The Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound in the Interventional Management of Mediastinal Collections: A Narrative Review

The numerous causes underlying mediastinal lesions require different diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, including conservative, minimally invasive, and surgical interventions. Solid lesions of a malignant nature, mostly located in the anterior mediastinum, are properly treated with surgical resection either with or without adjuvant schemes. In contrast, a surveillance program is usually recommended with solid benign tumors, depending on their size and related symptomatology. In the management of mediastinal collections, when a drainage intervention is required (suspicion of infection and symptomatology), a minimally invasive nonsurgical procedure or thoracic surgery is considered. The minimally invasive nonsurgical procedures that can be available are percutaneous radiology-guided imaging (abdominal ultrasound (US) or computed tomography (CT) scan), complete single-aspiration guided by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), and transmural drainage guided by EUS. Surgical debridement is feasible to treat collections, but as this entails considerable risk of postoperative complications, it is chosen only when other minimally invasive therapies are not possible. The published literature related to the interventional endoscopic approach to mediastinal lesions is scarce. Nevertheless, reports in this field reveal that interventional EUS may have a role in both the diagnosis of and therapeutic approach to mediastinal lesions, mainly in the management of mediastinal collections

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided transvascular needle biopsy of thoracic and abdominal lesions: a multicenter experience

Background and study aims Traditionally in the case of a vascular interposition, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has been contraindicated. A transvascular route (TV) is feasible and probably a safe alternative approach in selected patients, but data are scarce. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the diagnostic yield and safety of EUS-TV-FNA in thoracic and abdominal lesions. Secondary aims included evaluation of the clinical impact and technical aspects. Patients and methods A retrospective multicenter study was conducted with inclusion of all consecutive patients that underwent EUS-TV-FNA from July 2007 to January 2020. Feasibility, cytopathology, procedure details, and safety were evaluated. Univariate analysis was performed to identify variables associated with incidents, cytopathological diagnosis, and clinical impact. Results Data were collected from a total of 49 cases and 50 EUS-TV-FNAs. The aorta (n = 19) and portal system (n = 17) were the most frequently punctured. The most frequent lesions were mediastinal lymph nodes (n = 13) and pancreatic tumors (n = 11). The diagnostic yield was 86 %, and there were nondiagnostic samples in seven cases. Overall sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 88% (95 % CI, 0.74-0.96), 100% (95 % CI, 0.59-1), and 90% (95 % CI, 0.78-0.96), respectively. Only three incidents were detected: two mural hematomas and a self-limited bleeding of gastroduodenal artery. In most patients, there was a significant impact on clinical management (88%). Arterial vessel and ASA-III had a trend with incidents (both, P < 0.08). Rapid on-site evlauation was found to be an independent predictor for obtaining a conclusive sample (OR 6.2; 95%CI, 1.06-36.73, P < 0.04). Conclusions EUS-TV-FNA is feasible, seems to be safe, and can be recommended when no other targets are available, and the information obtained would impact on the clinical plan

Endoscopic closure of duodenal perforation with an over-the-scope clip during endoscopic ultrasound-guided cholangiopancreatography

Duodenal perforations are a rare complication during interventional endoscopy. Their mortality is high, and the treatment in most cases is surgical. We report a case of duodenal perforation (type I, Stapfer) (1) during an interventional endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedure resolved using an over-the-scope clip called OTSC

Definitive diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors using fine-needle aspiration-puncture guided by endoscopic ultrasonography Diagnóstico definitivo de los tumores neuroendocrinos (TNE) mediante PAAF ecodirigida por ultrasonografía endoscópica (USE)

Background: the detection and diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is challenging. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has a significant role in the detection of NETs suspected from clinical manifestations or imaging techniques, as well as in their precise localization and cytological confirmation using EUS-Fine-needle aspiration-puncture (FNA). Objective: to assess the usefulness and precision of EUS-FNAP in the differential diagnosis and confirmation of NETs, in a retrospective review of our experience. Patients and methods: in a total of 55 patients with suspected NETs who underwent radial or sectorial EUS, 42 tumors were detected in 40 cases. EUS-FNA using a 22G needle was performed for 16 cases with suspected functional (hormonal disorders: 6 cases) and non-functional NETs (10 cases). Ki 67 or immunocytochemistry (ICC) testing was performed for all. There was confirmation in 9 cases (5 female and 4 male) with a mean age of 51 years (range: 41-81 years). All tumors were located in the pancreas except for one in the mediastinum and one in the rectum, with a mean size of 19 mm (range: 10-40 mm). Results: there were no complications attributable to FNA. Sensitivity was 100% and both precision and PPV were 89%, as a false positive result suggested a diagnosis with NET during cytology that surgery finally revealed to be a pancreatic pseudopapillary solid tumor. Conclusions: EUS-FNA with a 22G needle for NETs has high sensitivity and PPV at cytological confirmation with few complications.Introducción: la localización y diagnóstico de los tumores neuroendocrinos (TNE) es difícil. La ultrasonografía endoscópica (USE) tiene un papel significativo en la detección de TNE sospechados por la clínica u otras técnicas de imagen, así como en la localización exacta y confirmación citológica mediante USE-PAAF. Objetivo: valorar la utilidad y precisión de la PAAF-USE en el diagnóstico diferencial y de confirmación de los TNE, en una revisión retrospectiva de la experiencia de nuestro grupo. Pacientes y métodos: de un total de 55 enfermos con sospecha de TNE a los que se le practicó USE radial o sectorial, se detectaron 42 tumores en 40 casos. En 16 casos con sospecha de TNE funcionantes (trastornos hormonales: 6 casos) y no funcionantes (10 casos), se les practicó USE-PAAF con 22 G. En todos se efectuó Ki 67 o inmunocitoquímica (ICQ). Hubo confirmación quirúrgica en 9 casos (5 M y 4 V), con una media de edad de 51 años (rango: 41-81 años). Los tumores se localizaban todos en el páncreas, excepto uno en el mediastino y uno en el recto, con un tamaño medio de 19 mm (rango: 10-40 mm). Resultados: no hubo complicaciones atribuibles a la PAAF. La sensibilidad fue del 100% (8/8), y la precisión y el VPP fue del 89% (8/9), ya que hubo un falso positivo que en el estudio citológico sugirió el diagnóstico de TNE pero que su resección quirúrgica confirmó el diagnóstico de tumor sólido seudopapilar del páncreas. Conclusiones: la USE-PAAF con 22 G de los TNE posee una alta sensibilidad y VPP en la confirmación citológica de estos pacientes, con muy escasas complicaciones

Almagate interference in breath test results for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection

Background: Infection by Helicobacter pylori is common and affects both genders at any age. The 13C-urea breath test is a widely used test for the diagnosis of this infection. However, multiple drugs used for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection symptoms have interactions with this breath test that generate false negative results. This observational study was to assess the potential interaction between almagate and the breath test. Methods: Thirty subjects on almagate therapy who underwent a breath test were included. If the result was negative, almagate was withdrawn for a month and the breath test was then repeated. Results: In general, 51.9 % of assessed subjects had a negative result after the first test, and 100 % of these also had a negative result after the second test. Conclusions: It was concluded that the use of almagate does not interfere in breath test results. These results provide a drug therapy option for the treatment of symptoms associated with Helicobacter pylori infection during the diagnostic process

Endoscopic closure of duodenal perforation with an over-the-scope clip during endoscopic ultrasound-guided cholangiopancreatography

Duodenal perforations are a rare complication during interventional endoscopy. Their mortality is high, and the treatment in most cases is surgical. We report a case of duodenal perforation (type I, Stapfer) (1) during an interventional endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedure resolved using an over-the-scope clip called OTSC

Diagnóstico definitivo de los tumores neuroendocrinos (TNE) mediante PAAF ecodirigida por ultrasonografía endoscópica (USE)

Introducción: la localización y diagnóstico de los tumores neuroendocrinos (TNE) es difícil. La ultrasonografía endoscópica (USE) tiene un papel significativo en la detección de TNE sospechados por la clínica u otras técnicas de imagen, así como en la localización exacta y confirmación citológica mediante USEPAAF. Objetivo: valorar la utilidad y precisión de la PAAF-USE en el diagnóstico diferencial y de confirmación de los TNE, en una revisión retrospectiva de la experiencia de nuestro grupo. Pacientes y métodos: de un total de 55 enfermos con sospecha de TNE a los que se le practicó USE radial o sectorial, se detectaron 42 tumores en 40 casos. En 16 casos con sospecha de TNE funcionantes (trastornos hormonales: 6 casos) y no funcionantes (10 casos), se les practicó USE-PAAF con 22 G. En todos se efectuó Ki 67 o inmunocitoquímica (ICQ). Hubo confirmación quirúrgica en 9 casos (5 M y 4 V), con una media de edad de 51 años (rango: 41-81 años). Los tumores se localizaban todos en el páncreas, excepto uno en el mediastino y uno en el recto, con un tamaño medio de 19 mm (rango: 10-40 mm). Resultados: no hubo complicaciones atribuibles a la PAAF. La sensibilidad fue del 100% (8/8), y la precisión y el VPP fue del 89% (8/9), ya que hubo un falso positivo que en el estudio cito - lógico sugirió el diagnóstico de TNE pero que su resección quirúrgica confirmó el diagnóstico de tumor sólido seudopapilar del páncreas. Conclusiones: la USE-PAAF con 22 G de los TNE posee una alta sensibilidad y VPP en la confirmación citológica de estos pacientes, con muy escasas complicaciones

Effect of general anaesthesia on functional outcome in patients with anterior circulation ischaemic stroke having endovascular thrombectomy versus standard care: a meta-analysis of individual patient data

Background: General anaesthesia (GA) during endovascular thrombectomy has been associated with worse patient outcomes in observational studies compared with patients treated without GA. We assessed functional outcome in ischaemic stroke patients with large vessel anterior circulation occlusion undergoing endovascular thrombectomy under GA, versus thrombectomy not under GA (with or without sedation) versus standard care (ie, no thrombectomy), stratified by the use of GA versus standard care. Methods: For this meta-analysis, patient-level data were pooled from all patients included in randomised trials in PuMed published between Jan 1, 2010, and May 31, 2017, that compared endovascular thrombectomy predominantly done with stent retrievers with standard care in anterior circulation ischaemic stroke patients (HERMES Collaboration). The primary outcome was functional outcome assessed by ordinal analysis of the modified Rankin scale (mRS) at 90 days in the GA and non-GA subgroups of patients treated with endovascular therapy versus those patients treated with standard care, adjusted for baseline prognostic variables. To account for between-trial variance we used mixed-effects modelling with a random effect for trials incorporated in all models. Bias was assessed using the Cochrane method. The meta-analysis was prospectively designed, but not registered. Findings: Seven trials were identified by our search; of 1764 patients included in these trials, 871 were allocated to endovascular thrombectomy and 893 were assigned standard care. After exclusion of 74 patients (72 did not undergo the procedure and two had missing data on anaesthetic strategy), 236 (30%) of 797 patients who had endovascular procedures were treated under GA. At baseline, patients receiving GA were younger and had a shorter delay between stroke onset and randomisation but they had similar pre-treatment clinical severity compared with patients who did not have GA. Endovascular thrombectomy improved functional outcome at 3 months both in patients who had GA (adjusted common odds ratio (cOR) 1·52, 95% CI 1·09–2·11, p=0·014) and in those who did not have GA (adjusted cOR 2·33, 95% CI 1·75–3·10, p&lt;0·0001) versus standard care. However, outcomes were significantly better for patients who did not receive GA versus those who received GA (covariate-adjusted cOR 1·53, 95% CI 1·14–2·04, p=0·0044). The risk of bias and variability between studies was assessed to be low. Interpretation: Worse outcomes after endovascular thrombectomy were associated with GA, after adjustment for baseline prognostic variables. These data support avoidance of GA whenever possible. The procedure did, however, remain effective versus standard care in patients treated under GA, indicating that treatment should not be withheld in those who require anaesthesia for medical reasons