Factors associated with disease evolution in Greek patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND: The majority of Crohn's disease patients with B1 phenotype at diagnosis (i.e. non-stricturing non-penetrating disease) will develop over time a stricturing or a penetrating pattern. Conflicting data exist on the rate of proximal disease extension in ulcerative colitis patients with proctitis or left-sided colitis at diagnosis. We aimed to study disease evolution in Crohn's disease B1 patients and ulcerative colitis patients with proctitis and left-sided colitis at diagnosis. METHODS: 116 Crohn's disease and 256 ulcerative colitis patients were followed-up for at least 5 years after diagnosis. Crohn's disease patients were classified according to the Vienna criteria. Data were analysed actuarially. RESULTS: B1 phenotype accounted for 68.9% of Crohn's disease patients at diagnosis. The cumulative probability of change in disease behaviour in B1 patients was 43.6% at 10 years after diagnosis. Active smoking (Hazard Ratio: 3.01) and non-colonic disease (non-L2) (Hazard Ratio: 3.01) were associated with behavioural change in B1 patients. Proctitis and left-sided colitis accounted for 24.2%, and 48.4% of ulcerative colitis patients at diagnosis. The 10 year cumulative probability of proximal disease extension in patients with proctitis and left-sided colitis was 36.8%, and 17.1%, respectively (p: 0.003). Among proctitis patients, proximal extension was more common in non-smokers (Hazard Ratio: 4.39). CONCLUSION: Classification of Crohn's disease patients in B1 phenotype should be considered as temporary. Smoking and non-colonic disease are risk factors for behavioural change in B1 Crohn's disease patients. Proximal extension is more common in ulcerative colitis patients with proctitis than in those with left-sided colitis. Among proctitis patients, proximal extension is more common in non-smokers

Deep sedation for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopacreatography

Sedation and analgesia comprise an important element of unpleasant and often prolonged endoscopic retrograde cholangiopacreatography (ERCP), contributing, however, to better patient tolerance and compliance and to the reduction of injuries during the procedure due to inappropriate co-operation. Although most of the studies used a moderate level of sedation, the literature has revealed the superiority of deep sedation and general anesthesia in performing ERCP. The anesthesiologist’s presence is mandatory in these cases. A moderate sedation level for ERCP seems to be adequate for octogenarians. The sedative agent of choice for sedation in ERCP seems to be propofol due to its fast distribution and fast elimination time without a cumulative effect after infusion, resulting in shorter recovery time. Its therapeutic spectrum, however, is much narrower and therefore careful monitoring is much more demanding in order to differentiate between moderate, deep sedation and general anesthesia. Apart from conventional monitoring, capnography and Bispectral index or Narcotrend monitoring of the level of sedation seem to be useful in titrating sedatives in ERCP

Nasogastric aspiration/lavage in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding: a review of the evidence

<p><b>Introduction</b>: The usefulness of nasogastric aspiration and nasogastric lavage in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding is controversial, as evidenced by conflicting recommendations, both among and within society guidelines.</p> <p><b>Areas covered</b>: Considering these controversies, we reviewed the evidence regarding the following questions: 1) Can nasogastric lavage stop or slow down the bleeding and improve subsequent endoscopic visualization? 2) Is nasogastric aspiration helpful for the localization of bleeding? 3) Can nasogastric aspiration identify high risk patients that might benefit from earlier endoscopy? 4) Is there evidence for benefit in terms of outcomes from using nasogastric aspiration? 5) Is nasogastric intubation safe in patients with possible esophageal varices? Our review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines.</p> <p><b>Expert commentary</b>: Based on the available literature, nasogastric lavage or aspiration cannot be routinely recommended unless a large properly designed randomized trial (which is currently lacking) proves otherwise. It is a painful and time-consuming procedure with no demonstrated benefit for the patient in terms of outcomes. Other clinical and laboratory parameters, and risk scores, are less invasive and are effective for guiding the stratification and management of patients, while pre-endoscopic erythromycin infusion is a good if not better alternative for improving visualization of the stomach.</p

Does recombinant human erythropoietin accelerate correction of post-ulcer-bleeding anaemia? A pilot study

AIM: Anaemia caused by acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is treated with blood transfusion or iron, but patients usually face a two-month recovery period from post-haemorrhage anaemia. This prospective, randomised, open, pilot study was designed to investigate whether recombinant human erythropoietin (Epoetin) therapy accelerate haematocrit increase in the post-bleeding recovery period. METHODS: We studied hospitalised patients admitted because of acute ulcer bleeding or haemorrhagic gastritis, who had a haematocrit of 27-33% and did not receive blood transfusions. One day after the endoscopic confirmation of cessation of bleeding, they were randomised either to erythropoietin (20 000 IU Epoetin alfa subcutaneously, on days 0, 4 and 6) plus iron (100 mg im, on days 1-6, (G(1)) or iron only (G(2)). Haematocrit was measured on days 0, 6, 14, 30, 45, and 60, respectively. RESULTS: One patient from G1 and two from G2 were lost to follow-up. Therefore, 14 and 13 patients from G1 and G2 respectively were analysed. Demographic characteristics, serum iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity, reticulocytes, and haematocrit were not significantly different at entry to the study. Median reticulocyte counts were significantly different between groups on day six (G(1): 4.0, 3.0-6.4 vs G(2): 3.5, 2.1-4.4%, P=0.03) and median haematocrit on day fourteen [G(1): 35.9, 30.7-41.0 vs G(2): 32.5, 29.5-37.0% (median, range), P=0.04]. CONCLUSION: Erythropoietin administration significantly accelerates correction of anemia after acute ulcer bleeding. The haematocrit gain is equivalent to one unit of transfused blood two weeks after the bleeding episode