Homemade endoscopic vacuum therapy device for the management of transmural gastrointestinal defects.

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) possesses a unique mechanism of action providing a less invasive alternative for the management of transmural gastrointestinal defects (TGID). This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of a novel homemade EVT (H-EVT) for the treatment of TGID. METHODS: Retrospective multicenter study including patients who underwent H-EVT for TGID between January 2019 and January 2022. Main outcomes included technical and clinical success as well as safety outcomes. Subgroup analyses were included by defect location and classification. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine predictors for successful closure. RESULTS: A total of 144 patients were included. Technical success was achieved in all patients, with clinical success achieved in 88.89% after a mean of 3.49 H-EVT exchanges over an average of 23.51 days. After excluding 10 cases wherein it was not possible to achieve negative pressure, successful closure occurred in 95.52% of patients. Time to clinical success was less for defects caused by endoscopic (hazard ratio [HR] 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33-1.20) compared to surgical procedures and for patients with simultaneous intracavitary and intraluminal H-EVT placement (HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.55-0.91). Location and classification of defect did not impact clinical success rate. Simultaneous placement of both an intraluminal and intracavitary H-EVT (odds ratio 3.08; 95% CI 1.19-7.95) was a significant predictor of clinical success. Three device-related adverse events (2.08%) occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the H-EVT is feasible, safe, and effective for the management of TGID.

A novel percutaneous magnetically guided gastrostomy technique without endoscopy or imaging guidance: a feasibility study in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND: In order to simplify a percutaneous gastrostomy procedure and avoid the need of endoscopy or imaging methods, a novel percutaneous magnetically guided gastrostomy (PMG) technique was conceived. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the feasibility of a novel PMG technique with no endoscopy or any imaging guidance in a porcine model. METHODS: Fourteen crossbred domestic pigs were used for prototype development (cadaveric experiments) and proof-of concept, survival study. The magnetic device was conceived using commercially available rare-earth neodymium-based magnets. The experimental design consisted of developing an internal magnetic gastric tube prototype to be orally inserted and coupled to an external magnet placed on the skin, which facilitated stomach and abdominal wall apposition for blind percutaneous gastrostomy tube placement. Then, a gastrostomy tube was percutaneously and blindly placed. RESULTS: Twelve procedures were undertaken in animal cadavers and two in live models. The technique chosen consisted of using a magnetic gastric tube prototype using six 1 × 1-cm-ring magnets attached to its end. This device enabled successful magnetic coupling with a large (5 cm in diameter) magnet disc placed on the skin. For gastric tube placement, a direct trocar insertion allowed easier and safer placement of a gastric tube as compared to a needle-guide-wire dilation (Seldinger-based) technique. Gastropexy was added to avoid early gastric tube displacement. This novel PMG technique was feasible in a live model experiment. CONCLUSIONS: A novel magnetically guided percutaneous gastrostomy tube insertion technique without the use of endoscopy or image-guidance was successful in a porcine model. A non-inferiority experimental controlled study comparing this technique to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.

Magnetic compression anastomosis for the treatment of complete gastric outlet obstruction due to corrosive injury.

Video 1Magnetic compression anastomosis for the treatment of complete gastric outlet obstruction.

Gastric adenocarcinoma in the excluded stomach 18 years after bariatric surgery: a case report.

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks fourth in overall cancer mortality. Bariatric surgical procedures, especially the gastric bypass surgery (GBS), raise a concern about the risk of GC in the excluded stomach (ES). Diagnosis of GC in the ES is challenging due to anatomical changes and impossibility of endoscopic access to the ES. There are few reports of GC after GBS, and it occurs more in the gastric stump than in the ES. We report a case of a 54-year-old female with GC in the ES 18 years after GBS. The increasing number of GBS and the aggressiveness of the GC show how relevant this case is to emphasize the need to consider this diagnosis in patients who develop upper abdominal symptoms, anemia or weight loss.

Balloon-assisted enteroscopy for suspected Meckel's diverticulum and indefinite diagnostic imaging workup.

Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is estimated to affect 1%-2% of the general population, and it represents a clinically silent finding of a congenital anomaly in up to 85% of the cases. In adults, MD may cause symptoms, such as overt occult lower gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnostic imaging workup includes computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging enterography, technetium 99m scintigraphy (99mTc) using either labeled red blood cells or pertechnetate (known as the Meckel's scan) and angiography. The preoperative detection rate of MD in adults is low, and many patients ultimately undergo exploratory laparoscopy. More recently, however, endoscopic identification of MD has been possible with the use of balloon-assisted enteroscopy via direct luminal access, which also provides visualization of the diverticular ostium. The aim of this study was to review the diagnosis by double-balloon enteroscopy of 4 adults with symptomatic MD but who had negative diagnostic imaging workups. These cases indicate that balloon-assisted enteroscopy is a valuable diagnostic method and should be considered in adult patients who have suspected MD and indefinite findings on diagnostic imaging workup, including negative Meckel's scan.

Tratamento colonoscópico de fístula colo-cutânea com plugue de colágeno / Colonoscopic treatment of colocutaneous fistula with collagen plug

INTRODUÇÃO: Fístulas digestivas permanecem como complicações mais frequentes após operações abdominais. Quando ocorrem, o tempo de internação, custo e a morbimortalidade pós-operatória aumentam. Apesar das várias opções de tratamento, um número significativo de pacientes requerem procedimentos cirúrgicos complexos para fechá-las. O desenvolvimento da endoscopia intervencionista proporcionou nova opção de tratamento para fístulas gastro-intestinais. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente com fístula colocutânea foi tratada com sucesso com um plugue de colágeno. A injeção percutânea de azul de metileno identificou o orifício interno da fístula no cólon transverso. Aplicação de clips anteriormente realizada não foi bem sucedida. A fístula fechou em poucos dias após a introdução de plugue de colágeno através de um procedimento combinado percutâneo-colonoscopico. CONCLUSÃO: O uso de tampões de colágeno por procedimento percutâneo e endoscópico combinado tem a vantagem de permitir a redução do tempo de tratamento da fístula intestinal e pode evitar intervenções cirúrgicas mais complexas.

BACKGROUND: Digestive fistulas remain as frequent complications after abdominal operations. When they occur, hospitalization time, cost, morbidity and post-operative mortality increase significantly. Despite various treatment options, a significant number of patients require complex surgical procedures to close them. The development of interventional endoscopy has provided new treatment option for gastro-intestinal fistulas. CASE REPORT: Patient with colocutaneous fistula was successfully treated with a collagen plug. Percutaneous injection of methylene-blue identified the internal orifice of the fistula in the transverse colon. Previous clips application was unsuccessful. The fistula closed in few days after collagen plug introduction through a combined percutaneous-colonoscopic procedure. CONCLUSION: The use of plugs of collagen by combined percutaneous and endoscopic procedure has the advantage of allowing reduced time for treatment of intestinal fistulae and may avoid surgical operations.

Gastrostomia endoscópica percutânea: experiência de 136 casos / Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: experience in 136 cases

A gastrostomia endoscópica percutânea (GEP) foi descrita inicialmente por Gauderer e Ponsky em 1980 e hoje vem sendo utilizada como metódo de escolha na realização de uma gastrostomia. dentre suas vantagens destacamos a não necessidade de laparotomia, menor custo e, principalmente, menor morbimortalidade. Foram avaliados 136 pacientes, sento 75 homens (55,1 por cento) e 61 mulheres (44,9por cebnto) A média de idade foi de65,7 anos com extremos de 1,5 e 98 anos. Em relação à doença de base , a mais como foi o AVC 55,9por cento) seguido de demência (6,6por cento), esclerose lateral amiotrófica (5,9por cento), obstrução tumoral (5,9por cento) e TCE (5,9por cento). outras causas foram doença de Parkinson, Alzheimer, miastenia gravis, paralisia central entre outras. Em relação à indicação da GEP, o distúrbio motor da deglutição correspondeu a 94por cento dos casos, seguidos por 4,5por cento de obstrução esofágica. A grande maioria (90,5por cento) das GEP foi com anestesia local mais sedação. As complicações corresponderam a 11,7por cento, sendo a mais comum a infecção (5,8por cento), Somente um paciente foi a óbito devido a complicações anstésicas durante o procedimento. O óbito em 30 dias não relacionado ao procedimento foi de 11,7por cento. Os nossos resultados estão de acordo com a literatura. Nossa experiência sugere que a GEP é um método que pode ser utilizado sem anestesia geral, com segurança, mesmo em pacientes debilitados devido a sua doença de base. Assim a GEP é um método perfeitamente aceitável e seguro de proporcionar dieta enteral aos pacientes