Randomised clinical trial: palliative long-term abdominal drains vs large-volume paracentesis in refractory ascites due to cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Palliative care remains suboptimal in end-stage liver disease. AIM: To inform a definitive study, we assessed palliative long-term abdominal drains in end-stage liver disease to determine recruitment, attrition, safety/potential effectiveness, questionnaires/interview uptake/completion and make a preliminary cost comparison. METHODS: A 12-week feasibility nonblinded randomised controlled trial comparing large-volume paracentesis vs long-term abdominal drains in refractory ascites due to end-stage liver disease with fortnightly home visits for clinical/questionnaire-based assessments. Study success criteria were attrition not >50%, <10% long-term abdominal drain removal due to complications, the long-term abdominal drain group to spend <50% ascites-related study time in hospital vs large-volume paracentesis group and 80% questionnaire/interview uptake/completion. RESULTS: Of 59 eligible patients, 36 (61%) were randomised, 17 to long-term abdominal drain and 19 to large-volume paracentesis. Following randomisation, median number (IQR) of hospital ascitic drains (long-term abdominal drain group vs large-volume paracentesis group) were 0 (0-1) vs 4 (3-7); week 12 serum albumin (g/L) and serum creatinine (µmol/L) were 29 (26.5-32.5) vs 30 (25-35) and 104.5 (81-115.5) vs 127 (63-158) respectively. Total attrition was 42% (long-term abdominal drain group 47%, large-volume paracentesis group 37%). Median (IQR) fortnightly community/hospital/social care ascites-related costs and percentage study time in hospital were lower in the long-term abdominal drain group, £329 (253-580) vs £843 (603-1060) and 0% (0-0.74) vs 2.75% (2.35-3.84) respectively. Self-limiting cellulitis/leakage occurred in 41% (7/17) in the long-term abdominal drain group vs 11% (2/19) in the large-volume paracentesis group; peritonitis incidence was 6% (1/17) vs 11% (2/19) respectively. Questionnaires/interview uptake/completion were ≥80%; interviews indicated that long-term abdominal drains could transform the care pathway. CONCLUSIONS: The REDUCe study demonstrates feasibility with preliminary evidence of long-term abdominal drain acceptability/effectiveness/safety and reduction in health resource utilisation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN30697116, date assigned: 07/10/2015.

Large bowel perforation secondary to CMV colitis: an unusual primary presentation of HIV infection.

We report a case of HIV-associated Cytomegalovirus colitis complicated by large bowel perforation. A 62-year-old man of same-sex relationship was not known to have HIV, but a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease was made early in his admission, with steroid treatment initiated. He was later confirmed to be HIV positive, and found to have multiple microperforations of the bowel necessitating ileocecectomy and Hartmann's procedures.

Small bowel ulcerative lesions are common in elderly NSAIDs users with peptic ulcer bleeding.

AIM: To determine the frequency of small bowel ulcerative lesions in patients with peptic ulcer and define the significance of those lesions. METHODS: In our prospective study, 60 consecutive elderly patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding from a peptic ulceration (cases) and 60 matched patients with a non-bleeding peptic ulcer (controls) underwent small bowel capsule endoscopy, after a negative colonoscopy (compulsory in our institution). Controls were evaluated for non-bleeding indications. Known or suspected chronic inflammatory conditions and medication that could harm the gut were excluded. During capsule endoscopy, small bowel ulcerative lesions were counted thoroughly and classified according to Graham classification. Other small bowel lesions were also recorded. Peptic ulcer bleeding was controlled endoscopically, when adequate, proton pump inhibitors were started in both cases and controls, and Helicobacter pylori eradicated whenever present. Both cases and controls were followed up for a year. In case of bleeding recurrence upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was repeated and whenever it remained unexplained it was followed by repeat colonoscopy and capsule endoscopy. RESULTS: Forty (67%) cases and 18 (30%) controls presented small bowel erosions (P = 0.0001), while 22 (37%) cases and 4 (8%) controls presented small bowel ulcers (P < 0.0001). Among non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) consumers, 39 (95%) cases and 17 (33%) controls presented small bowel erosions (P < 0.0001), while 22 (55%) cases and 4 (10%) controls presented small bowel ulcers (P < 0.0001). Small bowel ulcerative lesions were infrequent among patients not consuming NSAIDs. Mean entry hemoglobin was 9.3 (SD = 1.4) g/dL in cases with small bowel ulcerative lesions and 10.5 (SD = 1.3) g/dL in those without (P = 0.002). Cases with small bowel ulcers necessitate more units of packed red blood cells. During their hospitalization, 6 (27%) cases with small bowel ulcers presented bleeding recurrence most possibly attributed to small bowel ulcers, nevertheless 30-d mortality was zero. Presence of chronic obstructive lung disease and diabetes was related with unexplained recurrence of hemorrhage in logistic regression analysis, while absence of small bowel ulcers was protective (relative risk 0.13, P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Among NSAID consumers, more bleeders than non-bleeders with peptic ulcers present small bowel ulcers; lesions related to more severe bleeding and unexplained episodes of bleeding recurrence.

Ischemic heart disease, factor predisposing to Barrett's adenocarcinoma: A case control study.

AIM: To define the significance of ischemic heart disease (IHD) (stable angina to infarction) co-existance in Barrett esophagus (BE) patients and patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma (AdE). METHODS: All BE/AdE patients in Blackpool-Wyre-Fylde area and Trikala prefecture identified from medical records. Patient clinical details were obtained from hospital and General Practitioner records. Additional information was gathered from validated questionnaire. RESULTS: Forty (33%) AdE and 83 (19%) BE patients had IHD (P = 0.002). Eighteen (15%) AdE and 34 (8%) BE patients had suffered a myocardial infarction (P = 0.03). Three (3%) AdE and 7 (2%) BE patients had severe heart failure (P = 0.82). Thirty-nine (47%) BE with IHD and 8 (20%) AdE patients with IHD consumed aspirin daily (P = 0.004). Seventh-seven (93%) BE patients with IHD and 36 (90%) AdE patients with IHD were on statins (P = 0.86). Logistic regression analysis: AdE was more frequent in the elderly, with long term reflux, long BE and concurrent IHD (odds ratio: 2.086, P = 0.001) not consuming statins. Eighteen (22%) BE patients with IHD [16 (84%) with myocardial infarction] vs 33 (10%) without IHD died from non-neoplastic causes within 24 mo from BE diagnosis (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: IHD is more prevalent in AdE than BE patients. Increased prevalence of AdE is related with the presence of myocardial infarction but not severe heart failure, possibly because patients with BE and severe IHD have low life expectancy.

Role of chemoprophylaxis with either NSAIDs or statins in patients with Barrett's esophagus.

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma, a poor prognosis neoplasia, has risen dramatically in recent decades. Barrett's esophagus represents the best-known risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma development. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs through cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition and prostaglandin metabolism regulation could control cell proliferation, increase cell apoptosis and regulate the expression of growth and angiogenic factors. Statins can achieve equivalent effects through prenylation and subsequently control of cellular signaling cascades. At present, epidemiological studies are small and underpowered. Their data could not justify either medication as a chemo-preventive agent. Population based studies have shown a 43% reduction of the odds of developing an esophageal adenocarcinoma, leaving out or stating a 25% reduction in patients consuming non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and a 50% reduction in those patients consuming aspirin. They have also stated a 19% reduction of esophageal cancer incidence when statins have been used. Observational studies have shown that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs could reduce the adenocarcinoma incidence in patients with Barrett's esophagus by 41%, while statins could reduce the risk by 43%. The cancer preventive effect has been enhanced in those patients taking a combination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and statins (a 74% decrease). Observational data are equivocal concerning the efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug subclasses. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs clearly have substantial potential for toxicity, while statins are rather safe drugs. In conclusion, both non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and statins are promising chemopreventive agents and deserve further exploration with interventional studies. In the meanwhile, their use is justified only in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Patients with partial gastrectomy and Barrett esophagus are in higher risk to develop esophageal adenocarcinoma than those with Barretts without gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Duodenogastric reflux is a possible risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma (CA) development. Gastric surgery that destroys or distorts the pylorus is a good model to study the effects of duodenogastric reflux. To define the consequences of gastrectomy in patients with Barrett esophagus (BE). METHODOLOGY: Records of all BE/CA patients examined in Blackpool-Wyre-Fylde area were reviewed. All surviving patients completed validated questionnaires. RESULTS: Gastrectomy was more prevalent in CA patients (14 (3.6%) BE vs. 15 (13.3%) CA, p=0.0002). Partial gastrectomy was more prevalent in CA patients, (7 (1.8%) BE vs. 10 (8.8%) CA, p=0.0004), while there was no difference in total gastrectomy between the two groups. Persistence of H. pylori infection after gastrectomy and smoking were more frequent among CA patients with gastrectomy. Mean follow-up time in patients with prior gastrectomy was 78 (SD=76.4) months for BE patients and 119.3 (SD=72.9) months for CA patients (p=0.07). In logistic regression analysis gastrectomy, in addition to old age, long-term reflux, absence of hiatal hernia and H. pylori infection were risk factors for CA. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrectomy and especially partial gastrectomy was more prevalent in CA patients.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography training in the United Kingdom: A critical review.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography training used to be in virtually all district general hospitals, resulting in a large number of trainees with an inadequate case load and achieving poor levels of skill. Training is now restricted to a small number of trainees working in approved units. Continuous audit of outcomes and the appointment of a training lead in the unit are essential. Use of the global rating scale helps clinicians advise hospital administration on the priorities for a quality training program.

Concomitant homozygosity for the prothrombin gene variant with mild deficiency of antithrombin III in a patient with multiple hepatic infarctions: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Hereditary causes of visceral thrombosis or thrombosis should be sought among young patients. We present a case of a young man presenting with multiple hepatic infarctions resulting in portal hypertension due to homozygosity of the prothrombin gene mutation not previously described in literature. CASE PRESENTATION: A 42-year-old Caucasian man with a previous history of idiopathic deep vein thrombosis 11 years earlier presented with vague abdominal pains and mildly abnormal liver function tests. An ultrasound and computed tomography scan showed evidence of hepatic infarction and portal hypertension (splenic varices). A thrombophilia screen confirmed a homozygous mutation for the prothrombin gene mutation, with mildly reduced levels of anti-thrombin III (AT III). Subsequent testing of his father and brother revealed heterozygosity for the same gene mutation. CONCLUSION: Hepatic infarction is unusual due to the rich dual arterial and venous blood supply to the liver. In the absence of an arterial or haemodynamic insult causing hepatic infarction, a thrombophilia should be considered. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a hepatic infarction due to homozygosity of the prothrombin gene mutation. It is unclear whether homozygotes have a higher risk of thrombosis than heterozygotes. In someone presenting with a first thrombosis with this mutation, the case for life-long anticoagulation is unclear, but it may be necessary to prevent a second and more severe second thrombotic event, as occurred in this case.

What information should be given to patients undergoing therapeutic endoscopy?

Doctors and other health professionals should always offer information to patients about the risks, benefits and alternatives to the treatment or examination proposed. Such information should be offered in a timely fashion and in a form understandable to the patient. The professional should assess the patients' ability to comprehend and to make a judgement if their consent is to be valid. Patients occasionally may refuse the offer, but this refusal does not exonerate the doctor from pointing out serious hazards. Discussions of risk must be made in a friendly manner and the patient's questions invited.