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Background There is limited literature on the role of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) as an adjunct to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This study evaluates the role of PTBD in patients with failed ERCP or post-ERCP cholangitis. Methods Retrospective evaluation of clinical and intervention records of patients with biliary obstruction referred for PTBD following failed ERCP or post-ERCP cholangitis was performed. The cause of biliary obstruction, baseline serum bilirubin, white blood cell (WBC) count, serum creatinine, and procalcitonin were recorded. Technical success and clinical success (resolution of cholangitis, reduction in bilirubin levels, WBC count, creatinine, and procalcitonin) were assessed. Results Sixty-three patients (35 females, mean age 51.4 years) were included. Indications for ERCP included malignant causes in 47 (74.6%) cases and benign causes in 16 (25.4%) cases. Indications for PTBD were failed ERCP in 21 (33.3%) and post-ERCP cholangitis in 42 (66.7%). PTBD was technically successful in all patients. Clinical success rate was 68.2% in the overall group. Mild hemobilia was noted in five (7.9%) patients. There were no major complications or PTBD related mortality. Cholangitis and acute kidney injury resolved following PTBD in 63.1% and 80% of the patients, respectively. Total serum bilirubin reduced by 47.8% and 69.4% after one week and one month of the PTBD, respectively. The average fall in procalcitonin was 5.17 ng/mL after one week of the PTBD. Conclusion PTBD is an important adjunctive drainage procedure in patients with ERCP failure or post-ERCP cholangitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), once considered a disease of the Western hemisphere, has emerged as a global disease. As the disease prevalence is on a steady rise, management of IBD has come under the spotlight. 5-Aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents and biologics are the backbone of treatment of IBD. With the advent of biologics and small molecules, the need for surgery and hospitalization has decreased. However, economic viability and acceptability is an important determinant of local prescription patterns. Nearly one-third of the patients in West receive biologics as the first/initial therapy. The scenario is different in developing countries where biologics are used only in a small proportion of patients with IBD. Increased risk of reactivation of tuberculosis and high cost of the therapy are limitations to their use. Thiopurines hence become critical for optimal management of patients with IBD in these regions. However, approximately one-third of patients are intolerant or develop adverse effects with their use. This has led to suboptimal use of thiopurines in clinical practice. This review article discusses the clinical aspects of thiopurine use in patients with IBD with the aim of optimizing their use to full therapeutic potential.

Background Although abdominal pain is one of the major criteria to diagnose acute pancreatitis (AP) there are no standardized guidelines to treat this troublesome symptom in the hospital setting. Aim To conduct a meta-analysis, to assess the efficacy of non-opioids vs opioids for pain management in AP. Methods We searched the medical literature through May 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the efficacy of opioids with non-opioids in AP pain management. Efficacy was reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of each comparison tested. Results We identified 7 eligible RCTs, containing 389 patients. No significant difference in terms of pain intensity at day 1 (OR 0.82, 95% CI -2.55 to 4.19) was found between opioids and non-opioids. Non-opioids has a significantly high risk of supplementary analgesic use compared to opioids (OR 3.87, 95% CI 1.25 to 12.04). However, this significance is not seen when comparing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and paracetamol to opioids (OR 1.67, 95% CI 0.73 to 3.82) after excluding trials with Procaine. Opioids did not show a significant increase in the complications of pancreatitis, nausea and vomiting, sedation, and deaths when compared with non-opioids. Conclusions We found non-opioids especially NSAIDs and paracetamol can provide adequate pain relief in patients with AP with no change in supplementary analgesic use and adverse events when compared to opioids. Further research is needed to optimize the use of non-opioids along or in combination with opioids for better pain control in AP patients.

Objectives: Patients with concomitant diseases, particularly malignancies, are at significant risk for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). However, very little is known about the association between malignancy and CDI. Therefore, we evaluated the association of CDI in patients with different kinds of malignancies compared to control patients. Methods: Patients (n=1022) with specific malignancies (496 patients, 328 men), subgrouped as Adenocarcinoma (AC), Hematological malignancies (HM), Multiple myeloma (MM), Pediatric solid tumor (PST), and controls (526 controls, 325 men) without any specific diseases were enrolled in the study. Laboratory data of the patients were reviewed for demographics, antibiotic exposure, clinical symptoms, and fecal Clostridioides difficile toxin (CDT) assay. Results: Of 1022 patients, 805 received antibiotics. CDT was positive in 168 (80.0%) of those receiving antibiotics and in 42 (20.0%) not receiving antibiotics (p0.05). Correlation of different malignant conditions with control and among themselves showed male gender in AC (p=0.039) and HM (p=0.003), antibiotic exposure in MM (p

OBJECTIVES Organ failure (OF) and infected necrosis (IN) are the most important predictors of mortality in necrotizing acute pancreatitis (AP). We studied the relationship between timing (onset and duration) and patterns of OF with mortality and the impact of IN on mortality. METHODS Consecutive patients with necrotizing AP between January 2017 and February 2020 were analyzed retrospectively for OF and its impact on outcome. Organ failure was divided as single OF, simultaneous multiple OF (SiMOF) and sequential multiple OF (SeMOF). Mortality was compared for timing of onset, total duration and patterns of OF. RESULTS Among 300 patients with necrotizing AP, 174 (58%) had OF. Mortality was not associated with onset of OF (P = 0.683) but with duration of OF (P = 0.006). Mortalities for single OF, SiMOF, and SeMOF were 11.8%, 30.4%, and 69.2% respectively (P < 0.001). On Cox proportional hazard analysis, adjusted hazard ratio of risk of mortality for OF with IN versus IN, SiMOF versus single OF and SeMOF versus single OF was 3.183, 2.878, and 8.956, respectively (P = 0.023

Percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) is an effective way of drainage in acute pancreatitis (AP) and its role in persistent organ failure (OF) has not been studied. This study assessed the outcome of severe AP managed with PCD.We retrospectively analysed outcome of AP patients undergoing PCD for persistent OF with respect to success of PCD, etiology, severity scores, OF, imaging features and PCD parameters. Success of PCD was defined as resolution of with PCD and survived without surgical necrosectomy.Between January 2016 and May 2018, 83 patients underwent PCD for persistent OF at a mean duration of 25.59 ± 21.2 days from pain onset with successful outcome in 47 (56.6%) patients. Among PCD failures, eleven (13.25%) patients underwent surgery. Overall mortality was 31 (37.3%). On multivariate analysis, pancreatic necrosis50% and absence of extrapancreatic infection (EPI) predicted the success of PCD. Presence of infected necrosis did not affect the outcome of PCD in organ failure.PCD improves the outcome in patients with OF even when done early irrespective of the status of infection of necrosis. Therefore, PCD may be considered early in the course of patients with OF.

Aim of the study This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients with unresectable gallbladder cancer (GBC) with hilar involvement and cholangitis undergoing percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). Material and methods This retrospective study comprised consecutive patients with unresectable GBC with cholangitis who underwent PTBD. The procedures were categorized as unilateral or bilateral. Bilateral PTBD was classified as simultaneous or sequential. The mean reduction in bilirubin at two weeks was recorded. Complications and mean overall survival were also recorded. Results Thirty-three patients (mean age 54.5 years, 12 males) were included. Thirty patients underwent unilateral drainage. Sequential drainage of the contralateral system was performed in 11 patients. Simultaneous bilateral PTBD was performed in 3 patients. PTBD was technically successful in all patients. Mean reduction in bilirubin was 41.5% in the unilateral group. The fall of bilirubin in the simultaneous bilateral PTBD group was 39%. The mean follow-up duration was 36.5 days. No major complications were encountered. At the last follow-up, 7 patients were alive. The mean overall survival was 34.6 days. Conclusions Patients with unresectable GBC and cholangitis frequently require bilateral drainage. However, prospective studies should be performed to evaluate whether a sequential or simultaneous PTBD should be performed.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is one of the most commonly performed endoscopic procedures and a first-line treatment for the establishment of enteral access in those with intolerance or contraindication to oral feedings. A small amount of pneumoperitoneum in the immediate postprocedure period is well reported after PEG tube placement. However, pneumoperitoneum resulting from displaced gastric bumper within 24 hours postprocedure is uncommon and rarely reported in the literature. Timely diagnosis and early endoscopic management can help tackle such an unusual complication.

Background and Aim Caustic ingestion is associated with long‐term sequelae in the form of esophageal and/or gastric cicatrization requiring endoscopic or surgical intervention. Quality of life (QoL) and disability in patients with caustic‐induced sequelae is less explored. Methods In this prospective study, we included consecutive patients with symptomatic caustic‐induced esophageal stricture undergoing endoscopic dilatation. QoL was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQoL‐BREF). Disability was measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0). Subjective dysphagia score was calculated by Likert scale. Results A total of 42 patients were included in the study; 25 (59.5%) patients were male. Patients had poor WHOQoL‐BREF and WHODAS scores compared to normality data in all domains of the scores among both the genders. A majority (66.7%) of patients had a current psychiatric diagnosis, with the most common being mood disorder (50%) followed by suicidality (45.2%). Males had a higher prevalence of a previous psychiatric diagnosis compared to females, while females had a higher prevalence of suicidality. Dysphagia score had strong correlation with the WHOQoL (r = −0.66; P, Caustic ingestion is associated with long‐term sequelae in the form of esophageal and/or gastric cicatrization requiring endoscopic or surgical intervention. We assessed quality of life, disability, and depression in a cohort of patients who ingested a caustic agent. These patients were found to have high levels of disability and depressive symptoms and poor quality of life.

Caustic ingestion can lead to structural changes in the upper gastrointestinal tract. However, there are limited data on the effect of caustic ingestion on gastric secretion. This study was planned to determine the changes in gastric acid output in patients with caustic ingestion. It was a prospective study done at a tertiary care center in northern India. Twenty consecutive patients in chronic phase of caustic ingestion were evaluated for the study. The gastric secretory function was estimated in the basal state and following pentagastrin stimulation. These results were compared with normal values for our laboratory. The mean age of the included patients (n = 20) was 27.35 ± 2.96 years and 14 patients were male. Sixteen (80%) patients had a history of acid ingestion. Patients with caustic ingestion had significantly lower mean gastric acid secretion (0.8 ± 0.4 mEq/h vs. 4 ± 0.4 mEq/h; p

Background There is a significant variability in the reported outcomes following endovascular embolization of arterial pseudoaneurysms in pancreatitis. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy of endovascular embolization of pancreatitis-related pseudoaneurysms. Methods Searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases were performed through July 1, 2019 in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. All studies with ≥10 patients reporting technical success, clinical success, complications, and mortality were included. Generalized linear mixed method with random effects model was used for assessing pooled incidence rates and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results A total of 29 studies (n = 840 with 638 pseudoaneurysms) were included. The pooled incidence rates of pseudoaneurysms in acute and chronic pancreatitis were 0.05% and 0.03%, respectively (odds ratio, 0.91, 95% CI-0.24–3.43). The most common site of pseudoaneurysm was splenic artery (37.7%). The most common embolization agent was coil (n = 415). The follow up period was 54.7 months (range, 21 days to 40.5 months). Pooled technical success rate was 97% (95% CI-92-99%, I2 83%). Clinical success rates at ≤3 months, 3–12 months, and >12 months were 82% (95% CI-70-90%, I2 42%), 86% (95% CI-75-92%, I2 44%), and 88% (95% CI-83-91%, I2 0%), respectively. There was no significant difference in the technical or clinical success between acute and chronic pancreatitis on subgroup analysis. Mortality was lower in chronic pancreatitis (OR 4.27 (95% CI 1.35–13.53, I2 0%)). Splenic infarction was the most common complication (n = 47). Conclusion Endovascular embolization is associated with a high technical and clinical success.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common disorder with high mortality in severe cases. Several markers have been studied to predict development of severe AP (SAP) including serum resistin with conflicting results. This study aimed at assessing the role of baseline serum resistin levels in predicting SAP.This prospective study collected data from 130 AP patients from July 2017 to Nov 2018. Parameters measured included demographic profile, serum resistin at admission, severity scores, hospital stay, surgery, and mortality. Patients were divided into two groups, severe and non-severe AP. The two groups were compared for baseline characteristics, serum resistin levels, hospital stay, surgery and mortality.Among 130 patients, 53 patients had SAP. SAP patients had higher BMI, baseline CRP, APACHE II and CTSI scores (We found that serum resistin is not a useful marker for predicting the severity of AP and does not correlate with increasing body weight.

Background and study aims Endoscopic dilation is first-line management for benign esophageal strictures (ES). Depth of involvement of the esophageal wall on endosonography using high frequency mini-probe (EUS-M) may predict response to dilation. This study evaluated EUS-M characteristics to predict response of ES to endoscopic dilation. Patients and methods EUS-M was used to measure the total esophageal wall thickness (EWT), involved EWT, percentage of involved wall and layers of wall involved in consecutive patients of benign ES. After a maximum of five sessions of endoscopic dilation, the cohort was divided into responders and refractory strictures. EUS-M characteristics were compared for underlying etiology as also between responders and refractory strictures. Results Of the 30 strictures (17 females, age: 47.16 ± 15.86 yrs.) 13 were anastomotic, eight corrosive, seven peptic and 2 others. Corrosive strictures had the highest involved EWT and percentage of involved wall (3.51 ± 1.36 mm; 76.38 %) followed by anastomotic (2.73 ± 1.7 mm; 65.54 %) and peptic (1.39 ± 0.62 mm; 40.71 %) (P = 0.026 and 0.021 respectively). After five dilations, 22 were classified as responders and eight as refractory. Wall involvement > 70 % had a greater proportion of refractory strictures (P = 0.019). Strictures with involved EWT of ≥ 2.85 mm required more dilations (P = 0.011). Fewer dilations were required for stricture resolution with only mucosal involvement compared to deeper involvement such as submucosa and muscularis propria (2.14 vs. 5.80; P = 0.001). Conclusion EUS-M evaluation shows that corrosive and anastomotic strictures have greater depth of involvement compared to peptic strictures. Depth of esophageal wall involvement in a stricture predicts response to dilation.

Background and Aim Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is commonly associated with intra‐abdominal hypertension (IAH). This acute increase of intra‐abdominal pressure (IAP) may be attributed to early organ dysfunction, leading to an increased morbidity and mortality. To assess the incidence of raised IAH and its correlation with other prognostic indicators and various outcomes in SAP. Methods and Results This was a prospective observational study in patients of SAP between July 2009 and December 2010. All patients of SAP who were admitted to the hospital within 2 weeks of onset of pain were included in the study. A total of 35 patients with SAP were included in the study. Among these, 25 (71.4%) were males. All our patients had raised IAP; however, IAH was present in 51.4% (18/35). Patients with IAH were found to have a higher APACHE II score (88.9 vs 5.9%; P, This study has proven the correlation of raised intra‐abdominal pressure in severe acute pancreatitis with poor outcome. Hence, serial monitoring of intra‐abdominal pressure in severe acute pancreatitis should be performed, and appropriate measures should be taken when it is present.

Background Prompt and accurate diagnosis of gastrointestinal tuberculosis (GITB) is highly challenging. Current conventional techniques lack sensitivity and are time-consuming. Multi targeted loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) using two targets (IS6110 and MPB64) is a promising technique for rapid diagnosis of TB. Methods LAMP test using IS6110 and MPB64 targets for M. tuberculosis complex was performed on ileocecal biopsy samples of 35 clinically suspected patients of GITB and 30 ileocecal biopsy samples of non-tuberculosis control subjects. Results of IS6110 LAMP and MPB64 LAMP were compared with IS6110 PCR and culture INFERENCE: Overall LAMP test (using any of the two targets) had a sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 100%, respectively, for confirmed GITB (five culture positive) cases and 85.71 and 100%, respectively, for clinically suspected 30 ileocecal biopsy samples of GITB. Sensitivity of IS6110 LAMP, MPB64 LAMP and IS6110 PCR for clinically suspected cases was 22 (73.33%), 24 (80%) and 21 (70%), respectively. In total 35 GITB patients, the overall sensitivity of microscopy, culture, IS6110 PCR, IS6110 LAMP, MPB64 LAMP and the multi-targeted LAMP assay (if any of the two targets were used) were 5.71, 14.28, 68.57, 74.28, 82.85 and 85.71%, respectively. Specificity of all the tests was 100%. There were three cases which were missed by IS6110 LAMP and two cases by MPB64 LAMP. Conclusion Multi-targeted LAMP is a promising technique for rapid and accurate diagnosis of GITB.

The amount of intra-abdominal fat on CT correlates positively with the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). The objective of the study was to evaluate a fat-modified CT severity index (FMCTSI) and compare its performance with MCTSI. For this retrospective study, 99 patients with AP who underwent contrast-enhanced CT between 3 and 7 days after pain onset were divided into a training cohort (n = 75) and a validation cohort (n = 24). MCTSI was calculated. The total adipose tissue (TAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and total to visceral fat ratio (TVFR) were computed using semi-automatic software. These parameters were given a score of 1–3. FMCTSI was calculated by adding the fat score to MCTSI. Concordance for diagnosing the severity of AP was assessed. Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) for predicting clinical outcomes were compared between FMCTSI and MCTSI. The diagnostic performance of the FMCTSI in the validation cohort was also evaluated. In the training cohort, our proposed FMCTSI performed better than MCTSI for all the outcome parameters. The highest concordance for the severity of AP was achieved for VAT-MCTSI. For all outcome parameters, the highest AUC was seen for TVFR-MCTSI. In the validation cohort, the FMCTSI achieved diagnostic performance similar to the training cohort with the highest AUC for TVFR-MCTSI. FMCTSI is a better CT index than MCTSI for predicting the severity and clinical outcomes of AP. Among the various FMCTSI parameters, TVFR-MCTSI is the best performer.

Percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) performed pro-actively for collections in acute pancreatitis (AP) is associated with better outcomes. However, there are only a few studies describing this protocol. We aimed to evaluate an aggressive PCD protocol. Consecutive patients with AP who underwent PCD with an aggressive protocol between January 2018 and January 2019 were included. This protocol involved catheter upsizing at a pre-specified interval (every 4–6 days) as well as drainage of all the new collections. The indications and technical details of PCD and clinical outcomes were compared with patients who underwent standard PCD. Out of the 185 patients with AP evaluated during the study period, 110 (59.4%) underwent PCD, all with the aggressive protocol. The historical cohort of standard PCD comprised of 113 patients. There was no significant difference in the indication of PCD and interval from pain onset to PCD between the two groups. The mean number of catheters was significantly higher in the aggressive PCD group (1.86 ± 0.962 vs. 1.44 ± 0.667, p = 0.002). Additional catheters were inserted in 54.2% of patients in aggressive group vs. 36.2% in the standard group (p = 0.006). Length of hospital stay and intensive care unit (ICU) stay were significantly longer in the standard PCD group (34.3 ± 20.14 vs. 27.45 ± 14.2 days, p

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The aims of this study were to: (1) assess the performance of the Pancreatitis Activity Scoring System (PASS) in a large intercontinental cohort of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP); and (2) investigate whether a modified PASS (mPASS) yields a similar predictive accuracy and produces distinct early trajectories between severity subgroups. METHODS: Data was prospectively collected through the Acute Pancreatitis Patient Registry to Examine Novel Therapies In Clinical Experience (APPRENTICE) consortium (2015-2018) involving 22 centers from 4 continents. AP severity was categorized per the revised Atlanta classification. PASS trajectories were compared between the three severity groups using the generalized estimating equations model. Four mPASS models were generated by modifying the morphine equivalent dose (MED), and their trajectories were compared. RESULTS: A total of 1393 subjects were enrolled (median age, 49 years; 51% males). The study cohort included 950 mild (68.2%), 315 (22.6%) moderately severe, and 128 (9.2%) severe AP. Mild cases had the lowest PASS at each study time point (all P < .001). A subset of patients with outlier admission PASS values was identified. In the outlier group, 70% of the PASS variation was attributed to the MED, and 66% of these patients were from the United States centers. Among the 4 modified models, the mPASS-1 (excluding MED from PASS) demonstrated high performance in predicting severe AP with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.88 (vs area under the receiver operating characteristic of 0.83 in conventional PASS) and produced distinct trajectories with distinct slopes between severity subgroups (all P < .001). CONCLUSION: We propose a modified model by removing the MED component, which is easier to calculate, predicts accurately severe AP, and maintains significantly distinct early trajectories.

Objective To evaluate the relationship of mucosa-associated candida (MAC) and disease severity in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods We prospectively investigated the presence, nature, and quantification of MAC in patients with UC and its relationship with disease severity. Consecutive patients with UC were assessed for clinical, endoscopic, histological features and serum markers of disease severity. All patients underwent mucosal brushing cytology, brushing culture, and biopsy culture for candida growth. MAC was considered present if mucosal biopsy culture grew candida. Candida spp. identification was performed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization. Serum β-D-glucan was measured with a Fungitell assay. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome who had undergone similar investigations were included as controls. Results Ninety-six patients with UC showed evidence of MAC more often than the controls (n = 20) based on biopsy culture (33.3% vs 5.0%, P = 0.011), brush cytology (30.2% vs 5.0%, P = 0.019), and brush culture (36.5% vs 10.0%, P = 0.021). Patients with UC had higher candida colony counts (≥103 CFU/mL) than controls (34.4% vs 5.0%, P = 0.007). Median β-D-glucan values were higher in patients with UC than in controls (103.26 pg/mL vs 66.51 pg/mL, P = 0.011). The UC group with MAC had a higher median total Mayo score, C-reactive protein, fecal calprotectin, β-D-glucan, and histological activity than those without MAC. Conclusions Patients with UC more often show evidence of MAC and a higher candida colony count than controls. The presence of MAC is associated with high disease severity in patients with UC.

Pancreatitis is one of the important medical conditions. Gastrointestinal (GI) complications of pancreatitis are important and lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis of these complications is difficult and may require a strong clinical suspicion coupled with various imaging features. This review provides an extensive update of the whole spectrum of GI complication of pancreatitis, both acute and chronic, from inflammation, ischemia, and necrosis to obstruction, perforation, and GI fistulae. The focus is on the clinical and imaging features of this less commonly described aspect of pancreatitis., Gastrointestinal complications of pancreatitis are important and lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis of these complications is difficult and may require strong clinical suspicion coupled with various imaging features.

Despite advances in endoscopic drainage procedures, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) remains an essential interventional radiology (IR) procedure. Several factors may adversely affect the success of PTBD. We report the experience of our IR unit with PTBD in patients considered at higher risk for adverse events. Consecutive PTBDs performed between November 2017 and April 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients at increased risk for adverse events from PTBD, defined by one or more of the following factors: non-dilated system, moderate amount of perihepatic fluid, coagulopathy, altered sensorium, and PTBD performed at bedside, were identified. Technical success, complications, and outcome at 3 months were recorded. During the study period, PTBDs were performed in 90 patients. PTBDs in 57 (63.3%) patients (mean age 47.6 years, 35 females) were identified as predisposing to higher risk for adverse events. Left and right PTBD were performed in 37 (64.9%) and 15 (26.3%) patients, respectively. Bilateral PTBDs were performed in three (5.2%) patients. In two (3.5%) cases, biliary access was obtained via percutaneous cholecystostomy. Overall technical success of 91.2% (n = 52) was achieved. Carcinoma gallbladder was the most common underlying cause. Non-dilated ductal system was the most common condition deemed to predispose to higher risk for adverse events (n = 32, 56.1%), followed by perihepatic fluid (n = 9, 15.8%), and deranged coagulation parameters (n = 9, 15.8%). PTBD was performed at bedside in intensive care unit in 5 (8.8%) patients. Two (3.5%) patients had altered sensorium. Major complications in the form of biliary peritonitis were observed in three (5.2%) patients. No procedure-related mortality was observed. PTBD can be effectively and safely performed even in situations deemed to predispose patients to increased risk for adverse events. Thus, the mere presence of these conditions should not cause a denial of PTBD.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The relationship between pre-existing diabetes mellitus (DM) and acute pancreatitis (AP) severity has not been established. We assessed the impact of pre-existing DM on AP severity in an international, prospectively ascertained registry. METHODS: APPRENTICE registry prospectively enrolled 1543 AP patients from 22 centers across 4 continents (8 US, 6 Europe, 5 Latin America, 3 India) between 2015 and 2018, and collected detailed clinical information. Pre-existing DM was defined a diagnosis of DM prior to AP admission. The primary outcome was AP severity defined by the Revised Atlanta Classification (RAC). Secondary outcomes were development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or intensive care unit (ICU) admission. RESULTS: Pre-existing DM was present in 270 (17.5%) AP patients, of whom 252 (93.3%) had type 2 DM. Patients with pre-existing DM were significantly (p

The Indian Association of Pathologists and Microbiologists (IAPM) and Indian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG) decided to make a joint consensus recommendation for handling, processing, and interpretation of SI biopsies for the diagnosis and management of celiac disease (CD) recognizing the inhomogeneous practice of biopsy sampling, orientation, processing, and interpretation. A modified Delphi process was used to develop this consensus document containing a total of 42 statements and recommendations, which were generated by sharing the document draft, incorporating expert's opinion, followed by three cycles of electronic voting as well as a full-day face-to-face virtual ZOOM meeting and review of supporting literature. Of the 42 statements, 7 statements are on small intestinal (SI) biopsy in suspected patients of CD, site and the number of biopsies; 7 on handling, fixative, orientation, processing, and sectioning in pathology laboratories; 2 on histological orientation; 13 statements on histological interpretation and histological grading; 3 on the assessment of follow-up biopsies; 2 statements on gluten-free diet (GFD)-nonresponsive CD; 4 on challenges in the diagnosis of CD; 2 statements each on pathology reporting protocol and training and infrastructure in this area. The goal of this guideline document is to formulate a uniform protocol agreed upon both by the experienced pathologists and gastroenterologists to standardize the practice, improve the yield of small bowel biopsy interpretation, patients' compliance, overall management in CD, and generate unified data for patient care and research in the related field.

Purpose Intraabdominal hypertension (IAH) in acute pancreatitis (AP) may reduce tissue perfusion and impair organ function and has been shown to portend poor prognosis. We investigated the computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with AP with IAH. Methods This retrospective study comprised of consecutive patients with AP from June 2016 to June 2018 in whom intraabdominal pressure (IAP) was measured. The patients who underwent a contrast-enhanced CT within 7 days of IAP measurement were included. Using a cutoff of 12 mm Hg for IAP, the patients were divided into IAH and non-IAH groups. Measures of severity and clinical outcome were evaluated. CT parameters were compared between the groups. Results The IAH group comprised of 41 patients, while there were 20 patients in the non-IAH group. The IAH group was characterized by severe disease, increased incidence of organ failure, increased requirement for drainage and surgery, prolonged hospital and intensive care unit stay. The mortality was not significantly different between the two groups. On univariate analysis, the CT features that were found to be significantly different between the two groups were the presence of collection (p = 0.036), the maximum dimension of collection (p = 0.004), volume of collection (p = 0.019), biliary dilatation (p = 0.011), and the presence of moderate-to-severe pleural effusion (p = 0.009). On multivariate analysis, all these parameters except biliary dilatation were found to be statistically significant. Conclusion CT findings in patients with AP may suggest IAH. This can be used as an additional marker for severity of AP.

The Indian Society of Gastroenterology developed this evidence-based practice guideline for management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults. A modified Delphi process was used to develop this consensus containing 58 statements, which were generated by electronic voting iteration as well as face-to-face meeting and review of the supporting literature primarily from India. These statements include 10 on epidemiology, 8 on clinical presentation, 10 on investigations, 23 on treatment (including medical, endoscopic, and surgical modalities), and 7 on complications of GERD. When the proportion of those who voted either to accept completely or with minor reservation was 80% or higher, the statement was regarded as accepted. The prevalence of GERD in India ranges from 7.6% to 30%, being

Background Percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) is effective initial strategy in the step-up approach of management of acute pancreatitis (AP). The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with outcomes after PCD and develop a predictive model. Method and materials In a prospective observational study between July 2016 and Nov 2017, 101 consecutive AP patients were treated using a “step-up approach” in which PCD was used as the first step. We evaluated the association between success of PCD (survival without necrosectomy) and baseline parameters viz. etiology, demography, severity scores, C-reactive protein (CRP), and intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), morphologic characteristics on computed tomography (CT) [percentage of necrosis, CT severity index (CTSI), characteristics of collection prior to PCD (volume, site and solid component of the collection), PCD parameters (initial size, maximum size, number and duration of drainage) and factors after PCD insertion (fall in IAP, reduction in volume of collection). Results Among 101 patients, 51 required PCD. The success rate of PCD was 66.66% (34/51). Four patients required additional surgical necrosectomy after PCD. Overall mortality was 29.4% (15/51). Multivariate analysis showed percentage of volume reduction of fluid collection (p = 0.016) and organ failure (OF) resolution (p = 0.023) after one week of PCD to be independent predictors of success of PCD. A predictive model based on these two factors resulted in area under curve (AUROC) of 0.915. Nomogram was developed with these two factors to predict the probability of success of PCD. Conclusion Organ failure resolution and reduction in volume of collection after one week of PCD are significant predictors of successful PCD outcomes in patients with fluid collection following AP

Background Peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) can be useful for difficult bile duct stone clearance. Large prospective multinational data on POCS-guided lithotripsy for clearing difficult bile duct stones in a single session of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are missing. Methods Patients with difficult bile duct stones (defined as one or more of: largest stone diameter ≥ 15 mm, failed prior attempt at stone clearance, impacted, multiple, hepatic duct location, or located above a stricture) were enrolled at 17 centers in 10 countries. The principal endpoint was stone clearance in a single ERCP procedure using POCS. Results 156 patients underwent 174 sessions of POCS-guided electrohydraulic or laser lithotripsy. Stone clearance had failed in a previous ERCP using traditional techniques in 124/156 patients (80 %), while 32 /156 patients (21 %) were referred directly to POCS-guided therapy based on preprocedural assessment of the difficulty of stone clearance. In 101/156 patients (65 %), there were impacted stones. POCS-guided stone clearance was achieved in a single POCS procedure in 125 /156 patients (80 %, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 73 % – 86 %), and was significantly more likely for stones ≤ 30 mm compared with > 30 mm (odds ratio 7.9, 95 %CI 2.4 – 26.2; P = 0.002). Serious adverse events occurred in 3/156 patients (1.9 %, 95 %CI 0.4 % – 5.5 %), and included pancreatitis, perforation due to laser lithotripsy, and cholangitis (n = 1 each), all resolved within 1 week. Conclusion POCS-guided lithotripsy is highly effective for clearance of difficult bile duct stones in a single procedure and successfully salvages most prior treatment failures. It may also be considered first-line therapy for patients with difficult choledocholithiasis to avoid serial procedures.

Celiac disease (CD) is known to be associated with several autoimmune disorders. We studied the prevalence of subclinical CD among patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) as compared to general population. Cases of primary ITP between the age group of 18–60 years were studied. Besides clinical examination, all patients underwent serology testing for tissue transglutaminase antibody (tTG) IgA and anti-endomysial antibodies IgA. The diagnosis of CD was made if both antibodies were positive. Healthy subjects acted as controls and underwent serological testing for tTG IgA. Seventy-nine primary ITP and 316 healthy subjects underwent serology testing for CD. Four patients of primary ITP (4/79) were positive for both serology as compared to 2 (2/316) healthy controls [odds ratio 8.37 (CI 1.50–46.47, p

Background and Aim To evaluate the role of esophageal wall thickness (EWT) on computed tomography (CT) in predicting response to endoscopic dilatation of corrosive esophageal strictures. Methods This was a retrospective study. A review of the records of patients who underwent endoscopic dilatation of esophageal strictures between January 2010 and December 2017 was performed. Patients who had a CT evaluation prior to dilatations were included. CT‐EWT was measured at the maximum visible point. Clinical details and endoscopic dilatation parameters were recorded. Technical success, clinical success, and recurrent and refractory strictures were recorded. CT‐EWT and the clinical parameters were evaluated regarding their role in predicting the number of dilatations required to achieve technical and clinical success. Results A total of 250 patients underwent endoscopic dilatations during the study period; 84 patients underwent thoracoabdominal CT. Complete clinical, endoscopic, CT data and follow up were available for 64 patients. There were 36 males. The median age was 30 years (range, 14–70 years). A total of 750 dilatations were performed. The median number of dilatations required to achieve technical success was 8.5 (range, 1–51). Dilatations were performed after a median period of 3 months (range, 1–40). Median CT‐EWT was 7 mm (range, 3–22). On univariate, as well as multivariate, analysis, CT‐EWT and the clinical parameters were found to be poor predictors of the number of dilatations required to achieve technical and clinical success. Conclusion CT‐EWT has no additional role in predicting response to the endoscopic dilatation of corrosive esophageal strictures.

Despite the advances in the medical care, tuberculosis (TB) still remains an important health problem. This is particularly relevant to the developing countries as well as the immunocompromised population in the developed world. Multidrug resistance poses another challenge and may be responsible for increasing incidence of TB, to some extent. The respiratory system is the most commonly involved, although any organ system may be affected. Abdominal involvement occurs in 11-12% of the patients with extrapulmonary TB. The clinical features of abdominal TB are nonspecific. Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of abdominal TB. Although a few imaging features strongly favour the possibility of TB, abdominal TB is a greater masquerader. In this review, we highlight the entire spectrum of the manifestations of abdominal tuberculosis (excluding the genitourinary involvement) with an emphasis on imaging findings.

Background and Aim The two most common etiologies of acute pancreatitis (AP) are alcohol and gallstone. Whether etiology contributes to the outcome in patients with AP is an unresolved issue, more so in the severe form of the disease. The aim is to study the effects of the etiological factors of alcohol and gallstone on the disease course and the role of etiology in the subgroup of severe AP. Methods Consecutive patients of AP with alcohol or gallstone etiology were included. Various severity parameters and various outcome measures, such as need for organ support, intensive care, surgical or radiological intervention, hospital stay, and mortality, were evaluated between the two groups. Results Of the 759 patients, alcoholic pancreatitis was seen in 368 (48.5%), while gallstone disease was observed in 246 (32.4%). Gallstone pancreatitis occurred in older age (P

Background and Aim Chronic alcoholism and nutrition play an important role in liver and pancreatic diseases. To compare drinking habits and nutritional data in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and alcoholic pancreatitis (ALP). Methods Clinical, anthropometric, dietary intake, laboratory, and imaging data were recorded in consecutive patients of ALD and ALP. Results In 150 patients of ALP (n = 76) and ALD (n = 74), the age of starting alcohol consumption (19.03 ± 3.78 vs 18.0 ± 2.59 years) and the mean amount of alcohol consumed per day (165.63 ± 87.99 vs 185.50 ± 113.54 g; P = 0.230) were similar. Patients with ALD consumed alcohol on a daily basis more frequently (90.5 vs 72.3%; P = 0.003) and had a longer duration of alcohol intake (21.6 + 0.2 vs 14.5 + 6.9 years; P

Background Percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) is used as the first step in the management of symptomatic fluid collections in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). There are limited data on the effect of PCD on inflammatory markers. Aim To study the effects of PCD on serum levels of C‐reactive protein (CRP), IL‐6, and IL‐10 and its correlation with the outcome. Methods Consecutive patients of AP with symptomatic fluid collections undergoing PCD were evaluated for serum levels of CRP, IL‐6, and IL‐10 before PCD and at 3 and 7 days after PCD. Resolution of organ failure (OF), sepsis, and pressure symptoms was considered to demonstrate the success of PCD. Changes in levels following PCD were correlated with outcome. Results Indications of PCD in 59 patients (age 38.9 ± 13.17 years, 49 male) were suspected/documented infected pancreatic necrosis (n = 45), persistent OF (n = 40), and pressure symptoms (n = 7). A total of 49 (83.1%) patients improved with PCD, five patients required surgery, and six died. A significant difference was noted between baseline levels of CRP (P = 0.026) and IL‐6 (P = 0.013) among patients who improved compared to those who worsened following PCD. Significant decrease (P

Vitamin D plays a key role in gut immunity and maintenance of the mucosal barrier. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) worsens ulcerative colitis (UC) and its supplementation ameliorates the disease in mouse models. The prevalence and predictors of VDD in UC are not known.Consecutive patients with UC (n = 80) underwent clinical, endoscopic, and histological evaluation to assess the extent, severity using UC disease activity index (UCDAI) score, and duration of illness. An equal number of age and gender-matched healthy adults without any features of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) living in the same latitude were identified as controls. The serum 25-hydroxy vitamin DThe patients and controls were similar in age and gender (40 ± 11.4 years, 51% male vs. 40 ± 12 years, 51% male; p = 1.000). Median vitamin D levels among patients were lower than the controls (18.1 ng/mL [IQR 14] vs. 32.5 ng/mL [IQR 36]; p 0.001). Patients were more often VDD (56% vs. 40%) or insufficient (34% vs. 9%) and less often sufficient (9% vs. 40%) or optimal (1% vs. 11%), in contrast to controls (p 0.001). Median vitamin D levels were lower in those with UCDAI 6 (15 vs. 21 ng/mL; p = 0.01), having pancolitis (13 vs. 21 ng/mL, p = 0.01), and longer duration of illness 2 years (13.8 vs. 20.8; p = 0.025). Vitamin D levels showed a negative correlation with frequency of stools (rho = - 0.244, p = 0.05), disease duration (rho = - 0.244, p = 0.007) and UCDAI score (r = - 0.348, p = 0.002).VDD is highly prevalent among patients with UC. Patients with longer disease duration, more severe symptoms, and pancolitis are likely to have lower vitamin D levels.

Background and Aim Acute kidney injury (AKI) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) has a high mortality rate. Traditionally used serum creatinine is an insensitive biomarker for the early detection of AKI. We aimed to study the role of plasma and urinary neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL) in predicting AKI and a severe course in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods Consecutive patients of AP who presented within 72 h of symptom onset and age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls were included. Urinary and serum NGAL levels [enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)] were evaluated within 24 h of and 72 h after admission and once in controls. Urine and serum NGAL levels were correlated with development of AKI, severity, and outcomes of AP. Results Fifty patients with AP and 30 controls were enrolled. The mean serum and urine NGAL levels in patients on day 1 were significantly higher than the serum and urine NGAL levels in controls (P

Background and Aims Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)–related gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is known to respond favorably to endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD). However, data on efficacy of EBD for other etiologies of benign GOO are sparse. We aimed to compare the response of EBD among different etiologies of GOO. Methods Records of all patients with benign GOO who underwent EBD at our tertiary-care center between January 1998 and December 2017 were analyzed. Dilation was done by using through-the-scope balloons. Procedural and clinical success of EBD was compared among different etiologies. Results A total of 306 patients were evaluated, of whom 264 (mean [± standard deviation] [SD] age 37.89 ± 17.49 years; men 183, women 81) underwent dilation. Etiologically, caustic ingestion was the commonest cause of GOO (53.8%) followed by PUD (26.1%) and medication-induced (8.3%). Overall procedural and clinical success was achieved in 200 (75.7%) and 243 (92.04%) patients, respectively, requiring a mean (± SD) of 2.55 (2.8) and 5.37 (3.9) sessions, respectively. Caustic-induced GOO responded less favorably, requiring a higher number of dilation sessions and having more refractory strictures than other etiologies. Medication-induced GOO performed worse than PUD-related GOO. Of the 264 patients, 9 (3.4%) had perforations during EBD, 3 had contained leaks and were managed conservatively, and 6 underwent successful surgery. Conclusion EBD is successful in a majority of patients with benign GOO, with caustic-induced GOO and medication-induced GOO being more difficult than PUD-related GOO.

Objective To evaluate the clinical profile and outcome of arterial pseudoaneurysms (PSA) associated with acute and chronic pancreatitis (CP). Methods Records of all patients of pancreatitis from 2010 to 2016 were analyzed retrospectively for the development PSAs; clinical profile and outcome parameters were compared between PSAs associated with acute and CP. Results Of the 980 patients, 46 (all males, age 39.70 ± 11.78 years) developed PSAs, including 19 of 600 of acute pancreatitis (AP) and 27 of 380 of CP. The most common clinical presentation was bleeding (37, 80.4%). The majority of patients was managed nonsurgically, with endovascular embolization in 31 (67.4%) and percutaneous thrombin injection in 9 (19.6%) patients. Pseudoaneurysms in patients with AP were associated more often with fluid collections (94.7% vs. 55.6%, P = 0.004) with more requirement of surgery compared to patients with CP (15.8% vs. 3.7%, P = 0.033). The pattern of arteries involved with PSAs and outcome was similar in AP and CP patients. Conclusion Arterial PSAs were more commonly associated with CP compared to AP with similar presentations. Associated fluid collections and requirement of surgical intervention were higher in PSAs in patients with AP compared to patients with CP.

Background There is an emerging role of fungal dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Prevalence of Candida in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC) and the effect of fluconazole therapy in reducing disease activity of UC are not known. Patients and methods All consecutive consenting patients with active UC defined as Mayo score ≥3 were evaluated for presence of Candida by stool culture and predictors for presence of Candida were identified. Those who had evidence of Candida in the stool were randomized to receive oral fluconazole 200 mg daily or placebo for 3 weeks along with standard medical therapy. Patients were assessed by clinical, sigmoidoscopy, and laboratory parameters at baseline and at 4 weeks. The primary outcome was clinical and endoscopic response at 4 weeks defined by a 3-point reduction in Mayo score. Secondary outcomes were reduction in fecal calprotectin, histologic response, and adverse events. Results Of the 242 patients with active UC, 68 (28%) patients had Candida in stool culture. Independent predictors for presence of Candida in patients with active UC were partial Mayo score of ≥3 and steroid exposure. Among those with Candida on stool culture (n=68), 61 patients fulfilled eligibility criteria and were randomized to receive fluconazole (n=31) or placebo (n=30). Three-point reduction in Mayo score though was numerically higher in the fluconazole group than the placebo group but was not statistically significant [5 (16.1%) vs. 1 (3.33%); P=0.19]. Postintervention median Mayo score was lower in fluconazole than placebo group [4 (3, 5) vs. 5 (4, 6); P=0.034]. Patients in fluconazole group had more often reduction in fecal calprotectin [26 (83.9%) vs. 11 (36.7%); P=0.001] and histologic scores [23 (74.1%) vs. 10 (33.3%); P=0.001] compared with placebo. All patients were compliant and did not report any serious adverse event. Conclusion Candida colonization is found in 28% of patients with UC. Steroid exposure and active disease were independent predictors for the presence of Candida. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of patients who achieved 3-point reduction in Mayo score between 2 groups. However, clinical, histologic, and calprotectin levels showed significant improvement in fluconazole group.

Objective: Overall, a handful of studies are available on the outcomes of acute-on-chronic pancreatitis (ACP). We aimed to provide a more complete and updated picture of ACP. Methods: We evaluated consecutive patients of acute exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis (CP) in a tertiary care center located in north India and studied their epidemiological profiles, etiological factors as well as outcomes. Results: Forty-five patients of ACP with a mean age of 37±13 years were evaluated. The majority of the patients were male (75%) and alcohol was the most common detectable etiology while no etiology could be identified in 35% of patients after extensive laboratory investigations and imaging. Moderately severe pancreatitis was noted in 73% of patients and 49% of patients had necrotizing pancreatitis out of which the majority (33%) had both pancreatic as well as extra-pancreatic necrosis (EPN). Five patients (11%) were subjected to percutaneous catheter drainage. Persistent organ failure was noted in 9% of patients and two (4.5%) patients had died from organ failure. Conclusion: To conclude, this study has demonstrated that ACP has a milder disease course and low morbidity and mortality. Early elimination of the etiological factor is essential for optimal outcome.

ObjectivesHealthcare personnel (HCP) are at an increased risk of acquiring COVID-19 infection especially in resource-restricted healthcare settings, and return to homes unfit for self-isolation, making them apprehensive about COVID-19 duty and transmission risk to their families. We aimed at implementing a novel multidimensional HCP-centric evidence-based, dynamic policy with the objectives to reduce risk of HCP infection, ensure welfare and safety of the HCP and to improve willingness to accept and return to duty.SettingOur tertiary care university hospital, with 12 600 HCP, was divided into high-risk, medium-risk and low-risk zones. In the high-risk and medium-risk zones, we organised training, logistic support, postduty HCP welfare and collected feedback, and sent them home after they tested negative for COVID-19. We supervised use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and kept communication paperless.ParticipantsWe recruited willing low-risk HCP, aged ResultsBetween 31 March and 20 July 2020, we clinically screened 5553 outpatients, of whom 3012 (54.2%) were COVID-19 suspects managed in the medium-risk zone. Among them, 346 (11.4%) tested COVID-19 positive (57.2% male) and were managed in the high-risk zone with 19 (5.4%) deaths. One (0.08%) of the 1224 HCP in high-risk zone, 6 (0.62%) of 960 HCP in medium-risk zone and 23 (0.18%) of the 12 600 HCP in the low-risk zone tested positive at the end of shift. All the 30 COVID-19-positive HCP have since recovered. This HCP-centric policy resulted in low transmission rates (ConclusionA multidimensional HCP-centric policy was effective in ensuring safety, satisfaction and welfare of HCP in a resource-poor setting and resulted in a willing workforce to fight the pandemic.

Cardiac lymphoma is a rare entity. In this setting, the secondary involvement of the heart is far more frequent than the primary cardiac lymphoma. Herein, we present an autopsy case of a disseminated anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma with a dominant mediastinal involvement. Extensive cardiac infiltration with the near replacement of the myocardial wall by the neoplastic cells was observed. A total of nine isolated case reports of anaplastic large cell lymphoma with cardiac involvement were found in the English-language literature, and a widespread cardiac and thymic infiltration by the systemic ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma has not been documented. An incidental regenerative nodule was also identified in the liver. The patient died of pulmonary thromboembolism and cardiac arrest.

Item does not contain fulltext BACKGROUND: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), intravenous fluid, pancreatic stents, or combinations of these have been evaluated in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis, but the comparative efficacy of these treatments remains unclear. Our aim was to do an exploratory network meta-analysis of previous RCTs to systematically compare the direct and indirect evidence and rank NSAIDs, intravenous fluids, pancreatic stents, or combinations of these to determine the most efficacious method of prophylaxis for post-ERCP pancreatitis. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register from inception to Nov 15, 2020, for full-text RCTs that evaluated the efficacy of NSAIDs, pancreatic stents, intravenous fluids, or combinations of these for post-ERCP pancreatitis prevention in adult (aged ≥18 years) patients undergoing ERCP. Summary data from intention-to-treat analyses were extracted from published reports. We analysed incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis across studies using network meta-analysis under the frequentist framework, obtaining pairwise odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system for the confidence rating. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020172606. FINDINGS: We identified 1503 studies, of which 55 RCTs evaluating 20 interventions in 17 062 patients were included in the network meta-analysis. The mean incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis in the placebo or active control group was 12·2% (95% CI 11·4-13·0). Normal saline plus rectal indometacin (OR 0·02, 95% CI 0·00-0·40), intramuscular diclofenac 75 mg (0·24, 0·09-0·69), intravenous high-volume Ringer's lactate plus rectal diclofenac 100 mg (0·30, 0·16-0·55), intravenous high-volume Ringer's lactate (0·31, 0·12-0·78), 5-7 Fr pancreatic stents (0·35, 0·26-0·48), rectal diclofenac 100 mg (0·36, 0·25-0·52), 3 Fr pancreatic stents (0·47, 0·26-0·87), and rectal indometacin 100 mg (0·60, 0·50-0·73) were all more efficacious than placebo for preventing post-ERCP pancreatitis in pairwise comparisons. 5-7 Fr pancreatic stents (0·59, 0·41-0·84), intravenous high-volume Ringer's lactate plus rectal diclofenac 100 mg (0·49, 0·26-0·94), intravenous standard-volume normal saline plus rectal indometacin 100 mg (0·04, 0·00-0·66), and rectal diclofenac 100 mg (0·59, 0·40-0·89) were more efficacious than rectal indometacin 100 mg. The GRADE confidence rating was low to moderate for 98·3% of the pairwise comparisons. INTERPRETATION: This systematic review and network meta-analysis summarises the available literature on NSAIDs, pancreatic stents, intravenous fluids, or combinations of these for prophylaxis of post-ERCP pancreatitis. Rectal diclofenac 100 mg is the best performing rectal NSAID in this network meta-analysis. Combinations of prophylaxis might be more effective, but there is little evidence. These findings help to establish prophylaxis of post-ERCP pancreatitis for future research and practice, and could reduce costs and increase adoption of prophylaxis. FUNDING: None.

Background Persistent organ failure (POF) is the strongest determinant of mortality in acute pancreatitis (AP). There is a paucity of data regarding the impact of different POF attributes on mortality and the role of different characteristics of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in the risk of developing POF. Objective We aimed to assess the association of POF dynamic features with mortality and SIRS characteristics with POF. Methods We studied 1544 AP subjects prospectively enrolled at 22 international centers (APPRENTICE consortium). First, we estimated the association of onset, duration, and maximal score of SIRS with POF. Then, we evaluated the risk of mortality based on POF onset, duration, number, type, and sequence of organs affected. Analyses were adjusted for potential confounders. Results 58% had SIRS, 11% developed POF, and 2.5% died. Early SIRS, persistent SIRS, and maximal SIRS score ≥ 3 were independently associated with higher risk of POF (p, Key Summary What is known? Persistent organ failure (POF; >48 h) is the strongest determinant of mortality in acute pancreatitis (AP).There is lack of evidence on the impact of different attributes of failing organs on AP mortality.The association of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) characteristics with POF, has not been well studied. What is new here? Mortality risk in AP patients with POF is determined by the number, type, and sequence of organ systems affected.Multiple POF affecting the cardiovascular and respiratory systems first or concurrently carries the highest mortality in AP compared to the renal system.Involvement of the renal system as the first failing organ or concurrently with other organs during multiple POF is associated with lower mortality than respiratoy or cardiovascular systems as first failing organs.Onset and duration of POF are not associated with mortality in AP patients.SIRS on admission, persistent SIRS, and three to four SIRS criteria, are independently associated with higher risk of POF.

Background Splenic abscess has been an uncommon entity which is now being encountered more frequently due to increased prevalence of immunodeficiency disorders and chronic illnesses. This study was aimed to audit our experience with splenic abscesses at a tertiary care centre in India highlighting usefulness of an algorithmic approach. Methods Retrospective analysis of data of patients (January 2014 to December 2019) with splenic abscess was done. Data were retrieved for clinical characteristics, radiological findings, organism spectra, abscess characteristics, therapeutic measures and clinical outcome. Results The mean age of the study population (n = 36) was 41.3 ± 19.0 years with 50% males. Comorbidities were identified in 17 (47.2%) patients, with diabetes mellitus being the commonest. Fever and abdominal pain were the most common presenting features. Multiple splenic abscesses were present in 21 (58.3%) patients. Extra-splenic abscesses in liver were seen in five (13.9%) patients while nine (25%) patients had ruptured splenic abscess. Microorganisms were identified in 24 (66.7%) patients, with Salmonella typhi being the commonest (n = 9, 25%) followed by Escherichia coli (n = 7, 19.4%) and Staphylococcus aureus (n = 4, 11.1%). Six patients received only antimicrobials, 24 were managed with percutaneous aspiration or catheter drainage and six required surgery. Five (13.9%) patients died, with highest mortality being seen in those who received only antimicrobial (50%), compared to percutaneous aspiration or catheter drainage (8.3%) and surgery (0%), P = 0.017. Conclusion Using percutaneous aspiration or drainage in conjunction with antibiotics, followed by surgery in non-responder, patients with splenic abscesses can be managed successfully with acceptable mortality.

Background Antegrade approach myotomy is usually performed in peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia cardia. This study assessed the feasibility of retrograde approach as an alternative. Methods This is a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing POEM, comparing the 2 techniques of antegrade myotomy (AM) and retrograde myotomy (RM). AM was performed by the conventional technique of proximal to distal myotomy while RM was from the distal end to proximal. The time required for myotomy, complications, and technical nuances were compared. Results Of the 24 cases of POEM, 6 were done by RM and 18 by AM approach. The baseline characteristics, symptomatology, type of achalasia, and preprocedure Eckardt score were similar between the 2 technique arms. The median myotomy time for AM was 21 minute while for RM was 25 minute (P=0.07). Complication rates were similar.Technical issues during RM included: (1) difficulty in visualizing the depth of myotomy; (2) incomplete myotomy requiring back and forth scope adjustment; (3) need for antegrade movement for completion of myotomy; (4) difficulty visualizing the axis of myotomy; (5) added arm strain during posterior myotomy. Conclusion Our study did not find any additional benefit of RM compared with AM approach for POEM.