Metastatic Melanoma of the Common Bile Duct Presented with Dyspepsia.

Malignant melanoma (MM) is an aggressive tumor that can metastasize to any organ, but biliary tract metastasis is scarce. We describe a very rare case of MM metastasis to the common bile duct (CBD), presented with only dyspeptic symptoms. The patient had mildly elevated alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography demonstrated a dilated common bile duct with a distal stricture. The MM diagnosis was established with the ampulla of Vater biopsy specimens obtained by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and the patient's symptoms were resolved after biliary stenting. Both primary CBD cancer and other cancer types like MM that metastasize to CBD can cause obstruction and can be manifested only by dyspeptic symptoms. MM metastasis to CBD can cause obstruction manifested only by dyspeptic symptoms without obstructive jaundice. ERCP can be employed as a promising option for treatment and diagnosis. New-onset dyspeptic symptoms in patients with a history of MM should be investigated thoroughly, especially in the context of biliary metastasis.

Feasibility and safety of partial ampullary endoscopic mucosal resection: a novel technique for difficult biliary cannulation (with video).

BACKGROUND: Biliary cannulation can be challenging even for expert endoscopists, and rescue techniques are limited. Our objective was to determine the feasibility and safety of partial ampullary endoscopic mucosal resection (PA-EMR), a novel technique for biliary cannulation. METHODS: Monocentric, retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database in a tertiary referral university hospital. Fourteen patients who required endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and underwent PA-EMR between January 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021 were included. For biliary cannulation of prominent papillae, PA-EMR was performed using a standard polypectomy snare, alone or in combination with needle-knife sphincterotomy. In patients with non-prominent papilla, the papillary mucosa was elevated with the aid of methylene blue injection before resection and combined with needle-knife fistulotomy when needed. The rate of technical success and adverse events was assessed. RESULTS: The bile duct cannulation success was 99% in the first attempt and 100% overall with the PA-EMR technique. Only one patient experienced mild bleeding, which spontaneously stopped. CONCLUSION: PA-EMR is an effective technique that may be considered as a rescue technique for difficult biliary cannulation in expert hands. Future studies including larger cohorts and comparisons with other techniques are warranted to further confirm the feasibility and safety of this novel technique.

Magnetic Compression Anastomosis Is a Good Treatment Option for Patients with Completely Obstructed Benign Biliary Strictures: A Case Series Study.

BACKGROUND: Completely obstructed benign biliary strictures (BBS) is a difficult-to-treat condition. Surgery is the main treatment modality with high morbidity and mortality. Recently, the magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA) technique was employed in such cases with low complication rates. AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of the MCA in completely obstructed BBS. METHODS: 21 MCA procedures were performed in 19 patients with completely obstructed BBS. All patients had percutaneous biliary access. Magnets were located to the proximal side of the obstruction via percutaneous biliary sheath and the distal side endoscopically. The procedure was terminated as the magnets attracted. Either self-expandable fully covered metallic stent and/or a growing number of plastic stents were introduced after recanalization was achieved. RESULT: A total number of 19 patients with completely obstructed BBS resulting from cholecystectomy or liver transplant underwent 21 MCA procedures. Among those, 19 (90.5%) interventions were successful. The median stricture length that had been measured after magnet attraction was 4 mm (range 1-10 mm). The median magnet coupling time in successful cases was 9 days (range 4-27 days). No correlation was found between magnet coupling time and stricture length (p = 0.27). Complications were observed in 6 (cholangitis:1, magnet migration:2, magnet entrapment:3) of 19 successful MCA procedures. Fifteen of the 19 successful procedures had at least a period of stent-free follow-up. Recurrence of stenosis occurred in 7 procedures, of which 4 remained stent-free with retreatment. Eventually, 12 procedures had stent-free last status. CONCLUSIONS: MCA is an effective and safe treatment option in completely obstructed BBS. Further studies are required for procedural standardization.

Use of Over-the-Scope Clip as First Choice to Treat Gastric Dieulafoy Lesions.

Dieulafoy lesion is a rarely seen, superficial vascular lesion of the gastric mucosa that can lead to severe and recurrent bleeding which can be life-threatening. It is characterized by massive hemorrhages that can occur as a result of protrusion of a large artery from a submucosal defect. Endoscopic injection and mechanical and thermal methods are frequently used in traditional treatment. Herein, we presented a 61-year-old women who was admitted with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage owing to Dieulafoy lesion who was successfully treated with over-the-scope clip as the first choice of treatment.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the very elderly by using a combination of intravenous midazolam, ketamine and pethidine.

AIM: The number of therapeutic endoscopic procedures in elderly individuals keeps increasing and this population has a high risk of adverse events related to sedation and general anesthesia. However, there is a paucity on data about the efficacy and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in this population. METHODS: In total, 417 consecutive ERCP procedures were performed in 362 patients between September 2018 and January 2020. Of these, 59 patients (74 sessions) were aged ≥80 years (Group A) and 173 patients (193 procedures) were aged ≤65 years (Group B). We analyzed the prospectively collected data of patient- and procedure-related variables. RESULTS: The procedure time was significantly longer in Group A (P < 0.05). The prevalence of comorbidities, use of anticoagulants and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification levels were significantly higher in Group A (P < 0.05). The incidence of periampullary diverticula, malignancy, rate of difficult cannulation, mean number of stones, use of biliary stents and stent dysfunction was also significantly higher in Group A (P < 0.05). The medication doses used were significantly higher and emergence symptoms were significantly more frequent in Group B (P < 0.05). The rates of bleeding, pancreatitis, perforation, cholangitis, hypoxia, hypotension and the length of hospital stay did not significantly differ between the two groups. The overall success rate of the procedure was comparable in the two groups (P = 0.874). CONCLUSIONS: ERCP can be safely performed in elderly patients using a combination of midazolam and ketamine without propofol. The incidence of complications is comparable with that observed in younger patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 887-892.

Efficacy of Epinephrine Injection in Preventing Post-ERCP Pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Rectal indomethacin or a topical spray of epinephrine to the papilla of Vater has each shown efficacy alone in the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP). We supposed that a submucosal epinephrine injection would be more effective and longer acting than a topical epinephrine spray and therefore would further reduce the incidence of PEP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 412 patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) between January 2017 and December 2019. These patients were divided into 2 groups: the indomethacin group and the indomethacin plus the submucosal epinephrine injection group. The incidence rates and severity of PEP, post-ERCP hyperamylasemia, other outcomes, and any other adverse events were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics and procedure-related parameters were similar between the 2 groups. The incidence of PEP was 0.4% in the epinephrine group compared with 5.1% in the indomethacin group (P<0.001). Post-ERCP hyperamylasemia occurred in 24.6% of patients in the indomethacin group, whereas 7.6% of patients in the epinephrine group developed this condition; the difference was significant (P<0.001). Postsphincterotomy bleeding occurred in 5 patients, all of whom were in the indomethacin group (P<0.001). Other adverse events, including arrhythmias, acute coronary events, stroke, or hypertension were not significantly different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Addition of a submucosal epinephrine injection in conjunction with rectal indomethacin significantly reduced the incidence of PEP, post-ERCP hyperamylasemia, and postsphincterotomy bleeding.

The effect of COVID-19 lockdown on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Turkey.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A national lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Turkey was introduced in March 2020. We think that lockdowns may lead to weight gain and worsening of glycemic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The purpose of this study was to investigate how type 2 DM patients were affected by the lockdown. METHOD: Type 2 DM patients unable to attend regular follow-ups due to lockdown over a 75-day period between March and June 2020 and who again attended polyclinic follow-up when the lockdown was lifted were included in the study. These patients' glycemic control and weight status were compared with the pre-lockdown period. In addition, patients' general habits, and adherence to diet and exercise were evaluated, while their general health was assessed using the Short-Form 36-item survey. RESULT: The research involved 101 type 2 DM patients, 57 men (56.5%) and 44 women (44.5%), with a mean age of 55 ± 13. Patients' mean pre-lockdown weight was 84.7 ± 16.4 kg, rising to 85.5 ± 16.8 kg post-lockdown, although the increase was not statistically significant (p = 0.781). In terms of glycemic parameters, Hba1c rose from 7.67 ± 1.76 to 8.11 ± 2.48, and fasting glucose from 157.9 (83-645) mg/dl to 163.2 (84-550) mg/dl, none of which were statistically significant (p = 0.253, p = 0.079, respectively). CONCLUSION: In addition to weight gain among type 2 DM patients during the Covid 19 lockdown, statistically insignificant increases were also observed in such glycemic parameters. This was a small sample and further studies with larger sample are needed.

Treatment of Hepatic Hydatid Disease: Role of Surgery, ERCP, and Percutaneous Drainage: A Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Failure to follow the World Health Organization's Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis guidance or having limited experience in the management of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in endemic or nonendemic areas of the world may lead to risky unnecessary procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of all patients undergoing surgery for hepatic hydatid disease at the gastroenterologic surgery and general surgery departments of our hospital between December 2014 and October 2019 were collected and reviewed retrospectively. Demographic characteristics, the size and number of the cysts preoperative liver function tests, surgical treatment, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), percutaneous drainage (PD), morbidity, and treatment outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: Of 122 patients included in the study, 77 (63, 1%) were female and 45 (36, 9%) were male individuals and their mean age was 44.95 years. CE1 was identified in 13 patients (10.6%) CE2 in 66 patients (54.1%), CE3a in 7 patients (5.8%), CE3b in 28 patients (22.9%), and CE4 in 8 patients (6.6%). Twenty patients (16.4%) with a cystobiliary fistula in the liver, obstructive jaundice, and postoperative bile leak underwent ERCP. PD was performed in patients with fluid in the hepatic hydatid cyst pouch, increased pouch size because of bile collection, and clinical symptoms postoperatively. Patients presenting with persistent bile leak despite PD underwent ERCP and were treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy and stent placement. Patients with PD were followed by keeping the percutaneous drain open and closed for a while to create pressure difference in the cyst pouch after ERCP. The percutaneous drain was removed in the next 14 to 21 days after checking the pouch size, whereas the common bile duct stents were removed 2 months later after performing a follow-up cholangiography. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP should be the primary method for the diagnosis and treatment for hepatic hydatid cysts ruptured into the ducts. In some cases, high-flow hydatid cysts with rupture into the bile ducts or persistent biliary fistulas can be treated with ERCP and endoscopic sphincterotomy, biliary stent, PD, and nasobiliary drainage without the need for surgical intervention.

Serum seladin-1 levels in diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been shown to increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Downregulation of selective Alzheimer's disease indicator-1 (seladin-1) occurs in the cerebral regions affected by AD. However, inconsistent results have been reported for the relationship between seladin-1 levels and AD. The effect of DM on serum seladin-1 levels in AD is unknown. The present study is aimed to investigate serum seladin-1 levels in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with AD. METHODS: Forty-six patients with AD and 25 healthy volunteers over 65 years of age were included in this study. The patients were divided into three groups-those with AD only, those with DM and AD, and control groups. Demographic characteristics and serum seladin-1 levels were compared among the groups. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in seladin-1 levels in the AD only group compared to the control group (p = 0.376). However, seladin-1 levels were significantly lower in the DM and AD group compared to the AD only and control groups (p = 0.002, p = 0.001; respectively). Negative correlations were present between seladin-1 and fasting glucose, postprandial glucose, HbA1c, and insulin (p < 0.05; all). CONCLUSION: Decreased serum seladin-1 values in the presence of DM and inverse correlations with diabetic parameters in patients with AD, together with a non-significant difference from the control group, suggests that seladin-1 may be altered only in the presence of DM in patients with AD. Lower serum seladin-1 levels may also play a role in the pathogenesis of AD in patients with DM.

Assessment of the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography grading system: A prospective study from a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) grading system was proposed but has not been fully evaluated with prospective clinical studies. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the ERCP difficulty grading system for predicting success and adverse event rates related to the procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1057 ERCP procedures performed on 752 patients were included in the present study. The complexity grades of the procedures were recorded according to the ASGE grading system. Specific complications of ERCP (pancreatitis, cholangitis, bleeding, and perforation) were also defined and graded. RESULTS: The procedure difficulty was determined as 1st degree in 153 patients (14.4%), 2nd degree in 498 patients (47.1%), 3rd degree in 271 (25.6%), and 4th degree in 135 patients (12.7%). The success rate for the entire procedures was 88.4%. The success rate for 1st degree procedures was 99.3%, 97.2% for 2nd degree procedures, 86.7% for 3rd degree procedures, and 46.7% for 4th degree procedures (p<0.005). When the difficulty of the procedures increased from 1 to 4, the adverse event rates increased from 1.3% to 10.4%. CONCLUSION: The findings support the evidence that the difficulty degrees of ERCP procedures can help predict the success and complication rates of the procedure. Because of the increased rates of failure and complications in more difficult cases, the procedures should be performed by experienced endoscopists in advanced centers.

Can a Fully Covered Self-Expandable Metallic Stent be Used Temporarily for the Management of Duodenal Retroperitoneal Perforation During ERCP as a Part of Conservative Therapy?

PURPOSE: There are no reports comparing the results of conservative/nonsurgical management with the addition of fully covered self-expandable metallic stents (FCSEMS) with the conservative approach in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-related duodenal retroperitoneal (type II) perforations. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of FCSEMS to conventional treatment provides further benefits in the course of type II perforations. METHODS: A total of 7471 ERCP with sphincterotomy performed between 2007 and 2014 were evaluated, and a total of 25 type II perforations (0.33%) were identified. About 20 patients who were detected during ERCP and biliary cannulation was accomplished were included in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the conservative treatment group (10 patients) and the FCSEMS group (10 patients). Groups were compared for clinical findings, results of serial white blood cell (WBC) counts, the length of hospital stay, the need for surgery, and death, retrospectively. RESULTS: Five patients in the conservative treatment group and none of the patients in the FCSEMS group had pain requiring narcotic and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics during the follow-up period (P=0.005). On post-ERCP day 1, in the conservative and the FCSEMS groups, mean WBC counts were 13,218±4410×10 and 8714±3270×10, respectively (P=0.029). The perforation-related length of hospital stay was 15.77±5.21 days in the conservative group and 11.7±3.19 days in the FCSEMS group (P=0.053). Excluding the patient with severe pancreatitis in the conservative group, there were no deaths or need for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conservative treatment alone, the addition of FCSEMS provides further benefits in terms of a painless course, lower WBC counts, and a short hospital stay. FCSEMS can be used as an additional treatment modality in type II perforation.

The Detection of Cholangiocarcinoma in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Patients: Single Center Experience.

PURPOSE: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is one of the feared complications of PSC. In our study, we aim to establish the success of brush cytology and CA 19-9 in putting the diagnosis of CCA. METHODS: The data of 30 PSC patients was retrospectively screened whom had brush cytology performed due to dominant strictures. The definitive diagnosis was established by histopathological examination or via radiological/clinic follow-up for at least 12 months. RESULTS: A total of four patients were excluded from the study. Twenty-six patients diagnosed with PSC, six of which were also diagnosed with CCA, were included in the study. The sensitivity and the specificity of the brush cytology in the diagnosis of CCA in PSC patients were 66.7 and 95%, respectively. CA 19-9 had high correlation with bilirubin level. The optimal level of CA 19-9 in the diagnosis of CCA was determined to be 138.5 U/ml. Superiority of Ramage scoring over CA 19-9 in the diagnosis of CCA in PSC patients was not established (sensitivity and specificity were 50%, 94.7% and 83.3%, 85%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Brush cytology has moderate sensitivity in differentiating strictures in PSC patients. CA 19-9 has high sensitivity but bilirubin level can affect the CA 19-9. Therefore, advanced techniques and parameters are needed for detecting CCA in PSC patients.