Arteriovenous malformation as a cause for acute confusion and gastrointestinal bleeding in a primigravida pregnancy.

Acute confusion in pregnancy is generally uncommon, given the relatively young and healthy population obstetricians care for. We present an unusual and rare case of acute confusion in a term pregnancy with antecedent history of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. A primigravida with no medical history of note, was found to have a haemoglobin of 67 g/L at booking and was commenced on oral iron supplementation. In the third trimester, she presented with haematochezia and had several admissions, requiring 18 units of red blood cells during her pregnancy. At term, she was admitted with acute confusion and GI bleeding, and was subsequently delivered by caesarean section to facilitate ongoing investigation and management of her symptoms. She was diagnosed postnatally with an arteriovenous malformation in the jejunum which required interventional radiology and surgical management for symptom resolution. Her confusion was attributed to hyperammonaemic levels secondary to her high protein load.

The effect of a duodenal-jejunal bypass liner on lipid profile and blood concentrations of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Duodenal-jejunal bypass liners (DJBLs) prevent absorption in the proximal small intestine, the site of fatty acid absorption. We sought to investigate the effects of a DJBL on blood concentrations of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and bioactive polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). METHODS: Sub-study of a multicentre, randomised, controlled trial with two treatment groups. Patients aged 18-65 years with type-2 diabetes mellitus and body mass index 30-50 kg/m2 were randomised to receive a DJBL for 12 months or best medical therapy, diet and exercise. Whole plasma PUFA concentrations were determined at baseline, 10 days, 6 and 11.5 months; data were available for n = 70 patients per group. RESULTS: Weight loss was significantly greater in the DJBL group compared to controls after 11.5 months: total body weight loss 11.3 ± 5.3% versus 6.0 ± 5.7% (mean difference [95% CI] = 5.27% [3.75, 6.80], p < 0.001). Absolute concentrations of both EFAs, linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid, and their bioactive derivatives, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, were significantly lower in the DJBL group than in the control group at 6 and 11.5 months follow-up. Total serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were also significantly lower in the DJBL group. CONCLUSION: One year of DJBL therapy is associated with superior weight loss and greater reductions in total serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, but also depletion of EFAs and their longer chain derivatives. DJBL therapy may need to be offset by maintaining an adequate dietary intake of PUFAs or by supplementation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02459561.

Controversy in Nutrition Recommendations for Short Bowel Syndrome: How Type of SBS Impacts Response.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review examines the current recommendations for dietary management of patients living with short bowel syndrome (SBS) and outlines the need for future research to provide optimal care for this unique group of patients. RECENT FINDINGS: Providers caring for patients with SBS lack sufficient data to help guide recommendations regarding diet. The majority of studies are conducted at a single medical institution on a small number of anatomically diverse patients. Multi-center studies would allow for inclusion of a larger number of patients and may lead to more individualized dietary recommendations. Patients with short bowel syndrome should be evaluated on an individual basis by a multidisciplinary team including physicians, dieticians, pharmacists, and nurses specializing in the care of these complex patients. Tailoring both medical and nutritional therapy will help realize the overarching goal for these patients of maintaining adequate nutrition with diet and medications, and achieving independence from parenteral support.

Prehabilitation in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: prehabilitation has been proposed as an effective tool to prevent postoperative complications in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. However, no studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in pancreatic surgical patients. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of prehabilitation on postoperative complications in patients undergoing a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: this was a randomized controlled trial. Eligible candidates who accepted to participate were randomized to the control (standard care) or intervention (standard care + prehabilitation) group. All patients with pancreatic or periampullary tumors who were candidates for pancreaticoduodenectomy were included. Patients who received neoadjuvant treatment were excluded. Prehabilitation covered three actions: a) nutritional support; b) control of diabetes and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; and c) physical and respiratory training. The main study outcome was the proportion of patients who suffered postoperative complications. Secondary outcomes included the occurrence of specific complications (pancreatic leak and delayed gastric emptying) and hospital stay. RESULTS: forty patients were included in the analysis. Twenty-two patients were randomized to the control arm and 18, to the intervention group. No statistically significant differences were observed in terms of overall and major complications between the prehabilitation and standard care groups. Pancreatic leak was not statistically different between the groups (11% vs 27%, p = 0.204). However, DGE was significantly lower in the prehabilitation group (5.6% vs 40.9% in the standard care group, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: prehabilitation did not reduce postoperative complications following pancreaticoduodenectomy. However, a reduction in DGE was observed. Further studies are needed to validate the role and the timing of prehabilitation in high-risk patients.

Drainage of a Subphrenic Abscess Followed by Two-Stage Gastrectomy and Adjuvant Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) for Perforated Gastric Carcinoma: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Perforated gastric cancer accounts for less than 1% of patients who present with an acute abdomen and for up to 16% of all gastric perforations. A two-stage laparoscopic procedure may be the therapeutic strategy of choice in selected patients, and adjuvant hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can reduce the incidence of peritoneal recurrence. A rare case of subphrenic abscess and gastric perforation due to carcinoma of the gastric fundus, followed by two-stage gastrectomy and adjuvant HIPEC is presented. CASE REPORT A 65-year old man presented with a left subphrenic abscess secondary to perforated gastric carcinoma. Laparoscopic drainage of the abscess was performed. Ten days later, following recovery from sepsis, the patient underwent total laparoscopic gastrectomy, and adjuvant HIPEC followed by a Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy. Histopathology showed an intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma. The tumor was staged as pT4aN0. The postoperative course was uneventful except for transient atrial fibrillation. The patient was discharged home on postoperative day 11. Systemic adjuvant chemotherapy was begun one month later. At six-month follow-up, the patient had no discomfort on eating or any other symptoms. CONCLUSIONS In this case, a two-stage laparoscopic treatment for perforated gastric carcinoma combined with adjuvant HIPEC was feasible and safe and may be considered at the time of laparoscopic gastrectomy in selected patients with perforated gastric carcinoma.

Longitudinal evaluation of efficacy, safety and nutritional status during one-year treatment with the duodenal-jejunal bypass liner.

BACKGROUND: The endoscopic duodenal-jejunal bypass liner (DJBL) represents a novel temporary endoscopic approach for treatment of obesity-associated type 2 diabetes. Recent results from the German DJBL registry confirmed substantial positive metabolic effects of the DJBL in type 2 diabetes. However, the last Food and Drug Administration trial was stopped due to a high occurrence of hepatic abscesses (3.5%). OBJECTIVES: Here, we analyzed time courses of development of co-morbidities, nutritive changes, and occurrence of adverse events during the 1-year treatment phase with the DJBL in the German DJBL registry. METHODS: Sixty-six patients from the registry were analyzed for efficacy, safety, and nutritional status. Patient data sets were analyzed at implantation, 3 and 6 months after implantation, and at explantation visits. RESULTS: Weight, body mass index, glycated hemoglobin, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol primarily declined during the first 3 months after implantation, whereas systolic and diastolic blood pressure were predominantly reduced during the second half of the treatment phase. Severe DJBL-associated side effects were mainly documented at the explantation visit (intestinal obstruction [1.7%], dislocation [1.7%], and liver abscess [1.7%]). Measurements of serum concentrations of ferritin, albumin, vitamin B12, folic acid, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25 OH-Vit-D3), and calcium provided suggestive evidence of a possible decrease of nutritional absorption of vitamins and trace elements by the DJBL. CONCLUSIONS: The DJBL demonstrates high efficacy with substantial improvement of all parameters of the metabolic syndrome and the potential for reduction of comedications in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes. These registry results are important to optimize recommendations for adaptation of concomitant medication, surveillance of adverse events, nutritional status and supplementation, and adaptation of the implantation period of the DJBL.

Sleeve gastrectomy with duodenojejunal end-to-side anastomosis in the treatment of type 2 diabetes: the initial experiences in a Chinese population with a more than 4-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Gastric bypass has been thought to be associated with a risk of gastric cancer, particularly in Asia. Sleeve gastrectomy with duodenojejunal end-to-side anastomosis (SG-DJESA) was suggested to be a better-designed procedure to avoid this risk, and it also has other advantages. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and feasibility of SG-DJESA in the treatment of nonobese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). SETTING: University Hospital, China. METHODS: We present prospective data from 7 consecutive T2D patients with gastric precancerosis who underwent SG-DJESA from December 15, 2011 to June 8, 2013. The group had a mean body mass index of 27.7 kg/m2. The glycometabolic parameters, including fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose, fasting insulin, fasting C-peptide, glycated hemoglobin, lipometabolic parameters, and anemia-related indicators were collected at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 months postoperatively. Remission was defined according to the "outcome reporting standards" conducted by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. RESULTS: Along with a decrease in antidiabetic medication requirements, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose, and glycated hemoglobin decreased significantly at each postoperative time point, compared with the preoperative baseline (P<.05, respectively). Four patients (4/7, 57.1%) achieved a complete remission of T2D at 12 months and maintained remission at the 4-year follow-up time; 1 patient (1/7, 14.3%) achieved a partial remission at 6 months but had recurrence at 12 months postoperatively; and the other 2 patients (2/7, 28.6%) achieved improvement during the follow-up time. There were no deaths during the follow-up period. One patient had a postoperative anastomotic bleed and recovered under conservative treatment. Another patient had iron deficiency anemia 8 weeks after surgery and recovered after taking an oral iron supplement for 1 month. No other serious perioperative complications or postoperative malnutrition occurred. CONCLUSIONS: SG-DJESA is an effective and safe procedure for nonobese patients with T2D and could be recommended as a treatment option for T2D patients with gastric precancerosis. A larger sample size may be required for better evaluation.

Uncut Esophagojejunostomy with Double Jejunal Pouch: An Alternative Reconstruction Method that Improves the Quality of Life of Patients after Total Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is no optimal digestive tract reconstruction technique well recognized by scholars after total gastrectomy. In this study, a new reconstruction method, which is modified from the classic Roux-en-Y procedure, an uncut jejunal esophageal anastomosis with double jejunal pouch (UJEA-DJP) was established, and its advantages for improving the quality of life of patients who undergo total gastrectomy were analyzed. METHODS: Altogether 160 patients with gastric cancer enrolled in our center from September 2009 to March 2012 received radical D2 total gastrectomy. According to the reconstruction methods used, these patients were divided into three groups: UJEA-DJP (n = 63), Roux-en-Y (n = 45), and P-loop with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy (P-RY; n = 52). The operation time for reconstruction, complications, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and the Visick classification among the three groups were analyzed. RESULTS: We found that UJEA-DJP has advantages over Roux-en-Y and P-RY regarding the time of digestive tract reconstruction, incidence rates for long-term complications, postoperative nutritional index, body weight recovery, and the Visick classification for subjective feelings (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The UJEA-DJP surgical procedure has the advantages of intestinal continuity and double-pouch construction, which can significantly reduce long-term complications and improve the long-term quality of life of patients after surgical procedure.

Small bowel adenocarcinoma of the jejunum: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: In practice, small bowel cancer is a rare entity. The most common histologic subtype is adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma of the small bowel (SBA) is challenging to diagnose, often presents at a late stage and has a poor prognosis. The treatment of early-stage SBA is surgical resection. No standard protocol has been established for unresectable or metastatic disease. CASE PRESENTATION: We report here on a 26-year-old man with SBA in the jejunum, lacking specific symptoms and with a delay of 6 months in diagnosis. The diagnosis was finally achieved with a combination of balloon-assisted enteroscopy, computed tomography scans, positron emission computed tomography scans and the values of carcino-embryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9. The patient underwent segmental intestine with lymph node resection, followed by eight cycles of FOLFOX palliative chemotherapy with good tolerance. As of the 11-month postoperative follow-up, there has been no evidence of recurrent disease. CONCLUSIONS: This case is reported to arouse a clinical suspicion of SBA in patients with abdominal pain of unknown cause. We also provided evidence in this case of a response to palliative chemotherapy with FOLFOX. Because the incidence of SBA is very low, there is a need for further studies to evaluate the possible application of newer investigative agents and strategies to obtain a better outcome within the framework of international collaborations.

[Clinical Experience with Nutrition and Anticoagulation Therapy for a Patient with a 30 cm Residual Jejunum].

Patients with short bowel syndrome experience malabsorption and digestive disorders. They are unable to maintain adequate nutrition by the oral or enteral route alone, and their requirements for liquids, electrolytes, nutrients, microelements, vitamins, etc., are not completely met. Managing the nutritional needs of these patients is important. Another concern is these patients' inability to absorb medication, because the small intestine that is shortened in short bowel syndrome is the principal site of drug absorption. Here, we report a case of a 74-year-old woman with a 30 cm residual jejunum after surgery for acute occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery and the clinical management of nutrition and anticoagulant medication in this patient.

Jejunal angiodysplasia causing recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding presenting as severe anaemia and melena.

Angiodysplasia of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract consists of ectasia of the submucosal vessels of the bowel. The evaluation of such patients needs proctoscopy, colonoscopy, small bowel enema, enteroscopy, capsule enteroscopy and angiography. Capsule enteroscopy has come up as an alternative to GI enteroscopy and colonoscopy in patients with occult GI bleeding; up to 52% cases of small bowel angiodysplasia in patients with occult GI bleed with negative upper GI and colonoscopy have been reported. The use of capsule enteroscopy potentially limits the hazard of radiation exposure from angiography and is less invasive than double balloon endoscopy. The treatment options for angiodysplasias include intra-arterial vasopressin injection, selective gel foam embolisation, endoscopic electrocoagulation and injection of sclerosants, with each of these being technically demanding, and requiring centres with good access to enteroscopy technology and trained gastroenterologists. Operative intervention has been indicated for refractory bleeding or lesions in sites not accessible to endoscopic interventions.

Total biliary diversion as a treatment option for patients with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis and Alagille syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) with low gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and Alagille syndrome are associated with persistent cholestasis and severe pruritus. Various types of biliary diversion have been used to reduce this pruritus and prevent liver dysfunction. We report our experience concerning the efficacy and safety of total biliary diversion (TBD) as an additional treatment option. METHODS: TBD was performed in four PFIC patients and one patient with Alagille syndrome, and was accomplished by anastomosing a jejunal segment to the choledochal duct terminating as an end stoma, or by disconnecting the choledochal duct after previous cholecystojejunocutaneostomy. RESULTS: TBD resulted in a marked improvement of symptoms and biochemical parameters in all PFIC patients. Despite relief of pruritus, cholestasis persisted in the Alagille patient. During 5-15years of follow-up, no clinical signs of fat malabsorption such as diarrhea or weight loss were encountered. However, to maintain adequate levels of fat-soluble vitamins, especially of vitamin K, substantial supplementation was necessary. CONCLUSIONS: Total biliary diversion can be a useful surgical treatment option for patients with low-GGT PFIC and possibly also Alagille syndrome, when partial biliary diversion is insufficient. It can be performed without inducing clinical signs of fat malabsorption although individualized supplementation of fat-soluble vitamins with careful monitoring is warranted.

Long-term and 'patient-reported' outcomes of total esophagogastric dissociation versus laparoscopic fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease in the severely neurodisabled child.

AIM: Fundoplication has high failure rates in neurodisability: esophagogastric dissociation (TOGD) has been proposed as an alternative. This study aimed to compare the long-term and 'patient-reported' outcomes of TOGD and laparoscopic fundoplication (LapFundo). METHODS: Matched cohort comparison comprises (i) retrospective analysis from a prospective database and (ii) carer questionnaire survey of symptoms and quality of life (CP-QoL-Child). Children were included if they had severe neurodisability (Gross Motor Function Classification System five) and spasticity. RESULTS: Groups were similar in terms of previous surgery and comorbidities. The TOGD group was younger (22 vs. 31.5months, p=0.038) with more females (18/23 vs. 11/24, p=0.036). TOGD was more likely to require intensive care: operative time, length of stay and time to full feeds were all longer (p<0.0001). Median follow-up was 6.3 and 5.8years. Rates of complications were comparable. Symptom recurrence (5/24 vs. 1/23, p=0.34) and use of acid-reducing medication (13/24 vs. 4/23, p=0.035) were higher for LapFundo. Carer-reported symptoms and QoL were similar. CONCLUSIONS: TOGD had similar efficacy to LapFundo (with suggestion of lower failure), with comparable morbidity and carer-reported outcomes. However, TOGD was more 'invasive,' requiring longer periods of rehabilitation. Families should be offered both procedures as part of comprehensive preoperative counseling.

Effects of different parenteral nutrition infusions in a patient with short bowel syndrome.

In this case study, we demonstrate the effects of different lipid emulsions on liver function in a 52-year-old woman with short bowel syndrome who was totally dependent on parenteral nutrition. Over a 13-month period after small bowel resection and jejunostomy, we followed the patient's plasma triglycerides and liver enzyme levels as well as body weight and discomfort levels. During the first 3 months when parenteral nutrition including a lipid emulsion containing 50% soybean oil/50% medium-chain triglyerides was administered daily, the patient reported feeling unwell (experiencing dizziness and palpitations) and her triglycerides and liver enzyme levels rose to 366 mg/dL and 145 U/L (alanine aminotransferase [ALT]), respectively; these levels recovered when this emulsion was discontinued. For the following 9 months, an emulsion containing 80% olive oil and 20% soybean oil was administered, and the patient's triglycerides (182 mg/dL) did not increase to abnormal levels and liver enzyme levels were only mildly elevated (109 U/L). The patient felt well and her body weight increased from 51 kg to 55 kg during this period. These results suggest that parenteral nutrition with a reduced soybean oil content may better preserve liver function in patients with short bowel syndrome.

Long-term outcome and quality of life after supercharged jejunal interposition for oesophageal replacement.

BACKGROUND: The consequences of major conduit necrosis following oesophagectomy are devastating. Jejunal interposition with vascular supercharging is an alternative reconstructive method if colon is unavailable. Aims of this study were to review the long-term outcome and quality of life of patients undergoing this surgery in our tertiary unit. METHODS: Patients undergoing oesophageal reconstruction with supercharged jejunum were identified and retrospective review of hospital notes performed. Each patient was then interviewed for follow up data and quality of life assessment using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. RESULTS: Six patients (5 men) (median age 59 years (range 34-72) underwent supercharged pedicled jejunal (SPJ) interposition from May 2005-August 2010. Indications for surgery were loss of both gastric and colonic conduits following surgery for oesophageal cancer (n = 4), loss of gastric conduit and previous colectomy (n = 1) and lastly, gastric and colonic infarction in a strangulated paraoesophageal hernia (n = 1). Median time to reconstruction was 12 months [6-15 range]. There were no in-hospital deaths. Median postoperative stay was 46 days [13-118]. Three patients required surgical re-intervention for leak, sepsis and reflux, respectively. Median follow up was 6.5 years [range 7-102 months]. One patient died seven months following surgery due to respiratory complications. On follow up, 5 patients have an enteral diet without supplemental nutrition, maintaining weight and good quality of life scores. CONCLUSIONS: Supercharged jejunal interposition is a suitable alternative conduit for delayed oesophageal replacement in patients with otherwise limited reconstructive options. Good functional outcomes can be achieved despite formidable technical challenges in this group.

Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency and response to oral supplementation in patients receiving long-term home parenteral nutrition.

UNLABELLED: Previous studies have suggested a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients receiving long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in long-term HPN patients. METHODS: A retrospective, institutional review board-approved study was performed on all adult patients followed by the Cleveland Clinic HPN program receiving HPN therapy >6 months between 1989 and 2013 with a 25-(OH) D3 level reported. Patients were categorized by serum vitamin D status as follows: sufficient, insufficient, and deficient with respective 25-(OH) D3 levels of ≥30 ng/mL, 20-30 ng/mL, and <20 ng/mL. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients were categorized based on serum vitamin D status as follows: 35 (44.3%) deficient, 24 (30.4%) insufficient, and 20 (25.3%) sufficient. The mean age of the cohort at the initiation of HPN was 52.0 ± 12.7 years, and 26 (32.9%) were male. The median HPN duration was 39 months, and the most common indication was inflammatory bowel disease (36.7%). Most (82.3%) patients had at least 1 prescription of oral vitamin D supplement (50,000 International Units) during this time. History of jejunal resection (odds ratio [OR], 5.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9-15.1; P = .002) and lack of oral vitamin D supplementation (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.52-0.93; P = .038) were the strongest predictors of vitamin D deficiency. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency is common among patients receiving long-term HPN despite oral supplementation.

Three-decade metabolic outcome of neonatal gastrectomy and early Roux-en-Y.

Little information is available about long-term outcomes of major gastric surgery when performed very early in life and adverse consequences in growing children might be expected. In this case, gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy was performed in early childhood. Despite stomach loss, growth velocity paralleled the third percentile for age during development. Maintained on a daily multivitamin and monthly B12 injections, no overt nutritional deficiencies were detected in adulthood. However, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan at age 31 revealed that the patient had abnormally low bone mineral density. This case study demonstrates that even after gastrectomy and reconstruction early in life, linear growth can be achieved. However, bone density can be adversely affected, even in the face of normal serum calcium and vitamin D levels.

[Application of jejunal interposition after radical proximal gastrectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore an ideal method of digestive tract reconstruction and tolerance to adjuvant chemotherapy after radical proximal gastrectomy. METHODS: Thirty patients in the reconstruction group were treated by jejunal interposition, and other 30 patients received gastroesophagostomy (control group). The operation time, operation risk, occurrence of reflux esophagitis and postoperative 1-, 3-, 6-month nutrition statuses were evaluated. Forty-three patients received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with mFOLFOX-6 and tolerance to the chemotherapy was assessed. RESULTS: The operation time of the reconstructional group was (162.2 ± 14.0)min and that of the control group was (137.6 ± 18.9)mi, with a statistically significant difference. (t = -5.7, P<0.01). There were no significant differences of operation risk, postoperative 2-, 4-, and 6-day C-reactive protein, 2-, 4- and 6-day systemic inflammatory response syndrome between the two groups. The differences of the occurrence of postoperative 1-, 3- and 6-month reflux esophagitis and 3- and 6-month nutritional status between the two groups were statistically significant. 18 of 19 (94.7%) patients in the reconstruction group completed all six cycles of chemotherapy, 24 patients in the control group received chemotherapy, and 12 (50.0%) of them completed 6 cycles of chemotherapy. There was a significant difference in the completion rate of chemotherapy of the two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative complications of jejunal interposition are not inceased, the symptoms of reflux esophagitis are alleviated, the quality of life can be improved, and there is a better tolerance to adjuvant chemotherapy. Therefore, jejunal interposition after radical proximal gastrectomy is a rational method of digestive tract reconstruction.

Effect of growth hormone, hyperbaric oxygen and combined therapy on the gastric serosa.

AIM: To investigate the role of growth hormone (GH), hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and combined therapy on the intestinal neomucosa formation of the gastric serosa. METHODS: Forty-eight male Wistar-albino rats, weighing 250-280 g, were used in this study. The rats were divided into four groups (n = 12): Group 1, control, gastric serosal patch; Group 2, gastric serosal patch + GH; Group 3, gastric serosal patch + HBOT; and Group 4, gastric serosal patch + GH + HBOT. Abdominal access was achieved through a midline incision, and after the 1-cm-long defect was created in the jejunum, a 1 cm × 1 cm patch of the gastric corpus was anastomosed to the jejunal defect. Venous blood samples were taken to determine the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) basal levels. HBOT was performed in Groups 3 and 4. In Groups 2 and 4, human GH was given subcutaneously at a dose of 2 mg per kg/d for 28 d, beginning on the operation day. All animals were sacrificed 60 d after surgery. The jejunal segment and the gastric anastomotic area were excised for histological examination. The inflammatory process, granulation, collagen deposition and fibroblast activity at the neomucosa formation were studied and scored. Additionally, the villus density, villus height, and crypt depth were counted and recorded. The measurements of villus height and crypt depth were calculated with an ocular micrometer. New vessel growth was determined by calculatingeach new vessel in a 1 mm(2) area. RESULTS: In the histological comparison of groups, no significant differences were observed between the control group and Groups 2 and 3 with respect to epithelialization, granulation, fibroblastic activity and the inflammatory process, but significant differences were present between the control group and all others groups (Groups 2-4) with respect to angiogenesis (P < 0.01) and collagen deposition (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Significant differences between the control group and Group 4 were also observed with respect to epithelialization and fibroblastic activity (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). There were significant differences in villus density in all of groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Crypt depth was significantly greater in Group 4 than in the control group (P < 0.05), but no other groups had deeper crypts. However, villus height was significantly longer in Groups 2 and 4 than in the control group (P < 0.05). The comparison of groups revealed, significant difference between control group and Groups 2 and 4) with respect to the levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 (P < 0.01) 3 wk after the operation. CONCLUSION: HBOT or GH and combined therapy augmented on neomucosal formation. The use of combined therapy produced a synergistic effect on the histological, morphological and functional parameters.

Primary carcinoma of jejunum--a case report.

A 73 years old male presented with features of acute intestinal obstruction. At exploratory laparotomy, a mass was felt in jejunum. The growth with adequate margin and mesenteric lymph nodes were removed. The jejunal growth was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma on histopathology, which is a rare tumour of small intestine. He was planned adjuvant chemotherapy. He is in complete remission 6 months after follow-up.