Browsing by Author "Sharma, Neil R."
Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Acute pancreatitis in liver transplant hospitalizations: Identifying national trends, clinical outcomes and healthcare burden in the United States(Baishideng Publishing Group, 2023) Dahiya, Dushyant Singh; Jahagirdar, Vinay; Chandan, Saurabh; Gangwani, Manesh Kumar; Merza, Nooraldin; Ali, Hassam; Deliwala, Smit; Aziz, Muhammad; Ramai, Daryl; Pinnam, Bhanu Siva Mohan; Bapaye, Jay; Cheng, Chin-I; Inamdar, Sumant; Sharma, Neil R.; Al-Haddad, Mohammad; Medicine, School of MedicineBackground: Acute pancreatitis (AP) in liver transplant (LT) recipients may lead to poor clinical outcomes and development of severe complications. Aim: We aimed to assess national trends, clinical outcomes, and the healthcare burden of LT hospitalizations with AP in the United States (US). Methods: The National Inpatient Sample was utilized to identify all adult (≥ 18 years old) LT hospitalizations with AP in the US from 2007-2019. Non-LT AP hospitalizations served as controls for comparative analysis. National trends of hospitalization characteristics, clinical outcomes, complications, and healthcare burden for LT hospitalizations with AP were highlighted. Hospitalization characteristics, clinical outcomes, complications, and healthcare burden were also compared between the LT and non-LT cohorts. Furthermore, predictors of inpatient mortality for LT hospitalizations with AP were identified. All P values ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The total number of LT hospitalizations with AP increased from 305 in 2007 to 610 in 2019. There was a rising trend of Hispanic (16.5% in 2007 to 21.1% in 2018, P-trend = 0.0009) and Asian (4.3% in 2007 to 7.4% in 2019, p-trend = 0.0002) LT hospitalizations with AP, while a decline was noted for Blacks (11% in 2007 to 8.3% in 2019, P-trend = 0.0004). Furthermore, LT hospitalizations with AP had an increasing comorbidity burden as the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score ≥ 3 increased from 41.64% in 2007 to 62.30% in 2019 (P-trend < 0.0001). We did not find statistically significant trends in inpatient mortality, mean length of stay (LOS), and mean total healthcare charge (THC) for LT hospitalizations with AP despite rising trends of complications such as sepsis, acute kidney failure (AKF), acute respiratory failure (ARF), abdominal abscesses, portal vein thrombosis (PVT), and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Between 2007-2019, 6863 LT hospitalizations with AP were compared to 5649980 non-LT AP hospitalizations. LT hospitalizations with AP were slightly older (53.5 vs 52.6 years, P = 0.017) and had a higher proportion of patients with CCI ≥ 3 (51.5% vs 19.8%, P < 0.0001) compared to the non-LT cohort. Additionally, LT hospitalizations with AP had a higher proportion of Whites (67.9% vs 64.6%, P < 0.0001) and Asians (4% vs 2.3%, P < 0.0001), while the non-LT cohort had a higher proportion of Blacks and Hispanics. Interestingly, LT hospitalizations with AP had lower inpatient mortality (1.37% vs 2.16%, P = 0.0479) compared to the non-LT cohort despite having a higher mean age, CCI scores, and complications such as AKF, PVT, VTE, and the need for blood transfusion. However, LT hospitalizations with AP had a higher mean THC ($59596 vs $50466, P = 0.0429) than the non-LT cohort. Conclusion: In the US, LT hospitalizations with AP were on the rise, particularly for Hispanics and Asians. However, LT hospitalizations with AP had lower inpatient mortality compared to non-LT AP hospitalizations.Item Clinical Outcomes and Complications for Achalasia Patients Admitted After Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy(Elmer Press, 2023) Dahiya, Dushyant Singh; Nivedita, Fnu; Perisetti, Abhilash; Goyal, Hemant; Inamdar, Sumant; Gangwani, Manesh Kumar; Aziz, Muhammad; Ali, Hassam; Cheng, Chin-I; Sanaka, Madhusudhan R.; Al-Haddad, Mohammad; Sharma, Neil R.; Medicine, School of MedicineBackground: Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a rapidly emerging minimally invasive procedure for management of achalasia. Same-day discharge after POEM is safe and feasible; however, some patients may need hospitalization. We aimed to identify characteristics and outcomes for achalasia patients requiring hospitalizations after POEM in the United States (US). Methods: The US National Inpatient Sample was utilized to identify all adult achalasia patients who were admitted after POEM from 2016 to 2019. Hospitalization characteristics and clinical outcomes were highlighted. Results: From 2016 to 2019, we found that 1,885 achalasia patients were admitted after POEM. There was an increase in the total number of hospitalizations after POEM from 380 in 2016 to 490 in 2019. The mean age increased from 54.2 years in 2016 to 59.3 years in 2019. Most POEM-related hospitalizations were for the 65 - 79 age group (31.8%), females (50.4%), and Whites (68.4%). A majority (56.2%) of the study population had a Charlson Comorbidity Index of 0. The Northeast hospital region had the highest number of POEM-related hospitalizations. Most of these patients (88.3%) were eventually discharged home. There was no inpatient mortality. The mean length of stay decreased from 4 days in 2016 to 3.2 days in 2019, while the mean total healthcare charge increased from $52,057 in 2016 to $65,109 in 2019. Esophageal perforation was the most common complication seen in 1.3% of patients. Conclusion: The number of achalasia patients needing hospitalization after POEM increased. There was no inpatient mortality conferring an excellent safety profile of this procedure.Item COVID-19 and Acute Esophageal Obstruction Management in the Emergency Department: An U.S. multicenter research network propensity-matched analysis(2021) Goyal, Hemant; Perisetti, Abhilash; Gajendran, Mahesh; Ali, Aman; Sharma, Neil R.; Medicine, School of MedicineIntroduction- The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 led to significant strain on the Emergency Department (ED) visits worldwide. Multiple stay-at-home orders were issued during the pandemic unless medical treatment was urgently needed . Acute esophageal obstruction (AEO) due to food/ foreign body impaction usually present to the ED, given its severe symptoms. Most esophageal foreign bodies pass through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract uneventfully, and related mortality is very low. Still, most of these patients receive endoscopic interventions (up to 76%). The number of non-urgent endoscopies plummeted sharply during the pandemic to reduce exposure and preserve personal protective equipment. It is unclear if ED visits for AEO and their endoscopic management changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States (US). Methods- We utilized a federated cloud-based network database named TriNetX, which provides access to electronic medical records from 92 healthcare organizations from the US. The AEO adult patients hospitalized from January 1, 2020, to December 1, 2020, were compared to a similar timeline in 2019 from TriNetX. We used ICD-10 codes for food/foreign body in esophagus, causing other injury acute food impaction (T18.128 A, T18.12), foreign body esophagus (T18.198, T18.1, T18.19, T18.108, T18.108A). Outcomes of the study included utilization rates of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), esophageal perforation, inpatient hospitalization, and mortality. The outcomes were measured before and after 1:1 propensity matching of the groups based on the baseline demographics and comorbidities. Results- Prevalence of AEO among all ED visits in 2020 were 0.12% (5890 AEO ED visits among 4,672,024 total visits), compared to 0.17% (23,478 AEO ED visits among 14,199,648 total visits) in 2019. There was a small but significant decrease (0.05%) in AEO ED visits from pre-pandemic compared to pandemic times (P<0.01). Patient with AEO had higher prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis (mean 270 [4.6%] vs. 885 [3.8%], p=0.004) and alcohol-related disorders (mean 465 5 [7.9%] vs. 1659 [7.1%], p=0.03) in 2020 group vs. 2019 group. Patients in the 2020-group had a lower EGD utilization (RR 0.63,95%CI:0.58–0.67, p<0.001) but esophageal perforation (RR 0.87,95%CI:0.41–1.82) and inpatient hospitalization rates (RR 0.92,95%CI:0.79-1.05) did not differ between two groups. Interestingly, during the pandemic, the AEO patients had a lower mortality rate (RR 0.23, 95%CI:0.17–0.31, p<0.001) than in 2019. Conclusion With the advent of COVID-19, multiple stay-at-home orders were issued in the US, with widespread healthcare services and utilization disruption. Patients have expressed concerns about visiting healthcare facilities due to the potential of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 . Many GI societies also recommended deferring elective procedures. This was due to a concern for potential transmission of the virus from aerosolization of GI secretions and judicious use of PPE, which resulted in an overall reduction in the number of endoscopies during the pandemic. Our study shows a small reduction (0.05%) of AEO ED visits in 2020 compared to 2019. However, EGD utilization plummeted to 63% for AEO in 2020. If this is due to spontaneous resolution of the food impaction or reduced presentations to the ED needs to be studied prospectively.Item Diagnosis and Management of Pancreatic Cysts: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature(MDPI, 2023-02-02) Singh, Ritu R.; Gopakumar, Harishankar; Sharma, Neil R.; Medicine, School of MedicineThe prevalence of pancreatic cysts has been rising due to the widespread use of cross-sectional imaging (CT scan and MRI) of the abdomen. While most pancreatic cysts are benign and do not require treatment or surveillance, a significant minority are premalignant and rarely malignant. The risk stratification of these lesions is not straightforward, and individual risk assessment, cyst size, distribution, and alarming morphologic features (when present) can guide the next steps in management. Neoplastic pancreatic cysts are mucinous or non-mucinous. Endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration is often required to classify pancreatic cysts into mucinous and non-mucinous cysts and to assess the malignant potential. Advances in endoscopic techniques (confocal laser endomicroscopy, microforceps biopsy) can provide a definitive diagnosis of pancreatic cysts in some cases; however, the use of these techniques involves a higher risk of adverse events.Item Early and Late Readmissions of Radiation Proctitis in the United States: Are We Getting Better?(MDPI, 2024-01-12) Dahiya, Dushyant Singh; Pinnam, Bhanu Siva Mohan; Ishaya, Michelle; Chandan, Saurabh; Gangwani, Manesh Kumar; Singh, Sahib; Ali, Hassam; Sohail, Amir Humza; Canakis, Andrew; Ramai, Daryl; Zelt, Christina; Inamdar, Sumant; Al-Haddad, Mohammad; Rojas-DeLeon, Mariajose; Sharma, Neil R.; Medicine, School of MedicineBackground/Aims: Radiation proctitis (RP), a well-known complication of pelvic radiation therapy, may lead to recurrent hospitalizations. We aimed to assess readmissions of RP in the United States. Methods: We analyzed the Nationwide Readmission Database from 2016 to 2020 to identify all 30-, 60-, and 90-day readmissions of RP in the United States. Hospitalization characteristics, predictors, clinical outcomes, and healthcare burdens were assessed. Results: From 2016 to 2020, we noted a declining trend of 30-, 60-, and 90-day readmissions of RP in the US. However, the all-cause 30-, 60-, and 90-day readmission rates of RP were still high at 13.7%, 19.4%, and 23.16%, respectively. On readmission, RP was identified as the admitting diagnosis in only 20.61%, 17.87%, and 15.76% of 30-, 60-, and 90-day readmissions, respectively. The mean age for all readmissions was 70 years with a significant male dominance. Lower endoscopy at index admission reduced the risk of readmissions within 90 days, but this was not statistically significant. However, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score was an independent predictor of all readmissions. Furthermore, the mean length of stay was 5.57 (95% CI 5.15-6), 5.50 (95% CI 5.12-5.89), and 5.47 (95% CI 5.07-5.87) days and the mean hospitalization charge was USD 60,451 (95% CI USD 54,728-66,174), USD 62,671 (95% CI USD 57,326-68,015), and USD 62,144 (95% CI USD 57,144-67,144) for 30-, 60-, and 90-day readmissions. The all-cause inpatient mortality for 30-, 60-, and 90-day readmissions was 3.58%, 3.89%, and 3.46%, respectively. Conclusions: RP readmissions are a significant healthcare burden. Further efforts must be directed toward improving management strategies to reduce readmission rates.Item Risk Stratification of Pancreatic Cysts With Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy(Elsevier, 2022-02-03) Singh, Ritu R.; Perisetti, Abhilash; Pallav, Kumar; Chandan, Saurabh; De Leon, Mariajose Rose; Sharma, Neil R.; Medicine, School of MedicineIn the modern era of high-quality cross-sectional imaging, pancreatic cysts (PCs) are a common finding. The prevalence of incidental PCs detected on cross-sectional abdominal imaging (such as CT scan) is 3%-14% which increases with age, up to 8% in those 70 years or older. Although PCs can be precursors of future pancreatic adenocarcinoma, imaging modalities such as CT scan, MRI, or endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) are suboptimal at risk stratifying the malignant potential of individual cysts. An inaccurate diagnosis could potentially overlook premalignant lesions, which can lead to missed lesions, lead to unnecessary surveillance, or cause significant long-term surgical morbidity from unwarranted removal of benign lesions. Although current guidelines recommend an EUS or MRI for surveillance, they lack the sensitivity to risk stratify and guide management decisions. Needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE) with EUS-FNA can be a superior diagnostic modality for PCs with sensitivity and accuracy exceeding 90%. Despite this, a significant challenge to the widespread use of nCLE is the lack of adequate exposure and training among gastroenterologists for the real-time interpretation of images. Better understanding, training, and familiarization with this novel technique and the imaging characteristics can overcome the limitations of nCLE use, improving clinical care of patients with PCs. Here, we aim to review the types of CLE in luminal and nonluminal gastrointestinal disorders with particular attention to the evaluation of PCs. Furthermore, we discuss the adverse events and safety of CLE.Item Role of Therapeutic Endoscopic Ultrasound in Management of Pancreatic Cancer: An Endoscopic Oncologist Perspective(MDPI, 2023-06-18) Dahiya, Dushyant Singh; Chandan, Saurabh; Ali, Hassam; Pinnam, Bhanu Siva Mohan; Gangwani, Manesh Kumar; Al Bunni, Hashem; Canakis, Andrew; Gopakumar, Harishankar; Vohra, Ishaan; Bapaye, Jay; Al-Haddad, Mohammad; Sharma, Neil R.; Medicine, School of MedicinePancreatic cancer is a highly lethal disease with an aggressive clinical course. Patients with pancreatic cancer are usually asymptomatic until significant progression of their disease. Additionally, there are no effective screening guidelines for pancreatic cancer in the general population. This leads to a delay in diagnosis and treatment, resulting in poor clinical outcomes and low survival rates. Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) is an indispensable tool for the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic cancer. In the modern era, with exponential advancements in technology and device innovation, EUS is also being increasingly used in a variety of therapeutic interventions. In the context of pancreatic cancer where therapies are limited due to the advanced stage of the disease at diagnosis, EUS-guided interventions offer new and innovative options. Moreover, due to their minimally invasive nature and ability to provide real-time images for tumor localization and therapy, they are associated with fewer complication rates compared to conventional open and laparoscopic approaches. In this article, we detail the most current and important therapeutic applications of EUS for pancreatic cancer, namely EUS-guided Fine Needle Injections, EUS-guided Radiotherapy, and EUS-guided Ablations. Furthermore, we also discuss the feasibility and safety profile of each intervention in patients with pancreatic cancer to provide gastrointestinal medical oncologists, radiation and surgical oncologists, and therapeutic endoscopists with valuable information to facilitate patient discussions and aid in the complex decision-making process.