Biomedical subjects

Darius Sorbi

Publications and source records attributed to Darius Sorbi.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Unsedated endoscopy.

Unsedated endoscopy will likely play an increasingly important role in the daily practice of GI endoscopy. Although there is adequate evidence that un-sedated endoscopy is technically feasible in selected patient populations, there area number of obstacles preventing its widespread adoption. Small-caliber endoscopy is not as accurate as conventional EGD. This may be remedied as improvements in endoscope technology emerge. Many patients refuse to consider an unsedated examination, and those who do participate report more symptoms of discomfort than patients undergoing conventional endoscopy. Whether patients will accept mild discomfort in exchange for substantial cost savings has not been evaluated. Finally, although unsedated endoscopy seems to have a low complication rate, its safety has not been formally addressed in large studies. Large, randomized, controlled studies are needed to better determine the role of un-sedated small-caliber endoscopy in daily practice. Unsedated colonoscopy may follow the footsteps of unsedated upper endoscopy with even more obstacles to overcome before its widespread application.

Colonoscopy↗

PubMed2004

Strategies to address increased demand for colonoscopy: Guidelines in an open endoscopy practice.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Since Medicare approval for reimbursement of screening colonoscopies, the number of colonoscopy requests has increased. Physician resources have often been inadequate to meet the demand. We sought to reduce the demand for colonoscopy in an open endoscopy system by using a guideline-based triage system to eliminate inappropriate procedures and to align the timing of surveillance colonoscopies with recommendations made by national organizations. METHODS: This was a cohort study with primary care outpatients. From October 2002 to February 2003, 498 consecutive patients on a waiting list of 2400 awaiting colonoscopy for all indications were triaged and are the focus of the study. Selection of patients for appropriate colonoscopy was based on consensus guidelines developed for institutional use by using established published guidelines for appropriate colonoscopy indications. RESULTS: Of the 498 consecutive patients triaged, 139 (28%) were deemed inappropriate. The most common reason was inappropriate referral for surveillance of colorectal polyps. The percentage of inappropriate referrals by the 3 largest referring specialties (internal medicine, family medicine, and gastroenterology) combined was also 28% with no statistically significant differences between specialties. CONCLUSIONS: Most referrals for colonoscopy in an open-access endoscopy system were appropriate, although about 1 in 4 were not. Use of triage and further education of physicians regarding colonoscopy may optimize colonoscopy utilization.

Cohort Studies↗

PubMed2004

Postpolypectomy lower gastrointestinal bleeding: potential role of aspirin.

INTRODUCTION: Limited data exist on the role of aspirin in increasing the risk of clinically significant postpolypectomy bleeding (PPB), which is defined as lower gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage following colonoscopic polyp removal requiring transfusion, hospitalization, endoscopic intervention, angiography, or surgery. OBJECTIVES: To determine if aspirin use prior to colonoscopy increases the risk of clinically significant PPB. METHODS: A case-control study of patients with clinically significant PPB at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale and Rochester was performed. Information collected included age, gender, recent use of aspirin or NSAIDs (within three days of colonoscopy), polyp characteristics, and polypectomy technique. The control group consisted of patients matched for age (+/-3 yr), gender, and cardiovascular morbidity who had undergone polypectomy without any complications. The populations were compared to determine the odds ratio (OR) of PPB with aspirin use. RESULTS: During the study period, 20,636 patients underwent colonoscopy with polypectomy at the two institutions and 101 patients presented with clinically significant PPB. Twenty patients were excluded from analysis because of prior anticoagulant use. The remaining 81 patients were matched to 81 patients who had undergone colonoscopy without complications. The two groups were comparable in terms of polyp size (97%< or = 10 mm, bleeding group; 95%< or = 10 mm, control group). Aspirin use prior to polypectomy was 40% in the bleeding group and 33% in the control group (OR 1.41; 95% C.I. 0.68 to 3.04). CONCLUSION: Postpolypectomy bleeding is an uncommon but important complication of endoscopic polypectomy. There was no statistically relevant difference in prior aspirin use before polypectomy in the bleeding group and the matched controls.

Age Distribution↗

PubMed2003

Nonsurgical approaches to esophageal malignancy.

Esophageal cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Patients generally present with progressive dysphagia, malnutrition, and weight loss. The diagnosis commonly involves radiologic studies and conventional esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Advances in endoscopic evaluation have allowed early detection of premalignant and malignant lesions. These techniques include chromoscopy, which can be performed in conjunction with high-resolution/magnification endoscopy, and fluorescent endoscopy. Such techniques as endoscopic ultrasound with dedicated echoendoscopes or high-frequency probes, positron emission tomography, optical coherence tomography, endoscopic magnetic resonance imaging, and tactile sensing may complement conventional imaging by CT to enhance staging accuracy. Because the majority of patients present with incurable disease at the time of diagnosis, nonsurgical approaches to their management have evolved. These include endoscopic mucosal resection, stenting, tumor ablation, and palliative chemoradiotherapy. The ablative techniques include argon plasma coagulator therapy, laser, and photodynamic therapy. For patients with early malignancies of the esophagus who are not surgical candidates, such techniques may be used with curative intent.

Esophageal Neoplasms↗

PubMed2003

A simple phantom for learning EUS-guided FNA.

BACKGROUND: The learning curve for EUS-guided FNA (EUS-FNA) is formidable. Development of a phantom to assist in teaching the technique may be beneficial. This study assessed the feasibility of using a low-cost phantom made of commonly available materials to practice EUS-FNA. METHODS: A 2500-mL barium enema bag was modified by running a plastic tube (3-mm inner diameter) through it and sealing one end. One hundred grams of standard agar were suspended in 4 liters of tap water. The broth was heated slowly to boiling. The dissolved agar was then transferred to the barium enema bag after mixing in diced carrots, elbow macaroni, peas, and fingertips of surgical gloves filled with 5 mL of normal saline solution (6 of each) to simulate solid and cystic lesions. Immersion of the phantom in a basin of water provided acoustic coupling. One end of the 3-mm plastic tubing was attached to the nozzle of a water jet device and the other end to its reservoir to create a closed system allowing water recirculation. A linear array echoendoscope and a fine needle were used to perform EUS-FNA. The analysis is descriptive. OBSERVATIONS: The phantom was readily made with inexpensive components (total cost <$50). With refrigeration the phantom was used repetitively during a 4-month period. It produced EUS images with an echotexture comparable with liver. The solid and cystic components resembled hepatic cysts and solid masses encountered when performing EUS in humans. Under EUS-guidance, fine-needle aspirates of selected lesions could be performed allowing targeting, aspiration, and sampling of selected lesions. The Doppler flow effect allowed examination of a simulated vascular structure during FNA. CONCLUSIONS: Once validated, an EUS phantom made of simple components may become an invaluable educational tool for teaching EUS-FNA. Further studies are needed to determine how it affects the skills of gastroenterologists with and without EUS experience.

Biopsy, Needle↗

PubMed2003

Unsedated EGD.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Procedural Sedation↗

PubMed2003

An assessment of the management of acute bleeding varices: a multicenter prospective member-based study.

OBJECTIVE: Bleeding from esophagogastric varices is a major complication of portal hypertension. Despite recent practice guidelines for the management of bleeding esophageal or gastric varices, the widespread application of these measures by gastroenterologists has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to continue the concept of membership-based research within diverse practice settings by expanding the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) GI Bleeding Registry to assess the management and outcome of acute variceal bleeding. METHODS: All ACG members (domestic and foreign) were invited to participate during the 1997 Annual Fall meeting and by mail. Data were collected over 12 months. Information obtained included physician training, practice demographics, patient demographics, disease etiology and severity, clinical presentation, medications, transfusion needs, therapy, complications, and rebleeding within 2 wk. RESULTS: A total of 93 physicians/centers (79.6% domestic, 26.9% university and affiliated, 3.2% Veterans Affairs) participated. Complete demographic data were available for 725 of the 741 patients enrolled with index bleeding. The median age of these 725 patients was 52 yr and 73.3% were male. The most common single etiology for portal hypertension was cirrhosis (94.3%). The most common causes of cirrhosis were alcohol (56.7%), hepatitis C virus (30.3%), and hepatitis B virus (10.0%). Hemodynamic instability was noted in 60.7% of the patients (22.3% tachycardic, 9.7% orthostatic, 28.7% hypotensive). Index interventions included banding (40.8%; median five bands), sclerotherapy (36.3%), combination banding/sclerotherapy (6.2%), octreotide (52.6%; median 3 days), balloon tamponade (5.5%), transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) (6.6%), liver transplantation (1.1%), surgical shunt (0.7%), and embolization (0.1%). Transfusion of packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets was given in 83.4%, 44.7%, and 24.6% of the patients with index bleeding, respectively. Median transfusion was four units of packed red blood cells, three units of fresh frozen plasma, and 1.5 units of platelets. Rebleeding occurred in 92 of the 741 patients (12.6%) at a median of 7 days (mean 11 days) and was treated by banding (18.5%; median six bands), sclerotherapy (30.4%), octreotide (63%; median 2 days), balloon tamponade (17.4%), TIPS (15.2%), and surgical shunt (3.3%). Complications from the index bleeding and rebleeding within 2 wk included ulceration (2.6%, 2.2%), aspiration (2.4%, 3.3%), medication side effects (0.8%, 0%), dysphagia (2.3%, 0%), odynophagia (2.2%,0%), encephalopathy (13%,17.4%), and hepatorenal syndrome (2.4%, 2.2%), respectively. After the index bleeding, 46.2% of patients were treated with beta-blockers and 8.2% with nitrates. The majority of patients with index bleeding had Child's B cirrhosis (61.5%). Patients presenting with recurrent bleeding had mostly Child's B (46.7%) or Child's C cirrhosis (44.6%). The overall short-term mortality after index bleeding was 12.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Acute variceal hemorrhage occurs more often in patients with Child's B and C cirrhosis. Endoscopic banding is the most common single endoscopic intervention. Adjunctive pharmacotherapy is prevalent acutely and after stabilization. Both morbidity and mortality may be lower than reported in previous studies.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2002

Comparative performance in the porcine esophagus of different solutions used for submucosal injection.

BACKGROUND: Before endoscopic mucosal resection and polypectomy of sessile lesions, injection of fluid into the submucosa cushions and isolates the tissue and thereby reduces thermal injury and the risk for perforation and hemorrhage. This study investigated the performance of 5 different solutions when used to form submucosal fluid cushions in the porcine esophagus. METHODS: Five groups of 5 pigs were studied. In each pig, 6 separate submucosal injections of 5 mL of a single test solution were performed within the distal third of the esophagus. The time required for the submucosal bleb to flatten completely was recorded after each injection. The solutions used were as follows: normal saline solution, normal saline plus epinephrine solution, 50% dextrose, 10% glycerine/5% fructose in normal saline solution, and 1% rooster comb hyaluronic acid. RESULTS: The normal saline solution and normal saline plus epinephrine solutions had the shortest disappearance times (respectively, median 2.4 and 3.0 minutes), which were significantly shorter compared with the other test solutions. The mean disappearance times for 50% dextrose and 10% glycerine were, respectively, 4.7 and 4.2 minutes. The mean disappearance time for hyaluronic acid was 22.1 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: A solution of hyaluronic acid appears to be ideal for producing a lasting submucosal cushion for prolonged procedures. Dextrose 50% is superior to normal saline solution and may serve as an alternative to hyaluronic acid in terms of availability and cost.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed2002

Endoscopic identification and quantification of aberrant crypt foci in the human colon.

BACKGROUND: Aberrant crypt foci may be precancerous lesions in the human colon. The occurrence of aberrant crypt foci was compared in patients with an endoscopically normal colon, known adenomatous polyps, and known colorectal cancer. METHODS: In 90 patients (30 colonoscopically normal, 30 with adenomatous polyps, 30 with colorectal cancers) magnification chromoscopy was performed to identify aberrant crypt foci in the distal 10 cm of the rectum. Representative biopsy specimens were obtained for histopathologic assessment. RESULTS: Aberrant crypt foci were readily identified. Median and (mean) numbers of aberrant crypt foci were as follows: endoscopically normal colon, 3.5 (5.0); adenomatous polyp(s), 4.0 (6.9); and colorectal cancer, 7.5 (9.9). The number of aberrant crypt foci detected was significantly associated (p = 0.02) with an increased odds that a patient would be in the group with known colorectal cancer (odds ratio = 1.11; 95% CI [1.02, 1.21]), but not in any other group. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a stepwise increase in the number of aberrant crypt foci across the 3 groups, aberrant crypt foci was significantly associated only with comorbid colorectal cancer. Aberrant crypt foci was not associated with adenomatous polyp(s) or normal colon. Additional studies are needed to further elucidate the role of aberrant crypt foci in the development of colorectal neoplasia in humans.

Adenoma↗