Author Archives: gutsandgrowth

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About gutsandgrowth

I am a pediatric gastroenterologist at GI Care for Kids (previously called CCDHC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The goal of my blog is to share some of my reading in my field more broadly. In addition, I wanted to provide my voice to a wide range of topics that often have inaccurate or incomplete information. Before starting this blog in 2011, I would tear out articles from journals and/or keep notes in a palm pilot. This blog helps provide an updated source of information that is easy to access and search, along with links to useful multimedia sources. I was born and raised in Chattanooga. After graduating from the University of Virginia, I attended Baylor College of Medicine. I completed residency and fellowship training at the University of Cincinnati at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center. I received funding from the National Institutes of Health for molecular biology research of the gastrointestinal tract. During my fellowship, I had the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing pediatric gastroenterologists and mentors. Some of these individuals included Mitchell Cohen, William Balistreri, James Heubi, Jorge Bezerra, Colin Rudolph, John Bucuvalas, and Michael Farrell. I am grateful for their teaching and their friendship. During my training with their help, I received a nationwide award for the best research by a GI fellow. I have authored numerous publications/presentations including original research, case reports, review articles, and textbook chapters on various pediatric gastrointestinal problems. In addition, I have been recognized by Atlanta Magazine as a "Top Doctor" in my field multiple times. Currently, I am the vice chair of the section of nutrition for the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition, I am an adjunct Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. Other society memberships have included the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN), American Academy of Pediatrics, the Food Allergy Network, the American Gastroenterology Association, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. As part of a national pediatric GI organization called NASPGHAN (and its affiliated website GIKids), I have helped develop educational materials on a wide-range of gastrointestinal and liver diseases which are used across the country. Also, I have been an invited speaker for national campaigns to improve the evaluation and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, celiac disease, eosinophilic esophagitis, hepatitis C, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Some information on these topics has been posted at my work website, www.gicareforkids.com, which has links to multiple other useful resources. I am fortunate to work at GI Care For Kids. Our group has 17 terrific physicians with a wide range of subspecialization, including liver diseases, feeding disorders, eosinophilic diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis, DiGeorge/22q, celiac disease, and motility disorders. Many of our physicians are recognized nationally for their achievements. Our group of physicians have worked closely together for many years. None of the physicians in our group have ever left to join other groups. I have also worked with the same nurse (Bernadette) since I moved to Atlanta in 1997. For many families, more practical matters about our office include the following: – 14 office/satellite locations – physicians who speak Spanish – cutting edge research – on-site nutritionists – on-site psychology support for abdominal pain and feeding disorders – participation in ImproveCareNow to better the outcomes for children with inflammatory bowel disease – office endoscopy suite (lower costs and easier scheduling) – office infusion center (lower costs and easier for families) – easy access to nursing advice (each physician has at least one nurse) I am married and have two sons (both adults). I like to read, walk/hike, bike, swim, and play tennis with my free time. I do not have any financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies or other financial relationships to disclose. I have helped enroll patients in industry-sponsored research studies.

No Show (“Unattended Appointment”) Data

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A recent study (JC Bohnhoff et al. Pediatrics 2019; 144 (6) e20190545) provided data on “unattended appointments.” Thanks to John Pohl for this reference from his twitter feed. Link to Full Abstract: Unscheduled Referrals and Unattended Appointments After Pediatric Subspecialty Referral (article behind paywall).

Key points:

  • Of 20 466 referrals, 13 261 (65%) resulted in an appointment scheduled within 90 days and 10 514 (51%) resulted in a visit attended within 90 days.
  • Compared with appointments scheduled within 7 days, appointments with intervals from referral to scheduled appointment exceeding 7 days were associated with decreasing likelihood of visit attendance (adjusted odds ratio 8–14 days 0.48; 95% confidence interval 0.37–0.61).
  • Patient factors associated with decreased likelihood of both appointment scheduling and visit attendance included African American race, public insurance, and lower zip code median income.

My take: To reduce no show rates, shorter wait times and frequent reminders are important.

Lullwater Park. Atlanta

POEM vs Surgical Myotomy for Achalasia -Randomized Trial

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A recent randomized trial (YB Werner et al. NEJM 2019; 381: 2219-29) compared peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and laparoscopic Heller’s myotomy (LHM) for idiopathic achalasia in 221 patients.

Key findings:

  • Clinical success at 2-year followup was observed in 83% in the POEM group and 82% in the LHM group. Clinical success was defined as Eckardt score of 3 or less without the use of additional treatments.
  • Serious adverse events occurred in 2.7% of POEM group and 7.3% of LHM group
  • At 3 months following procedure, 57% of the POEM group and 20% of LHM group had reflux esophagitis; the rates were 44% and 29% at 2 years, respectively.

My take: This study demonstrates similar outcomes between POEM and LHM.  As a practical matter, local expertise is likely a crucial component in choosing between these options.

Related blog posts:

Another Study Questions the Efficacy of Drip Feeds for Reflux

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Several years ago, a small study showed that bolus feeds were as well-tolerated in premature infants as drip feeds: Which is Safer -Drip Feeds of Bolus Feeds for Preterm Infants?

Now, a retrospective study (LB Mahoney, E Liu, R Rosen. JPGN 2019; 69: 678-81) found no difference in the rate of reflux in 18 children who were with gastrostomy-tube dependent.

In this study, 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance with pH monitoring (MII-pH) examine reflux events in children receiving exclusive enteral nutrition with a combination of daytime bolus feeds and overnight continuous feeds; each patient served as their own control.  this included 6 with prior fundoplication.

Key finding:

  • There was no difference in rate of reflux events when comparing bolus feedings and drip (aka continuous) feedings.

The limitations in this study include the small sample size and retrospective design.  The authors estimate that to achieve adequate power (80% power) to detect a risk ratio of 1.2 would require 211 patients.

My take: This study and other small studies challenge the assumption that drip feedings are safer. Though, until a larger prospective study is performed, we will not know.

Quebec City

Disclaimer: This blog, gutsandgrowth, assumes no responsibility for any use or operation of any method, product, instruction, concept or idea contained in the material herein or for any injury or damage to persons or property (whether products liability, negligence or otherwise) resulting from such use or operation. These blog posts are for educational purposes only. Specific dosing of medications (along with potential adverse effects) should be confirmed by prescribing physician.  Because of rapid advances in the medical sciences, the gutsandgrowth blog cautions that independent verification should be made of diagnosis and drug dosages. The reader is solely responsible for the conduct of any suggested test or procedure.  This content is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a condition.

Outcomes of Liver Transplantation in Small Infants

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A recent study (H Yamamoto et al. Liver Transplantation 2019; 25: 1561-70) provides data on the outcomes of infants who underwent liver transplantation (LT) in the United Kingdom (King’s College Hospital).

A total of 64 infants underwent LT (1989-2014) at a single institution. The authors compared “extra-small” (XS) infants in the first 3 months of life to “small” (S) who were 3-6 months of age.

Key findings:

  • Acute liver failure was the main indication for LT in the XS group (n=31, 84%) compared to the S group (7, 26%)
  • Hepatic artery thrombosis and portal vein thrombosis were similar in both groups: 5.4% and 10.8% in the XS and 7.4% and 11.1% in the S group
  • Bilary stricture and leakage were similar: 5.4% and 2.7% in the XS and 3.7% and 3.7% in the S group
  • 1-, 5-, and 10-year survivals were 70.3%, 70.3% and 70.3% in the XS group and 92.6%, 88.9%, and 88.9% in the S group (not statistically significant)

Related blog posts:

Quebec City, Frontenac Hotel and Boardwalk (early in the day)

How Benign Are Juvenile Polyps?

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A recent retrospective study (N Ibrahimi et al. JPGN 2019; 69: 668-72) reviewed juvenile polyp characteristics over a 14 year period (2003-17) from 213 pediatric subjects who underwent 326 procedures.  The authors state their review was intended for nonsyndromic juvenile polyps, though 23 of the patients had ≥5 polyps (which is incongruous with their presented methods of including children with less than 5 polyps).

Key findings:

  • The authors state that polyp recurrence rates on repeat colonoscopy were 1.5% if one polyp, 19.2% if 2-4 polyps, and 82.6% if 5-10 polyps
  • Juvenile polyps harbored adenomatous changes in 26 (12%) of patients
  • The presence of adenomatous changes did not correlate with polyp number; however, a polyp on the right-sided was more likely to harbor adenomatous changes

It is possible that some of the ‘recurrent’ polyps were missed polyps, as polyps can be easily overlooked.  I had a recent experience of removing numerous polyps (14) from a child recently and some were identified in part due repeated visualization of several colonic segments.  The recent ESPGHAN position paper is useful in children with multiple polyps; their recommendations include: In a child with a single JP, a repeat colonoscopy is not routinely required. (Weak recommendation, very low quality of evidence).

My take: This report is notable for the following:

  1. a fairly high rate of adenomatous changes in juvenile polyps.
  2. a high recurrence rate for children with multiple polyps

Related blog posts:

Quebec City

Disclaimer: This blog, gutsandgrowth, assumes no responsibility for any use or operation of any method, product, instruction, concept or idea contained in the material herein or for any injury or damage to persons or property (whether products liability, negligence or otherwise) resulting from such use or operation. These blog posts are for educational purposes only. Specific dosing of medications (along with potential adverse effects) should be confirmed by prescribing physician.  Because of rapid advances in the medical sciences, the gutsandgrowth blog cautions that independent verification should be made of diagnosis and drug dosages. The reader is solely responsible for the conduct of any suggested test or procedure.  This content is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a condition.

Healthcare: “Where the Frauds Are Legal”

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A recent NY Times commentary: “Where the Frauds Are Legal” details another group of problems with health care economics.  These problems are on top of a long list of other problems which at their core relate to lack of price transparency/hidden charges and excessive charges for some services.

Here’s an excerpt:

Much of what we accept as legal in medical billing would be regarded as fraud in any other sector…

Medical Swag…Companies are permitted by insurers to bill for “durable medical equipment,” stuff you receive for home use when you’re in the hospital or doctors’ office. That yields some familiar marked-up charges, like the sling you can buy at Walgreens for $15 but for which you or your insurer get a bill for $120 after it is given to you at urgent care…

The Cover Charge…Trauma activation fees have been allowed since 2002, after 9/11, when the Trauma Center Association of America, an industry group, convinced regulators that they needed to be compensated for maintaining a state of “readiness.”…

Impostor Billing…We received bills from doctors my husband never met… for bedside treatment from people who never came anywhere near the bed to deliver the care…

The Drive-By…There was no significant health service given. Just an appearance and some boxes checked on a form. It’s a phenomenon called drive-by doctoring.

The Enforced Upgrade…[like meeting] in the emergency room [because clinic is closed]

Why do insurers pay? Partly because insurers have no way to know whether you got a particular item or service. But also because it’s not worth their time to investigate the millions of medical interactions they write checks for each day. Despite the advertised concern about your well-being, as one benefits manager enlightened me: They’re “too big to care about you.”…these are all everyday, normal experiences in today’s health care system, and they may be perfectly legal. If we want to tame the costs in our $3 trillion health system, we’ve got to rein in this behavior, which is fraud by any other name.

My take: I find it troubling to be a cog in a system that has such devious billing practices.  This particularly relates to my interactions when providing hospital-based care.  In our office, we have at least some measure of control and we can offer services like outpatient endoscopy at one-third of the cost compared to hospital-based endoscopy; similarly, our outpatient infusions are much more cost-effective than hospital-based infusions.

In terms of the health care system, my expectation is that there is not a strong enough incentive or empowerment for physicians to tackle rising health care costs (& low value care) and as such the industry will face a reckoning from outside forces.

Related blog posts:

Marketing of Insulin Explains a Lot About Our Health Care System

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A recent commentary (M Fralick, AS Kesselheim. NEJM 2019; 381: 1793-5) describes the U.S. Insulin Crisis.

Background: 

  • In 1922, insulin was first injected into a 14-year-old boy with severe type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Prior to this, T1DM had been considered a universally fatal disease
  • Frederick Banting, John Macleod, and members or their team that discovered insulin sold their patent for $1 to assure it could be widely affordable
  • “U.S. law allows pharmaceutical manufacturers to price their products at whatever level they believe the market will bear and to raise prices over time without limit”
  • “Direct competition in the insulin market is lacking”
  • Since insulin is a biologic drug, this necessitates “additional testing beyond what is usually required for generic drugs before approval by the” FDA.

Current Situation:

  • A carton of insulin that sells for $300 in the U.S. could be purchased in Canada for $20 (in U.S. dollars)
  • Nearly 100 years after the development of insulin, “insulin is inaccessible to thousands of Americans because of its high cost.”

My take: Why does insulin cost 15 times more in the U.S. than Canada?   These excess costs with insulin are occurring despite a great deal scrutiny; unfortunately, U.S. consumers are paying extra for a wide range of pharmaceuticals.  Going from the Nobel discovery of insulin to our current state is a clear indication of the need to reform of our healthcare system.

Related blog posts:

Mural in Quebec City: La Fresque des Québécois

More Frequent Foreign Body Ingestions

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A recent retrospective study (D Orsagh-Yentis) Pediatrics 2019; 143: pii:320181988) examined children <6 years of age (n=759,054) and presentation to an emergency department in the U.S. for a foreign body ingestion (FBI) from 1995-2015. This study was reviewed at our recent national meeting by David Brumbaugh -related blog post: #NASPGHAN19 Postgraduate Course (Part 1) (Slides below).

Key findings:

  • FBI rates increased from 9.5 to 18 per 10,000 during the 20 year study period
  • Coins accounted for 61.7% of FBI
  • Most children (89.7%) were able to be discharged after their suspected ingestion
  • Battery ingestion represented 0.14% of all ingestions in 1995  to 8.4% in 2015

Related blog posts: