Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Updated Review of the Literature and State of the Art

Abstract Purpose of Review Gastrointestinal endoscopy includes a wide range of procedures that has dramatically evolved over the past decades. Robotic endoscopy and artificial intelligence are expanding the horizons of traditional techniques and will play a key role in clinical practice in the near future. Understanding the main available devices and procedures is a key unmet need. This review aims to assess the current and future applications of the most recently developed endoscopy robots. Recent Findings Even though a few devices have gained approval for clinical application, the majority of robotic and artificial intelligence systems are yet to become an integral part of the current endoscopic instrumentarium. Some of the innovative endoscopic devices and artificial intelligence systems are dedicated to complex procedures such as endoscopic submucosal dissection, whereas others aim to improve diagnostic techniques such as colonoscopy. Summary A review on flexible endoscopic robotics and artificial intelligence systems is presented here, showing the m3ost recently approved and experimental devices and artificial intelligence systems for diagnosis and robotic endoscopy

Personalized Endoscopy in Complex Malignant Hilar Biliary Strictures

Malignant hilar biliary obstruction (HBO) represents a complex clinical condition in terms of diagnosis, surgical and medical treatment, endoscopic approach, and palliation. The main etiology of malignant HBO is hilar cholangiocarcinoma that is considered an aggressive biliary tract’s cancer and has still today a poor prognosis. Endoscopy plays a crucial role in malignant HBO from the diagnosis to the palliation. This technique allows the collection of cytological or histological samples, direct visualization of the suspect malignant tissue, and an echoendoscopic evaluation of the primary tumor and its locoregional staging. Because obstructive jaundice is the most common clinical presentation of malignant HBO, endoscopic biliary drainage, when indicated, is the preferred treatment over the percutaneous approach. Several endoscopic techniques are today available for both the diagnosis and the treatment of biliary obstruction. The choice among them can differ for each clinical scenario. In fact, a personalized endoscopic approach is mandatory in order to perform the proper procedure in the singular patient

How to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis

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Palliation in Gallbladder Cancer: The Role of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Gallbladder cancer is a rare malignancy burdened by poor prognosis with an estimated 5-year survival of 5% to 13% due to late presentation, early infiltration of surrounding tissues, and lack of successful treatments. The only curative approach is surgery; however, more than 50% of cases are unresectable at the time of diagnosis. Endoscopy represents, together with surgery and chemotherapy, an available palliative option in advanced gallbladder cancers not eligible for curative treatments. Cholangitis, jaundice, gastric outlet obstruction, and pain are common complications of advanced gallbladder cancer that may need endoscopic management in order to improve the overall survival and the patients’ quality of life. Endoscopic biliary drainage is frequently performed to manage cholangitis and jaundice. ERCP is generally the preferred technique allowing the placement of a plastic stent or a self-expandable metal stent depending on the singular clinical case. EUS-guided biliary drainage is an available alternative for patients not amenable to ERCP drainage (e.g., altered anatomy). Gastric outlet obstruction is another rare complication of gallbladder malignancy growing in contact with the duodenal wall and causing its compression. Endoscopy is a less invasive alternative to surgery, offering different options such as an intraluminal self-expandable metal stent or EUS-guided gastroenteroanastomosis. Abdominal pain associated with cancer progression is generally managed with medical treatments; however, for incoercible pain, EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis has been described as an effective and safe treatment. Locoregional treatments, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and intraluminal brachytherapy (IBT), have been described in the control of disease progression; however, their role in daily clinical practice has not been established yet. The aim of this study is to perform a review of the literature in order to assess the role of endoscopy and the available techniques in the palliative therapy of advanced gallbladder malignancy

Endoscopic gastric reduction with an endoluminal suturing device: A multicenter prospective trial with 1-year follow-up

Background 'Obesity is the pandemic disease of this century. Surgery is the only effective treatment but cannot be offered to every patient. Endoscopic sutured gastroplasty is a minimally invasive technique that may potentially fill the gap between surgery and behavioral therapy. In this study, we prospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of a novel suturing device. Methods 'After a pre-bariatric multidisciplinary work-up, class 1 and 2 obese patients were included. Using a simple triangulation platform, transmural sutures with serosa-to-serosa apposition were performed in the gastric cavity. Patients were followed according to the same routines as those performed for bariatric procedures. Results 'Between November 2015 and December 2016, 51 patients were included across three European Centers. Mean body mass index at baseline was 35.1 kg/m 2 (SD 3.0). Excess weight loss and total body weight loss at 1 year were 29% (SD 28) and 7.4 % (SD 7), respectively, for the whole cohort (45 patients). At follow-up gastroscopy, 88% of sutures were still in place (30 patients). No severe adverse events were observed. Conclusions 'Endoscopic sutured gastroplasty using this novel device is safe and achieved weight loss results in line with criteria expected for these endoluminal techniques. Further prospective studies vs. placebo or nutritional support are needed.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Endoscopic Removal of an Esophageal Stent After Diffuse Hyperplastic Tissue Ingrowth

Endoscopic placement of esophageal Self-Expandable Metal Stents (SEMS) is a therapeutic option for post-surgical esophageal leaks. Partially covered SEMS are mainly designed for malignant esophageal strictures, but are used off-label to close post-surgical leaks due to their lower migration rate than fully covered SEMS, and better adherence to the esophageal wall. Partially covered esophageal SEMS can achieve post-surgical fistula healing, but their removal is difficult due to tissue ingrowth through the uncovered part. A challenging case of a difficult removal of a partially covered esophageal SEMS (remove the indefinite article) is (below) presented. Keywords: Esophageal SEMS, Gastro-cutaneous fistula, Ingrowth, Vide