Systematic review:Laparoscopic fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease in partial responders to proton pump inhibitors

AIM: To assess laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) in partial responders to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Impact of gastroesophageal reflux control through tailored proton pump inhibition therapy or fundoplication in patients with Barrett's esophagus

AIM To determine the impact of upwards titration of proton pump inhibition(PPI) on acid reflux, symptom scores and histology, compared to clinically successful fundoplication.METHODS Two cohorts of long-segment Barrett's esophagus(BE) patients were studied. In group 1(n = 24), increasing doses of PPI were administered in 8-wk intervals until acid reflux normalization. At each assessment, ambulatory 24 h p H recording, endoscopy with biopsies and symptom scoring(by a gastroesophageal reflux disease health related quality of life questionnaire, GERD/HRLQ) were performed. Group 2(n = 30) consisted of patients with a previous fundoplication. RESULTS In group 1, acid reflux normalized in 23 of 24 patients, resulting in improved GERD/HRQL scores(P = 0.001), which were most pronounced after the starting dose of PPI(P < 0.001). PPI treatment reached the same level of GERD/HRQL scores as after a clinically successful fundoplication(P = 0.5). Normalization of acid reflux in both groups was associated with reduction in papillary length, basal cell layer thickness, intercellular space dilatation, and acute and chronic inflammation of squamous epithelium. CONCLUSION This study shows that acid reflux and symptom scores co-vary throughout PPI increments in long-segment BE patients, especially after the first dose of PPI, reaching the same level as after a successful fundoplication. Minor changes were found among GERD markers at the morphological level.

predictors for failure of stent treatment for benign esophageal perforations- a single center 10-year experience

AIM: To investigate possible predictors for failed self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) therapy in consecutive patients with benign esophageal perforation-rupture (EPR).

Extent of lymphadenectomy has no impact on postoperative complications after gastric cancer surgery in Sweden

Objective： Curative gastric cancer surgery entails removal of the primary tumor with adequate margins including regional lymph nodes. European randomized controlled trials with recruitment in the 1990＇s reported increased morbidity and mortality for D2 compared to D 1. Here, we examined the extent of lymphadenectomy during gastric cancer surgery and the associated risk for postoperative complications and mortality using the strengths of a population-based study. Methods： A prospective nationwide study conducted within the National Register of Esophageal and Gastric Cancer. All patients in Sweden from 2006 to 2013 who underwent gastric cancer resections with curative intent were included. Patients were categorized into DO, D I, or D I ＋/D2, and analyzed regarding postoperative morbidity and mortality using multivariable logistic regression. Results： In total, 349 （31.7%） patients had a DO, 494 （44.9%） DI, and 258 （23.4%） DI＋/D2 lymphadenectomy. The 30-d postoperative complication rates were 25.5%, 25.1% and 32.2 % （DO, D I and D1 ＋/D2, respectively）, and 90-d mortality rates were 8.3%, 4.3 % and 5.8%. After adjustment for confounders, in mukivariable analysis, there were no significant differences in risk for postoperative complications between the lymphadenectomy groups. For 90-d mortality, there was a lower risk for D1 vs. DO. Conclusions： The majority of gastric cancer resections in Sweden have included only a limited lymphadenectomy （DO and DI）. More extensive lymphadenectomy （DI＋/D2） seemed to have no impact on postoperative morbidity or mortality.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with rendezvous cannulation reduces pancreatic injury

AIM:To examine whether rendezvous endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)is associated with less pancreatic damage,measured as leakage of proenzymes,than conventional ERCP.METHODS:Patients(n=122)with symptomatic gallstone disease,intact papilla and no ongoing inflammation,were prospectively enrolled in this case-controldesigned study.Eighty-one patients were subjected to laparoscopic cholecystectomy and if intraoperative cholangiography suggested common bile duct stones(CBDS),rendezvous ERCP was performed intraoperatively(n=40).Patients with a negative cholangiogram constituted the control group(n=41).Another 41 patients with CBDS,not subjected to surgery,underwent conventional ERCP.Pancreatic proenzymes,procarboxypeptidase B and trypsinogen-2 levels in plasma,were analysed at 0,4,8 and 24 h.The proenzymes were determined in-house with a double-antibody enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Pancreatic amylase was measured by an enzymatic colourimetric modular analyser with the manufacturer’s reagents.All samples were blinded at analysis.RESULTS:Post ERCP pancreatitis(PEP)occurred in3/41(7%)of the patients cannulated with conventional ERCP and none in the rendezvous group.Increased serum levels indicating pancreatic leakage were significantly higher in the conventional ERCP group compared with the rendezvous ERCP group regarding pancreatic amylase levels in the 4-and 8-h samples(P=0.0015;P=0.03),procarboxypeptidase B in the4-and 8-h samples(P<0.0001;P<0.0001)and trypsinogen-2 in the 24-hour samples(P=0.03).No differences in these markers were observed in patients treated with rendezvous cannulation technique compared with patients that underwent cholecystectomy alone(control group).Post procedural concentrations of pancreatic amylase and procarboxypeptidase B were significantly correlated with pancreatic duct cannulation and opacification.CONCLUSION:Rendezvous ERCP reduces pancreatic enzyme leakage compared with conventional ERCP cannulation technique.Thus,laparo-endoscopic technique can be recommended with the ambition to minimise the risk for post ERCP pancreatitis.