Esophageal Perforation Following Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Conservative Approach.

Esophageal perforation following radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a rare and potentially deadly complication. Here, we report a case with successful conservative management of esophageal perforation following AF ablation demonstrating how surgery is not always required in properly selected patients.

Meckel's Diverticulum Perforation by Foreign Body: A Case Report.

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common gastrointestinal congenital defect, which, although asymptomatic in adults, may present symptoms in obstruction, inflammation, bleeding and foreign body perforation. There are only 8 reported cases of Meckel's diverticulum perforation by chicken bone. We report a case of a 24-year-old man presenting a 2-day-history of periumbilical pain that shifted to the right lower quadrant in 24 hours. Clinical and laboratory findings led to an appendicitis diagnosis, followed by laparotomy. Normal appendix was found intraoperatively along with an incidental finding of an inflamed and perforated Meckel's diverticulum by chicken bone. Diverticulectomy and enteroanastomosis were performed and the patient had a successful recovery, being discharged after 5 days. Although rare, its clinical presentation might be similar to acute appendicitis, which restate the importance of collecting a detailed clinical history and examining the small bowel in order to investigate a possible Meckel's diverticulum complication in the differential diagnosis.

DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND FOLLOW-UP OF BARRETT'S ESOPHAGUS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.

BACKGROUND: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a premalignant condition that raises controversy among general practitioners and specialists, especially regarding its diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up protocols. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to present the particularities and to clarify controversies related to the diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of BE. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane, and SciELO based on articles published in the last 10 years. PRISMA guidelines were followed and the search was made using MeSH and non-MeSH terms "Barrett" and "diagnosis or treatment or therapy or surveillance". We searched for complete randomized controlled clinical trials or Phase IV studies, carried out with individuals over 18 years old. RESULTS: A total of 42 randomized controlled trials were selected after applying all inclusion and exclusion criteria. A growing trend of alternative and safer techniques to traditional upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were identified, which could improve the detection of BE and patient acceptance. The use of chromoendoscopy-guided biopsy protocols significantly reduced the number of biopsies required to maintain similar BE detection rates. Furthermore, the value of BE chemoprophylaxis with esomeprazole and acetylsalicylic acid was relevant, as well as the establishment of protocols for the follow-up and endoscopic surveillance of patients with BE based predominantly on the presence and degree of dysplasia, as well as on the length of the follow-up affected by BE. CONCLUSION: Although further studies regarding the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of BE are warranted, in light of the best evidence presented in the last decade, there is a trend towards electronic chromoendoscopy-guided biopsies for the diagnosis of BE, while treatment should encompass endoscopic techniques such as radiofrequency ablation. Risks of ablative endoscopic methods should be weighted against those of resective surgery. It is also important to consider lifetime endoscopic follow-up for both short and long term BE patients, with consideration to limitations imposed by a range of comorbidities. Unfortunately, there are no randomized controlled trials that have evaluated which is the best recommendation for BE follow-up and endoscopic surveillance (>1 cm) protocols, however, based on current International Guidelines, it is recommended esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) every 5 years in BE without dysplasia with 1 up to 3 cm of extension; every 3 years in BE without dysplasia with >3 up to 10 cm of extension, every 6 to 12 months in BE with low grade dysplasia and, finally, EGD every 3 months after ablative endoscopic therapy in cases of BE with high grade dysplasia.

Multiple stab wounds on the left side of the chest in a patient with Situs Inversus Totalis: A lifesaving coincidence.

INTRODUCTION: Situs Inversus Totalis (SIT) is a rare finding of complete reversal of the thoracic and abdominal organs with an estimated incidence of 0.005%-0.01% in the population. Severe trauma has not been reported in this population. We present a case of multiple chest stab wounds in a patient with previously unknown SIT. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 39-year-old male was admitted to the emergency room with multiple stab wounds on the left side of the chest. Upon admission the patient was hypotensive, with miosis and intubated. Significant ECG findings were an inverted P wave, inverted QRS complex and inverted T wave in V1. A chest CT scan showed SIT, hemopneumothorax on the left side and, despite multiple stab wounds on the left side of the chest, no cardiac damage. The surgical team decided for a conservative approach and the patient remained in the ICU for two days. After five days he was discharged in good clinical conditions. DISCUSSION: SIT generally does not have a clinical relevance throughout the patients life and most diagnoses are coincidental. However, when discovered in acute surgical cases, it requires an accurate evaluation by the surgical team due to anatomical differences that may produce undesirable outcomes in emergency cases such as appendicitis and general trauma. CONCLUSION: There have been very few reports of SIT and trauma in the medical literature. This might be the first ever reported case of a patient with SIT who suffered multiple stab wounds on the left side of the chest and was saved because of his condition.

Diagnóstico, tratamento e seguimento do esôfago de Barrett: revisão sistemática / Diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of barretts esophagus: a systematic review

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a premalignant condition that raises controversy among general practitioners and specialists, especially regarding its diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up protocols. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to present the particularities and to clarify controversies related to the diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of BE. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane, and SciELO based on articles published in the last 10 years. PRISMA guidelines were followed and the search was made using MeSH and non-MeSH terms "Barrett" and "diagnosis or treatment or therapy or surveillance". We searched for complete randomized controlled clinical trials or Phase IV studies, carried out with individuals over 18 years old. RESULTS: A total of 42 randomized controlled trials were selected after applying all inclusion and exclusion criteria. A growing trend of alternative and safer techniques to traditional upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were identified, which could improve the detection of BE and patient acceptance. The use of chromoendoscopy-guided biopsy protocols significantly reduced the number of biopsies required to maintain similar BE detection rates. Furthermore, the value of BE chemoprophylaxis with esomeprazole and acetylsalicylic acid was relevant, as well as the establishment of protocols for the follow-up and endoscopic surveillance of patients with BE based predominantly on the presence and degree of dysplasia, as well as on the length of the follow-up affected by BE. CONCLUSION: Although further studies regarding the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of BE are warranted, in light of the best evidence presented in the last decade, there is a trend towards electronic chromoendoscopy-guided biopsies for the diagnosis of BE, while treatment should encompass endoscopic techniques such as radiofrequency ablation. Risks of ablative endoscopic methods should be weighted against those of resective surgery. It is also important to consider lifetime endoscopic follow-up for both short and long term BE patients, with consideration to limitations imposed by a range of comorbidities. Unfortunately, there are no randomized controlled trials that have evaluated which is the best recommendation for BE follow-up and endoscopic surveillance (>1 cm) protocols, however, based on current International Guidelines, it is recommended esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) every 5 years in BE without dysplasia with 1 up to 3 cm of extension; every 3 years in BE without dysplasia with >3 up to 10 cm of extension, every 6 to 12 months in BE with low grade dysplasia and, finally, EGD every 3 months after ablative endoscopic therapy in cases of BE with high grade dysplasia.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: O esôfago de Barrett (EB) é uma condição que aumenta o risco de ocorrência de displasias e câncer no esôfago, a qual apresenta inúmeras controvérsias entre médicos generalistas e até especialistas, em especial no que tange o seu diagnóstico, tratamento e seguimento. OBJETIVO: Tentar esclarecer as controvérsias relacionadas ao estabelecimento do diagnóstico, tratamento, seguimento e vigilância do EB. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado revisão sistemática da literatura fundamentada apenas em ensaios clínicos randomizados e controlados (completos ou em fase IV), em indivíduos maiores que 18 anos, publicados nos últimos 10 anos, por meio de busca, nas bases de dados: PubMed, Cochrane e SciELO (utilizando os termos MeSH e não-MeSH: "Barrett" no título AND diagnosis or treatment or therapy or surveillance" em todos os campos). RESULTADOS: Um total de 42 ensaios clínicos controlados e randomizados foram identificados e selecionados após aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Evidenciou-se, principalmente, o surgimento de técnicas seguras, alternativas à endoscopia digestiva alta (EDA) tradicional para aprimorar a detecção do esôfago de Barrett, associadas a boa aceitação por parte dos pacientes, quando realizadas por meio de acesso nasal. Ainda, o uso de protocolo de biópsias guiadas por cromoendoscopia eletrônica favoreceu reduzir significativamente o número de biópsias necessárias para alcançar as melhores taxas de identificação histológica do EB. Ademais, foi evidenciado que o uso de esomeprazol 40 mg 2x/dia associado ao ácido acetil salicílico 300 mg/dia pode ter efeito protetivo em relação ao desenvolvimento de câncer no EB, além de ser identificado protocolos de seguimento e vigilância endoscópica dos pacientes com EB >1 cm fundamentados, especialmente, no grau de displasia e comprimento do EB (EB sem displasia com 1 a 3 cm = EDA a cada 5 anos; EB sem displasia com >3 a 10 cm = EDA a cada 3 anos; EB com displasia de baixo grau = EDA a cada 6 a 12 meses; EB com displasia de alto grau = realização de terapia endoscópica ablativa e EDA a cada 3 meses). CONCLUSÃO: Foi verificado a necessidade do desenvolvimento de mais ensaios clínicos randomizados e controlados relacionados ao tema, especialmente no que tange o estabelecimento do seguimento e vigilância do EB, entretanto, na luz das melhores evidências apresentadas na última década, o diagnóstico de EB deve seguir, idealmente, protocolos de biópsias guiadas por cromoendoscopia eletrônica. Ademais, o tratamento deve ser fundamentado primeiramente em técnicas endoscópicas, especialmente aquelas terapias com radiofrequência, e quando associado a displasia de alto grau, deverá ser ponderado quanto aos riscos de se insistir em métodos endoscópicos ablativos ou considerar um tratamento cirúrgico ressectivo. Por fim, reforça-se a necessidade de todo paciente com EB >1 cm permanecer em seguimento endoscópico por toda a sua vida, conforme protocolos pré-estabelecidos, exceto se apresentar comorbidades limitantes que impediriam a realização de alguma conduta mais intervencionista. Infelizmente, não há ensaios clínicos randomizados que avaliaram qual é a melhor recomendação de protocolo para o seguimento endoscópico de EB (>1cm), porém, baseado nas atuais Guidelines Internacionais, é recomendado esofagogastroduodenoscopia (EGD) a cada 5 anos em EB sem displasia com 1 a 3 cm de extensão; a cada 3 anos em EB com displasia com 3 a 10 cm de extensão, a cada 6 a 12 meses em EB com displasia de baixo grau e, finalmente, EGD a cada 3 meses após terapia ablativa endoscópica nos casos de EB com displasia de alto grau.