The role of routinely given hyoscine-N-butylbromide in colonoscopy: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

Hyoscine-N-butylbromide (HBB) has been proposed to ease colonoscopy and improve mucosal visualization, yet the results from previous studies are conflicting. In our prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study we aimed at evaluating whether routine administration of HBB, before and during colonoscopy, ease the procedure or increase the detection rate for polyps.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One hundred fifty outpatients scheduled for an elective colonoscopy were randomized to receive intravenous injections of either 10 mg hyoscine-N-butylbromide or saline before insertion and at cecum. Patient tolerance and technical ease of colonoscopy were evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS). Procedure times were recorded. Number of detected polyps per patient was evaluated as well. Heart rate was monitored with a pulse oximetry.

RESULTS

HBB did not improve patient tolerance or technically ease the procedure as evaluated by VAS. However, HBB led to faster ileal intubation (1.5 vs 2.0 min, p < 0.001) and shorter total procedure time (22.0 vs 24.0 min, p = 0.03). Patients who received HBB also needed less often external abdominal pressure (48.6 vs 66.7%, p = 0.03). HBB did not improve polyp detection rate (0.89 vs 0.91, p = 0.90). HBB induced a significant rise in heart rate (p < 0.001) and more often tachycardia (17.6 vs 0%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Routine administration of HBB before and during colonoscopy yields only limited improvement in the technical performance of the examination compromised by high incidence of tachycardia.

Fecal transplantation, through colonoscopy, is effective therapy for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) with antibiotics leads to recurrences in up to 50% of patients. We investigated the efficacy of fecal transplantation in treatment of recurrent CDI.

METHODS

We reviewed records from 70 patients with recurrent CDI who had undergone fecal transplantation. Fecal transplantation was performed at colonoscopy by infusing fresh donor feces into cecum. Before transplantation, the patients had whole-bowel lavage with polyethylene glycol solution. Clinical failure was defined as persistent or recurrent symptoms and signs, and a need for new therapy.

RESULTS

During the first 12 weeks after fecal transplantation, symptoms resolved in all patients who did not have strain 027 C difficile infections. Of 36 patients with 027 C difficile infection, 32 (89%) had a favorable response; all 4 nonresponders had a pre-existing serious condition, caused by a long-lasting diarrheal disease or comorbidity and subsequently died of colitis. During the first year after transplantation, 4 patients with an initial favorable response had a relapse after receiving antibiotics for unrelated causes; 2 were treated successfully with another fecal transplantation and 2 with antibiotics for CDI. Ten patients died of unrelated illnesses within 1 year after transplantation. No immediate complications of fecal transplantation were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Fecal transplantation through colonoscopy seems to be an effective treatment for recurrent CDI and also for recurrent CDI caused by the virulent C difficile 027 strain.

Cardiac autonomic regulation during gastroscopy

BACKGROUND

Gastroscopy is sometimes associated with adverse cardiovascular events.

AIMS

We evaluated the effects of sedation and pharyngeal anaesthesia on cardiac autonomic regulation during gastroscopy.

PATIENTS

Two hundred thirteen outpatients undergoing gastroscopy.

METHODS

The patients were assigned to 4 groups: (1) sedation with intravenous midazolam and placebo throat spray (midazolam group), (2) placebo sedation and pharyngeal anaesthesia with lidocaine (lidocaine group), (3) placebo sedation and placebo throat spray (placebo group), and (4) no intravenous cannula nor throat spray (control group). Continuous electrocardiogram was recorded. Heart rate variability was assessed; the powers of low frequency (0.04-0.15 Hz) and high frequency (0.15-0.40 Hz) components as well as total power (0.0-0.4 Hz) were calculated.

RESULTS

Gastroscopy was associated with a decrease in high frequency normalized units, increases in low frequency normalized units and low frequency/high frequency ratio indicating activation of sympathetic and withdrawal of vagal modulation. Sympathetic activation resulted in a decrease in total power and all components of heart rate variability. The decrease was most prominent in the midazolam treated patients (p<0.001 vs the lidocaine group and p<0.01 vs placebo and control groups during the postendoscopy phase).

CONCLUSION

Gastroscopy induces a shift towards dominance of the sympathetic modulation of the heart. Premedication with midazolam potentiates this shift.

Sedation, topical pharyngeal anesthesia and cardiorespiratory safety during gastroscopy

GOALS

In a prospective, double-blind study, we examined the effects of routine sedation and pharyngeal anesthesia on cardiorespiratory parameters during gastroscopy.

BACKGROUND

Intravenous sedation and topical pharyngeal anesthesia are used to alleviate the discomfort during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Cardiorespiratory changes during gastroscopy are common.

STUDY

Two hundred fifty two consecutive outpatients undergoing gastroscopy were assigned into 4 groups: (1) sedation with intravenous midazolam and placebo throat spray (midazolam group), (2) placebo sedation and pharyngeal anesthesia with lidocaine throat spray (lidocaine group), (3) placebo sedation and placebo throat spray (placebo group), and (4) no intravenous cannula nor throat spray (control group). Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), systolic and diastolic blood pressure and continuous electrocardiogram were recorded before, during, and after the endoscopic procedure.

RESULTS

Gastroscopy increased heart rate in all study groups. Premedication with intravenous midazolam or lidocaine spray alleviated this rise (P<0.001, repeated measures analysis of variance) and decreased the incidence of tachycardia. Similarly, sedation with midazolam or topical pharyngeal anesthesia decreased the rise in systolic blood pressure (P<0.001). Midazolam produced lower SaO2 values during gastroscopy compared with lidocaine, placebo or control groups (P<0.001). However, episodes of desaturation (SaO2 </=92) were no more common in the midazolam group than in other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Premedication with midazolam alleviated the rise in heart rate and systolic blood pressure but induced a statistically significant decrease in arterial oxygen saturation. However, gastroscopy proved to be a safe procedure both with and without sedation.

Is routine sedation or topical pharyngeal anesthesia beneficial during upper endoscopy?

BACKGROUND

Upper endoscopy is an invasive procedure. However, the benefits of routinely administered sedative medication or topical pharyngeal anesthesic are controversial. The aim of this study was to clarify their effects on patient tolerance and difficulty of upper endoscopy.

METHODS

A total of 252 patients scheduled for diagnostic upper endoscopy were randomly assigned to 4 groups: (1) sedation with midazolam and placebo pharyngeal spray (midazolam group), (2) placebo sedation and lidocaine pharyngeal spray (lidocaine group), (3) placebo sedation and placebo pharyngeal spray (placebo group), and (4) no intravenous cannula/pharyngeal spray (control group). The endoscopist and the patient assessed the procedure immediately after the examination. Another questionnaire was sent to the patients 2 weeks later.

RESULTS

Patients in the midazolam group rated the examination easier and less uncomfortable compared with those in the other groups. The differences were especially evident in the questionnaires completed 2 weeks after the examination ( p < 0.001). Lidocaine did not significantly improve patient tolerance. However, endoscopists found the procedure easier in patients in the lidocaine group compared with the midazolam ( p < 0.01) and control groups ( p < 0.01) but not the placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine administration of midazolam for sedation increased patient tolerance for upper endoscopy. However, endoscopists found intubation to be more difficult in sedated vs. non-sedated patients. Topical pharyngeal anesthesia did not enhance patient tolerance, but it did make upper endoscopy technically easier compared with endoscopy in patients sedated with midazolam without topical pharyngeal anesthesia, and in patients who had no sedation or pharyngeal anesthesia, but not in patients who received placebo sedation and placebo pharyngeal anesthesia.

Non-endoscopic diagnosis of atrophic gastritis with a blood test. Correlation between gastric histology and serum levels of gastrin-17 and pepsinogen I: a multicentre study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Serum levels of gastrin-17 (S-G-17) and pepsinogen I (S-PGI) are biomarkers of gastric antral and corpus mucosa, respectively. In a prospective multicentre investigation, we determined whether these tests, together with the assay of Helicobacter pylori antibodies, are a non-endoscopic tool for the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The series comprised 404 consecutive adult outpatients undergoing diagnostic upper-gastrointestinal endoscopy for various dyspeptic symptoms in five outpatient clinics. Gastric biopsies from the antrum and corpus (at least two biopsies from both sites) were available from all patients, and they were evaluated according to the guidelines of the updated Sydney system. S-PGI and S-G-17 were assayed with ELISA methods using monoclonal antibodies to pepsinogen I and amidated gastrin-17. In addition to the fasting level (S-G-17(fast)), a postprandial S-G-17 (S-G-17(prand)) level was measured 20 min after ingestion of a protein-rich drink. H. pylori antibodies were determined using a polyclonal EIA method.

RESULTS

S-G-17(prand) (and S-G-17(fast)) and S-PGI levels decreased with increasing grade of atrophy of the antrum or corpus, respectively. S-G-17(prand) levels were significantly lower in patients with advanced (moderate or severe) atrophic antral H. pylori gastritis than in those with non-atrophic H. pylori gastritis. All patients with a resected antrum demonstrated S-G-17(prand) levels that were almost undetectable. Of the nine patients with an H. pylori-positive moderate or severe atrophic antral gastritis, six had S-G-17(prand) levels below 5 pmol/l. Similarly, S-PGI levels were significantly lower in patients with advanced corpus atrophy than in those without. Of the 45 patients with moderate or severe corpus atrophy in endoscopic biopsies, 35 patients had S-PGI levels < 25 microg/l. By using the cut-off levels for S-G-17(prand) and S-PGI with the best discrimination, the sensitivity and specificity of the blood test panel in delineation of patients with advanced atrophic gastritis (either in the antrum or the corpus, or both) were 83% and 95%, respectively. The predictive values of the positive and negative test results were 75% and 97%, respectively. In the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis, the application of S-G-17(fast) showed a slightly lower sensitivity and specificity than the application of S-G-17(prand) as a biomarker for antral atrophy.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnosis of atrophic gastritis obtained with the blood test panel of S-G-17, S-PGI and H. pylori antibodies is in good agreement with the endoscopic and biopsy findings. The panel is a tool for non-endoscopic diagnosis and screening of atrophic gastritis.

The effects of gender and age on the colonoscopic examination

The data concerning the influence of gender and age on a patient's toleration of and the technical difficulty of colonoscopy are conflicting. One hundred eighty patients (108 women and 72 men) undergoing colonoscopy were categorized into three age groups: the young (aged 2040 years), the middle-aged (aged 41-60 years), and the old (aged 61-75 years). The endoscopists assessed the examination immediately after the procedure. The patients completed a questionnaire before leaving the endoscopy unit and again 2 weeks later. The women rated colonoscopy after the procedure more painful (p < 0.01) and in the repeat questionnaire more painful (p < 0.05) and more difficult (p < 0.05) than men. Also, the endoscopists judged colonoscopy to be more difficult (p < 0.001) and the time taken to reach cecum longer (p < 0.01) for women. The young experienced more discomfort than the middle-aged or the old, as evaluated after the procedure (p < 0.05). In the repeat questionnaire, the young reported more discomfort and pain than the middle-aged (p < 0.05). The endoscopists also judged the examination to be more difficult and the time taken to intubate cecum longer for the old than for the middle-aged (p < 0.05) or the young (p < 0.01). Correspondingly, the examination time was shorter among the young when compared with the middle-aged (p < 0.05) or the old (p < 0.001). The young were least willing to repeat the examination (p < 0.05). Colonoscopy is less tolerable and more difficult for women. Although colonoscopy among the old patients was technically more difficult, they tolerated the procedure better than the young.

Effect of conscious sedation on cardiac autonomic regulation during colonoscopy

BACKGROUND

Colonoscopy is associated with cardiovascular events including hypotension, hypertension, and myocardial ischemia. The pathogenetic mechanisms of these cardiovascular events are unknown, but there is evidence that the autonomic nervous system may play a role. Conscious sedation is often used to relieve the inconvenience caused by the procedure. In this study, we evaluated the effects of sedation on cardiac autonomic regulation during colonoscopy.

METHODS

One hundred and eighty patients undergoing elective colonoscopy were prospectively randomized into three groups: (i) sedation with intravenous midazolam (midazolam group); (ii) sedation with intravenous saline (placebo group); and (iii) no intravenous cannula (control group). Continuous electrocardiogram was recorded prior to, during, and after the colonoscopic procedure. Heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed by means of the power spectral analysis; the powers of low-frequency (LF 0.04-0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF 0.15-0.40 Hz) components were calculated.

RESULTS

Intubation of the colonoscope increased the LF component of HRV and decreased HF power in all study groups compared to baseline recording. Furthermore, compared to baseline, the LF/HF ratio--a marker of cardiac sympathetic regulation--increased during intubation in the midazolam (P < 0.001) and placebo (P < 0.05) groups, with no change in the control group. During intubation the midazolam group presented with higher LF and lower HF power than placebo (P < 0.001) and control groups (P < 0.01). Accordingly, the LF/HF ratio was higher in the midazolam group than in the placebo (P < 0.05) or control groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Midazolam potentiates the dominance of the sympathetic nervous system induced by colonoscopy. Therefore, conscious sedation with midazolam may contribute to the occurrence of cardiovascular events during colonoscopy.

Conscious sedation and cardiorespiratory safety during colonoscopy

BACKGROUND

Cardiorespiratory events during colonoscopy are common. The effect of sedative premedication on cardiorespiratory parameters during colonoscopy has not been studied in controlled, prospective trials.

METHODS

One hundred eighty patients undergoing colonoscopy were divided into 3 groups: (1) sedation with intravenous midazolam (midazolam group); (2) sedation with intravenous saline (placebo group); and (3) no intravenous cannula (control group). Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)), systolic and diastolic blood pressure and continuous electrocardiogram were recorded prior to, during and after the endoscopic procedure.

RESULTS

Midazolam produced lower SaO(2) values during colonoscopy compared with placebo or control groups (p < 0.001, repeated measures analysis of variance). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure during colonoscopy were lower in the midazolam group than in the placebo group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), but no difference was found between the midazolam and the control groups. Hypotension (systolic blood pressure less than 100 mm Hg) occurred more frequently in the midazolam group (19%) than in the placebo (3%; p < 0.01) or control groups (7%; p < 0.05). ST-segment depression developed in 7% of patients during the recording with no difference between the groups. In 75% of cases ST-depression appeared prior to the endoscopic procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Premedication with midazolam induced a statistically significant decrease in arterial oxygen saturation and increased the risk for hypotension. However, colonoscopy proved to be a safe procedure both with and without sedation.

Is routinely given conscious sedation of benefit during colonoscopy?

BACKGROUND

Sedative drugs are generally given to patients undergoing colonoscopy. However, the benefit of routinely administered conscious sedation for colonoscopy has not been studied in adequately controlled trials.

METHODS

We randomly assigned 180 patients scheduled for diagnostic colonoscopy into 3 groups: (1) sedation with intravenous midazolam (midazolam group); (2) sedation with intravenous saline (placebo group); and (3) no intravenous cannula (control group). The endoscopist assessed the procedure immediately after the examination. The patients completed a questionnaire before leaving the endoscopy unit. Another questionnaire was sent to the patients 2 weeks after the examination. Answers were mainly given on a 100 mm visual analog scale.

RESULTS

Shortly after the procedure, the patients in the midazolam group rated the examination less difficult than those in the placebo group (30 vs. 40 mm; p < 0.05; visual analog scale, 0 to 100 mm: 0 = not at all, 100 = extremely). However, no significant difference was found between midazolam and control groups (30 vs. 36 mm, respectively). Otherwise, there were no differences between the three groups with respect to the patients' or endoscopists' assessments or the examination time.

CONCLUSIONS

Routinely administered sedation does not markedly increase patient tolerance or make colonoscopy technically easier.

Multivariate analysis of operative mortality and late outcome after coronary bypass surgery

A multivariate discriminant analysis was made to find out the variables that could offer the greatest amount of predictive power on the long term results after myocardial revascularization. A total of 202 consecutive patients who underwent CABG operation in 1981 were reviewed 5 years later. Most of the patients (76.5%) had 3-vessel disease, previous AMI (70.2%), hypertriglyceridemia (61.7%), positive family history of CAD (68.0%) elevated blood cholesterol level (48.1%), hypertension (41.9%) or were smokers (61.9%). In 48.1% of the cases IMA was used for revascularization and in the rest saphenous vein graft alone. The 5-year survival of the entire group was 87%. The late mortality was related to 3 independent variables in multivariate analysis: 1) positive family history of CAD (p less than 0.05), 2) preoperative ejection fraction less than 0.30 (p less than 0.01) and 3) revascularization without IMA (p less than 0.02). The vast majority of patients (70%) had a better NYHA class 5 years postoperatively (the 95% confidence interval was 65-77%). These patients had experienced an average improvement of 2.0 NYHA categories. Eight per cent of patients had an unaltered and 5% a worse NYHA class than preoperatively. When the patients were grouped into those having a better NYHA class and into those who had an unchanged or worse NYHA class or who had died from CAD the only variable which was associated with poorer outcome appeared to be positive family history of CAD (p less than 0.01). It can be concluded that hereditary factors, utilization of internal mammary artery in revascularization and preoperative ejection fraction are the major predictors of late outcome after CABG.