BACKGROUND Patients with acute pancreatitis(AP)frequently experience hospital readmissions,posing a significant burden to healthcare systems.Acute peripancreatic fluid collection(APFC)may negatively impact the clinica...BACKGROUND Patients with acute pancreatitis(AP)frequently experience hospital readmissions,posing a significant burden to healthcare systems.Acute peripancreatic fluid collection(APFC)may negatively impact the clinical course of AP.It could worsen symptoms and potentially lead to additional complications.However,clinical evidence regarding the specific association between APFC and early readmission in AP remains scarce.Understanding the link between APFC and readmission may help improve clinical care for AP patients and reduce healthcare costs.AIM To evaluate the association between APFC and 30-day readmission in patients with AP.METHODS This retrospective cohort study is based on the Nationwide Readmission Database for 2016-2019.Patients with a primary diagnosis of AP were identified.Participants were categorized into those with and without APFC.A 1:1 propensity score matching for age,gender,and Elixhauser comorbidities was performed.The primary outcome was early readmission rates.Secondary outcomes included the incidence of inpatient complications and healthcare utilization.Unadjusted analyses used Mann-Whitney U andχ2 tests,while Cox regression models assessed 30-day readmission risks and reported them as adjusted hazard ratios(aHR).Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests verified readmission risks.RESULTS A total of 673059 patients with the principal diagnosis of AP were included.Of these,5.1%had APFC on initial admission.After propensity score matching,each cohort consisted of 33914 patients.Those with APFC showed a higher incidence of inpatient complications,including septic shock(3.1%vs 1.3%,P<0.001),portal venous thrombosis(4.4%vs 0.8%,P<0.001),and mechanical ventilation(1.8%vs 0.9%,P<0.001).The length of stay(LOS)was longer for APFC patients[4(3-7)vs 3(2-5)days,P<0.001],as were hospital charges($29451 vs$24418,P<0.001).For 30-day readmissions,APFC patients had a higher rate(15.7%vs 6.5%,P<0.001)and a longer median readmission LOS(4 vs 3 days,P<0.001).The APFC group also had higher readmission charges($28282 vs$22865,P<0.001).The presence of APFC increased the risk of readmission twofold(aHR 2.52,95%confidence interval:2.40-2.65,P<0.001).The independent risk factors for 30-day readmission included female gender,Elixhauser Comorbidity Index≥3,chronic pulmonary diseases,chronic renal disease,protein-calorie malnutrition,substance use disorder,depression,portal and splenic venous thrombosis,and certain endoscopic procedures.CONCLUSION Developing APFC during index hospitalization for AP is linked to higher readmission rates,more inpatient complications,longer LOS,and increased healthcare costs.Knowing predictors of readmission can help target high-risk patients,reducing healthcare burdens.展开更多
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 3<sup>rd</sup> most common cancer in the United States with more than 10000 new cases diagnosed annually. Approximately 20% of patients with CRC will have distant metastasis ...Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 3<sup>rd</sup> most common cancer in the United States with more than 10000 new cases diagnosed annually. Approximately 20% of patients with CRC will have distant metastasis at time of diagnosis, making them poor candidates for primary surgical resection. Similarly, 8%-25% of patients with CRC will present with bowel obstruction and will require palliative therapy. Emergent surgical decompression has a high mortality and morbidity, and often leads to a colostomy which impairs the patient’s quality of life. In the last decade, there has been an increasing use of colonic stents for palliative therapy to relieve malignant colonic obstruction. Colonic stents have been shown to be effective and safe to treat obstruction from CRC, and are now the therapy of choice in this scenario. In the setting of an acute bowel obstruction in patients with potentially resectable colon cancer, stents may be used to delay surgery and thus allow for decompression, adequate bowel preparation, and optimization of the patient’s condition for curative surgical intervention. An overall complication rate (major and minor) of up to 25% has been associated with the procedure. Long term failure of stents may result from stent migration and tumor ingrowth. In the majority of cases, repeat stenting or surgical intervention can successfully overcome these adverse effects.展开更多
Giant cell tumors of the pancreas come in three varieties-osteoclastic,pleomorphic,and mixed histology.These tumors have distinctive endoscopic,clinical,and cytological features.Giant cell tumors have a controversial ...Giant cell tumors of the pancreas come in three varieties-osteoclastic,pleomorphic,and mixed histology.These tumors have distinctive endoscopic,clinical,and cytological features.Giant cell tumors have a controversial histogenesis,with some authors favoring an epithelial origin and others favoring a mesenchymal origin.The true origin of these lesions remains unclear at this time.These are also very rare tumors but proper identification and differentiation from more common pancreatic adenocarcinoma is important.The risk factors of these tumors and the prognosis may be different from those associated with standard pancreatic adenocarcinoma.Recognition of these differences can significantly affect patient care.These lesions have a unique appearance when imaged with endoscopic ultrasound(EUS),and these lesions can be diagnosed via EUS guided Fine Needle Aspiration(FNA).This manuscript will review the endoscopic,clinical,and pathologic features of these tumors.展开更多
AIM To investigate indications and outcomes of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) in cirrhotics, especially adverse events. Patients with cirrhosis undergoing ERCP are believed to have increased risk...AIM To investigate indications and outcomes of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) in cirrhotics, especially adverse events. Patients with cirrhosis undergoing ERCP are believed to have increased risk. However, there is a paucity of literature describing the indications and outcomes of ERCP procedures in patients with cirrhosis, especially focusing on adverse events.METHODS We performed a systematic appraisal of major literature databases, including PubMed and EMBASE, with a manual search of literature from their inception until April 2017.RESULTS A total of 6,505 patients from 15 studies were analyzed(male ratio 59%, mean age 59 years), 11% with alcoholic and 89% with non-alcoholic cirrhosis, with 56.2% Child-Pugh class A, and 43.8% class B or C. Indications for ERCP included choledocholithiasis 60.9%, biliary strictures 26.2%, gallstone pancreatitis 21.1% and cholangitis 15.5%. Types of interventions included endoscopic sphincterotomy 52.7%, biliary stenting 16.7% and biliary dilation 4.6%. Individual adverse events included hemorrhage in 4.58%(95%CI: 2.77-6.75%, I^2 = 85.9%), post-ERCP pancreatitis(PEP) in 3.68%(95%CI: 1.83-6.00%, I^2 = 89.5%), cholangitis in 1.93%(95%CI: 0.63-3.71%, I^2 = 87.1%) and perforation in 0.00%(95%CI: 0.00-0.23%, I^2 = 37.8%). Six studies were used for comparison of ERCPrelated complications in cirrhosis vs non-cirrhosis, which showed higher overall rates of complications in cirrhosis patients with pooled OR of 1.63(95%CI: 1.27-2.09, I2 = 65%): higher rates of hemorrhage with OR of 2.05(95%CI: 1.62-2.58, I^2 = 2.1%) and PEP with OR of 1.33(95%CI: 1.04-1.70, I2=65%), but similar cholangitis rates with OR of 1.23(95%CI: 0.67-2.26, I^2 = 44.3%).CONCLUSION There is an overall higher rate of adverse events related to ERCP in patients with cirrhosis, especially hemorrhage and PEP. A thorough risk/benefit assessment should be performed prior to undertaking ERCP in patients with cirrhosis.展开更多
Endoscopic cryotherapy is a technique utilized for the ablation of target tissue within the gastrointestinal tract.A cryotherapy system utilizes the endoscopic application of cryogen such as liquid nitrogen,carbon dio...Endoscopic cryotherapy is a technique utilized for the ablation of target tissue within the gastrointestinal tract.A cryotherapy system utilizes the endoscopic application of cryogen such as liquid nitrogen,carbon dioxide or liquid nitrous oxide.This leads to disruption of cell membranes,apoptosis,and thrombosis of local blood vessels within the target tissue.Several trials utilizing cryotherapy for Barrett’s esophagus(BE)with variable dysplasia,gastric antral vascular ectasia(GAVE),esophageal carcinoma,radiation proctitis,and metastatic esophageal carcinomas have shown safety and efficacy.More recently,liquid nitrogen cryotherapy(cryodilation)was shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of a benign esophageal stricture which was refractory to dilations,steroid injections,and stenting.Moreover,liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is associated with less post procedure pain as compared to radiofrequency ablation in BE with comparable ablation rates.In patients with GAVE,cryotherapy was found to be less tedious as compared to argon plasma coagulation.Adverse events from cryotherapy most commonly include chest pain,esophageal strictures,and bleeding.Gastric perforations did occur as well,but less often.In summary,endoscopic cryotherapy is a promising and growing field,which was first demonstrated in BE,but the use now spans for several other disease processes.Larger randomized controlled trials are needed before its role can be established for these different diseases.展开更多
BACKGROUND Pancreatic duct stones can lead to significant abdominal pain for patients.Per oral pancreatoscopy(POP)-guided intracorporal lithotripsy is being increasingly used for the management of main pancreatic duct...BACKGROUND Pancreatic duct stones can lead to significant abdominal pain for patients.Per oral pancreatoscopy(POP)-guided intracorporal lithotripsy is being increasingly used for the management of main pancreatic duct calculi(PDC)in chronic pancreatitis.POP uses two techniques:Electrohydraulic lithotripsy(EHL)and laser lithotripsy(LL).Data on the safety and efficacy are limited for this procedure.We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis with a primary aim to calculate the pooled technical and clinical success rates of POP.The secondary aim was to assess pooled rates of technical success,clinical success for the two individual techniques,and adverse event rates.AIM To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of POP,EHL and LL for management of PDC in chronic pancreatitis.METHODS We conducted a comprehensive search of multiple electronic databases and conference proceedings including PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane,Google Scholar and Web of Science databases(from 1999 to October 2019)to identify studies with patient age greater than 17 and any gender that reported on outcomes of POP,EHL and LL.The primary outcome assessed involved the pooled technical success and clinical success rate of POP.The secondary outcome included the pooled technical success and clinical success rate for EHL and LL.We also assessed the pooled rate of adverse events for POP,EHL and LL including a subgroup analysis for the rate of adverse event subtypes for POP:Hemorrhage,post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis(PEP),perforation,abdominal pain,fever and infections.Technical success was defined as the rate of clearing pancreatic duct stones and clinical success as the improvement in pain.Randomeffects model was used for analysis.Heterogeneity between study-specific estimates was calculated using the Cochran Q statistical test and I2 statistics.Publication bias was ascertained,qualitatively by visual inspection of funnel plot and quantitatively by the Egger test.RESULTS A total of 16 studies including 383 patients met the inclusion criteria.The technical success rate of POP was 76.4%(95%CI:65.9-84.5;I2=64%)and clinical success rate was 76.8%(95%CI:65.2-85.4;I2=66%).The technical success rate of EHL was 70.3%(95%CI:57.8-80.3;I2=36%)and clinical success rate of EHL was 66.5%(95%CI:55.2-76.2;I2=19%).The technical success rate of LL was 89.3%(95%CI:70.5-96.7;I2=70%)and clinical success rate of LL was 88.2%(95%CI:66.4-96.6;I2=77%).The incidence of pooled adverse events for POP was 14.9%(95%CI:9.2-23.2;I2=49%),for EHL was 11.2%(95%CI:5.9-20.3;I2=15%)and for LL was 13.1%(95%CI:6.3-25.4;I2=31%).Subgroup analysis of adverse events showed rates of PEP at 7%(95%CI:3.5-13.6;I2=38%),fever at 3.7%(95%CI:2-6.9;I2=0),abdominal pain at 4.7%(95%CI:2.7-7.8;I2=0),perforation at 4.3%(95%CI:2.1-8.4;I2=0),hemorrhage at 3.4%(95%CI:1.7-6.6;I2=0)and no mortality.There was evidence of publication bias based on funnel plot analysis and Egger’s test.CONCLUSION Our study highlights the high technical and clinical success rates for POP,EHL and LL.POP-guided lithotripsy could be a viable option for management of chronic pancreatitis with PDC.展开更多
AIM: To ascertain fine needle aspiration(FNA) tech-niques by endosonographers with varying levels of ex-perience and environments.METHODS: A survey study was performed on United States based endosonographers. The subj...AIM: To ascertain fine needle aspiration(FNA) tech-niques by endosonographers with varying levels of ex-perience and environments.METHODS: A survey study was performed on United States based endosonographers. The subjects complet-ed an anonymous online electronic survey. The main outcome measurements were differences in needle choice, FNA technique, and clinical decision making among endosonographers and how this relates to years in practice, volume of EUS-FNA procedures, and prac-tice environment.RESULTS: A total of 210(30.8%) endosonographers completed the survey. Just over half(51.4%) identified themselves as academic/university-based practitioners. The vast majority of respondents(77.1%) identified themselves as high-volume endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)(> 150 EUS/year) and high-volume FNA(> 75 FNA/year) performers(73.3). If final cytology is non-diagnostic, high-volume EUS physicians were more likely than low volume physicians to repeat FNA with a core needle(60.5% vs 31.2%; P = 0.0004), and low volume physicians were more likely to refer patients for either surgical or percutaneous biopsy,(33.4% vs 4.9%, P < 0.0001). Academic physicians were more likely to repeat FNA with a core needle(66.7%) compared to community physicians(40.2%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There is significant variation in EUS-FNA practices among United States endosonographers. Differences appear to be related to EUS volume and practice environment.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Patients with acute pancreatitis(AP)frequently experience hospital readmissions,posing a significant burden to healthcare systems.Acute peripancreatic fluid collection(APFC)may negatively impact the clinical course of AP.It could worsen symptoms and potentially lead to additional complications.However,clinical evidence regarding the specific association between APFC and early readmission in AP remains scarce.Understanding the link between APFC and readmission may help improve clinical care for AP patients and reduce healthcare costs.AIM To evaluate the association between APFC and 30-day readmission in patients with AP.METHODS This retrospective cohort study is based on the Nationwide Readmission Database for 2016-2019.Patients with a primary diagnosis of AP were identified.Participants were categorized into those with and without APFC.A 1:1 propensity score matching for age,gender,and Elixhauser comorbidities was performed.The primary outcome was early readmission rates.Secondary outcomes included the incidence of inpatient complications and healthcare utilization.Unadjusted analyses used Mann-Whitney U andχ2 tests,while Cox regression models assessed 30-day readmission risks and reported them as adjusted hazard ratios(aHR).Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests verified readmission risks.RESULTS A total of 673059 patients with the principal diagnosis of AP were included.Of these,5.1%had APFC on initial admission.After propensity score matching,each cohort consisted of 33914 patients.Those with APFC showed a higher incidence of inpatient complications,including septic shock(3.1%vs 1.3%,P<0.001),portal venous thrombosis(4.4%vs 0.8%,P<0.001),and mechanical ventilation(1.8%vs 0.9%,P<0.001).The length of stay(LOS)was longer for APFC patients[4(3-7)vs 3(2-5)days,P<0.001],as were hospital charges($29451 vs$24418,P<0.001).For 30-day readmissions,APFC patients had a higher rate(15.7%vs 6.5%,P<0.001)and a longer median readmission LOS(4 vs 3 days,P<0.001).The APFC group also had higher readmission charges($28282 vs$22865,P<0.001).The presence of APFC increased the risk of readmission twofold(aHR 2.52,95%confidence interval:2.40-2.65,P<0.001).The independent risk factors for 30-day readmission included female gender,Elixhauser Comorbidity Index≥3,chronic pulmonary diseases,chronic renal disease,protein-calorie malnutrition,substance use disorder,depression,portal and splenic venous thrombosis,and certain endoscopic procedures.CONCLUSION Developing APFC during index hospitalization for AP is linked to higher readmission rates,more inpatient complications,longer LOS,and increased healthcare costs.Knowing predictors of readmission can help target high-risk patients,reducing healthcare burdens.
基金Supported by(Entirely)Thomas Jefferson University HospitalUniversity of Utah through existing intramural funds and salary support
文摘Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 3<sup>rd</sup> most common cancer in the United States with more than 10000 new cases diagnosed annually. Approximately 20% of patients with CRC will have distant metastasis at time of diagnosis, making them poor candidates for primary surgical resection. Similarly, 8%-25% of patients with CRC will present with bowel obstruction and will require palliative therapy. Emergent surgical decompression has a high mortality and morbidity, and often leads to a colostomy which impairs the patient’s quality of life. In the last decade, there has been an increasing use of colonic stents for palliative therapy to relieve malignant colonic obstruction. Colonic stents have been shown to be effective and safe to treat obstruction from CRC, and are now the therapy of choice in this scenario. In the setting of an acute bowel obstruction in patients with potentially resectable colon cancer, stents may be used to delay surgery and thus allow for decompression, adequate bowel preparation, and optimization of the patient’s condition for curative surgical intervention. An overall complication rate (major and minor) of up to 25% has been associated with the procedure. Long term failure of stents may result from stent migration and tumor ingrowth. In the majority of cases, repeat stenting or surgical intervention can successfully overcome these adverse effects.
文摘Giant cell tumors of the pancreas come in three varieties-osteoclastic,pleomorphic,and mixed histology.These tumors have distinctive endoscopic,clinical,and cytological features.Giant cell tumors have a controversial histogenesis,with some authors favoring an epithelial origin and others favoring a mesenchymal origin.The true origin of these lesions remains unclear at this time.These are also very rare tumors but proper identification and differentiation from more common pancreatic adenocarcinoma is important.The risk factors of these tumors and the prognosis may be different from those associated with standard pancreatic adenocarcinoma.Recognition of these differences can significantly affect patient care.These lesions have a unique appearance when imaged with endoscopic ultrasound(EUS),and these lesions can be diagnosed via EUS guided Fine Needle Aspiration(FNA).This manuscript will review the endoscopic,clinical,and pathologic features of these tumors.
文摘AIM To investigate indications and outcomes of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) in cirrhotics, especially adverse events. Patients with cirrhosis undergoing ERCP are believed to have increased risk. However, there is a paucity of literature describing the indications and outcomes of ERCP procedures in patients with cirrhosis, especially focusing on adverse events.METHODS We performed a systematic appraisal of major literature databases, including PubMed and EMBASE, with a manual search of literature from their inception until April 2017.RESULTS A total of 6,505 patients from 15 studies were analyzed(male ratio 59%, mean age 59 years), 11% with alcoholic and 89% with non-alcoholic cirrhosis, with 56.2% Child-Pugh class A, and 43.8% class B or C. Indications for ERCP included choledocholithiasis 60.9%, biliary strictures 26.2%, gallstone pancreatitis 21.1% and cholangitis 15.5%. Types of interventions included endoscopic sphincterotomy 52.7%, biliary stenting 16.7% and biliary dilation 4.6%. Individual adverse events included hemorrhage in 4.58%(95%CI: 2.77-6.75%, I^2 = 85.9%), post-ERCP pancreatitis(PEP) in 3.68%(95%CI: 1.83-6.00%, I^2 = 89.5%), cholangitis in 1.93%(95%CI: 0.63-3.71%, I^2 = 87.1%) and perforation in 0.00%(95%CI: 0.00-0.23%, I^2 = 37.8%). Six studies were used for comparison of ERCPrelated complications in cirrhosis vs non-cirrhosis, which showed higher overall rates of complications in cirrhosis patients with pooled OR of 1.63(95%CI: 1.27-2.09, I2 = 65%): higher rates of hemorrhage with OR of 2.05(95%CI: 1.62-2.58, I^2 = 2.1%) and PEP with OR of 1.33(95%CI: 1.04-1.70, I2=65%), but similar cholangitis rates with OR of 1.23(95%CI: 0.67-2.26, I^2 = 44.3%).CONCLUSION There is an overall higher rate of adverse events related to ERCP in patients with cirrhosis, especially hemorrhage and PEP. A thorough risk/benefit assessment should be performed prior to undertaking ERCP in patients with cirrhosis.
文摘Endoscopic cryotherapy is a technique utilized for the ablation of target tissue within the gastrointestinal tract.A cryotherapy system utilizes the endoscopic application of cryogen such as liquid nitrogen,carbon dioxide or liquid nitrous oxide.This leads to disruption of cell membranes,apoptosis,and thrombosis of local blood vessels within the target tissue.Several trials utilizing cryotherapy for Barrett’s esophagus(BE)with variable dysplasia,gastric antral vascular ectasia(GAVE),esophageal carcinoma,radiation proctitis,and metastatic esophageal carcinomas have shown safety and efficacy.More recently,liquid nitrogen cryotherapy(cryodilation)was shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of a benign esophageal stricture which was refractory to dilations,steroid injections,and stenting.Moreover,liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is associated with less post procedure pain as compared to radiofrequency ablation in BE with comparable ablation rates.In patients with GAVE,cryotherapy was found to be less tedious as compared to argon plasma coagulation.Adverse events from cryotherapy most commonly include chest pain,esophageal strictures,and bleeding.Gastric perforations did occur as well,but less often.In summary,endoscopic cryotherapy is a promising and growing field,which was first demonstrated in BE,but the use now spans for several other disease processes.Larger randomized controlled trials are needed before its role can be established for these different diseases.
文摘BACKGROUND Pancreatic duct stones can lead to significant abdominal pain for patients.Per oral pancreatoscopy(POP)-guided intracorporal lithotripsy is being increasingly used for the management of main pancreatic duct calculi(PDC)in chronic pancreatitis.POP uses two techniques:Electrohydraulic lithotripsy(EHL)and laser lithotripsy(LL).Data on the safety and efficacy are limited for this procedure.We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis with a primary aim to calculate the pooled technical and clinical success rates of POP.The secondary aim was to assess pooled rates of technical success,clinical success for the two individual techniques,and adverse event rates.AIM To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of POP,EHL and LL for management of PDC in chronic pancreatitis.METHODS We conducted a comprehensive search of multiple electronic databases and conference proceedings including PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane,Google Scholar and Web of Science databases(from 1999 to October 2019)to identify studies with patient age greater than 17 and any gender that reported on outcomes of POP,EHL and LL.The primary outcome assessed involved the pooled technical success and clinical success rate of POP.The secondary outcome included the pooled technical success and clinical success rate for EHL and LL.We also assessed the pooled rate of adverse events for POP,EHL and LL including a subgroup analysis for the rate of adverse event subtypes for POP:Hemorrhage,post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis(PEP),perforation,abdominal pain,fever and infections.Technical success was defined as the rate of clearing pancreatic duct stones and clinical success as the improvement in pain.Randomeffects model was used for analysis.Heterogeneity between study-specific estimates was calculated using the Cochran Q statistical test and I2 statistics.Publication bias was ascertained,qualitatively by visual inspection of funnel plot and quantitatively by the Egger test.RESULTS A total of 16 studies including 383 patients met the inclusion criteria.The technical success rate of POP was 76.4%(95%CI:65.9-84.5;I2=64%)and clinical success rate was 76.8%(95%CI:65.2-85.4;I2=66%).The technical success rate of EHL was 70.3%(95%CI:57.8-80.3;I2=36%)and clinical success rate of EHL was 66.5%(95%CI:55.2-76.2;I2=19%).The technical success rate of LL was 89.3%(95%CI:70.5-96.7;I2=70%)and clinical success rate of LL was 88.2%(95%CI:66.4-96.6;I2=77%).The incidence of pooled adverse events for POP was 14.9%(95%CI:9.2-23.2;I2=49%),for EHL was 11.2%(95%CI:5.9-20.3;I2=15%)and for LL was 13.1%(95%CI:6.3-25.4;I2=31%).Subgroup analysis of adverse events showed rates of PEP at 7%(95%CI:3.5-13.6;I2=38%),fever at 3.7%(95%CI:2-6.9;I2=0),abdominal pain at 4.7%(95%CI:2.7-7.8;I2=0),perforation at 4.3%(95%CI:2.1-8.4;I2=0),hemorrhage at 3.4%(95%CI:1.7-6.6;I2=0)and no mortality.There was evidence of publication bias based on funnel plot analysis and Egger’s test.CONCLUSION Our study highlights the high technical and clinical success rates for POP,EHL and LL.POP-guided lithotripsy could be a viable option for management of chronic pancreatitis with PDC.
文摘AIM: To ascertain fine needle aspiration(FNA) tech-niques by endosonographers with varying levels of ex-perience and environments.METHODS: A survey study was performed on United States based endosonographers. The subjects complet-ed an anonymous online electronic survey. The main outcome measurements were differences in needle choice, FNA technique, and clinical decision making among endosonographers and how this relates to years in practice, volume of EUS-FNA procedures, and prac-tice environment.RESULTS: A total of 210(30.8%) endosonographers completed the survey. Just over half(51.4%) identified themselves as academic/university-based practitioners. The vast majority of respondents(77.1%) identified themselves as high-volume endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)(> 150 EUS/year) and high-volume FNA(> 75 FNA/year) performers(73.3). If final cytology is non-diagnostic, high-volume EUS physicians were more likely than low volume physicians to repeat FNA with a core needle(60.5% vs 31.2%; P = 0.0004), and low volume physicians were more likely to refer patients for either surgical or percutaneous biopsy,(33.4% vs 4.9%, P < 0.0001). Academic physicians were more likely to repeat FNA with a core needle(66.7%) compared to community physicians(40.2%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There is significant variation in EUS-FNA practices among United States endosonographers. Differences appear to be related to EUS volume and practice environment.
