In Europe at present, but also in 2040, 1 in 3 cancer-related deaths are expected to be caused by digestive cancers. Endoscopic technologies enable diagnosis, with relatively low invasiveness, of ...precancerous conditions and early cancers, thereby improving patient survival. Overall, endoscopy capacity must be adjusted to facilitate both effective screening programs and rigorous control of the quality assurance and surveillance systems required. 1 : For average-risk populations, ESGE recommends the implementation of organized population-based screening programs FOR COLORECTAL CANCER: , based on fecal immunochemical testing (FIT), targeting individuals, irrespective of gender, aged between 50 and 75 years. Depending on local factors, namely the adherence of the target population and availability of endoscopy services, primary screening by colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy may also be recommendable. 2 : In high-risk populations, endoscopic screening FOR GASTRIC CANCER: should be considered for individuals aged more than 40 years. Its use in countries/regions with intermediate risk may be considered on the basis of local settings and availability of endoscopic resources. 3 : For esophageal and pancreatic cancer, endoscopic screening may be considered only in high-risk individuals:- FOR SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA: , in those with a personal history of head/neck cancer, achalasia, or previous caustic injury; - FOR BARRETT'S ESOPHAGUS (BE)-ASSOCIATED ADENOCARCINOMA: , in those with long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms (i. e., > 5 years) and multiple risk factors (age ≥ 50 years, white race, male sex, obesity, first-degree relative with BE or esophageal adenocarcinoma EAC). - FOR PANCREATIC CANCER SCREENING: , endoscopic ultrasound may be used in selected high-risk patients such as those with a strong family history and/or genetic susceptibility.
Background A simple endoscopic classification to accurately predict deep submucosal invasive (SM-d) carcinoma would be clinically useful. Objective To develop and assess the validity of the NBI ...international colorectal endoscopic (NICE) classification for the characterization of SM-d carcinoma. Design The study was conducted in 4 phases: (1) evaluation of endoscopic differentiation by NBI-experienced colonoscopists; (2) extension of the NICE classification to incorporate SM-d (type 3) by using a modified Delphi method; (3) prospective validation of the individual criteria by inexperienced participants, by using high-definition still images without magnification of known histology; and (4) prospective validation of the individual criteria and overall classification by inexperienced participants after training. Setting Japanese academic unit. Main Outcome Measurements Performance characteristics of the NICE criteria (phase 3) and overall classification (phase 4) for SM-d carcinoma; sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and accuracy. Results We expanded the NICE classification for the endoscopic diagnosis of SM-d carcinoma (type 3) and established the predictive validity of its individual components. The negative predictive values of the individual criteria for diagnosis of SM-d carcinoma were 76.2% (color), 88.5% (vessels), and 79.1% (surface pattern). When any 1 of the 3 SM-d criteria was present, the sensitivity was 94.9%, and the negative predictive value was 95.9%. The overall sensitivity and negative predictive value of a global, high-confidence prediction of SM-d carcinoma was 92%. Interobserver agreement for an overall SM-d carcinoma prediction was substantial (kappa 0.70). Limitations Single Japanese center, use of still images without prospective clinical evaluation. Conclusion The NICE classification is a valid tool for predicting SM-d carcinomas in colorectal tumors.
The variables associated with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) are largely unknown. This study aimed to: 1) identify the prevalence of reflux esophagitis and ...asymptomatic GER in patients who underwent POEM, and 2) evaluate patient and intraprocedural variables associated with post-POEM GER.
All patients who underwent POEM and subsequent objective testing for GER (pH study with or without upper gastrointestinal GI endoscopy) at seven tertiary academic centers (one Asian, two US, four European) were included. Patients were divided into two groups: 1) DeMeester score ≥ 14.72 (cases) and 2) DeMeester score of < 14.72 (controls). Asymptomatic GER was defined as a patient with a DeMeester score ≥ 14.72 who was not consuming proton pump inhibitor (PPI).
A total of 282 patients (female 48.2 %, Caucasian 84.8 %; mean body mass index 24.1 kg/m
) were included. Clinical success was achieved in 94.3 % of patients. GER evaluation was completed after a median follow-up of 12 months (interquartile range 10 - 24 months). A DeMeester score of ≥ 14.72 was seen in 57.8 % of patients. Multivariable analysis revealed female sex to be the only independent association (odds ratio 1.69, 95 % confidence interval 1.04 - 2.74) with post-POEM GER. No intraprocedural variables were associated with GER. Upper GI endoscopy was available in 233 patients, 54 (23.2 %) of whom were noted to have reflux esophagitis (majority Los Angeles Grade A or B). GER was asymptomatic in 60.1 %.
Post-POEM GER was seen in the majority of patients. No intraprocedural variables were identified to allow for potential alteration in procedural technique.
In patients with persistent symptoms after Heller myotomy (HM), treatment options include repeat HM, pneumatic dilation, or peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of ...POEM in patients with achalasia with prior HM vs without prior HM.
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 180 patients with achalasia who underwent POEM at 13 tertiary centers worldwide, from December 2009 through September 2015. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those with prior HM (HM group, exposure; n = 90) and those without prior HM (non-HM group; n = 90). Clinical response was defined by a decrease in Eckardt scores to 3 or less. Adverse events were graded according to criteria set by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Technical success, clinical success, and rates of adverse events were compared between groups. Patients were followed up for a median of 8.5 months.
POEM was technically successful in 98% of patients in the HM group and in 100% of patients in the non-HM group (P = .49). A significantly lower proportion of patients in the HM group had a clinical response to POEM (81%) than in the non-HM group (94%; P = .01). There were no significant differences in rates of adverse events between the groups (8% in the HM group vs 13% in the non-HM group; P = .23). Symptomatic reflux and reflux esophagitis after POEM were comparable between groups.
POEM is safe and effective for patients with achalasia who were not treated successfully by prior HM. Although the rate of clinical success in patients with prior HM is lower than in those without prior HM, the safety profile of POEM is comparable between groups.
Introduction
Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is effective in achalasia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy of POEM in non-achalasia esophageal motility ...disorders (NAEMD).
Patients and methods
Patients with NAEMD diagnosed by high-resolution manometry were included in a retrospective multicentric study. For each individual case, two controls paired on gender and age were matched: one with type I/II achalasia and one with type III achalasia. The clinical response, defined by an Eckardt score ≤ 3, was assessed at 3 and 6 months.
Results
Ninety patients (mean age 66 years, 57 men) were included, 30 patients with NAEMD (13 jackhammer esophagus, 6 spastic esophageal disorders, 4 nutcracker esophagus, and 7 esophagogastric junction obstruction), 30 patients with type I–II achalasia, and 30 patients with type III achalasia. The 3-month response rates were 80% (24/30), 90% (27/30), and 100% (30/30) in NAEMD, type I–II achalasia and type III achalasia, respectively (
p
< 0.01). Eckardt scores improved from preoperative baseline in all groups (median scores 2.0 after POEM vs. 6.5 before POEM, 1.3 vs. 7.2, and 0.5 vs. 6.1 in NAEMD, type I//I and Type III, respectively). No predictive factor of response was identified. In NAEMD patients, there was a significant improvement of dysphagia, regurgitation, and chest pain scores. The 6-month response rates were 63.2% (12/19), 95.5% (21/22), and 87.0% (20/23) in NAEMD, type I–II achalasia and type III achalasia, respectively (
p
= 0.03).
Conclusion
Although less effective than in achalasia, POEM is an effective treatment for NAEMD. Long-term follow-up data are needed to further confirm that POEM may be a valid treatment of NAEMD.
Colonoscopy is a widely performed procedure with procedural volumes increasing annually throughout the world. Many procedures are now performed as part of colorectal cancer screening programmes. ...Colonoscopy should be of high quality and measures of this quality should be evidence based. New UK key performance indicators and quality assurance standards have been developed by a working group with consensus agreement on each standard reached. This paper reviews the scientific basis for each of the quality measures published in the UK standards.
Background and Aims Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia is particularly appealing in the elderly because it is minimally invasive. However, data in patients aged ≥80 years are scarce. ...The aim of this study was to assess the clinical outcome of POEM in octogenarians. Methods This was a multicenter retrospective study at 8 centers. Consecutive octogenarians with achalasia who underwent POEM between 2010 and 2016 were included. Rates of technical success (completion of myotomy), clinical response (Eckardt score ≤3), and adverse events (severity graded as per American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy lexicon) were assessed. Results A total of 76 patients (47.4% female, mean age 84 years) underwent POEM for treatment of achalasia: type I, 17.1%, type II, 35.5%, type III, 17.1%, and unspecified, 30.3%. Overall, 41.1% were treatment-naïve, whereas others had previous botulinum toxin injections and/or pneumatic dilation. The mean (± standard deviation SD) age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index was 6.2 ± 2.4, with the majority of patients having an American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification System score of II/III. Technical success was 93.4%, with a median follow-up of 256 days. Fourteen adverse events occurred in 11 patients (14.5%) (3 inadvertent mucosotomies, 6 symptomatic capnoperitoneum/mediastinum, 2 esophageal leaks, 1 cardiac arrhythmia, and 2 other). The severities of these adverse events were 78.6% mild, 14.3% moderate, and 7.1% severe. Clinical success was achieved in 90.8% of patients, with a mean (± SD) Eckardt score reduction from 7.0 ± 2.3 to 0.8 ± 0.1 ( P < .001) (median follow-up 256 days interquartile range 66-547). Conclusions Although the rate of technical success may be somewhat lower and the rate of adverse events slightly higher than previously reported, our data suggest that POEM in octogenarians is safe and effective, supporting its role as a primary modality for achalasia in this patient population.
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