Masaki Ominami

Clinical Efficacy of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Adenocarcinomas of the Esophagogastric Junction.

Background and Study Aims There are a few reports about the efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). However, there is no detailed analysis that divides EGJ cancers into Barrett’s adenocarcinoma and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of ESD for EGJ cancers, comparing these two adenocarcinomas. Patients and Methods This study included 43 patients who underwent ESD for type II EGJ cancers between 2004 and 2011. Pathological examination of resected specimens confirmed 14 cases of Barrett’s adenocarcinoma and 29 cases of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma. Cutting margins on the oral side were placed 1 cm from the squamocolumnar junction, or 1 cm away from the slight elevation that is an endoscopic sign of subsquamous carcinoma extension. Clinical outcomes, prevalence and length of subsquamous carcinoma extension, and long-term outcomes were compared between these two types of adenocarcinoma. Results No significant differences in clinical outcomes were found between these two types of adenocarcinoma (en bloc, 100 % versus 100 %; complete, 100 % versus 89.7 %; curative, 85.7 % versus 75.9 %). No serious adverse events were encountered. The prevalence of subsquamous carcinoma extension was significantly higher in Barrett’s adenocarcinoma compared with gastric cardia adenocarcinoma. Local and distant recurrence were not observed in any cases with curative resection during the follow-up period (1.6 – 87.6 months). Conclusion ESD for EGJ cancers, including both Barrett’s adenocarcinoma and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma, was efficient and useful. ESD with a 1 cm safety margin may be acceptable for EGJ cancers.

The five-year survival rate after endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia

BACKGROUND Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a widely accepted procedure for superficial esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN) because of a high complete resection rate. However, there were a few reports about the long-term outcomes of these patients due to short follow-up periods. AIMS We aimed to evaluate the 5-year survival after ESD for superficial ESCN. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study performed at a single institution. Between 2006 and 2009, 94 patients with superficial ESCN underwent ESD. Eighty-three patients (93.3%) who had completed an extended period of observation of at least 5 years were enrolled. The main outcomes were the 5-year survival rates. The secondary outcomes were the cumulative incidence rate of metachronous ESCN, and the clinical outcomes. RESULTS The 5-year relative overall survival rate was 99.0%, whereas the cause specific survival rate was 100% during 72.9 months of median follow up period. Subgroup analysis showed that the 5year survival of patients with EP/LPM and MM/SM1 (submucosal invasion ≤200μm) were 100% and 89.0%, respectively. The cumulative incidence rate of metachronous ESCN at 5 years was 16.8%. CONCLUSION ESD for superficial ESCN is a curative treatment with a favorable 5-year survival rate.

The prevalence of adverse events associated with double-balloon enteroscopy from a single-centre dataset in Japan

BACKGROUND There are few comprehensive reports detailing the prevalence of major adverse events associated with a double-balloon enteroscopy procedure. METHODS We retrospectively investigated the prevalence of major adverse events in 538 patients (262 males and 276 females; median age, 65 years; age range, 12-95 years) who underwent double-balloon enteroscopy at our Institution between April 2008 and October 2011. RESULTS Of the 17 adverse events recorded (3.2%), acute pancreatitis (n=5; 0.9%) occurred during both diagnostic (n=3) and therapeutic (n=2) anterograde double-balloon enteroscopy, and all of them were treated conservatively. For these cases, the average duration of the examination was 135 min, which was longer than for the other patients (97 min) (P=0.046). Intestinal bleeding (1.3%) was observed in 6 cases after endoscopic polypectomy and in 1 case following a biopsy procedure during a diagnostic double-balloon enteroscopy. The prevalence rates of intestinal perforation and other complications were 0.2% and 0.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The rate of adverse events associated with double-balloon enteroscopy was high compared to that associated with conventional upper/lower gastrointestinal endoscopy (0.042%/0.078%). The occurrence of acute pancreatitis may be significantly dependent on the duration of double-balloon enteroscopy examination.

Hybrid therapy with locoregional steroid injection and polyglycolic acid sheets to prevent stricture after esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection

Background and study aim: The incidence of stricture formation caused by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for widespread lesions is high, and stricture formation can reduce quality of life. We evaluated the prophylactic efficacy of hybrid therapy using a locoregional steroid injection and polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheets with fibrin glue to prevent stricture formation after esophageal ESD in high risk patients in whom we predicted stricture formation would be difficult to prevent with a single prophylactic steroid injection. Methods: Ten patients who underwent esophageal ESD were enrolled (entire-circumference: n = 6; sub-circumference, more than 5/6 of the circumference: n = 4). A single locoregional steroid injection and PGA sheets with fibrin glue were used after ESD. We evaluated the incidence of stricture formation, the number of endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) procedures needed to treat the stricture formation, and adverse events of the therapy. Results: Esophageal stricture formation occurred in 50.0 % of patients (5/10) (median EBD sessions 0.5, range 0 – 16). Subanalysis showed that stricture formation occurred in 37.5 % of patients (3/8) excluded the lesions located near a previous scar from ESD or surgical anastomosis site (median EBD sessions 0, range 0 – 4). Conclusion: Hybrid therapy using a locoregional steroid injection and PGA sheets with fibrin glue may have the potential to prevent esophageal stricture formation after esophageal ESD in high risk patients.

Prediction of Poor Response to Modified Neuroleptanalgesia with Midazolam for Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background/Aims: Modified neuroleptanalgesia (m-NLA) with midazolam is often used for sedation and analgesia during endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastrointestinal neoplasia. However, interruption due to poor response to midazolam is often experienced during ESD for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) because most patients with ESCC have a history of heavy alcohol intake. We examined the incidence and risk factors for poor response to m-NLA with midazolam and pethidine hydrochloride. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a single institution. Between April 2007 and July 2013, 151 patients with superficial ESCC who underwent ESD under sedation using m-NLA with midazolam and pethidine hydrochloride were enrolled. Poor response to sedation was defined as the use of a second drug when Ramsay Sedation Score 1-2. Results: Poor response to sedation occurred in 66.2% patients. Most cases of poor response were controlled by using additional flunitrazepam. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that cumulative alcohol intake and major specimen size were independent risk factors for poor response to sedation (OR 3.63, 95% CI 1.20-10.99, and OR 3.23, 95% CI 1.26-8.25). Conclusion: Our study indicated that cumulative alcohol intake and major specimen size were associated with poor response to m-NLA with midazolam and pethidine hydrochloride.

Celecoxib Oral Administration for Prevention of Post–Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis: A Randomized Prospective Trial

Objectives Rectal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have reported promising prophylactic activity in post–endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP). Conversely, cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme has been suggested to contribute to experimental acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of oral administration of celecoxib, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, for the prevention of PEP. Methods We performed a prospective randomized controlled study. Patients who were scheduled to undergo ERCP were randomized to receive either oral 400-mg celecoxib tablets 1 hour before ERCP and saline infusion (celecoxib group) or saline infusion only (control group). The primary outcome measure was the frequency of PEP. Results A total of 170 patients were randomized; 85 patients each in the celecoxib group and control group were analyzed. After the procedure, 23 patients (13.5%) developed PEP. There was no difference in the frequency of PEP between the 2 groups (control group vs celecoxib group, 15.3% (13/85) vs 11.7% (10/85); P = 0.65). The severity of PEP, asymptomatic hyperamylasemia, and post-ERCP pain were not significantly different between the 2 groups. There were no adverse events related to celecoxib treatment. Conclusions Oral administration of celecoxib had no beneficial preventive effect on PEP.

Single Locoregional Triamcinolone Injection Immediately After Esophageal Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Prevents Stricture Formation

Objectives:Although endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an efficient treatment for superficial esophageal cancer, it is associated with stricture formation after wide-circumference resection that leads to a low quality of life. Although locoregional steroid injections prevent stricture formation, a randomized comparative study did not report any advantages associated with steroid injection. We evaluated the prophylactic efficacy of a single locoregional triamcinolone injection for stricture formation after esophageal ESD.Methods:This was a retrospective matched case-control study using propensity score matching (PSM). Between April 2006 and July 2015, a total of 602 patients with superficial esophageal neoplasia underwent ESD. Among them, 189 patients with mucosal defects that spanned more than 2/3 of the esophageal circumference were included. After exclusion, 150 patients were enrolled. Triamcinolone acetonide (80 mg) was injected into the residual submucosal layer of the resected region immediately after ESD. PSM was performed to reduce the effects of selection bias for steroid injection. The primary outcome was the incidence of stricture formation. The secondary outcome was the number of balloon dilatation procedures required to resolve the stricture formation.Results:Thirty-seven patients, with and without triamcinolone injection each, were matched after PSM. The incidence of stricture formation decreased from 45.9% (17/37) without triamcinolone injection to 18.9% (7/37) with triamcinolone injection (p=0.016). After matching, the mean number of balloon dilatation procedures required also decreased from 2.8±4.6 to 0.6±1.5 times (P<0.01).Conclusions:A single locoregional triamcinolone injection efficiently prevented stricture formation after esophageal ESD.

Rectal biopsy, rather than ileal, is appropriate to confirm the diagnosis of early gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease

Abstract Objective. Once gastrointestinal (GI) graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurs after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, it may be life-threatening. Therefore, an earlier accurate diagnosis of macroscopic and microscopic features using an appropriate modality improves the prognosis of patients with suspected GI-GVHD. Patients and methods. In patients experiencing watery diarrhea within 100 days after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, we evaluated the severity of mucosal injury at the proximal ileum, terminal ileum, and rectum according to previously reported criteria using transanal single balloon endoscopy. GI-GVHD was diagnosed by the presence of gland apoptosis without inflammatory or infectious factors in the biopsied specimens obtained from their respective site regardless of the mucosal lesion. Results. Consecutive suspected GI-GVHD patients with watery diarrhea (11 men and 5 women, mean age: 45.6 years, coexistent symptoms: nausea [38%] and exanthema [69%]) were enrolled. GI-GVHD was identified pathologically in 11 patients (69%), all of whom had pathological findings of GI-GVHD at the rectum. However, eight patients (73%) had pathological findings of GI-GVHD at both the ileum and the rectum and none had pathological findings of GI-GVHD at the ileum alone. The accuracies for a pathological diagnosis of GI-GVHD based on endoscopic features were 44%, 44%, and 38% at the proximal ileum, terminal ileum, and rectum, respectively. The severity of mucosal injury had no association with the diagnostic rate of pathological GI-GVHD at any site. Conclusions. A pathological evaluation of the rectum but not the ileum may be important and useful for the accurate diagnosis of early GI-GVHD.

A comparison between capsule endoscopy and double balloon enteroscopy using propensity score-matching analysis in patients with previous obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Abstract Background: Recently, diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) has improved greatly due to introduction of capsule endoscopy (CE) and double balloon enteroscopy (DBE). However, the efficacy of CE over DBE in patients with previous OGIB remains unclear. This study aimed to compare, in terms of diagnostic yield, the efficacy of DBE with that of CE in patients with previous OGIB. Patients and methods: We enrolled 223 consecutive patients with previous OGIB who were treated between May 2007 and March 2012. We retrospectively evaluated the respective diagnostic yields of CE and DBE in patients with previous OGIB using propensity score-matching analysis. We compared the diagnostic yield of CE with that of DBE. Results: The diagnostic yields were 41.9% in DBE group and 11.6% in CE group, respectively (p < .01). On logistic regression analysis, DBE was significantly superior to CE after matching (Odds ratio [OR], 4.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43–12.6; p < .01), even after adjustment for propensity score (OR, 5.65; 95% CI, 1.56?20.5; p < .01). Conclusions: Our results indicate that DBE might be more useful and perhaps safer than CE in achieving a positive diagnosis in patients with previous OGIB.

Sildenafil-Induced Severe Cholestatic Hepatotoxicity

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