A new study describes innovative efforts to increase colorectal cancer screening rates among Alaska Natives, resulting in a 55% statewide screening rate. The pilot projects included training mid-level providers, itinerant endoscopy services, patient navigator services, and database creation to identify high-risk individuals.
The study found significant variability in colonoscopy reporting, but high overall quality. Significant variance between endoscopy departments was also observed. Continuous monitoring and implementation of quality indicators can improve the quality of both reporting and performance.
The ASGE and ASMBS have issued a white paper exploring the role of EBTs in treating obesity. EBTs, such as laparoscopic gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, and sleeve gastrectomy, may offer patients an outpatient alternative to traditional bariatric procedures.
A study found that narrow band imaging is a less time-consuming and equally effective alternative to chromoendoscopy for detecting dysplasia in IBD patients, but with a higher miss rate. The researchers concluded that chromoendoscopy remains the recommended technique for detecting dysplasia.
A large-scale review of DBE found a pooled detection rate of 68.1% for all small intestinal diseases, with inflammatory lesions and vascular lesions being the most common findings in suspected mid-gastrointestinal bleeding patients. The study concluded that DBE is a valuable modality with acceptable detection and complication rates.
A new study finds that retroflexion technique during colonoscopy on the right side of the colon detects additional adenomatous polyps in approximately four percent of patients, comparable to a second forward-view colonoscopy. The technique is safe and achievable in 95% of patients.
A prospective cohort study found that a tumor marker and targeted endoscopic ultrasound can detect stage 1 pancreatic cancer in high-risk populations more effectively than standard means of detection. The study identified a total of one patient with stage 1 disease among 546 enrolled participants.
The NOSCAR study compares NOTES cholecystectomy to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with approximately 200 patients enrolled. Covidien's funding supports the development of this minimally invasive technique, aiming to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital stays.
A new study found that colonoscopies done with suboptimal bowel preparation are associated with relatively high adenoma miss rates, indicating a decrease in colonoscopy effectiveness. The study suggests that early repeat colonoscopies may be necessary to ensure accurate detection and removal of precancerous polyps.
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) have updated their 2003 joint guideline to ensure safe reprocessing of flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes. The guidelines emphasize the importance of high-level disinfection and standardized cleaning procedures.
A study comparing transarterial embolization to surgery in patients with uncontrolled peptic ulcer bleeding after endoscopy found TAE is a safe procedure with high technical success rate. It reduces the need for surgery and overall complications without increasing mortality.
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) held its seventh annual Crystal Awards dinner to recognize outstanding contributions to endoscopy. The event honored recipients of the Rudolf V. Schindler Award, Distinguished Service Award, and other prestigious awards.
Multipolar electrocoagulation ablation therapy in combination with acid suppression is a safe and effective method to ablate nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus over the long term, according to a new study. No adenocarcinoma or high-grade dysplasia developed in any of the study patients.
The ASGE has established guidelines for the use of real-time endoscopic assessment in managing diminutive colorectal polyps. The recommendations aim to minimize risk and delay while improving cost effectiveness of colonoscopy. Diminutive polyps are common, but pathological assessment can be costly and delay patient information.
A study found that colonoscopy has prevented a substantial number of deaths from colorectal cancer, but many more could have been prevented. The analysis estimated that approximately 13,800 to 22,000 colorectal cancer deaths could have been prevented in 2005.
A study compared balanced propofol sedation with conventional sedation for therapeutic GI endoscopic procedures, finding higher health care provider satisfaction and better patient cooperation in the BPS group. The results show that BPS provided similar adverse event profiles to conventional sedation.
A study has demonstrated the safety and feasibility of using a magnetic maneuverable capsule to visualize the gastric mucosa in healthy volunteers. The capsule was well-tolerated and provided excellent visualization of the stomach lining, with 75% of the gastric mucosa visualized in most subjects.
A new colonoscopy skills assessment tool, MCSAT, was developed to evaluate cognitive and motor skills in trainees. The tool provides a standardized method to assess individual progress and establish normal learning curves.
A study found that women offered a female endoscopist were no more likely to undergo a screening colonoscopy than those without this option. Despite survey results suggesting high preference for female endoscopists, the study did not show an increase in screening rates.
Researchers developed a novel water method to reduce discomfort during unsedated colonoscopy, enhancing cecal intubation and patient willingness to repeat procedures. The study showed significant improvements in these outcomes compared to traditional air insufflation methods.
A new study reports a low stricture recurrence rate of postoperative biliary strictures after endoscopic stent placement, with successful retreatment options available. The study followed up on patients who underwent the treatment from 2001 to 2010, finding that most remained asymptomatic and had normal liver function tests.
A new study has found that a split-dosage schedule of bowel preparation is the most effective method for bowel cleansing before colonoscopy. The study found that procedures performed within six to eight hours of the end of preparation had significantly better cleansing than those performed more than eight hours after.
A new study finds that endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is associated with improved outcomes in patients with localized pancreatic cancer. EUS evaluation was found to improve overall survival, possibly due to earlier cancer detection and more selective surgery. The study analyzed a large population-based cancer registry and demonstrated the...
A new study found a strong association between smoking and the presence of flat adenomas (precancerous polyps) in the colon. The study suggests that smoking may explain why smokers often present with colorectal cancer at a younger age and at a more advanced stage than nonsmokers.
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has issued guidelines addressing ethnicity and gastrointestinal diseases. The guideline recommends that colorectal cancer screening begin at age 45 for average-risk African-American men and women, emphasizing the importance of early detection in reducing mortality rates.
Researchers examined the impact of uninterrupted clopidogrel on postpolypectomy bleeding rates and found a significant increase in risk when used with aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but the overall outcome is favorable and the risk is small.
Two studies found that using the Third Eye Retroscope (TER) during colonoscopy detected 13.2% more polyps than standard colonoscopy alone, including 11% additional adenomas. The TER improved polyp detection rates significantly with experienced endoscopists.
Researchers found that nine cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed over 7,626 person-years of observation, with most cancers detected at early stages. The study highlights the importance of close follow-up for patients with a history of advanced adenoma.
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy has issued new guidelines for managing antithrombotic agents during endoscopic procedures. Aspirin and NSAIDs may be continued for all elective procedures, while temporary anticoagulation therapy should be completed before proceeding.
A recent study published in the November issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy found that six percent of asymptomatic women underwent endoscopic screening and were diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus. Additionally, researchers demonstrated the accuracy of EUS-FNA in diagnosing pancreatic endocrine tumors, predicting five-year survival rat...
A study found that unsedated colonoscopy for primary colorectal cancer screening is as effective as sigmoidoscopy in terms of patient acceptance and need for sedation. The procedure eliminates risks associated with sedation, reduces recovery time, and decreases costs.
A study found that ERCP quality outcomes, including complication rates, compare favorably with those of academic centers in a community hospital setting. Technical success rates met or exceeded recommended levels, indicating competence among gastroenterologists performing ERCP.
A study found that early endoscopy in elderly patients with peptic ulcer bleeding reduced hospital stay by two days and decreased the need for surgical intervention. The study analyzed Medicare claims data from 2004-2006, finding that early endoscopy was associated with increased efficiency of care.
A study published in GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy examined polyp detection rates at screening colonoscopy and identified factors contributing to variability. Procedure time was found to be significantly associated with polyp detection rates across all models, indicating the need for quality standards for colonoscopy performance.
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) held its fifth annual Crystal Awards dinner during Digestive Disease Week, recognizing outstanding contributions to the field of endoscopy. The event honored award recipients in various categories, including research, education, and mentoring.
Researchers found that only 61.9% of patients assigned a billing diagnosis code for Barrett's esophagus actually had the condition after manual record review. A pathologic diagnosis was highly likely to be reproduced by separate reviews, but electronic coding confirmed only 61.9% of cases.
Researchers developed a method to estimate fetal radiation doses from ERCP procedures, revealing that doses may occasionally exceed 10 mGy. The study emphasizes the need for physicians to accurately estimate fetal radiation exposure to determine appropriate treatment and minimize risks.
Researchers found that using a novel water method for unsedated colonoscopy improved cecal intubation rates and patient willingness to repeat the procedure. The study also revealed that the duration of the interval between bowel preparation completion and colonoscopy start time predicts prep quality.
Researchers demonstrate feasibility and safety of magnetic-anchor-guided endoscopic submucosal dissection (MAG-ESD) for large early gastric cancer in humans. The technique facilitates en bloc removal of lesions by providing retraction capability using magnets, simplifying the procedure.
A Canadian study found colonoscopy is associated with lower death rates from colorectal cancer, but raises concerns about detection of lesions on the right side of the colon. Patients are urged to seek a qualified gastrointestinal endoscopist to perform a thorough colonoscopy.
Researchers found that narrow-band imaging (NBI) was not more accurate than white light colonoscopy in differentiating colorectal polyps during real-time colonoscopy. However, NBI accuracy improved significantly after the endoscopists gained experience with the new diagnostic tool.
Double-balloon enteroscopy is a cost-effective approach for patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, offering reduced costs and complications compared to other diagnostic methods. The study suggests that an initial capsule-directed double-balloon enteroscopy may be preferred over other options due to its potential for fewer com...
A study published by researchers in Japan found that Double Balloon Endoscopy (DBE) was effective in diagnosing small intestinal lesions in patients with obscure GI bleeding, with a sensitivity of 92.7%. DBE also showed therapeutic benefits for most patients, and the technique was more sensitive than capsule endoscopy in certain cases.
A new study found that severe esophageal damage is rare in asymptomatic children after caustic ingestion. The study concluded that an endoscopy should be performed in all symptomatic patients to predict esophageal lesions and prevent complications.
Researchers report that endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is highly accurate in diagnosing pancreatic neoplasms, with a 99.1% accuracy rate. EUS-FNA also shows excellent results, with 88.8% sensitivity and 100% specificity, making it an ideal next step for patients with ambiguous imaging findings.
A multicenter U.S. registry study found that endoscopic circumferential ablation effectively cleared high-grade dysplasia in 90.2% of patients with Barrett's esophagus, offering a promising alternative to surgery and other therapies. The procedure also showed good safety profiles and comparable outcomes to PDT, EMR, and esophagectomy.
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has issued guidelines on the role of endoscopy in bariatric surgery patients. The guidelines emphasize the importance of preoperative endoscopy to detect lesions that may affect surgery and postoperative symptoms or conditions, such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
A new study found that bowel preparation with oral sodium phosphate does not improve cleanliness and visibility in small bowel capsule endoscopy for patients with obscure GI bleeding. The standard method of an eight-hour fast before the procedure was shown to be equally effective.
The ASGE has updated its infection control guidelines to emphasize the importance of rigorous endoscope reprocessing and adherence to general infection control principles. These guidelines aim to reduce the risk of patient-to-patient transmission of microorganisms during GI endoscopy procedures.
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy has updated its guidelines on antibiotic prophylaxis for gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, citing a lack of data supporting the use of prophylactic antibiotics solely to prevent infective endocarditis. Clinically significant infections after endoscopic procedures are extremely rare.