National survey regarding the timing of endoscopic procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several questions have arisen about which endoscopic procedures (EPs) must be performed and which ones can be postponed. The aim of this study was to conduct a nationwide survey regarding the appropriate timing of EPs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This prospective study was performed through a nationwide electronic survey. The survey consisted of 15 questions divided into three sections. The first evaluated the agreement for EPs classified as "time sensitive" and "not time sensitive". Two other sections assessed "high-priority" and "low-priority" scenarios. Agreement was considered when > 75% of respondents answered a question in the same direction.

RESULTS

The response rate was 27.2% (214/784). Among the respondents, agreement for the need to perform EP in < 72 h was only reached for variceal bleeding (93.4%). Dysphagia with alarm symptoms was the scenario in which the highest percentage of physicians (95.9%) agreed that an EP needed to be performed within a month. Less than 30% of endoscopists would perform an EP within the first 72 h for patients with mild cholangitis, non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding without hemodynamic instability, or severe anaemia without overt bleeding. In time-sensitive clinical scenarios suggestive of benign disease, none of the scenarios reached agreement in any sense. Among the time-sensitive clinical scenarios suggestive of malignancy, > 90% of the surveyed respondents considered that EP could not be postponed for > 8 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no consensus among endoscopists about the timing of EPs in patients with pathologies considered time sensitive or in those with high-priority pathologies. Agreement was only reached in five (17%) of the evaluated clinical scenarios.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the liver. Case report

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT), also called inflammatory pseudotumour, is an uncommon neoplastic benign lesion histopathologically characterized by fibroblast and myofibroblast proliferation, with inflammatory cell infiltration. Systemic inflammatory response can appear although specific pathogens are rarely found. We present a case of a woman in whom liver abscess was initially suspected The absence of microorganisms in the tissue obtained by needle aspiration biopsy and the lack of antibiotic therapy response indicated hepatic resection that lead to diagnosis of IMT of the liver, which has to be differentiated from abscess and abscessed tumours. The aim of this case report is to analyze the clinical presentation, course, diagnostic methods, therapies, and existing evidence of the possible pathogenic mechanisms leading to this neoplasm.

[Surgical treatment of familial adenomatous polyposis with an open technique. Experience of a third level Latin American center]

INTRODUCTION

The ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) and ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) are the preferred surgical methods in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

OBJECTIVE

To describe the results obtained from the surgical treatment in patients with FAP related to morbidity, mortality, rectal cancer and overall survival.

METHODS

We studied a retrospective cohort including all patients operated on with IPAA or IRA for FAP during the period of 1969 to 2000 at the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients were included. IRA was performed in 9 patients and IPAA in 17. Surgical morbidity was observed in 5 patients (19.2%). Mean postoperative follow-up was 68.8 +/- 58.8 months (median 52.5 months, range 0-240 months). Functional results were similar in both groups. The five year survival in patients with IPAA and IRA was 100% and 55.6%, respectively (P = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

In our institution, postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients with FAP are similar to those published in the literature. IPAA seems to offer better results related to survival with similar functional results and postoperative complications.

[Clinical characteristics associated to resectability in patients with tumors of the ampulla of Vater in a third-level hospital in Mexico: an 18-year experience]

BACKGROUND

Ampulla of Vater's tumors (AVT) are rare and account for 0.2% of neoplasia in necropsies. The stage, comorbidities and surgical experience are crucial for prognosis. The aim of this work is to report the clinical characteristics, treatment and complication of a group of patients with AVT.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with AVT were included in a retrospective manner. Descriptive statistics was used and data were shown as means and SD.

RESULTS

One hundred and six patients were included with a mean age of 58.5 +/- 14 years and 58% were women. Jaundice was the most common clinical data and it was present in 90% of cases. Two-thirds of patients underwent a Whipple surgical procedure. Complications of surgery were present in 35% of cases and abdominal sepsis and pancreatic fistulae were the most common (32% and 29%, respectively). Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological type and 39% of cases were in stage IV at diagnosis. Age higher or equal to 65 years was associated with less surgical possibilities. Melena at presentation was associated with a higher probability of surgical resection.

CONCLUSION

The probability of surgical resection is lower in patients older than 65 years and higher in those with melena at the diagnosis.

[Surgical and medical treatment outcome of enterocutaneus fistulas]

INTRODUCTION

Enterocutaneous fistulas are an important complication of gastrointestinal surgery. Most of the cases (75% to 85%) are secondary to postoperative complications and are related to a high morbi-mortality rate, mainly sepsis, malnutrition and fluid and electrolyte imbalance. The aim of this study is to describe the main causes of enterocutaneous fistulas and morbi-mortality associated to treatment in the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán.

METHODS

Retrospective, observational and longitudinal study. Clinical records of patients with enterocutaneous fistula from January 1999 to December 2003 were reviewed.

RESULTS

51 patients were identified; median age was 45 years (interval 20 to 79 years). Fistula resulted from surgery in 49 cases (96%). A combined therapy of total parenteral nutrition and low residue diet were used in 28 patients (55%). Surgery was performed as definitive treatment in 29 patients (57%). Indications for surgery were: failure to medical treatment in 25 patients (59%) and a persistent high output in 4 (8%). The median of postoperative hospitalization was 11 days (interval 3 to 96 days) and the median of lenght of stay was 30 days (interval 40 to 130 days). There was no mortality.

CONCLUSION

Enterocutaneous fistulas require long time of hospitalization. More than 50% of patients need surgery as final treatment.

Salmonella sp group A: a rare cause of bacterascites. A case report

Bacterascites (BA) is a minimally studied and defined entity. Its prognosis and clinical course are not well defined, and currently there are no management guidelines. We present a rare cause of BA in which Salmonella sp group A was isolated in a 44 year old man with cirrhosis who had diarrhea and fever three days earlier. Treatment with intravenous ceftriaxone was effective.

[Critical analysis of awards in gastroenterology research. The Mexican experience]

The impact of Mexican gastrointestinal research worldwide is limited and the outcome of the best research papers awarded by the Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología (AMG) is unknown. The objective of this study was to analyze the publication pattern of the research work, awarded by the AMG and their impact in international journals. The abstracts accepted for the annual meeting of the AMG from 1998 to 2006 were reviewed. Those presented in a plenary session or awarded were included. Their abstracts were searched in electronic databases. When not found, the main author was contacted by e-mail. In those papers published in a journal with an impact factor, the times it was cited were assessed. 35 abstracts were identified, mainly in gastroenterology (57.1%) and hepatology (34.3). Only in 5.7% (n=2) some of the authors were members of the governing board of AMG. The awarded institutions were Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (48.6%), Universities (Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla) (31.4%), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (8.6%), Fundación Clínica Médica Sur (5.7%), Hospital Juárez (2.9%), Private hospital (2.9%). Most of the papers were published within a year (73.7%). Only 2 papers had more than 10 citations in another international journal with impact factor, with a median for all paper of 5 citations (0-45). Considering all institutions, the rate of publication is 48%. Only half of the awarded works were published and mainly in journals of local distribution. The impact of these studies worldwide is limited.

Diagnostic yield and therapeutic impact of fine-needle aspiration biopsies guided by endoscopic ultrasound in pancreatic lesions

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The correct approach and treatment in a patient with a pancreatic lesion detected by imaging is not easy. Recently, the endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) biopsy is becoming a useful tool. The aim of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic yield and therapeutic impact of EUS-FNA in pancreatic lesions.

METHODS

Fifty-three patients with focal pancreatic lesions underwent EUS-FNA from March 2005 to March 2006. The final diagnosis was confirmed by the histological analysis from the surgical specimen and/or clinical follow-up for at least 6 months.

RESULTS

. Fifty-two patients were evaluated. Forty-seven useful samples for histological evaluation were obtained. Adequate samples were obtained in 83.3% (5/6) for lesions < 20 mm, 100% (19/19) for lesions from 20 to < 40 mm and 85.1% (23/ 27) for those > or = 40 mm. To differentiate between benign/malignant disease the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNA were 97.3% (95% CI: 84.9-99.1), 100% (95% CI: 66-100), 100% (95% CI: 88-100), 90% (95% CI: 57-96) and 97.8%, respectively. There was a change in the initial diagnosis in seven patients (14.8%). No complications were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-FNA is a useful and safe method with high predictive values to differentiate between malignant and benign pancreatic lesions.

Endoscopic treatment of high-risk bleeding ulcers: success, rebleeding and mortality

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Endoscopic treatment of peptic ulcers with high-risk stigmata has been probed. The rates of recurrent bleeding, need for emergent surgery and death are related to Forrest Classification, Blatchford's modified risk score and the kind of endoscopic treatment used (monotherapy vs. dual). The aims of the present study were to report the success of endoscopic therapy in the reduction of the rate of initial success, recurrent bleeding, the need for surgery, and the mortality rate for patients with bleeding peptic ulcer and high-risk stigmata.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From a retrospective view, patients seen from September 2004 to March 2007 who had peptic ulcers Forrest Ia, Ib, IIa and/or IIb were included.

RESULTS

Fifty-six patients were included (mean [SD] age 57.3 +/-16.6 years). The success rate was 91%, whilst the rest of the patients required immediate surgery. Recurrent bleeding was presented in 14 (27%) patients and eight (14.2%) required emergency surgery. The mortality rate was 3.6%. No factors were associated with the risk of failure to initial treatment, recurrent bleeding or need for surgery. The use of monotherapy by endoscopy was associated with the mortality. The variable "performed by a fellow alone" was not associated with any kind of outcome.

CONCLUSION

Complication rate is similar to previous reports of general hospitals, but is higher than those of referral centers. Endoscopic monotherapy is associated with a major mortality risk.