Biliary drainage in patients with malignant distal biliary obstruction: results of an Italian consensus conference.

Background: Malignant Distal Biliary Obstruction (MBDO) is a common event occurring along the natural history of both pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma. Epidemiological and biological features make MBDO one of the key elements of the clinical management of patients suffering for of pancreatic cancer or cholangiocarcinoma. The development of dedicated biliary lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) is changing the clinical work up of patients with MBDO.

Italian Survey on Endoscopic Biliary Drainage Approach in Patients with Surgically Altered Anatomy.

: Biliary drainage (BD) in patients with surgically altered anatomy (SAA) could be obtained endoscopically with different techniques or with a percutaneous approach. Every endoscopic technique could be challenging and not clearly superior over another. The aim of this survey is to explore which is the standard BD approach in patients with SAA.

Fusion radiology in interventional endoscopy (FRIend): a new approach for pancreatic fluid collections.

 Fusion imaging consists of overlaying preoperative imaging over live fluoroscopy, providing an augmented live guidance. Since 2017, we have been using a new hybrid operating room (Discovery IGS 740 OR, GE Healthcare) for biliopancreatic endoscopy, combining fusion imaging with traditional endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). This study aimed to assess the advantages that fusion imaging could bring to EUS-guided drainage of post-pancreatitis fluid collections.

Epidemiology, clinical features and diagnostic work-up of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas: Interim analysis of the prospective PANCY survey.

Introduction: A prospective survey to evaluate the diagnostic workup of cystic pancreatic neoplasms (CPNs) according to the Italian guidelines.

Methods: An online data sheet was built.

Results: Fifteen of the 1385 patients (1.

Bowel Preparation With Polyethylene Glycol 3350 or Fasting Only Before Peroral Single-balloon Enteroscopy: A Randomized European Multicenter Trial.

Background: Although bowel preparation before colonoscopy and capsule endoscopy is widely evaluated and usually follows established guidelines, a standard preparation regime for peroral small bowel enteroscopy is yet to be defined.The aim of the present study was to compare small bowel preparation with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and "fasting only" (FO) before peroral single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE).

Study: We compared small bowel preparation with PEG versus "FO" for peroral SBE in a randomized European multicenter trial.

Endoscopic management of patients with post-surgical leaks involving the gastrointestinal tract: A large case series.

Background: Post-surgical anastomotic leaks often require a re-intervention, are associated with a definite morbidity and mortality, and with relevant costs. We described a large series of patients with different post-surgical leaks involving the gastrointestinal tract managed with endoscopy as initial approach.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected cases with anastomotic leaks managed with different endoscopic approaches (with surgical or radiological drainage when needed) in two endoscopic centres during 5 years.

Colonic Postpolypectomy Bleeding Is Related to Polyp Size and Heparin Use.

Background/aims: We studied factors influencing colon postpolypectomy bleeding (PPB), with a focus on antithrombotic and anticoagulation therapy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study of all patients who underwent polypectomy at our tertiary referral center in Italy between 2007 and 2014. Polyp characteristics (number of polyps removed per patient, size, morphology, location, resection technique, prophylactic hemostasis methods) and patient characteristics (age, sex, comorbidities, medication) were analyzed.

Over-the-scope clip closure for treatment of post-pancreaticogastrostomy pancreatic fistula: A case series.

Background And Aim: The over-the-scope clip (OTSC) system is a recently developed endoscopic device. In the last few years, it has been successfully used for severe bleeding or deep wall lesions, or perforations of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We hereby report a series of patients with post-pancreaticogastrostomy pancreatic fistula in whom OTSC were used as endoscopic treatment.

First-line endoscopic treatment with OTSC in patients with high-risk non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding: preliminary experience in 40 cases.

Background And Study Aims: The over-the-scope clip (OTSC; Ovesco, Tübingen, Germany) is a novel endoscopic clipping device designed for tissue approximation. The device has been used in the closure of fistulas and perforations. We hereby report a series of patients with high-risk non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) lesions in whom OTSCs were used as first-line endoscopic treatment.

Analyses of the Post-reflux Swallow-induced Peristaltic Wave Index and Nocturnal Baseline Impedance Parameters Increase the Diagnostic Yield of Impedance-pH Monitoring of Patients With Reflux Disease.

Background & Aims: Analyses of impedance parameters such as the post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) index and the mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) have been proposed to increase the accuracy of diagnosis of reflux disease. We assessed whether these improve the diagnostic yield of impedance pH monitoring of reflux disease.

Methods: We performed a prospective study of consecutive patients with proton pump inhibitor-responsive heartburn who underwent 24-hour impedance pH monitoring at hospitals in Italy from January 2011 through December 2013.

Cholangiocarcinoma and malignant bile duct obstruction: A review of last decades advances in therapeutic endoscopy.

In the last decades many advances have been achieved in endoscopy, in the diagnosis and therapy of cholangiocarcinoma, however blood test, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography scan may fail to detect neoplastic disease at early stage, thus the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma is achieved usually at unresectable stage. In the last decades the role of endoscopy has moved from a diagnostic role to an invaluable therapeutic tool for patients affected by malignant bile duct obstruction. One of the major issues for cholangiocarcinoma is bile ducts occlusion, leading to jaundice, cholangitis and hepatic failure.

Methylprednisolone-induced Toxic Hepatitis After Intravenous Pulsed Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis Relapses.

High-dose, intravenous methylprednisolone (MP) is the only recommended first-line treatment for multiple sclerosis relapses. However, there are increasing reports on liver toxicity induced by this treatment regimen. We report of 4 multiple sclerosis patients with no history of viral/metabolic liver disorders or alcohol/hepatotoxic drug intake, who developed hypertransaminasaemia following intravenous MP.