Management of acute sigmoid volvulus: short- and long-term results.

AIM: The best form of prophylactic management of a decompressed sigmoid volvulus (SV) is controversial especially in the elderly. We have studied our experience with this condition to assess the short- and long-term results of SV management. METHOD: All patients treated for SV in our department between 2003 and 2013 were retrospectively included. Emergency decompression was attempted in all patients in whom there was no sign of peritonitis. Planned surgical resection was the procedure of choice in young patients. Percutaneous endoscopic colopexy (PEC) was used in high surgical risk patients. RESULTS: There were 65 patients (45 males) of median age 71.5 (24-99) years. Non-surgical reduction was performed in 62 with a success rate of 95% (59/62). Recurrence after initial decompression was 67% at a median follow-up of 5 (1-14) years. A prophylactic surgical resection was performed with primary anastomosis in 33 patients. There were no deaths and the major morbidity rate was 6%. At a mean follow-up of 62 months, only 1 (3%) patient had had a recurrence (at 130 months). PEC was performed in six patients of median age 90 (84-99) years and with a median American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 4. Complications included local site infection (n = 2), pain (n = 1) and abdominal wall bleeding (n = 1). After a median follow-up of 2 (1-4) years, three patients died from medical causes and one recurrence occurred 13 months after removal of the PEC tube. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic treatment after initial decompression of SV results in a low rate of recurrence. Planned sigmoid resection is safe and effective. In frail elderly patients, PEC is satisfactory.

The effect of ursodesoxycholic acid on duodenal adenomas in familial adenomatous polyposis: a prospective randomized placebo-control trial.

AIM: Duodenal adenomas occur in about 90% of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and are the second cause of death of patients who have had a prophylactic proctocolectomy. Studies suggest that biliary acids have a role in the development of duodenal adenomas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of ursodesoxycholic acid (UDCA) on duodenal adenoma formation in patients with FAP. METHOD: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was carried out of 71 patients (20-65 years) who already had a restorative proctocolectomy. Subjects received either 10 mg/kg of UDCA orally per day or a placebo tablet for 24 months. The Spigelman severity score was determined after duodenal axial and lateral view endoscopy at 12 and 24 months. RESULTS: At 2 years 55 patients had completed the entire period of treatment. At the end of the follow-up period, nine (25%) patients in the UDCA group and seven (20%) in the placebo group had a decrease in the Spigelman score (P = 0.6142). Patients receiving UDCA had no side-effects (0%) compared with four (14%) in the placebo group (P = 0.0392). CONCLUSION: UDCA had no effect on the development of duodenal adenomas in FAP patients (NCT: 00134758).

Endoscopic palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction using self-expandable metallic stents: results of a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Gastric outlet obstruction is a late event in the natural history of biliopancreatic tumours. Metallic self-expanding stents inserted under endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance can be used for palliation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and complications of endoscopic duodenal stenting in patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between August 1998 and November 2001, 63 patients (31 women, 32 men; mean age 73 +/- 12) presenting with clinical symptoms of duodenal obstruction underwent endoscopic stenting with large metallic prostheses. Complications and clinical outcome were assessed both retrospectively and prospectively. RESULTS: Of the patients, 58 needed one duodenal stent and two overlapping stents were required in five patients. Stenting was immediately successful in 60/63 patients (95%). At the time of the duodenal procedure, 25 previously inserted biliary stents were still patent; biliary stenting was attempted during the same procedure in 18 patients; and 20 patients had no biliary stricture. There was no procedure-related mortality. There were complications in 30 % of patients: 13 stent obstructions, 4 stent migrations and 2 duodenal perforations (treated surgically). For 44 patients (70%) there were no minor or major digestive problem during their remaining lifetime. An exclusively peroral diet was possible in 58 patients (92%), but was considered satisfactory (solid or soft) in 46/63 patients (73%). Of the patients, 53 (84 %) died between 1 and 64 weeks after the duodenal stenting (median survival 7 weeks). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic stenting for the palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction is feasible and well-tolerated in most patients. Most dysfunctions can be managed endoscopically.

Familial adenomatous polyposis: prevalence of adenomas in the ileal pouch after restorative proctocolectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of adenomas in ileal pouches from patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and to determine whether a correlation exists between the presence of pouch adenomas and duodenal adenomas and the site of the adenomatous polyposis coli gene mutation. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Restorative proctocolectomy can markedly reduce the risk of colorectal adenocarcinoma in FAP patients. However, adenomas with the potential to progress to adenocarcinoma can develop in the duodenum, ileum, and continent ileostomy after restorative proctocolectomy. More recently, adenomas have been described in the ileal pouch after ileoanal anastomosis. METHODS: Pouch endoscopy was offered to 167 patients with FAP who had undergone restorative proctocolectomy between January 1984 and December 1996. RESULTS: Adenomas were found in 35% of the 85 ileal pouches examined. No invasive carcinomas were noted. The risk of developing one or more adenomas at 5, 10, and 15 years was 7%, 35%, and 75%, respectively. Patients with adenomas were more likely to have duodenal and ampullary adenomas. No correlation was detected between adenoma development and the site of the adenomatous polyposis coli mutation. CONCLUSIONS: Adenomas are frequently found in the ileal pouch of patients after restorative proctocolectomy for FAP. Regular endoscopic surveillance of the pouch is recommended at a frequency similar to that of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Prevention of biliary stent occlusion by ursodeoxycholic acid plus norfloxacin: a multicenter randomized trial.

We report a prospective randomized multicenter trial that tested the efficacy of combining ursodeoxycholic acid and norfloxacin in the prevention of polyethylene stent clogging in patients with obstructive jaundice due to an unresectable malignancy at the level of the common bile duct. After insertion of a 10-Fr straight polyethylene stent, patients were allocated to receive oral treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid and norfloxacin, or conservative treatment. The primary outcome measure was stent blockage within six months. Thirty-three patients (group I) received ursodeoxycholic acid and norfloxacin, and 29 received conservative treatment (group II). At six months, cumulative stent patency rate did not differ significantly between group I (47+/-11%, mean +/- SE, median 149 days) and group II patients (24+/-10%, mean +/- SE, median 100 days, P = 0.23, log-rank test). Four stents were clogged by ursodeoxycholic acid. Survival did not differ between the two groups. Combined therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid and norfloxacin failed to improve stent patency. Moreover, ursodeoxycholic acid can cause stent obstruction.

Liver disease from surreptitious administration of urethane.

We report subacute necrosis, peliosis hepatis, venoocclusive disease and hepatic angiosarcoma after long-term administration of urethane. We take this to be the 12th case of urethane-induced hepatitis and the first associated with vascular liver tumor.

Morphologic and ultrastructural effects of Maalox TC on human gastric and duodenal mucosa.

Prostaglandins (PGs) and aluminum-containing antacids (Al.AAs) are effective in preventing gastric and duodenal lesions induced by neutralizing agents. The efficacy of Al.AAs is thought to be due to neutralizing properties and to stimulation of endogenous PGs synthesis. Liquid Maalox has the same effect as cimetidine 400 mg on postprandial duodenal acid load. In numerous prospective studies, Al.AAs have been shown to be as effective as cimetidine in the short-term treatment of duodenal ulcer (DU). Maalox TC at a dosage of 3 tablets b.i.d. provides an effective method for preventing DU relapse. Its effect is similar to that of nighttime cimetidine. Meta-analysis of prospective trials suggests that Al.AAs prevent stress ulcers more effectively than does cimetidine. It has been suggested that Al.AA acts by inducing surface epithelial cell disruption. Al-induced mucosal protection could be caused by a stimulated release of endogenous PGs, induced by Al microcrystal penetration of cells. In a recent study, we showed that small amounts of Al were absorbed by human gastric mucosa and accumulated in lysosomes; however, we did not observe any histological or ultrastructural lesions of the gastric mucosa. Prostaglandins (enprostil, misoprostol, and rioprostil) are as effective as cimetidine, but less effective than ranitidine, in healing DU. Enprostil and rioprostil have been shown to be as effective as ranitidine in treating gastric ulcer (GU). Moreover, enprostil inhibits postprandial gastrin release, whereas H2-blockers increase gastrin levels. Coadministration of misoprostol with aspirin is highly effective in healing aspirin-induced gastroduodenal lesions. Moreover, cotreatment with misoprostol was associated with a marked decrease in GU in patients with osteoarthritis receiving NSAIDs chronically.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Main indications for upper digestive endoscopy]. / Les grandes indications des endoscopies digestives hautes.

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGI) is now widely accepted as the first-line examination of the digestive tract. UGI provides the diagnosis of most oesophageal and gastroduodenal diseases such as ulcer, cancer or oesophagitis. It is also valuable in the diagnosis of chronic diarrhoea, immunodeficiencies (immunoglobulin deficiency) and in AIDS patients. Improvements in disinfection and anesthesia make UGI a safe and well-tolerated procedure. Finally, it is, of course, the gold standard for the diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhages and in many cases requiring endoscopic therapy.

Effect of two-week treatment with enprostil (35 micrograms twice a day) on 24-hour serum gastrin levels.

After a meal, a single dose of enprostil, a synthetic dehydroprostaglandin E2, inhibits gastrin level in both normal subjects and patients with duodenal ulcer, whereas H2 blockers exaggerate the postprandial gastrin response. However, the effect of prolonged treatment with enprostil on the gastrin profile is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare serum gastrin levels over a 24-hr period before (day 0) and on the last day (day 14) of a two-week course of enprostil (35 micrograms twice a day). Nine healthy volunteers (four women and five men), ages 29 +/- 5 years (range 23-39) were studied twice during a 24-hr period. Serum gastrin was measured at 30-min intervals during the day and at 2-hr intervals during the night. Enprostil (35 micrograms) was taken after basal gastrin serum measurement at 8:00 AM and PM. Standardized meals were ingested at 8:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 8:30 PM. The postprandial integrated serum gastrin response was calculated after the three meals (4-hr period). Fasting serum gastrin levels were similar for the two periods. Integrated postprandial gastrin response was significantly inhibited after breakfast and dinner (P less than 0.001). Average results are expressed as mean +/- SEM (pmol/min/liter). During the night, gastrin levels were significantly decreased by enprostil. After 14 days, the inhibition of gastric acid secretion, which induces an increase of gastrin release with other antisecretory drugs, remained counterbalanced by the antigastrin properties of enprostil.

[Effects of enprostil on changes in the gastric transepithelial potential differential induced by aspirin]. / Effets de l'enprostil sur les modifications de la différence de potentiel transépithéliale gastrique induites par l'aspirine.

Enprostil (E), is a semisynthetic E2 prostaglandin with wide-range antisecretory properties. Administered orally E reduced mucosal injury in rats exposed to NSAID and gastric acid. The aim of the present study was to analyze the cytoprotective effect of 7 micrograms of E on the aspirin-induced (500 mg) decrease in gastric transepithelial difference of potential (DP) in a) five healthy volunteers and b) five patients with epigastric heartburn, normal endoscopy and a low gastric DP (mucosal barrier weakness). Aspirin-induced decrease of gastric DP was measured during two four hour periods separated by an interval of two days: a) during a one hour basal period and after three hours after 7 micrograms of E, and b) during a second basal period and one hour after aspirin, E, and then aspirin again. The following parameters were analyzed: maximal drop of DP DP Max (mV), area under the curve of DP drop, AUC (mV.min), and time to return to basal values, TRB (min). In the control group, when E was administered after aspirin, the decrease in DP Max (11.4 +/- 2.3 vs 6.6 +/- 2.1) and in AUC (68 +/- 22 vs 35 +/- 11) was significant (p less than 0.05) as compared with values obtained after aspirin alone. In the patient group, E produced a significant decrease in aspirin-induced DP Max (11.8 +/- 1.9 vs 6.8 +/- 2.4) (p less than 0.003) and in AUC (117 +/- vs 48 less than 22) (p less than 0.006) as well as in TRB (52 +/- 2 vs 37 +/- 10) (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)