Pharmacokinetic effects of endoscopic gastric decontamination for multidrug gastric pharmacobezoars.

Introduction: Intentional multiple drugs overdose is an often-encountered method of self-harm in adolescence. Treatments include supportive therapy, antidotes (when available) and decontamination techniques with the aim of reducing drugs absorption by the gastrointestinal system to minimize toxicity. Nevertheless, the decontamination techniques currently used, such as gastric lavage (GL), activated charcoal or whole-bowel irrigation, have a questionable effectiveness. Endoscopic gastric decontamination (EGD) treatment for massive ingestion of drugs or formation of pharmacobezoars is currently described only in anecdotal cases. Here we describe the management of an intentional drug overdose in an adolescent patient treated with EGD and the effects of this therapy on drugs pharmacokinetics. Case report: A 15-year-old boy was admitted in an unconscious state (Glasgow Coma Scale: 7-8) to the pediatric intensive care unit after assuming an unspecified amount of quetiapine, aspirin, bisoprolol, fluoxetine, furosemide, alprazolam, and pregabalin pills. Rapid sequence intubation was immediately performed and then the patient was treated with symptomatic therapy and GL with minimal removal of gastric material. Accounting for the type of drugs, the time elapsed from oral assumption and the unknown quantity assumed, EGD was attempted with aim of removing potential aggregate of the drugs. Serial blood samples were taken before and after EGD to measure the plasma level of the drugs. A pharmacobezoar was found and was immediately removed with EGD. The results of the drug monitoring showed that quetiapine exceeded the toxic level reported in literature indicating that it may have been the drug assumed in higher quantity by our patient. PICU stay was uneventful, and the patient was transferred to the psychiatric ward after extubation. Discussion: Our case shows how GL is not effective in mitigating multidrug absorption especially drugs potentially inducing pharmacobezoars. Furthermore, based on our plasma drug monitoring, we believe that early EGD should be considered in all cases of massive pill intake, prolonged release drugs that can form pharmacobezoars or in cases where a life-threatening dose cannot be excluded.

A transition clinic model for inflammatory bowel disease between two tertiary care centers: outcomes and predictive factors.

OBJECTIVE: Few models of transition have been proposed for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the present study is to evaluate the feasibility of a transition model and the predictive factors for success/failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with low activity or remission IBD were enrolled. Proposed model: three meetings every four-six weeks: the first one in the pediatric center (Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital); the second one, in the adult center (Foundation Polyclinic University A. Gemelli), with pediatric gastroenterologists; the last one, in the adult center, with adult gastroenterologists only. Questionnaires included anxiety and depression clinical scale, self-efficacy, quality of life, visual-analogic scale (VAS). Transition was considered successful if the three steps were completed. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled (range 18-25 years; M/F: 12/8; Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn's Disease 10/10); eight accepted the transition program, four delayed the process and eight refused. Patients who completed transition generated higher scores on the resilience scale, better scores on well-being perception, and had lower anxiety scores. Patients who failed transition were mostly women. The perceived utility of the transition program was scored 7.3 on a VAS scale. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed transition program seems to be feasible. Psychological scores may help in selecting patients and predicting outcomes.

Primary Prophylaxis for Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Children With Biliary Atresia and Portal Hypertension Candidates for Liver Transplantation: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Cirrhosis for biliary atresia (BA) is associated with risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (GB) from gastroesophageal varices due to portal hypertension. Primary prophylaxis of GB is controversial in children who are candidates for liver transplantation (LT). The aim of the study was to define the management of gastroesophageal varices and to identify the benefit of primary prophylaxis for GB in BA children waiting for LT. METHODS: A retrospective single-center study including all BA children listed for LT in 2008-2016. Clinical, endoscopical, and biochemical data were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 82 children, 50 (61%) did not receive primary prophylaxis and did not present any episode of bleeding, 16 (19.5%) underwent primary prophylaxis, and 16 (19.5%) presented spontaneous GB and received secondary prophylaxis. Children without primary prophylaxis and GB were younger than patients with primary prophylaxis and those with GB (7.7 years [range, 4.1-37.9 years] vs 11.2 years [range, 5.1-43 years]; P = .03 vs 10.7 years [range, 6.9-39.9 years], respectively; P = .004). Seventy-five percent of GB occurred in children older than 8 months. Fifteen (93.8%) children with GB presented esophageal varices (grade III = 10 [62.5%]) and 10 (62.5%) required endoscopic treatments, consisting mainly of sclerotherapy. Median time to LT was similar for children with or without bleeding (2 months [range, 0-17.7 months] vs 2.2 months [0-17.9 months], respectively; P = .89). After 45.5 months (range, 13.7-105.5 months) of follow-up, the overall patient survival was 97.6%. At the intention-to-treat analysis, the survival rate was 100% for patients without bleeding episode and 87.5% for children with GB (P = .16). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the risk of GB being not clinically predictable in children with BA waiting for LT, our experience suggests that primary prophylaxis of GB might be unnecessary in children younger than 6 months, while it should be considered in older children. Thus, the occurrence of GB does not delay the timing of transplantation.

Dynamic esophageal stents.

Esophageal stenting represents a new strategy in the treatment of resistant or recurrent stenosis that obviates the need for multiple dilations. Our custom dynamic stent (DS) improves esophageal motility unlike the widespread self-expandable plastic or metallic esophageal stents. The DS allows food and secretions to pass in the space between the esophageal wall and the stent wall. This contrasts with the other types of stent, in which food passes into the stent that presses into the esophageal wall. Until the stent patent is complete, we use slices of silicon drains overlapped with each other to fashion the stent to the desired length and diameter (7-, 9-, or 12.7-mm external diameter). It is built coaxially on a nasogastric tube that guarantees the correct position. The two ends are tailored to allow an easy introduction and food passage between stent and esophageal wall. The stent is inserted after stricture dilations (Savary-Gilliard dilators) under fluoroscopic guidance. All patients who underwent stenting were treated with dexamethasone (2 mg/kg/day) for 3 days and proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole or lansoprazole, 1-2 mg/kg/day). From 1992 to 2012, 387 patients (mean age 38.6 months; range 3-125 months) with post-surgical esophageal stricture because of esophageal atresia correction were enrolled in this study. Twenty-six of 387 patients (6.7%) underwent custom DS placement for recurrent stricture instead of a program of serial dilations. The stent was left in place for at least 40 days and was effective in 21 (80.7%) of 26 patients. There were two stent-related major complications (subclavian-esophageal fistula). Our custom stent represents an effective and safe option in the treatment of severe and recurrent post-surgical esophageal strictures. Surgery with stricture resection, and reanastomosis or jeunoplasty represents the rescue strategy.

Diagnostic work-up of inflammatory bowel disease in children: the role of calprotectin assay.

BACKGROUND: Some reports highlight the potential application of fecal calprotectin as a direct biomarker of intestinal inflammation and, therefore, as support in choosing candidates for endoscopy. The value of 100 µg/g was recently assumed as the best cutoff for this assay. The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic precision of the fecal calprotectin assay, compared to histology, as a stool-screening biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among a group of prospectively identified patients referred for recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2007 we prospectively evaluated the calprotectin assay in a cohort of patients with recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits associated or not with other symptoms suggestive of IBD. All patients suspected of IBD, according to Rome and Porto criteria, provided stool specimens for the calprotectin assay and subsequently underwent endoscopic procedures. RESULTS: Compared to histology, the cutoff of 100 µg/g reached a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 68%, respectively, and a likelihood ratio (LR) of 3.1. The cutoff value of 160 µg/g, however, in our series produced the best joint estimate of sensitivity and specificity: 100% and 80%, respectively, with an LR of 5. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric patients with recurrent abdominal pain and changes in stool habits, a positive calprotectin assay is closely associated with IBD; its systematic employment, therefore, seems to improve the process of endoscopy referral. This test, simple and inexpensive, could be included in the first noninvasive phase of an IBD diagnostic work-up.

The feasibility of wireless capsule endoscopy in detecting small intestinal pathology in children under the age of 8 years: a multicentre European study.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the feasibility and methodology to carry out wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) in children <8 years to define small intestinal pathology. DESIGN: Prospective European multicentre study with negative prior investigation. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: 83 children aged 1.5-7.9 years were recruited. Initially, all were offered "swallowing" (Group 1) for capsule introduction. If this failed endoscopic placement (Group 2) was used and the Roth net, Advance or custom-made introducers were compared. OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary endpoint: to determine pathology; secondary endpoint: comparison of capsule introduction methods. RESULTS: Capsule introduction: 20 (24%) children aged 4.0-7.9 years (mean, 6.9 years; 14 male) comprising Group 1 were older (p<0.025) than 63 (76%) aged 1.5-7.9 years (mean, 5.25 years; 30 male) forming Group 2. COMPLICATIONS: Roth net mucosal trauma in 50%; no others occurred. The available recording apparatus was inappropriate for those <3 years. INDICATIONS: gastrointestinal bleeding: n = 30 (16 positive findings: four ulcerative jejunitis, four polyps, two angiodysplasia, two blue rubber blebs, two Meckel's diverticula, one anastomotic ulcer, one reduplication); suspected Crohn's disease: n = 20 (11 had Crohn's disease); abdominal pain: n = 12 (six positive findings: three Crohn's disease, two lymphonodular hyperplasia, one blue rubber bleb); protein loss: n = 9 (four lymphangectasia); malabsorption: n = 12 (seven positive findings: six enteropathy, one ascaris). No abnormalities overall: 45%. CONCLUSION: WCE is feasible and safe down to the age of 1.5 years. 20 children >4 years swallowed the capsule. The Advance introducer proved superior for endoscopic placement. The pathologies encountered showed age specificity and, unlike in adolescents, obscure gastrointestinal bleeding was the commonest indication.

Eosinophilic esophagitis: management and pharmacotherapy.

Eosinophilic esophagitis represents the most debated disease of the last 10 years, too often speculated or overestimated and certainly well known and examined. The aim of this study was to summarize the recent therapeutic trends in order to show persistent doubts regarding several debated therapies. The study combined the most recent international literature and the authors' daily experience to define the scope of the review, with limits caused by a lack of available randomized studies between dietetic and pharmacological treatment. It was concluded that eosinophilic esophagitis is an immunoallergic disease that is generally caused by identifiable food and environmental allergens although, in a minority of cases, the etiological trigger remains undetermined. Therapy usually fights the responsible agents, but sometimes they are not resolved. A need for more pathogenetically driven treatments is invoked.

Reflux oesophagitis in children; the role of endoscopy. A multicentric Italian survey.

BACKGROUND: The decision whether to perform endoscopy in children with suspected reflux oesophagitis is not a straightforward one. Few symptoms are specific for oesophagitis and the diagnosis is not always correlated even to visual findings on endoscopy. AIM: The aim of this study was to define the role of endoscopy and especially of histology in the diagnosis of reflux oesophagitis and to examine the correlations between symptoms, endoscopic findings and histology in children with suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and thirty-six patients with a clinical diagnosis of reflux oesophagitis, aged 1-18 years (mean 8.43; standard deviation +/-4.4), were enrolled from 12 Italian Paediatrics Gastroenterology Centres; symptom score, endoscopic and histologic oesophagitis scores were observed before and after therapy with proton pump inhibitors. RESULTS: Before therapy, a high correlation between the prevailing symptom score and endoscopic score was demonstrated, but not with histologic score: there was a significant tendency for histologic grade to exceed visual findings. After therapy, endoscopic score and histologic score were significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS: Oesophageal biopsies increase the diagnostic accuracy of upper endoscopy. Histologic grading is often much more important than the endoscopic appearance, so that endoscopic oesophageal biopsies are very important aids in the diagnosis of oesophagitis. Appropriate clinical evaluation of symptoms must occur before endoscopic examination.

Paediatric eosinophilic oesophagitis: towards early diagnosis and best treatment.

UNLABELLED: Eosinophilic oesophagitis is an emerging disease, well known also in paediatric age, probably caused by both IgE and non-IgE mediated food allergies, diagnosed by upper endoscopy with biopsy. The most severe complication is oesophageal stenosis. The identification of the offending allergens is often difficult; therapy is focused to eliminate the supposed antigenic stimulus, to control the acute symptoms and to induce long-term remission. AIM: We report the clinical outcome and the typical endoscopic findings of children and adolescents affected by eosinophilic oesophagitis, referring a proposal of diagnostic and treatment protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients, affected by eosinophilic oesophagitis with a histological diagnosis, underwent radiographic upper gastro-intestinal series, 24 h pH-probe and standardised allergic testing; they were treated with steroids (oral prednisone and swallowed aerosolised fluticasone) and elimination diet. Dilations were performed when eosinophilic oesophagitis was not yet diagnosed, or in patients resistant to conventional treatment. RESULTS: Two patients were lost to follow up (mean follow up: 1 year 11 months); seven patients have no symptoms and normal histology, five of them on restricted diet (without cow's milk protein) and two patients on elemental diet (amino acid formula). In two patients (no allergens identified), mild dysphagia and eosinophilic infiltration persist; one patients underwent Nissen fundoplication for Barrett's oesophagus: he has no symptoms and normal oesophagus, on restricted diet (without cow's milk/eggs protein and wheat). CONCLUSION: The recognition of typical endoscopic picture with careful biopsies extended to the whole oesophagus, even in emergency, could more quickly lead to the correct diagnosis and avoid severe complications of eosinophilic oesophagitis in children, as stricture and failure to growth. Elimination diet is the key of resolution when the allergens are identified. A great challenge remains the relation between gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and eosinophilic oesophagitis, which should however be explained.

[Digestive endoscopy in children]. / L'endoscopia digestiva in età pediatrica.

Also in the pediatric population the digestive endoscopy became, at this point, a very good diagnostic and operative technique largement used. The endoscopy can explore the upper gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, duodenum and jejunum) and can investigate the colon and the terminal ileum regarding the lower gastrointestinal tract. Principally, the operative endoscopy concerns emostasis of gastrointestinal bleeding, polipectomy, extraction of foreign bodies, and intestinal dilatations. The patients population submitted to this investigation by now is very wide thanks to the modernization of the instruments and at specialization of gastroenterologist pediatricians: range from newborn, to childhood, adolescence and young adults. The gastroenterologist pediatricians specialization associated to a routine use of amnemonic drugs (benzodiazepine) reduced at the minimum the invasivity of endoscopy; this technique can be considered a good safe procedure and free of important physical and psychic side effects for the young patient.

[Digestive endoscopy in neonates. Personal experience]. / L'endoscopia digestiva in età neonatale. Esperienza personale.

Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is actually considered an essential diagnostic and therapeutic technique both in pediatrician and in newborn infants. At the moment upper GI endoscopy in neonatal age allows to explore the esophagus, stomach and duodenum; instead lower GI endoscopy easily reaches sigmoid-colon junction. The exploration of other distal parts of bowel is more difficult and with more risks. Therefore it has to be make only if it is necessary. In the newborn this exam should be so fast not to require premedication. In our study, we considered every neonatal patient who underwent GI endoscopy at the "Digestive Endoscopy and Gastroenterology Service of Pediatric Clinic-University of Parma" (from September 1983 to June 2000). We considered two groups of patients: first group: early neonatal age (0-14 days) second group: late neonatal age (15-28 days). We made 127 endoscopies: 112 of these were upper GI. The most frequent symptoms that babies showed and indicated upper GI endoscopy were reflux and/or vomiting (86%). Upper operative GI endoscopies included also 7 esophageal dilatations. The lower GI endoscopies were 15 and in all the cases the indication was intestinal bleeding. We conclude that the GI endoscopy in the neonates shows a diagnostic sensibility and specificity really high and for sure better than the radiology for mucosal lesions. Also GI endoscopy can be not only a very precious diagnostic instrument but also therapeutic in neonatal disease. Considering the age of the little patients, it is very important that only endoscopists with large experience use this technique.

Polychlorinated biphenyls and dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane in human milk. A review.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) are the most frequent chemical contaminants present in human milk. Factors involving the levels of PCBs and DDT in human milk are revised. Allowable daily intake of both contaminants is indicated as well as their effect on human exposure are discussed. Since available data suggest that these contaminants are available for redistribution to the lactating mammary gland, we stress the importance of a dietary regimen to breast fed mothers in order to prevent the mobilization of body fat stores for milk fat synthesis.

Exertional chest pain in child due to gastroesophageal reflux with a family history of rumination.

A child affected by exertional chest pain secondary to gastroesophageal reflux (GER) disease is reported. Family history revealed the presence of rumination in two members. In our patient, heart diseases as well as other causes of chest pain were excluded. An ultrasound examination of the gastro-esophageal junction, performed in the first 15 minute of the post-prandial period, showed a pathological number of GER episodes. The patient was treated with cisapride (0.2 mg/kg t.i.d. per os). At follow-up, after three months, he was symptom-free. We repeated an ultrasound examination, which resulted normal. Ours is the first paediatric case characterized by exertional chest pain secondary to GER disease.