Faculty Collaboration Database

Unsedated transnasal endoscopy with ultrathin endoscope as a screening tool for research studies. Laryngoscope 2012 Aug;122(8):1719-23

Date

05/09/2012

Pubmed ID

22565357

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3477703

DOI

10.1002/lary.23304

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84864410777 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   7 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Asymptomatic subjects volunteering for research studies are generally stratified as healthy based on a questionnaire, medical interviewing, and physical examination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of upper gastrointestinal (GI) abnormalities in healthy asymptomatic volunteers using unsedated transnasal esophagogastroduodenoscopy (T-EGD) with an ultrathin endoscope as an additional screening tool.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study from one academic medical center with extensive experience in T-EGD.

METHODS: Consecutive 150 subjects volunteering for research studies were initially screened by using a gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) questionnaire, interviewing, and examination. Based on these, they were stratified as healthy asymptomatic volunteers or with GERD. Unsedated T-EGD was then performed by a faculty member who was blinded to the results of the initial assessment.

RESULTS: On initial assessment using GERD questionnaire, medical interviewing, and physical examination, of the total 150 consecutive research volunteers, 83 (average age 33 ± 16 years; 46 females, 37 males) subjects were healthy asymptomatic volunteers and 67 (average age 36 ± 15 years; 35 females, 32 males) had symptoms of GERD. On T-EGD, GI pathology was found in 15 of 83 (18%) healthy asymptomatic volunteers as compared to 24 of 67 (36%) stratified as having GERD (P < .01). The esophageal abnormalities found in healthy asymptomatic volunteers were esophagitis (13.3%), Barrett's esophagus (2.4%), hiatus hernia (2.4%), and gastritis (2.4%).

CONCLUSIONS: A small but significant number of asymptomatic subjects have abnormal upper GI findings. Hence, transnasal unsedated endoscopy can be considered as a screening tool to stratify subjects as healthy, especially when considering them for research studies.

Author List

Siwiec RM, Dua K, Surapaneni SN, Hafeezullah M, Massey B, Shaker R

Authors

Kulwinder S. Dua MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Benson T. Massey MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Reza Shaker MD Assoc Provost, Sr Assoc Dean, Ctr Dir, Chief, Prof in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Barrett Esophagus
Conscious Sedation
Endoscopy, Digestive System
Equipment Design
Esophagitis
Female
Gastritis
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Hernia, Hiatal
Humans
Male
Mass Screening
Middle Aged
Patient Selection
Prospective Studies
Reference Values
Young Adult