An automated spring-loaded needle for endoscopic ultrasound-guided abdominal paracentesis in cancer patients

AIM: To evaluate the feasibility of using an automatedspring-loaded needle device for endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)-guided abdominal paracentesis(EUS-P) to see if this would make it easier to puncture the mobile and lax gastric wall for EUS-P.METHODS: The EUS database and electronic medical records at Fukushima Medical University Hospital were searched from January 2001 to April 2011. Patients with a history of cancer and who underwent EUS-P using an automated spring-loaded needle device with a 22-gauge puncture needle were included. The needle was passed through the instrument channel and advanced through the gastrointestinal wall under EUS guidance into the echo-free space in the abdominal cavity and ascitic fluid was collected. The confirmed diagnosis of malignant ascites included positive cytology and results from careful clinical observation for at least 6 mo in patients with negative cytology. The technical success rate, cytology results and complications were evaluated.RESULTS: We found 11 patients who underwent EUS-P with an automated spring-loaded needle device. In 4 cases, ascites was revealed only with EUS but not in other imaging modalities. EUS-P was done in 7 other cases because there was minimal ascitic fluid and no safe window for percutaneous abdominal aspiration. Ascitic fluid was obtained in all cases by EUS-P. The average amount aspirated was 14.1 mL(range 0.5-38 mL) and that was sent for cytological exam. The etiology of ascitic fluid was benign in 5 patients and malignant in 6. In all cases, ascitic fluid was obtained with the first needle pass. No procedure-related adverse effects occurred.CONCLUSION: EUS-P with an automated springloaded needle device is a feasible and safe method for ascites evaluation.

Endoscopic therapy for esophageal hematoma with blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome

A 57-year-old woman previously diagnosed with blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome(BRBNS) reported hematemesis. BRBNS is a rare vascular anomaly syndrome consisting of multifocal hemangiomas of the skin and gastrointestinal(GI) tract but her GI tract had never been examined. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a large bleeding esophageal hematoma positioned between the thoracic esophagus and the gastric cardia. An endoscopic injection of polidocanol was used to stop the hematoma from bleeding. The hematoma was incised using the injectionneedle to reduce the pressure within it. Finally, argon plasma coagulation(APC) was applied to the edge of the incision. The esophageal hematoma disappeared seven days later. Two months after the endoscopic the rapy, the eso phage alulcerhealed and the hemangioma did not relapse. This rare case of a large esophageal hematoma originating from a hemangioma with BRBNS was treated using a combination of endoscopic therapy with polidocanol injection, incision, and APC.

Comparison between 0.06% and 0.1% Levobupivacaine Combined with 2 μg/mL of Fentanyl for Epidural Labor Analgesia

Purpose: Levobupivacaine is thought to be a good alternative to bupivacaine for epidural labor analgesia because of its pharmacologic profile. However, the optimal concentration of levobupivacaine for labor analgesia has not been adequately studied. The objective of this retrospective study was to compare the analgesic effect of levobupivacaine between 0.06% and 0.1% both combined with 2 μg/mL of fentanyl. Methods: Primiparous women (ASA I, II) who delivered their babies to our hospital using combined spinal epidural analgesia and patient-controlled epidural analgesia between August 1, 2011 and September 30, 2011 were included into this retrospective study. The analgesic solution for epidural administration was 0.06% levobupivacaine with 2 μg/mL of fentanyl between August 1 and 31, and 0.1% levobupivacaine with 2 μg/mL of fentanyl between September 1 and 30. Their anesthetic and obstetric charts were reviewed to compare obstetric outcome, anesthetic intervention, and patients’ satisfaction. Results: There were 46 women fulfilling the inclusion criteria: 23 women in 0.06% group, and 23 women in 0.1% group. The number of patients who needed more than 3 requests for one actual bolus was significantly higher in the 0.06% group (P 0.05). Conclusion: Our results revealed that 0.06% levobupivacaine combined with 2 μg/mL fentanyl does not provide sufficient analgesic effects for epidural labor analgesia. It seems that levobupivacaine has not been adequately studied after its withdrawal from the US market. Further studies should be conducted to determine the optimal concentration of levobupivacaine for epidural labor analgesia.

Acute inflammation occurring in gastric aberrant pancreas followed up by endoscopic ultrasonography

We describe a case of gastric aberrant pancreas with acute pancreatitis followed up with subsequent endoscopic ultrasound. A 20-year-old woman known to have aberrant pancreas in the stomach was admitted to our hospital because of severe epigastralgia. Laboratory tests showed slight C reactive protein elevation without hyperamylasemia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a swollen submucosal lesion (SML) to a greater degree compared with the previous findings. Subsequent endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) revealed a swollen lesion of 35 mm in diameter. The internal echo-pattern was more hypoechoic than in the previous EUS. The border between the fourth layer (muscularis propria) and the SML was unclear. The anechoic lumen in the mass, considered as the ductal lumen, was dilated. Based on these results, we diagnosed the patient as having acute inflammation, resembling pancreatitis, in the aberrant pancreas.