Bartel, Michael J.

Abstract Background and study aims Anticoagulation (AC) and antiplatelet (AP) therapy may increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding after double balloon enteroscopy (DBE); however, limited data are currently available regarding the incidence. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and clinical characteristics of post-DBE bleeding in patients on AC and AP therapy. Patients and methods The medical records of patients who underwent DBE between 2009 and 2013 at Mayo Clinic, Florida, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups: 1) continued AP therapy; 2) AC therapy; and 3) neither AP nor AC at the time of DBE. Follow-up data were collected at 60 days and 1 year. Results A total of 683 patients were identified; 43 on AC, 183 on AP and 457 not on AP or AC therapy. The most common indication for DBE was obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in the groups on and not on AP (85.3 % vs 70.9 %, P < 0.0001). There was no statistical difference in post-DBE bleeding rates in patients on AP vs not on AP at 60 days (11.5 % vs 7.5 %, P = 0.12) or 1 year (19.9 % vs 15.7 %, P = 0.23). Rates of bleeding in patients on AC were 11.6 % within 60 days and 22.5 % within 1 year. Multivariate analysis reflected American Society of Anesthesiologist > 3 and indication for DBE of GI bleeding were independent risk factors for post-DBE bleeding within 1 year. Conclusions Continued antiplatelet use at the time of DBE was not an independent risk factor for bleeding post-DBE at 60 days or 1 year of follow up.

40 Background: Gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer can be endoscopically resected and/or ablated in its early tumor stage. Despite significant effort to address the epidemiology and populations at risk for distal esoaphgeal cancer, very limited effort has been undertaken to assess such in GEJ cancer. Methods: A SEER database analysis was performed for the study period 1973 – 2013. Inclusion criteria were GEJ cancer (microscopically confirmed primary site of malignancy with ICD-O-3 histology of adenocarcinoma). Data was stratified by years 1973-82, 1983-92, 1993-2002 and 2003-2012, patient age, gender, and race. A Kaplan-Meier curve for the 5-year survival analysis of GEJ cancer was calculation. Further, GEJ cancer data was compared with the epidemiology of distal esophageal cancer (ICD-10). Results: 32,073 patients with GEJ cancer were included in the SEER database between 1973 and 2015 (female 19%, Caucasian race 88.7%). The incidence of GEJ cancer increased significantly over the four decades between 1973 and 2013, 15.7%, 25.3%, 26.9% and 32% (p = 0.001). The rising prevalence was particularly accounted in the patient age cohorts 65-74 years and 75+ years and in white male patients followed by black male patients. The 5-year survival analysis showed a median survival during the four analyzed decades of 8, 10, 11, and 14 months, respectively (Log rank test p < 0.001). During the last decades (1993-2002 and 2003-2012) GEJ cancer and distal esophageal cancer had comparable incidences. Conclusions: GEJ cancer incidence is rising over the last four decades and is in fact comparable with the incidence of distal esophageal cancer. This is particularly true for white male patients and patients older than 65 years. Given that early GEJ cancer is endoscopically treatable, more effort is warranted to address its risk factors and to identify populations at risk who could benefit from early cancer detection programs.

Abstract Background Proximal esophageal stents are poorly tolerated and have a high risk of complications. We report our experience using fully covered, biliary, self-expandable metal stents (B-SEMS) and narrow-diameter, esophageal, self-expandable metal stents (NDE-SEMS) for this group of patients. Methods 24 patients underwent placement of B-SEMS or NDE-SEMS for proximal esophageal lesions between 1 January 2011 and 31 July 2016. The outcomes included improvement of dysphagia, healing of fistulas, and adverse events. Results 10 patients received B-SEMS and 14 had NDE-SEMS. Median follow-up time was 11.5 months (range 0.5 – 62 months). In both cohorts, stents were left in place for a mean of 6 weeks. The dysphagia score decreased in 7 (70 %) and 10 (71.4 %) patients, and fistulas resolved in 3/5 (60.0 %) and 5/8 (62.5 %) patients with B-SEMS and NDE-SEMS, respectively. Stent migration occurred in three patients (30.0 %) with B-SEMS and five patients (35.7 %) with NDE-SEMS. Conclusions Both stents were well tolerated and resulted in overall improvement of dysphagia in 70.8 % of patients. B-SEMS appeared to be more favorable for cervical esophageal lesions with narrower diameters, while NDE-SEMS may be better for more distal lesions.

Detection of early colorectal cancer is expected to rise in light of national colorectal cancer screening programs. This The present review article delineates current endoscopic risk assessments, differentiating invasive from non‐invasive neoplasia, for high likelihood of lymph node metastasis in early colorectal cancer, also termed high‐risk early colorectal cancer, and endoscopic and surgical resection methods from a Western hemisphere perspective.