title: Endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (ERAT) : a multicenter retrospective study in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (ERAT) is a new procedure for the treatment of acute uncomplicated appendicitis. The aim of the study was to review the clinical outcomes of ERAT and further examine its effectiveness and safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed on patients who underwent ERAT for acute uncomplicated appendicitis at three tertiary hospitals in China from December 2009 to May 2013. Patient demographics, technique aspects of the ERAT procedures, clinical success (resolution of symptoms and normalization of laboratory tests), time until resumption of diet, and hospital stay were analyzed, and complications and recurrence were followed up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one patients were entered, among which 34 patients were definitely diagnosed as having acute uncomplicated appendicitis; in 7 patients, acute appendicitis was excluded by endoscopic retrograde appendicography. Thirty-three patients completed ERAT except one patient who failed appendiceal cannulation. Abdominal pain resolved immediately in 32 patients, and clinical success rate was 97 %. There was one failure case (3 %) that complicated perforation after 48 h received emergency appendectomy. The median follow-up period was 12 months (IQR = 9-23 months). During follow-up, there were no long-term complication; 2 patients (6.2 %) had recurrent abdominal pain and received appendectomy (one had a histologically normal appendix).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ERAT is an effective method to diagnose and treat acute uncomplicated appendicitis. Multicenter prospective clinical trials are needed to confirm its utility and place in the management of suspected acute appendicitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xue-Fu Road, Nan-Gang District, Harbin, 150086, China, Liubingrong@medmail.com.cn.
authors.forename: Bing-Rong
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Zi-Tan
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Shu-Ren
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ji-Bin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Li-Li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Wen-Ge
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D002681:China; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
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