Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy最新文献

Endoscopy service provision in low-income countries is sparse and inadequate to meet patient demands. Although novel endoscopic therapeutics have dramatically changed the way diseases are treated in the developed world, in low-resource countries, even basic services such as upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and colonoscopy are lacking. The need for endoscopy is apparent with high rates of upper GI bleeding from varices and peptic ulcers, and the rapidly growing rates of inflammatory bowel disease and GI cancers in these regions. There are limited alternatives to endoscopy available and are in general more risky and less efficacious. In Africa, the barriers to endoscopy service provision vary across the continent and serve as a model for challenges to overcome in providing health services in limited-resource environments. Although the clinical need for endoscopy grows, there has not been a parallel growth in the number of trained endoscopists with most regions having only one endoscopist for every 400,000 people. Many countries do not have a formal GI training program. Infrastructure investment remains insufficient, not fit-for-purpose, and endoscopy equipment is not consistently available in many regions. Nevertheless, some units continue to provide endoscopy services in challenging environments, modifying workflow to suit the limited structure, and adapting to local constraints while still trying to maintain endoscopy standards for their patients. The challenges are further amplified in bringing services to remote areas where, in some countries, more than 75% of the population resides, requiring innovative approaches such as mobile endoscopy units. Endoscopy is an essential life-saving medical service that is scarcely available in low-income countries. By examining the challenges to the development of endoscopy services throughout Africa, we hope to understand better the mechanisms by which GI medical services can be optimally delivered in low-and-middle–income countries.

Background and Aims

High-quality colonoscopy reduces the risk of death from colorectal cancer. The adenoma detection rate (ADR) is the principal measure of colonoscopy quality but is onerous to calculate. We report the development of a fully automated platform for calculation of the ADR and other key colonoscopy quality indicators without the need for manual data entry.

Methods

Endoscopy and pathology reports from 6 centers were collected over a 3-month period and collated using a novel data transfer interface. Text-based classification parameters were developed to identify average-risk screening colonoscopies, adenomatous pathology, cecal intubation, and withdrawal time. Automated quality metrics calculators based on these classifications were built into a web-based reporting platform, and the resulting quality metrics were benchmarked against those produced through a manual record review. Confirmation of the calculator's performance was performed in a validation cohort with data collected over a 1-month period, 6 months after the initial study.

Results

The study included 3809 colonoscopies (mean age 56.1 ± 6.40 years, 53.7% female, 38 endoscopists). The automated calculator yielded an ADR of 45.1% compared with 44.3% on manual review. Correct classification of ADR-qualifying screening colonoscopies was achieved with high predictive value, with a sensitivity of 0.918 and specificity of 1.0. The cecal intubation rate was 95.8%, and the average withdrawal time was 10:05 minutes.

Conclusion

We demonstrate the feasibility and performance of a colonoscopy quality reporting platform capable of calculating the ADR and other key metrics using novel, fully automated pathology report integration and a text query-based classification accessible in a wide range of practice settings.

Gastroparesis is a chronic debilitation condition characterized by delayed gastric emptying. Medically refractory gastroparesis poses a significant burden on patients and the health care system. Managing these patients can be challenging, partly due to the overlap of symptoms with other functional disorders and the lack of a consistent association between symptoms and the degree of gastric dysmotility. Gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy (G-POEM) has recently emerged as a novel therapeutic option for managing gastroparesis. This review provides an overview of G-POEM for medically refractory gastroparesis, discussing patient selection, technical aspects of the procedure, clinical outcomes, and future directions.

International collaborations have significant impacts on patient care, endoscopy education, and research. These collaborations can be mutually enriching for all parties involved. Resource-limited settings may suffer from inadequate infrastructure or expertise to meet societal needs, yet they offer unique opportunities that can benefit collaborating partners. Unfortunately, there is often a lack of clear guidance on how to establish collaborations between professionals in the global South and their European or American counterparts. This review aims to address this issue by describing the key elements of successful partnerships, identifying reasons for failure, highlighting hidden pitfalls, and offering strategies for beneficial and productive collaboration. The review emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural differences and provides recommendations for all parties involved in a collaboration. Our goal is to provide an essential guide for fostering strong, mutually beneficial partnerships in international collaborations between resource-rich and resource-limited settings.

This comprehensive review addresses the critical role of colonoscopy in colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention. With CRC as one of the most common cancer types in men and women, high-quality colonoscopy is vital to reduce CRC incidence and mortality. Persistent gaps in quality, evidenced by interval CRCs and large variations in both provider adenoma detection rate (ADR) and resection methods, highlight the need to prioritize colonoscopy quality improvement through feedback and training.

This review delves into key factors influencing colonoscopy quality with lesion detection and removal. Excellent bowel preparation is necessary for effective colonoscopy, impacting lesion detection, ADR, procedure time, and complication risk. Optimal inspection techniques, encompassing provider maneuvers and utilization of technological devices such as distal attachment devices and artificial intelligence, hold promise in enhancing inspection quality. For optimal lesion resection, we explore cold snare polypectomy as a safe, cost-effective, and efficacious technique, particularly for diminutive and small polyps, and endoscopic mucosal resection for large (≥20 mm) polyps.

We outline the importance and critical need for quality assurance programs and to implement education science principles into endoscopy training. Innovative simulation-based mastery learning training, which includes various educational strategies to engage endoscopists in deliberate practice with assessment and feedback, holds great potential to efficiently scale the practice of high-quality colonoscopy to improve ADR and resection methods.