Tushar Gohel

Adenoma and sessile serrated polyp detection rates: variation by patient sex and colonic segment but not specialty of the endoscopist.

BACKGROUND: Adenoma detection rate is an important quality indicator. High adenoma detection rate is related to fewer interval cancers. Interval cancers arise from sessile serrated polyps, often in the proximal colon. The detection of adenomas and sessile serrated polyps by location may enhance colonoscopy efficacy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine entire colon and segmental adenoma and sessile serrated polyp detection rates and to assess the impact of endoscopist specialty on polyp detection. DESIGN: Colonoscopies performed by 65 multispecialty endoscopists were studied. SETTING: This study was conducted at an academic medical center. PATIENTS: Average-risk outpatients undergoing screening colonoscopy were selected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Polyp detection rates were determined by sex, colon segment, and each endoscopist. RESULTS: Included were 2167 patients. Adenoma and sessile serrated polyp detection rates were 25% and 2% and not significantly different by specialty of the endoscopist. The adenoma detection rate was higher in men (31%) than in women (20%), including each segment in the colon. It was higher proximally (20%) than distally (16%) (p = 0.027) in men, but no different in proximal (11%) and distal colon (11%) (p = 0.66) in women. Sessile serrated polyp detection was the same in men and women at 2% (p = 0.84) and 3-fold higher in the proximal than in the distal colon (1.4% vs 0.5%), but only significantly so in women (p = 0.041). We found a poor correlation between adenoma and sessile serrated polyp detection rates (r = 0.35). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its retrospective nature. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalent adenomas are detected more often in men than in women, including overall and by colon segment. The proximal adenoma detection rate is significantly higher than the distal adenoma detection rate in men, but segmental rates are similar in women. Sessile serrated polyp detection rates are low, albeit 3-fold higher in the proximal colon, and are found as frequently in men and women. High-quality colonoscopy, as evidenced by adenoma detection rate, varies by endoscopist but is independent of colonoscopist subspecialty.

Polypectomy Rate: A Surrogate for Adenoma Detection Rate Varies by Colon Segment, Gender, and Endoscopist

BACKGROUND & AIMS The adenoma detection rate (ADR) is an important measure of the quality of colonoscopy; it is associated with interval colorectal cancer and varies among sexes and locations. Recommended indicators of competence for colonoscopy include minimal ADRs >25% for average-risk men and >15% for women. These ADRs are rigorous, so polypectomy detection rate (PR) has been suggested as a surrogate. Colonoscopy is less effective in the proximal colon, where interval cancers are more likely to occur. We compared ADRs and PRs in different segments of colon and between sexes. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional review of findings from 2167 screening colonoscopies performed by 65 endoscopists on average-risk outpatients at the Cleveland Clinic, 2008-2009. We reviewed colonoscopy and pathology reports of randomly selected procedures (mean, 33 ± 16 procedures per endoscopist). We calculated PRs, ADRs, and correlation between PR and ADR for each colon segment and sex. RESULTS The mean overall PR was 42% ± 16.7%, and ADR was 25% ± 3.3%. The correlation between overall ADR and PR was strong (r = 0.80). PR of 40% in men and 30% in women correlated with the established minimum benchmark ADRs of 25% and 15% for men and women, respectively. PR was more strongly correlated with ADR in the proximal colon (r = 0.92) than the distal colon (r = 0.58). The correlation was stronger in men than in women, as well as in the entire colon (r = 0.88 vs 0.75), the proximal colon (r = 0.91 vs 0.87), and the distal colon (r = 0.75 vs 0.55). The advanced ADR was 4% and did not correlate with PR (r = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS On the basis of a review of findings from screening colonoscopies, overall PR correlates with ADR for the entire colon, but PR and ADR correlate most strongly for the proximal colon, where many adenomas can be missed and interval cancers develop. The correlation between PR and ADR is weaker for women than men and for distal colon. If PR is used as a surrogate for ADR, colon location and patient sex should be considered.

Gastrointestinal Manifestations, Malnutrition, and Role of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition in Patients With Scleroderma.

Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) is an autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organ systems. Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement is the most common organ system involved in scleroderma. Complications of GI involvement including gastroesophageal reflux disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction secondary to extensive fibrosis may lead to nutritional deficiencies in these patients. Here, we discuss pathophysiology, progression of GI manifestations, and malnutrition secondary to scleroderma, and the use of enteral and parenteral nutrition to reverse severe nutritional deficiencies. Increased mortality in patients with concurrent malnutrition in systemic sclerosis, as well as the refractory nature of this malnutrition to pharmacologic therapies compels clinicians to provide novel and more invasive interventions in reversing these nutritional deficiencies. Enteral and parenteral nutrition have important implications for patients who are severely malnourished or have compromised GI function as they are relatively safe and have substantial retrospective evidence of success. Increased awareness of these therapeutic options is important when treating scleroderma-associated malnutrition.

Fish oil-based lipid emulsion: current updates on a promising novel therapy for the management of parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease.

Intestinal failure is characterized by loss of enteral function to absorb necessary nutrients and water to sustain life. Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a lifesaving therapeutic modality for patients with intestinal failure. Lifelong PN is also needed for patients who have short bowel syndrome due to extensive resection or a dysmotility disorder with malabsorption. However, prolonged PN is associated with short-term and long-term complications. Parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD) is one of the long-term complications associated with the use of an intravenous lipid emulsion to prevent essential fatty acid deficiency in these patients. PNALD affects 30–60% of the adult population on long-term PN. Further, PNALD is one of the indications for isolated liver or combined liver and intestinal transplantation. There is no consensus on how to manage PNALD, but fish oil-based lipid emulsion (FOBLE) has been suggested to play an important role both in its prevention and reversal. There is significant improvement in liver function in those who received FOBLE as lipid supplement compared with those who received soy-based lipid emulsion. Studies have also demonstrated that FOBLE reverses hepatic steatosis and reduces markers of inflammation in patients on long-term PN. Future prospective studies with larger sample sizes are needed to further strengthen the positive role of FOBLE in PNALD.

Relationship between type-2 diabetes and use of metformin with risk of colorectal adenoma in an American population receiving colonoscopy

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between type-2 diabetes, its treatments (Use of metformin) and the development of colorectal adenoma. Colonoscopy reports from a total of 66 endoscopists in one big hospital in midwest during 2008-2009 were reviewed. Colonoscopy findings including quality of preparation, polyp size, location, morphology, pathology and history of diabetes and metformin treatment were retrieved. Of the 7382 colonoscopy reports were reviewed, 3465 average risk patients were included in our final analysis. The pathologically proven Adenoma detection rate (ADR) in total population was 24.6 % (30.2% in Men and 19.2% in Women). Old age and male sex were significantly associated with increasing risk of colorectal adenoma. Type-2 diabetes was associated increased risk of colorectal adenoma (OD 1.35, 95% confidence interval 1.08-1.70, p=0.009). A total of 426 subjects (12.29%) had diabetes and 405 of these subjects (11.7%) had type-2 diabetes. Within diabetic patient group, people who were taking metformin have significantly lower risk of colorectal adenoma (OD 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.34-0.87, p=0.011). Diabetic subjects have increased risk of developing colorectal adenoma. Our study also supports the beneficial effect of metformin in development of colorectal adenoma.

Current status of intestinal and multivisceral transplantation

Clinical-nutritional autonomy is the ultimate goal of patients with intestinal failure (IF). Traditionally, patients with IF have been relegated to lifelong parenteral nutrition (PN) once surgical and medical rehabilitation attempts at intestinal adaptation have failed. Over the past two decades, however, outcome improvements in intestinal transplantation have added another dimension to the therapeutic armamentarium in the field of gut rehabilitation. This has become possible through relentless efforts in the standardization of surgical techniques, advancements in immunosuppressive therapies and induction protocols and improvement in postoperative patient care. Four types of intestinal transplants include isolated small bowel transplant, liver-small bowel transplant, multivisceral transplant and modified multivisceral transplant. Current guidelines restrict intestinal transplantation to patients who have had significant complications from PN including liver failure and repeated infections. From an experimental stage to the currently established therapeutic modality for patients with advanced IF, outcome improvements have also been possible due to the introduction of tacrolimus in the early 1990s. Studies have shown that intestinal transplant is cost-effective within 1–3 years of graft survival compared with PN. Improved survival and quality of life as well as resumption of an oral diet should enable intestinal transplantation to be an important option for patients with IF in addition to continued rehabilitation. Future research should focus on detecting biomarkers of early rejection, enhanced immunosuppression protocols, improved postoperative care and early referral to transplant centers.

Post-ablation lymphocytic esophagitis in Barrett esophagus with high grade dysplasia or intramucosal carcinoma

In patients who have undergone ablation therapy for treatment of Barretts esophagus with dysplasia, histologic features of eosinophilic esophagitis, but not lymphocytic esophagitis, have been described. We evaluated for histologic evidence of eosinophilic esophagitis and lymphocytic esophagitis and correlated with endoscopic findings in this population. A single-institution Barretts esophagus registry was searched for patients who had received radiofrequency ablation, cryotherapy, or both for treatment of Barretts esophagus with dysplasia. Clinical and endoscopic data were collected and biopsies were reviewed for inflammation and reactive changes at three time points: pre-intervention, first surveillance after ablation therapy, and most recent surveillance. Of the 173 patients initially identified, 102 met the inclusion criteria. Intraepithelial eosinophils were increased at first surveillance (60%, P=0.096) and last surveillance (69%, P=0.048) compared with pre-intervention (50%), although histologic evidence of post-ablation eosinophilic esophagitis was not significant. Prevalence of lymphocytic esophagitis was significantly higher at first surveillance (17%, P=0.02) and at last surveillance (43%, P<0.001), compared with pre-intervention (7%). Smoking, hyperlipidemia, and cryotherapy were identified as independent risk factors for developing histologic lymphocytic esophagitis. This is the first report that histologic evidence of lymphocytic esophagitis increased over time in patients undergoing ablation for Barretts esophagus with dysplasia. Though the pathophysiology of lymphocytic esophagitis remains unknown, patients in our study with a history of smoking, hyperlipidemia, or cryotherapy were more likely to develop post-ablation lymphocytic esophagitis.

Adenoma detection rate in high-risk patients differs from that in average-risk patients

BACKGROUND Adenoma detection rates (ADRs) are established as quality targets in average-risk (AR) individuals undergoing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening colonoscopy. Little is known about the ADR in high-risk (HR) individuals undergoing index or surveillance colonoscopy. OBJECTIVE To determine and compare ADR in HR versus AR individuals undergoing colonoscopy. DESIGN AND SETTING Retrospective study, tertiary care center. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION We reviewed records of 7357 patients who underwent colonoscopy by 66 multispecialty endoscopists at our institution during the period 2008 to 2009. Both screening and surveillance colonoscopies in AR and HR patients for CRC were studied. HR patients were further divided into 3 subgroups: those with a (1) personal history of polyps (PHP), (2) family history of polyps (FHP), and (3) family history of CRC (FHCRC). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate differences in ADR between the groups after adjusting for possible confounders. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS ADR in HR patients. RESULTS The study included 4141 patients, of whom 2170 were AR and 1971 were HR. Patients in the HR group were older (64.5 ± 9.1 years vs 59.1 ± 7.9 years, P < .001). HR patients were more likely to have adenomas (30.7% vs 25.6%, P < .001). Adenomas were detected more often in the proximal colon than in the distal colon (29.3% vs 21.0%, P < .001 and 22.8% vs 15.8%, P < .001, respectively). Patients with a PHP had the highest ADR (33.1%, P < .001). However, after adjusting for confounders, HR status was not found to be associated with ADR (odds ratio [OR] 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-1.6; P = .15 for females and 0.93; 95% CI, 0.70-1.2; P = .61 for males). HR females were found to have a 40% greater likelihood of having proximal adenomas than AR females (1.4; 95% CI, 1.01-2; P = .04). LIMITATIONS Retrospective design, single tertiary center. CONCLUSIONS Patients with a PHP have a significantly higher ADR compared with AR patients. Defining a minimum target ADR for individuals with a PHP undergoing surveillance colonoscopy is important.

Effect of quality of bowel preparation on quality indicators of adenoma detection rates and colonoscopy completion rates

Background and aim: Adequate bowel preparation is important for safe and effective colonoscopy. Quality indicators (QI) for colonoscopy include achieving at least 95% completion rate and an adenoma detection rate (ADR) of at least 25% in average-risk men and 15% in average-risk women aged over 50. Our aim was to investigate the impact of bowel preparation on ADR and colonoscopy completion rates. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent colonoscopy between January 2008 and December 2009. The main outcome measurements were ADR and colonoscopy completion rates to the cecum. Results: A total of 2519 patients was included; 1030 (41.0%) had excellent preparation, 1145 (45.5%) good-, 240 (9.5%) fair-, and 104 (4.1%) poor preparation. Colonoscopy completion rates were significantly lower in patients with poor or fair preparation (72.1% and 75.4%, respectively) than in those with good and excellent preparation (99.7% and 99.9%, respectively; P < 0.001), and significantly lower than the QI of 95% (P < 0.001). ADR in men and women combined was similar in all four grades of preparation (excellent, good, fair and poor) at 24.2% vs. 26.8% vs. 32.1% vs. 22.1%, respectively; P = 0.06. All the groups had ADR above the QI (25% for men and 15% for women) with evidence of significantly higher ADR in the women with excellent or good preparation and in men with excellent, good or fair preparation. On multivariate analysis, male gender was significantly associated with increased ADR (P < 0.001), while the quality of bowel preparation did not influence ADR. Conclusions: Patients with fair and poor standards of preparation have significantly lower colonoscopy completion rates than those with excellent and good preparation. However, there was no difference in ADR between the different grades of preparation.

Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency and response to oral supplementation in patients receiving long-term home parenteral nutrition.

UNLABELLED Previous studies have suggested a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients receiving long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in long-term HPN patients. METHODS A retrospective, institutional review board-approved study was performed on all adult patients followed by the Cleveland Clinic HPN program receiving HPN therapy >6 months between 1989 and 2013 with a 25-(OH) D3 level reported. Patients were categorized by serum vitamin D status as follows: sufficient, insufficient, and deficient with respective 25-(OH) D3 levels of ≥30 ng/mL, 20-30 ng/mL, and <20 ng/mL. RESULTS Seventy-nine patients were categorized based on serum vitamin D status as follows: 35 (44.3%) deficient, 24 (30.4%) insufficient, and 20 (25.3%) sufficient. The mean age of the cohort at the initiation of HPN was 52.0 ± 12.7 years, and 26 (32.9%) were male. The median HPN duration was 39 months, and the most common indication was inflammatory bowel disease (36.7%). Most (82.3%) patients had at least 1 prescription of oral vitamin D supplement (50,000 International Units) during this time. History of jejunal resection (odds ratio [OR], 5.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9-15.1; P = .002) and lack of oral vitamin D supplementation (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.52-0.93; P = .038) were the strongest predictors of vitamin D deficiency. CONCLUSION Vitamin D deficiency is common among patients receiving long-term HPN despite oral supplementation.