No abstract

Background and study aims: Colonoscopy with inhaled methoxyflurane (Penthrox) is well tolerated in unselected subjects and is not associated with respiratory depression. The aim of this prospective study was to compare the feasibility, safety, and post-procedural outcomes of portable methoxyflurane used as an analgesic agent during colonoscopy with those of anesthesia-assisted deep sedation (AADS) in subjects with morbid obesity and/or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Patients and methods: The outcomes of 140 patients with morbid obesity/OSA who underwent colonoscopy with either Penthrox inhalation (n = 85; 46 men, 39 women; mean age 57.2 ± 1.1 years) or AADS (n = 55; 27 men, 28 women; mean age, 54.9 ± 1.1 years) were prospectively assessed. Results: All Penthrox-assisted colonoscopies were successful, without any requirement for additional intravenous sedation. Compared with AADS, Penthrox was associated with a shorter total procedural time (24 ± 1 vs. 52 ± 1 minutes, P < 0.001), a lower incidence of hypotension (3 /85 vs. 23 /55, P < 0.001), and a lower incidence of respiratory desaturation (0 /85 vs. 14 /55, P < 0.001). The patients in the Penthrox group recovered more rapidly and were discharged much earlier than those in the AADS group (27 ± 2 vs. 97 ± 5 minutes, P < 0.0001). Of those who underwent colonoscopy with Penthrox, 90 % were willing to receive Penthrox again for colonoscopy. More importantly, of the patients who underwent colonoscopy with Penthrox and had had AADS for previous colonoscopy, 82 % (28 /34) preferred to receive Penthrox for future colonoscopies. Penthrox-assisted colonoscopy cost significantly less than colonoscopy with AADS ($ 332 vs. $ 725, P < 0.001), with a cost saving of approximately $ 400 for each additional complication avoided. Conclusions: Compared with AADS, Penthrox is highly feasible and safe in patients with morbid obesity/OSA undergoing colonoscopy and is associated with fewer cardiorespiratory complications. Because of the advantages of this approach in regard to procedural time, recovery time, and cost benefit in comparison with AADS, further evaluation in a randomized trial is warranted.

Background Insertion of fiducials to outline the targeted lesion allows image-guided radiotherapy, and is best achieved by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). This study is a performance comparison of the new EUS-guided preloaded fiducial needle against Visicoil fiducials. Methods Technical success, visibility score, procedural time, costs, and complications for patients who underwent EUS-guided fiducial placement in upper gastrointestinal malignancies were prospectively collected. Results 60 patients with upper gastrointestinal cancers had fiducials (14 Visicoil; 46 preloaded fiducials) inserted for image-guided radiotherapy. Technical success was 100 %, with a shorter mean (standard deviation) insertion time of 0.94 minutes (0.28 minutes) vs. 5.5 minutes (1.9 minutes; P < 0.001) and higher visibility score on fluoroscopy of 2 vs. 1.18 (P < 0.001) in the preloaded group. Neither group had major complications related to fiducial insertion. The cost of consumables per patient was lower in the preloaded group at US$480 (US$124) vs. US$643 (US$123; P < 0.001). Conclusion Fiducial insertion for image-guided radiotherapy using the new preloaded needle is associated with 100 % technical success, shorter insertion time, and higher visibility, and is more cost-effective than the Visicoil system.

Introduction Maintaining high effi cacy and quality of care in infl ammatory bowel disease (IBD) management is a priority. The authors examined whether the introduction of a formal IBD Service (IBDS) positively infl uenced outcomes for their patients. Methods In 2007-2008, all IBD patients attending the Royal Adelaide Hospital were surveyed regarding clinical/demographic data, IBD knowledge, quality of life, mental health and satisfaction. Survey responders were re-surveyed ≥15 months later. Results 162 responded to survey 1 and 81 again responded to survey 2. Within the responders, 61% had Crohn's disease and 48% were men. Compared with survey 1, the proportions of patients with improved knowledge, adherence, satisfaction with care, QoL (≥5 points), anxiety and depression scores were 63% (95% CI 51 to 73), 62% (95% CI 50 to 72), 65% (95% CI 54 to 76), 42% (95% CI 31 to 54), 52% (95% CI 40 to 63) and 43% (95% CI 32 to 55), respectively. When comparing survey 2 with survey 1, reductions in hospitalisation (48% vs 30%, p=0.02), courses of corticosteroids and opiates (mean 1.63 vs 0.91 and 1.00 vs 0.61, both p<0.05) and overall medications (5.63 vs 4.65, p<0.05), were seen. Fewer 2009 non-responders required hospitalisation (53% vs 21%, p<0.001), suggesting a `cohort' rather than `responder-specifi c' effect. Conclusions The introduction of an IBDS resulted in improved patient outcomes with signifi cant reductions in negative markers for IBD morbidity including: hospitalisations, polypharmacy, steroid and opiate use. Despite increased costs in additional staff, these measures are likely to be cost effective.