Faculty Bibliography

Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is characterized by epigastric pain and postprandial vomiting secondary to mechanical obstruction. Management of GOO is usually focused on alleviating the symptoms of obstruction and can be achieved by surgical gastrojejunostomy or enteral stenting. Recent studies have shown success with EUS-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) in the management of GOO but data is limited. We, therefore, conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EUS-GE in the management of GOO. A comprehensive literature review was conducted by searching the Embase and PubMed databases from inception to January 2019 to identify all studies that evaluate the efficacy and safety of EUS-GE in GOO. Our primary outcome was to evaluate technical success and clinical success. Secondary outcomes were to evaluate the need for reintervention and adverse events of the procedure. Twelve studies including 285 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Technical success was achieved in 266 patients with a pooled technical success of 92% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 88%-95%). Clinical success was achieved in 90% of the patients (95% CI: 85%-94%). Recurrence of symptoms or unplanned reintervention was needed in 9% of the patients (95% CI: 6%-13%) and adverse events were reported in 12% of the patients (95% CI: 8%-16%). The heterogeneity tests among studies were nonsignificant with I² = 0. EUS-GE is a safe and efficacious treatment modality for the management of benign and malignant GOO. Larger prospective studies are needed to further evaluate its utility in GOO.

Background and aims  Rectal lesions traditionally represent the first lesions approached during endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) training in the West. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of rectal ESD in North America. Methods  This is a multicenter retrospective analysis of rectal ESD between January 2010 and September 2018 in 15 centers. End points included: rates of en bloc resection, R0 resection, adverse events, comparison of pre- and post-ESD histology, and factors associated with failed resection. Results  In total, 171 patients (median age 63 years; 56 % men) underwent rectal ESD (median size 43 mm). En bloc resection was achieved in 141 cases (82.5 %; 95 %CI 76.8-88.2), including 24 of 27 (88.9 %) with prior failed endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). R0 resection rate was 74.9 % (95 %CI 68.4-81.4). Post-ESD bleeding and perforation occurred in 4 (2.3 %) and 7 (4.1 %), respectively. Covert submucosal invasive cancer (SMIC) was identified in 8.6 % of post-ESD specimens. There was one case (1/120; 0.8 %) of recurrence at a median follow-up of 31 weeks; IQR: 19-76 weeks). Older age and higher body mass index (BMI) were predictors of failed R0 resection, whereas submucosal fibrosis was associated with a higher likelihood of both failed en bloc and R0 resection. Conclusion  Rectal ESD in North America is safe and is associated with high en bloc and R0 resection rates. The presence of submucosal fibrosis was the main predictor of failed en bloc and R0 resection. ESD can be considered for select rectal lesions, and serves not only to establish a definitive tissue diagnosis but also to provide curative resection for lesions with covert advanced disease.

Volumetric laser endomicroscopy (VLE) uses optical coherence tomography (OCT) for real-time, microscopic cross-sectional imaging. A US-based multi-center registry was constructed to prospectively collect data on patients undergoing upper endoscopy during which a VLE scan was performed. The objective of this registry was to determine usage patterns of VLE in clinical practice and to estimate quantitative and qualitative performance metrics as they are applied to Barrett's esophagus (BE) management. All procedures utilized the NvisionVLE Imaging System (NinePoint Medical, Bedford, MA) which was used by investigators to identify the tissue types present, along with focal areas of concern. Following the VLE procedure, investigators were asked to answer six key questions regarding how VLE impacted each case. Statistical analyses including neoplasia diagnostic yield improvement using VLE was performed. One thousand patients were enrolled across 18 US trial sites from August 2014 through April 2016. In patients with previously diagnosed or suspected BE (894/1000), investigators used VLE and identified areas of concern not seen on white light endoscopy (WLE) in 59% of the procedures. VLE imaging also guided tissue acquisition and treatment in 71% and 54% of procedures, respectively. VLE as an adjunct modality improved the neoplasia diagnostic yield by 55% beyond the standard of care practice. In patients with no prior history of therapy, and without visual findings from other technologies, VLE-guided tissue acquisition increased neoplasia detection over random biopsies by 700%. Registry investigators reported that VLE improved the BE management process when used as an adjunct tissue acquisition and treatment guidance tool. The ability of VLE to image large segments of the esophagus with microscopic cross-sectional detail may provide additional benefits including higher yield biopsies and more efficient tissue acquisition. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02215291.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided liver biopsy (EUS-LB) is a safe and effective method for accomplishing parenchymal liver biopsy. The aim of this study was to compare a 19 G aspiration needle (FNA) with a 19 G Franseen-tip core biopsy needle (FNB) for EUS-LB. METHODS: This was a prospective, parallel group, randomized trial comparing the tissue yields and adequacy of a 19 G FNA needle vs. a 19 G FNB needle for EUS-LB. The primary outcome was length of the longest piece of liver core specimen. Secondary outcomes were aggregate specimen length, number of complete portal triads (CPTs), and adverse events. One transgastric pass and one transduodenal pass were performed with the same needle in each patient. Specimen lengths were measured before and after histological processing. RESULTS: < 0.001) compared with the FNA needle. There were no severe adverse events or difference in adverse event rate between the two needles. Post-biopsy pain was noted in 37.5 %. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS: EUS-LB using the FNB needle delivered longer liver biopsy specimens with more CPTs than the regular (non-core) needle.

Background and Aims/UNASSIGNED:Advanced adenomas and scarred lesions pose difficulties for the endoscopist because of the need for complete resection and accurate pathologic staging, which cannot be afforded by standard resection techniques. Endoscopic full-thickness resection, first described in Europe for treatment of early adenocarcinoma or scarred lesions in the colon, allows potentially curative en bloc resection in patients who may be at a high risk for surgery. We describe our endoscopic approach and histologic outcomes with use of a commercially available endoscopic full-thickness resection device (FTRD) (Ovesco Endoscopy, Tubingen, Germany). Methods/UNASSIGNED:We report our experience using the FTRD for advanced polyps in patients referred to our tertiary care center. Three patients were identified from a prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing FTRD from December 2018 to February 2019. Demographic, endoscopic, and histologic data were collected. Results/UNASSIGNED:All patients underwent successful full-thickness resection of the adenocarcinoma, and histopathologic examination showed negative lateral and deep margins. No immediate or delayed adverse events occurred during an average 2-month follow-up period. Conclusions/UNASSIGNED:Full-thickness resection with an over-the-scope fitted FTRD is safe and effective in the management of advanced colonic neoplastic lesions.

Background and study aims  Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has clinical advantages that can lead to improved patient outcome. This study seeks to characterize and quantify the upstream and downstream healthcare utilizations and revenues. Patients and methods  A retrospective claims data analysis of upper gastrointestinal EUS procedures was conducted at a large health system. Types of care and total revenues associated with each episode of care were characterized by descriptive statistics. Comparisons were made between patients who had Medicare Advantage and commercial plans as well as those with and without cancer diagnoses during the downstream period. Results  A total of 436 cases were identified. The most frequent downstream healthcare utilizations consisted of radiology (31 %), pathology services (28 %), and high-revenue services including chemotherapy and inpatient admissions. The most common upstream utilizations included radiology (18 %) and lab services (22 %). Average total downstream revenue was $ 34 231 (95 %CI: $ 28 561 - $ 39 901) per case, and average total upstream revenue was $4373 (95 %CI: $3227 - $ 5519). Average total revenue per case did not differ significantly between Medicare Advantage and commercial plan members. However, patients who were diagnosed with cancer at or immediately following EUS (20 %) were associated with significantly higher total revenue compared to those without cancer diagnosis ( P  < 0.0001). Conclusions  This episode-of-care approach to quantifying the revenue impact of upper gastrointestinal EUS to the providers suggests there are substantial downstream as well as upstream revenues associated with upper gastrointestinal EUS procedures, driven by patients who are diagnosed with cancer by the EUS procedures and subsequently require oncologic care.

BACKGROUND & AIMS/OBJECTIVE:It is a challenge to accurately assess pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) and determine their risk. We compared the yield of tissue acquired with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided microforceps (through the needle tissue biopsy [TTNB]) with that of samples collected by EUS-guided fine-needle-aspiration (EUS-FNA), and the accuracy of analyses of each sample type in the diagnosis of mucinous PCLs. METHODS:We performed a prospective open-label study of 114 consecutive adults (56.1% women; mean age, 64.2 y) undergoing EUS-FNA evaluation of PCLs (mean size, 35 mm) at 7 centers, from June 20, 2016, through August 31, 2018. Samples were collected from each cyst by FNA and microforceps; samples collected by FNA were analyzed by cytology and samples collected by TTNB were analyzed by histology. Acquisition yield was defined as the percentage of specimens collected that were adequate for cytologic or histologic analysis. Diagnoses of mucinous cysts were made based on identification of pancreatic mucinous epithelium by cytology analysis of FNA samples or histologic analysis of TTNB samples. Surgical specimens were used as the reference standard when available. RESULTS:The EUS-guided microforceps were successfully inserted into 97.4% (111 of 114) of PCLs. Tissue acquisition yield was significantly higher with TTNB (95 of 114; 83.3%) than FNA (43 of 114; 37.7%) (P < .001). Sixty-one PCLs were determined to be mucinous based on TTNB analysis (53.5%) vs 11 with FNA analysis (9.6%) (P < .001). Among PCLs categorized as equivocal, based on the level of carcinoembryonic antigen, TTNB analysis found 50% (41 of 82) to be mucinous and FNA analysis found 8.5% (7 of 82) to be mucinous (P < .001). Findings from analyses of samples collected by TTNB were 100% concordant with findings from histologic analysis of surgical specimens (14 of 14), whereas only 3 of 14 findings from analysis of samples collected by FNA were in agreement with findings from surgical specimens (21.4%) (P < .001). Four of 5 mucinous PCLs with advanced neoplasia (80%) were detected with TTNB compared with none with FNA (P = .04). Self-limited intracystic bleeding occurred in 7 patients (6.1%), and acute pancreatitis in 6 patients (5.3%). CONCLUSIONS:In a multicenter prospective study of patients undergoing EUS-FNA for evaluation of PCLs, we found TTNB collection of tissues for histologic analysis to be safe and feasible, with an acquisition yield of 83.3%. Histologic analysis of samples collected by TTNB identified a larger proportion of mucinous PCLs compared with cytologic analysis of samples collected by FNA-even among samples categorized as equivocal, based on the level of carcinoembryonic antigen. More samples collected by TTNB than FNA were found to have advanced neoplasia. Clinicaltrials.gov no: NCT02979509.