Although the EUS-GJ group contained more complex patients, efficacy was similar between the groups. AEs were significantly lower in the EUS-GJ group. EUS-GJ is a safe and efficacious, minimally invasive option for patients with GOO.

Pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) are a frequent complication of pancreatitis. It is important to classify PFCs to guide management. The revised Atlanta criteria classifies PFCs as acute or chronic, with chronic fluid collections subdivided into pseudocysts and walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN). Establishing adequate nutritional support is an essential step in the management of PFCs. Early attempts at oral feeding can be trialed in patients with mild pancreatitis. Enteral feeding should be implemented in patients with moderate to severe pancreatitis. Jejunal feeding remains the preferred route of enteral nutrition. Symptomatic PFCs require drainage; options include surgical, percutaneous, or endoscopic approaches. With the advent of newer and more advanced endoscopic tools and expertise, and an associated reduction in health care costs, minimally invasive endoscopic drainage has become the preferable approach. An endoscopic ultrasonography-guided approach using a seldinger technique is the preferred endoscopic approach. Both plastic stents and metal stents are efficacious and safe; however, metal stents may offer an advantage, especially in infected pseudocysts and in WOPN. Direct endoscopic necrosectomy is often required in WOPN. Lumen apposing metal stents that allow for direct endoscopic necrosectomy and debridement through the stent lumen are preferred in these patients. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography with pancreatic duct (PD) exploration should be performed concurrent to PFC drainage. PD disruption is associated with an increased severity of pancreatitis, an increased risk of recurrent attacks of pancreatitis and long-term complications, and a decreased rate of PFC resolution after drainage. Any pancreatic ductal disruption should be bridged with endoscopic stenting. However, with improving pathophysiologic under standing and improving diagnostic tools, it became clear that a more detailed organizational system was required. More specifically, one that distinguished between collections containing fluid alone vs those arising from necrosis and/or containing solid components. As such, a new classification system was developed known as the revised Atlanta criteria [4] . Similar to the original Atlanta Criteria, PFCs are classified as acute (< 4 wk after the pancreatitis episode) or chronic (> 4 wk after the pancreatitis episode). However, in the revised criteria, both acute and chronic collections are further subdivided based on the presence of necrosis within the collection. Acute collections are divided into: acute peripancreatic fluid collections (APFC) and acute necrotic collections (ANC); chronic fluid collections are divided into: pseudocysts or walledoff pancreatic necrosis (WOPN). These new classifications are important because the treatment and management varies depending on the type of collection. ENTERAL FEEDINGThe first step in the management of any PFC is ensuring adequate nutritional support. In mild to moderate acute pancreatitis, oral feeding can be initiated when...

ESG is a minimally invasive and effective endoscopic weight loss intervention. In addition to sustained total body weight loss up to 24 months, ESG reduced markers of hypertension, diabetes, and hypertriglyceridemia.

On the basis of a retrospective analysis of 124 patients, endoscopic therapy of WON by using LAMS is safe and effective. Creation of a large and sustained cystogastrostomy or cystoenterostomy tract is effective in the drainage and treatment of WON.

Background In increasingly aging populations, awareness of outcomes of older patients treated with biologics is becoming more important. However, few studies to-date have investigated the safety and durability of anti-TNF therapy in this sub-group. Methods This was a retrospective single-center study with cases comprising all IBD patients who commenced anti-TNF treatment at age > 60 years. Cases of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) were identified from medical record review. Our controls consisted of patients younger than age 60 years on anti-TNF treatment and patients > 60 years on treatment with immunomodulators. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were used to calculate the probability of remaining on anti-TNF therapy. Results We identified a total of 54 IBD patients who initiated anti-TNF therapy over the age of 60 years (mean 73, range 61–97 years). Among these, a total of 38 patients (70%) discontinued anti-TNF therapy after a mean of 24.1 months. At 12 months after initiation, 75% of patients older than age 60 years were still on anti-TNF agents compared to 93% among younger users and 82% among older AZA users (p < 0.05). Compared to older AZA users, older anti-TNF users remained more likely to require early therapy cessation (HR 2.21, 95% CI 1.29 – 3.78). Conclusion The IBD population older than age 60 at the time of initiation of anti-TNF therapy is at higher risk for discontinuation of therapy. They may also be particularly vulnerable to infectious complications requiring hospitalization suggesting need for careful monitoring during therapy.