Antibiotics to Prevent Relapse of Adjustable Gastric Balloon Hyperinflation: Feasible for Balloon Maintenance?

The placement of an intragastric balloon (IGB) plays an increasingly important role in the treatment of obesity. The authors describe the cases of 2 female patients, 34 and 62 years old, who were submitted to the implantation of a Spatz3® IGB to treat obesity. Ten to fourteen weeks later, the patients presented complaints of epigastric pain, vomiting, and abdominal distension. A bulging of the upper abdominal wall was noticed upon physical examination. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy confirmed the clinical suspicion of IGB hyperinflation. It was decided to remove the 500 mL of saline solution with methylene blue from inside the balloon. During the same procedure, the IGB was refilled with 500 mL of fresh saline solution, methylene blue, and empiric ß-lactam antibiotic. The extracted content of the hyperinflated IGB was sent for microbiological culturing and was found to be positive for Streptococcus viridans in one of the cases. In the other case, the culture examination was negative, and after 8 weeks, the patient presented again with hyperinflation of the IGB. It was then decided to substitute the IGB with another balloon; the procedure was uneventful. The content of the removed IGB was sent for microbiological testing, and colonization by Candida tropicaliswas confirmed. This is a rare but potentially serious complication of IGB placement. Randomized trials are needed to clarify the role of antibiotics and antifungals in primary and secondary prophylaxis against IGB hyperinflation.

A colocação de um balão intragástrico (BIG) desempenha um papel cada vez mais importante no tratamento da obesidade. Os autores descrevem os casos de duas doentes, com 34 e 62 anos de idade, que colocaram BIG Spatz3® para tratamento da obesidade. Dez a catorze semanas após as doentes apresentaram queixas de dor epigástrica, vómitos e distensão abdominal. Um abaulamento da parede abdominal superior era evidente no exame físico. A endoscopia digestiva alta confirmou a suspeita clínica de hiperinsuflação do BIG. Decidiu-se remover os 500 mL de solução salina com azul de metileno do balão. Durante o mesmo procedimento, o BIG foi preenchido com 500 mL de nova solução salina, azul de metileno e antibiótico ß-lactâmico empírico. O conteúdo extraído do BIG hiperinsuflado foi enviado para cultura microbiológica que foi positiva para Streptococcus viridans em um dos casos. No outro caso, o exame de cultura foi negativo e após oito semanas, a doente apresentou novamente hiperinsuflação do balão. Foi então decidido substituir o balão; o procedimento decorreu sem intercorrências. O conteúdo do BIG removido foi enviado para exames microbiológicos, tendo sido identificada colonização por Candida tropicalis. Esta é uma complicação rara, mas potencialmente grave, da colocação do BIG. Ensaios clínicos randomizados são necessários para esclarecer o papel dos antibióticos e antifúngicos na profilaxia primária e secundária contra a hiperinsuflação do BIG.

Assessment of Cardiotoxicity of Cancer Chemotherapy: The Value of Cardiac MR Imaging.

Chemotherapy is associated with cardiovascular injury, including the development of a cardiomyopathy and vascular remodeling. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is sensitive to detect not only established morphologic and functional abnormalities but also early, potentially reversible, signs of myocardial injury. It robustly detects and quantifies myocardial edema, inflammation, and focal fibrosis, as well as interstitial fibrosis and vascular remodeling. These capabilities support the role of CMR as an excellent tool for evaluating cardiotoxicity. Novel CMR markers may even enhance patient management by facilitating the early detection of reversible myocardial tissue remodeling before classic morphologic and functional changes appear.

Vertical Endoscopic Gastroplasty in a Patient With Situs Inversus Totalis.

Bariatric surgery in patients with any deviation from normal anatomy is a challenge and requires considerable experience on the part of the surgeon. Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare congenital abnormality (1:5,000-1:20,000 live births), and any surgical procedure on these patients can be somewhat challenging. A 44-year-old woman with morbid obesity, systemic arterial hypertension, and SIT underwent vertical endoscopic gastroplasty. The procedure was performed in 56 minutes with no complications. Vertical endoscopic gastroplasty proved to be safe on this patient with SIT, with reproducible technical viability, a short procedure time, and no early onset complications. Prospective studies are needed to establish the actual safety and viability of the method in this group of patients.

Increased Gastric Retention Capacity, Assessed by Scintigraphy, after APC Treatment of Dilated Gastrojejunal Anastomosis.

BACKGROUND: Weight regain occurs in about 20% of patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Studies have reported that in most cases this regain is associated with dilatation of the gastrojejunal anastomosis. To correct this dilatation, one of the methods used is the application of argon plasma coagulation (APC). CASE: The authors report the case of a 39-year-old woman submitted to RYGB who had weight regain. In the endoscopic evaluation, the patient presented with dilatation of the gastrojejunal anastomosis, for which treatment with APC and an adjusted diet was proposed. After 3 sessions of APC, the patient presented with a reduction of the anastomosis diameter, weight loss, and increased satiety to food, with an increased gastric emptying time evidenced by scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: APC proved to be a safe and efficacious method.

INTRODUÇÃO: O reganho de peso após bypass gástrico em Y de Roux (RYGB) ocorre em cerca de 20% dos doentes. Estudos relatam que na maioria dos casos este reganho está associado a dilatação da anastomose gastrojejunal. Para corrigir esta dilatação um dos métodos utilizados é a apli-cação de árgon plasma (APC). CASO: Os autores relatam o caso de uma mulher de 39 anos de idade, submetida a RYGB, que apresentou reganho de peso. Na avaliação en-doscópica a doente apresentava dilatação da anastomose gastrojejunal sendo proposta a realização de APC e dieta ajustada. Após 3 sessões de APC, a doente apresentou redução do diâmetro da anastomose associada a perda de peso, aumento da saciedade alimentar e aumento do tempo de esvaziamento gástrico documentado em cintigrafia. CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento com APC mostrou ser um méto-do seguro e eficaz.

Anthracycline Therapy Is Associated With Cardiomyocyte Atrophy and Preclinical Manifestations of Heart Disease.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to demonstrate that cardiac magnetic resonance could reveal anthracycline-induced early tissue remodeling and its relation to cardiac dysfunction and left ventricular (LV) atrophy. BACKGROUND: Serum biomarkers of cardiac dysfunction, although elevated after chemotherapy, lack specificity for the mechanism of myocardial tissue alterations. METHODS: A total of 27 women with breast cancer (mean age 51.8 ± 8.9 years, mean body mass index 26.9 ± 3.6 kg/m2), underwent cardiac magnetic resonance before and up to 3 times after anthracycline therapy. Cardiac magnetic resonance variables were LV ejection fraction, normalized T2-weighted signal intensity for myocardial edema, extracellular volume (ECV), LV cardiomyocyte mass, intracellular water lifetime (τic; a marker of cardiomyocyte size), and late gadolinium enhancement. RESULTS: At baseline, patients had a relatively low (10-year) Framingham cardiovascular event risk (median 5%), normal LV ejection fractions (mean 69.4 ± 3.6%), and normal LV mass index (51.4 ± 8.0 g/m2), a mean ECV of 0.32 ± 0.038, mean τic of 169 ± 69 ms, and no late gadolinium enhancement. At 351 to 700 days after anthracycline therapy (240 mg/m2), mean LV ejection fraction had declined by 12% to 58 ± 6% (p < 0.001) and mean LV mass index by 19 g/m2 to 36 ± 6 g/m2 (p < 0.001), and mean ECV had increased by 0.037 to 0.36 ± 0.04 (p = 0.004), while mean τic had decreased by 62 ms to 119 ± 54 ms (p = 0.004). Myocardial edema peaked at about 146 to 231 days (p < 0.001). LV mass index was associated with τic (ß = 4.1 ± 1.5 g/m2 per 100-ms increase in τic, p = 0.007) but not with ECV. Cardiac troponin T (mean 4.6 ± 1.4 pg/ml at baseline) increased significantly after anthracycline treatment (p < 0.001). Total LV cardiomyocyte mass, estimated as: (1 - ECV) × LV mass, declined more rapidly after anthracycline therapy, with peak cardiac troponin T >10 pg/ml. There was no evidence for any significant interaction between 10-year cardiovascular event risk and the effect of anthracycline therapy. CONCLUSIONS: A decrease in LV mass after anthracycline therapy may result from cardiomyocyte atrophy, demonstrating that mechanisms other than interstitial fibrosis and edema can raise ECV. The loss of LV cardiomyocyte mass increased with the degree of cardiomyocyte injury, assessed by peak cardiac troponin T after anthracycline treatment. (Doxorubicin-Associated Cardiac Remodeling Followed by CMR in Breast Cancer Patients; NCT03000036).

Double pylorus in the era of proton pump inhibitors.

Double pylorus and gastroduodenal fistula are rare conditions and can be either congenital or acquired. We report a case of a 58-year-old man with epigastric pain and dyspepsia in which the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an acquired double pylorus, probably caused by a gastric ulcer.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of endoscopic ablative treatment of Barrett’s esophagus / Revisión sistemática y meta-análisis del tratamiento ablativo endoscópico del esófago de Barrett

Background: Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is the main risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma. Its therapeutic approach is controversial and surgical treatment in the presence of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia may be indicated. Endoscopic approach is an alternative with lower mortality and morbidity rates and favorable results. Objective: To define the best option, according to literature, to treat Barrett’s Esophagus. Materials and methods: Design: Systematic review of PUBMED, EMBASE, LILACS, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted and articles of randomized, controlled studies on BE endoscopic ablative treatment were selected. The systematic review through PUBMED retrieved results with higher evidence level and available recommendation grade regarding BE ablative therapy. Nine articles on randomized, controlled studies classified as A or B according to the Oxford table were selected. Cryotherapy, laser, photodynamic therapy (PDT), multipolar electrocoagulation (MPEC), and ablation through argon plasma coagulation (APC) and radiofrequency were considered ablation therapies. Patients: 649 patients from 10 different studies were analysed. Results: PDT was found to present an increase in treatment failure compared with APC, NNH = -7. BE ablation through MPEC or APC was found to have similar risk for treatment failure in meta-analysis. PDT associated with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) is beneficial for BE ablation regarding PPI use alone, NNT = 2. Radiofrequency with PPI is an efficient method to reduce risk of treatment failure, NNT = 1. Conclusions: There are no studies demonstrating the benefit of indicating cryotherapy or laser therapy for BE endoscopic approach. APC ablation was found to have superior efficacy compared with PDT and ablation through APC and MPEC was found to present effective, similar results. Radiofrequency is the most recent approach requiring comparative studies for indication.

Introducción: El esófago e Barrett (BE) es un factor de riesgo importante para adenocarcinoma de esófago.Su manejo terapéutico es controversial y el tratamiento quirúrgico en la presencia de neoplasia intraepitelial de alto grado puede estar indicado. El manejo endoscópico es una alternative con menores tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad y con resultados favorables. Objetivo: Definir la major opción de tratamiento del esófago de Barrett de acuerdo a la literatura. Materiales y métodos: Diseño: Se realize una revisión sistemática de PUBMED, EMBASE, LILACS yla librería Cochrane y los artículos randomizados, controlados en ablación endoscópica de BE fueron seleccionados. Esta revisión de PUBMED mostró resultados de una evidencia muy alta y recomendación alta para el uso de terapia ablativa. Nueve artículos de studios randomizados y controlados fueron catalogados grado A o B de aacuerdo a la table de Oxford y fueron seleccionados.Fueron consideradas como terapia ablativa, la crioterapia, laser,terapia fotodinámica (PDT),electrocoagulación multipolar (MPEC) ,ablación con coagulación por argón plasma (APC) y radiofrecuencia. Pacientes: 649 pacientes de 10 estudios diferentes fueron analizados. Resultados: El PDT se halló que tenía mas fallas que el APC , NNH=-7. La ablación del esófago de barrett por MPEC o APC tuvieron el mismo riesgo de fracaso terapéutico en los meta-análisis.La PDT asociado al uso de Inhibidores de bomba de protones (PPI) es beneficiosa versus el uso de, los PPI solos, NNT=2. La radiofrecuencia con PPI es un método eficiente para reducer el riesgo de fracas terapéutico, NNT=1. Conclusiones: No hay studios que demuestren el beneficio de la crioterapia o la terapia con laser para el esófago de Barrett, se encontró que tiene una eficacia superior comparada con el PDT y la ablación por APC y MPEC tenían resultados efectivos y similares.La radiofrecuencia es el manejo más reciente y requiere estudios comparativos para su indicación.

Double pylorus in the era of proton pump inhibitors / Doble píloro en la era de los inhibidores de la bomba de protones

Double pylorus and gastroduodenal fistula are rare conditions and can be either congenital or acquired. We report a case of a 58-year-old man with epigastric pain and dyspepsia in which the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an acquired double pylorus, probably caused by a gastric ulcer.

El doble píloro y la fístula gastroduodenal son condiciones raras y pueden ser congénitas o adquiridas. Se reporta un caso de un varón de 58 años con dolor epigástrico y dispepsia en quien la endoscopía digestiva alta mostró un doble píloro adquirido, probablemente causado por una úlcera gástrica.

Endoscopic aspects of gastric syphilis.

Introduction. Considered as a rare event, gastric syphilis (GS) is reported as an organic form of involvement. Low incidence of GS emphasizes the importance of histopathological analysis. Objective. We aim to characterize GS endoscopic aspects in an immunocompetent patient. Case Report. A 23-year-old man presented with epigastric pain associated with nausea, anorexia, generalized malaise and 11 kg weight loss that started 1 month prior to his clinical consultation. Physical examination was normal except for mild abdominal tenderness in epigastrium. Endoscopy observed diminished gastric expandability and diffuse mucosal lesions, from cardia to pylorus. Gastric mucosa was thickened, friable, with nodular aspect, and associated with ulcers lesions. Gastric biopsies were performed, and histopathological analysis resulted in dense inflammatory infiltration rich in plasmocytes. Syphilis serologies were positive for VDRL and Treponema pallidum reagents. Immunohistochemical tests were positive for Treponema pallidum and CD138. The patient was treated with penicillin, leading to resolution of his clinical complaints and endoscopic findings. Conclusion. Diagnosis suspicion of GS is important in view of its nonspecific presentation. Patients with gastric symptoms that mimic neoplastic disease should be investigated thoroughly based on the fact that clinical, endoscopic, and histological findings can easily be mistaken for lymphoma or plastic linitis.

Hepatitis in dengue shock syndrome.

Dengue fever is the most frequent arbovirus disease in the world and the most important one in terms of morbidity and mortality. Atypical manifestations of dengue have become commonplace during the last few years, including hepatic damage, which manifests mainly by pain in the right hypochondrium and an increase in the levels of aminotransferases. We describe a case of acute hepatitis in a patient with Dengue Shock Syndrome Grade III. We analyzed the clinical and laboratory aspects of this atypical complication of dengue as well as the differential diagnoses.