Self-expanding metal stent for relieving the stricture after endoscopic injection for esophageal varices

BACKGROUND Esophageal stricture is one of the complications after esophageal varices sclero-therapy injection(ESI),and the incidence rate is between 2%-10%.AIM To explore the efficacy of self-expanding metal stent(SEMS)for the stricture after endoscopic injection with cyanoacrylate(CYA)and sclerotherapy for esophageal varices.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of SEMS to improve the stricture after endoscopic injection with CYA and sclerotherapy for esophageal varices in 4 patients from February 2023 to June 2023.RESULTS The strictures were improved in four patients after stenting.The stent was removed after two weeks because of chest pain with embedding into esophageal mucosa in one patient.The stent was removed after one month,however,the stent was reinserted because of the strictures happening again in two patients.The stent was removed after three months,however,the stent was reinserted because of the strictures happening again in one patient.The stent embedded into esophageal mucosa in three patients.There were 3 patients suffered reflux esophagitis,and the acid reflux was relieved by taking hydrotalcite.There was no other complication of esophageal perforation,bleeding from varices or infection.CONCLUSION SEMS may relieve the stricture which happened after endoscopic injection with CYA and sclerotherapy for esophageal varices.However,when we should remove the stent still needs to be explored.

Transparent cap adjusted the stent placed for stenosis after endoscopic injection of esophageal varices:A case report

BACKGROUND The stent embedded in the esophageal mucosa is one of the complications after stenting for esophageal stricture.We present a case of stent adjustment with the aid of a transparent cap after endoscopic injection of an esophageal varices stent.CASE SUMMARY A 61-year-old male patient came to the hospital with discomfort of the chest after the stent implanted for the stenosis because of endoscopic injection of esophageal varices.The gastroscopy was performed,and the stent embedded into the esophageal mucosa.At first,we pulled the recycling line for shrinking the stent,however,the mucosa could not be removed from the stent.Then a forceps was performed to remove the mucosa in the stent,nevertheless,the bleeding form the mucosa was obvious.And then,we used a transparent cap to scrape the mucosa along the stent,and the mucosa were removed successfully without bleeding.CONCLUSION A transparent cap helps gastroscopy to remove the mucosa embedded in the stent after endoscopic injection of the esophageal varices stent.

Role of combined propofol and sufentanil anesthesia in endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for esophageal varices

AIM To investigate the efficacy and safety of a combination of sufentanil and propofol injection in patients undergoing endoscopic injection sclerotherapy(EIS) for esophageal varices(EVs). METHODS Patients with severe EVs who underwent EIS with sufentanil and propofol anesthesia between April 2016 and July 2016 at our hospital were reviewed. Although EIS and sequential therapy were performed under endotracheal intubation, we only evaluated the efficacy and safety of anesthesia for the first EIS procedure. Patients were intravenously treated with 0.5-1 μg/kg sufentanil. Anesthesia was induced with 1-2 mg/kg propofol and maintained using 2-5 mg/kg per hour of propofol. Information, regarding age, sex, weight, American Association of Anesthesiologists(ASA) physical status, Child-Turcotte-Pugh(CTP) classification, indications, preanesthetic problems, endoscopic procedure, successful completion of the procedure, anesthesia time, recovery time, and anesthetic agents, was recorded. Adverse events, including hypotension, hypertension, bradycardia, and hypoxia, were also noted.RESULTS Propofol and sufentanil anesthesia was provided in 182 procedures involving 140 men and 42 women aged 56.1± 11.7 years(range, 25-83 years). The patients weighed 71.4 ± 10.7 kg(range, 45-95 kg) and had ASA physical status classifications of Ⅱ(79 patients) or Ⅲ(103 patients). Ninety-five patients had a CTP classification of A and 87 had a CTP classification of B. Intravenous anesthesia was successful in all cases. The mean anesthesia time was 33.1 ± 5.8 min. The mean recovery time was 12.3 ± 3.7 min. Hypotension occurred in two patients(1.1%, 2/182). No patient showed hypertension during the endoscopic therapy procedure. Bradycardia occurred in one patient(0.5%, 1/182), and hypoxia occurred in one patient(0.5%, 1/182). All complications were easily treated with no adverse sequelae. All endoscopic procedures were completed successfully.CONCLUSION The combined use of propofol and sufentanil injection in endotracheal intubation-assisted EIS for EVs is effective and safe.

Endoscopic band ligation or endoscopic tissue adhesive injection in the treatment of gastric varices:Which is better?

The combination of endoscopic ultrasound with endoscopic treatment of type 1 gastric variceal hemorrhage may improve the robustness and generalizability of the findings in future studies.Moreover,the esophageal varices should also be included in the evaluation of treatment efficacy in subsequent studies to reach a more convincing conclusion.

Successful endoscopic treatment of superficial esophageal cancer in a patient with esophageal variceal bleeding:A case report

BACKGROUND The coexistence of esophageal variceal bleeding and superficial esophageal cancer(SEC)is relatively rare in clinical practice.Moreover,there have been few reports of SEC overlying esophageal varices(EVs).Herein,we report our successful use of endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD),esophageal solitary venous dilatation(ESVD),and endoscopic injection sclerotherapy(EIS)to treat a 75-year-old man who was diagnosed with SEC coexisting with esophageal variceal bleeding.CASE SUMMARY A 75-year-old man was admitted to the hospital due to black stool for 4 days.The patient had a history of liver cancer,cirrhosis,and portal hypertension.Endosco-pic examination revealed esophageal and gastric varicose veins,as well as esoph-ageal carcinoma in situ.We first treated esophageal variceal bleeding by ESVD and EIS.One week later,ESD treatment was done,and the complete rese-ction of early esophageal cancer was successfully completed via endoscopy.There were no postoperative complications,such as bleeding,infection,or perforation.CONCLUSION The sequential treatment of ESVD,EIS,and ESD is an effective method for trea-ting EVs with early esophageal cancer.

Optimal injection volume of epinephrine for endoscopic treatment of peptic ulcer bleedinq

AIM： To define the optimal injection volume of epinephrine with high efficacy for hemostasis and low complication rate in patients with actively bleeding ulcers. METHODS： This prospective, randomized, comparative trial was conducted in a medical center. A total of 228 patients with actively bleeding ulcers （spurting or oozing） were randomly assigned to three groups with 20, 30 and 40 mL endoscopic injections of an 1：10000 solution of epinephrine. The hemostatic effects and clinical outcomes were compared between the three groups. RESULTS： There were no significant differences in all background variables between the three groups. Initial hemostasis was achieved in 97.4%, 98.7% and 100% of patients respectively in the 20, 30 and 40 mL epinephrine groups. There were no significant differences in the rate of initial hemostasis between the three groups. The rate of peptic ulcer perforation was significantly higher in the 40 mL epinephrine group than in the 20 and 30 mL epinephrine groups （P 〈 0.05）. The rate of recurrent bleeding was significantly higher in the 20 mL epinephrine group （20.3%） than in the 30 （5.3%） and 40 mL （2.8 %） epinephrine groups （P 〈 0.01）. There were no significant differences in the rates of surgical intervention, the amount of transfusion requirements, the days of hospitalization, the deaths from bleeding and 30 d mortality between the three groups. The number of patients who developed epigastric pain due to endoscopic injection, was significantly higher in the 40 mL epinephrine group （51/76） than in the 20 （2/76） and 30 mL （5/76） epinephrine groups （P 〈 0.001）. Significant elevation of systolic blood pressure after endoscopic injection was observed in the 40 mL epinephrine group （P 〈 0.01）. Significant decreasing and normalization of pulse rates after endoscopic injections were observed in the 20 mL and 30 mL epinephrine groups （P 〈 0.01）.CONCLUSION： Injection of 30 mL diluted epinephrine （1：10000） can effectively prevent recurrent bleeding with a low rate of complications. The optimal injection volume of epinephrine for endoscopic treatment of an actively bleeding ulcer （spurting or oozing） is 30 mL.

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.

Role of endoscopic ultrasound in anticancer therapy:Current evidence and future perspectives

The digestive system is one of the most common sites of malignancies in humans.Since gastrointestinal tumors represent a massive global health burden both in terms of morbidity and health care expenditures,scientists continuously develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods to ameliorate the detrimental effects of this group of diseases.Apart from the well-established role of the endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)in the diagnostic course of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary malignancies,we have recently become acquainted with a vast array of its therapeutic possibilities.A multitude of previously established,evidence-based methods that might now be guided by the EUS emerged:Radiofrequency ablation,brachytherapy,fine needle injection,celiac plexus neurolysis,and endoscopic submucosal dissection.In this review we endeavored to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of these methods in different malignancies of the digestive system,primarily in the treatment and symptom control in pancreatic cancer,and additionally in the management of hepatic,gastrointestinal tumors,and pancreatic cysts.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided injectable therapy for pancreatic cancer:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Given the low survival rate in pancreatic cancer,new therapeutic techniques have been explored,especially for unresectable or borderline resectable disease.Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)provides real-time imaging and minimally invasive access for local and targeted injection of anti-tumor agents directly into the pancreatic tumor.Limited studies have been reported using this technique for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC).AIM To evaluate the progress made with EUS-guided injectable therapies in the treatment of PDAC.METHODS All original articles published in English until July 15,2021,were retrieved via a library-assisted literature search from Ovid Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews and Scopus databases.Reference lists were reviewed to identify additional relevant articles.Prospective clinical studies evaluating the use of EUS-guided injectable therapies in PDAC were included.Studies primarily directed at non-EUS injectable therapies and other malignancies were excluded.Retrieved manuscripts were reviewed descriptively with on critical appraisal of published studies based on their methods and outcome measures such as safety,feasibility,and effectiveness in terms of tumor response and survival.Heterogeneity in data outcomes and therapeutic techniques limited the ability to perform comparative statistical analysis.RESULTS A total of thirteen articles(503 patients)were found eligible for inclusion.The EUS-injectable therapies used were heterogeneous among the studies consisting of immunotherapy(n=5)in 59 patients,chemotherapy(n=1)in 36 patients,and viral and other biological therapies(n=7)in 408 patients.Eleven of the studies reviewed were single armed while two were double armed with one randomized trial and one non-randomized comparative study.Overall,the included studies demonstrated EUS-guided injectable therapies to be safe and feasible with different agents as monotherapy or in conjunction with other modalities.Promising results were also observed regarding their efficacy and survival parameters in patients with PDAC.CONCLUSION EUS-guided injectable therapies,including immunotherapy,chemotherapy,and viral or other biological therapies have shown minimal adverse events and potential efficacy in the treatment of PDAC.Comparative studies,including controlled trials,are required to confirm these results in order to offer novel EUS-based treatment options for patients with PDAC.