Non-adherence to the rule of 3 does not appear to increase the risk of AEs, particularly perforation, after esophageal dilation using bougie dilators. Caution is needed with the dilation of malignant strictures, as there is an increased risk of perforations and AEs. However, large prospective studies are needed to verify the results of this study.

When performed by experienced endoscopists, safe and effective removal of embedded PCSEMS can be achieved via the SIS technique.

Objectives There are data to suggest that obesity is associated with local and systemic complications as well as mortality in acute pancreatitis (AP). Cohort studies to date, however, have shown conflicting results from mostly unadjusted analyses. Therefore, we performed an individual patient data meta-analysis with the primary aim to investigate the association between obesity and mortality in AP. Our secondary aim was to investigate the association between obesity and necrosis, organ failure, multiple organ failure, and invasive intervention. Patients and methods We systematically searched four electronic databases for prospective studies on obesity and outcomes in AP. Researchers of eligible studies were invited to share individual patient data using a standardized data collection form. All end points were investigated with a one-stage mixed effects Poisson model with random intercepts and forced entry of relevant confounders. Results We included five databases with 1302 patients, of whom 418 (32%) were obese. In total, 466 (36%) patients had necrosis, 328 (25%) had organ failure, 188 (14%) had multiple organ failure, 210 (16%) had an intervention, and 84 (7%) patients died. We found no significant association between obesity and mortality [relative risk (RR) 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.89–2.20], necrosis (RR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.90–1.31) or invasive intervention (RR: 1.10, 95% CI: 0.83–1.47) after adjustment for confounders. However, obesity was independently associated with the development of organ failure (RR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.11–1.73) and multiple organ failure (RR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.35–2.42). Conclusion Obesity is independently associated with the development of organ failure and multiple organ failure in AP. However, there is no association between obesity and mortality, necrosis, and an intervention.

BackgroundFew studies have assessed factors associated with angiodysplasias during endoscopy or factors associated with symptomatic disease.AimsTo evaluate risk factors for the presence of and contribution to symptomatic disease in patients with angiodysplasias.MethodsWe performed a systematic MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library search according to the PRISMA guidelines for studies assessing risk factors involved in angiodysplasias detected during endoscopy and factors that lead to anemia or overt bleeding. Study quality was assessed with the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. A risk assessment was performed by selecting risk factors identified by two independent studies and/or by a large effect size.ResultsTwenty-three studies involving 92,634 participants were included. The overall quality of the evidence was moderate. Risk factors for the diagnosis of angiodysplasias during endoscopy confirmed by at least two studies were increasing age (OR 1.09 per year, 95% CI 1.04–1.1), chronic kidney disease (OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.9–10.5) and cardiovascular disease (2.9, 95% CI 1.4–6.2). The risk of rebleeds was higher in the presence of multiple lesions (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.1–16.2 and 3.8, 95% CI 1.3–11.3 and 8.6, 95% CI 1.4–52.6), liver cirrhosis (OR 4.0, 95% 1.1–15.0) and prothrombin time < 30% (OR 4.2, 95% 1.1–15.4) with a moderate effect size. Multiple comorbidities were associated with an increased in-hospital mortality (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.2–4.3).ConclusionsThis systematic review identified age, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease as the most important risk factors for the diagnosis of angiodysplasias during endoscopy. Multiple lesions increase the risk of recurrent bleeding.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s10620-019-05683-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Zenker's diverticulum causes substantial morbidity among affected elderly patients. In the United States, rigid endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy is the mainstay of management and the flexible endoscopic technique is reserved for those not deemed candidates for rigid endoscopy due to an inability to extend the neck and/or medical comorbidities. Short- and long-term outcomes following flexible endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy in the United States are limited. We reviewed the patient characteristics and outcomes of 58 consecutive flexible endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomies performed at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, between March 2006 and November 2013. There were 58 procedures performed on 52 unique patients. The median age was 77 years, and 48% of patients were female. More than one third of patients had either failed previous rigid therapy or were deemed inoperable by the referring surgeon. Size of the diverticulum ranged from 1 cm to 5 cm with a mean of 2.8 cm. Most procedures (67%) were performed under general anesthesia. Initial procedural success was achieved in all patients. Of the patients, 77% reported complete symptom resolution at mean follow-up time of 26 months. Of the procedures, 71% were not associated with any adverse event, but esophageal microperforation occurred during 11 procedures (19%). Of these, nine resolved with conservative management, one required an endoscopic stent, and one developed a neck abscess that required drainage. Our data show in a group of elderly patients with preexisting comorbidities flexible endoscopy therapy for Zenker's diverticulum is feasible. Initial symptomatic improvement was universal, and long-term response appears durable. The most common adverse event was esophageal microperforation, and the majority (82%) of these resolved with conservative management. Direct comparison with outcomes of rigid endoscopic or open surgical techniques has not been performed, but these data suggest that a randomized trial is warranted to assess the efficacy and safety of a flexible endoscopic technique.