Endoscopic Double-Pigtail Catheter (EDPC) Internal Drainage as First-Line Treatment of Gastric Leak: A Case Series during Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Learning Curve for Morbid Obesity.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of morbid obesity has dramatically increased over the last several decades worldwide, currently reaching epidemic proportions. Gastric leak (GL) remains the potentially fatal main complication after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) for morbid obesity. To our knowledge, there are no standardized guidelines for GL treatment after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) yet. The aim of this study was to represent our institutional preliminary experience using the endoscopic double-pigtail catheter (EDPC) as the method of internal drainage and propose it as first-line treatment in case of GL after LSG. METHODS: One hundred and seventeen patients were admitted to our surgical department and underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) for morbid obesity from March 2014 to June 2019. In 5 patients (4.3%) of our series, GL occurred as a complication of LSG. EPDC was the stand-alone procedure of internal drainage and GL first-line treatment. The internal pig tail was endoscopically removed from 30th to 40th POD in all cases. RESULTS: Present data (clinical, biochemical, and instrumental tests) showed a complete resolution of GL, with promotion of a pseudodiverticula and complete re-epithelialization of leak. Follow-up was more strict than usual (clinical visit and biochemical test on 7th, 14th, and 21st day after discharge; a CT scan with gastrografin on 30th day from discharge if clinical visit and exams were normal). CONCLUSION: This was a preliminary retrospective observational study, conducted on 5 patients affected by GL as a complication of LSG for morbid obesity. EDPC maintains the safety, efficacy, and nonexpensive characteristic and may be proposed as better first-line treatment in case of GL after bariatric surgery.

Association between vasomotor rhinitis and irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Vasomotor rhinitis (VMR) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are two of the most widespread pathologies in industrialized countries, and they have a substantial impact on health-related quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between VMR and IBS to provide evidence to classify VMR and IBS as a sole disorder. METHODS: The study included 150 patients from San Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila: 50 with VMR, 50 with IBS, and 50 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: With regard to a probable link between VMR and IBS, 62 patients of the whole population, 150 patients (41.3%) were affected by both VMR and IBS, 33 subjects (22%) were not affected by VMR or IBS, 25 patients (16.67%) only had VMR, and 30 patients (20%) only had IBS. When considering the 87 subjects affected by VMR, 62 of them also had IBS (71.26%). In turn, when considering all 92 subjects with IBS, 62 (67.39%) had VMR. We found a significant association among IBS and nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, and turbinates, and among VMR and a change in stool consistency and abdominal pain. Among the patients affected by nonallergic rhinitis (NAR), we found a prevalence of NAR with eosinophils (31%) compared with the other cytologic types. CONCLUSION: This study expanded the knowledge of the link between VMR and IBS, also the correlation between typical VMR symptoms and IBS, and about the correlation between typical IBS symptoms and VMR. For future implications, the diagnosis of NAR indicated the need to check for the presence of IBS, by using the Rome III criteria, and a diagnosis of IBS indicated the need to check for the presence of VMR. More studies are needed to find the pathogenetic mechanisms to explain the clinical correlation between VMR and IBS as seen in the present study.

Atualização em dermatomiosite / Updating in dermatomyositis

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A dermatomiosite é umadoença sistêmica crônica, de etiologia desconhecida, que se caracterizapor acometimento inflamatório da pele e dos músculos.O diagnóstico baseia-se nos achados clínicos e laboratoriais. Os corticoides são a terapia mais utilizada. As causas de óbito maisfrequentes são neoplasia maligna, septicemia e fibrose pulmonar.O objetivo deste estudo foi efetuar uma ampla revisão de literatura com foco no reconhecimento dos principais achados clínicos e no tratamento desta doença.CONTEÚDO: A dermatomiosite é uma doença sistêmica crônica que se caracteriza por acometimento inflamatório da pele e dos músculos. Possui duas formas principais: miopática, maisfrequente, onde se encontram lesões musculares e cutâneas; e amiopática, somente com lesões cutâneas. O sexo feminino é o mais afetado, e a idade média do diagnóstico é 40 anos. Manifestações cutâneas são observadas em todos os pacientes. Das alterações sistêmicas, a manifestação muscular mais frequente é a perda de força proximal, e a manifestação pulmonar mais comum é a pneumopatia intersticial. Podem ser observadas neoplasias durante o seguimento da doença, sendo mais frequentes nos pacientes acima de 60 anos. A desidrogenase lática é a enzima muscular alterada na maioria dos casos. O diagnóstico da dermatomiositepode ser realizado por exame anatomopatológico de biópsia muscular,além de eletroneuromiografia. Os corticoides são os mais utilizados. As causas de óbito mais frequentes são neoplasia maligna,septicemia e fibrose pulmonar. Não há causa conhecida. Odiagnóstico baseia-se nos achados clínicos e laboratoriais.CONCLUSÃO: Através da analise dos dados bibliográficos foi possível concluir que a dermatomiosite é uma doença de diagnóstico predominantemente clínico. Os exames laboratoriais e de imagem constituem importantes confirmadores do quadro, mas nunca são identificadores isolados, sendo sempre a clínica, soberana no diagnóstico desta doença.(...)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The dermatomyosits is a systemic chronic disease, of unknown etiology, which is characterized for inflammatory attack of the skin and muscles. The diagnosis is based on clinical and laboratory finds. The corticosteroids are the most used therapy. The most frequent causes of death are: the malignant neoplasia, the septicemia and the pulmonary fibrosis. A bibliographical revision was carried out, with the objective of attracting attention of the doctors for the recognition of the principal clinical finds of this illness. CONTENTS: The dermatomyositis is a systemic chronic disease that is characterized by the inflammatory attack of the skin and muscles. It has two principal forms: miopatic that is more frequent, and presents muscular and skin injuries; and the amiopatic that presents skin injuries only. The feminine sex is more affected mainly at the middle age of 40s. Skin manifestations are observed in all the patients. Among the systemic alterations,the most frequent muscular demonstration is the loss of strength proximal, and the commonest pulmonary demonstration is interstitial pneumopathy. Neoplasis can be observed during the continuation of the disease, and is more frequent in the patients above 60 years old. The Lactic dehydrogenase means that the muscular enzyme is altered in most of the cases. The diagnosis of the dermatomyositis can be done for the muscular biopsy applyinganatomopatologic exam, besides electroneuromiography examination. The corticosteroids are the most used therapy. The most frequent causes of death are the malignant neoplasis, sepsis, and the pulmonary fibrosis and there is no known cause. The diagnosis is based on the clinical and laboratories finds.CONCLUSION: Through the analyzes of the bibliographical facts it is possible to conclude that dermatomiositis is a disease of predominantly clinical diagnosis.(...)

Alterações dermatológicas na hepatite C / Dermatological alterations in the hepatitis C

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A infecção pelo vírusda hepatite C (VHC) está associada a um amplo espectro de manifestações clínicas: hepáticas, sistêmicas e cutâneas. O objetivo deste estudo foi destacar as principais manifestações cutâneas presentes na hepatite C, pois estas podem representar um sinal precoce da instalação da doença. CONTEÚDO: A hepatite C é uma doença causada pelo VHC, que é transmitido por via sanguínea. Esta é uma importante causa de doença hepática crônica e cirrose hepática. As manifestações cutâneas são muitas vezes os primeiros sinais da infecção pelo VHC. Os médicos devem estar atentos a estas manifestações, pois o diagnóstico precoce é importante para o sucesso terapêutico. Deve-se suspeitar de contaminação pelo VHC em pacientes que apresentem: vasculite leucocitoclástica (púrpura palpável), crioglobulinemia, livedo reticular, líquen plano, síndrome de Sjõgren, prurido inespecífico, porfiria cutânea tarda, poliartrite nodosa e urticária crônica. Nestes casos deve-se solicitar a pesquisa do VHC por Elisa. Em pacientes que vão iniciar terapia com metotrexato e com fármacos potencialmente hepatotóxicos, a pesquisa do vírus também deve ser efetivada. CONCLUSÃO: Podendo ser as lesões cutâneas uma das primeiras manifestações da hepatite C, faz-se necessário por parte do corpo médico, treinamento no reconhecimento das lesões elementares em Dermatologia para que seja aventada a hipótese de coinfecção entre o VHC e doenças dermatológicas.