Publications by authors named "Schalk van der Merwe"

Article Synopsis
  • Stent misdeployment (SMD) is a significant challenge in EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS) for treating malignant distal biliary obstruction, with the study aiming to define its rate and outcomes, and propose a classification system.
  • In a review of data from two randomized controlled trials involving 152 patients, SMD was found in 7.2% of cases, with most types being misdeployments of the distal flange (type I) and a small number causing minor adverse events.
  • The analysis revealed that a smaller extrahepatic bile duct diameter (≤ 15 mm) increases the likelihood of SMD or technical failures, but most misdeployments can be successfully managed
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Article Synopsis
  • The text refers to a correction made to a previously published article.
  • The specific article mentioned can be identified by its DOI, which is 10.1055/a-2411-1814.
  • Corrections like this are common in academic publishing to address errors or inaccuracies in research.
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Cavoportal hemitransposition (CPHT) is a rarely performed treatment technique in liver transplantation in cases of extensive splanchnic thrombosis, in which the inferior vena cava of the recipient is used to perfuse the portal vein of the allograft. A case of a 65-year-old liver transplantation patient with an acutely thrombosed cavoportal anastomosis is presented. After unsuccessful medical treatment, recanalization was obtained with transfemoral catheter directed thrombolysis, angioplasty and stent placement.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigated outcomes of lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) placement in patients with surgically altered anatomy (SAA), which is not well-documented in existing literature, involving 270 patients across 25 tertiary care centers up to November 2023.
  • - Technical success of the procedures was very high at 98%, with clinical success at 97%, although there was a notable adverse event rate of 12%, with various degrees of severity recorded.
  • - The results suggest that while LAMS placement in SAA is effective, due to the risk of complications, these procedures should only be performed by experienced endoscopists in specialized centers.
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Article Synopsis
  • The text talks about a medical study comparing two procedures for patients who have both bile duct and stomach blockages at the same time.
  • In the study, 20 patients were treated, and it showed that one procedure (EUS-CDS) had more problems and shorter time without issues compared to the other procedure (EUS-HGS).
  • The results suggest that EUS-CDS may not be as good as EUS-HGS for these patients because it can lead to more complications and less chance of staying healthy longer without issues.
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Objectives: Endoscopic ultrasound-directed transgastric endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP; EDGE) is proposed as a less invasive alternative to laparoscopy-assisted ERCP. However, postponing ERCP for 1-2 weeks to reduce the risk of lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) migration may not be practical in urgent cases such as cholangitis, leading to increased procedural burden. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of a single-session EDGE utilizing a dedicated over-the-scope fixation device.

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Introduction: Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) has traditionally been the standard modality for pancreatic endotherapy. However, in certain situations, failure of retrograde ductal access may warrant an alternative modality of drainage. This can occur in various settings like difficult and/or surgically altered anatomy or duodenal obstruction.

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Background And Aims: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a complication of cirrhosis characterized by multiple organ failure and high short-term mortality. The pathophysiology of ACLF involves elevated systemic inflammation leading to organ failure, along with immune dysfunction that heightens susceptibility to bacterial infections. However, it is unclear how these aspects are associated with recovery and nonrecovery in ACLF.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study focuses on chronic rejection in lung transplantation, exploring its nature, timing, and location, challenging the idea that it primarily affects airways.
  • - Researchers conducted experiments on mice, sacrificing them at different time points post-transplantation to analyze the progression of chronic rejection through histology and advanced imaging techniques.
  • - Findings revealed that chronic rejection begins with innate inflammation around small arteries and evolves through various stages, ultimately affecting bronchioles, suggesting that the process may not align with current beliefs about Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD).
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malignancy (DNM) is the primary cause of mortality after liver transplantation (LT) for alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). However, data on risk factors for DNM development after LT are limited, specifically in patients with ALD. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed all patients transplanted for ALD at our center before October 2016.

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Background And Aims: A complete understanding of disease pathophysiology in advanced liver disease is hampered by the challenges posed by clinical specimen collection. Notably, in these patients, a transjugular liver biopsy (TJB) is the only safe way to obtain liver tissue. However, it remains unclear whether successful sequencing of this extremely small and fragile tissue can be achieved for downstream characterization of the hepatic landscape.

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Objectives: Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a frequent precipitating event for the development of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), a syndrome characterised by organ failures due to immune dysfunction. The histological features of this complication are not well characterized. We investigated whether ACLF has specific histological characteristics.

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Background & Aims: In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), monocytes infiltrate visceral adipose tissue promoting local and hepatic inflammation. However, it remains unclear what drives inflammation and how the immune landscape in adipose tissue differs across the NAFLD severity spectrum. We aimed to assess adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) heterogeneity in a NAFLD cohort.

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Background & Aims: Concomitant respiratory disease is a common finding in patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS). Among patients who underwent liver transplantation (LT) for HPS, we compared characteristics and outcome of patients with versus without concomitant respiratory disease.

Methods: This single center retrospective observational study included patients with HPS who underwent LT between 1999 and 2020.

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Endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS) with lumen apposing metal stent is emerging both as a rescue strategy and a primary treatment for distal malignant biliary obstruction. The large-scale diffusion of the procedure and improved overall survival of patients with pancreatobiliary neoplasms is resulting in a growing population of long-term EUS-CDS lumen apposing metal stent carriers. Recent studies have reported a need for reintervention during follow-up as high as 55%, and the Leuven-Amsterdam-Milan Study Group classification has been developed, identifying five mechanisms of stent dysfunction and 11 possible rescue strategies aimed at restoring biliary drainage.

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Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) associated liver disease is an underrecognized and poorly studied non-infectious complication that lacks an established treatment. We describe a CVID patient with severe multiorgan complications, including non-cirrhotic portal hypertension secondary to nodular regenerative hyperplasia leading to diuretic-refractory ascites. Remarkably, treatment with rituximab, administered for concomitant immune thrombocytopenia, resulted in the complete and sustained resolution of portal hypertension and ascites.

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Objectives: A new short device for percutaneous endoscopic cholangioscopy was recently developed. However, feasibility and safety has not yet been evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess clinical success, technical success, and adverse events (AEs).

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Objectives: EUS-guided pancreatic duct drainage (EUS-PD) using rendez-vous has been suggested as a safer alternative to pancreatogastrostomy. Fibrostenotic disease in the pancreatic head may however preclude major papilla rendez-vous, leading to preferential guidewire advancement through the minor papilla. Our aim was to compare the outcomes of minor and major papilla rendez-vous.

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