Bilateral Renal Vein Thrombosis and Chylous Ascites in Phospholipase A2 Receptor-Associated Membranous Nephropathy: A Case Report.

Phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R)-associated membranous nephropathy is an important cause of nephrotic syndrome that can lead to a variety of systemic manifestations. Chylous ascites and bilateral renal vein thrombosis are rare manifestations in adult nephrotic syndrome, and there have been no reported cases demonstrating both chylous ascites and bilateral renal vein thrombosis in patients with PLA2R-associated membranous nephropathy. Here, we report the first case of PLA2R-associated membranous nephropathy complicated by renal vein thrombosis and chylous ascites successfully treated with anticoagulation and rituximab. A 65-year-old African American male presented with abdominal pain for four days, hematochezia for one day, and lower extremity edema for one year. Blood pressure was 158/73 mmHg and other vital signs were normal. Physical examination revealed abdominal distention, periumbilical tenderness, and bilateral lower extremity edema. Laboratory analysis showed high serum creatinine, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and proteinuria on 24-hour urine chemistry, all consistent with nephrotic syndrome. Abdominal computed tomography scan demonstrated nonocclusive bilateral renal vein thrombosis with ascites. Paracentesis revealed chylous ascites. Continuous heparin infusion was started for thrombosis. Esophagoduodenoscopy and colonoscopy did not reveal a source of bleeding. Serum anti-PLA2R was found positive, suggesting membranous nephropathy. Rituximab, along with warfarin switched from heparin, successfully controlled disease activity. Chylous ascites in nephrotic syndrome is thought to be associated with bowel edema. In our case, we hypothesize that renal vein thrombosis caused lymphatic fluid leakage by increasing lymphatic pressure. The case illustrates the importance of considering membranous nephropathy as a cause of chylous ascites and renal vein thrombosis. Development of lymphatic imaging techniques is warranted to clarify the pathophysiology.

Long-term outcomes of Roux-en-Y gastric diversion after failed surgical fundoplication in a large cohort and a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Roux-en-Y gastric diversion (RNYG) is an alternative approach for patients with persistent or recurrent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) after surgical fundoplication, especially in patients with esophageal dysmotility or morbid obesity, because redo fundoplication could offer unfavorable outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term outcomes of RNYG for failed fundoplication and its impact on esophageal function. SETTING: A retrospective cohort study and a systematic review. METHODS: Patients who underwent RNYG after failed fundoplication between 1995 and 2019 were identified. Surgical-related complications, GERD, dysphagia, and endoscopic and esophageal manometric findings were reviewed. A literature search for relevant studies was performed from several databases from database inception to September 2019. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients (mean age, 52.1 yr; 86.1% female; mean body mass index, 35.8 kg/m2) were included. Overall complication rates within and more than 30 days after surgery were 36.3% and 53.5%. GERD symptoms were resolved in 70.1% after RNYG. However, 39.7% had a recurrence during a median follow-up of 56.2 months. In patients with no baseline dysphagia (n = 36), 16 (44%) developed new-onset dysphagia after surgery. In patients with severe baseline dysphagia (n = 9), 5 patients (56%) had persistent dysphagia after surgery. Seven studies involving 381 patients were included in our systematic review. High rates of GERD improvement have been reported across studies; however, long-term GERD, dysphagia, and objective outcomes were infrequently reported. CONCLUSION: RNYG is an effective alternative surgery in a subset of patients with intractable symptoms who failed fundoplication. However, patients should be informed of the risks of postoperative GERD symptoms and dysphagia. Referral for a careful evaluation by a multidisciplinary foregut team is warranted.

Palliative treatment for malignant gastrointestinal obstruction with peritoneal carcinomatosis: enteral stenting versus surgery.

Background and study aims Management of malignant gastrointestinal obstruction (MGIO) is more challenging in the presence of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). Outcomes data to guide the management of MGIO with PC are lacking. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and adverse events between endoscopic and surgical palliation and identify predictors of stent success in patients with MGIO with PC. Patients and methods Consecutive inpatients with MGIO with PC between 2000 and 2018 who underwent palliative surgery or enteral stenting were included. Clinical success was defined as relief of obstructive symptoms. Results Fifty-seven patients with enteral stenting and 40 with palliative surgery were compared. The two groups did not differ in rates of technical success, 30-day mortality, or recurrence. Clinical success from a single intervention (63.2 % versus 95 %), luminal patency duration (27 days vs. 145 days), and survival length (148 days vs. 336 days) favored palliative surgery (all P  < 0.05) but the patients in the surgery group had a trend toward better Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status. The rate of adverse events (AEs) (10.5 % vs. 50 %), the severity of AEs, and length of hospital stay (4.5 days vs. 9 days) favored enteral stenting ( P  < 0.05). The need for more than one stent was associated with a higher likelihood of stent failure. Conclusions Our study suggests that enteral stenting is safer and associated with a shorter hospital stay than palliative surgery, although unlike other MGIOs, clinical success is lower in MGIO with PC. Identification of the right candidates and potential predictors of clinical success in ECOG-matched large-scale studies is needed to validate these results.