Position statement on routine laboratory testing before endoscopic procedures

Choosing which in-hospital laboratory tests to target for intervention: a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Some laboratory testing practices may be of low value, leading to wasted resources and potential patient harm. Our scoping review investigated factors and processes that developers report using to inform decisions about what tests to target for practice improvement.

METHODS

We searched Medline on May 30th, 2019 and June 28th, 2021 and included guidelines, recommendation statements, or empirical studies related to test ordering practices. Studies were included if they were conducted in a tertiary care setting, reported making a choice about a specific test requiring intervention, and reported at least one factor informing that choice. We extracted descriptive details, tests chosen, processes used to make the choice, and factors guiding test choice.

RESULTS

From 114 eligible studies, we identified 30 factors related to test choice including clinical value, cost, prevalence of test, quality of test, and actionability of test results. We identified nine different processes used to inform decisions regarding where to spend intervention resources.

CONCLUSIONS

Intervention developers face difficult choices when deciding where to put scarce resources intended to improve test utilization. Factors and processes identified here can be used to inform a framework to help intervention developers make choices relevant to improving testing practices.

Usefulness of Perioperative Laboratory Tests in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: Are They Necessary for All Patients?

BACKGROUND

Laboratory studies are routinely obtained preoperatively and postoperatively for total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study evaluates the necessity of routine, perioperative laboratory tests and identifies risk factors for laboratory-associated interventions.

METHODS

This retrospective review evaluated 967 consecutive patients scheduled for primary, unilateral TKAs (n = 593) or THAs (n = 374) over an 18-month period at a single institution. Preoperative prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR), complete blood count (CBC), complete metabolic panel (CMP), and postoperative CBC and basic metabolic panel (BMP) were recorded along with any laboratory-associated intervention. Patient demographics and comorbidities identified risk factors for abnormal or actionable laboratory studies.

RESULTS

Preoperatively, the actionable rates for PT/INR, CMP, and CBC were 0.3%, 1.4%, and 0.5%, respectively. Vascular, renal, and immunologic diseases were risk factors for an actionable CBC. Risk factors for an actionable CMP include cardiac arrhythmia and diabetes. There were no risk factors for an actionable PT/INR. Postoperatively, only 1.5% of BMPs and 1.5% of CBCs were actionable. Congestive heart failure, renal disease vascular disease, or history of cancer (P = .030) were risk factors for an actionable CBC. There were no risk factors for an actionable BMP. Patients with an abnormal preoperative lab were 2.4 times more likely to have an actionable postoperative lab. Patients with an actionable preoperative lab were 11.3 times more likely to have an actionable postoperative lab.

CONCLUSION

Routine preoperative and postoperative labs may not be necessary on all patients undergoing a TKA or THA. Comorbid risk factors and abnormal or actionable preoperative CMPs and CBCs can help determine the usefulness of postoperative laboratory assessments.

Best practice in placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with jejunal extension tube for continuous infusion of levodopa carbidopa intestinal gel in the treatment of selected patients with Parkinson's disease in the Nordic region

OBJECTIVE

Continuous infusion of levodopa carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) is associated with a significant improvement in the symptoms and quality of life of selected patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with jejunal extension (PEG/J) was first described in 1998 and has become the most common and standard technique for fixing the tubing in place for LCIG infusion.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A workshop was held in Stockholm, Sweden, to discuss the PEG/J placement for the delivery of LCIG in Parkinson's disease patients with the primary goal of providing guidance on best practice for the Nordic countries.

RESULTS

Suggested procedures for preparation of patients for PEG/J placement, aftercare, troubleshooting and redo-procedures for use in the Nordic region are described and discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

LCIG treatment administered through PEG/J-tubes gives a significant increase in quality of life for selected patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. Although minor complications are common, serious complications are infrequent, and the tube insertion procedures have a good safety record. Further development of delivery systems and evaluation of approaches designed to reduce the demand for redo endoscopy are required.

Safety of endoscopic interventions in patients with thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND

The risk of endoscopic interventions in thrombocytopenia has received little attention in the medical literature.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the safety of endoscopic interventions including evaluation of GI bleeding (GIB) in patients with thrombocytopenia.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Retrospective study, tertiary oncology center.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION

Review of consecutive endoscopies with preprocedure platelet counts (PCs) of 75 × 10(3)/μL or lower.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Risk of bleeding with routine endoscopic interventions and transfusion requirement after evaluation of GIB.

RESULTS

A total of 617 (351 upper, 266 lower [90 colonoscopies]) endoscopies were performed in 395 patients. Forceps-biopsy specimens were obtained in 398 endoscopies (mean ± standard deviation [SD] PC: 38.21 ± 11.7 × 10(3)/μL) and 45 polypectomies were performed in 17 endoscopies (mean ± SD PC: 39.65 ± 8.53 × 10(3)/μL). The risk of bleeding was 1.5% (6 of 398 endoscopies) at the biopsy site and 4% (2 of 45 polypectomies) at the polypectomy site. Active GIB (mean ± SD PC: 32.85 ± 4.0 × 10(3)/μL) was observed in 68 (11% of 617) endoscopies and intervention (mean ± SD PC: 33.68 ± 4.6 × 10(3)/μL) was performed in 41 procedures. Together, angiodysplasias and ulcers were the most common etiology (51.2% of 41). Hemostasis was achieved in 39 (95.1% of 41) procedures. Comparison of blood transfusions ± 3 days of successful therapy showed a 52% reduction (P < .001). By multivariate analysis, a higher aggregate blood transfusion 3 days preceding endoscopy (odds ratio 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-1.50; P < .001) predicted endoscopic findings of active GIB.

LIMITATIONS

Retrospective design, single center.

CONCLUSIONS

In the largest endoscopic experience reported in thrombocytopenic patients (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 3 or lower), bleeding caused by standard forceps biopsy and polypectomy (≤10 mm) was minor and easily controlled. Endoscopic therapy for GIB is safe and significantly reduces the packed red blood cell requirement and should be considered in patients with thrombocytopenia in the setting of an appropriate transfusion strategy.

Endoscopy in the outpatient setting

Office endoscopy is an accepted safe alternative to in-hospital care. Attention to detail will help to ensure that the vast majority of procedures will be successfully completed without incident. Although there are regional differences, in many parts of North America office endoscopy has become mainstream, and is preferred for common procedures. However, quality endoscopy is more complex than clean scopes and clean rooms. This article highlights many issues that serve to make office endoscopy a safe alternative to in-hospital procedures.

Prospective evaluation of the long-term outcomes after deep small-bowel spiral enteroscopy in patients with obscure GI bleeding

BACKGROUND

Spiral enteroscopy can be safe and effective in the short term for evaluation of obscure GI bleeding, but long-term data are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the long-term clinical outcomes after deep small-bowel spiral enteroscopy performed for obscure GI bleeding.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Academic referral center.

PATIENTS

This study included 78 patients who underwent antegrade spiral enteroscopy for evaluation of obscure GI bleeding.

INTERVENTION

Diagnostic spiral enteroscopy with hemostatic therapeutic maneuvers applied as indicated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Postprocedure evidence of recurrent overt GI bleeding, blood transfusion requirements, need for iron supplementation, serum hemoglobin values, and the need for additional therapeutic procedures.

RESULTS

Long-term follow-up data (mean [± standard deviation] 25.3 ± 7.5 months; range 12.9-38.8 months) were obtained in 61 patients (78%). Among those with long-term follow-up data, overt bleeding before spiral enteroscopy was present in 62%, compared with 26% in the follow-up period (P < .0001). The mean (± SD) hemoglobin value increased from 10.6 ± 1.8 to 12.6 ± 1.9 g/dL (P < .0001). Blood transfusion requirements decreased by a mean of 4.19 units per patient (P = .0002), and the need for iron supplementation (P = .0487) and additional procedures (P < .0001) decreased in the follow-up period. There were 8 adverse events (9%) (7 mild, 1 moderate).

LIMITATIONS

Single-center study, intervention bias.

CONCLUSION

In patients with obscure GI bleeding, deep small-bowel spiral enteroscopy is safe and effective in reducing the incidence of overt bleeding. An increase in hemoglobin values along with a decrease in blood transfusion requirement, need for iron supplementation, and need for additional therapeutic procedures were found over long-term follow-up. (

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT00861263.).

Postpolypectomy bleeding: incidence, risk factors, prevention, and management

Endoscopic polypectomy is at the forefront of colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention. However, endoscopic polypectomy is not completely free of complications, with bleeding being one of the most common complications encountered. In view of the ongoing campaign to introduce colorectal cancer screening to the population, addressing the issue of colonoscopic complications, and postpolypectomy bleeding (PPB) in particular is becoming more important. Despite the fact that the overall incidence of PPB is low, predisposing factors need to be elucidated to further decrease the frequency of this complication. Furthermore, the role of various techniques of PPB prophylaxis remains controversial. We review recent studies on the incidence, risk factors, prophylaxis, and management of PPB.

Sedation practices for routine diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Nigeria

AIM

To determine the sedation practices and preferences of Nigerian endoscopists for routine diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

METHODS

A structured questionnaire containing questions related to sedation practices and safety procedures was administered to Nigerian gastrointestinal endoscopists at the 2011 annual conference of the Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria which was held at Ibadan, June 23-35, 2011.

RESULTS

Of 35 endoscopists who responded, 17 (48.6%) used sedation for less than 25% of procedures, while 14 (40.0%) used sedation for more than 75% of upper gastrointestinal endoscopies. The majority of respondents (22/35 or 62.9%) had less than 5 years experience in gastrointestinal endoscopy. The sedative of choice was benzodiazepine alone in the majority of respondents (85.7%). Opioid use (alone or in combination with benzodiazepines) was reported by only 5 respondents (14.3%). None of the respondents had had any experience with propofol. Non-anaesthesiologist-directed sedation was practiced by 91.4% of endoscopists. Monitoring of oxygen saturation during sedation was practiced by only 57.1% of respondents. Over half of the respondents (18/35 or 51.4%) never used supplemental oxygen for diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

CONCLUSION

Sedation for routine diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Nigeria is characterized by lack of guidelines, and differs markedly from that in developed countries.