Assessing Patient Radiation Exposure in Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis of Procedural Complexity and Clinical Factors.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures can result in significant patient radiation exposure. This retrospective multicenter study aimed to assess the influence of procedural complexity and other clinical factors on radiation exposure in ERCP.

Methods: Data on kerma-area product (KAP), air-kerma at the reference point (K), fluoroscopy time, and the number of exposures, and relevant patient, procedure, and operator factors were collected from 2641 ERCP procedures performed at four university hospitals.

Topical pharyngeal anesthesia with articaine for gastroscopy: a double-blinded, randomized cross-over study in healthy volunteers.

Objectives: The benefits of topical pharyngeal anesthesia for gastroscopy remain under debate. Articaine, a local anesthetic with fast onset and offset of action as well as low systemic toxicity, could be a promising choice for topical anesthesia. The objective of this study was to assess whether topical pharyngeal anesthesia with articaine is beneficial in sedated gastroscopy.

Levodopa-Entacapone-Carbidopa Intestinal Gel Treatment in Advanced Parkinson's Disease: A Single-Center Study of 30 Patients.

Background: Levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel (LECIG) is a novel device assisted treatment option for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). It has been available in Finland since 2020. There is paucity of scientific studies considering LECIG treatment in clinical practice.

Cholangitis and Interruptions of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Associate with Reduced Overall and Progression-Free Survival in Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: Interrupting chemotherapy may explain the reduced overall survival (OS) in patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) with cholangitis. Endoscopic biliary decompression (BD) with metallic stents results in fewer chemotherapy interruptions and a lower cholangitis rate compared with plastic stents. We aimed to determine the impact of cholangitis, neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) interruptions and biliary stent choice on PC patients' survival.

Occupational radiation dose from gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures with special emphasis on eye lens doses in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures may result in remarkable radiation doses to patients and staff. The aim of this prospective study was to determine occupational exposures in gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures, with a special emphasis on eye lens dose in ERCP. Altogether 604 fluoroscopy-guided procedures, of which 560 were ERCPs belonging to four American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy procedural complexity levels, were performed using two fluoroscopy systems.

Machine learning for the prediction of post-ERCP pancreatitis risk: A proof-of-concept study.

Background: Predicting Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) risk can be determinant in reducing its incidence and managing patients appropriately, however studies conducted thus far have identified single-risk factors with standard statistical approaches and limited accuracy.

Aim: To build and evaluate performances of machine learning (ML) models to predict PEP probability and identify relevant features.

Methods: A proof-of-concept study was performed on ML application on an international, multicenter, prospective cohort of ERCP patients.

Endoscopic therapy of sporadic non-ampullary duodenal adenomas, single centre retrospective analysis.

Introduction: Although sporadic non-ampullary duodenal adenomas (SNADA) are rare, with the risk of progression to cancer, they deserve therapy. Endoscopic therapy of SNADA is effective, but with the increased risk of complications, endotherapy should be performed in high-volume units. The results of endotherapy of SNADA in our unit are presented.

Single-operator peroral pancreatoscopy in the preoperative diagnostics of suspected main duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: efficacy and novel insights on complications.

Background: Distinguishing intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) from other pancreatic cystic lesions is essential since IPMNs carry the risk of becoming malignant. Differentiating the main pancreatic duct involving IPMNs (MD-IPMNs) through conventional imaging is deficient. Single-operator peroral pancreatoscopy (SOPP) represents a promising method offering additional information on suspected lesions in the pancreatic main duct (MD).

Single-Center Study of 103 Consecutive Parkinson's Disease Patients with Levodopa-Carbidopa Intestinal Gel.

Background: Levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) effectively reduces time and dyskinesia and increases time in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). However, patients with LCIG-infusion experience frequent complications and some discontinue treatment early on.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to find predictive factors for early dropout from the LCIG infusion, analyze the treatment burden on the tertiary health care system, and explore changes in medication during the LCIG treatment.

Pancreatic fibrosis, acinar atrophy and chronic inflammation in surgical specimens associated with survival in patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the most lethal malignancies, is increasing in incidence. However, the stromal reaction pathophysiology and its role in PDAC development remain unknown. We, therefore, investigated the potential role of histological chronic pancreatitis findings and chronic inflammation on surgical PDAC specimens and disease-specific survival (DSS).

Clinical practice patterns in indirect peroral cholangiopancreatoscopy: outcome of a European survey.

Indirect peroral cholangiopancreatoscopy (IPOC) is a relatively new diagnostic and therapeutic tool for biliopancreatic diseases. This international survey aimed to evaluate clinical practice patterns in IPOC among endoscopists in Europe. An online survey was developed comprising 66 questions on the use of IPOC.

Polyneuropathy monitoring in Parkinson's disease patients treated with levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel.

Objectives: Levodopa-carbidopa-intestinal-gel (LCIG) infusion is an effective treatment for advanced PD with motor fluctuations. Polyneuropathy occurs as a complication in 10-15% of patients. We wanted to assess the frequency of polyneuropathy in Finnish advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with continuous LCIG infusion, and the value of different clinical monitoring parameters during follow-up.

Diagnostic accuracy and interobserver agreement of digital single-operator cholangioscopy for indeterminate biliary strictures.

Background And Aims: Digital single-operator cholangioscopy (d-SOC) with cholangioscopic biopsy sampling has shown promise in the evaluation of indeterminate biliary strictures. Some studies have suggested higher sensitivity for visual impression compared with biopsy sampling, although assessors were not blinded to previous investigations. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy and interobserver agreement (IOA) of d-SOC in the visual appraisal of biliary strictures when blinded to additional information.

Use of thiopurines is not a risk factor for post-ERC pancreatitis in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Introduction: Risk of post-ERC pancreatitis (PEP) in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is 1-7.8%. PSC is often associated with inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune hepatitis, which are usually treated with thiopurines.

Endoscopic diagnosis and management of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (NVUGIH): European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline - Update 2021.

1: ESGE recommends in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH) the use of the Glasgow-Blatchford Score (GBS) for pre-endoscopy risk stratification. Patients with GBS ≤ 1 are at very low risk of rebleeding, mortality within 30 days, or needing hospital-based intervention and can be safely managed as outpatients with outpatient endoscopy.Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence.

Use of self-expandable metallic stents for endoscopic biliary decompression decreases stent complications in pancreatic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Background: Both plastic stents and self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSes) are used for endoscopic biliary decompression (BD) among patients with pancreatic cancer (PAC). Cholangitis or stent occlusion often interrupts or ends chemotherapy. We investigated cholangitis, stent occlusion, and chemotherapy interruption rates for SEMSes and plastic stents among patients receiving chemotherapy for PAC.

Transpancreatic biliary sphincterotomy versus double guidewire in difficult biliary cannulation: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Difficult biliary cannulation in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) increases the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). The purpose of this prospective, randomized, multicenter study was to compare two advanced rescue methods, transpancreatic biliary sphincterotomy (TPBS) and a double-guidewire (DGW) technique, in difficult common bile duct (CBD) cannulation.

Methods: Patients with native papilla and planned CBD cannulation were recruited at eight Scandinavian hospitals.

Repeated Negative Urine Trypsinogen-2 Dipstick Test Rules Out Diagnosis of Post-ERCP Pancreatitis.

Background: A dipstick test for urine trypsinogen-2 has been used in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, but there are only a few studies exploring the effectiveness of this test for early diagnose of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP).

Goals: The authors explore if the rapid point-of-care urine trypsinogen-2 dipstick test can replace assay of amylase in diagnosing PEP.

Study: For this prospective study, from Helsinki University Hospital 400 ERCP patients were enrolled in whom the authors analyzed plasma amylase or pancreas-specific amylase, bilirubin, and urine trypsinogen-2, and urine trypsinogen-2 with dipstick before, 4 and 24 hours after ERCP.

Benign biliary strictures treated with biodegradable stents in patients with surgically altered anatomy using double balloon enteroscopy.

Objectives: Surgically altered anatomy complicates endoscopical procedures of pancreatobiliary tree. Biliary or hepaticojejunal anastomosis strictures have been managed using percutaneous transhepatic or double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) techniques with multiple plastic stents, or fully covered self-expandable metal stents. We report the first seven cases with surgically altered anatomy treated with biodegradable stents with DBE.

Chronic use of statins and acetylsalicylic acid and incidence of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography acute pancreatitis: A multicenter, prospective, cohort study.

Objectives: Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) acute pancreatitis (PEP) is a frequent complication of this endoscopic procedure. Chronic statin intake has been linked to lower incidence and severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). Periprocedural rectal administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is protective against PEP, but the role of chronic acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) treatment is unclear.

Diclofenac does not reduce the risk of acute pancreatitis in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.

Background: The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recommends rectal indomethacin or diclofenac before endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis. However, data on the prophylactic effect in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are lacking.

Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study.

Association between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer: A 10-year retrospective study of endoscopically treated and surgical patients.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) has a poor prognosis. Chronic pancreatitis (CP) associates with high morbidity and mortality, and serves as a risk factor for PC. Our study aimed to assess the association between endoscopically treated CP patients and PC, and to establish the rate of CP among patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Doxapram as an additive to propofol sedation for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded study.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) requires moderate to deep sedation, usually with propofol. Adverse effects of propofol sedation are relatively common, such as respiratory and cardiovascular depression. This study was conducted to determine if doxapram, a respiratory stimulant, could be used to reduce the incidence of respiratory depression.