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Artificial intelligence, a computer-based concept that tries to mimic human thinking, is slowly becoming part of the endoscopy lab. It has developed considerably since the first attempt at developing an automated medical diagnostic tool, today being adopted in almost all medical fields, digestive endoscopy included. The detection rate of preneoplastic lesions (i.e., polyps) during colonoscopy may be increased with artificial intelligence assistance. It has also proven useful in detecting signs of ulcerative colitis activity. In upper digestive endoscopy, deep learning models may prove to be useful in the diagnosis and management of upper digestive tract diseases, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett's esophagus, and gastric cancer. As is the case with all new medical devices, there are challenges in the implementation in daily medical practice. The regulatory, economic, organizational culture, and language barriers between humans and machines are a few of them. Even so, many devices have been approved for use by their respective regulators. Future studies are currently striving to develop deep learning models that can replicate a growing amount of human brain activity. In conclusion, artificial intelligence may become an indispensable tool in digestive endoscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common conditions in clinical practice. In spite of its prevalence, FD is associated with major uncertainties in terms of its definition, underlying pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Methods: A Delphi consensus was initiated with 41 experts from 22 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 87 statements. Quality of evidence was evaluated using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Consensus (defined as >80% agreement) was reached for 36 statements. Results: The panel agreed with the definition in terms of its cardinal symptoms (early satiation, postprandial fullness, epigastric pain, and epigastric burning), its subdivision into epigastric pain syndrome and postprandial distress syndrome, and the presence of accessory symptoms (upper abdominal bloating, nausea, belching), and overlapping conditions. Also, well accepted are the female predominance of FD, its impact on quality of life and health costs, and acute gastrointestinal infections, and anxiety as risk factors. In terms of pathophysiological mechanisms, the consensus supports a role for impaired gastric accommodation, delayed gastric emptying, hypersensitivity to gastric distention, Helicobacter pylori infection, and altered central processing of signals from the gastroduodenal region. There is consensus that endoscopy is mandatory for establishing a firm diagnosis of FD, but that in primary care, patients without alarm symptoms or risk factors can be managed without endoscopy. There is consensus that H. pylori status should be determined in every patient with dyspeptic symptoms and H. pylori positive patients should receive eradication therapy. Also, proton pump inhibitor therapy is considered an effective therapy for FD, but no other treatment approach reached a consensus. The long‐term prognosis and life expectancy are favorable. Conclusions and Inferences: A multinational group of European experts summarized the current state of consensus on the definition, diagnosis and management of FD. Key summary: Current knowledge Functional dyspepsia is one of the most common conditions encountered in clinical practice.There is a lack of guidance for clinicians in guiding diagnosis and treatment of this prevalent condition.No treatments are currently approved for the treatment of functional dyspepsia in Europe. What is new here A Delphi panel consisting of 41 experts from 22 European countries established the level of consensus on 87 statements regarding functional dyspepsia.The statements reaching consensus serve to guide clinicians in recognizing, diagnosing and treating FD in clinical practice.Endoscopy is mandatory for establishing a firm diagnosis of functional dyspepsia D, but in primary care patients without alarm symptoms or risk factors can be managed without endoscopy.Helicobacter pylori status should be determined in every patient with dyspeptic symptoms and H. Pylori positive patients should receive eradication therapy.Proton pump inhibitor‐therapy is considered an effective therapy for FD, but no other treatment approach reached consensus support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastroparesis is a condition characterized by epigastric symptoms and delayed gastric emptying (GE) rate in the absence of any mechanical obstruction. The condition is challenging in clinical practice by the lack of guidance concerning diagnosis and management of gastroparesis. Methods: A Delphi consensus was undertaken by 40 experts from 19 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 89 statements. Quality of evidence was evaluated using grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation criteria. Consensus (defined as ≥80% agreement) was reached for 25 statements. Results: The European consensus defined gastroparesis as the presence of symptoms associated with delayed GE in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Nausea and vomiting were identified as cardinal symptoms, with often coexisting postprandial distress syndrome symptoms of dyspepsia. The true epidemiology of gastroparesis is not known in detail, but diabetes, gastric surgery, certain neurological and connective tissue diseases, and the use of certain drugs recognized as risk factors. While the panel agreed that severely impaired gastric motor function is present in these patients, there was no consensus on underlying pathophysiology. The panel agreed that an upper endoscopy and a GE test are required for diagnosis. Only dietary therapy, dopamine‐2 antagonists and 5‐HT4 receptor agonists were considered appropriate therapies, in addition to nutritional support in case of severe weight loss. No consensus was reached on the use of proton pump inhibitors, other classes of antiemetics or prokinetics, neuromodulators, complimentary, psychological, or more invasive therapies. Finally, there was consensus that gastroparesis adversely impacts on quality of life and healthcare costs and that the long‐term prognosis of gastroparesis depends on the cause. Conclusions and Inferences: A multinational group of European experts summarized the current state of consensus on definition, symptom characteristics, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of gastroparesis. Key Summary: Current knowledge The epidemiology of gastroparesis is not well known.Diagnosis and treatment of gastroparesis is challenging due to uncertainties in definition and optimal therapeutic approach. What is new here A Delphi panel consisting of 40 experts from 19 European countries established the level of consensus on 89 statements regarding gastroparesis.The statements reaching consensus serve to guide clinicians in recognizing, diagnosing and treating gastroparesis in clinical practice.The statements without consensus identify areas in need of future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is an uncommon but often severe cause of upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, responsible of about 4% of non-variceal upper GI haemorrhage. The diagnosis is mainly based on endoscopy. GAVE is characterized by a pathognomonic endoscopic pattern, mainly represented by red spots organized in stripes radially departing from pylorus, defined as watermelon stomach, or arranged in a diffused-way. Case report. We report the case of a 83 years old female patient admitted for chest pain associated with difficulty in breathing and fatigue, the symptoms subside at rest. Acute myocardial infarction was excluded but severe anemia was detected with a haemoglobin of 5.9 g/dl. The patient was known with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation controlled by amiodarone, rheumatoid arthritis for which the patient administered methotrexate, the treatment was ceased several years ago due to the reduction of disease activity. Due to CHADs-VASc score of 5, the patient was under chronic anticoagulation with DOAC. In order to identify the source of the supposed bleeding, a Upper Digestive Endoscopy was performed. The investigation revealed grade I esophageal varices without signs of recent bleeding and antral vascular ectasia. Due to local conditions, endoscopic band ligation was preferred. After the management of the anemia the patient was discharged with a haemoglobin of 9 g/dl. After a month from the EBL the patient restarted administration of DOAC which lead to a new episode of acute GI bleeding, a second session of EBL was performed with the recommendation not to administer anticoagulants until a third session which was set after 2 months. Discussion. The first line treatment is considered argon plasma coagulation (APC), given its wider availability, safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness, though different types of endoscopic treatments are available. Given the condition of a specific patient, the physician can choose which is more appropriate for a better management. Conclusion. A patient with multiple comorbidities must have a comprehensive approach and a good understanding of bleeding versus thrombotic risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with jejunal extension (PEG/J) was first described in 1998 and has become the standard technique for fixing the tube in place for levodopa carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) infusion. The Romanian Society of Digestive Endoscopy (RSDE) decided to create a consensus paper to meet the needs in medical training and practice. After reviewing the available published data and existing recommendations, a consensus process was carried out involving the leaders of opinion in this field. The resulting text and recommendations were approved, after reaching expert consensus, and reflects the views of the RSDE for the best practice of PEG/J tube placement. The pull through method ("pull technique") is the prevailing PEG-tube placement procedure in Romania. The procedure can be performed with intravenous sedation combined with local anesthesia. Although minor complications are common, serious complications are infrequent, and the tube insertion procedures have a good safety record. Redo procedures are sometimes necessary and clinicians should be aware of these situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]