Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of North America

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Post-polypectomy bleeding (PPB) remains a significant procedure-related complication, with multiple risk factors determining the risk including patient demographics, polyp characteristics, endoscopist expertise, and techniques of polypectomy. Immediate PPB is usually treated promptly, but management of delayed PPB can be challenging. Cold snare polypectomy is the optimal technique for small sessile polyps with hot snare polypectomy for pedunculated and large sessile polyps. Topical hemostatic powders and gels are being investigated for the prevention and management of PPB...

This is a description and critical analysis of current diagnosis and treatment of diverticular hemorrhage. The focus is on colonoscopy for identification and treatment of stigmata of recent hemorrhage (SRH) in diverticula. A classification of definitive, presumptive, and incidental diverticular hemorrhage is reviewed and recommended. The approach to definitive diagnosis with urgent colonoscopy is put into perspective of other management strategies including angiography (of different types), nuclear medicine scans, surgery, and medical treatment...

Approximately 5% of all gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding originates from the small bowel. Endoscopic therapy of small bowel bleeding should only be undertaken after consideration of the different options, and the risks, benefits, and alternatives of each option. Endoscopic therapy options for small bowel bleeding are like those treatments used for other forms of bleeding in the upper and lower GI tract. Available endoscopic treatment options include thermal therapy (eg, argon plasma coagulation and bipolar cautery), mechanical therapy (eg, hemoclips), and medical therapy (eg, diluted epinephrine injection)...

Occult and obscure bleeding are challenging conditions to manage; however, recent advances in gastroenterology and endoscopy have improved our diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. Obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is an umbrella category of bleeding of unknown origin that persists or recurs after endoscopic evaluation of the entire bowel fails to reveal a bleeding source. This review details the evaluation of patients with occult and obscure GI bleeding and offers diagnostic algorithms. The treatment of GI bleeding depends on the type and location of the bleeding lesion and an overview of how to manage these conditions is presented...

The use of surgery in managing upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding has rapidly diminished secondary to advances in our understanding of the pathologies that underlie upper GI bleeding, pharmaceutical treatments for peptic ulcer disease, and endoscopic procedures used to gain hemostasis. A surgeon must work collaboratively with gastroenterologist and interventional radiologist to determine when, and what kind of, surgery is appropriate for the patient with upper GI bleeding.

For over 60 years, diagnostic and interventional radiology have been heavily involved in the evaluation and treatment of patients presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding. For patients who present with upper GI bleeding and have a contraindication to endoscopy or have an unsuccessful attempt at endoscopy for identifying or controlling the bleeding, interventional radiology is often consulted for evaluation and consideration of catheter-based intervention.

Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) and gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) are 2 distinct gastric vascular abnormalities that may present with acute or chronic blood loss. PHG requires the presence of portal hypertension and is typically associated with chronic liver disease, whereas there is controversy about the association of GAVE with chronic liver disease and/or portal hypertension. Distinguishing between GAVE and PHG is crucial because their treatment strategies differ. This review highlights characteristic endoscopic appearances and the clinical features of PHG and GAVE, which, in turn, aid in their appropriate management...

Acute variceal bleeding is a serious complication of portal hypertension. This most often manifests as bleeding from esophageal varices. Although less likely to occur, bleeding from gastric varices is usually more severe. The best endoscopic management for acute esophageal variceal bleeding is band ligation and this often proves to be definitive therapy for these patients. For gastric variceal bleeding, the best endoscopic therapy is endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection but this can be cumbersome to perform and is not a readily available resource at most centers in the United States...

Cirrhosis is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. One of the most serious and unpredictable complication of cirrhosis, with a high mortality rate, is bleeding from esophagogastric varices. Endoscopic screening of varices followed by primary prophylactic treatment with beta blockers or band ligation in the presence of large esophageal varices will reduce the variceal bleeding rates and thereby reduce mortality risks in those with advanced cirrhosis. There is a paucity of data on primary prophylaxis of gastric varices but secondary prophylaxis includes glue injection, balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration, or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting with coil embolization...

Peptic ulcer bleeding is a major cause for hospital admissions and has a significant mortality. Endoscopic interventions reduce the risk of rebleeding in high-risk patients and several options are available including injection therapies, thermal therapies, mechanical clips, hemostatic sprays, and endoscopic suturing. Proton-pump inhibitors and Helicobacter pylori treatment are important adjuncts to endoscopic therapy. Endoscopic therapy is indicated in Forrest 1a, 1b, and 2a lesions. Patients with Forrest 2b lesions may do well with proton-pump inhibitor therapy alone but can also be managed by removal of the clot and targeting endoscopic therapy to the underlying lesion...

Managing gastrointestinal bleeding in patients using antithrombotic agents remains challenging in clinical practice. This review article provides a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to managing acute antithrombotic-related gastrointestinal bleeding, focusing on the triage of patients, appropriate resuscitation, and timely endoscopy. The latest clinical practice guidelines are highlighted to guide decisions concerning the use of reversal agents, temporary interruption, and resumption of antithrombotic drugs...

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) continues to be an important cause for emergency room visits and carries significant morbidity and mortality. Early resuscitative measures form the basis of the management of patients presenting with UGIB and can improve the outcomes of such patients including lowering mortality. In this review, using an evidence-based approach, we discuss the initial assessment and resuscitation of patients presenting with UGIB including identifying clues from history and physical examination to confirm UGIB, preendoscopic risk assessment tools, the role of early fluid resuscitation, utilization of blood products, use of pharmacologic interventions, and the optimal timing of endoscopy...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Endoscopic palliation of dysphagia for patients with inoperable esophageal cancer is complex, highly dependent on local expertise, and best done in a multidisciplinary fashion. Systemic therapy is the standard of care because it has been shown to improve survival. Esophageal stenting has traditionally been the most used endoscopic modality. Some modalities such as laser and photodynamic therapy are rarely used. There has been an increasing amount of data on cryotherapy, especially for patients with mild-to-moderate dysphagia on systemic chemotherapy...

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has been used for various interventions to manage intra-abdominal lesions. EUS-guided antitumor therapy via delivery of chemotherapeutic agents, energy, and radioactive seeds has advantages of less invasiveness than surgical approaches, and the anatomic proximity allows easy and accurate access to the pancreas. The feasibility of EUS-guided antitumor therapy has been reported both in pancreatic solid and cystic neoplasms, with promising preliminary results. Randomized controlled trials are mandatory to further confirm its role...

Gastrointestinal cancers can have severe consequences if diagnosed at a late stage but can be cured when detected and resected at an early stage. In recent years, the significance of endoscopic screening for gastrointestinal cancers has been established, leading to the identification of early-stage cancers and precancerous lesions. Consequently, endoscopic removal of gastrointestinal tumors has emerged as an effective means of cancer treatment and prevention. This article delves into the indications, techniques, and safety measures associated with endoscopic resection of early-stage luminal cancer within the gastrointestinal tract...

The authors review the role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the staging of cancers throughout the gastrointestinal tract. EUS offers an advantage over cross-sectional imaging in locoregional tumor staging but is less sensitive in identifying distant metastasis. The addition of FNA increases diagnostic accuracy and provides a tissue diagnosis. EUS combined with cross-sectional imaging is important in accurately staging GI tumors and thereby reducing unnecessary procedures and health care costs.