Endoscopic Mucosal Resection of Pancreatic Rest Presenting as a Sub-epithelial Nodule in the Gastric Antrum

Pancreatic rest/ectopic pancreas is a rare condition. An 82-year-old male presented with abdominal pain and was found to have an antral nodule on esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was done and the nodule was resected. Histology showed ectopic pancreatic tissue with pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia, PanIN-1 (low-grade dysplasia). This case highlights the importance of considering pancreatic rest as a differential in patients who present with a gastric sub-epithelial lesion and the associated finding of PanIN-1 highlights the importance of resecting such heterogeneous appearing lesions given the potential risk of progressing to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA).

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gallbladder Drainage Versus Percutaneous Drainage in Patients With Acute Cholecystitis Undergoing Elective Cholecystectomy

INTRODUCTION

Cholecystectomy (CCY) is the gold standard treatment of acute cholecystitis (AC). Nonsurgical management of AC includes percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PT-GBD) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD). This study aims to compare outcomes of patients who undergo CCY after having received EUS-GBD vs PT-GBD.

METHODS

A multicenter international study was conducted in patients with AC who underwent EUS-GBD or PT-GBD, followed by an attempted CCY, between January 2018 and October 2021. Demographics, clinical characteristics, procedural details, postprocedure outcomes, and surgical details and outcomes were compared.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-nine patients were included: EUS-GBD in 46 patients (27% male, mean age 74 years) and PT-GBD in 93 patients (50% male, mean age 72 years). Surgical technical success was not significantly different between the 2 groups. In the EUS-GBD group, there was decreased operative time (84.2 vs 165.4 minutes, P < 0.00001), time to symptom resolution (4.2 vs 6.3 days, P = 0.005), and length of stay (5.4 vs 12.3 days, P = 0.001) compared with the PT-GBD group. There was no difference in the rate of conversion from laparoscopic to open CCY: 5 of 46 (11%) in the EUS-GBD arm and 18 of 93 (19%) in the PT-GBD group ( P value 0.2324).

DISCUSSION

Patients who received EUS-GBD had a significantly shorter interval between gallbladder drainage and CCY, shorter surgical procedure times, and shorter length of stay for the CCY compared with those who received PT-GBD. EUS-GBD should be considered an acceptable modality for gallbladder drainage and should not preclude patients from eventual CCY.

The Rolling Stone: Bouveret Syndrome Requiring Open Gastrotomy After Failing Electrohydraulic Lithotripsy

Bouveret syndrome (BS) is an extremely rare form of gallstone ileus where a stone travels through a biliary-enteric fistula and causes gastric outlet obstruction. A 92-year-old male presented with gastric outlet obstruction secondary to an impacted gallstone in the duodenal bulb seen on imaging. Endoscopic therapy failed twice due to the immense gallstone size, and an open gastrotomy was required to remove the stone. The procedure was successful; however, the patient, unfortunately, passed away days after the operation due to other hospital illnesses. BS should be considered in patients with advanced age and significant comorbidities presenting with gastric outlet obstruction.

Invasive CO 2 monitoring with arterial line compared to end tidal CO 2 during peroral endoscopic myotomy

Background and study aims  Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has become a recognized treatment for achalasia. The technique requires CO 2 insufflation. It is estimated that the partial pressure of CO 2 (PaCO 2 ) is 2 to 5 mm Hg higher than the end tidal CO 2 (etCO 2 ), and etCO 2 is used as a surrogate for PaCO 2 because PaCO 2 requires an arterial line. However, no study has compared invasive and noninvasive CO 2 monitoring during POEM. Patients and methods  Seventy-one patients who underwent POEM were included in a prospective comparative study. PaCO 2 plus etCO 2 was measured in 32 patients (invasive group) and etCO 2 only in 39 matched patients (noninvasive group). Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) and Spearman's Rho were used to calculate the correlation between PaCO 2 and ETCO 2 . Results  PaCO 2 and ETCO 2 were strongly correlated: PCC R value: 0.8787 P  ≤ 0.00001, Spearman's Rho R value: 0.8775, P  ≤ 0.00001. Within the invasive group, the average difference between PaCO 2 and ETCO 2 was 3.39 mm Hg (median 3, standard deviation 3.5), within the 2- to 5-mm Hg range. The average procedure time (scope in to scope out) was increased 17.7 minutes ( P  = 0.044) and anesthesia duration was 46.3 minutes. Adverse events (AEs) included three hematomas and one nerve injury in the invasive group and one pneumothorax in the noninvasive group. There were no differences in AE rates between the groups (13 % vs 3 % P  = 0.24). Conclusions  Universal PaCO 2 monitoring contributes to increased procedure and anesthesia times without any decrease in AEs in patients undergoing POEM. CO 2 monitoring with an arterial line should only be performed in patients with major cardiovascular comorbidities; in all other patients, ETCO 2 is an appropriate tool.

Endoscopic ultrasound guided access procedures following surgery

EUS-guided therapeutic procedures have emerged in the recent years as a minimally invasive option for the management of complex hepatobiliary disorders. Gastrointestinal surgeries, e.g., pancreaticoduodenectomy, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, and partial gastrectomy with different reconstructions are commonly performed for a wide range of indications that include tumour resections and weight loss. Conventional endoscopic procedures are challenging in those patients due to inaccessible or unreachable ampulla. Patients with surgically altered anatomy are good candidates for EUS-guided access procedures that have shown good technical and clinical success rates. This category of procedures includes EUS-guided biliary drainage, EUS-guided pancreatic drainage, EUS-directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE) and EUS-guided Gastroenterostomy. Studies have shown that these procedures have comparable or better results than traditional endoscopic, interventional radiology-guided and surgical procedures. This article discusses the indications, technique and outcome of the different EUS-guided access procedures in patients with surgically altered anatomy.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Directed Transgastric ERCP (EDGE) Utilization of Trends Among Interventional Endoscopists

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasound-directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE) has become standard-of-care therapy at many centers for pancreaticobiliary disease in patients with Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the opinions and practices of endoscopists who perform EDGE.

METHODS

A 22-question utilization of EDGE survey was sent to 36 advanced endoscopists at tertiary care centers in the United States. The two-section survey included questions regarding advanced endoscopy volume and training at the respective facilities, and questions on specific details of EDGE utilization.

RESULTS

Among 36 interventional endoscopists (IE) surveyed, 14 (39%) reported performing > 1000 ERCPs annually. Thirty (83%) offered EDGE as an option for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients with previous cholecystectomy. Other options offered included: 19 (53%) offered Laparoscopy-assisted ERCP (LA-ERCP), 7 (19%) offered Single-Balloon ERCP (SBE), and 10 (28%) offered percutaneous drainage (PTC). Twenty (56%) IE performed 10 or less EDGE procedures, while 16 (44%) performed 11 or more. Single-session EDGE was performed by 7 (19%) IE, while 15 (42%) performed dual session, and 13 (36%) performed both. 19 (53%) actively closed fistulas while 17 (47%) let them close spontaneously. Thirty one (86%) reported a technical success rate of 91% to 100%. The most frequently reported immediate adverse event post-procedurally was abdominal pain, reported by 17 IE (47%). Weight gain was reported by 2 IE (6%).

CONCLUSION

EDGE continues to gain in popularity as an option for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients requiring pancreaticobiliary interventions, with 24/36 IE (67%) believing that it should be the new standard. In addition, most report a low frequency of post-procedural weight gain.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT05041608.

Therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has been continuously evolving for the past three decades and has become widely used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The efficacy of therapeutic EUS (TEUS) has proven to be superior and better tolerated than conventional percutaneous or surgical techniques. TEUS has allowed the performance of multiple procedures including gallbladder, pancreatic duct and biliary drainage as well as gastrointestinal anastomoses. TEUS procedures generally require the following critical steps: needle access, guidewire placement, fistula creation and stent deployment. The indications and contraindication for TEUS procedures vary with different procedures but common contraindications include hemodynamic instability, severe coagulopathy unable to be reversed, large volume ascites or the inability to obtain access to the target site. Proficiency and high volume in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and diagnostic EUS procedures are required for training in TEUS. The complexity of the cases performed can be seen as a pyramid with drainage of pancreatic fluid collections at the base, pancreaticobiliary decompression in the middle, and creation of digestive anastomosis at the top. The mastery of each level is crucial prior to reaching the next level of complexity. TEUS has been incorporated in our arsenal and is impacting on a daily basis the way we offer minimally invasive therapy.

Gastrointestinal histopathology of acute colchicine toxicity after lower dose treatment of pericarditis: A case report

Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory alkaloid drug with anti-microtubule activity. Colchicine toxicity is a serious and potentially fatal complication associated with hallmark histopathological features most conspicuous in proliferative tissues such as the gastrointestinal tract. These features have only been reported in patients treated with high doses. We report a patient who experienced acute colchicine toxicity with gastrointestinal histologic changes after treatment with the lowest dose of colchicine. Knowledge of drug-drug interactions and the organs involved in colchicine metabolism is imperative when using colchicine, even when administered at its lowest dose.

Colonic diverticular disease in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: is there really an association? A nationwide analysis

PURPOSE

Colonic diverticulosis, diverticulitis, and diverticular bleeding are reportedly more common in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Other studies have questioned this association. The objectives of our study are to clarify this association using a larger patient population and to identify risk factors in general to develop diverticular disease.

METHODS

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample weighted discharges from 2003 to 2011 were used to assess for the prevalence of diverticular disease in the population with ADPKD compared with the general population without ADPKD. A multivariable direct logistic regression model was constructed to determine independent predictors of diverticular disease in the general population.

RESULTS

The prevalence of diverticulosis, diverticulitis, and diverticular bleeding were considerably increased in patients with ADPKD compared with the general population without ADPKD. The prevalence of colonic surgery was less in ADPKD patients with diverticulitis. In patients with kidney transplant, the prevalence of diverticulitis was increased in the ADPKD group, but colonic surgery was not significantly different between both groups. The prevalence of diverticular bleeding was slightly elevated in patients with ADPKD, but colonic surgery was significantly increased in patients with ADPKD. NSAID use, hypertension, constipation, and ADPKD had increased odds ratios for diverticular disease during multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

There is an increased prevalence of colonic diverticular disease in the population with ADPKD.

Correction to: "Which Factors Correlate with Marginal Ulcer After Surgery for Obesity?"

In the original article, the author names were presented incorrectly; their family names and given names were inverted.

Early Results of Fecal Microbial Transplantation Protocol Implementation at a Community-based University Hospital

Introduction:

Clostridium difficile (CD) is a serious and increasingly prevalent healthcare-associated infection. The pathogenesis of CD infection (CDI) involves the acquisition of CD with a concurrent disruption of the native gut flora. Antibiotics are a major risk although other contributing factors have also been identified. Clinical management combines discontinuation of the offending antibiotic, initiation of CD-specific antibiotic therapy, probiotic agent use, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and surgery as the “last resort” option. The aim of this study is to review short-term clinical results following the implementation of FMT protocol (FMTP) at our community-based university hospital.

Methods:

After obtaining Institutional Review Board and Infection Control Committee approvals, we implemented an institution-wide FMTP for patients diagnosed with CDI. Prospective tracking of all patients receiving FMT between July 1, 2015, and February 1, 2017, was conducted using REDCap™ electronic data capture system. According to the FMTP, indications for FMT included (a) three or more CDI recurrences, (b) two or more hospital admissions with severe CDI, or (c) first episode of complicated CDI (CCDI). Risk factors for initial infection and for treatment failure were assessed. Patients were followed for at least 3 months to monitor for cure/failure, relapse, and side effects. Frozen 250 mL FMT samples were acquired from OpenBiome (Somerville, MA, USA). After 4 h of thawing, the liquid suspension was applied using colonoscopy, beginning with terminal ileum and proceeding distally toward mid-transverse colon. Monitored clinical parameters included disease severity (Hines VA CDI Severity Score or HVCSS), concomitant medications, number of FMT treatments, non-FMT therapies, cure rates, and mortality. Descriptive statistics were utilized to outline the study results.

Results:

A total of 35 patients (mean age 58.5 years, 69% female) were analyzed, with FMT-attributable primary cure achieved in 30/35 (86%) cases. Within this subgroup, 2/30 (6.7%) patients recurred and were subsequently cured with long-term oral vancomycin. Among five primary FMT failures (14% total sample), 3 (60%) achieved medical cure with long-term oral vancomycin therapy and 2 (40%) required colectomy. For the seven patients who either failed FMT or recurred, long-term vancomycin therapy was curative in all but two cases. For patients with severe CDI (HVCSS ≥3), primary and overall cure rates were 6/10 (60%) and 8/10 (80%), respectively. Patients with CCDI (n = 4) had higher HVCSS (4 vs. 3) and a mortality of 25%. Characteristics of patients who failed initial FMT included older age (70 vs. 57 years), female sex (80% vs. 67%), severe CDI (80% vs. 13%), and active opioid use during the initial infection (60% vs. 37%) and at the time of FMT (60% vs. 27%). The most commonly reported side effect of FMT was loose stools.

Conclusions:

This pilot study supports the efficacy and safety of FMT administration for CDI in the setting of a community-based university hospital. Following FMTP implementation, primary (86%) and overall (94%) nonsurgical cure rates were similar to those reported in other studies. The potential role of opioids as a modulator of CDI warrants further clinical investigation.

Posttraumatic stress disorder after myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass grafting

Post traumatic stress disorder is a psychiatric disease that is usually precipitated by life threatening stressors. Myocardial infarction, especially in the young can count as one such event. The development of post traumatic stress after a coronary event not only adversely effects psychiatric health, but leads to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There is increasing evidence that like major depression, post traumatic stress disorder is also a strong coronary risk factor. Early diagnosis and treatment of this disease in patients with acute manifestations of coronary artery disease can improve patient outcomes.