Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic full-thickness plication of the gastric cardia using the Plicator is shown to be effective for the treatment of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in both prospective and randomized controlled trials. This registry study aimed to evaluate Plicator procedure safety and efficacy among GERD patients treated in routine clinical practice at multiple academic and nonacademic centers. METHODS: An open-label, prospective multicenter trial was conducted at seven centers under institutional review board approval. Patients with symptomatic GERD completed a series of questionnaires at baseline to assess GERD symptoms, heartburn/regurgitation scores, antisecretory medication use, and treatment satisfaction. All the patients then underwent the Plicator procedure with placement of a single transmural pledgeted suture in the anterior gastric cardia. The patients were reevaluated at 12 months after plication. RESULTS: The 12-month follow-up assessment was completed by 81 patients. At 12 months, the mean GERD Health-Related Quality-of-Life score had improved significantly compared with the baseline score (12.0 vs 26.6; p < 0.001), with 66% of the subjects showing an GERD-HRQL score improved 50% or more. Statistically significant improvements also were observed in median heartburn and regurgitation symptom scores. At 12 months, the need for daily proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy was eliminated for 58% of the patients. At baseline, 18% of the subjects had been satisfied with their GERD symptom control while on antisecretory therapy. At 12 months, 75% of the patients were satisfied with their GERD symptom control after undergoing the Plicator procedure, and 86% would recommend the procedure to family or friends. There were no serious adverse events and no late onset of any adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: In this multicenter study, the Plicator procedure effectively improved GERD quality-of-life scores, reduced GERD symptoms and medication use, and yielded higher treatment satisfaction than with the use of chronic antisecretory therapy. These effects all were seen 12 months after plication, and no major adverse effects were observed.

The introduction of submucosal fluid injection has remarkably extended the range of endoscopically resectable polyps. The limiting factor for endoscopic resection is not polyp size, but polyp depth. Endoscopic ultrasound is a useful adjunctive diagnostic tool to assess the depth of invasion. The success of are section ultimately depends on pathologic confirmation of a benign nature of this lesion or of a cancer limited to the mucosa.Selected well-differentiated cancers without lymphovascular invasion of the superficial submucosa can be successfully resected endoscopically

A 65-year-old woman with a medical history of diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, an old cerebrovascular accident, and seizure disorder presented to the emergency room with lower abdominal pain of 4 weeks duration. Upon physical examination, her abdomen was soft and bowel sounds were present, but there was diffuse tenderness in her lower abdomen with some guarding. A computed tomography scan of her abdomen with oral and intravenous contrast showed significantly thickened small bowel loops with subjacent lymphadenopathy. Biopsies obtained during esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy showed acute and chronic inflammation. A double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) was then performed, which showed stricture in the jejunum from which the biopsy was obtained. The biopsy showed marginal cell lymphoma. The patient is presently undergoing chemotherapy. Double balloon enteroscopy is a new elegant endoscopical technique that seems promising, as the endoscopist can reach undiscovered small bowel segments. It seems to be well tolerated and safe. For the first time, it provides the means to endoscopically investigate and treat disorders of the small intestine that have previously been inaccessible to conventional endoscopy.

BACKGROUND: The Plicator (NDO Surgical, Inc., Mansfield, MA) endoscopically places a full-thickness permanent suture to augment the antireflux barrier. At 3-years post-treatment, published results demonstrated a reduction in subjects' gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and related medication use. AIM: To evaluate the Plicator's safety and durability of effect at improving GERD symptoms at 5-years post-treatment. METHODS: A total of 33 chronic GERD sufferers across seven sites were followed for approximately 5 years (median follow-up: 59 months, range 50-65 months) after receiving a single full-thickness plication approximately 1 cm below the gastroesophageal (GE) junction in the anterior gastric cardia. At baseline, 30 out of 33 subjects required daily proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. RESULTS: Of the subjects who were PPI dependent prior to treatment 67% (20/30) remained off daily PPI therapy at 60 months and 5-year median GERD health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) scores show significant improvement from baseline off-meds scores (10 versus 19, p < 0.001). Additionally, 50% (16/32) of subjects achieved >or= 50% score improvement in GERD-HRQL. No new adverse events were identified and all device-related events occurred acutely. These results were comparable to the results seen at 36 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic full-thickness plication can reduce GERD symptoms and medication use for at least 5-years post procedure with no long-term adverse events post treatment.

BACKGROUND: Access to the papilla of Vater or enteral anastomoses to the biliary tract or pancreatic duct is difficult in patients with altered anatomy. The usual approach to the papilla of Vater with a side-viewing duodenoscope, designed for passage through the stomach, pyloric channel, and proximal duodenum, is not suitable in postoperative patients with challenging anatomic rearrangements. There is therefore a need for better instrumentation to achieve access in patients with difficult anatomy. OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential of the new double balloon endoscope system for use in difficult postsurgical anatomic configurations. This system has now been utilized in several of these types of anatomic rearrangements with successful access to the papilla of Vater and hepatico-jejunal, choledocho-jejunal, or pancreatico-jejunal anastomoses. The technique of advancing the system and achieving cannulation is described. The accessories necessary and therapeutic potential are addressed. INTERVENTIONS: Diagnostic and therapeutic management of pancreatic and biliary disorders in altered anatomy. CONCLUSION: Double balloon enteroscopy has provided a means to access the stomach, duodenum, biliary tract, and pancreatic duct after surgical procedures that have made access by the usual routes with the usual instruments not possible.