Initial United Kingdom experience of endoscopic ultrasound-directed transgastric endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Backgrounds/Aims: Gallstone disease is a recognized complication of bariatric surgery. Subsequent management of choledocholithiasis may be challenging due to altered anatomy which may include Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). We conducted a retrospective service evaluation study to assess the safety and efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-directed transgastric endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (EDGE) in patients with RYGB anatomy. Methods: All the patients who underwent EDGE for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography after RYGB at two tertiary care centers in the United Kingdom between January 2020 and October 2021 were included in the study. Clinical and demographic details were recorded for all patients. The primary outcome measures were technical and clinical success. Adverse events were recorded. Hot Axios lumen apposing metal stents measuring 20 mm in diameter and 10 mm in length were used in all the patients for creation of a gastro-gastric or gastro-jejunal fistula. Results: A total of 14 patients underwent EDGE during the study period. The majority of the patients were female (85.7%) and the mean age of patients was 65.8 ± 9.8 years. Technical success was achieved in all but one patient at the first attempt (92.8%) and clinical success was achieved in 100% of the patients. Complications arose in 3 patients with 1 patient experiencing persistent fistula and weight gain. Conclusions: In patients with RYGB anatomy, EDGE facilitated biliary access has a high rate of clinical success with an acceptable safety profile. Adverse events are uncommon and can be managed endoscopically.

Does Hyperlipasemia Predict Worse Clinical Outcomes in COVID-19? A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

GOAL: We aim to perform a multicenter retrospective cohort study to determine if elevated serum lipase determines clinical outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). BACKGROUND: Several cases of acute pancreatitis (AP) have recently been reported in association with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Most of the evidence is based on elevated serum lipase values without objective demonstration of pancreatic inflammation or necrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based, multicenter, retrospective cohort study utilizing TriNetX was performed to obtain aggregated health records of ∼69 million patients from 49 health care organizations from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020. Adult patients (18 y and above) diagnosed with COVID-19 were identified using appropriate International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes and were stratified into 2 groups, with elevated (≥180 U/L) and with normal (≤80 U/L) serum lipase. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality; other outcomes were 30-day rehospitalization, need for mechanical ventilation, need for vasopressor use, acute kidney injury. RESULTS: A total of 435,731 adult patients with COVID-19 were identified, and 1406 of them had elevated serum lipase which was associated with higher 30-day mortality [risk ratio (RR)=1.53, P<0.001], risk of acute kidney injury (RR=1.5, P=0.003), and vasopressor use (RR=1.69, P<0.001) without any difference in 30-day rehospitalization (RR=0.98, P=0.54), or need for mechanical ventilation (RR=1.20, P=0.26). The negative predictive value of normal serum lipase for 3-month mortality in patients with COVID-19 was 91%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 who have elevated serum lipase experience worse clinical outcomes even in the absence of AP. If these findings can be replicated in prospective studies, serum lipase can be utilized as a marker of disease severity in patients with COVID-19.

Management of infected post-pancreatic resection fluid collections under endoscopic ultrasound guidance using lumen apposing metal stent: A case series and review of the literature.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Post-operative pancreatic fistulas (POPF) and fluid collections (POPFC) remain significant sources of morbidity and mortality after pancreatic resections. There remains a paucity of literature describing endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided drainage of POPFC using a Hot AXIOS™ lumen apposing metal stent (LAMS). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study, encompassing all consecutive patients with POPFC managed using Hot AXIOS™ LAMS at our institution between January 2017 and December 2019. Primary outcome measures were technical and clinical success. Secondary outcome measures were adverse events and recurrence rates. RESULTS: Five patients underwent EUS guided drainage using Hot AXIOS™ LAMS during the study period. Mean age of patients was 67.8 ± 2.16 years. The majority (60.0%) of patients were males. Median duration of symptom onset after surgery was 9 days. All patients presented with abdominal pain. Median size of the collection measured on computed tomography was 91 mm. Median interval time between symptom onset and EUS drainage was 30 days. Two patients required percutaneous drainage prior to EUS guided drainage. Technical and clinical success were achieved for all patients. No adverse events were observed. Median duration of follow-up was 90 days. No recurrence of collection occurred during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: EUS guided drainage of POPFC using Hot AXIOS™ LAMS is a safe and effective treatment modality with technical and clinical success rates of 100% in our experience.

Pseudomyxoma Peritonei-An Unusual Cause of Ascites: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Ascites in patients with cardiac disease can be multifactorial. Serum ascitic albumin gradient (SAAG) helps in identifying the etiology of ascites. High SAAG ascites is related to hepatic or posthepatic causes. The causes of low SAAG ascites results include tuberculosis, peritoneal malignancy, or pancreatitis. CASE PRESENTATION: We report an unusual cause of low SAAG ascites in a 48-year-old woman with valvular heart disease. The patient presented with ascites, and cross-sectional imaging revealed a right iliac fossa mass with omental deposits. The patient was finally diagnosed as having pseudomyxoma peritonei on the basis of clinicoradiopathological features. DISCUSSION: Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare cause of low SAAG ascites. It is characterized by the deposition of mucinous material on the peritoneal surfaces. The most common site of origin is the appendix, although it can arise from other intraabdominal organs as well. Excision of the tumor combined with intraperitoneal chemotherapy is the preferred modality of treatment.

Prognostic significance of differentiating necrosis from fluid collection on endoscopic ultrasound in patients with presumed isolated extrapancreatic necrosis.

BACKGROUND: Extrapancreatic necrosis is diagnosed on computed tomography (CT) as extrapancreatic changes that are more than fat stranding; both fluid collections and necrosis would have a similar appearance. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of differentiating peripancreatic necrosis from fluid collection on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in patients with presumed isolated extrapancreatic necrosis. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 36 patients (25 males; age range 19-65 years) with acute pancreatitis (AP) and isolated extrapancreatic necrosis. On EUS, peripancreatic anechoic areas were labeled as peripancreatic fluid collections and peripancreatic heterogeneously echotextured areas as peripancreatic necrosis. RESULTS: The etiology of AP was alcohol in 16 (44.4%) patients, gallstone disease in 13 (36.1%), and other in 7 (19.4%). On EUS, 25 (69.4%) patients had peripancreatic necrosis and 11 (30.6%) patients had peripancreatic fluid collections. Compared with patients who had peripancreatic fluid collections, patients with peripancreatic necrosis had a significantly higher frequency of pleural effusion (88% vs. 55%; P=0.04), organ failure (OF) (68% vs. 27%; P=0.03), and persistent OF (48% vs. 9%; P=0.03). The patients with peripancreatic necrosis also had a higher frequency of ascites (20% vs. 9%), need for intervention (20% vs. nil), surgery (8% vs. nil) and mortality (8% vs. nil), but these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Isolated extrapancreatic necrosis on contrast-enhanced CT comprises a heterogeneous group, with patients who show peripancreatic fluid collections on EUS having a less severe disease course compared to patients with peripancreatic necrosis.

Simultaneous Occurrence of Varicella Zoster Virus-Induced Pancreatitis and Hepatitis in a Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal complications are common after renal transplantation, including oral lesions, esophagitis, gastritis, diarrhea, and colon carcinoma. The differential diagnosis is difficult in this scenario because multiple factors such as drugs, infections, and preexisting gastrointestinal disease come into play. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of varicella zoster virus-induced pancreatitis and hepatitis in a renal transplant recipient. The patient underwent renal transplantation 3 years earlier and now presented with severe pain in the epigastrium radiating to his back and had raised serum lipase levels and skin lesions characteristic of varicella. Liver enzyme levels were also elevated. He was started on a regimen of acyclovir. His pain improved in 24 hours, and liver enzyme levels returned to normal in 48 hours. DISCUSSION: There is a paucity of literature on the simultaneous occurrence of varicella zoster virus-induced hepatitis and pancreatitis in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Our case highlights the gastrointestinal complications of varicella infection in immunocompromised patients that may precede the characteristic dermatologic manifestations, and the fact that rarely both hepatitis and pancreatitis may be seen.

Gastrointestinal bleeding in the tropics: Look for the hookworm.

Hookworms are recognised as a cause of iron-deficiency anaemia in endemic areas. They are, however, often not considered in the differential diagnosis of overt gastrointestinal bleeding. We report the endoscopic diagnosis of hookworms as the cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in three patients, two of whom had frank haemorrhage with one presenting in hypovolemic shock. Hookworm infestation is an important treatable cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in tropical countries.