Patient preference in upper gastrointestinal studies: roentgenography versus endoscopy

We prospectively compared roentgenography and endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract in terms of patient acceptance and tolerance. Endoscopy was significantly better tolerated and easier overall for patients. Patients found no difference between endoscopy and radiography with respect to pain or life-style interruption. Patients stated that they would prefer endoscopy to roentgenography if repeat evaluation were needed. We conclude that UGI endoscopy is better tolerated and more acceptable to patients than UGI roentgenography.     

Enteroclysis: a multidisciplinary approach

We developed a method for passing the enteroclysis catheter at endoscopy in patients requiring upper endoscopy and enteroclysis. This method reduced patient discomfort, the time needed for fluoroscopic tube placement, and overall radiation doses. We conclude that endoscopy and enteroclysis performed together is practical in these patients. Received: 17 October 2000/Accepted: 13 December 2000     

Heads or tails, does it make a difference? Capsule endoscope direction in small bowel studies is important

Capsule endoscopy has opened the small bowel for direct inspection. However, the diagnostic sensitivity of capsule endoscopy is not 100 %. We have observed that forward orientation and backward orientation of the camera in the small bowel provide different information on pathological findings. Double-head capsule endoscopy may offer the answer to this problem.     

Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Saudi Arabia: Analysis of 6386 Procedures

SUMMARY Fibreoptic endoscopy is now established in the investigationof upper gastrointestinal disease. We report our findings ina large series of endoscopic procedures (6386) mostly in MiddleEastern Arabs, and compare the results obtained in Western patients.We find fibreoptic endoscopy to be feasible, safe, acceptableand effective     

Routine coagulation screening in children undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy does not predict those at risk of bleeding

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Routine coagulation screening prior to gastrointestinal endoscopy is performed in many centres in the UK, despite the lack of any evidence to support the practice. The aim of this study was to assess the benefits of routine pre-endoscopy coagulation screening in children and to assess how widespread this practice is in the UK. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the case notes of 250 consecutive patients who had undergone routine coagulation screening prior to endoscopy and biopsy, in accordance with our unit's protocol, looking for evidence of abnormal results or episodes of bleeding. We also performed a telephone survey of the protocols for coagulation screening at other paediatric units in the UK which are known to perform gastrointestinal endoscopy on a routine basis. RESULTS: According to our hospital's laboratory reference ranges, 16.8 % of the children who underwent endoscopy and biopsy had abnormal clotting. This was neither clinically significant nor associated with an increased bleeding risk in any patient. Of the 23 UK paediatric gastroenterology centres surveyed, including our own, five (21.7 %) perform routine coagulation screening before endoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that, although it is a relatively common practice, routine coagulation screening is not indicated in children who are undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy, and that it does not predict those at risk of significant bleeding. We would therefore suggest that if pre-endoscopy screening is to be performed, it should be reserved for those who are potentially at high risk of bleeding.     

Magnification endoscopy diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus with methylene blue and acetic acid

Intestinal metaplasia of Barrett's esophagus is pre-cancerous lesion and it is important to diagnose intestinal metaplasia by endoscopic examination. Predefined 4 quadrant sampling technique is popular in western countries. However, chromoendoscopy or magnification endoscopy have been tried to diagnose intestinal metaplasia. We have carried out magnification endoscopy with methylene blue and magnification endoscopy with acetic acid. In magnification endoscopy with methylene blue, intestinal metaplasia showed blue-staining area with tubulaous or cavernous pattern. In magnification endoscopy with acetic acid, all of epithelium of Barrett's esophagus changed to whitening surface and it was easy to observe the structure of each epithelium. Intestinal metaplasia showed tubulaous or villous, although fundic type showed pits of small round and cardiac type showed oval pattern with central-slit pits.     

Evaluation of gastrointestinal injury and blood flow of small bowel during low-dose aspirin administration

Low-dose acetylsalicylic acid has been widely used. We evaluated small bowel and gastric injuries during acetylsalicylic acid administration using video capsule endoscopy and gastroduodenal endoscopy. We also investigated blood flow using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Six healthy volunteers were enrolled in this preliminary study. The subjects were administered 100 mg of enteric-coated aspirin daily for 14 days. Video capsule endoscopy and gastroduodenal endoscopy were simultaneously performed before administration and on days 1, 3, 7 and 14. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was performed before administration and on day 2, and 8. Video capsule endoscopy after administration of low-dose acetylsalicylic acid revealed small bowel mucosal damages of petechiae and erythema in all cases, and denuded area in one case. The total number of lesions in the small bowel increased according to duration of low-dose acetylsalicylic acid administration. However, the total number of lesions in the stomach peaked on day 3. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography showed that the time-intensity curve peak value and Areas under the curves after acetylsalicylic acid administration were reduced. We observed not only gastric mucosal injuries but also small intestinal injuries with short-term low-dose acetylsalicylic acid administration. Acetylsalicylic acid administration also caused a decrease in small intestinal blood flow. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is useful for evaluation blood flow in the small bowel mucosa.     

Abdominal compartment syndrome and intrahepatic portal venous gas: a possible complication of endoscopy

OBJECTIVE: We report the first patient to developed abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) with intrahepatic portal venous gas (IHPVG) and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis following emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old man underwent an emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for suspicion of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient developed intra-abdominal hypertension and ACS associated with IHPVG after the endoscopy. Although the patient developed severe shock following ACS, he was managed conservatively and successfully recovered. CONCLUSIONS: An emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy may be associated with intra-abdominal hypertension and ACS. Our report provides an additional case of a survivor who required no surgical intervention for ACS and IHPVG following endoscopy.     

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in octogenarians.

A retrospective study of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) in 217 octogenarians performed over a two-year period in a district general hospital was carried out. It showed that upper GIE in octogenarians is a safe and easy as in other age groups, and provides more useful information. Patients were referred mainly by the geriatricians for elective endoscopy, reflecting the growing recognition of the value of elective upper GIE in the very elderly. The incidence of peptic ulcer disease as a cause of upper GI bleeding was much less than previously reported. Thirty-nine patients with upper GI haemorrhage had an endoscopy within 24 hours. We believe that this helps to identify patients with a high risk of mortality and those who might benefit from early surgery. Eighty per cent of the patients had one or more associated diseases, but there were no complications from endoscopy. We would like to emphasise that there is no contraindication for upper GIE in very elderly patients.     

Comparison of capsule endoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging for the detection of polyps of the small intestine in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis or with Peutz-Jeghers' syndrome

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: We have conducted a study to compare the diagnostic yields of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and capsule endoscopy for the detection of small-bowel polyps in patients with inherited polyposis syndromes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: MRI was performed in 20 patients, with either Peutz-Jeghers' syndrome (PJS; n = 4) or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP; n = 16), and capsule endoscopy was done the next day. The number, size, and location of polyps were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 448 polyps ranging from about 1 mm to 30 mm in size were detected in eight patients by capsule endoscopy, whereas with MRI only 24 polyps all bigger than 5 mm could be seen in the four PJS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Polyps bigger than 15 mm were detected similarly with capsule endoscopy and MRI, whereas smaller polyps were seen much more often with capsule endoscopy. Polyps smaller than 5 mm were exclusively seen with capsule endoscopy. However, location of the detected polyps and determination of their exact sizes was more accurate by MRI.     

Use of anticoagulation during wireless capsule endoscopy for the investigation of recurrent obscure gastrointestinal bleeding

Detecting the source of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding can be difficult. Capsule endoscopy is a promising diagnostic tool for investigating patients with this condition, although identifying the source of intermittent or low-grade bleeding remains a diagnostic challenge. We present case reports of two patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, in whom the source of recurrent bleeding episodes was diagnosed by capsule endoscopy while they were on anticoagulation therapy. The first patient, an 81-year-old white woman, was on long-term oral anticoagulation because she had chronic atrial fibrillation. Capsule endoscopy demonstrated a bleeding tumor in the region of the terminal ileum. The second patient, a 59-year-old white man, underwent an initial capsule endoscopy, which was negative. After initiation of anticoagulation with heparin, a second capsule endoscopy procedure in this patient revealed several small bleeding lesions in the proximal small bowel. In both cases a gastrointestinal stromal tumor was identified as the bleeding source and was resected. These two cases demonstrate that provocation of bleeding during capsule endoscopy may increase its sensitivity.     

Primary small intestinal malignant tumors

Small intestinal primary adenocarcinomas, carcinoids, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) were cleared up inadequately because it was hard to examine for small intestine by modalities in the 20th century. Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) is often caused by these tumors. In future, these tumors will be more diagnosed in patients with OGIB by new modalities such as capsule endoscopy and double balloon endoscopy. We attempt to present these small intestinal malignant tumors using by capsule endoscopy and double balloon endoscopy.     

内镜医护人员对职业损害的认知及防护调查

目的获取内镜医护人员对职业损害的认知水平及防护的现状。方法采用自行设计的内镜医护人员对职业损害的认知及防护问卷进行评估。结果46·6%对职业损害的认知及防护良好;17·2%认知及防护较差;36·2%认知及防护一般。结论内镜医护人员的职业损害因素较多,必须实施有效的防护对策,加强职业防护知识教育。建立职业防护管理系统,完善管理制度,改善工作环境,减少职业损害的发生。     

Is early endoscopy in the emergency room beneficial in patients with bleeding peptic ulcer? A "fortuitously controlled" study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: In previous randomized trials, early endoscopy improved the outcome in patients with bleeding peptic ulcer, though most of these studies defined "early" as endoscopy performed within 24 hours after admission. Using the length of hospital stay as the primary criterion for the clinical outcome, we compared the results of endoscopy done immediately after admission (early endoscopy in the emergency room, EEE) with endoscopy postponed to a time within the first 24 hours after hospitalization, but still during normal working hours ("delayed" endoscopy in the endoscopy unit, DEU). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 81 consecutive patients with bleeding peptic ulcer admitted in 1997 and 1998 (age range 16 - 90 years). Of these 81 patients, 38 underwent DEU (the standard therapy at the hospital) and 43 underwent EEE. Patients in the two groups were comparable with regard to admission criteria, were equally distributed with respect to their risk of adverse outcome (assessed using the Baylor bleeding score and the Rockall score), and differed only in the treatment they received. Endoscopic hemostasis was performed whenever possible in all patients with Forrest types I, IIa, and IIb ulcer bleeding. RESULTS: We found similar rates in the two groups for recurrent bleeding (16 % in DEU patients vs. 14 % in EEE patients), persistent bleeding (8 % in DEU patients vs. none in EEE patients), medical complications (21 % in DEU patients vs. 26 % in EEE patients), the need for surgery (8 % in DEU patients vs. 9 % in EEE patients), and the length of hospital stay (5.1 days for DEU patients vs. 5.9 days for EEE patients). None of the differences between the two groups in these parameters were statistically significant. None of the patients died. CONCLUSIONS: Early endoscopy in an emergency room did not improve the clinical outcome in our 81 consecutive patients with bleeding peptic ulcer.     

Usefulness of magnifying endoscopy in the diagnosis of early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: We investigated the characteristic findings of early gastric cancer revealed by magnifying endoscopy, and clarified their relationship with histopathological features. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 74 patients with early gastric cancer underwent magnifying endoscopy ( x 80) between March 2000 and December 2001. The endoscopic findings demonstrated 11 elevated-type carcinomas and 63 depressed-type, and histological examination showed 56 differentiated carcinomas and 18 undifferentiated carcinomas. The histopathological results were compared with findings from magnifying endoscopy regarding minute surface structure and microvessels. RESULTS: We were able to roughly classify the minute surface structure of early gastric cancer as shown by magnifying endoscopy into three patterns, as follows: (i). a small regular pattern of sulci and ridges; (ii). an irregular pattern of sulci and ridges; and (iii). a lack of visible structure. Abnormal microvessels observed in cancerous lesions were classified according to two patterns: irregular minute vessels and variation of vessel caliber. The small regular pattern of sulci and ridges was significantly more frequently observed in differentiated carcinoma (30/56, 53.6 %) than in undifferentiated carcinoma (2/18, 11.1 %). Lack of visible structure and irregular minute vessels were significantly more frequently observed in undifferentiated carcinoma (44.4 % and 77.7 %) than in differentiated carcinomas (5.4 % and 51.8 %). CONCLUSION: The minute surface structure and microvessels observed by magnifying endoscopy were related to histopathological findings. Magnifying endoscopy is valuable for predicting the histological nature in the diagnosis of early gastric cancer.     

Preprocedural Considerations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

The current practice of open-access endoscopy allows primary care and other non-gastroenterology physicians to directly refer patients for routine gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures. Open-access endoscopy is considered to be more cost-effective and time efficient than the traditional practice of referring patients for preprocedural consultation with a gastrointestinal endoscopist. Several studies have evaluated the performance of endoscopic procedures in an open-access environment and the utility of structured referral mechanisms to ensure safe and appropriately indicated procedures. This review focuses on 4 common preprocedural issues in gastrointestinal endoscopy encountered by primary care physicians: management of anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy, indication for prophylactic antibiotic drug therapy, need for anesthesia-assisted sedation, and management of poor bowel preparation. We summarize the current guidelines that address these 4 common preprocedural issues to facilitate safe and clinically appropriate procedures in open-access endoscopy.     

Predictors of peptic ulcer rebleeding after scheduled second endoscopy: clinical or endoscopic factors?

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: In a previous study we demonstrated the efficacy of second-look endoscopy with therapy within 16 - 24 hours after index endoscopy in reducing major recurrent peptic ulcer bleeding. In this study, we sought to identify factors that might predict further rebleeding after this scheduled second-look endoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 249 patients (181 men, 68 women) with acute bleeding peptic ulcers who were treated at the United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong from 1999 to 2002 and who underwent a scheduled second endoscopy. Those patients who developed rebleeding after the second endoscopy were evaluated, and possible predictive factors for rebleeding were analyzed using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Of the 249 patients who underwent scheduled second-look endoscopy, 17 patients (6.8 %) developed rebleeding: seven of these patients were treated by another endoscopic therapy; ten patients required surgery. The overall mortality rate was 3.1 %. A logistic regression analysis performed on the possible predictive factors for rebleeding found that the following factors were associated with a significant risk of further rebleeding after scheduled second endoscopy: American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade III or grade IV status (odds ratio 3.81, 95 % CI 1.27 - 11.44), ulcer size greater than 1.0 cm (odds ratio 4.69, 95 % CI 1.60 - 13.80), and a finding of persistent stigmata of recent hemorrhage at the scheduled second endoscopy (odds ratio 6.65, 95 % CI 2.11 - 20.98). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic factors, including large ulcer size and the persistence of endoscopic stigmata of recent hemorrhage are important predictors for recurrent bleeding after scheduled second endoscopy.     

Capsule endoscopy findings in celiac disease associated enteropathy-type intestinal T-cell lymphoma

Capsule endoscopy is a new technology developed to investigate diseases of the small intestine. It has been shown to be superior to current modalities such as small-bowel radiography and enteroscopy. We describe a patient with long-standing celiac disease who presented with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss, after many years on a gluten-free diet. The symptom complex and results from small-bowel radiography and computerized tomography raised concern about progression to lymphoma, and ultimately a laparoscopy and small-bowel resection were done for diagnosis. A capsule endoscopy was performed to assess the extent of the patient's enteropathy-type intestinal T-cell lymphoma after three cycles of chemotherapy. We report the first use of capsule endoscopy in the setting of celiac disease associated enteropathy-type intestinal T-cell lymphoma. These endoscopic findings are correlated with those from gross and microscopic pathology and barium small-bowel radiography.     

Duodenal angiodysplasia: MR angiographic evaluation in a case report

We describe a patient in whom endoscopy failed to determine the origin of gastrointestinal bleeding, and magnetic resonance angiography showed dilated inferior pancreaticoduodenal veins that were considered indirect signs of the duodenal angiodysplasia. Incidentally, a connection between the inferior vena cava and the inferior pancreaticoduodenal veins were also noted. Repeat endoscopy and catheter angiography confirmed the presence of the angiodysplasias.     

磁控胶囊内镜的疾病筛查应用

目的探讨磁控胶囊内镜在体检中上消化道疾病筛查中的应用价值。方法收集2015年3月-2016年12月在河北省人民医院体检中心进行磁控胶囊内镜检查的体检者61例,检查完毕后,记录检查时间、胃各部位观察完全度、检查者胃部充盈度及清洁度,比较磁控胶囊内镜与胃镜检查的一致性。结果 61例体检者平均年龄(49.4±11.6)岁。所有检查者无恶心、呕吐、呛咳、出血、穿孔和胶囊滞留消化道等不良反应发生。胃部充盈度有效率为98.4%,清洁度的有效率为68.9%。磁控胶囊内镜与胃镜检查结果的符合率为89.9%(80/89),磁控胶囊内镜对于食管和贲门病变的检查符合率为78.9%(15/19),胃部病变的检查符合率为92.9%(52/56),十二指肠病变诊断率符合率为92.9%(13/14),食管贲门与胃部的诊断符合率差异无统计学意义(P=0.090)。结论磁控胶囊内镜应用于上消化道的检查安全、有效,病变检出率可与胃镜相似。