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J Affronti

Publications and source records attributed to J Affronti.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Management principles of gastrointestinal bleeding.

There is now a multitude of technologic and pharmacologic options available to clinicians caring for patients with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding; however, drugs and technology are no substitute for understanding and properly executing the basic management principles of GI bleeding. This article focuses on the most common causes of GI bleeding and emphasizes the importance of the primary care provider's role in the management of these patients. Also, by answering questions we are commonly asked as gastroenterology consultants, we hope to provide insight into current diagnostic and therapeutic options and the most appropriate use of these options.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed2001

Interobserver agreement for EUS in the evaluation and diagnosis of submucosal masses.

INTRODUCTION: EUS is an accurate means of evaluating and diagnosing submucosal lesions of the GI tract. The aim of this study was to prospectively determine interobserver agreement for the EUS classification of submucosal masses among endosonographers with different levels of training and experience from multiple centers. METHODS: Twenty patients with submucosal mass lesions diagnosed by upper endoscopy underwent EUS. Surgical findings were available for 16 patients. In 4 patients with obvious cystic/vascular structures (i.e., varices) no surgical specimen was necessary. A blinded observer developed a study videotape of critical endoscopic and EUS real-time imaging for each lesion. The videotape was distributed to 10 endosonographers, each with at least 1 year of experience, who independently reviewed the videotape and recorded their diagnosis based on EUS features. These endosonographers used previously agreed-upon standardized EUS diagnostic criteria for each category of lesion. A kappa (kappa) statistic, used to evaluate agreement, was calculated for each lesion category for the 10 endosonographers as a group and individually. An overall kappa statistic was also calculated. Significance was analyzed with a two-tailed t test. RESULTS: Agreement was excellent for cystic lesions (kappa = 0.80) and extrinsic compressions (kappa = 0.94), good for lipoma (kappa = 0.65), fair for leiomyoma and vascular lesions (kappa = 0.53 and 0.54, respectively), and poor for other submucosal lesions (kappa = 0.34). Overall agreement among observers was good (kappa = 0.63). Furthermore, a significant association was noted between total years of EUS experience and the number of correct answers (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Interobserver agreement is good for characterizing submucosal masses by EUS. However, it appears to be better for some lesions than others. The overall length of experience with EUS appears to play an important role in the accuracy of this modality in the evaluation of submucosal lesions.

Endosonography↗
PubMed1999

Biliary disease in the elderly patient.

Biliary disease in the elderly patient presents unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to the generalist as well as the specialist. Diseases of this organ system are the leading indication for acute abdominal surgery in this age group. Since the number of persons over the age of 80 years has been predicted to increase at a rate five to six times that of the general population, an understanding of the unique characteristics of biliary disease in the elderly population is of increasing importance to clinicians.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Quantitative assessment of procedural competence. A prospective study of training in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a technically demanding procedure that can cause substantial complications. Competence in performing ERCP and the learning curve for achieving competence are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the number of supervised ERCPs that physicians must do to achieve procedural competence. Competence was defined as a 0.8 probability of successfully completing specific technical components of ERCP and an overall grading of competence as judged by the attending physician. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University training program for gastroenterologists. PARTICIPANTS: 17 gastroenterology fellows at various stages of training. MEASURES: Experienced therapeutic endoscopists prospectively graded gastroenterology fellows during 1796 consecutive ERCPs. Fellows were graded on their overall level of competence for the procedure and on specific technical components of ERCP. RESULTS: Grading data were available for 1450 ERCPs (81%). The number of ERCPs done before adequate skill was achieved was 160 for cholangiography, 140 for pancreatography, 160 for deep cannulation of the pancreatic duct, 120 for stone extraction, and 60 for stent insertion. Fellows achieved overall competence after completing 180 to 200 ERCPs. The predicted probability of overall competence was 0.8 after 137 ERCPs and 0.9 after 185 ERCPs. CONCLUSIONS: At least 180 ERCPs were required before these gastroenterology fellows could be considered competent in ERCP. This number is much greater than that previously recommended, and these findings have substantial implications for training guidelines and issues of competence and certification in ERCP. The methods used to define and evaluate competence in ERCP could also be used to assess competence in other medical procedures.

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗
PubMed1996

Clinical implications of endoscopic ultrasound: the American Endosonography Club Study.

BACKGROUND: Despite increased clinical use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), there are little data regarding complications of EUS or its impact on patient management. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was completed to evaluate clinical outcomes of EUS. Before each EUS examination the endosonographer recorded further theoretical patient management plans as if EUS was unavailable. After the EUS, endosonographers recorded actual management plans based on EUS results. The actual management plan after EUS was compared to the theoretical management before EUS. Complications were assessed in short-term follow-up. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-eight subjects were enrolled. Of subjects able to be evaluated, EUS changed the treatment plan in 74%. Management changes of major importance occurred in 120 patients (31% of subjects able to be evaluated) and included decisions regarding surgery (62 patients), decisions regarding nonsurgical invasive management (36 patients), and decisions regarding further follow-up (22 patients). When there was a change in management, the change was to less costly, risky, or invasive management in 55%, to more costly/risky/invasive in 37%, and to equally costly/risky/invasive in 8%. Short-term follow-up was completed in 81% of subjects, with six complications identified (1.7%). Three complications were mild, two were moderate, one severe, and none fatal. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Changes in management plan may occur in the majority of patients based on EUS results. (2) The management changes are often of major importance with regard to health care costs and safety, and are more often in the direction of less costly, risky, and invasive management. (3) EUS is safe in experienced hands.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Proximal migration of biliary stents: attempted endoscopic retrieval in forty-one patients.

BACKGROUND: Proximal migration of a biliary stent is an uncommon event, but its management can present a technical challenge to the therapeutic endoscopist. METHODS: We reviewed the methods that have been used for retrieval of proximally migrated biliary stents in a referral endoscopy center. RESULTS: Forty-four cases were identified; 38 stents (86%) were extracted successfully. Half of the stents were retrieved after first passing a guide wire through the stent lumen. Various accessories were then used to withdraw the stents, the Soehendra device being the most popular. Nearly one third were retrieved by grasping the stents directly, usually with a wire basket or forceps. The remainder were recovered after using a stone retrieval balloon alongside the stents to provide traction indirectly. Interventional radiology techniques were needed in two cases, and surgery in one. CONCLUSIONS: Cannulating the stent lumen with a wire is often the best approach in patients with a biliary stricture or a nondilated duct. An over-the-wire accessory can then be used to secure the stent. In patients with a dilated duct, indirect traction with a balloon or direct grasping of the stent with a wire basket, snare, or forceps is usually successful. Using these techniques, most proximally migrated biliary stents can be retrieved endoscopically.

Biliary Tract Diseases↗
PubMed1993

Edge targeting reduces the number of shock waves required for biliary ESWL in vitro.

In vitro experiments were conducted to determine if differences in targeting would effect stone fragmentation. Ten pairs of twin gallstones were used. The stones in each pair were identical in volume, diameter, radiolucency, and gross shape. One stone from each pair was subjected to shock waves focused at the center of the stone; the other was treated with shock waves targeted at the edge. Lithotripsy was terminated when all fragments were less than 5mm in diameter. The total number of shock waves used for each stone was recorded. In 7 of 10 pairs, fewer shock waves were required to fragment the edge targeted stone than the center targeted stone. In two of the remaining three pairs, equal numbers of shock waves were required for complete fragmentation. The difference between edge targeting and center targeting was shown to be statistically significant using the nonparametric Wilcoxin Signed Rank Test. (1 tailed = p less than 0.02, 2 tailed = p less than 0.04). These findings suggest that the outcome of biliary lithotripsy may be improved by targeting the edge of the stone.

Cholelithiasis↗
PubMed1992

Biliary lithotripsy can be enhanced with proper ultrasound probe position.

We have demonstrated in our in vitro system that an extracorporeal lithotripter utilizing a movable ultrasound probe can fragment gallstones more effectively when the ultrasound probe is not partially blocking shock waves. Using a pressure transducer we measured the pressures in the focal volume of a Wolf Piezolith 2300 lithotripter with the ultrasound probe fully extended and fully retracted. We also chose 12 pairs of twin gallstones, each taken from the same gallbladder. One stone from each pair was subjected to shock waves while the ultrasound probe was fully extended and the other treated while the probe was fully retracted. Shock wave pressures (which are converted to a measurable voltage output by our transducer) were clearly lower when the ultrasound probe was extended (5.45 volts; SEM = 0.10 volts) as compared to when the ultrasound scanner was retracted (6.7 volts: SEM = 0.08 volts). Significantly more shock waves were required to completely fragment stones when the ultrasound scanner was extended than when it was retracted (p = 0.01 using the nonparametric Wilcoxon's signed rank test). These results show that, in the lithotripter tested, an extended in-line ultrasound scanner can partially block shock waves. Retraction of an extendible ultrasound probe may enhance stone fragmentation when operating at the highest shock wave intensity.

Cholelithiasis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

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Child, Preschool↗