Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.1
2.4
Journals
Medicina
Special Issues
Recent Advances in Digestive Endoscopy
share announcement

Recent Advances in Digestive Endoscopy

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Gastroenterology & Hepatology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 3835

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marco Spadaccini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
Interests: pancreatobiliary; advanced endoscopy; endoscopic ultrasound; endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; artificial intelligence; interventional EUS
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alessandro Fugazza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
Interests: pancreatobiliary; advanced endoscopy; endoscopic ultrasound; endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; artificial intelligence; interventional EUS
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, clinical luminal and biliopancreatic endoscopy applications have been increasingly integrated into routine medical practice. The repertoire of endoscopists is expanding, with procedures becoming more complex and interventional, allowing for the minimally invasive management of a wider range of benign and malignant conditions. Notably, the introduction of artificial intelligence is transforming diagnostic endoscopy, while advancements in resection techniques and interventional endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) are significantly broadening the scope and indications of endoscopic procedures.

Recognizing the complexity and significant implications of these developments in clinical practice and public health, Medicina is launching a Special Issue titled “Recent Advances in Digestive Endoscopy”. Our aim in publishing this Special Issue is to compile accurate and innovative scientific information on various aspects of endoscopic management in both benign and malignant conditions.

We invite the submission of narrative and systematic reviews and original manuscripts.

Dr. Marco Spadaccini
Dr. Alessandro Fugazza
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Medicina is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • digestive endoscopy
  • cholangiopancreatography
  • advanced endoscopy

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 934 KB  
Article
Bile Leak: Is There Optimal Timing for Endoscopy?
by Theodoros A. Voulgaris, Ioannis S. Papanikolaou, Dimitrios I. Ziogas, George Tribonias, Aliki Stamou, Aspasia Louta, Konstantinos Iliakopoulos, Ioannis A. Vezakis, Andreas Polydorou and Antonios Vezakis
Medicina 2025, 61(12), 2108; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61122108 - 27 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1371
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Bile leak is a common complication after hepatopancreatobiliary surgery, requiring timely management to prevent life-threatening outcomes. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is essential in treatment, but large data concerning optimal timing and technique selection are unavailable. This study evaluates whether [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Bile leak is a common complication after hepatopancreatobiliary surgery, requiring timely management to prevent life-threatening outcomes. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is essential in treatment, but large data concerning optimal timing and technique selection are unavailable. This study evaluates whether the timing of ERCP influences healing and if different bile duct injuries affect outcomes. Materials and Methods: Data from a prospectively maintained database over 25 years (2001–2025) included 176 patients (M/F: 91/85, mean age 62) undergoing ERCP for bile leaks. Results: Most leaks followed cholecystectomy (n = 143, 81.5%). The median time from leak to ERCP was 7 days. Ten patients (5.7%) had complete common bile duct (CBD) transection—considered major leaks—requiring surgery. Among the 166 minor leaks, the cystic duct stump (40.1%) was the most common injury site, followed by the CBD (24.1%) and the gallbladder bed (15.4%). Healing occurred in 90.6%. Stent placement improved healing rates (93.9% vs. 75.9%, p = 0.007), with no difference between pig-tail and (Amsterdam) straight plastic stents (90% vs. 96%, p = 0.267). Retained CBD stones or CBD strictures did not affect outcomes. Leaks from the cystic duct stump had a 96.9% resolution rate, whereas gallbladder bed leaks healed in 88%. The median healing time was 2 days, unaffected by stent placement or ES alone (p = 0.842), but later ERCP correlated with longer healing (RR: 0.362, p < 0.001). Following a right aberrant bile leak, the time for healing was longer than in leaks from other sites. Conclusions: ERCP with stenting remains the first-line approach for minor bile leaks. Early ERCP accelerates healing, emphasizing the importance of prompt intervention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Digestive Endoscopy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

15 pages, 656 KB  
Review
Unnecessary ERCPs: Is Spontaneous Stone Passage the Sole Determinant?
by Dimitrios I. Ziogas, Theodoros A. Voulgaris, Ance Volkanovska, Aliki Stamou, Georgios Kranidiotis, Gerasimos Stefanidis, Paraskevas Gkolfakis, Ioannis A. Vezakis, Gjorgi Deriban, Meri Trajkovska, Konstantinos Triantafyllou, Antonios Vezakis and Ioannis S. Papanikolaou
Medicina 2026, 62(3), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62030548 - 16 Mar 2026
Viewed by 695
Abstract
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the cornerstone in the management of choledocholithiasis. Despite continuous advancements in technique and safety, ERCP carries a risk of significant complications, underscoring the importance of avoiding unnecessary procedures. The principal contributor to potentially avoidable ERCPs in patients with [...] Read more.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the cornerstone in the management of choledocholithiasis. Despite continuous advancements in technique and safety, ERCP carries a risk of significant complications, underscoring the importance of avoiding unnecessary procedures. The principal contributor to potentially avoidable ERCPs in patients with known choledocholithiasis is the spontaneous passage of common bile duct stones. Small stone size and a long interval between diagnosis and the procedure have increasingly been found to favor this event. Moreover, despite the development of well-defined risk stratification scores for patients with suspected choledocholithiasis, the incidence of negative ERCPs within this patient population remains considerable, even when a high suspicion of choledocholithiasis is evident. This review summarizes current evidence on the incidence and predictors of avoidable ERCPs in these contexts, with particular emphasis on spontaneous stone passage. It also discusses the role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) as a diagnostic tool to reduce unnecessary procedures when initial imaging fails to confirm the presence of stones despite persistent high clinical suspicion. By integrating and critically appraising recent findings, we provide practical guidance for clinicians on decision-making regarding ERCP, particularly in situations where spontaneous stone passage is likely or imaging results are inconclusive. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Digestive Endoscopy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 408 KB  
Review
Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy: Real-Time Histology at the Fingertips: A Comprehensive Review of Current Applications of Endomicroscopy in Barrett Esophagus, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and Colorectal Lesions
by Eyad Gadour, Bogdan Miutescu, Abed Al-Lehibi, Mustafa Mohamed, Emad Aljahdli, Mohammed Albeshir, Alexandru Popa, Bodour Raheem and Antonio Facciorusso
Medicina 2026, 62(2), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62020415 - 22 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1245
Abstract
Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is an innovative diagnostic modality that facilitates real-time in vivo optical biopsies of various tissues within luminal and ductal structures. Since its introduction in 2004, the application of this tool has broadened from diagnostic purposes to encompass management and [...] Read more.
Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is an innovative diagnostic modality that facilitates real-time in vivo optical biopsies of various tissues within luminal and ductal structures. Since its introduction in 2004, the application of this tool has broadened from diagnostic purposes to encompass management and prognostic evaluation in fields such as gastroenterology, neurosurgery, urology, and dermatology. This comprehensive review examines the current applications of endomicroscopy in Barrett’s esophagus (BE), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and colorectal lesions. Evidence from the literature suggests that CLE offers a potential solution to the diagnostic limitations associated with white-light endoscopy and histology. With a diagnostic accuracy nearly equivalent to that of histology, CLE is emerging as a promising tool to mitigate the delays related to awaiting histology results for clinical and therapeutic decision-making. However, its use is mainly as a complementary diagnostic method rather than an alternative to histopathology or other ancillary studies. Nevertheless, its widespread adoption remains limited, and further research is necessary to ascertain its overall benefits and cost implications of integrating it into patient care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Digestive Endoscopy)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop