Endoscopic versus Percutaneous Biliary Drainage in Palliation of Advanced Malignant Hilar Obstruction: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Background. Palliation in advanced unresectable hilar malignancies can be achieved by endoscopic (EBD) or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). It is unclear if one approach is superior to the other in this group of patients. Aims. Compare clinical outcomes of EBD versus PTBD. Methods. (i) Study Selection Criterion. Studies using PTBD and EBD for palliation of advanced unresectable hilar malignancies. (ii) Data Collection and Extraction. Articles were searched in Medline, PubMed, and Ovid journals. (iii) Statistical Method. Fixed and random effects models were used to calculate the pooled proportions. Results. Initial search identified 786 reference articles, in which 62 articles were selected and reviewed. Data was extracted from nine studies (N=546) that met the inclusion criterion. The pooled odds ratio for successful biliary drainage in PTBD versus EBD was 2.53 (95% CI = 1.57 to 4.08). Odds ratio for overall adverse effects in PTBD versus EBD groups was 0.81 (95% CI = 0.52 to 1.26). Odds ratio for 30-day mortality rate in PTBD group versus EBD group was 0.84 (95% CI = 0.37 to 1.91). Conclusions. In patients with advanced unresectable hilar malignancies, palliation with PTBD seems to be superior to EBD. PTBD is comparable to EBD in regard to overall adverse effects and 30-day mortality

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs for Chemoprevention in Patients With Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Aims: Published literature shows mixed reports of the benefits of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on reducing colorectal polyps in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). We conducted a systematic review and performed a meta-analysis to assess the impact of NSAIDs on colorectal polyp burden in patients with FAP. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effect of NSAIDs vs placebo on the percent change in polyp number and polyp size in patients with FAP. Mean differences between the 2 study arms were pooled using RevMan. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for RCTs, and certainty in the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology. Results: The search strategy identified 1021 studies, out of which we included 8 RCTs with a total of 279 patients. Treatment for 6.4 ± 2.2 months with NSAIDs reduced polyp numbers by −17.4% (95% confidence interval −26.41%, −8.29%) (low certainty [I2 89%] due to imprecision and issues with RoB) and polyp size by −15.9% (95% confidence interval −24.98%, −6.73%) (very low certainty (I2 84%) due to imprecision, inconsistency, and issues with RoB). The most common gastrointestinal adverse events reported were stomatitis, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Side effects leading to drug discontinuation were gastroenteritis and drug allergy. Conclusion: Short-term use of NSAIDs reduced polyp number and polyp size but with low to very low certainty of evidence. Further large multicenter studies are needed to further explore NSAIDs as a chemopreventive measure in patients with FAP

Endoscopic versus Percutaneous Biliary Drainage in Palliation of Advanced Malignant Hilar Obstruction: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Background. Palliation in advanced unresectable hilar malignancies can be achieved by endoscopic (EBD) Initial search identified 786 reference articles, in which 62 articles were selected and reviewed. Data was extracted from nine studies ( = 546) that met the inclusion criterion. The pooled odds ratio for successful biliary drainage in PTBD versus EBD was 2.53 (95% CI = 1.57 to 4.08). Odds ratio for overall adverse effects in PTBD versus EBD groups was 0.81 (95% CI = 0.52 to 1.26). Odds ratio for 30-day mortality rate in PTBD group versus EBD group was 0.84 (95% CI = 0.37 to 1.91). Conclusions. In patients with advanced unresectable hilar malignancies, palliation with PTBD seems to be superior to EBD. PTBD is comparable to EBD in regard to overall adverse effects and 30-day mortality

Cold snare endoscopic resection of nonpedunculated colorectal polyps larger than 10 mm: a systematic review and pooled-analysis

Background and Aims: Hot snare polypectomy and EMR are the standard of care in resecting colorectal polyps 6510 mm. To avoid the risk of electrocautery-induced damage, there is recent evidence about using cold snare polypectomy and cold EMR for such lesions. The aim of this pooled analysis is to report outcomes of cold snare resection for polyps 6510 mm. Methods: PubMed/Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases were searched up to July 2018 to identify studies that performed cold snare resection for colorectal polyps 6510 mm. Primary outcomes were adverse events (bleeding, perforation, and postpolypectomy abdominal pain), and secondary outcomes were the rates of complete resection, overall residual polyp rates, and rates for adenomas versus sessile serrated polyps (SSPs). Subgroup analysis was performed focusing on lesion size, location, and resection technique. Results: Eight studies were included in the final analysis that included 522 colorectal polyps with a mean polyp size of 17.5 mm (range, 10-60). The overall adverse event rate was 1.1% (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.2%-2.0%; I 2 = 0%). Intra- and postprocedural bleeding rates were.7% (95% CI, 0%-1.4%) and.5% (95% CI,.1%-1.2%), respectively, with abdominal pain rate being.6% (95% CI,.1%-1.3%). Polyps 6520 mm had a higher intraprocedural bleeding rate of 1.3% (95% CI,.7%-3.3%) and abdominal pain rate of 1.2% (95% CI,.7%-3.0%) but no delayed bleedings. No perforations were reported. The complete resection rate was 99.3% (95% CI, 98.6%-100%). Overall pooled residual rates of polyps of any histology, adenomas, and SSPs were 4.1% (95% CI,.2%-8.4%), 11.1% (95% CI, 4.1%-18.1%), and 1.0% (95% CI,.4%-2.4%), respectively, during a follow-up period ranging from 154 to 258 days. Conclusions: The results of this systematic review and pooled analysis were excellent with cold snare resection of colorectal polyps >10 mm in terms of postpolypectomy bleeding, complete resection, and residual polyp rates. Randomized controlled trials comparing cold snare resection with hot snare resections of polyps 6510 mm are required for further investigation

Risk of Colorectal Cancer and Cancer Related Mortality After Detection of Low-risk or High-risk Adenomas, Compared With No Adenoma, at Index Colonoscopy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The risk of metachronous colorectal cancer (CRC) among patients with no adenomas, low-risk adenomas (LRAs), or high-risk adenomas (HRAs), detected at index colonoscopy, is unclear. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare incidence rates of metachronous CRC and CRC-related mortality after a baseline colonoscopy for each group. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases for studies that reported the incidence of CRC and adenoma characteristics after colonoscopy. The primary outcome was odds of metachronous CRC and CRC-related mortality per 10,000 person-years of follow-up after baseline colonoscopy for all the groups. RESULTS: Our final analysis included 12 studies with 510,019 patients (mean age, 59.2 ± 2.6 years; 55% male; mean duration of follow up, 8.5 ± 3.3 years). The incidence of CRC per 10,000 person-years was marginally higher for patients with LRAs compared to those with no adenomas (4.5 vs 3.4; odds ratio [OR], 1.26; 95% CI, 1.06-1.51; I(2)=0), but significantly higher for patients with HRAs compared to those with no adenoma ( 13.8 vs 3.4; odds ratio [OR], 2.92; 95% CI, 2.31-3.69; I(2)=0 ) and patients with HRAs compared to LRAs (13.81 vs 4.5; OR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.72-3.20; I(2)=55%). However, the CRC-related mortality per 10,000 person-years did not differ significantly for patients with LRAs compared to no adenomas (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.76-1.74; I(2)=0) but was significantly higher in persons with HRAs compared with LRAs (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.30-4.75; I(2)=38%) and no adenomas (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.87-3.87; I(2)=0). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate that the risk of metachronous CRC and mortality is significantly higher for patients with HRAs, but this risk is very low in patients with LRAs, comparable to patients with no adenomas. Follow-up of patients with LRAs detected at index colonoscopy should be the same as for persons with no adenomas