Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastrojejunostomy with a direct technique without previous intestinal filling using a tubular fully covered self-expandable metallic stent

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided gastrojejunostomy is a minimally invasive method for the management of gastric outlet obstruction. Conventionally, a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) is used to create an anastomosis. However, LAMS is expensive and not widely available. In this report, we described a tubular fully covered self-expandable metallic stent (T-FCSEMS) for this purpose.

METHODS

Twenty-one patients (15 men [71.4%]; median age, 66 years; range, 40-87 years) were included in this study. A total of 19 malignant (12 pancreatic, 6 gastric, and 1 metastatic rectal cancer) and 2 benign cases were observed. The proximal jejunum was punctured with a 19 G needle. The stomach and jejunum walls were dilated with a 6 F cystotome, and a 20×80 mm polytetrafluoroethylene T-FCSEMS (Hilzo) was deployed. Oral feeding was initiated after 12 to 18 hours and solid foods after 48 hours.

RESULTS

The median procedure time was 33 minutes (range, 23-55 minutes). After two weeks, 19 patients tolerated oral feeding. In patients with malignancy, the median survival time was 118 days (range, 41-194 days). No serious complications or deaths occurred. All patients with malignancy tolerated oral food intake until they expired.

CONCLUSION

T-FCSEMS is safe and effective. This stent should be considered as an alternative to LAMS for gastric outlet obstruction.

Results of Nucleos(t)ide Analog Treatment Discontinuation in Hepatitis B e-Antigen-Negative Chronic Hepatitis B: NUCSTOP Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

This study aims to investigate the effects of nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) discontinuation in eligible patients in accordance with the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver hepatitis B guideline and the factors affecting clinical and virological relapses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this prospectively designed study, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B patients who were followed up between 2012 and 2019 were evaluated and 57 patients were included. All participants enrolled the study were HBeAgnegative status at NA initiation.

RESULTS

The median age of the patients was 49 (29-72) years and 24 (42%) were females. The median treatment duration was 96 (36- 276) months and patients were followed for a median duration of 27 months. Sixteen patients had a previous history of NA switch, and thirteen of these patients had a history of lamivudine resistance. Thirty-eight of 57 patients (66%) developed an elevated hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid level of >2000 IU/mL at least once, defined as virological relapse and 23 (60%) of them, experienced clinical relapse. Thirty-one of 57 patients were re-treated during the follow-up, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss occurred among 4 (7%) patients. All patients who experienced HBsAg loss had a history of lamivudine resistance (P = .002).

CONCLUSION

Despite receiving NAs suppression therapy for a long time, HBsAg loss occurs rarely. Although it was not life-threatening, most patients experienced relapses and treatment should be restarted. In our study, whether it is a coincidence that all patients with HBsAg loss are patients in whom NAs are used sequentially due to lamivudine resistance is an issue that needs to be further investigated.

The course of acute pancreatitis in patients with different BMI groups

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the risk factors, Atlanta severity score, Balthazar-CTSI score, and disease course in patients of varying weight with acute pancreatitis (AP).

METHODS

A retrospective evaluation was made of normal weight (NW), overweight (OW), and obese (OB) patients (n:1134) with respect to demographic findings, diabetes (DM)/hypertension, smoking/alcohol use, etiologies, laboratory findings, Balthazar/Atlanta severity scores, and disease outcomes. After consistency and associations among the BMI, Balthazar, and Atlanta groups were evaluated, combined effects of risk factors on mortality, hospital and ICU stays were re-examined statistically.

RESULTS

In the OB group, mean age (p < 0.001), female gender (p < 0.001), increased BUN(p < 0.027) and Hct (p = 0.039), DM(p < 0.024), and mortality (p < 0.011) were statistically significant. In the non-NW groups, the rates of complications (40.6%/38.6%), mortality (3.7%/4.9%), interventional procedures (36%/39%), and length of hospital stay (11.6%/9.8%) were increased. Obesity constituted 23.7% of severe AP(SAP) and 50% of mortality. There was no significant relationship between Atlanta and Balthazar groups and BMI, nor between Balthazar and moderate AP (MSAP) to SAP. Old age (p = 0.000), male sex (p = 0.05), obesity (p = 0.046), alcohol (p = 0.014), low Hct (p = 0.044), high CRP (p = 0.024), MSAP/SAP (p = 0.02/(p < 0.001), and any complications (p < 0.001) increased the mortality risk. Female gender (p = 0.024), smoking (p = 0.021), hypertriglyceridemia (p = 0.047), idiopathic etiology (p = 0.023), and MSAP/SAP (p < 0.001) associations increased ICU admission. Co-occurrences of higher Balthazar score (p < 0.001), MSAP/SAP (p < 0.001), all kinds of complications (p < 0.001), and recurrence (p = 0.040) increased the hospital stay (≥11 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Although complications, mortality, longer hospitalization, and interventional procedures were observed more in the overweight and obese, successful prediction of Atlanta severity and Balthazar-CTSI scores based on BMI does not appear to be accurate. OB carries an increased risk for morbidity and mortality. The combined effects of risk factors increased mortality, longer hospital stays, and ICU admission.

Comparison of scoring systems used in acute pancreatitis for predicting major adverse events

OBJECTIVES

Timely identification of patients with acute pancreatitis who are likely to have a severe disease course is critical. Based on that, many scoring systems have been developed throughout the years. Although many of them are currently in use, none of them has been proven to be ideal. In this study, we aimed to compare the discriminatory power of relatively newer risk scores with the historical ones for predicting in-hospital major adverse events, 30-day mortality and 30-day readmission rate.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients who had been admitted due to acute pancreatitis were retrospectively investigated. Five risk scoring systems including HAPS, Ranson, BISAP, Glasgow, and JSS were calculated using the data of the first 24h of admission. Predictive accuracy of each scoring system was calculated using the area under the receiver-operating curve method.

RESULTS

Overall 690 patients were included in the study. In-hospital major adverse events were observed in 139 (20.1%) patients of whom, 19 (2.5%) died during hospitalization. 30-day all-cause mortality and 30-day readmission were observed in 22 (3.2%) and 27 (3.9%) patients respectively. Negative predictive value of each score was markedly higher compared to positive predictive values. Among all, JSS scoring system showed the highest AUC values across all end-points (0.80 for in-hospital major adverse events; 0.94 for in-hospital mortality; 0.91 for 30-day mortality). However, all five scoring systems failed to predict 30-day readmission.

DISCUSSION

JSS was the best classifier among all five risk scoring systems particularly owing to its high sensitivity and negative predictive value.

Relationship between neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels and inflammatory bowel disease type and activity

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a recently identified molecule, which is bacteriostatic, has tissue destructive effects and is pro-inflammatory with chemoattractant molecule binding properties. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between serum NGAL levels and the type and level of disease activity of IBD.

METHODS

A total of 92 patients [43 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 49 with ulcerative colitis (UC)], and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) were included in this study. Serum NGAL levels were measured using ELISA.

RESULTS

Serum NGAL levels were elevated in the IBD group [median 171, range (57-312) ng/mL] compared to the HC group [107 (45-234) ng/mL] (p<0.0001) and were elevated in UC patients [188 (74-312) ng/mL] compared to CD patients [168 (57-279) ng/mL] (p=0.006). When NGAL levels were further analysed based on localization of the CD and UC, the levels in ulcerative pancolitis [233 (144-312) ng/mL] were significantly higher (p=0.004) than the left-sided colitis [156 (103-309) ng/mL]. Similarly, NGAL levels were significantly higher in colonic CD [207 (125-249) ng/mL] than ileal CD [114 (78-210) ng/mL], and also in ileocolonic CD [198 (57-279) ng/mL] than ileal CD (p=0.033). When CD and UC groups were further categorized as active and inactive according to clinical and endoscopic activity indices, serum NGAL concentrations did not differ between inquiescent versus active stages. When a cut-off level of 129 ng/mL was used to distinguish IBD from HC, a sensitivity of 76.1% and a specificity of 60.9% was reached.

CONCLUSIONS

The serum NGAL levels in the IBD group was significantly higher than the HC group. Serum NGAL levels were higher in more extensive colonic involvement.