Telemedicine and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: Analysis of a new follow-up strategy during COVID-19 outbreak

BACKGROUND

The Coronavirus pandemic outbreak in 2019 and the saturation of healthcare system led to an increased use of digital tools for surveillance. In this study we described our experience using telemedicine to follow-up on patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms during the COVID-19 era and analyze those factors associated to patients' satisfaction.

METHODS

This 1-year retrospective observational study enrolled patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms followed-up by telemedicine during COVID-19 outbreak. Patients with high-risk features needing on-site physical examination or declining remote follow-up were excluded. A 13-question survey was conducted; demographic, geographic, and employment information was collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate those factors associated to patients' satisfaction.

RESULTS

Out of 287, a total of 177 patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms were included: the mean age was 69 (44-87) years and the male/female ratio was 0.78. A total of 80 (45.2%) patients had previously experienced abdominal pain. Most patients (85.3%) were satisfied with telemedicine: at univariate analysis, age ≥70 years (P = .007), retirement (P = .001), and absence of previous abdominal pain (P = .05) were significantly associated with patient satisfaction. At multivariate analysis, the absence of previous abdominal pain was the only factor independently associated with patient satisfaction (odds ratio 5.964, 95% confidence interval 2.21-16.11, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Telemedicine allows a new follow-up strategy that can be used in selected patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. The absence of previous abdominal pain is associated with patient satisfaction during follow-up. Further studies are needed to evaluate safety of remote follow-up in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms.

EUS-guided tissue acquisition in the study of the adrenal glands: Results of a nationwide multicenter study

Background

There are limited data about the role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA), by fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) or biopsy (EUS-FNB), in the evaluation of the adrenal glands (AG). The primary aim was to assess the diagnostic yield and safety. The secondary aims were the malignancy predictors, and to create a predictive model of malignancy.

Methods

This was a retrospective nationwide study involving all Spanish hospitals experienced in EUS-TA of AGs. Inclusion period was from April-2003 to April-2016. Inclusion criteria: all consecutive cases that underwent EUS-TA of AGs. EUS and cytopathology findings were evaluated. Statistical analyses: diagnostic accuracy of echoendoscopist’s suspicion using cytology by EUS-TA, as gold standard; multivariate logistic regression model to predict tumor malignancy.

Results

A total of 204 EUS-TA of AGs were evaluated. Primary tumor locations were lung70%, others19%, and unknown11%. AG samples were adequate for cytological diagnosis in 91%, and confirmed malignancy in 60%. Diagnostic accuracy of the endosonographer's suspicion was 68%.

The most common technique was: a 22-G (65%) and cytological needle (75%) with suction-syringe (66%). No serious adverse events were described. The variables most associated with malignancy were size>30mm (OR2.27; 95%CI, 1.16–4.05), heterogeneous echo-pattern (OR2.11; 95%CI, 1.1–3.9), variegated AG shape (OR2.46; 95%CI, 1–6.24), and endosonographer suspicion (OR17.46; 95%CI, 6.2–58.5). The best variables for a predictive multivariate logistic model of malignancy were age, sex, echo-pattern, and AG-shape.

Conclusions

EUS-TA of the AGs is a safe, minimally invasive procedure, allowing an excellent diagnostic yield. These results suggest the possibility of developing a pre-EUS procedure predictive malignancy model.

Impact of endoscopic ultrasonography and physician specialty on the management of patients with esophagus cancer

While endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) are the most accurate techniques for locoregional staging of esophageal cancer, little evidence exists that these innovations impact on clinical care. The objective on this study was to determine the frequency with which EUS and EUS-FNA alter the management of patients with localized esophageal cancer, and assess practice variation among specialists at a tertiary care center. Three gastroenterologists, three medical oncologists, three radiation oncologists and four thoracic surgeons were asked to independently report their management recommendations as the anonymized staging information of 50 prospectively enrolled patients from another study were sequentially disclosed on-line. Compared to initial management recommendations, that were based upon history, physical examination, upper endoscopy and CT scan results, EUS prompted a change in management 24% (95% CI: 12-36%) of the time; usually to a more resource-intensive approach (71%), for example from recommending palliation to recommending neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy. EUS-FNA plus cytology results altered management an additional 8% (95% CI: 6-15%) of the time. Agreement between specialists ranged from fair (intraclass correlation [ICC=0.32) to substantial (ICC=0.65); improving with additional information. Among specialists, agreement was greatest for patients with stage I disease. EUS and EUS-FNA changed patient management the most for patients with stages IIA, IIB or III disease. EUS, with or without FNA, significantly impacts the management of patients with localized esophageal cancer. With respect to the optimal treatment for each patient, agreement among physicians incrementally increases with endoscopic ultrasound results. Specialty training appears to influence therapeutic decision-making behavior.

Phase I trial of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with capecitabine and weekly irinotecan followed by laparoscopic mesorectal excision

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Background: To establish the feasibility and efficacy of capecitabine with weekly irinotecan (CAPIRI) and concurrent radiotherapy (RT) in patients with locally advanced and resectable metastatic rectal cancer, followed by LAME. Methods: Eligible criteria included adenocarcinoma of the rectum staged by endoscopic ultrasonography (us), spiral abdominal and pelvic CT and chest X-ray. Patients received weekly irinotecan 50 mg/m2 (days 1,8,15,22,29) and two doses of capecitabine (days 1 through 5 for 5 weeks); dose level; (DL) I 250 mg/m2 bid; DL II 375 mg/m2 bid; DL III 500 mg/m2 bid, according to phase I methodology. Conformal radiotherapy was administered up to a total dose of 45 Gy/1.8 Gy per fraction. LAME was planned 5–7 weeks after CRT. Results: From January 2003 to March 2006, 22 patients (three with potentially resectable metastatic disease) were included. Median age was 62 (range 48 to 78). 6 pts were usT3N0 and 16 pts usT3–4N1. Seven patients were treated at DL I, six at DL II and nine at DL III. Grade 3 or 4 adverse events were observed in all levels; DL I asthenia (1p); DL II diarrhea (2p) and DL III asthenia and neutropenia (1p), diarrhea (1p) and hyperbilirrubinaemia (1p). All patients except one who refused treatment after 1 week therapy (DL I), completed CRT and underwent surgical resection (R0 81%, R2 19%). Abdominoperineal resection was done in two cases (9%). Conversion rate to open surgery was 5%. Median hospital stay was 7.9 days. The overall postoperative morbidity was 4.7%. Median excised nodes were 11 (range 4–21). Pathological complete response was observed in two patients (9%), both of them in DL III. With a median follow-up of 25 months (range 9–46), disease free survival and overall survival was 67% and 95% respectively. Conclusions: Preoperative CRT with CAPIRI is feasible, but severe adverse events were found in all levels despite the use of lower dose of capecitabine than previously published. LAME after CAPIRI had short oncologic outcomes comparable with open mesorectal excision.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Prospective assessment of the risk of bacteremia in cirrhotic patients undergoing lower intestinal endoscopy

BACKGROUND

Patients who have prosthetic heart valves, previous history of endocarditis, and surgically constructed systemic-pulmonary shunts or conduits should receive prophylactic antibiotics before colonoscopy. The usefulness of this approach in cirrhotic patients remains unknown. The present study prospectively assesses the incidence of bacteremia in these patients.

METHODS

Lower intestinal endoscopy was performed in 58 cirrhotic patients. Two blood samples were obtained from every patient (just before endoscopy and within 5 minutes of withdrawal of the endoscope) and were incubated for 7 days and examined daily for growth of bacteria. Patients were closely monitored for 72 hours after endoscopy to detect the development of infectious complications.

RESULTS

Only 6 cultures from 6 patients were positive. Four were obtained post-endoscopy and the remaining 2 before colonoscopy but the corresponding post-endoscopy samples were negative. All organisms recovered were normal skin flora. All patients, including those with positive cultures, remained asymptomatic during the 72 hours after the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that lower intestinal endoscopy does not induce bacteremia in cirrhotic patients with or without ascites in the absence of gastrointestinal bleeding and do not support the routine use of prophylactic antibiotics in these patients.

Endoscopic sclerotherapy to arrest uncontrolled variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients with high surgical risk

BACKGROUND/AIMS

In 20-50% of patients bleeding from esophageal varices, conservative procedures fail to obtain hemostasis and prevent early recurrence.

METHODOLOGY

We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and safety of endoscopic sclerotherapy in 66 cirrhotic patients with high surgical risk and persistence or recurrence of variceal bleeding in spite of adequate medical treatment (somatostatin and/or balloon tamponade).

RESULTS

Emergency sclerosis controlled bleeding in 46 out of 66 patients (70%). The remaining 20 patients underwent additional procedures to arrest the hemorrhage, and 6 died because of massive bleeding. Early rebleeding occurred in 5 patients (10%). The mortality within 2 days, 1 week, and 6 weeks was 9%, 17% and 32%, respectively. Death was attributed to hemorrhage in 9 cases. Sclerotherapy was associated with complications in 9 patients (14%).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that emergency sclerotherapy is a safe and effective procedure in cirrhotic patients with high surgical risk and persistence or recurrence of bleeding after conservative hemostatic procedures.