Gastroenterology Commons^™

Quality Of Life And Special Issues In Women With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Gabriel Constantinescu, Gina Gheorghe, Ecaterina Rinja, Oana Plotogea, Vasile Sandru, Andreea Butuc, Camelia Cristina Diaconu, Anca Macovei Oprescu, Bogdan Popa, Madalina Ilie

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Introduction. The impact of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) on the quality of life (QoL) of patients is significant and it has important social and professional consequences. Materials and methods. We aimed to describe the patients’ perspective regarding the impact of IBD on their overall QoL and to evaluate the differences between men and women. An observational cross-sectional study, that included 180 patients with IBD in clinical remission, was conducted. All the patients completed a number of 3 questionnaires in order to evaluate the general aspects of their QoL. A separate questionnaire was created regarding gender-specific issues in women …

Esophageal Atresia Associating Gastrointestinal Malformations: A Study Of Clinical Approach, Dan Alexandru Iozsa, Andreea Cristina Costea, Nicolae Sebastian Ionescu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Digestive tract malformations requiring surgical repair in association with esophageal atresia are rare occurrences. Because of this uncommon presentation of esophageal atresia, its evaluation and management are often difficult, requiring extensive workup and multiple surgical procedures. We present our experience with esophageal atresia associating gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in the last 10 years. Clinical and surgical perspectives were pointed willing to make relevant observations in matters of diagnosis and treatment strategy in these patients. Therefore, 7 cases resembling this pattern were identified – duodenal atresia and anorectal malformation being the most common coexistent malformations. All the cases exhibited technical and procedural …

The Impact Of Patient-Dependent Risk Factors On Morbidity And Mortality Following Gastric Surgery For Malignancies, Bogdan Dumitriu, Sebastian Valcea, Gabriel Andrei, Mircea Beuran

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Gastric cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. The treatment for gastric cancer is multimodal, in which gastrectomy remains the only curative approach. However, gastric resection is often associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates, depending on several factors. These factors can be attributed to the patient as comorbidities or effects of the disease upon him and, on the other hand, there are risk factors independent of the patient, such as aspects of the tumor (type, staging, location), experience of the surgical and anesthetic team, logistics of the hospital, yield of adjuvant therapies etc. We recognize the fact that …

Intestinal Dysbiosis – A New Treatment Target In The Prevention Of Colorectal Cancer, Florinela-Andrada Dumitru, Sergiu Ioan Micu, Roxana Emanuela Popoiag, Marilena Musat, Andreea Daniela Caloian, Valentin Calu, Vlad Denis Constantin, Daniela Gabriela Balan, Cornelia Nitipir, Florin Enache

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

The gastrointestinal microbiome contains at least 100 trillion microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi), whose distribution varies from the mouth to the rectum spatially and temporally throughout one's lifetime. The microbiome benefits from advancing research due to its major role in human health. Studies indicate that its functions are immunity, metabolic processes and mucosal barrier. The disturbances of these functions, dysbiosis, influence physiology, lead to diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity and colon tumorigenesis. The third most common form of cancer, colorectal cancer, is the result of many factors and genes, and although the link between dysbiosis and this type of cancer is …

How Opportune Is Multigene Testing In Metastatic Colorectal Cancer? A Review, Cristina Orlov-Slavu, Andreea Parosanu, Mihaela Olaru, Dragos Serban, Ioana Paunica, Cornelia Nitipir

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Personalized treatment in oncology is the most innovative method of care. The best method to establish personalized treatment is by genetic characterization of the malignant cell.

Theoretically, the more detailed the characterization, the more effective the choice of treatment becomes. Currently, there are fast and relatively low-cost options that allow such genetic characterization. However, test results sometimes do not detect targetable alterations and, even if they do detect, the use of the treatment-alteration combination does not always generate a satisfactory oncological response.

The present paper aims to answer two questions. First, how targetable can the most common gene alterations in …

Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Extrahepatic Blood Supply From Right Renal Artery, Amir Humza Sohail, Ahmad Musa, Muhammad Salman Khan, Hassan Raza Hashmi, Basit Salam, Collin E M. Brathwaite

Department of Radiology

Extrahepatic blood supply is seen in around 17-27% of hepatocellular carcinoma lesions. Evidence suggests that this extrahepatic supply most commonly originates from a right intercostal artery (70-83%) followed by left intercostal, omental and right renal arteries. Thus a comprehensive knowledge of variations in standard vascular anatomy and cognisance of factors influencing or predicting extrahepatic blood supply in HCC is instrumental in ensuring the success of surgical and interventional procedures. We present the unusual case of a 66-year-old male with HCC in Segment I of the liver with aberrant blood supply from the right renal artery in the absence of any …

Output Consistency Scale To Standardize Ostomate Output Description In Clinical Practice And Studies, Lisa Whisenhunt, Linda Xu, Fan Yang, Jacques Izard

Food for Health: Publications

Stool descriptors have become popular due to the large diffusion of the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) via clinical studies, clinical trials, and social media. The applications have been numerous and centered around standardization of terminology that can be used by health care professionals and patients alike, as well as individuals interested in their wellness and the associated partners in the wellness industry. For a portion of the population, the digestive content is rerouted to an external manufactured pouch or bag, making the use of the BSFS visual descriptors of stool difficult. From day one post-resection surgery, ostomates are challenged …

Severely Impaired Gastric Emptying In The Setting Of An Extensive Malignancy History: A Case Of Paraneoplastic Gastroparesis, Gregory Habig, Md, Justin Robbins, Md

The Medicine Forum

Gastroparesis is a disorder of the stomach involving a delay in the emptying of gastric contents that typically presents with nausea, vomiting, early satiety, and weight loss. Though commonly associated with diabetes or as a complication of surgical procedures, etiologies stemming from paraneoplastic processes are important to consider despite often being overlooked. The case presented here describes a patient with a significant malignancy history and evidence of severely impaired gastric emptying concerning for paraneoplastic gastroparesis and highlights the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of the condition.

Effect Of Pandemic On Endoscopic Utilization In Colonic Volvulus: A Global Multicentric Study, Abhilash Perisetti Md, Hermant Goyal Md, Syed Mahanazuddin Phd, Saurabh Chandan Md, Ruthvik Allala Ba, Mariajose Rojas Md, Jonathan Kopel Phd, Sonali Sachdeva Mbbs, Mark M. Aloysius Md, Phd, Benjamin Tharian, Neil Sharma Md

Other Specialties

Introduction- Acute colonic volvulus (ACV) is a gastrointestinal emergency that results from the torsion of a segment of the colon either at the level of the sigmoid colon or cecum. It can lead to severe complications such as bowel infarction and peritonitis which can increase mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant reduction in endoscopic utilization globally. However, the data about endoscopy utilization in a gastrointestinal emergency such as ACV is not non-existent. Hence, we attempted to evaluate the rates of endoscopy utilization in 2020 compared to 2019 for ACV patients.

Methods- We used TriNetX, a federated cloud-based …

How “Dirty” Are The Endoscope Channels? A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Reprocessed Endoscopes, Hermant Goyal Md, Sara Larsen Ms, Abhilash Perisetti Md, Pardeep Bansal Md, Aman Ali Md, Nikolaj B. Larsen Ms, Lotte Ockert, Sven Adamsen Md, Benjamin Tharian Md, Nirav Thosani Md

Other Specialties

Introduction:

The duodenoscope elevator mechanism has been considered a culprit for multiple outbreaks from contaminated reusable patient-ready duodenoscopes. These outbreaks necessitated FDA to issue various Safety Communications and recommend endoscopy units to transition to duodenoscopes with innovative designs that ease or eliminate reprocessing. However, numerous studies have documented microbes in the channels of reprocessed gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopes, including duodenoscopes and linear echoendoscopes. Our aim is to estimate the channel contamination rate of patient-ready reprocessed GI endoscopes based on the currently available data.

Methods:

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase from January 1, 2010, until October 10, 2020, for …

Peptic Ulcer With Adherent Clot—Treat It Or Leave It: A Systematic Review And Metanalysis Of Randomized Trials, Hermant Goyal Md, Sonali Sachdeva Mbbs, Abhilash Perisetti Md, Syed Ali Amir Sherazi Md, Mark M. Aloysius Md, Phd, Aman Ali Md, Greg Enders Md, Benjamin Tharian Md, Nirav Thosani Md

Other Specialties

Introduction:

Peptic ulcer diseases (PUD) remain the most common cause of hospitalized upper GI bleeding patients (30%-60%). Upper endoscopy is needed for diagnosis, stratification, and endoscopic hemostatic therapy of these ulcers depending on the presence of stigmata of increased risk of rebleeding. PUDs with adherent clot (Forrest classification IIb) are at 20-30% risk of rebleeding with a 7% mortality rate. Recent ACG guidelines could not reach a recommendation for or against endoscopic interventions for ulcers with adherent clot resistant to vigorous irrigation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to analyze the randomized studies for the treatment of PUD with adherent …

1-Day Vs 3-Day Low Residue Diet For Colonoscopy Bowel Cleansing: A Systematic Review, Hermant Goyal Md, Syed Ali Amir Sherazi Md, Shweta Gupta Md, Smit Deliwala Md, Pardeep Bansal Md, Abhilash Perisetti Md, Benjamin Tharian Md, Nirav Thosani

Other Specialties

Introduction:

Colonoscopy is the best method for colon cancer screening and to evaluate bowel abnormalities, including cancer. However, good bowel preparation is essential for a successful colonoscopy. Several studies have shown Low Residue Diet (LRD) to be better tolerated without any negative effects on bowel cleansing compared to Clear Liquid Diet. Several studies have compared 1-day vs. 3-day LRD for bowel cleansing. This study aims to compare the impact of the duration of LRD for colonoscopy bowel cleansing in adult patients.

Methods:

We studied the Cochrane and MEDLINE/Ovid databases from inception to November 2020 with keywords “colonoscopy,” “bowel preparation,” “bowel …

Don't Blame The Duodenoscope Elevator, The Channels Are Contaminated As Well: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Hermant Goyal Md, Sara Larsen Ms, Abhilash Perisetti Md, Aman Ali Md, Jiannis Anastasiou Md, Nikolaj B. Larsen Ms, Lotte Ockert, Sven Adamsen Md, Benjamin Tharian Md, Nirav Thosani Md

Other Specialties

Introduction:

The elevator mechanism has been suggested as the main reason for multiple outbreaks associated with contaminated reusable patient-ready duodenoscopes. The elevator is difficult to clean even with all precautions, and specially designed brushes are recommended for proper cleaning. However, the narrow channels of the duodenoscope might pose a risk of contamination since they are prone to scratches by the insertion of various accessories creating space for microbes to hide. Our aim is to estimate the contamination rate beyond the elevator of duodenoscopes based on currently available literature.

Methods:

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase from January 1, …

Continued Aspirin Use And Bleeding Risk After Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Of Gastric Neoplasms: A Meta-Analysis, Hermant Goyal Md, Sonali Sachdeva Mbbs, Abhilash Perisetti Md, Mark M. Aloysius Md, Saurabh Chandan Md, Benjamin Tharian Md, Nirav Thosani Md

Other Specialties

Introduction:

With the development of endoscopic technologies, the detection rate of early gastric cancer (EGC) and precancerous lesions is gradually increasing. As an effective minimally invasive therapy, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been accepted as a standard treatment for EGC and dysplasia. However, postprocedural bleeding is one of the most common complications of ESD, with a reported incidence of 5.1%. Moreover, the effect of continued low-dose aspirin (LDA) on bleeding during the peri-ESD period is not clear.

Methods:

We searched the OVID/Medline and Google Scholar databases through June 2021 to find studies relating to continued LDA use in patients undergoing …

Working With Fellows Improves Adenoma Detection Rate During Screening Colonoscopies., Mark M Aloysius, Hemant Goyal, Niraj James Shah, Abhilash Perisetti Md, Benjamin Tharian

Other Specialties

No abstract provided.

Safety Of Glucagon Use During Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Retrospective Multicentric Study, Abhilash Perisetti Md, Hermant Goyal Md, Syed Mahanazuddin Phd, Rupinder Mann Md, Saurabh Chandan Md, Benjamin Tharian Md, Neil Sharma Md

Other Specialties

Introduction- Injectable glucagon inhibits gastrointestinal (GI) and duodenal motility by relaxing smooth muscles, decreasing the frequency and amplitude of phasic activity of the sphincter of Oddi. This enables endoscopists to enhance biliary cannulation and extract small bile duct stone. Additionally, glucagon can potentially worsen underlying hyperglycemia and hyperkalemia especially in patients with diabetes. It is unclear if glucagon impacts the adverse events of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) such as rates of GI bleeding, GI perforation, post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) and in patient hospitalizations.

Methods We used TriNetX, a federated cloud-based network comprising of 92 healthcare organizations (HCOs) across the US. All …

Impact Of Pandemic On Epidemiology And Management Of Acute Colonic Pseudo Obstruction: Nationwide Clinical Data Research Network, Abhilash Perisetti Md, Hermant Goyal Md, Syed Mahanazuddin Phd, Mariajose Rojas Md, Mahesh Gajendran Md, Syed Ali Amir Sherazi Md, Shweta Gupta Md, Mbs, Ragesh Thandassery Md, Benjamin Tharian Md, Mrcp, Fracp, Neil Sharma Md

Other Specialties

Introduction Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO), also known as Ogilvie’s syndrome, is characterized by massive acute dilatation of the large intestine without a mechanical cause. Early recognition to identify serious adverse events such as ischemia/ perforation is critical to reducing mortality rates. COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant shift of resources for the treatment of patients with reduced utilization of endoscopy and imaging, which could have impacted outcomes in patients with ACPO. In this study, we aim to identify the change in the clinical outcomes in ACPO patients in 2020.

Methods All adult patients with a new diagnosis of intestinal obstruction …

National Trends In The Incidence Of Sporadic Malignant Colorectal Polyps In Young Patients (20-49 Years): An 18-Year Seer Database Analysis, Mark M. Aloysius Md, Hermant Goyal Md, Aman Ali Md, Niraj Shah Nd, Mahesh Gajendran Md, Abhilash Perisetti Md, Patrick Basu Md, Rajiv Chhabra Md, Benjamin Tharian Md

Other Specialties

Introduction:

Recent changes in the USPSTF guidelines recommend that CRC (Colorectal Cancer) screening in average-risk patients should commence at 45 years with the intent of finding sporadic premalignant or malignant polyps, allowing early endoscopic interventions to improve clinical outcomes. This study aims to find the incidence of sporadic malignant polyps in adult patients < 50 years of age) from the National Cancer Institute's SEER (Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results) database over a period of 18 years.

Methods:

We interrogated the SEER database (2000-2017) on patients aged 20-49 years diagnosed with at least a single malignant sporadic colorectal polyp. Data extraction was performed through a case listing session using SEER*Stat v8.3.9 on combined SEER 18 incidence registries using specific codes for CRC polyps with …

Use, Yield, And Risk Of Device-Assisted Enteroscopy In The United States: Results From A Large Retrospective Multicenter Cohort, Michael G. Noujaim, Alice Parish, Daniel Raines, Seth A. Gross, David Cave, Iris Vance, David Beyer, Diana Liu, Benjamin Hoffman, Zoe Lawrence, Gabriel Castillo, Tanya Pavri, Donna Niedzwiecki, Daniel Wild

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Since 2001, device-Assisted enteroscopy (DAE) has revolutionized the diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities for managing small bowel pathology. Though commonly performed, there have been no recent large studies to assess the use, yield, and risks of DAE and none that include all 3 DAE modalities. We hypothesized that DAE is safe with high diagnostic and therapeutic yields achieved within reasonable procedure duration and here we present a large retrospective multicenter US study evaluating the use, yield, and complications of DAE. Methods: After obtaining institutional review board approval, electronic records were used to identify all DAE's performed for luminal small bowel …

Spontaneous Bacterial Empyema In Cirrhosis Patients - A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Saurabh Chandan Md, William Reiche Do, Shahab R. Khan Mbbs, Smit Deliwala Md, Banreet Dhindsa Md, Daryl Ramai Md, Abhilash Perisetti Md, Rajani Rangray Md, Sandeep Mukherjee Md

Other Specialties

Introduction:

Spontaneous bacterial empyema (SBE), defined as spontaneous infection of the pleural fluid, represents a distinct and often underdiagnosed complication of hepatic hydrothorax in patients with cirrhosis. Although the transudative nature of hepatic hydrothorax is well established, the characteristics and risk factors for SBE have not been well investigated. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the incidence and risk factors for this elusive entity.

Methods:

A systematic and detailed search was run in June 2021 with the assistance of a medical librarian for studies reporting on the incidence, associations, and outcomes of SBE in cirrhosis patients. Meta-analysis was …

Activation Of The Innate Immune System In Children With Irritable Bowel Syndrome Evidenced By Increased Fecal Human Β-Defensin-2, Robert J Shulman, Sridevi Devaraj, Margaret Heitkemper

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background & aims: The role of the innate immune system in functional gastrointestinal pain disorders is unclear. We investigated the role of β-defensin-2 and gut permeability in childhood irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional abdominal pain (FAP) symptom generation.

Methods: Fecal β-defensin-2 (and in a subset, gut permeability) was measured in children with IBS (n = 116), FAP (n = 33), and healthy control (HC) children (n = 72). IBS and FAP patients were recruited from tertiary and primary care, and HCs were recruited from primary care.

Results: β-defensin-2 concentration was greater in children with IBS (P = .003) and …

Pulmonary Artery Sling-An Extremely Rare Etiology Of Dysphagia, Khola Qamar, Abhinav Tiwari

Conference Presentation Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Hereditary Hemochromatosis As An Independent Risk Factor For Liver Cancer: A Matched Case-Control Study Of The National Inpatient Sample Database, Maryam Haider, Ali F. Alsbihi, Zaid Imam, Adnan Malik, Sana Iqbal, Mahum Nadeem, Ahmed J. Chaudhary

Conference Presentation Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Hepatic Schistosomiasis, Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding, And Health Related Quality Of Life Measurements From The Albert Nile Basin, Christopher Opio, Francis Kazibwe, Lalitha Rejani, Narcis B. Kabatereine, Ponsiano Ocama

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Health related quality of life measurements are vital elements of public health surveillance that uncover unmet health needs and predict the success of health interventions. We described health related quality of life measurements using the EuroQoL 5-dimension (EQ-VAS/EQ-5D) instrument and associated factors among patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) and hepatic schistosomiasis at a rural health facility in the Albert Nile Basin, Uganda.

Methods and materials: This was a cross-sectional study at Pakwach Health Centre IV. Participants included adult inpatients and outpatients with a history of UGIB and ultrasound evidence of hepatic schistosomiasis. We evaluated and recorded …

Advances In Optical Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Technical Review, Yubo Tang, Sharmila Anandasabapathy, Rebecca Richards-Kortum

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Optical endoscopy is the primary diagnostic and therapeutic tool for management of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. Most GI neoplasms arise from precancerous lesions; thus, technical innovations to improve detection and diagnosis of precancerous lesions and early cancers play a pivotal role in improving outcomes. Over the last few decades, the field of GI endoscopy has witnessed enormous and focused efforts to develop and translate accurate, user-friendly, and minimally invasive optical imaging modalities. From a technical point of view, a wide range of novel optical techniques is now available to probe different aspects of light-tissue interaction at macroscopic and microscopic scales, complementing …

Outcomes Of Primary Versus Revisional Robotically Assisted Laparoscopic Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass: A Multicenter Analysis Of Ten-Year Experience, Pouya Iranmanesh, John Fam, Thomas Nguyen, David Talarico, Kavita D Chandwani, Kulvinder S Bajwa, Melissa M Felinski, Leon V Katz, Sheilendra S Mehta, Stephan R Myers, Brad E Snyder, Peter A Walker, Todd D Wilson, Angielyn R Rivera, Connie L Klein, Shinil K Shah, Erik B Wilson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Postoperative morbidity after laparoscopic bariatric surgery is considered higher for patients undergoing revisional versus primary procedures. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to compare outcomes between patients undergoing primary versus revisional robotically assisted laparoscopic (RAL) Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

METHODS: Data of all patients who underwent RAL primary and revisional RYGB between 2009 and 2019 at two accredited, high-volume bariatric surgery centers-the Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, and the Tower Health, Reading Hospital, Reading, PA, were analyzed. Primary outcomes were early (< 30 days) and overall postoperative complications. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative complications, operative times, conversions to laparotomy, length of hospital stay, early (< 30 days) postoperative readmissions and deaths.

RESULTS: Data of 1072 patients were analyzed, including 806 primary and 266 …

Reduced Incidence Of New Gastrointestinal Cancers Diagnosis During Covid-19 Pandemic, Abhilash Perisetti Md, Syed Mahanazuddin Phd, Rachana Yendala Md, Hermant Goyal Md, Benjamin Tharian Md, Mariajose Rojas Md, Neil Sharma Md

PCI Publications and Projects

Introduction- Gastrointestinal cancers such as esophageal, gastric, colon, liver, and pancreas cancers present a significant global challenge. The burden of these cancers depends mainly on early recognition and treatment initiation. COVID-19 pandemic led to a strain on multiple healthcare systems resulting in stay-at-home restraints, which might have impacted early recognition of these cancers. The data about the the incidence of GI cancers during the pandemic is scarce.

Methods- All adult patients with a new diagnosis of GI cancers in 2020 were compared with the patients in 2019. ICD-10 codes were utilized to identify these patient from TriNetX, a federated cloud-based …

Improved Resection Rates In Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (Lapc) Following Eus-Fni Of Large Surface Area Microparticle Paclitaxel (Lsam Pac), Neil Sharma Md, C Max Schmidt Md, Sushil Jain Md, Joseph Mccollom Do, Holly Maulhardt Bs, Shelagh Verco Bsc, Phd, Mariajose Rojas Md, Saurabh Gupta Md, Chetan Mittal Md, Christina Zelt, Ashley Rumple Rn, Bsn, James Verco Bs, Ccra, Abhilash Perisetti Md, Gere S. Dizerega Md

PCI Publications and Projects

Introduction:

LAPC is generally defined as unresectable disease without evidence of metastatic spread, and reports suggest between 8-25% of these patients may become resectable following current standard of care (SOC) therapy. EUS-FNI allows for the delivery of drug therapies directly into the tumor, which led to the development of LSAM pac currently being evaluated in LAPC and other solid tumors by means of direct injection, where the particles of pure drug act as a depot releasing paclitaxel over several weeks.

Methods:

Clinical study [NCT # 03077685] enrolled patients with LAPC, confirmed non-surgical despite SOC therapy, to additionally receive LSAM pac …

Inpatient Palliative Care Is Less Utilized In Rare, Fatal Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Ten-Year National Perspective, Zahra Mojtahedi, Ji Won Yoo, Karen Callahan, Neeraj Bhandari, Donghui Lou, Katayoon Ghodsi, Jay J. Shen

School of Medicine Faculty Research

Background—Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) is a rare, morbid, fatal cancer with distressing symptoms. Maintaining a high quality of life while reducing hospital charges and length of stay (LOS) for the end-of-life period remains a major challenge for the healthcare system. Palliative care utilization has been shown to address these challenges; moreover, its use has increased in recent years among cancer patients. However, the utilization of palliative care in rare cancers, such as ECC, has not yet been explored. Objectives—To investigate palliative care utilization among ECC patients admitted to US hospitals between 2007 and 2016 and its association with patient demographics, clinical …

Risk Factors For Recurrence Of Clostridioides Difficile In Hospitalized Patients, Diaa Alrahmany, Benjamin J Ereshefsky, Wasim S El Nekidy, Gehan Harb, Laura Pontiggia, Islam M Ghazi

Institute of Emerging Health Professions Faculty Papers

Background: Diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis associated with Clostridioides difficile - a spore-forming anaerobic Gram-positive bacillus - is a major infection in hospitalized patients with a profound impact on clinical and economic outcomes. Recurrence (rCDI) is common and predisposes to further episodes with poor outcomes.

Method: We aimed to identify a wide range of risk factors for recurrence to guide stewardship initiatives. After ethical approval, we commenced collecting demographic and clinical data of patients older than 18 years with clinically and microbiologically confirmed C. difficile infection. Data were statistically analyzed using R software.

Results: Of 204 patients included in the analysis, …