Endoscopic treatment and follow-up of gastrointestinal Dieulafoy's lesions

AIM: To investigate retrospectively the clinical and endoscopic features of bleeding Dieulafoy's lesions and to assess the short- and long-term effectiveness of endoscopic treatment.METHODS: Twenty-three patients who had gastrointestinal bleeding from Dieulafoy's lesions underwent endoscopic therapy. Demographic data, mode of presentation, riskfactors for gastrointestinal bleeding, blood transfusion requirements, endoscopic findings, details of endoscopic therapy, recurrence of bleeding, and mortality rates were collected and analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS: Hemostasis was attempted by dextrose 50% plus epinephrine in 10 patients, hemoclipping in 8 patients,heater probe in 2 patients and ethanolamine oleate in 2 patients. Comorbid conditions were present in 17 patients (74%). Overall permanent hemostasis was achieved in 18 patients (78%). Initial hemostasis was successful with no recurrent bleeding in patients treated with hemoclipping, heater probe or ethanolamine injection. In the group of patients who received dextrose 50% plus epinephrine injection treatment, four (40%) had recurrent bleeding and one (10%) had unsuccessful initial hemostasis.Of the four patients who had rebleeding, three had unsuccessful hemostasis with similar treatment. Surgical treatment was required in five patients (22%) owing to uncontrolled bleeding, recurrent bleeding with unsuccessful retreatment and inability to approach the lesion. One patient (4.3%) died of sepsis after operation during hospitalization. There were no side-effects related to endoscopic therapy. None of the patients in whom permanent hemostasis was achieved presented with rebleeding from Dieulafoy's lesion over a mean long-term follow-up of 29.8 mo.CONCLUSION: Bleeding from Dieulafoy's lesions can be managed successfully by endoscopic methods, which should be regarded as the first choice. Endoscopic hemoclipping therapy is recommended for bleeding Dieulafoy's lesions.

Impact of periampullary diverticula on the outcome and fluoroscopy time in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the presence of periampullary diverticula (PAD) affects technical success and complication rates during endoscopic retrograde cholangio- pancreatography (ERCP). Moreover, the impact of PAD on fluoroscopy duration is still unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the success rate and difficulty of common bile duct (CBD) cannulation, post-procedure complications and fluoroscopy duration in patients with and without PAD. METHODS: Patients from January 2008 to December 2010 with PAD (group A) and without PAD (group B) and similar indications for therapeutic ERCP were prospectively compared. The comparison included patient characteristics, findings of ERCP, and details of procedure and fluoroscopy time. The influence of papilla’s location with respect to the diverticulum on procedure was also investigated. RESULTS: A total of 428 consecutive patients who had undergone therapeutic ERCP for similar indications were divided in two groups according to the presence (group A, 107 patients) or absence (group B, 321 patients) of PAD. The mean age and ASA score of the patients with PAD were significantly higher than those patients without PAD. The main indication was choledocholithiasis. Successful final CBD cannulation was achieved in 97.20% of the patients in group A vs 99.69% in group B (P=0.05). CBD diameter, number of stones and the largest stone size were significantly higher in group A thangroup B (P【0.001). Complete clearance of the CBD after the first attempt was achieved in 85.86% and 94.75% of the patients in groups A and B, respectively (P=0.03). In both groups, the time needed to complete the procedure and fluoroscopy time was significantly longer in patients with PAD (22.87 vs 18.99 minutes, P【0.001; 76.51 vs 47.42 seconds, P【0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the complication rate. The type of papilla’s location with respect to the diverticulum did not influence the total cannulation rate and post-procedure complications. CONCLUSION: The presence of a PAD does not affect the success rate and complications of therapeutic ERCP in expert hands; however, the fluoroscopy time is significantly longer in patients with PAD.

Long-term results of pneumatic dilation for achalasia: A15 years' experience

AIM: Although most patients with achalasia respond to pneumatic dilation, one-third experienced recurrence, and prolonged follow-up studies on parameters associated with various outcomes are scanty. In this retrospective study, we reported a 15-years' experience with pneumatic dilation treatment in patients with primary achalasia, and determined whether previously described predictors of outcome remain significant after endoscopic dilation.METHODS: Between September 1989 and September 2004, 39 consecutive patients with primary symptomatic achalasia (diagnosed by clinical presentation, esophagoscopy,barium esophagogram, and manometry) who received balloon dilation were followed up at regular intervals in person or by phone interview. Remission was assessed by a structured interview and a previous symptoms score.The median dysphagia-free duration was calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis.RESULTS: Symptoms were dysphagia (n = 39, 100%),regurgitation (n =23, 58.7%), chest pain (n = 4, 10.2%),and weight loss (n = 26, 66.6%). A total of 74 dilations were performed in 39 patients; 13 patients (28%) underwent a single dilation, 17 patients (48.7%) required a second procedure within a median of 26.7 mo (range 5-97 mo), and 9 patients (23.3%) underwent a third procedure within a median of 47.8 mo (range 37-120 mo). Post-dilation lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, assessed in 35 patients, has decreased from a baseline of 35.8±10.4-10.0±7.1 mmHg after the procedure. The median follow-up period was 9.3 years (range 0.5-15 years). The dysphagiafree duration by Kaplan-Meier analysis was 78%, 61%and 58.3% after 5, 10 and 15 years respectively.CONCLUSION: Balloon dilation is a safe and effective treatment for primary achalasia. Post-dilation LES pressure estimation may be useful in assessing response.

Treatment of a duodenal perforation secondary to an endoscopic sphincterotomy with clips

Perforation is one of the most serious complications of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) necessitating immediate surgical intervention. We present a case of successful management of such a complication with endoclipping. A85-year-old woman developed duodenal perforation after ES. The perforation was identified early and its closure was achieved using three metallic clips in a single session.There was no procedure-related morbidity or complications and our patient was discharged from hospital 10 d later.Endoclipping of duodenal perforation induced by ES is a safe, effective and alternative to surgery treatment.

Endoscopic management of occluded biliary uncovered metal stents:A multicenter experience

AIM:To compare diverse endoscopic interventions in the management of occluded uncovered self-expanding metal stents(SEMSs) that had been placed for palliative treatment of unresectable malignant biliary obstruction.METHODS:A retrospective review was undertaken in 4 tertiary endoscopic centers to determine optimal management of different types of occluded SEMSs.The technical success of performed treatment in occluded SEMSs,the patency of the stent,the need for re-intervention and the financial costs of each treatment were analyzed.RESULTS:Fifty four patients were included in the analysis;21 received Hanaro,19 Wallstent and 14 Flexus.For the relief of obstruction,a plastic stent was inserted in 24 patients,a second SEMS in 25 and mechanical cleaning was performed in 5 patients.The overall median second patency rates between second SEMSs and plastic stents did not differ(133 d for SEMSs vs 106 d for plastic stents;P = 0.856).Similarly,no difference was found between the overall survival of SEMS and plastic stent groups,and no procedure-related complications occurred.Incremental cost analysis showed that successive plastic stenting was a cost-saving strategy at least in Greece.CONCLUSION:Insertion of uncovered SEMSs or plastic stents is a safe and effective treatment for occluded uncovered SEMSs;insertion of plastic stents appears to be the most cost-effective strategy.

Aggressive treatment of acute anal fissure with 0.5% nifedipine ointment prevents its evolution to chronicity

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of topical application of 0.5% nifedipine ointment in healing acute anal fissue and preventing its progress to chronicity. METHODS: Thirty-one patients (10 males, 21 females) with acute anal fissure from September 1999 to January 2005 were treated topically with 0.5% nifedipine ointment (t.i.d.) for 8 wk. The patients were encouraged to follow a high-fiber diet and assessed at 2, 4 and 8 wk post-treatment. The healing of fissure and any side effects were recorded. The patients were subsequently followed up in the outpatient clinic for one year and contacted by phone every three months thereafter, while they were encouraged to come back if symptoms recurred. RESULTS: Twenty-seven of the 31 patients completed the 8-wk treatment course, of them 23 (85.2%) achieved a complete remission indicated by resolution of symptoms and healing of fissure. Of the remaining four unhealed patients (14.8%), 2 opted to undergo lateral sphincterotomy and the other 2 to continue therapy for four additional weeks, resulting in healing of fissure. All the 25 patients with complete remission had a mean follow-up of 22.9 ± 14 (range 6-52) mo. Recurrence of symptoms occurred in four of these 25 patients (16%) who were successfully treated with an additional 4-wk course of 0.5% nifedipine ointment. Two of the 27 (7.4%) patients who completed the 8-wk treatment presented with moderate headache as a side effect of nifedipine. CONCLUSION: Topical 0.5% nifedipine ointment, used as an agent in chemical sphincterotomy, appears to offera significant healing rate for acute anal fissure and might prevent its evolution to chronicity.