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BackgroundThe large amount of heterogeneous data collected in surgical/endoscopic practice calls for data-driven approaches as machine learning (ML) models. The aim of this study was to develop ML models to predict endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) efficacy at 12 months defined by total weight loss (TWL) % and excess weight loss (EWL) % achievement. Multicentre data were used to enhance generalizability: evaluate consistency among different center of ESG practice and assess reproducibility of the models and possible clinical application. Models were designed to be dynamic and integrate follow-up clinical data into more accurate predictions, possibly assisting management and decision-making.MethodsML models were developed using data of 404 ESG procedures performed at 12 centers across Europe. Collected data included clinical and demographic variables at the time of ESG and at follow-up. Multicentre/external and single center/internal and temporal validation were performed. Training and evaluation of the models were performed on Python’s scikit-learn library. Performance of models was quantified as receiver operator curve (ROC-AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and calibration plots.ResultsMulticenter external validation: ML models using preoperative data show poor performance. Best performances were reached by linear regression (LR) and support vector machine models for TWL% and EWL%, respectively, (ROC-AUC: TWL% 0.87, EWL% 0.86) with the addition of 6-month follow-up data.Single-center internal validation: Preoperative data only ML models show suboptimal performance. Early, i.e., 3-month follow-up data addition lead to ROC-AUC of 0.79 (random forest classifiers model) and 0.81 (LR models) for TWL% and EWL% achievement prediction, respectively. Single-center temporal validation shows similar results.ConclusionsAlthough preoperative data only may not be sufficient for accurate postoperative predictions, the ability of ML models to adapt and evolve with the patients changes could assist in providing an effective and personalized postoperative care. ML models predictive capacity improvement with follow-up data is encouraging and may become a valuable support in patient management and decision-making.

ObjectiveEndoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) aims to achieve en bloc resection of non-pedunculated colorectal adenomas which might be indicated in cases with superficial submucosal invasive cancers (SMIC), but the procedure is time consuming and complex. The prevalence of such cancers is not known but may determine the clinical necessity for ESD as opposed to the commonly used piecemeal mucosal resection (endoscopic mucosal resection) of colorectal adenomas. The main aim was to assess the prevalence of SMIC SM1 (ie, invasion ≤1000 µm or less than one-third of the submucosa) on colorectal lesions removed by ESD.DesignA literature review was conducted using electronic databases (up to March 2017) for colorectal ESD series reporting the histology of the dissected lesions.Results51 studies with data on 11 260 colorectal dissected lesions were included. Most resected lesions (82.2%; 95% CI 78.8% to 85.3%) were adenomas (low- and high-grade dysplasia, 26.8% and 55.4%, respectively). Overall, 15.7% were submucosal cancers, but only slightly more than half (8.0%; 95% CI 6.1% to 10.3%) had an infiltration depth of ≤1000 µm, providing a number needed to treat (NNT) to avoid one surgery of 12.5. Estimating an oncologically curative (R0; G1/2; L0/V0) resection rate of 75.3% (95% CI 52.2% to 89.4%) for malignant lesions, the prevalence of curative resection lowered to 6% (95% CI 4.2% to 7.2%) with an NNT of 16.7.ConclusionThe low prevalence of SMIC SM1 in lesions selected for ESD as well as the even lower rate of curative resection limits the clinical applicability of endoscopic en bloc resection. This calls for caution over an indiscriminate use of this technique in the resection of colorectal neoplasia.

BackgroundEndoscopic ultrasound guided gastrojejunostomy (EUS-GJ) with lumen apposing metal stents has recently emerged as a viable option, as an alternative to surgical gastrojejunostomy and endoscopic enteral stenting, for managing gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). We aim to perform a retrospective analysis of the efficacy, safety and outcomes of EUS-GJ performed at three tertiary institutions in the United Kingdom.MethodsConsecutive patients who underwent EUS-GJ between August 2018 and March 2021 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Data were obtained from interrogation of electronic health records.ResultsTwenty five patients (15 males) with a median age of 63 years old (range 29–80) were included for analysis. 88% (22/25) of patients had GOO due to underlying malignant disease. All patients were deemed surgically inoperable or at high surgical risk. Both technical and clinical success were achieved in 92% (23/25) of patients. There was an improvement in the mean Gastric Outlet Obstruction Scoring System scores following a technically successful EUS-GJ (2.52 vs 0.68, p < 0.01). Adverse events occurred in 2/25 patients (8%), both due to stent maldeployment necessitating endoscopic closure of the gastric defect with clips. Long-term follow-up data were available for 21 of 23 patients and the re-intervention rate was 4.8% (1/21) over a median follow-up period of 162 (range 5–474) days.ConclusionEUS-GJ in carefully selected patients is an effective and safe procedure when performed by experienced endoscopists.

Introduction Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a novel intervention for the treatment of achalasia, which combines the advantages of endoscopic access and myotomy. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the efficacy and safety of POEM. Methods The systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid MEDLINE (R) including in-process and non-indexed citations were searched for POEM studies using the keywords: esophageal achalasia, POEM, endoscopy, natural orifice surgery, laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM), and related terms. Eckardt score, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, and reported complications were the main outcomes. Two authors reviewed the search result independently. A third reviewer resolved all disagreements. Data abstraction was pilot-tested and approved by all authors. Data were examined for clinical, methodological, and statistical heterogeneity with the aim of determining whether evidence synthesis using meta- analysis was possible. Results The search strategy retrieved 2894 citations. After removing duplicates and applying the exclusion criteria, 54 studies were selected for full-text review of which a total of 19 studies were considered eligible for further analysis. There were 10 retrospective and 9 prospective studies, including 1299 POEM procedures. No randomized control trial (RCT) was identified. Overall, the pre- and post-POEM Eckardt scores and LES pressure were significantly different. The most frequently reported complications were mucosal perforation, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumoperitoneum, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, pleural effusion, and pneumonia. The median follow-up was 13 months (range 3–24). Conclusion POEM is a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of achalasia. However, only short-term follow-up data compared with LHM are available. RCTs and long-term follow-up studies are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of POEM in the management of patients with achalasia.

Balloon endoscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (BE-ERCP) has become an essential modality for managing pancreaticobiliary diseases in patients with surgically altered anatomy (SAA). This review summarizes the current evidence and technical advances in BE-ERCP, with a focus on insertion strategies tailored to specific reconstructive surgical techniques. Recent developments in short-type balloon endoscopes have improved maneuverability and device compatibility, enabling the widespread use of standard ERCP accessories. In addition, innovative tools, such as highly rotatable sphincterotomes, helical stone retrieval baskets, and newly introduced slim cholangioscopes, have expanded the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of BE-ERCP. Papillary interventions, including endoscopic sphincterotomy, endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD), large balloon dilation (EPLBD), and combined approaches (ESBD), are discussed with respect to their feasibility and safety in SAA. Furthermore, the clinical efficacy of stone removal and lithotripsy techniques, including peroral cholangioscopy-guided electrohydraulic lithotripsy, is reviewed. Finally, we address the emerging role of interventional endoscopic ultrasound as a complementary or alternative strategy to BE-ERCP. Taken together, this review provides a comprehensive update on current techniques and evolving strategies for endoscopic management of bile duct stones in patients with altered anatomy.

Measuring the stone-to-distal bile duct ratio (SD ratio) before treatment may help predict the need for additional procedures in large bile duct stones Large common bile duct stones (CBDSs) can sometimes cause pain or infection, which can occasionally be life-threatening. These CBDSs are often treated with a procedure called endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (EPLBD), which widens the bile duct using a balloon and removes the CBDSs using conventional devices such as balloon catheters, basket catheters, and mechanical lithotripsy. Adjunctive electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) is suggested to be useful for large CBDSs that cannot be removed by the conventional approach. The present study aimed to identify pre-procedural predictors for the need for EHL. This retrospective single-center study included patients with CBDSs ⩾10 mm in diameter who underwent EPLBD or EHL. A total of 163 patients were included in this study. Among them, CBDS removal with EPLBD could be achieved with conventional devices in 123 patients, while 40 patients required EHL. A higher SD ratio was shown to be a potential independent risk factor for the need for EHL in EPLBD for large CBDSs. Patients with a SD ratio ⩾ 1.17 may be more likely to require additional treatment.

Introduction Obesity is a worldwide epidemic, with up to 17% of French population affected. European guidelines recommend surgical management at specific weight and comorbidity level; however, less than 2% of eligible patients undergo surgical bariatric interventions. To extend the benefits of bariatric interventions to the untreated population with obesity, endoscopic techniques such as endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) have been developed. Analysis of costs and long-term benefits of ESG across stakeholders is needed. This work aimed to assess the healthcare economic and outcomes for ESG in the French healthcare system. Methods A cost-utility analysis study was conducted to evaluate class II obesity patients, stratified into ESG and lifestyle modifications or lifestyle modifications alone groups. Health benefits were measured as quality-adjusted life years (QALY) and costs benefits expressed as incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). A 6-state Markov model was used and base case scenario analysis was used to assess ESG benefits against lifestyle modifications only. One-way sensitivity analysis (OWSA) and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed to evaluate uncertainty on health care interventions and worse case scenarios, respectively. Results ESG population from the France center included 59 patients, lifestyle modification group was drawn from the MERIT cohort. The base case scenario showed higher costs for ESG procedure compared to lifestyle modifications alone; however, gain in terms of QALY (+ 1,3) is observed maintaining ICER below the set threshold. Also OWSA and probabilistic analysis confirmed ESG cost-effectiveness. OWSA allowed identification of ICER-influencing factors; probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed ESG to be cost-effective in 99.29% of iterations. Conclusion ESG is cost-effective in the French healthcare system. Its potential to reach an untreated portion of the population living with obesity should prompt its uptake into clinical practice. The results of this study should sustain ESG implementation throughout France and possible integration of its reimbursement by the public healthcare system. Graphical abstract

BackgroundGastroenterologists frequently face the dilemma of how to choose among different management options.AimTo develop a tool of medical decision analysis that helps choosing between competing management options of interventional endoscopy and surgery.MethodsCarcinoma-in-situ of the esophagus, large colonic polyps, and ampullary adenoma serve as three examples for disorders being managed by both techniques. A threshold analysis using a decision tree was modeled to compare the costs and utility values associated with managing the three examples. If the expected healing or success rate of interventional endoscopy exceeds a threshold calculated as the ratio of endoscopy costs over surgery costs, endoscopy becomes the preferred management option. A low threshold speaks in favor of endoscopic intervention as initial management strategy.ResultsIf the decision in favor of surgery is focused exclusively on preventing death from a given disease, surgical intervention may seem to provide the best treatment option. However, interventional endoscopy becomes a viable alternative, if the comparison is based on a broader perspective that includes adverse events and long-term disability, as well as the healthcare costs of both procedures. For carcinoma-in-situ of the esophagus, the threshold for the expected success rate is 24% (range in the sensitivity analysis: 7–29%); for large colonic polyps it is 10% (5–12%), and for duodenal papillary adenoma it is 17% (5–21%).ConclusionsEven if a management strategy surpasses its alternative with respect to one important outcome parameter, there is often still room for the lesser alternative to be considered as viable option.

Background: Interventional endoscopic ultrasound (I-EUS), including EUS-guided biliary drainage, is now widely performed, but it becomes challenging if the visibility of devices is inadequate. A novel visibility enhancement mode, termed “Accent mode,” has recently become available for use with a fluoroscopic system. Objective: To compare the visibility of each device and pancreato-biliary ducts between Accent mode and Original mode during I-EUS. Design: A single-center non-randomized evaluation study. Methods: Patients who underwent I-EUS under Accent mode were prospectively enrolled. All evaluations were performed using recorded procedural videos. The visibility score was graded on a five-item scale, with evaluations performed by three experts and seven trainees. Results: Twenty patients (Accent group) and 24 patients (Original group) were enrolled. Mean guidewire visibility scores were significantly higher in the Accent group (4.95 and 4.95 in the expert and trainee observers, respectively) than in the Original group (2.53 and 2.32, respectively; p < 0.001). For the dilation device, visibility scores were significantly higher in the Accent group (4.47 and 4.58 in the expert and trainee observers, respectively) than in the Original group (2.68 and 2.53, respectively; p < 0.001). Stent visibility scores were significantly higher in the Accent group (4.16 and 4.32 in the expert and trainee observers, respectively) than in the Original group (2.89 and 2.68, respectively; p < 0.001). Procedure time was significantly shorter in the Accent group than in the Original group (10.3 vs 17.2 min, p = 0.0012). Conclusion: In conclusion, Accent mode appears to reduce I-EUS procedure time. It is necessary to confirm these findings in a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

Background and aimIn surgically altered anatomy (SAA), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can be challenging, and it remains debatable the choice of the optimal endoscopic approach within this context.We aim to show our experience and evaluate the technical and clinical success of endoscopic treatment performed in the setting of adverse events (AE) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).MethodsThis study was conducted on a retrospective cohort of patients presenting biliopancreatic complications after PD from 01/01/2012 to 31/12/2022. All patients underwent ERCP at our Endoscopy Unit. Clinical, instrumental data, and characteristics of endoscopic treatments were collected.Results133 patients were included (80 M, mean age = 65 y.o.) with a total of 296 endoscopic procedures (median = 2 procedures/treatment). The indications for ERCP were mainly biliary AE (76 cases, 57.1%). Technical success was obtained in 121 patients of 133 (90.9%). 112 out of 133 (84.2%) obtained clinical success. Nine patients out of 112 (8%) experienced AEs. Clinical success rates were statistically different between patients with biliary or pancreatic disease (93.4% vs 73.6%, p < 0.0001). Septic patients were 38 (28.6%) and showed a worse prognosis than non-septic ones (clinical success: 65.7% vs 91.5%, p = 0.0001). During follow-up, 9 patients (8%), experienced recurrence of the index biliopancreatic disease with a median onset at 20 months (IQR 6–40.1).ConclusionOur case series demonstrated that the use of a pediatric colonoscope in ERCP procedures for patients with AEs after PD is both safe and effective in treating the condition, even in a long-term follow-up.