Large spontaneous intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts are occasionally found and their diagnosis by Doppler sonography is rarely reported. The authors describe a case of spontaneous intrahepatic porto‐systemic venous shunt in liver cirrhosis diagnosed by color Doppler and characterized by an unusual pulsed Doppler spectrum: a continuous flat portal‐like pattern of flow in the portal branch, and in both the shunt and the hepatic vein,

Background: Several treatments are currently advised to manage diverticular disease (DD) patients, but their impact on the burden of the disease is unknown. Our aim was to assess the economic analysis of using the recent Diverticular Inflammation and Complication Assessment (DICA) endoscopic classification on the burden of medical therapies prescribed in preventing DD complications occurrence in Italy. Methods:We assessed retrospectively the cost/year of treatments in estimated DICA 1, DICA 2 and DICA 3 population. Analysis of diverticulosis prevalence was estimated according to data population provided by Italian Institute of Statistics (ISTAT). Cost of treatments calculated according to data on drugs' consumption collected during the DICA study.Results: We estimated that >8 million of Italian people >60 years may have diverticulosis, and that about 75% of diverticular population are on DICA 1, about 30% on DICA 2, and about 13% on DICA 3. We estimated that >387 million of euros could be spent in DICA 1 population, >203 million of euros in DICA 2 population, and >88 million of euros in DICA 3 population. Since medical treatments did not show any significant advantage when treating DICA 1 and DICA 3 people in terms of prevention of acute diverticulitis occurrence/recurrence and surgery occurrence, we can estimated that >475 million of euros could be spent in Italy without any significant benefit in preventing DD complications occurrence.Conclusions: DICA endoscopic classification may have a significant impact on the burden of DD in Italy, because it helps to select DD people who effectively need treatments in terms of prevention of acute diverticulitis occurrence/recurrence and surgery occurrence.

Background Azathioprine (AZA) and thiopurine are widely used for induction and maintenance of remission in steroid dependent patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods Aim of this study has been to investigate its efficacy and safety in maintaining steroid-free remission in steroid dependent IBD patients seven year after the institution of treatment. Data from consecutive IBD outpatients referred in our Institution, between 1985-2016, were reviewed and all patients treated with AZA were included in this retrospective study. AZA was administered at the recommended dose of 2-2.5 mg/kg. Results Out of 2802 consecutive IBD outpatients visited in the index period, AZA was prescribed to 433 patients, 236 (54.5%) were affected by Crohn's disease (CD) and 197 (45.5%) by ulcerative colitis (UC). One hundred and seventy-nine patients with a follow-up < 84 months were excluded from the study. Two hundred and fifty-four patients were evaluated, 141 (55.5%) with CD and 113 (44.5%) with UC. One hundred and thirty-nine (54.7%) were male and 115 (45.3%) female (average age of 35.62 ± 14.20 SD years, range 14-74 y.). Seven year after the institution of treatment, 127 (50%) patients still were in steroid-free remission (83 CD vs 44 UC, 58.8% and 38.9%, respectively, p = 0.0024), 71 (27.9%) had a relapse requiring retreatment with steroids (29 CD vs 42 UC, 20.6% and 37.2%, respectively, p = 0.0047), 56 (22.1%) discontinued the treatment due to side effects (29 CD vs 27 UC, 20.6% and 23.9%, respectively). Loss of response from 1st to 7th year of follow-up was low, about 20%. Conclusions Seven year after the onset of treatment 50% of patients did not require further steroid courses. After the first year loss of response was low in six subsequent years. In the present series the maintenance of steroid-free remission was significantly higher in CD than in UC patients. The occurrence of side effects leading to the withdrawal of AZA treatment has been low. Key messages An important therapeutic moment of IBD is mantaining remission in steroid dipendent patients. AZA can be a viable and inexpensive alternative to treath these patients.

Background Diverticulosis of the colon is the most frequent anatomical alteration detected during colonoscopy. The endoscopic classification “DICA”(Diverticular Inflammation and Complication Assessment) has been recently developed in order to have an objective endoscopic description of the colon harbouring diverticula. Aim of this multicentre, international, prospective study was to assess the predictive value of this classification in term of acute diverticulitis and surgery occurrence on a 2-year observational follow-up period. Methods 2215 prospective patients at the first diagnosis of diverticular disease were enrolled after exclusion of radiological signs of acute diverticulitis; inflammatory bowel diseases; ischemic colitis; prior colonic resection; patients with severe liver failure (Child-Pugh C) or severe kidney failure; pregnant women; patients who are currently using or who have received any laxative agents or mesalazine or probiotics or antibiotics < 2 weeks prior to the enrollment; inability to comply with study protocol; patients with or history of cancer, of any origin, within 5 years before enrollment; history of alcohol, drug, or chemical abuse. Results 1377(62.15%) patients were classified as DICA 1, 599(27,04%) as DICA 2 and 239(10.80%) as DICA 3. The risk of acute diverticulitis occurrence/recurrence, as well as the risk of surgery, were significantly linked to the severity of DICA score at entry. Overall, acute diverticulitis occurred in 123 (5,5%) patients: it occurred in 32 (2,3%) DICA 1, 53 (8,9%) DICA 2 and 32 (16.4%) DICA 3 patients respectively (p < 0,0001). Overall, surgery occurred in 35 (1,6%) patients: it occurred in 2 (0.1%) DICA1, 15 (2,5%) DICA 2 and 18 (7,6%) DICA 3 patients respectively (p < 0,0001). Conclusions The 2-year results of this prospective study seems to confirm that DICA endoscopic classification has a significant prognostic role on the risk of acute diverticulitis occurrence/recurrence and surgery in these patients. Key messages DICA is the first endoscopic classification of diverticular disease. The risk of occurrence/recurrence of acute diverticulitis and the risk of surgery are strictly linked to the severity of DICA score.

Background In a multidisciplinary approach to Quality Management System and humanization of care, we aimed at evaluating the characteristics that influence the request of women to carry out Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC). Methods Skills have been improved, with the use of tests on dummies and case by case assessments. For the psychological-motivational study we have adopted: Informed consent, Semi-structured interview and Big Five Questionnaire. The women were recruited by both Gemelli and Cristo Re Hospital: the women following the counseling decided to undergo a second Caesarean Section (CS) (41, control group) and women who decided to complete a VBAC (22, experimental group). Results The analysis of the data shows that the women of the VBAC group are in the average between 31-35 years (57%), 80% has an education = or > at the 3rd level and the choice of the VBAC was conditioned by the partner (64%). The women of the control group are in average > 35 years (51%), 60% have a higher average education and the influence on the choice is oriented by the gynecologist/obstetrician (64%). From the personality test a statistically significant difference emerges between the dimensions Energy and Mental Opening. Past experience influences the choice of the next birth: women who are inclined to a second CS considered the previous CS as a positive event (66%) while only 36% in the VBAC group; 64% of this was the recovery of the painful post-surgery and a certain type of difficulty in the care of the child, in breastfeeding, of having suffered from post-partum mood alterations, which is why they chose to undertake a Trial of Labor After Cesarean. Conclusions The deeper knowledge of women as well as the preparation and safety of the same operators has shown that it is possible to perform a greater number of VBACs, with the sharing, participation and satisfaction of women and the entire team, leading to an improvement in outcomes and performance indexes. Key messages The promotion of care safety also improves the performance indexes through continuous training to the operators and the study of psychological aspects that lead to the choice to carry out a VBAC. Good Clinical Practice shown that it is possible to perform a greater number of VBACs, with the sharing, participation and satisfaction of women and the entire team.