Older patients with peptic ulcer hemorrhage who had upper endoscopy within one day of presentation fared better than counterparts who had the procedure later, a national population-based study found. Early endoscopy was independently associated with a lower likelihood of surgery, according to Gregory S. Cooper, MD, and colleagues from the Case Medical Center in Cleveland.

Virtual Ports Ltd has obtained EU CE Mark for its EndoGrab device that reduces the number of incisions (or ports) needed to perform laparoscopic surgical procedures. EndoGrab is an internally anchored, hands-free retracting device that eliminates the need for the hand-held retractor that is traditionally used during laparoscopic procedures. This would reduce scarring and some of post-surgical complications associated with abdominal incisions.

A multicentre European study has indicated that wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) is safe, practical and useful in children as young as 18 months. Gastroenterologists in nine hospitals successfully applied WCE in 83 children aged from 1.5 to 7.9 years. While with sufficient coaxing, about 25% of children older than four were able to swallow the WCE device. The remainder required the device to be placed endoscopically.

Covidien received 510(k) clearance from the FDA to market its Leak Compensation software feature for the Puritan Bennett 840™ ventilator system. This option provides continuous levels of mechanical ventilation to patients requiring respiratory support, regardless of the level of gas leakage that might occur in the circuit or past a patient interface device in the clinical setting.