Acute gastric volvulus combined with pneumatosis coli rupture misdiagnosed as gastric volvulus with perforation:A case report

BACKGROUND Acute gastric volvulus represents a rare form of surgical acute abdomen,which makes it difficult to establish an early diagnosis.As the disease progresses,it can lead to gastric ischemia,necrosis,and other serious complications.CASE SUMMARY This paper reports a 67-year-old female patient with a history of abdominal distension and retching for 1 day.After admission,a prompt and thorough exami-nation was performed to confirm the diagnosis of acute gastric volvulus.Notably,the patient had free air in the abdominal cavity.The first consideration was gastric volvulus with gastric perforation,but the patient had no complaints,such as abdominal pain or signs of peritoneal irritation in the abdomen,and imaging examination revealed no abdominal pelvic effusion.Following endoscopic reduc-tion,the abdominal organs,such as the stomach and spleen,returned to their normal anatomical positions,and the free intraperitoneal air disappeared,su-ggesting a rare case of acute gastric torsion.The source of free air within the abdominal cavity warrants careful consideration and discussion.Combined with the findings from computed tomography,these findings are hypothesized to be associated with the rupture of colonic air cysts.CONCLUSION Patients with gastric torsion combined with free gas in the abdominal cavity should consider nongastrointestinal perforation factors to avoid misdiagnosis.

Stomach perforation-induced general occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome and stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy effect

BACKGROUND Using rat stomach perforation as a prototypic direct lesion applied in cytoprotection research,we focused on the first demonstration of the severe occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome induced by stomach perforation.The revealed stomachinduced occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome corresponds to the previously described occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes in rats suffering multicausal pathology and shared severe vascular and multiorgan failure.This general point was particularly reviewed.As in all the described occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes with permanent occlusion of major vessels,peripheral and central,and other similar noxious procedures that severely affect endothelium function,the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 was resolving therapy.AIM To reveal the stomach perforation-induced general occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome and BPC 157 therapy effect.METHODS The procedure included deeply anesthetized rats,complete calvariectomy,laparotomy at 15 min thereafter,and stomach perforation to rapidly induce vascular and multiorgan failure occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome.At 5 min post-perforation time,rats received therapy[BPC 157(10μg or 10 ng/kg)or saline(5 mL/kg,1 mL/rat)(controls)]into the perforated defect in the stomach).Sacrifice was at 15 min or 60 min post-perforation time.Assessment(gross and microscopy;volume)included:Brain swelling,peripheral vessels(azygos vein,superior mesenteric vein,portal vein,inferior caval vein)and heart,other organs lesions(i.e.,stomach,defect closing or widening);superior sagittal sinus,and peripherally the portal vein,inferior caval vein,and abdominal aorta blood pressures and clots;electrocardiograms;and bleeding time from the perforation(s).RESULTS BPC 157 beneficial effects accord with those noted before in the healing of the perforated defect(raised vessel presentation;less bleeding,defect contraction)and occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes counteraction.BPC 157 therapy(into the perforated defect),induced immediate shrinking and contraction of the whole stomach(unlike considerable enlargement by saline application).Accordingly,BPC 157 therapy induced direct blood delivery via the azygos vein,and attenuated/eliminated the intracranial(superior sagittal sinus),portal and caval hypertension,and aortal hypotension.Thrombosis,peripherally(inferior caval vein,portal vein,abdominal aorta)and centrally(superior sagittal sinus)BPC 157 therapy markedly reduced/annihilated.Severe lesions in the brain(swelling,hemorrhage),heart(congestion and arrhythmias),lung(hemorrhage and congestion),and marked congestion in the liver,kidney,and gastrointestinal tract were markedly reduced.CONCLUSION We revealed stomach perforation as a severe occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome,peripherally and centrally,and rapid counteraction by BPC 157 therapy.Thereby,further BPC 157 therapy may be warranted.

Perforated gastric ulcer causing mediastinal emphysema: A case report

BACKGROUND Mediastinal emphysema is a condition in which air enters the mediastinum between the connective tissue spaces within the pleura for a variety of reasons.It can be spontaneous or secondary to chest trauma,esophageal perforation,medi-cally induced factors,etc.Its common symptoms are chest pain,tightness in the chest,and respiratory distress.Most mediastinal emphysema patients have mild symptoms,but severe mediastinal emphysema can cause respiratory and circulatory failure,resulting in serious consequences.CASE SUMMARY A 75-year-old man,living alone,presented with sudden onset of severe epigastric pain with chest tightness after drinking alcohol.Due to the remoteness of his residence and lack of neighbors,the patient was found by his nephew and brought to the hospital the next morning after the disease onset.Computed tomography(CT)showed free gas in the abdominal cavity,mediastinal emph-ysema,and subcutaneous pneumothorax.Upper gastrointestinal angiography showed that the esophageal mucosa was intact and the gastric antrum was perforated.Therefore,we chose to perform open gastric perforation repair on the patient under thoracic epidural anesthesia combined with intravenous anesthesia.An operative incision of the muscle layer of the patient's abdominal wall was made,and a large amount of subperitoneal gas was revealed.And a continued incision of the peritoneum revealed the presence of a perforation of approx-imately 0.5 cm in the gastric antrum,which we repaired after pathological examination.Postoperatively,the patient received high-flow oxygen and cough exercises.Chest CT was performed on the first and sixth postoperative days,and the mediastinal and subcutaneous gas was gradually reduced.CONCLUSION After gastric perforation,a large amount of free gas in the abdominal cavity can reach the mediastinum through the loose connective tissue at the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm,and upper gastrointestinal angiography can clarify the site of perforation.In patients with mediastinal emphysema,open surgery avoids the elevation of the diaphragm caused by pneumoperitoneum compared to laparoscopic surgery and avoids increasing the mediastinal pressure.In addition,thoracic epidural anesthesia combined with intravenous anesthesia also avoids pressure on the mediastinum from mechanical ventilation.

Non-improvement of atrophic gastritis in cases of gastric cancer after successful Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is closely related to the development of gastric cancer(GC).However,GC can develop even after H.pylori eradication.Therefore,it would be extremely useful if GC could be predicted after eradication.The Kyoto classification score for gastritis(GA)is closely related to cancer risk.However,how the score for GC changes after eradication before onset is not well understood.AIM To investigate the characteristics of the progression of Kyoto classification scores for GC after H.pylori eradication.METHODS Eradication of H.pylori was confirmed in all patients using either the urea breath test or the stool antigen test.The Kyoto classification score of GC patients was evaluated by endoscopy at the time of event onset and three years earlier.In ad-dition,the modified atrophy score was evaluated and compared between the GC group and the control GA group.RESULTS In total,30 cases of early GC and 30 cases of chronic GA were evaluated.The pathology of the cancer cases was differentiated adenocarcinoma,except for one case of undifferentiated adenocarcinoma.The total score of the Kyoto classifi-cation was significantly higher in the GC group both at the time of cancer onset and three years earlier(4.97 vs 3.73,P=0.0034;4.2 vs 3.1,P=0.0035,respectively).The modified atrophy score was significantly higher in the GC group both at the time of cancer onset and three years earlier and was significantly improved only in the GA group(5.3 vs 5.3,P=0.5;3.73 vs 3.1,P=0.0475,respectively).CONCLUSION The course of the modified atrophy score is useful for predicting the onset of GC after eradication.Patients with severe atrophy after H.pylori eradication require careful monitoring.

Surgical resection and neoadjuvant therapy in patients with gastric cancer and ovarian metastasis: A real-world study

BACKGROUND Regarding when to treat gastric cancer and ovarian metastasis(GCOM)and whether to have metastatic resection surgery,there is presently debate on a global scale.The purpose of this research is to examine,in real-world patients with GCOM,the survival rates and efficacy of metastatic vs non-metastasized resection.AIM To investigate the survival time and efficacy of metastatic surgery and neoadjuvant therapy in patients with GCOM.METHODS This study retrospectively analyzed the data of 41 GCOM patients admitted to Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital from June 2009 to July 2023.The diagnosis of all patients was confirmed by pathology.The primary study endpoints included overall survival(OS),ovarian survival,OS after surgery(OSAS),disease-free survival(DFS),differences in efficacy.RESULTS This study had 41 patients in total.The surgical group(n=27)exhibited significantly longer median OS(mOS)and median overall months(mOM)compared to the nonoperative group(n=14)(mOS:23.0 vs 6.9 months,P=0.015;mOM:18.3 vs 3.8 months,P=0.001).However,there were no significant differences observed in mOS,mOM,median OSAS(mOSAS),and median DFS(mDFS)between patients in the surgical resection plus neoadjuvant therapy group(n=11)and those who surgical resection without neoadjuvant therapy group(n=16)(mOS:26.1 months vs 21.8 months,P=0.189;mOM:19.8 vs 15.2 months,P=0.424;mOSAS:13.9 vs 8.7 months,P=0.661,mDFS:5.1 vs 8.2 months,P=0.589).CONCLUSION Compared to the non-surgical group,the surgical group’s survival duration and efficacy are noticeably longer.The efficacy and survival time of the direct surgery group and the neoadjuvant therapy group did not differ significantly.

Advances in targeted therapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive in advanced gastric cancer

Emerging therapeutic methods represented by targeted therapy are effective supplements to traditional first-line chemoradiotherapy resistance.Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)is one of the most important targets in targeted therapy for gastric cancer.Trastuzumab combined with chemotherapy has been used as the first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer.The safety and efficacy of pertuzumab and margetuximab in the treatment of gastric cancer have been verified.However,monoclonal antibodies,due to their large molecular weight,inability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier,and drug resistance,lead to decreased therapeutic efficacy,so it is necessary to explore the efficacy of other HER2-targeting therapies in gastric cancer.Small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors,such as lapatinib and pyrrotinib,have the advantages of small molecular weight,penetrating the blood-brain barrier and high oral bioavailability,and are expected to become the drugs of choice for perioperative treatment and neoadjuvant therapy of gastric cancer after validation by large-scale clinical trials in the future.Antibo-drug conjugate,such as T-DM1 and T-DXd,can overcome the resistance of monoclonal antibodies despite their different mechanisms of tumor killing,and are a supplement for the treatment of patients who have failed the treatment of monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab.Therefore,after more detailed stratification of gastric cancer patients,various gastric cancer drugs targeting HER2 are expected to play a more significant role.

Optimizing care for gastric cancer with overt bleeding:Is systemic therapy a valid option?

Gastric cancer(GC)and gastroesophageal junction cancer(GEJC)represent a significant burden globally,with complications such as overt bleeding(OB)further exacerbating patient outcomes.A recent study by Yao et al evaluated the effectiveness and safety of systematic treatment in GC/GEJC patients presenting with OB.Using propensity score matching,the study balanced the comparison groups to investigate overall survival and treatment-related adverse events.The study's findings emphasize that systematic therapy can be safe and effective and contribute to the ongoing debate about the management of advanced GC/GEJC with OB,highlighting the complexities of treatment decisions in these high-risk patients.

Immunotherapy for metastatic gastric cancer

This editorial discusses the article written by Chen et al that was published in the latest edition of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.The current study found that programmed cell death 1 ligand 1(PD-L1)expression is considered as one of the pan-cancer biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)treatment response.Four molecular subtypes are widely used to guide and evaluate the prognosis and diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer(GC)patients.Clinical trials of ICI treatment including Nivolumab,Pembrolizumab,Avelumab have been conducted for metastatic GC(mGC).The effects of various single agent ICIs on mGC therapy varied.ICIs combined with chemotherapy can indeed bring survival benefits to patients with mGC.Combining ICIs with chemotherapy can give more patients the chance of surgery in the treatment of GC transformation.However,not all PD-L1 positive patients can benefit from it.It is urgent to find better biomarkers to predict the response of ICIs for more precise clinical treatment.

How to preserve the native or reconstructed esophagus after perforations or postoperative leaks: A multidisciplinary 15-year experience

BACKGROUND Esophageal perforation or postoperative leak after esophageal surgery remain a life-threatening condition.The optimal management strategy is still unclear.AIM To determine clinical outcomes and complications of our 15-year experience in the multidisciplinary management of esophageal perforations and anastomotic leaks.METHODS A retrospective single-center observational study was performed on 60 patients admitted at our department for esophageal perforations or treated for an anastomotic leak developed after esophageal surgery from January 2008 to December 2023.Clinical outcomes were analyzed,and complications were evaluated to investigate the efficacy and safety of our multidisciplinary management based on the preservation of the native or reconstructed esophagus,when feasible.RESULTS Among the whole series of 60 patients,an urgent surgery was required in 8 cases due to a septic state.Fifty-six patients were managed by endoscopic or hybrid treatments,obtaining the resolution of the esophageal leak/perforation without removal of the native or reconstructed esophagus.The mean time to resolution was 54.95±52.64 days,with a median of 35.5 days.No severe complications were recorded.Ten patients out of 56(17.9%)developed pneumonia that was treated by specific antibiotic therapy,and in 6 cases(10.7%)an atrial fibrillation was recorded.Seven patients(12.5%)developed a stricture within 12 months,requiring one or two endoscopic pneumatic dilations to solve the problem.Mortality was 1.7%.CONCLUSION A proper multidisciplinary approach with the choice of the most appropriate treatment can be the key for success in managing esophageal leaks or perforations and preserving the esophagus.

Efficacy evaluation and survival analysis of the combination of oxaliplatin plus Teysuno (SOX) with immune checkpoint inhibitors in the conversion therapy of locally advanced gastric cancer

Background:The efficacy of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)with chemotherapy in neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer has been explored.However,limited research exists on its effectiveness in conversion therapy,and its superiority over standalone chemotherapy remains to be elucidated.This study aims to investigate the efficacy and survival outcomes of patients treated with ICIs in combination with conversion therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer.Methods:Retrospective data from patients with locally advanced gastric cancer treated with either oxaliplatin+S-1(SOX)alone or in combination with ICIs in conversion therapywere collected.Clinical andpathological characteristics,disease-free survival,andefficacy assessments in nonoperable patients were compared between the 2 treatment groups.Efficacy was further evaluated through dynamic changes in serum markers,and patients’quality of life was assessed using the QLQ-STO22(Gastric Cancer–Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire)quality-of-life measurement scale.Results:A total of 140 patients underwent conversion therapy:80 in the SOX alone group and 60 in the SOX combined with the ICIs group.There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the 2 groups.Compared with the SOX alone group,the SOX combined with ICIs group exhibited a higher conversion rate(83.3%vs 75%,P=0.23),R0 resection rate(90.0%vs 83.3%,P=0.31),pathological complete response(pCR)rate(18%vs 5%,P=0.02),median disease-free survival(21.4 vs 16.9 months,P=0.007),the objective response rate in nonoperable patients(60%vs 40%,P=0.301),and median progression-free survival time(7.9 vs 5.7 months,P=0.009).The QLQ-STO22 quality-of-life assessment revealed statistically significant improvements in pain,swallowing difficulties,and dietary restrictions in the combination therapy group compared with those in the monotherapy group.The enhanced efficacy of immune combination with SOX is evident,as demonstrated by the significantly prolonged surgical duration in operated patients(206.6±26.6 min vs 197.8±19.8 min,P=0.35)and intraoperative blood loss(158.9±21.2 mL vs 148.9±25.1 mL,P=0.59).No significant differences were observed in postoperative complications.Conclusions:Compared with the SOX conversion therapy regimen,SOX combined with ICIs demonstrated higher conversion rates,R0 resection rates,pathological response rates,and disease-free survival without increasing surgical difficulty or complications.Nonoperable patients also experienced longer progression-free survival and objective response rates.

Devastating complication of negative pressure wound therapy after deep inferior epigastric perforator free flap surgery:A case report

BACKGROUND Thermal injuries on free transferred or replanted tissues resulting from loss of sensibility are an infrequent occurrence.They require immediate and appropriate management before they progress to an irreversible condition.Although negative pressure wound therapy(NPWT)can prevent wound progression by increasing microcirculation,the inappropriate application of NPWT on complicationthreatened transferred and replanted tissues can induce an adverse effect.CASE SUMMARY A 48-year-old woman who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with a deep inferior epigastric artery perforator free flap.While applying a heating pad directly to the flap site,she sustained a deep second to third-degree contact burn over 30%of the transferred flap on postoperative 7 d.As the necrotic changes had progressed,we applied an NPWT dressing over the burned area after en-bloc debridement of the transferred tissues on postoperative 21 d.After 4 d of NPWT application,the exposed fatty tissues of the flap changed to dry and browncolored necrotic tissues.Upon further debridement,we noted that the wound gradually reached total necrosis with a collapsed vascular pedicle of deep inferior epigastric artery.CONCLUSION Although NPWT has been shown to be successful for treating various wound types,the significant risk of NPWT application in short-lasting reconstructed flap wounds after thermal injury should be reminded.

Successful conversion of advanced gastric cancer treated by immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy: A case report

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors,for patients with advanced gastric cancer,the traditional treatment is mainly chemotherapy or combined targeted therapy;however,these have not achieved ideal efficacy.However,with the continuous deepening of research on molecular targeted drugs and immunosuppressants,the treatment of advanced gastric cancer patients has made new progress,and some new technologies have also been continuously emerged and applied,which brings hope for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.Recently,several multicenter randomized controlled phase III studies on immunotherapy for advanced gastric cancer yielded encouraging results,demonstrating its superior efficacy in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.However,prospective data to support the acceptance of surgery and the R0 removal rate following conversion therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors are lacking.In this study,a 58-year-old woman with advanced gastric cancer and positive PD-L1 expression,negative HER-2 expression,and microsatellite stable status received immunochemotherapy combined with traditional Chinese medicine to achieve R0 resection and satisfactory efficacy.

Advances in translational therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer

Translational therapy refers to a combination of chemotherapy,radiotherapy,targeted therapy,and immunotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer who are initially unable to undergo R0 resection.This treatment can achieve partial or complete remission of the unresectable tumors to meet the criteria for R0 resection,thus enabling the patients to prolong their survival time and improve their quality of life.In gastric cancer,translational therapy has been tried and improved.At present,there are a large number of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer in China,and the selection of suitable patients for transla-tional therapy to prolong objective survival and improve survival quality is one of the hot spots in the field of gastric cancer research.

Impact of preoperative therapy on surgical outcomes of laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer

Objective: As laparoscopic surgery is widely applied for primarily treated gastric cancer(GC)/gastroesophageal junction cancer(GEJC) and gains many advantages, the feasibility of laparoscopic total gastrectomy(LTG) for GC/GEJC patients who have received preoperative therapy(PT) has come to the fore. This study aims to analyze the safety and feasibility of LTG after PT for GC/GEJC patients.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 511 patients with GC/GEJC undergoing LTG, of which 405received LTG(LTG group) and 106 received PT+LTG(PT-LTG group) at Nanfang Hospital between June 2018and September 2022. The surgical outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results: The surgical duration was significantly longer in the PT-LTG group(P<0.001), while the incidence of intraoperative complications(P=1.000), postoperative complications(LTG group vs. PT-LTG group: 26.2% vs.23.6%, P=0.587), the classification of complication severity(P=0.271), and postoperative recovery was similar between two groups. Notably, the incidence of anastomotic complications of esophagojejunostomy was also comparable between the two groups(LTG group vs. PT-LTG group: 5.9% vs. 5.7%, P=0.918). The univariate and multivariate analysis confirmed that positive proximal margin [positive vs. negative: odds ratio(OR)=14.094, 95%confidence interval(95% CI): 2.639-75.260, P=0.002], rather than PT, has an impact on anastomotic complications after LTG(OR=0.945, 95% CI: 0.371-2.408, P=0.905).Conclusions: PT did not increase the surgical risk of LTG for GC/GEJC. Therefore, considering the positive effect of PT on long-term survival, the broader application of PT and LTG for GC/GEJC is supported by our findings.

Neonatal gastric perforation: A single center experience

AIM: To determine the etiology and prognostic factors for neonatal gastric perforation(NGP), a rare but life-threatening disease.METHODS: Between 1980 and 2011, nine patients un-derwent surgical intervention for NGP at Seoul National University Children's Hospital. The characteristics and prognosis of the patients were retrospectively analyzed.RESULTS: Among the nine patients, three(33.3%) were preterm babies and five(55.5%) had associated anomalies, which included diaphragmatic eventration(n = 2), congenital diaphragmatic hernia, esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula, and antral web. Three(33.3%) patients were born before 1990 and three(33.3%) had a birth weight < 2500 g. Pneumo-peritoneum was found on preoperative images in six(66.7%) patients, and incidentally in the other three(33.3%) patients. Surgery was performed within 24 h after the onset of symptoms in seven(77.8%) patients. The overall mortality rate was 22.2%(2/9). The time between symptoms and surgical intervention was the only prognostic factor for survival, whereas premature birth and birth weight were not.CONCLUSION: Early detection and advances in neo-natal intensive care may improve the prognosis of NGP.

Clinical outcomes and risk factors for perforation in gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection: A prospective pilot study

AIM: To evaluate clinical outcomes and risk factors for endoscopic perforation during endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in a prospective study. METHODS: We investigated the clinical outcomes and risk factors for the development of perforation in 98 consecutive gastric neoplasms undergoing ESD regarding. Demographic and clinical parameters including patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related factors, clinical parameters, and duration of hospital stay were analyzed for risk factors for perforation. In subgroup analysis, we also compared the clinical outcomes between perforation and "silent" free air without endoscopically visible perforation detected only by computed tomography.RESULTS: Perforation was identified in 8.2% of patients. All patients were managed conservatively by the administration of antibiotics. The mean procedure time was significantly longer in patients with endoscopic perforation than in those without. According to the receiver-operating characteristic analysis, the resulting cutoff value of the procedure time for perforation was 115 min (87.5% sensitivity, 56.7% specificity). Prolonged procedure time (≥ 115 min) was associated with an increased risk of perforation (odds ratio 9.15; 95%CI: 1.08-77.54; P = 0.04). Following ESD, body temperature and C-reactive protein level were significantly higher in patients with perforation than in those without (P = 0.02), whereas there was no difference between these patient groups on the starting day of oral intake or of hospitalization. In subgroup analysis, the post-ESD clinical course was not different between endoscopic perforation and silent free air. CONCLUSION: Only prolonged procedure time (≥ 115 min) was significantly associated with perforation. The clinical outcomes of perforation are favorable and are comparable to those of patients with or without silent free air.

Aluminum phosphate gel reduces early rebleeding in cirrhotic patients with gastric variceal bleeding treated with histoacryl injection therapy

BACKGROUND Esophageal-gastro varices bleeding(EGVB)is the most widely known cause of mortality in individuals with cirrhosis,with an occurrence rate of 5%to 15%.Among them,gastric varices bleeding(GVB)is less frequent than esophageal varices bleeding(EVB),but the former is a more critical illness and has a higher mortality rate.At present,endoscopic variceal histoacryl injection therapy(EVHT)is safe and effective,and it has been recommended by relevant guidelines as the primary method for the treatment of GVB.However,gastric varices after endoscopic treatment still have a high rate of early rebleeding,which is mainly related to complications of its treatment,such as bleeding from drained ulcers,rebleeding of varices etc.Therefore,preventing early postoperative rebleeding is very important to improve the quality of patient survival and outcomes.AIM To assess the efficacy of aluminium phosphate gel(APG)combined with proton pump inhibitor(PPI)in preventing early rebleeding after EVHT in individuals with GVB.METHODS Medical history of 196 individuals with GVB was obtained who were diagnosed using endoscopy and treated with EVHT in Shenzhen People's Hospital from January 2016 to December 2021.Based on the selection criteria,101 patients were sorted into the PPI alone treatment group,and 95 patients were sorted into the PPI combined with the APG treatment group.The incidences of early rebleeding and corresponding complications within 6 wk after treatment were compared between both groups.Statistical methods were performed by two-sample t-test,Wilcoxon rank sum test andχ2 test.RESULTS No major variations were noted between the individuals of the two groups in terms of age,gender,Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score,coagulation function,serum albumin,hemoglobin,type of gastric varices,the dose of tissue glue injection and EV that needed to be treated simultaneously.The early rebleeding rate in PPI+APG group was 3.16%(3/95),which was much lower than that in the PPI group(12.87%,13/101)(P=0.013).Causes of early rebleeding:the incidence of gastric ulcer bleeding in the PPI+APG group was 2.11%(2/95),which was reduced in comparison to that in the PPI group(11.88%,12/101)(P=0.008);the incidence of venous bleeding in PPI+APG group and PPI group was 1.05%(1/95)and 0.99%(1/101),respectively,and there was no significant difference between them(0.999).The early mortality rate was 0 in both groups within 6 wk after the operation,and the low mortality rate was related to the timely hospitalization and active treatment of all patients with rebleeding.The overall incidence of complications in the PPI+APG group was 12.63%(12/95),which was not significantly different from 13.86%(14/101)in the PPI group(P=0.800).of abdominal pain in the PPI+APG group was 3.16%(3/95),which was lower than that in the PPI group(11.88%,12/101)(P=0.022).However,due to aluminum phosphate gel usage,the incidence of constipation in the PPI+APG group was 9.47%(9/95),which was higher than that in the PPI group(1.98%,2/101)(P=0.023),but the health of the patients could be improved by increasing drinking water or oral lactulose.No patients in either group developed spontaneous peritonitis after taking PPI,and none developed hepatic encephalopathy and ectopic embolism within 6 wk of EVHT treatment.CONCLUSION PPI combined with APG can significantly reduce the incidence of early rebleeding and postoperative abdominal pain in cirrhotic patients with GVB after taking EVHT.

Percutaneous peritoneal drainage in isolated neonatal gastric perforation

A comment on the article by He et al, "Idiopathic neonatal pneumoperitoneum with favorable outcome:A case report and review", published on World Journal of Gastroenterology that reported a case of idiopathic neonatal pneumoperitoneum, possibly due to gastric perforation, with a favorable outcome without surgical intervention.

Rescue endoscopic band ligation of iatrogenic gastric perforations following failed endoclip closure

Iatrogenic gastric perforation is one of the most serious complications during therapeutic endoscopy,despite significant advances in endoscopic techniques and devices.This case study evaluated the clinical efficacy and safety of the rescue endoscopic band ligation (EBL) technique in iatrogenic gastric wall perforation following the failure of primary endoclip closure.Five patients were enrolled in this study.These patients underwent emergency endoscopy following the onset of acute gastric wall perforation during endoscopic procedures.The outcome measurements were primary technical success and immediate or delayed procedure-related complications.Successful endoscopic closure using band ligation was reported in all patients,with no complication occurring.We conclude that EBL may be a feasible and safe alternate technique for the management of acute gastric perforation,especially in cases where closure is difficult with endoclips.

Novel treatment options for perforations of the upper gastrointestinal tract:Endoscopic vacuum therapy and over-the-scope clips

Endoscopic management of leakages and perforations of the upper gastrointestinal tract has gained great importance as it avoids the morbidity and mortality of surgical intervention.In the past years,covered selfexpanding metal stents were the mainstay of endoscopic therapy.However,two new techniques are now available that enlarge the possibilities of defect closure:endoscopic vacuum therapy(EVT),and over-the-scope clip(OTSC).EVT is performed by mounting a polyurethane sponge on a gastric tube and placing it into the leakage.Continuous suction is applied via the tube resulting in effective drainage of the cavity and the induction of wound healing,comparable to the application of vacuum therapy in cutaneous wounds.The system is changed every 3-5 d.The overall success rate of EVT in the literature ranges from 84%to 100%,with a mean of 90%;only few complications have been reported.OTSCs are loaded on a transparent cap which is mounted on the tip of a standard endoscope.By bringing the edges of the perforation into the cap,by suction or by dedicated devices,such as anchor or twin grasper,the OTSC can be placed to close the perforation.For acute endoscopy associated perforations,the mean success rate is 90%(range:70%-100%).For other types of perforations(postoperative,other chronic leaks and fistulas)success rates are somewhat lower(68%,and59%,respectively).Only few complications have been reported.Although first reports are promising,further studies are needed to define the exact role of EVT and OTSC in treatment algorithms of upper gastrointestinal perforations.