Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology最新文献

Background: Budesonide is the standard treatment for microscopic colitis (MC), effectively alleviating diarrhoea. However, diarrhoea recurrence upon discontinuation raises ideas about the feasibility of on-demand treatment. While self-management is emphasized in care of chronic diseases, less is known about patients' perspectives on initiating budesonide on-demand.

Method: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 15 patients diagnosed with MC and previous experience with budesonide treatment. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis to explore patients' perceptions of on-demand treatment.

Results: Three main categories emerged: (1) Self-management and confidence in handling flares: Patients expressed a strong desire for self-management, valuing the ability to initiate treatment independently during flares. However, some were hesitant due to uncertainty about proper dosing and treatment duration. (2) Perceptions of budesonide and attitudes towards medication: While budesonide was perceived as highly effective, concerns about long-term use, side effects, and potential loss of efficacy influenced adherence. Some adjusted doses based on diarrhoea, while others preferred guidance from their physician before initiating treatment. (3) The role of healthcare in treatment decisions: Patients emphasized the importance of accessible healthcare, clear treatment guidelines, and structured follow-up. Many felt that healthcare providers focused primarily on prescribing medication rather than providing a holistic approach. A model integrating person-centred care with professional guidance was seen as ideal for optimizing treatment outcomes.

Conclusion: On-demand budesonide treatment could provide patients with greater flexibility but requires individualized support. A structured approach that balances self-management with follow-up and person-centred guidance may enhance adherence and improve quality of life in patients with MC.

Objectives: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is associated with substantial clinical and economic burden. Fibrosis detection is key to disease management, but biopsy-defined staging is invasive, expensive, and associated with complications. We evaluated healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs by disease stage using biopsy-defined staging and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4; a simple, well-validated, non-invasive tool for assessing fibrosis severity), and compared their utility for predicting long-term outcomes in MASLD.

Methods: This longitudinal observational cohort study included 959 adults with biopsy‑defined MASLD in Swedish medical records (1974-2020) linked to national registers. Patients had a documented fibrosis stage (F0-F4) and age-stratified FIB-4 score (low, indeterminate, high) at baseline. All-cause, liver-, and cardiovascular (CV)-related HCRU/costs were evaluated. The predictive capacity of biopsy and FIB-4 for high HCRU (≥80th percentile of hospitalizations + outpatient visits) was assessed using Harrell's concordance index.

Results: In general, patients with advanced fibrosis had significantly more all-cause and liver-related hospitalizations, longer length of stay, and higher costs than patients with less advanced fibrosis. The number and cost of liver-related outpatient visits increased significantly as fibrosis severity increased, a trend also observed when comparing high and low FIB-4 scores. Other HCRU/cost outcomes were inconsistent between scoring approaches. No association was found between CV-related HCRU and fibrosis severity. Biopsy and FIB-4 demonstrated similar predictive capacity for identifying patients with high HCRU.

Conclusions: These data highlight the positive association between fibrosis severity and HCRU and costs in MASLD, and suggest that FIB-4 may have similar utility to biopsy for evaluating certain HCRU outcomes.

Background and aims: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) enables en-bloc resection of large (>2cm) colorectal lesions. Despite its proven benefits, ESD remains underutilized in many countries. We evaluated the quality and safety of colorectal ESD resections during the implementation of this technique in a Norwegian endoscopy centre.

Methods: This single centre cohort study included all ESD-procedures performed from March 2021 until March 2025 in a Norwegian community hospital. All data were registered prospectively for quality and safety purposes. Main outcomes were en-bloc and complete (R0) resection rates as well as curative rate and complications. Additional outcomes were dissection time and speed. Outcomes were compared in three equal periods.

Results: In total, 131 procedures were performed, 105 (83%) were outpatient procedures and 123 (94%) were completed. En-bloc resection was achieved in 117 (95%), R0 resections in 98 (80%) and curative resections in 84 (68%). Complications occurred in 19 (15%) patients, intraprocedural in five (4%) and post-procedural in 14 (11%). All intraprocedural perforations (n = 3) were managed endoscopically. One patient (0,7%) had emergency surgery due to a suspicion of perforation (Clavien-Dindo score IIIb). Elective completion surgery was required in 15 patients (11%). Median dissection time was 135 min (interquartile range [IQR]: 100-195) in the first period and 80 min (IQR: 56-110) in the third period. Dissection speed (in mm²/min) increased from 13 (IQR: 10-20) in the first period, to 26 (IQR: 19-38) in the third period.

Conclusion: Colorectal ESD can be safely and effectively implemented in the Nordic setting.

Background and aims: Gallstone disease during pregnancy can have varying consequences, from mild to severe and even life-threatening. The aim was to investigate how gallstone intervention during pregnancy impacts pregnancy, delivery and the newborn child.

Methods: Pregnant patients 18-45 years identified from the Swedish National Register for Gallstone Surgery and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (GallRiks) 2009-2016 constituted the intervention group and were cross-linked with the Swedish National Medical Birth Register. A 1:5 matched control group of patients without gallstone intervention during pregnancy was established.

Results: In total, 1620 women were included, and of these, 274 underwent gallstone intervention during pregnancy. Some 221 women underwent cholecystectomy only, and 53 underwent ERCP only or combined with cholecystectomy. The women in the intervention group had a higher BMI at the start of pregnancy (24 vs 28, p < .001) and were more often smokers (21.7% vs. 15.7%, p = .019). Overall, labour started most often spontaneously, (intervention group 67.0% vs. control group 75.3%, p = .004), and elective caesarean section was more common in the intervention group (13.2 vs. 9.0%, p = .034). Premature birth was more common in the intervention group (19 [6.93%] vs. 5 [3.94%], p = .029), with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.8 (CI 1.1-3.3, p < .001). There were no differences in the children's birth weights or APGAR scores.

Conclusions: Caesarean section was more common, and the duration of pregnancy was shorter, including preterm births, in the group with gallstone intervention during pregnancy. However, for the newborn child, birth weight corrected for gestational age and APGAR score was not affected.

Background and aims: This study evaluated the impact of monitoring with colonoscopy and magnetic resonance enterography on clinical decision-making and long-term outcomes in advanced therapy-naïve Crohn's disease patients with moderate-to-severe disease.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 157 biologic-naïve Crohn's disease patients with moderate-to-severe disease at the initiation of advanced therapy between 2006 and 2023. Participants were categorized into three groups according to monitoring method within two years post-treatment: (1) tight monitoring (colonoscopy and magnetic resonance enterography), (2) semi-tight monitoring (either colonoscopy or magnetic resonance enterography), and (3) conventional monitoring (clinical outcomes including laboratory tests only). Treatment adjustments and long-term outcomes were compared.

Results: Of 157 patients (69.4% male, median age 31 years), tight monitoring was associated with increased immunomodulator use (27.2% vs. 3.8%; p < 0.001) and reduced hospitalizations compared to conventional monitoring (5.4% vs. 38.8%; p < 0.001). The incidence of strictures was 0% in the tight monitoring group, compared to 21.3% in the conventional monitoring group, respectively (p = 0.011).

Conclusion: Tight monitoring with both colonoscopy and magnetic resonance enterography within 2 years after advanced therapy initiation in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease is associated with timely treatment adjustments and improved long-term outcomes, particularly through better detection of residual inflammation.

Background: Tumor differentiation is recognized as a prognostic predictor in certain malignancies such as gastric cancer. Although some studies have indicated a prognostic role for tumor differentiation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), that is not widely known. Therefore, in this study, we retrospectively investigated the prognostic value of tumor differentiation in ESCC.

Methods: This study investigated the prognostic value of tumor differentiation by using data from patients who underwent radical esophagectomy for ESCC. The characteristics of patients with well differentiated, moderately differentiated, and poorly differentiated ESCCs were investigated and compared Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results: This study included 226 ESCC patients. The frequencies of each ESCC type were as follows: well-differentiated ESCC, 49 cases (21.7%); moderately differentiated ESCC, 149 cases (65.9%); and poorly differentiated ESCC, 28 cases (12.4%). Although Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no statistical significance for overall survival (OS) or recurrence (p = 0.083 and p = 0.36, respectively), Cox regression analysis demonstrated that tumor differentiation, particularly poorly differentiated ESCC, was a statistically significant factor for survival both in univariable and multivariable analyses (p = 0.03 and p < 0.01, respectively).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that tumor differentiation in ESCC may be a useful predictor of survival. However, owing to the small sample size, especially in patients who received preoperative treatment, further studies are required to establish definitive evidence.

Background: Acute pancreatitis is a potential life-threatening disease derived from different aetiologies. Knowledge about malpractice claims in acute pancreatitis is lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence, patterns and outcomes of malpractice claims for management of acute pancreatitis.

Methods: Nationwide observational cohort of compensation claims filed in a single-payer, universal health care system with a national patient injury compensation system and reviewed by hospital specialists, primary care and health law.

Results: Some 40 claims were filed, among 24,715 episodes of acute pancreatitis. On average, 4.4 claims/year were filed, or 1 claim per every 727 episode of acute pancreatitis. Six claims were directed at primary healthcare (general practitioners (n = 4) and the emergency outpatient units (n = 2)), with none approved. Of all claims, 9 (22.5%) were approved, most frequent for biliary aetiology and related to errors or deviation in treatment (8/9). In 3 of the approved claims, death was the outcome of and part of the compensation approval (one under 'rule of exemption' for unexpectedly severe outcome). The adult population-adjusted claims-rate increased from 1.92 to 2.48/million inhabitants during the period. The claim-rate for events of acute pancreatitis increased from 1.48 to 1.58/1000 events of acute pancreatitis. A total indemnity compensation of 3.6 mill NOK (317 000 EUR) was paid.

Conclusion: Malpractice claims in acute pancreatitis are rare considering the number of episodes and variation in aetiology. Over 1 in 5 claims is granted compensation, most often related to treatment of biliary aetiology and for timing or indication of procedures.

Background: Double malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction is a frequent and debilitating complication of advanced biliopancreatic cancers. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biliary and enteric drainage techniques have emerged as alternatives to ERCP and duodenal stenting (DS), but optimal therapeutic sequencing remains unclear.

Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective monocentric study including 34 patients treated for DMBO-DDO between February 2015 and December 2023. Inclusion required histologically confirmed tumors with both distal malignant biliary obstruction (DMBO) and high-grade gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). Treatment sequences were guided by the first symptom and validated by a multidisciplinary team. The primary endpoint was biliary reintervention rate according to different therapeutic combinations. Secondary endpoints included technical and clinical success, adverse events, and global reintervention rates.

Results: Mean patient age was 75 years, with pancreatic adenocarcinoma being the most common (58.8%). ERCP was the first procedure in 67.6% of cases. Technical success was 100% for all biliary interventions. The overall biliary reintervention rate was 52.9%, significantly higher in ERCP-based strategies (up to 77.8%) compared to EUS-guided approaches (18.2%-40%; p = 0.03). Lower initial bilirubin levels (<150 μmol/L) were also associated with increased reintervention rates (77.2% vs. 23.5%; p = 0.019). Complication rates were low (4.4% for grade ≥ III).

Conclusions: ERCP-first strategies for DMBO in the association of GOO showed significantly higher biliary reintervention rates compared to EUS-guided approaches. These findings suggest that EUS-based drainage should be favored in selected patients. Prospective multicenter studies are needed to refine treatment algorithms and confirm predictive factors for reintervention.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) may benefit patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, there is insufficient evidence on prognostic factors for metastatic GISTs undergoing CRS.

Methods: This study reviewed metastatic GISTs that underwent CRS after receiving TKIs in our center from April 2014 to December 2023. We collected clinicopathologic characteristics and survival data for analyses via the Cox hazard model and Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: Finally, 73 patients with metastatic GISTs who underwent CRS were enrolled. The TKI treatments used at time of surgery were imatinib (n = 53, 72.6%) and subsequent-line TKIs (n = 20, 27.4%). There were 30 patients (41.1%) with responsive disease (RD), 17 patients (23.3%) with unifocal progression disease (UP) and 26 patients (35.6%) with multifocal progression disease (MP) to TKIs at the time of surgery. The median follow-up time was 31 months. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that MP (HR 2.406, p = 0.025), R2 resection (HR 2.532, p = 0.023), and mitotic index ≥5/50 HPFs (high-power fields) (HR 2.687, p = 0.022) independently predicted worse progression-free survival (PFS), and R2 resection predicted worse overall survival (OS) (HR 5.202, p = 0.039) for the entire cohort. In the subgroup analysis, radiographic response, extent of resection and mitotic index were prognostic factors for patients receiving imatinib but not those receiving subsequent-line TKIs. The rate of postoperative complications was 9.6% and the rate of grade III or higher complications was 4.1%.

Conclusions: Non-MP, R0/1 resection and mitotic index < 5/50 HPFs may predict better outcomes for patients with metastatic GISTs on imatinib, and CRS is feasible and safe.