Pancreatic necrosis infection due to Lactobacillus paracasei in an immunocompetent patient.

An immunocompetent patient recovering from gallstone-induced pancreatitis had to be readmitted due to abdominal pain, fever, and rapid deterioration. Computed tomography guided needle aspiration established the diagnosis of pancreatic necrosis infection; microbiological investigations revealed monoinfection with Lactobacillus paracasei subspecies tolerans. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a pancreatic necrosis infection due to L. paracasei in an immunocompetent patient without any known risk factors for Lactobacillus infections.

Comparison between esophageal Wallstent and Ultraflex stents in the treatment of malignant stenoses of the esophagus and cardia.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Several published studies have examined various self-expanding metal esophageal stents for use in the palliative treatment of esophageal or cardiac neoplasia, but few have compared different self-expanding metal stents. The aim of this study was to evaluate non-covered Wallstent and Ultraflex prostheses in the treatment of malignancies in the esophagus and the cardiac region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study, the effectiveness of non-covered Wallstents (46 patients) and Ultraflex stents (36 patients) was compared in the treatment of malignancies in the esophageal and cardiac regions. RESULTS: Reintervention procedures were necessary in 16 of the 46 Wallstent patients (six patients during an early phase) and in 22 of the 36 Ultraflex patients (13 during an early phase) (overall P = 0.022; early P = 0.018). The major complication in the Wallstent group was tumor ingrowth (12 of 35 complications), while in the Ultraflex group, it was incomplete deployment (18 of 49 complications). Incomplete stent deployment occurred more often in patients treated with Ultraflex (P = 0.01), and food impaction was more often observed in the Wallstent group (P = 0.001). In addition, in patients with Ultraflex stents, more complex reinterventions were necessary than those required with Wallstents (four vs. 13 complex reinterventions, P = 0.0046). Wallstents tended to improve dysphagia better than Ultraflex stents. CONCLUSION: Compared to Ultraflex stents, Wallstents have several significant short-term and long-term advantages in the palliative treatment of malignancy of the esophagus and cardia.

Self-expanding metal stents in malignant esophageal obstruction: a comparison between two stent types.

OBJECTIVES: Self-expanding metal stents are a promising alternative in the palliation of malignant esophageal obstruction, but the relative value of different stent types is not well established. METHODS: During a 3-year enrollment period in four different centers, 82 consecutive patients with malignant dysphagia without tumor recurrence after surgery or esophagorespiratory fistulas received either an uncovered Wallstent (44 patients) or a knitted nitinol stent (38 patients). RESULTS: Age (median: 79 yr), sex (F:M = 33:67), dysphagia score (median: 3), Karnofsky score (median: 53), body mass index (median: 19), type of pretreatment, tumor stage, stricture length (median: 5.4 cm), and stricture location were comparable in both stent groups. After stent placement, median dysphagia score improved markedly in both groups by two points. Procedure-related mortality (16 vs 0%; p < 0.01), early complication rate (32 vs 8%; p < 0.01), and severe persistent pain after stent placement (23 vs 0%; p < 0.002) were higher in the Wallstent compared with the knitted nitinol stent group. In contrast, stent dysfunction (7 vs 32%; p < 0.005), reintervention rate (9 vs 34%; p < 0.005), and costs were lower in the Wallstent compared with the nitinol stent group. CONCLUSIONS: In malignant esophageal obstruction, both stents markedly improved dysphagia. Uncovered Wallstents seem to cause more early severe complications than knitted nitinol stents. In contrast, stent dysfunction, reintervention rate, and costs appear to be higher in the nitinol stent group.

[Self-expanding wire-netting Elastalloy endoprosthesis in malignant esophageal stenosis]. / Selbstexpandierende Maschendrahtendoprothesen aus Elastalloy bei malignen Osophagusstenosen.

12 patients with malignant inoperable esophageal obstruction (carcinoma of the esophagus n = 7, carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction n = 3, mediastinal lymph node metastasis n = 2) and high-grade dysphagia were treated with self-expanding metal stents (Ultraflex, Microvasive) made of a nickel titanium alloy (Elastalloy). Other forms of palliation had failed in 9/12 patients. The degree of palliation was expressed as a dysphagia score (0-4) before and after stent insertion. The stents were inserted under endoscopic and fluoroscopic control. They were placed successfully and without complications in all patients. A good functional result was achieved in 11 patients (91.7%). Thus, the dysphagia score decreased significantly from 3.2 +/- 0.4 before to 0.9 +/- 1.0 immediately after stent insertion (p < 0.001). The remarkable relief of dysphagia was sustained during a mean follow up of 101 days (10-278) with a dysphagia score of 1.1 +/- 1.0 at the end of the study (p < 0.001 compared to the score before the procedure). In one patient with mediastinal lymph node metastasis the stent expanded insufficiently. 7 days after insertion it was removed endoscopically and replaced successfully by another stent with a stronger expansive force (Instent). 3 patients experienced recurrent dysphagia (food impaction n = 1 tumor ingrowth through the meshes of the stent n = 2). They were successfully treated by an endoscopical intervention (endoscopical dilatation n = 1, laser therapy n = 1, insertion of a Wallstent n = 1). At the end of the study, 6 patients were alive, 6 patients were dead with a mean survival of 56 days (10-117).

[Therapy and prevention of esophageal varices hemorrhage: current status]. / Therapie und Prophylaxe der Osophagusvarizenblutung: aktueller Stand.

Acute bleeding from esophageal varices is a medical emergency. It requires a structured therapeutic strategy adapted to local resources. The primary goal is to stop bleeding, preferably by endoscopic sclerotherapy or ligation. If endoscopic intervention is not possible as a first-line treatment, balloon tamponade or vasoactive drugs (terlipressin or octreotid) are therapeutic options to be followed as soon as possible by sclerotherapy or ligation. After successful hemostasis, the next goal is to prevent rebleeding. This is achieved primarily by eradicating sclerotherapy or ligation. In special situations, long-term therapy with a non-cardioselective beta receptor blocker is an alternative. The combined approach using sclerotherapy or ligation plus beta receptor blocker offers no significant advantage. Primary prophylaxis of bleeding from esophageal varices by long-term beta receptor blocker therapy is advised in patients with medium-sized or large varices. Apart from strategies aimed at the therapy or prophylaxis of bleeding from esophageal varices, measures to prevent or treat chronic liver diseases should be implemented in order to reduce the development of liver cirrhosis as the leading cause of esophageal varices.

Dieulafoy's disease: endoscopic treatment and follow up.

The findings from 480 patients who had emergency endoscopy for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding of non-variceal origin at our institution were analysed. Twenty eight patients (5.8%) had a Dieulafoy lesion. In 27 patients (96.4%) bleeding could be successfully managed by injection of norepinephrine and polidocanol, in repeated sessions if needed. Two patients had to be treated surgically: one because of uncontrollable bleeding from the Dieulafoy lesion and one despite endoscopic control of the bleeding Dieulafoy lesion because of a concomitant bleeding from an anastomosal ulcer after gastric resection. Three patients died during hospital stay from causes unrelated to bleeding from Dieulafoy lesion. Out of the 25 patients discharged from the hospital 21 treated by endoscopy and two treated with surgery were followed up for a mean of 28.3 and 22.5 months, respectively. Twenty endoscopically treated patients (95%) had no recurrence of Dieulafoy's bleeding. One patient experienced severe rebleeding from the original site after a transient endoscopy confirmed complete disappearance. He had emergency operation without a further attempt to control bleeding by endoscopy. It is concluded that bleeding from Dieulafoy's disease can be successfully managed by endoscopic injection treatment. The longterm outcome is favourable.

[Bacterial infections following sclerosing therapy for esophageal varices]. / Bakterielle Infektionen nach Osophagusvarizen-Sklerosierungstherapie.

Two patients with infectious complications 3 and 5 days after elective sclerotherapy of esophageal varices are presented. Both patients had liver cirrhosis (primary biliary cirrhosis and alcoholic liver cirrhosis with hepatitis B virus infection respectively). In one patient a brain abscess developed which was treated successfully by antibiotics and surgery; in the other patient pneumococcal bacteremia and gonarthritis developed. Frequency, possible causes and antibiotic prophylaxis are discussed.

[Chronic diarrhea with special reference to ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease]. / Chronische Diarrhöe unter spezieller Berücksichtigung von Colitis ulcerosa und Morbus Crohn.

There is a wide range of possible causes in chronic diarrhea. An attempt to correlate the symptoms with some clinically defined main categories facilitates a straight forward diagnostic approach. First and most important is a careful patient history. Very useful is a stratification regarding presence or absence of macroscopic lesions in the distal intestinal tract, usually done by coloscopy. Considering these principles, an overview of the most important causes for chronic diarrhea is given. Some relevant aspects of inflammatory bowel disease are discussed with special emphasis on the medical treatment. The major advantage of the newer 5-ASA compounds compared with sulfasalazine is the lower rate of side effects. 5-ASA enemas are very effective in the treatment of distal ulcerative colitis. Systemic treatment with corticosteroids is mandatory in severe case of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

[Comparison of the efficacy of omeprazole/bismuth subcitrate or triple therapy in Helicobacter pylori gastritis. A prospective controlled study]. / Vergleich der Wirksamkeit von Omeprazol/Bismutsubcitrat oder Tripletherapie bei Helicobacter-pylori-Gastritis. Eine prospektive kontrollierte Studie.

UNLABELLED: In a controlled, prospective, randomized trial, 10 patients with Helicobacter pylori positive gastritis were treated either with triple therapy (tetracycline, ornidazole, bismuth subcitrate; T, Or, CBS), or omeprazole/CBS (O/CBS) to test the eradication rate of each treatment, its effect on gastritis and meal stimulated gastrin release. METHOD: 6 patients were treated with triple therapy and 4 patients with O/CBS for 2 weeks. Initially, and 0.5, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after therapy, patients were investigated by a highly specific, quantitative Helicobacter serology, 13C-urea breath test and measurement of meal-stimulated gastrin release. After 3 and 12 months antral biopsies were taken endoscopically for rapid urease testing and culture. Activity of histological gastritis was graded. RESULTS: Eradication for at least 12 months was achieved in 5 out of 6 patients with triple therapy. Serology normalized and gastritis activity improved. In all patients treated with O/CBS, HP was suppressed only temporarily. No eradication was achieved. Urease testing and histology proved to be reliable tests for detecting HP. Culturing of HP was successful in only 66% due to technical problems. The 13C-urea breath test was correct in all cases. The initially, increased meal-stimulated gastrin release was normalized after eradication of HP. CONCLUSION: (1) Triple therapy is also successful in short term treatment in up to 80% of patients with HP gastritis and improves gastritis activity. (2) The combination O/CBS failed to eradicate HP in all treated patients. (3) The 13C-urea breath test and HP serology are reliable non-invasive parameters during follow-up. (4) Normalization of meal stimulated gastrin release after eradication of HP supports the hypothesis that HP induces increased gastrin release and hyperacidity.

[Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma of the peritoneum. Rare, but prognostically important differential diagnosis]. / Gut differenziertes papilläres Mesotheliom des Peritoneums. Rarität, aber prognostisch wichtige Differentialdiagnose.

A 35-year-old man who presented with ascites and multiple small peritoneal nodules is still in good health after a follow-up of 6 years despite the fact that two different former histologic sections were interpreted as malignant mesothelioma. The present histologic finding is a well differentiated papillary mesothelioma. We review the literature and discuss the significance of this uncommon finding. It is generally associated with an excellent prognosis. Chemotherapy should be withheld.