Thalidomide for refractory gastrointestinal bleeding from vascular malformations in patients with significant comorbidities

BACKGROUND: Refractory gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) secondary to gastrointestinal vascular malformations (GIVM) such as gastrointestinal angiodysplasia (GIAD) and gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) remains challenging to treat when endoscopic therapy fails. Recently thalidomide has been suggested as a treatment option for refractory GIB. AIM: To determine the outcome of patients treated with thalidomide for refractory GIB due to GIVM. METHODS: IRB approved, single center, retrospective review of electronic medical records from January 2012 to November 2018. Patients age \u3e 18 years old, who had \u3e 3 episodes of GIB refractory to medical or endoscopic therapy, and who had been treated with thalidomide for at least 3 mo were included. The primary endpoint was recurrence of GIB 6 mo after initiation of thalidomide. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were included in the study, all with significant cardiac, hepatic, or renal comorbidities. The cause of GIB was GIAD in 10 patients and GAVE in 5 patients. Two patients were lost to follow up. Of the 13 patients followed, 38.5% ( CONCLUSION: Thalidomide appears to be an effective treatment for refractory GIB due to GIAD or GAVE in a Western population with significant comorbidities

Afferent Loop Syndrome as Second Presentation of Gastric Outlet Obstruction in Patient With Billroth II Anatomy

Afferent loop syndrome can result from both benign and malignant strictures of the biliary limbs of patients with surgically altered anatomy. Afflicted patients accumulate intestinal and pancreaticobiliary secretions, which leads to bowel distention and pain. We describe the endoscopic management of a 52-year-old woman with a history of Billroth II gastrojejunostomy due to gastric cancer who developed malignant gastric outlet obstruction and subsequently malignant afferent loop syndrome, using lumen-apposing metal stents

EUS-guided bilateral biliary access and metal stent placement post-Whipple resection

Video 1Narration of case and demonstration of EUS-guided bilateral stent placement for malignant hilar obstruction post-Whipple resection using integrate and rendezvous approach

Utilization of an overtube for placement of a lumen-apposing metal stent for removal of a capsule endoscope retained proximal to an ileal stricture

Video 1Narration of case and demonstration of overture-mediated lumen-apposing metal stent placement for removal of retained capsule endoscopy

Current state of biliary cannulation techniques during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): International survey study.

Background and study aims Endoscopist techniques affect biliary cannulation success and the risk of adverse events during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This survey study aims to understand the current practice of biliary cannulation techniques among endoscopists. Methods Practicing endoscopists were sent an anonymous 28-question electronic survey on biliary cannulation techniques and intraprocedural pancreatitis prophylactic strategies. Results The survey was completed by 692 endoscopists (6.2% females). A wire-guided cannulation technique (WGT) was the preferred initial biliary cannulation approach (95%). The preferred secondary approaches were a double-wire (DWT) (65.8%), precut needle-knife technique (NKT) (25.7%), transpancreatic sphincterotomy (5.9%) or other (2.6%). Overall, 18.1% of respondents were not comfortable with NKTs. In the setting of pancreatic duct (PD) access, 81.9% and 97% reported a threshold of three or more wire passes or contrast injections into the PD, respectively, before changing strategy, 34% reported placement of a prophylactic PD stent <50% of the time and 12.1% reported removal of the PD stent at the end of the procedure. Advanced endoscopy fellowship (AEF) training and high volume (>200 ERCPs per year) were associated with comfort with precut NKTs and likelihood of prophylactic PD stent ( P <0.001 for both). Conclusions A WGT technique followed by the DWT and NKT were the preferred biliary cannulation techniques; however, almost one-fifth of respondents were not comfortable with the NKT. There was considerable variability in secondary cannulation approaches, time spent attempting biliary cannulation and prophylactic PD stent placement, factors known to be associated with cannulation success and adverse outcomes

The Current State of Biliary Cannulation Techniques during Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): An International Survey Study

Background and study aims: Endoscopist techniques affect biliary cannulation success and the risk of adverse events during ERCP. This survey study aims to understand the current practice of biliary cannulation techniques among endoscopists. Methods: Practicing endoscopists were sent an anonymous 28- question electronic survey on biliary cannulation techniques and intraprocedural pancreatitis prophylactic strategies. Results: The survey was completed by 692 endoscopists (6.2% females). A wire-guided cannulation technique (WGT) was the preferred initial biliary cannulation approach (95%). The preferred secondary approaches were a double-wire (DWT) (65.8%), precut needle-knife technique (NKT) (25.7%), transpancreatic sphincterotomy (5.9%) or other (2.6%). Overall, 18.1% of respondents were not comfortable with NKTs. In the setting of pancreatic duct (PD) access, 81.9% and 97% reported a threshold of three or more wire passes or contrast injections into the PD respectively before changing strategy, 34% reported placement of a prophylactic PD stent 200 ERCPs per year) were associated with comfort with precut needle knife techniques and likelihood of prophylactic PD stent (p<0.001 for both). Conclusions: A WGT technique followed by the DWT and NKT were the preferred biliary cannulation techniques however almost one-fifth of respondents were not comfortable with the NKT. There was considerable variability in secondary cannulation approaches, time spent attempting biliary cannulation and prophylactic pancreatic duct stent placement, factors known to be associated with cannulation success and adverse outcomes