Advanced malignant hilar biliary obstruction (MHBO) with inaccessible papilla poses a significant challenge to endoscopists, as drainage of multiple liver segments may be warranted. Transpapillary drainage may not be feasible in patients with surgically altered anatomy, duodenal stenosis, prior duodenal self-expanding metal stent, and after initial transpapillary drainage, but require re-intervention for draining separated liver segments. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) and percutaneous trans-hepatic biliary drainage are the feasible options in this scenario. The major advantages of EUS-BD over percutaneous trans-hepatic biliary drainage include a reduction in patient discomfort and internal drainage away from the tumor, thus reducing the possibility of tissue or tumor ingrowth. With innovations, EUS-BD is helpful not only for bilateral communicating MHBO but also for non-communicating systems with bridging hilar stents or isolated right intra-hepatic duct drainage by hepatico-duodenostomy. EUS-guided multi-stent drainage with specially designed cannulas and guidewires has become a reality. A combined approach with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for re-intervention, interventional radiology, and intraductal tumor ablative therapies has been reported. Stent migration and bile leakage can be minimized with proper stent selection and technique, and stent blocks can be managed with EUS-guided interventions in a majority of cases. Future comparative studies are required to establish the role of EUS-guided interventions in MHBO as rescue or primary therapy.

Background/Aims: Information on pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) and very early onset IBD (VEOIBD) are sparse in India, where IBD is emerging. We aimed to evaluate characteristics of VEOIBD and later onset PIBD (LO-PIBD) in India. Methods: We performed retrospective analysis of a large, prospectively maintained IBD registry. PIBD was divided in to VEOIBD ( < 6 years) and LO-PIBD (6–17 years). Demographic data, disease characteristics and treatment were compared between the PIBD groups and with other Asian/Western studies as well as the adult patients of the registry. Results: Of 3,752 IBD patients, 292 (7.8%) had PIBD (0–17 years) (175 Crohn’s disease [CD], 113 ulcerative colitis [UC], 4 IBD-undifferentiated; 22 VEOIBD [7.5%], and 270 LO-PIBD [92.5%]). VEOIBD patients had more severe disease compared to LO-PIBD in both UC (P= 0.003) and CD (P< 0.001). Familial IBD was more common in VEOIBD (13.6%) compared to LO-PIBD (9.2%). Ileal disease (L1) was an independent risk factor for diagnostic delay in pediatric CD. Diagnostic delay ( > 6 months) was significantly lower in VEOIBD (40.9%) than in LO-PIBD (78.8%) (P< 0.001). Compared to other Asian and Western studies, extensive UC (72.5%) and complicated CD (stricturing/penetrating: 42.7%) were relatively more common. Perianal CD was relatively less frequent (7.4%). PIBD had a significantly higher number of complicated and ileal CD and extensive UC comparison to adult cohort of the registry. Conclusions VEOIBD has more aggressive phenotype than LO-PIBD. Disease appears distinct from other Asian and Western studies and adult onset disease, with more complicated CD and extensive UC.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Information about familial aggregation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Asia is limited. We aimed to analyze the prevalence and risk of familial IBD in an Indian cohort and compare familial and sporadic cases.METHODS: Familial IBD cases were identified from a large prospectively maintained IBD registry. The prevalence of IBD in first- and seconddegree relatives of index cases was evaluated. The disease behavior was compared to that of sporadic cases.RESULTS: Total 3,553 patients (ulcerative colitis [UC], 2,053; Crohn’s disease [CD], 1,500) were included. Familial IBD was noted in 4.13% of CD and 4.34% of UC patients. Family history was commoner in pediatric group (< 18 years) (P= 0.0002; odds ratio [OR], 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6–4.8). Majority had paternal transmission (UC, 67.42%; CD, 70.97%). Concordance of disease type was higher in UC (79.7%) compared to CD (37.1%). Familial IBD was associated with higher cumulative relapse rate (CD, P< 0.001; UC, P< 0.001), higher cumulative rate of surgery (CD, P< 0.001; UC, P< 0.001) and higher rate of biologic use (CD, P= 0.010; UC, P= 0.015). Pan-colitis was higher in familial UC (P= 0.003; OR, 1.935; 95% CI, 1.248–3.000). Fistulizing disease was commoner in familial CD (P= 0.041; OR, 2.044; 95% CI, 1.030–4.056).CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of familial IBD in India appears comparable to rest of Asia but lower than the West. It is associated with a younger age of onset, higher incidence of pan-colitis in UC and fistulizing complications in CD. Familial IBD has higher cumulative relapse, surgery and biologic use rates. Hence, family history of IBD could have important prognostic implications.
Age of Onset ; Asia ; Cohort Studies ; Colitis ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease ; Humans ; Incidence ; India ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence

After oncologic resection, histological grading and staging of the tumor give important prognostic information about the future risk of recurrence and hence influence the subsequent management plan. Several studies and their meta-analysis have shown that various histological features (e.g., microscopic positive resection margins, plexitis, granuloma, mesenteric inflammatory activity) can predict postoperative clinical/endoscopic/surgical recurrence after resection in Crohn’s disease (CD). Inclusion of mesentery in surgical resection specimens has been shown to reduce surgical recurrence after ileocolonic resection in CD. However, there is no uniform histopathological staging system for risk stratification in postoperative CD to systematically predict postoperative recurrence. This is because the prediction to date is based on clinical characteristics (smoking status, disease phenotype, surgical history). Histopathological predictors are still not adopted in routine clinical practice due to the lack of a uniform staging system, heterogeneity of published studies and lack of standardized definition of histological features. In this article, we attempted to incorporate all such histological features in a single histological staging system CNM (Crohn’s primary site [resection margin positivity, plexitis, granuloma, depth of infiltration], nodes [presence of granuloma], mesentery [involved or not]) in surgical resection specimen in CD. The proposed CNM classification would help to enable systematic reporting, design future clinical trials, stratify postoperative recurrence risk and choose appropriate postoperative prophylaxis.