A novel system for endoscopic closure of iatrogenic colon perforations using the Ovesco® clip and omental patch.

The growing endoscopic activity, both diagnostic and therapeutic, are also globally makes frequent endoscopic complications, perforation being one of the most serious. However, we also have more possibilities for endoscopic resolution of iatrogenic caused. We report the case of a sigmoid perforation during a colonoscopy that was resolved satisfactorily, avoiding surgery, by endoscopic closure with a nitinol clip Ovesco®.

Endoscopic treatment with self-expanding metal stents for Crohn's disease strictures.

BACKGROUND: Balloon dilation (with or without steroid injection) is the endoscopic treatment of choice for short strictures in Crohn's disease (CD). The placement of a stent has only rarely been reported in this setting, and it may be a good alternative. AIM: To describe the efficacy of temporary placement of a self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) in the endoscopic treatment of symptomatic strictures in CD. METHODS: We included 17 CD patients treated with SEMS (4 partially covered SEMS and 21 fully covered SEMS) for symptomatic strictures refractory to medical and/or endoscopic treatment. RESULTS: We placed 25 stents in 17 patients with stenosis (<8 cm), in the colon and in the ileocolonic anastomosis. In two cases, two stents were placed in the same endoscopic procedure. All except three cases had previously been unsuccessfully treated with endoscopic dilatation. The stents were maintained for an average of 28 days (1­112). The treatment was effective in 64.7% of the patients after a mean follow-up time of 60 weeks (5­266). In four cases, removal of the stents was technically difficult due to stent impaction (moderate adverse events-AEs) and one patient had a proximal stent migration requiring delayed surgery (severe AE). CONCLUSION: The placement of self-expanding metallic stent in Crohn's disease maintained over a period of 4 weeks is a safe, effective treatment for strictures refractory to medical treatment and/or balloon dilatation, and might be an alternative endoscopic

Covered metal stents for the treatment of biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Biliary complications, a major source of morbidity after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), are increasingly being treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Endoscopic management has been shown to be superior to percutaneous therapy and surgery. Covered self-expandable metal stents (CSEMSs) may be an alternative to the current endoscopic standard treatment with periodic plastic stent replacement. OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of temporary CSEMS insertion for biliary complications after OLT. METHODS: From November 2001 to December 2009, the 242 OLT performed in 226 patients included 67 cases that developed post-OLT leaks or strictures (29.6%), excluding ischemic biliary complications. CSEMSs were used in 22 patients (33%), 18 male and 4 female, with an overall median age of 55 years (range, 29-69). In-house OLT patients underwent an index ERCP at 26 days (range, 8-784) after OLT. Their records were reviewed to determine ERCP findings, technical success, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: ERCP with sphincterotomy was performed in all 22 patients, revealing 18 with biliary strictures alone (82%), 3 with strictures and leaks (14%), and 1 with strictures and choledocholithiasis (4%). All strictures were anastomotic. All patients had 1-2 plastic stents inserted across the anastomosis (11 had prior balloon dilation); stones were successfully removed, for an initial technical success rate of 100% (22/22). CSEMSs, were placed at the second ERCP in 14 patients, at the third in 7, and at the fourth in 1. With a median follow-up of 12.5 months (range, 3-25) after CSEMS removal, 21/22 patients (95.5%) remain stricture free and one relapsed, requiring repeat CSEMS insertion. Four patients experienced pain after CSEMS insertion. At CSEMS removal, migration was noted in 5 cases, into either the distal duodenum (n=4) or the proximal biliary tree (n=1), and embedding was seen in 1 case. There were no serious complications; no patients needed hepatojejunostomy. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP is a safe first-line approach for post-OLT biliary complications. It was highly successful in a population with anastomotic leaks and strictures. The therapeutic role of ERCP to manage biliary complications after OLT in the long term is not well known. In our experience, the high rate (close to 95%) of efficacy and its relative safety allowed us to use CSEMS to manage refractory biliary post-OLT strictures. CSEMS insertion may preclude most post-OLT hepatojejunostomies.

A retrospective study of pediatric endoscopy as performed in an adult endoscopy unit.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a safe, efficient technique with minimal complications, and a useful diagnostic tool for the pediatric population. Under ideal conditions endoscopies for children should be performed by experienced pediatric endoscopists. In this study we report our experience with pediatric endoscopy at the general adult endoscopy unit in our hospital. Our goal is to quantify the number of endoscopies performed in children, as well as their indications and findings, the type of sedation or anesthesia used, and the time waiting for the test to occur. Our experience demonstrates that endoscopists in a general adult gastroenterology department, working together with pediatricians, may perform a relevant number of endoscopies in children in a fast, safe, effective manner.

[The adult age in the medical field]. / Mayoría de edad sanitaria.

Two erroneous concepts have been developed over the last two decades In the Spanish medical literature and clinical practice: a) "mature minor," supposed subject whose rights prevail over those of his/her parents and b) "legal age for health care-related decisions" (16 years), really non-existent in our legal regulations. Several thoughts are given concerning the legislations that have been offered with respect to the "legal-age for health care-related decisions".

Mayoría de edad sanitaria / The adult age in the medical field

En la práctica asistencial y en la literatura médica española se han ido desarrollando en las dos últimas décadas dos conceptos equívocos: a) «menor maduro», presunto sujeto de derechos prevalecientes sobre los de los padres, y b) «mayoría de edad sanitaria» (16 años), inexistente realmente en nuestra normativa jurídica. Se ofrece una reflexión acerca de las diferentes legislaciones promulgadas sobre la «mayoría de edad sanitaria»(AU)

Two erroneous concepts have been developed over the last two decades In the Spanish medical literature and clinical practice: a) “mature minor,” supposed subject whose rights prevail over those of his/her parents and b) “legal age for health care-related decisions” (16 years), really non-existent in our legal regulations. Several thoughts are given concerning the legislations that have been offered with respect to the “legal-age for health care-related decisions”(AU)

Estudio retrospectivo sobre la endoscopia pediátrica desarrollada en un servicio de endoscopias de adultos / A retrospective study of pediatric endoscopy as performed in an adult endoscopy unit

La endoscopia gastrointestinal es una técnica segura y eficientecon mínimas complicaciones, así como una útil herramienta diagnósticaen la población pediátrica. En condiciones ideales, las endoscopiasen niños deberían ser realizadas por endoscopistas pediátricosexperimentados. En este estudio reportamos nuestraexperiencia en la realización de endoscopias pediátricas en la Unidadde Endoscopias general de adultos de nuestro hospital.El objetivo es cuantificar la cantidad de endoscopias realizadasen niños, así como las indicaciones y hallazgos de las mismas, eltipo de sedación o anestesia empleado y el tiempo de espera parala realización de la prueba. Nuestra experiencia demuestra que losendoscopistas de un servicio de gastroenterología general de adultos,en colaboración con pediatras, pueden realizar un númeroimportante de endoscopias a niños, de forma rápida, segura y eficaz(AU)

Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a safe, efficient technique withminimal complications, and a useful diagnostic tool for the pediatricpopulation. Under ideal conditions endoscopies for childrenshould be performed by experienced pediatric endoscopists. Inthis study we report our experience with pediatric endoscopy atthe general adult endoscopy unit in our hospital. Our goal is toquantify the number of endoscopies performed in children, as wellas their indications and findings, the type of sedation or anesthesiaused, and the time waiting for the test to occur. Our experiencedemonstrates that endoscopists in a general adult gastroenterologydepartment, working together with pediatricians, mayperform a relevant number of endoscopies in children in a fast,safe, effective manner(AU)