Surgical repair of endoscopy-induced colonic perforations: a case-matched study of short-term morbidity and mortality.

Background: Our aim was to describe the clinical outcomes of surgical interventions performed for the management of colonoscopy-related perforations and to compare these outcomes with those of matched colorectal surgeries performed in elective and emergency settings.

Methods: We included patients with endoscopic colonic perforation who underwent surgical intervention from the 2014-2017 National Surgery Quality Improvement Program participant use data colorectal targeted procedure file. The primary outcome in this study was short term surgical morbidity and mortality.

A Retrospective Study Comparing the Effect of Conventional Coagulation Parameters Vs. Thromboelastography-Guided Blood Product Utilization in Patients With Major Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Background: The use of thromboelastography (TEG) has demonstrated decreased blood product utilization in patients with specific etiologies of major gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), such as variceal and non-variceal bleeding in cirrhosis patients; however, in a non-cirrhosis patient with GIB, there is far less evidence in the literature. Our retrospective study compares the effect of TEG-guided blood product utilization in patients with major GIB with all etiologies, including cirrhosis, admitted to medical intensive care unit (MICU).

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients admitted to the MICU of a tertiary academic medical center diagnosed with GIB using ICD-9/10 codes from 2014 to 2018.

Total esophageal food impaction in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic: a delayed presentation in a patient with Parkinson's disease.

Total esophageal food impaction is extremely rare. We report a patient with Parkinsonism who presented with total dysphagia to solids and liquids and with inability to swallow her saliva of 3 days duration. She did not present sooner as she was afraid of contracting COVID-19 during hospitalization.

Management of acute diarrhea in the emergency department of a tertiary care university medical center.

Objectives: To examine the management of acute diarrhea in the emergency department (ED) of a large university medical center.

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study over a 10-month period of adult patients (age ≥18 years) presenting to the ED with acute diarrhea.

Results: Data for 780 patients were reviewed; 101 met the exclusion criteria.

Validation of the new ABC score for predicting 30-day mortality in gastrointestinal bleeding.

Background/aim: The ABC score is a new pre-endoscopic scoring system that was recently developed to accurately predict one-month mortality in upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). We aim to validate this new score on a cohort of Lebanese patients treated in a tertiary care center and to compare it to currently existing scores.

Methods: Adult patients admitted to the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) with overt GIB between January 2013 and August 2020 were included.

First or Second Biologic in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Combination Therapy or Monotherapy?

The therapeutic armamentarium for patients with inflammatory bowel disease has been expanding. Current guidelines make recommendations about whether patients who are biologic naive should be receiving biologic monotherapy or combination therapy, depending on the class of biologics. However, due to the limited available data, guidance to inform clinical practice for patients receiving their second or more biologic are lacking.

Large Cameron Ulcer Bleed.

Cameron ulcers usually present with chronic obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Few cases of life-threatening bleeding have been reported. We hereby present an elderly man who presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding associated with hemodynamic instability because of a large cratered Cameron ulcer.

Patient-Physician Communication in the Era of Mobile Phones and Social Media Apps: Cross-Sectional Observational Study on Lebanese Physicians' Perceptions and Attitudes.

Background: The increased prevalence of virtual communication technology, particularly social media, has shifted the physician-patient relationship away from the well-established face-to-face interaction. The views and habits of physicians in Lebanon toward the use of online apps and social media as forms of patient communication have not been previously described.

Objective: The aim of this study is to describe the views of Lebanese physicians toward the use of social media and other online apps as means of patient communication.