Gastroenterologists perform more procedures per physician than nearly any other specialty, and the volume carries risk. Colonoscopy remains the most litigated procedure in GI, but the landscape extends to ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography), missed diagnoses and wrong-patient errors. Here are five numbers that define where GI malpractice exposure stands: 0.34% to 2.5%: Rates of serious injury due to colonoscopies vary in research between 0.34% and 2.5%, according to a law firm Miller and Zois analysis. The risk of bowel perforation specifically is estimated at 0.2% to 1%. Perforation is the most litigated injury, but hemorrhage following polyp removal, splenic injury…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Researchers at Northwestern Medicine Digestive Health Center are building evidence that behavioral health interventions can play a critical role in managing GI disorders by targeting the gut-brain axis, hypervigilance, and symptom-specific anxiety. Studies from the group found that patients with conditions such as achalasia, GERD, IBS, Crohn’s disease, and colitis who experience higher levels of anxiety and symptom hypervigilance often report worse outcomes and lower quality of life, even after successful medical or surgical treatment. Researchers are now evaluating cognitive behavioral therapy and other gut-brain interventions to determine whether addressing these psychological factors can improve symptoms, reduce healthcare utilization, and…
The white paper spurred widespread adoption of the POWER program by academic and private gastroenterology and hepatology practices, many of which have used it as a guide for implementing a multidisciplinary obesity care model.2 The aim of this commentary is to provide a comprehensive update of POWER in light of several important developments in the fields of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases in recent years, including the following:
The article highlights a growing debate around AI-assisted colonoscopy: while AI consistently improves polyp and adenoma detection rates, much of the improvement comes from finding very small, low-risk lesions whose removal may have limited impact on long-term colorectal cancer outcomes. Meta-analyses show AI-assisted colonoscopy increases adenoma detection by about 37% and polyp detection by 36%, with some studies reporting gains of up to 50%. However, critics argue that AI disproportionately identifies diminutive polyps (<5 mm), which rarely progress to cancer. As a result, AI may inflate traditional quality metrics such as adenoma detection rate without necessarily reducing interval colorectal cancer…
Several studies presented at DDW 2026 highlighted emerging approaches that could reshape GI care, from less invasive Barrett’s esophagus surveillance to outpatient advanced endoscopy and digital therapies for pediatric abdominal pain. Researchers reported that capsule sponge testing detected high-grade dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma more effectively than standard Barrett’s surveillance endoscopy, while a next-generation device improved patient tolerability. Another study found that outpatient endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was safe and feasible in more than 1,000 patients, potentially reducing hospital admissions and resource use. Meanwhile, a four-week web-based program combining hypnosis and cognitive behavioral therapy helped reduce anxiety and somatic stress in…
A favorable HHS-OIG advisory opinion could accelerate interest in multi-cancer early detection (MCED) testing by allowing a company to provide a free supplemental multi-cancer risk report alongside a Medicare-covered colorectal cancer blood test. While regulators acknowledged the arrangement could raise anti-kickback concerns, they concluded the risk was low because the additional analysis uses the same blood sample, creates no extra cost to Medicare, and may provide clinically meaningful information for cancers that currently lack established screening options. The decision highlights growing regulatory openness to innovative cancer screening approaches while maintaining safeguards against inappropriate utilization and patient steering.
Five-year data from the Phase 2 GALAXI 1 trial show that Tremfya delivered durable clinical and endoscopic remission in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease, providing the longest follow-up reported to date for an IL-23 inhibitor in the condition. Among patients who remained on treatment, 97.7% achieved clinical remission, all were corticosteroid-free, 71% achieved endoscopic response, and 51% achieved endoscopic remission after five years. The findings strengthen the case for IL-23-targeted therapies as a long-term treatment strategy for Crohn’s disease, particularly in patients who have previously failed other biologic therapies.
The CU Anschutz IBD Biobank has partnered with health-tech startup Network.Bio to expand its collection and analysis of gut tissue samples, aiming to accelerate research into inflammatory bowel disease and other gastrointestinal conditions. The collaboration will enable the biobank to proactively collect more patient samples, improve data infrastructure, and leverage advanced analytics to uncover new insights into gut diseases. Researchers believe the expanded biobank could help identify new therapeutic targets, including treatments for complications such as intestinal fibrosis in Crohn’s disease, ultimately supporting the development of more effective GI therapies.
Novant Health is continuing to grow its presence in South Carolina with the addition of Novant Health Gastroenterology – Coastal Carolina. Dr. Madeline Russell and Mandy de Bruin, nurse practitioner, are now part of Novant Health and began seeing patients on June 8. They continue to provide leading-edge gastroenterological care in Hardeeville and the surrounding communities, now supported by the Novant Health network and the latest diagnostic and treatment technologies. The clinic specialists manage and treat abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, gallbladder concerns, liver concerns and more.
The obesity treatment landscape is rapidly evolving beyond GLP-1 drugs, with researchers exploring new therapies designed to prevent weight regain, improve long-term maintenance, reduce side effects, and preserve muscle mass after treatment discontinuation. At the 2026 ADA Scientific Sessions, investigators presented several early-stage approaches, including an oral TXNIP inhibitor that prevented post-semaglutide weight rebound in animal models, a long-acting GIP receptor antagonist designed for weight maintenance, a four-target obesity drug that outperformed tirzepatide in preclinical studies, and a combination of dorzagliatin with oral GLP-1 therapy that improved glucose control while maintaining weight loss. Together, the studies highlight growing efforts to…