Proton pump inhibitor administration delays rebleeding after endoscopic gastric variceal obturation

AIM:To clarify the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors(PPIs)after endoscopic variceal obturation(EVO)with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate.METHODS:A retrospective study was performed on16 liver cirrhosis patients with gastric variceal bleeding that received EVO with injections of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate at a single center(Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong)from January 2008 to December 2012.Medical records including patient characteristics and endoscopic findings were reviewed.Treatment results,liver function,serum biochemistry and cirrhosis etiology were compared between patients receiving PPIs and those that did not.Furthermore,the rebleeding interval was compared between patients that received PPI treatment after EVO and those who did not.RESULTS:The patient group included nine males and seven females with a mean age of 61.8±11.7years.Following the EVO procedure,eight of the 12patients that received PPIs and three of the four nonPPI patients experienced rebleeding.There were no differences between the groups in serum biochemistry or patient characteristics.The rebleeding rate was not significantly different between the groups,however,patients receiving PPIs had a significantly longer rebleeding interval compared to non-PPI patients(22.2±11.2mo vs 8.5±5.5 mo;P=0.008).The duration of PPI use was not related to the rebleeding interval.A total of six patients,who had ulcers at the injection site,exhibited a shorter rebleeding interval(16.8±5.9 mo)than patients without ulcers(19.9±3.2 mo),though this difference was not statistically significant.CONCLUSION:PPI therapy can extend the rebleeding interval,and should therefore be considered after EVO treatment for gastric varices.

Effect of pronase as mucolytic agent on imaging quality of magnifying endoscopy

AIM:To investigate the efficacy of premedication with pronase,a proteolytic enzyme,in improving imagequality during magnifying endoscopy.METHODS:The study was of a blinded,randomized,prospective design.Patients were assigned to groups administered oral premedication of either pronase and simethicone(Group A)or simethicone alone(Group B).First,the gastric mucosal visibility grade(1-4)was determined during conventional endoscopy,and then a magnifying endoscopic examination was conducted.The quality of images obtained by magnifying endoscopy at the stomach and the esophagus was scored from1 to 3,with a lower score indicating better visibility.The endoscopist used water flushes as needed to obtain satisfactory magnifying endoscopic views.The main study outcomes were the visibility scores during magnifying endoscopy and the number of water flushes.RESULTS:A total of 144 patients were enrolled,and data from 143 patients(M:F=90:53,mean age 57.5 years)were analyzed.The visibility score was significantly higher in the stomach following premedication with pronase(73%with a score of 1 in Group A vs 49%in Group B,P<0.05),but there was no difference in the esophagus visibility scores(67%with a score of 1in Group A vs 58%in Group B).Fewer water flushes[mean 0.7±0.9 times(range:0-3 times)in Group A vs 1.9±1.5 times(range:0-6 times)in Group B,P<0.05]in the pronase premedication group did not affect the endoscopic procedure times[mean 766 s(range:647-866 s)for Group A vs 760 s(range:678-854 s)for Group B,P=0.88].The total gastric mucosal visibility score was also lower in Group A(4.9±1.5 vs 8.3±1.8in Group B,P<0.01).CONCLUSION:The addition of pronase to simethicone premedication resulted in clearer images during magnifying endoscopy and reduced the need for water flushes.

Efforts to increase image quality during endoscopy:The role of pronase

Clear visualization of the gastrointestinal mucosal surface is essential for thorough endoscopy. An unobstructed assessment can reduce the need for additional timeconsuming manipulations such as frequent washing and suction,which tend to prolong total procedure time. However,mucus,foam,and bubbles often hinder clear visibility during endoscopy. Premedication with pronase,a compound of mixed proteolytic enzymes,has been studied in order to improve mucosal visibility during endoscopy. Although its effects differ according to the location in the stomach,premedication with pronase 10 to 20 min before endoscopy significantly improves mucosal visibility without affecting the accuracy of Helicobacter pylori identification. The effects of pronase as premedication also extend to chromoendoscopy,narrow-band imaging,magnifying endoscopy,and endoscopic ultrasonography. In addition,endoscopic flushing with pronase during endoscopy may improve the quantity and the quality of a biopsy to some degree. Although improved mucosal visibility does not necessarily improve clinical outcomes,premedication with pronase may be helpful for increasing the detection rate of early cancers.

Early bile duct cancer

Bile duct cancers are frequently diagnosed as advanced diseases. Over half of patients with advanced bile duct cancer present with unresectable malignancies and their prognosis has been very poor even after curative resections. Although there has been a need to diagnose bile duct cancer at its early stage, it has been a diffi cult goal to achieve due to our lack of knowledge regarding this disease entity. Early bile duct cancer may be defi ned as a carcinoma whose invasion is confined within the fibromuscular layer of the extrahepatic bile duct or intrahepatic large bile duct without distant metastasis irrespective of lymph node involvement. Approximately 3%-10% of resected bile duct cancers have been reported to be early cancers in the literature. The clinicopathological features of patients with early bile duct cancer differ from those of patients with advanced bile duct cancer, with more frequent asymptomatic presentation, characteristic histopathological findings, and excellent prognosis. This manuscript is organized to emphasize the need for convening an international consensus to develop the concept of early bile duct cancer.

Risk of sedation for diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy in obstructive sleep apnea patients

AIM: To investigate whether patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at risk of sedation-related complications during diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). METHODS: A prospective study was performed in consecutive patients with OSA, who were confirmed with full-night polysomnography between July 2010 and April 2011. The occurrence of cardiopulmonary complications related to sedation during diagnostic EGD was compared between OSA and control groups. RESULTS: During the study period, 31 patients with OSA and 65 controls were enrolled. Compared with the control group, a higher dosage of midazolam was administered (P = 0.000) and a higher proportion of deep sedation was performed (P = 0.024) in the OSA group. However, all adverse events, including sedation fail-ure, paradoxical responses, snoring or apnea, hypoxia, hypotension, oxygen or flumazenil administration, and other adverse events were not different between the two groups (all P > 0.1). Patients with OSA were not predisposed to hypoxia with multivariate logistic regression analysis (P = 0.068). CONCLUSION: In patients with OSA, this limited sized study did not disclose an increased risk of cardiopulmonary complications during diagnostic EGD under sedation.

Case of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome with long-term follow-up

Long-term cannabis use may be associated with attacks of severe nausea and vomiting, and a characteristic learned behavior of compulsive hot bathing, termed cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome(CHS). Long-term follow-up and prognosis of CHS have not been reported previously. A 44-year-old Caucasian man with a long history of addiction to marijuana presented with chronic abdominal pain complicated by attacks of uncontrollable vomiting for 16 years. He had a compulsion to take scalding hot showers, as many as 15 times a day, to relieve his symptoms. All previous therapies had been ineffective. However, abstinence from marijuana led to rapid and complete resolution of all symptoms and his compulsive hot showering behavior. He has been followed for nine years, and is still doing well without recurrence of symptoms. Physicians should have a high index of suspicion for this under-recognized condition, as excellent long-term prognosis of CHS can be achieved when abstinence is maintained.