Patients Prescribed Direct-acting Oral Anticoagulants Have Low Risk of Post-Polypectomy Complications

Background & Aims Use of direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is increasing, but little is known about the associated risks in patients undergoing colonoscopy with polypectomy. We aimed to determine the risk of post-polypectomy complications in patients prescribed DOACs. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis using the Clinformatics Data Mart Database (a de-identified administrative database from a large national insurance provider) to identify adults who underwent colonoscopy with polypectomy or endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2015. We collected data from 11,504 patients prescribed antithrombotic agents (1590 DOAC, 3471 warfarin, and 6443 clopidogrel) and 599,983 patients not prescribed antithrombotics of interest (controls). We compared 30-day post-polypectomy complications, including gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), cerebrovascular accident (CVA), myocardial infarction (MI), and hospital admissions, of patients prescribed DOACs, warfarin, or clopidogrel vs controls. Results Post-polypectomy complications were uncommon but occurred in a significantly higher proportion of patients receiving any antithrombotic vs controls (P<0.001). The percentage of patients in the DOAC group with GIB was 0.63% (95% CI, 0.3%–1.2%) vs 0.2% (95% CI, 0.2%–0.3%) in controls. The percentage of patients with CVA in the DOAC group was 0.06% (95% CI, 0.01%–0.35%) vs 0.04% (95% CI, 0.04%–0.05%) in controls. After we adjusted for bridge anticoagulation, EMR, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), and CHADS2 (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age over 75, diabetes, stroke [double weight]) score, patients prescribed DOACs no longer had a statistically significant increase in the odds of GIB (odds ratio [OR], 0.90; 95% CI, 0.44–1.85), CVA (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.06–3.28), MI (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.14–7.72), or hospital admission (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.64–1.16). Clopidogrel, warfarin, bridge anticoagulation, higher CHADS2, CCI, and EMR were associated with increased odds of complications. Conclusion In our retrospective analysis of a large national dataset, we found that patients prescribed DOACs did not have significantly increased adjusted odds of post-polypectomy GIB, MI, CVA, or hospital admission. Bridge anticoagulation, higher CHADS2 score, CCI, and EMR were risk factors for GIB, MI, CVA, and hospital admissions. Studies are needed to determine the optimal peri-procedural dose for high-risk patients

An atlas of the nonpolypoid colorectal neoplasms in inflammatory bowel disease

The role of endoscopy in the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is well established. However, recent data have shown significant limitations in the effectiveness of colonoscopy in preventing colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients with IBD colitis. The current standard random biopsy seemed largely ineffective in detecting nonpolypoid colorectal neoplasms. Data using chromoendoscopy with targeted biopsy, however, showed a significant improvement when used to detect dysplasia, the best predictor of CRC risk. This article provides a useful and organized series of images of the detection, diagnosis and management of the superficial elevated, flat, and depressed colorectal neoplasms in IBD patients, and provides a technical guide for the use of chromoendoscopy with targeted biopsy. ?? 2014

Treatment of oesophageal ulcerations using endoscopic transplantation of tissue‐engineered autologous oral mucosal epithelial cell sheets in a canine model

Endoscopic transplantation in oesophageal ulceratio