of brush cytology and histology in a community hospital setting.

Methods: One hundred consecutive patients with Barrett's esophagus underwent esophagogastroscopy performed by four staff gastroenterologists.

Post-ERCP pancreatitis: randomized, prospective study comparing a low- and high-osmolality contrast agent.

Diagnostic and therapeutic ERCPs are complicated by pancreatitis in 1% to 10% of patients, and evidence suggests that the contrast agent used for ERCP may be important in the pathogenesis of such pancreatitis. This prospective, double-blind study was undertaken to determine whether the use of a low-osmolality, nonionic contrast agent (Omnipaque 300; iohexol, 672 mOsm/kg H2O) would reduce the frequency and severity of postprocedure pancreatitis as compared to a high-osmolality, ionic contrast agent (Hypaque 50%; diatrizoate sodium, 1515 mOsm/kg H20). Six hundred ninety patients undergoing diagnostic ERCP (pancreatogram, cholangiogram, or both) either with or without sphincter of Oddi manometry and therapy were randomized to iohexol or diatrizoate sodium.