Medical treatment for sphincter of oddi dysfunction:Can it replace endoscopic sphincterotomy?

AIM:To report the results of a medical management of sphincter of oddi dysfunction(SOD) after an intermediate follow-up period.METHODS:A total of 59 patients with SOD(2 men and 57 women,mean age 51 years old) were included in this prospective study.After medical treatment for one year,the patients were clinically re-evaluated after an average period of 30 mo.RESULTS:The distribution of the patients according to the Milwaukee's classification was the following:11 patients were type 1,34 were type 2 and 14 were type 3.Fourteen patients underwent an endoscopic sphincterotomy(ES) after one year of medical treatment.The median intermediate follow-up period was 29.8 ± 3 mo(3-72 mo).The initial effectiveness of the medical treatment was complete,partial and poor among 50.8%,13.5% and 35%,respectively,of the patients.At the end of the follow-up period,37 patients(62.7%) showed more than 50% improvement.The rate of improvement in patients who required ES was not significantly different compared with the patients treated conservatively(64.2% vs 62.2%,respectively).CONCLUSION:Our study confirms that conservative medical treatment could be an alternative to endoscopic sphincterotomy because,after an intermediate follow-up period,the two treatments show the same success rates.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonist reduces the severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis in rats

AIM: To determine the effects of prophylactic peroxi-some proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ) agonist administration in an experimental model of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (post-ERCP) acute pancreatitis.METHODS: Post-ERCP pancreatitis was induced in male Wistar rats by infusion of contrast medium into the pancreatic duct. In additional group, rosiglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, was administered 1 h before infusion of contrast medium. Plasma and pancreas samples were obtained 6 h after the infusion.RESULTS: Infusion of contrast medium into the pan-creatic duct resulted in an inflammatory process characterized by increased lipase levels in plasma, and edema and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) in pancreas. This result correlated with the activation of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) and the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression in pancreatic cells. Rosiglitazone reduced the increase in lipase and the level of edema and the increase in myeloperoxidase as well as the activation of NFκB and iNOS expression.CONCLUSION: A single oral dose of rosiglitazone, given 1 h before post-ERCP pancreatitis induction is effective in reducing the severity of the subsequent inflammatory process. The protective effect of rosiglitazone was associated with NFκB inhibition and the blockage of leukocyte infiltration in pancreas.

Large endoscopic mucosal resection for colorectal tumors exceeding 4 cm

AIM:To evaluate the feasibility and the outcome of endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)for large colorectal tumors exceeding 4 cm(LCRT)undergoing piecemeal resection. METHODS:From January 2005 to April 2008,146 digestive tumors larger than 2 cm were removed with the EMR technique in our department.Of these,34 tumors were larger than 4 cm and piecemeal resection was carried out on 26 colorectal tumors.The mean age of the patients was 71 years.The mean follow-up duration was 12 mo. RESULTS:LCRTs were located in the rectum,left colon,transverse colon and right colon in 58%,15%, 4%and 23%of cases,respectively.All were sessile tumors larger than 4 cm with a mean size of 4.9 cm (4-10 cm).According to the Paris classification,34%of the tumors were typeⅠs,58%typeⅡa,4%typeⅡb and 4%typeⅡc.Pathological examination showed tubulous adenoma in 31%,tubulo-villous adenoma in 27%,villous adenoma in 42%,high-grade dysplasia in38%,in situ carcinoma in 19%of the cases and mucosal carcinoma(m2)in 8%of the cases.The two cases(7.7%)of procedural bleeding that occurred were managed endoscopically and one small perforation was treated with clips.During follow-up,recurrence of the tumor occurred in three patients(12%),three of whom received endoscopic treatment. CONCLUSION:EMR for tumors larger than 4 cm is a safe and effective procedure that could compete with endoscopic submucosal dissection,despite providing incomplete histological assessment.

Endoscopic treatment of staple line disruption in patient with vertical banded gastroplasty using the over-the-scope-clip system (with video)

Background: scope-clip (OTSC;Ovesco Endoscopy GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany) system is a newly designed method for the mechanical compression of large areas in the gastrointestinal tract. So far, indications for OTSC application are hemostasis of pri-mary or post-interventional bleeding, closure of iatrogenic full-thickness or covered perforations. Recently closure of gastrointestinal tract fistulas using this device has been described. Objective: In this case, we describe the successful endoscopic closure, using the OTSC system, of a gastrogastric fistula due to staple line disruption in patient with vertical banded gastroplasty. Conclusion: Endoscopic application of the OTSC device is safe and effective for the treatment of a staple line disruption.