Validation and Application of Predictive Models for Inadequate Bowel Preparation in Colonoscopies in a Tertiary Hospital Population

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Bowel preparation is a major quality criterion for colonoscopies. Models developed to identify patients with inadequate preparation have not been validated in external cohorts. We aim to validate these models and determine their applicability. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Colonoscopies between April and November 2019 were retrospectively included. Boston Bowel Preparation Scale ≥2 per segment was considered adequate. Insufficient data, incomplete colonoscopies, and total colectomies were excluded. Two models were tested: model 1 (tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, diabetes, constipation, abdominal surgery, previous inadequate preparation, inpatient status, and American Society of Anesthesiology [ASA] score ≥3); model 2 (co-morbidities, tricyclic antidepressants, constipation, and abdominal surgery). <b><i>Results:</i></b> We included 514 patients (63% males; age 61.7 ± 15.6 years), 441 with adequate preparation. The main indications were inflammatory bowel disease (26.1%) and endoscopic treatment (24.9%). Previous surgery (36.2%) and ASA score ≥3 (23.7%) were the most common comorbidities. An ASA score ≥3 was the only identified predictor for inadequate preparation in this study (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001, OR 3.28). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of model 1 were 60.3, 64.2, 21.8, and 90.7%, respectively. Model 2 had a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 57.5, 67.4, 22.6, and 90.5%, respectively. The AUC for the ROC curves was 0.62 for model 1, 0.62 for model 2, and 0.65 for the ASA score. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Although both models accurately predict adequate bowel preparation, they are still unreliable in predicting inadequate preparation and, as such, new models, or further optimization of current ones, are needed. Utilizing the ASA score might be an appropriate approximation of the risk for inadequate bowel preparation in tertiary hospital populations.

Anastomotic Leaks following Esophagectomy for Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer: The Key Is the Multidisciplinary Management

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy is associated with high mortality and impaired quality of life. <b><i>Aim:</i></b> The objective of this work was to determine the effectiveness of management of esophageal anastomotic leakage (EAL) after esophagectomy for esophageal and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Patients submitted to esophagectomy for esophageal and GEJ cancer at a tertiary oncology hospital between 2014 and 2019 (<i>n</i> = 119) were retrospectively reviewed and EAL risk factors and its management outcomes determined. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Older age and nodal disease were identified as independent risk factors for anastomotic leak (adjusted OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00–1.13, and adjusted OR 4.89, 95% CI 1.09–21.8). Patients with EAL spent more days in the intensive care unit (ICU; median 14 vs. 4 days) and had higher 30-day mortality (15 vs. 2%) and higher in-hospital mortality (35 vs. 4%). The first treatment option was surgical in 13 patients, endoscopic in 10, and conservative in 3. No significant differences were noticeable between these patients, but sepsis and large leakages were tendentially managed by surgery. At follow-up, 3 patients in the surgery group (23%) and 9 in the endoscopic group (90%) were discharged under an oral diet (<i>p</i> = 0.001). The in-hospital mortality rate was 38% in the surgical group, 33% in the conservative group, and 10% in endoscopic group (<i>p</i> = 0.132). In patients with EAL, the presence of septic shock at leak diagnosis was the only predictor of mortality (<i>p</i> = 0.004). ICU length-of-stay was non-significantly lower in the endoscopic therapy group (median 4 days, vs. 16 days in the surgical group, <i>p</i> = 0.212). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Risk factors for EAL may help change pre-procedural optimization. The results of this study suggest including an endoscopic approach for EAL.

Improving the Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Gastric Cancer in the West

Gastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death. In Western countries, its lower prevalence and the absence of mass screening programmes contribute to late diagnosis and a slower implementation of minimally invasive treatments. A secondary prevention strategy through endoscopic surveillance of patients at high risk of intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma or by screening gastric cancer within colorectal screening programmes is cost-effective in intermediate-risk countries, though the identification of these patients remains challenging. Virtual chromoendoscopy with narrow-band imaging improves the accuracy of endoscopic diagnosis, significantly increasing the sensitivity for intestinal metaplasia while preserving specificity. Endoscopic grading of gastric intestinal metaplasia is feasible, correlates well with histological staging systems and also with gastric neoplasia risk and can be used to stratify risk. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the West achieves efficacy and safety outcomes similar to those reported for Eastern countries, and the long-term disease-specific survival is higher than 95%. A prospective comparative study with gastrectomy confirms its higher safety and its benefits concerning health-related quality of life. However, ESD is associated with a 5% risk of postprocedural bleeding and a 20% risk of non-curative resection. The knowledge of risk factors for adverse events and non-curative resection can improve patient selection. The risk of metachronous lesions after ESD is high (3–5% per year), and endoscopic surveillance is needed. The management of patients with non-curative resection can be optimized using risk scoring systems for lymph node metastasis.

NAFLD Nutritional Management: Results from a Multidisciplinary Approach

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Lifestyle changes are the mainstay treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to assess the magnitude of weight loss in a group of NAFLD patients followed on a combined lifestyle intervention by a multidisciplinary team. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Patients were assessed before and after a 12-month dietary intervention (Mediterranean diet aiming at weight loss). Patients who received a structured dietary plan along with general lifestyle recommendations were designated as the multidisciplinary treatment (MdT) group. Patients who declined follow-up still received general lifestyle recommendations and were designated as the conventional treatment group, being used as a control group. <b><i>Results:</i></b> From the 77 patients with documented NAFLD, 31.2% of patients were overweight and 55.8% obese; 66 patients constituted the MdT group and 11 the conventional treatment group. After 3 months, 89% of patients lost weight; at 6 months, 75.4% maintained the weight lost. At 12 months, 65% of patients still decreased their weight, with 92.2% of patients in the MdT group still maintaining a lower weight than baseline versus just 50% in the conventional group (<i>p</i> = 0.008). Only patients in the MdT group presented a weight loss higher than 10% (9.6%; <i>n</i> = 6). At 12 months patients in the MdT group presented an average reduction of 4.2 kg versus a reduction of just 0.6 kg in the conventional treatment group (<i>p</i> = 0.016). The MdT group, but not the conventional group, presented significant differences in liver enzymes at 12 months compared to baseline. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Adherence to a multidisciplinary approach, compared to management solely by a hepatologist, in NAFLD patients, is effective with greater weight loss after a 12-month follow-up and a lower rate of weight gain recurrence.

Development of a Model to Predict Liver Decompensation prior to Transarterial Chemoembolization Refractoriness in Patients with Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the first-line treatment for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). For patients without an adequate response, current finding suggests that treatment with molecular target agents, approved for advanced stage, might present benefits. However, this requires a preserved liver function. This study aims to evaluate possible predictors of early deterioration of hepatic reserve, prior to TACE refractoriness, in a cohort of patients treated with TACE. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Retrospective analysis of 99 patients with<b><i></i></b>Child-Pugh class A and intermediate-stage HCC who underwent TACE as the first-line treatment. All patients were submitted to a biochemical and medical evaluation prior to initial TACE and every month afterward. Response to initial TACE was evaluated at 1 month. The time to Child-Pugh class deterioration before TACE refractoriness was assessed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Ninety-nine patients were included. Objective response rate (ORR) to initial TACE was assessed as present in 59 (63.4%) and as absent in 34 (36.6%) patients. Liver decompensated before TACE refractoriness in 51 (51.5%) patients, and the median time to liver decompensation was 14 (IQR 8–20) months after first TACE. In multivariate analysis, beyond up-to-7 criteria (HR 2.4, <i>p</i> = 0.031), albumin &#x3c;35 mg/dL (HR 3.5, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) and absence of ORR (HR 2.4, <i>p</i> = 0.020) were associated with decreased overall survival free of liver decompensation. Moreover, beyond up-to-7 criteria, albumin &#x3c;35 mg/dL and absence of ORR associated negatively with 6-month survival free of liver decompensation. Our model created using those variables was able to predict liver decompensation at 6 months with an AUROC of 0.701 (<i>p</i> = 0.02). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The absence of ORR after initial TACE, beyond up-to-7 criteria and albumin &#x3c;35 mg/dL, was a predictive factor for early liver decompensation before TACE refractoriness in our population. Such patients might benefit from treatment escalation to systemic therapy, in monotherapy or in combination with TACE.