Laparoscopic treatment for unsuspected common bile duct stones by transcystic sphincter of Oddi pneumatic balloon dilation and pressure-washing technique.

Background: Unsuspected common bile duct stones (CBDS) are found in 4-5 % of patients with cholelithiasis. The optimal strategy for the treatment of asymptomatic CBDS, diagnosed during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), is not yet well established. A one-stage solution is preferable to solve the CBDS during the LC and to avoid the exposure of patients to the risks of a second procedure, such as complications or failure.

Upper GI endoscopy in elderly patients: predictive factors of relevant endoscopic findings.

Elderly patients are at increased risk for peptic ulcer and cancer. Predictive factors of relevant endoscopic findings at upper endoscopy in the elderly are unknown. This was a post hoc analysis of a nationwide, endoscopic study.

Ileal intubation with a transnasal endoscope.

Transnasal upper endoscopy has been implemented in the last decade as it is perceived as less fastidious than peroral endoscopy, and small-caliber gastroscopes are widely available in the endoscopic centres. We report the feasibility of performing a full colonic study with ileal intubation, using a small-caliber endoscope commonly used for transanal endoscopy, after failing with a standard gastroscope.

Appropriateness guidelines and predictive rules to select patients for upper endoscopy: a nationwide multicenter study.

Objectives: Selecting patients appropriately for upper endoscopy (EGD) is crucial for efficient use of endoscopy. The objective of this study was to compare different clinical strategies and statistical methods to select patients for EGD, namely appropriateness guidelines, age and/or alarm features, and multivariate and artificial neural network (ANN) models.

Methods: A nationwide, multicenter, prospective study was undertaken in which consecutive patients referred for EGD during a 1-month period were enrolled.

Appropriateness of upper-GI endoscopy: an Italian survey on behalf of the Italian Society of Digestive Endoscopy.

Background And Objective: Open-access endoscopy allows physicians to directly schedule endoscopic procedures for their patients without prior consultation. An evaluation of both appropriateness and diagnostic yield of endoscopic procedures is critical when assessing the costs and benefits of endoscopy in an open-access setting. The aim of this Italian multicenter study was to assess the appropriate use of upper endoscopy (EGD) in an open-access system and to establish the yield of diagnostic information relevant to patient care.