The appropriateness of colonoscopies at a teaching hospital: magnitude, associated factors, and comparison of EPAGE and EPAGE-II criteria.

Background: The growing demand for colonoscopies and inappropriate colonoscopies have become a significant problem for health care.

Objectives: To assess the appropriateness of colonoscopies and to analyze the association with some clinical and organizational factors. To compare the results of the European Panel of Appropriateness of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (EPAGE) and the EPAGE-II criteria.

Prevalence of nonpolypoid colorectal neoplasms in symptomatic patients scheduled for colonoscopy: a study with total colonic chromoscopy.

Objectives: (i) To determine the prevalence of nonpolypoid colorectal neoplasms (NP-CRNs) in a prospective cohort of patients of a Mediterranean area; (ii) to compare the characteristics of NP-CRNs with those of polypoid adenomas, focusing on the rate of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and carcinoma; (iii) to evaluate the characteristics of patients harboring NP-CRNs versus patients with protruding adenomas (P-CRNs).

Patients And Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional observational study was made in which consecutive unselected patients were scheduled for colonoscopy and pancolonic chromoendoscopy. The Paris Classification of Superficial Neoplastic Lesions was used to classify the detected lesions, and the revised Vienna criteria were applied to describe the grade of dysplasia.

Double-guidewire technique for difficult bile duct cannulation: a multicenter randomized, controlled trial.

Background: ERCP can be associated with serious complications. Difficulty in common bile duct (CBD) cannulation is one of the main risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis. The double-guidewire technique (DGT) has been considered a promising alternative approach in difficult cannulation situations.

Evaluation of postsurgical recurrence in Crohn's disease: a new indication for capsule endoscopy?

Background: Recurrence after surgery to treat Crohn's disease is frequent and unpredictable. The efficacy of postsurgery capsule endoscopy in detecting recurrence in patients with Crohn's disease is yet to be confirmed.

Objective: To assess the safety, accuracy, and therapeutic impact of capsule endoscopy in these patients.

Quantitative cholescintigraphy and bile abnormalities in patients with acalculous biliary pain.

Acalculous biliary pain has been related to gallbladder dysfunction that produces a gallbladder emptying defect-a condition which favours the development of lithiasis. It is therefore probable that microlithiasis is present in patients with gallbladder dysfunction. The aims of this study were to measure gallbladder emptying and investigate bile abnormalities in patients with acalculous biliary pain.