Esophageal Food Impaction: A Retrospective Chart Review.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal food impaction (EFI) is the third most common non-biliary emergency in gastroenterology, with an annual incidence rate of 13 episodes per 100,000 person-years and 1,500 deaths per year. Patients presenting with food impaction often have underlying esophageal pathology. We evaluated the possible risk factors for EFI in our study. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of 455 patients at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) that presented with symptoms of food impaction from 1999 to 2017. We analyzed relevant clinical data such as age, risk factors, type of food bolus, location, administration of glucagon, endoscopic technique and complications. RESULTS: Overall, 174 patients had endoscopically confirmed EFI. The majority were males 102/174 (58.6%). Esophageal pathological findings included esophagitis in 58/174 (33.3%), strictures in 43/174 (24.7%), hiatal hernias in 29/174 (16.6%) and Schatzki's rings in 15/174 (8.6%). Thirty-two out of 174 (18.3%) had normal endoscopic findings. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was reported in 20/174 (11.4%) patients. The type of food impacted was mostly meat in 73/174 (41.9%) cases. The location of EFI was mainly in the lower one-third of the esophagus in 94/174 (54%). The endoscopic push technique was used in 95/174 (54.5%) patients and the pull technique in 83/174 (47.7%) cases. The endoscopic therapeutic intervention was successful as a first attempt in 165/175 (94.8%) patients. Complications were reported in only 5/174 (2.8%), and these mostly comprised of perforations and tears. Glucagon was given to 74/174 (42.5%) patients. The median door-to-scope time (time of presentation at the emergency department to endoscopic intervention) was 7 h (range 1.5 - 24 h) in patients who had received glucagon as opposed to 7 h (range 1 - 24 h) in patients who did not receive it. CONCLUSION: EFI is more common in males. Esophageal strictures and hiatal hernias were the most common pathologies found in endoscopy. Esophagitis was evident in 33.3% of patients, but if it was the cause or consequence of EFI is not clearly understood. DM was associated with food impaction in only 11.4% of patients, but more studies are needed to determine if DM has a stronger association with EFI. The door-to-scope time was shorter in patients who had received glucagon. Endoscopy is a safe and effective therapeutic intervention for EFI, and complications reported were minimal.

A case of drug-induced parkinsonism and tardive akathisia with e1143g polymerase γ mutation-innocent bystander or a culprit?

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Polymerase γ (POLG) is a protein that plays a pivotal role in the replication of the mitochondrial genome. POLG-related disorders constitute a sequence of overlying phenotypes that can present from early infancy to late adulthood. Parkinsonism is the most common movement disorder associated with POLG mutation. We also summarize all reported cases of POLG-related Parkinsonism, along with a literature review. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present the case of an 80-year-old male presented with complaints of episodic confusion, tremors, and restlessness. He has been on risperidone for psychosis. A normal DaT scan ruled out Parkinson's disease, and molecular analysis for POLG was positive (E1143G). He was diagnosed with drug-induced Parkinsonism and tardive akathisia with an incidental POLG mutation. CONCLUSIONS: A literature search revealed 55 cases of "POLG-related Parkinsonism" that met our criteria. These mutations can clinically affect multiple organ systems. Parkinsonism is the most common movement disorder reported in association with POLG mutations. We conducted a molecular analysis in our patient due to his Parkinsonism and recurrent episodes of encephalopathy. E1143G mutation found in our case was coincidental and reported a non-pathogenic or benign variant in literature. RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS: E1143G is a non-pathogenic variant and multiple studies have shown that its co-occurrence with other POLG mutations can aggravate disease occurrence and severity. Literature findings and the experience from our own case indicate that the pathogenicity of E1143G is debatable, and future studies involving this particular variant may help understand its pathological consequences.

A Novel Approach to Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube Replacement: Can You Save the Site?

Inadvertent removal or dislodgement is the most commonly encountered complication in patients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube. Once the gastrocutaneous fistula is formed, bedside tube replacement can be performed at the same site, within 24 hours of dislodgement. Usually, after this timeframe, the tract closes; hence, it is recommended to perform a replacement at a different site. We report a case of a 52-year-old female who presented after 24 hours of inadvertent PEG tube removal. A replacement was performed successfully via endoscopy at the same site of the erstwhile PEG tube, although it appeared to be closed.

A Case of Cervical Spondylotic Amyotrophy Mimicking Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (CSA) is a rare clinical condition characterized by weakness and atrophy of the upper limb with minimal to no associated sensory deficits. The detection of the disease is based on clinical features at presentation, neurological examination, electrophysiological studies, and imaging. The proposed pathophysiological mechanisms include selective damage to the ventral root or anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. Depending on the muscle groups that are involved, CSA is broadly classified into a proximal type and a distal type. The clinical profiles of patients with CSA and ALS have a very close resemblance to each other, especially at the early stages of the disease. Cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may show T2 hyperintensity in both proximal and distal types. Electromyogram demonstrates denervation potentials and reduced motor unit potentials in the affected muscles. The conservative management is often the first-line modality, and those who fail to respond to conservative treatment have severe muscular atrophy and weakness, and distal-type CSA are considered potential candidates for surgery. We present the case of a 57-year-old female who presented with a 1-year history of left-hand weakness and wasting with no sensory deficits. She denied any involvement of her other hand or bilateral lower limbs, and she was referred to our clinic with the potential diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). An elaborate history, physical examination, electrophysiological studies, and imaging assisted us in reaching the diagnosis of CSA, 1 year after the onset of symptoms.

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Comprehensive Review.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT) is a relatively rare, potentially fatal neurological condition that can be frequently overlooked due to the vague nature of its clinical and radiological presentation. A literature search on PubMed using the keyword "Cerebral sinus venous thrombosis" was performed. We searched for the epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of CSVT. All full-text articles in the last 10 years, in adults (>18 years), and the English language were included. We aim to give a comprehensive review of CSVT, with a primary focus on the management of the disease. SUMMARY: The literature search revealed 404 articles that met our criteria. CSVT is a relatively rare condition that accounts for approximately 1% of all forms of stroke. They can be subdivided into acute, subacute, and chronic forms based on the time of onset of clinical symptoms. It is a multifactorial disease, and the major forms of clinical presentation include isolated intracranial hypertension syndrome, focal neurological deficits, and cavernous sinus syndrome. MRI with magnetic resonance venogram (MRV) is considered the gold standard for diagnosis. Anticoagulation with heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin is the mainstay of treatment. Endovascular management is indicated for those cases with severe symptoms or worsening of symptoms despite anticoagulation therapy. Favorable outcomes have been reported in patients who receive early diagnosis and treatment. CONCLUSION: CSVT is a potentially fatal neurological condition that is often under-diagnosed due to its nonspecific presentation. Timely diagnosis and treatment can reduce morbidity and mortality, remarkably improving the outcome in affected individuals.

Cerebral Cavernous Malformations, Developmental Venous Anomaly, and Its Coexistence: A Review.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are intracranial vascular malformations that can exist as a single lesion or mixed vascular lesions. The most common mixed form is the coexistence of CCM with an associated developmental venous anomaly (DVA). In this paper, we aim to give a comprehensive review of CCM, DVA, and their coexistence as mixed lesions. A PubMed search using the keywords "Cerebral cavernous malformations, Developmental venous anomaly, Mixed Cerebral cavernous malformations with Developmental venous anomaly" was done. All studies in the English language in the past 10 years were analyzed descriptively for this review. SUMMARY: The search yielded 1,249 results for "Cerebral cavernous malformations," 271 results for "Developmental venous anomaly," and 5 results for "Mixed Cerebral cavernous malformations with Developmental venous anomaly." DVA is the most common intracranial vascular malformation, followed by CCM. CCM can have a wide array of clinical presentations like hemorrhage, seizures, or focal neurological deficits or can also be an incidental finding on brain imaging. DVAs are benign lesions by nature; however, venous infarction can occur in a few patients due to acute thrombosis. Mixed CCM with DVA has a higher risk of hemorrhage. CCMs are angiographically occult lesion, and cerebral digital subtraction angiography is the gold standard for the diagnosis of DVA. Mixed lesions, on the other hand, are best diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging, which has also been effective in detecting specific abnormalities. Asymptomatic lesions are treated through a conservative approach, while clinically symptomatic lesions need surgical management. CONCLUSION: Individual CCM or DVA lesions have a benign course; however, when they coexist in the same individual, the hemorrhagic risk is increased, which prompts for rapid diagnosis and treatment.

A Case of Acute Esophageal Necrosis from Unruptured Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN), also known as black esophagus due to its appearance on endoscopy, classically involves the distal esophagus (97% of cases). AEN affecting the midesophagus with sparing of the distal esophagus is rare and usually occurs in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysmal (TAA) rupture or aortic dissection. Herein, we report a unique case of AEN in the midesophagus in a patient with an unruptured and undissected TAA.

Recurrent Pneumothorax with CPAP Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Pulmonary barotrauma such as pneumothorax (PTX) is a known complication of invasive mechanical ventilation. However, it is uncommonly reported with the use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) and CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy. We present a case of a 66-year-old female who presented with chronic dyspnea on exertion secondary to right-sided diaphragmatic hernia. The patient also underwent a home sleep study which suggested obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for which she was initiated on CPAP. She then underwent surgical repair of her right diaphragmatic hernia. The patient developed pneumothorax three times over the course of the following several months, once on the right side and twice on the left side. The patient's incidences of PTX had a temporal association with the CPAP initiation. Her CPAP therapy was discontinued permanently after the third occurrence of PTX. With this case report, we highlight the risk of barotrauma with the use of CPAP for OSA. There are very few reported cases of PTX in association with NPPV therapy for OSA. The lung-protective ventilation strategies and limiting the positive airway pressures can help reduce the risk of pulmonary barotrauma with CPAP.

Rhabdomyolysis in a Young Patient due to Hypothyroidism without Any Precipitating Factor.

Hypothyroidism is characterized by decreased hormone production, which results in various clinical manifestations in different organ systems. Muscular symptoms are common in patents with clinical hypothyroidism which includes muscle cramps, myalgia, and mild to moderate elevation of creatinine kinase less than five times the upper limit of normal. However, rhabdomyolysis due to hypothyroidism is rare and in most of the reported cases a precipitating factor has been found. We report a unique case of a 35-year-old male with no past medical history who presented with rhabdomyolysis due to newly diagnosed hypothyroidism without any precipitating factors and was treated successfully with intravenous fluids and levothyroxine.

Pancreatic Pseudoaneurysm from a Gastroduodenal Artery.

Pancreatic pseudoaneurysm is a rare vascular complication of pancreatitis, resulting from erosion of the pancreatic or peripancreatic artery into a pseudocyst. However, it may happen after pancreatic or gastric bypass surgery or trauma. It may lead to fatal complications if left untreated. Herein, we report a unique case of pseudoaneurysm from a gastroduodenal artery in a patient with recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis, which was managed successfully with coil embolization.

Cement pulmonary embolism after balloon kyphoplasty.

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures are common among the geriatric population and are managed by vertebral augmentation procedures. Pulmonary cement embolism is a relatively rare complication of these procedures and can range from mild, transient respiratory sequelae to a more severe pulmonary infarction. We discuss the case of a 75-year-old woman, identified with osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures, found to have pulmonary cement embolism four days following multi-level balloon kyphoplasty. We attempt to highlight, pulmonary cement embolism as a potential complication following a vertebral augmentation procedure and that systematic pulmonary imaging after surgery may be helpful to facilitate its detection and further management.

Perforated Jejunal Diverticulitis.

Small intestinal diverticula are very rare; their incidence ranges from 0.06 to 1.3%, with a higher prevalence after the 6th decade of life. Among these small intestinal diverticula, duodenal diverticula are more frequent, followed by diverticula of the jejunum and ileum. A jejunal diverticulum is usually asymptomatic; sometimes patients complain of vague chronic symptoms like malabsorption, pain, or nausea that easily lead to misdiagnosis. Complications are rarely reported, only in 10% of patients. We report a unique case of a 70-year-old female who presented with confusion due to sepsis from perforated jejunal diverticulitis, which was successfully managed with initial resuscitation and definitive surgery.