Ongoing quality measures lead to post-colonoscopy complications remaining very low
Worldwide rates of post-colonoscopy complications either remained low or decreased in the past 15 years, confirming the global safety of colonoscopy as a diagnostic, screening, surveillance and therapeutic procedure. The results suggest improvement in techniques, better and more accurate quality end-points, and the benefits of feedback and modification of “best practices” based on the analysis
Superbug Gene Isolated in U.S. — Confers resistance to last-ditch antibiotic colistin
It was bound to happen — a gene that confers resistance to a last-resort antibiotic has been detected in the U.S. But who is to blame? “It’s hard to imagine worse news for public health in the United States,” commented Lance Price, PhD, of George Washington University in Washington, DC. Read the news article here.
Access to Subspecialty Hepatology Care Increases Survival Among V.A. Patients With Liver Disease
Access to subspecialty GI care may be difficult for patients with liver disease, but it is unknown whether access influences outcomes. A total of 28,861 patients within the Veterans Administration were studied to determine rates and predictors of access to ambulatory GI subspecialty care for patients with liver disease, and to determine whether this
Can Blood Levels of Ammonia Predict Risk and Frequency of Hepatic Encephalopathy in Patients With Cirrhosis?
We have long argued about the benefits of ammonia levels in following patients with cirrhosis and altered mentation. The textbook answer, long “re-posted”, is that the levels are not useful. But, whenever we follow recommendations historically and by habit–without thinking about the underlying rationale–we are at risk of getting burned. So it may be with
