Daily Archives: July 27, 2019

Physician performance measures and quality of care indicators for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were developed to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life, while decreasing healthcare costs. Adherence to these quality indicators varies among pr… Continue reading →

Upper endoscopy with pneumatic balloon dilation is one of the first-line treatments for esophageal achalasia but carries risk for adverse events such as perforation and aspiration secondary to esophageal stasis. Continue reading →

Increasing emphasis on quality of care, as well as performance-based reimbursement have placed the spotlight on improving healthcare efficiency. As demand for GI procedures continues to increase, resources like physical space and personnel remain uncha… Continue reading →

Constipation accounts for approximately 3% of all pediatric visits. The role of providing care for children with constipation has expanded from the outpatient offices to include providers in the emergency department (ED) and inpatient settings. At UPMC… Continue reading →

Biologic therapy for the management of active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is expensive and the multi-step process prior to initiation of therapy can be associated with delay. The purpose of this study was to determine if such delay impacts clinica… Continue reading →

Endoscopies are often anxiety-provoking for patients. Moderate sedation is used to minimize discomfort and anxiety and improve patient tolerance. In addition to side effects from medications, commonly a benzodiazepine with an opiate, sedation increases… Continue reading →

Anemia is a common complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with studies reporting an even greater prevalence among children (49-70%) than adults (20-39%) at any given time during disease course. In the majority of cases, anemia is a result of… Continue reading →

Inpatient endoscopy workflow is complex due to the need for multidisciplinary care coordination and on-demand scheduling. At our facility, weekday inpatient procedures are performed in dedicated operating rooms (ORs) with anesthesia support, with staff… Continue reading →

Hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Guidelines therefore suggest pharmacologic prophylaxis in hospitalized IBD patients without major gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), but prior d… Continue reading →