[Is the preparation with sodium phosphate purgative for bowel cleansing safe in low-risk patients?]. / Es segura la preparación con laxante de fosfato sódico para la limpieza colónica en pacientes de bajo riesgo?

UNLABELLED: The development of colonoscopy has increased the oral sodium phosphate (OSP) laxative use. OSP complications like hyperphosphatemia with acute and chronic kidney impairment with nephrocalcinosis have been reported. OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze acute and one year after OSP complications in low risk well hydrated patients. METHODS: We performed a prospective study in 100 consecutive patients undergoing colonic cleansing with OSP for colonoscopy aged 35-74 year, ASA I-II. Exclusion criteria were congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, intestinal obstruction, decreased bowel motility, increased bowel permeability, hyperparathyroidism. Arterial pressure, hematocrit, serum osmolality, serum phosphate, ionic calcium, electrolytes (Na+, Cl-, K+), creatinine and urea were measured before and after OSP. The day before colonoscopy all the participants entered a 24 hr-period diet consisting in 4 litres of clear fluids and standard OSP dose (30 g at 17:00 and 30 gr at 22:00). Phosphatemia levels post OSP according to patient's weight (> or =, < or = 70 kg) and one year later kidney function were compared. RESULTS: Mean age was 58.9 +/- 8.4 years, 66% of patients were women and mean weight was 71 +/- 13 kg. Kidney function showed no significant difference between pre and post OSP, and after one year values. Hyperphosphatemia appeared in 87%. Hyperphosphatemia was higher in patients with low weight (5.8 mg/dl vs 5.3 mg/dl, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: OSP complications were reduced through an adequate patient selection in order to avoid risk factors and an effective hydration. Phosphate overload was tolerated without symptoms. Considering high hyperphosphatemia incidence and its relation with weight, to adjust dose related to weight should be evaluated. There was no acute or a year later renal damage.

Endoscopic management of biliary complications after adult living-donor versus deceased-donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Although data about the incidence and management of biliary complications after deceased-donor liver transplantation (DDLT) are well defined, those pertaining to adult living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) are conflicting. METHODS: We retrospectively compared endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) findings in 30 LDLT vs. 357 DDLT consecutive adult recipients with duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction. LDLT and DDLT recipients were followed up for median durations of 30.5 and 36.0 months after the last ERCP, respectively. RESULTS: Postoperative biliary complications were more frequently identified at ERCP after LDLT versus DDLT (10/30 [33.3%] vs. 34/357 [9.5%]; P<0.001). Complications mainly consisted of anastomotic biliary strictures (10/30 [33.3%] vs. 27/357 [7.6%]; LDLT vs. DDLT recipients, respectively; P<0.001) and biliary leaks (4/30 [13.3%] vs. 6/357 [1.7%]; LDLT vs. DDLT recipients, respectively; P=0.005; some patients had both complications). Stricture dilation was successful in 4/10 (40%) LDLT vs. 27/27 (100%) DDLT recipients (P<0.001), and bile ducts remained patent up to the end of follow-up without further intervention in 2/10 (20.0%) vs. 21/27 (77.8%) patients, respectively (P=0.002). Endoscopic treatment of bile leaks was successful in 3/4 (75.0%) vs. 5/6 (83.3%) LDLT versus DDLT recipients, respectively (NS). CONCLUSIONS: Biliary complications were more frequent after LDLT compared with DDLT. Endoscopic treatment of anastomotic biliary strictures was successful in a minority of patients after LDLT, in contrast with DDLT. Most biliary leaks were successfully treated at endoscopy after LDLT or DDLT.

Long-term outcome of argon plasma ablation therapy for bleeding in 100 consecutive patients with colonic angiodysplasia.

PURPOSE: Angiodysplasia is a frequent cause of colonic bleeding. Argon plasma coagulation was reported to be useful in endoscopic hemostasis. However, the long-term outcomes have been poorly evaluated. This study was designed to assess the long-term outcomes of bleeding patients with colonic angiodysplasia treated by argon plasma coagulation. METHODS: A cohort of 100 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding caused by colonic angiodysplasia was studied prospectively. The endoscopic intervention was considered successful if there was no further overt bleeding and hemoglobin concentration was stabilized (primary end point). Secondary end points were the requirement of blood transfusions, the need for surgery, bleeding-related mortality, and overall mortality. RESULTS: Overt bleeding resolved and hemoglobin levels were stabilized without transfusions or iron therapy in 85 of 100 patients (85 percent) after a median follow-up of 20 (range, 6-62) months. Transfusion requirements ceased in 90 percent of patients and only one required surgery. No patient died because of hemorrhage. In the subgroup of patients with anemia, mean hemoglobin levels increased from 9.3 (range, 5.5-12.2) g/dl before treatment to 12.6 (range, 7.4-16.7) g/dl after treatment (P < 0.01). The probability of remaining free of rebleeding at one and two year follow-up was 98 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 96-100) and 90 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 83-97), respectively. Among 118 procedures, only two complications were observed (1.7 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic argon plasma ablation therapy is useful in the management of bleeding from colonic angiodysplasia.

Argon plasma coagulation for prevention of recurrent bleeding from GI angiodysplasias.

BACKGROUND: Angiodysplasia is a frequent cause of GI bleeding. Argon plasma coagulation has been shown to arrest bleeding, but its efficacy for prevention of recurrent bleeding has not been thoroughly evaluated. This study assessed the effectiveness and the safety of argon plasma coagulation for prevention of recurrent bleeding from GI angiodysplasias. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with GI bleeding caused by angiodysplasia were included. The endoscopic intervention was considered successful if there was no further overt bleeding and if the Hb level stabilized. Recurrent bleeding was defined as any detectable bleeding episode (hematemesis, melena, or hematochezia) or a decrease in Hb level. RESULTS: Overt bleeding was resolved, and the Hb level stabilized without transfusion or supplemental iron therapy in 50 of the 60 patients (83%) at a median follow-up of 18 months (range 6-38 months). In the subgroup of patients with anemia, mean Hb level increased from 8.6 g/dL (range 5.1-12.2 g/dL) to 12 g/dL (range 8.0-15.2 g/dL) ( p < 0.01). The estimated probability of remaining free of recurrent bleeding at 1- and 2-year follow-up was 86%: 95% CI [73%, 93%] and 80%: 95% CI [64%, 89%], respectively. Among 72 procedures, only two were associated with a complication (2.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic argon plasma coagulation is both effective and safe for prevention of recurrent bleeding from GI angiodysplasia.

Carcinoma esofagogástrico temprano / Early esophago-gastric carcinoma

Se estudian 53 pacientes con carcinoma gástrico temprano y 4 con carcinoma esofágico temprano, con una incidencia del 10 y 2,5% sobre el total de neoplasias gástricas y esofágicas operadas entre 1971 y 1987. Se analizan las manifestaciones clínicas, localización, clasificación endoscópica e histopatológica; grado de penetración y las lesiones mucosas y neoplasias asociadas. La sobrevida actuarial a 5 años fue del 81,5% comparado con el 21,63% obtenido en el cáncer gástrico invasor. Se enfatiza la importancia de incrementar el diagnóstico de las formas tempranas utilizando los procedimientos endoscópicos en los pacientes sintomáticos y realizando adecuados seguimientos de los enfermos con lesiones mucosas asociadas, consideradas de alto riesgo

Carcinoma esofagogástrico temprano / Early esophago-gastric carcinoma

Se estudian 53 pacientes con carcinoma gástrico temprano y 4 con carcinoma esofágico temprano, con una incidencia del 10 y 2,5% sobre el total de neoplasias gástricas y esofágicas operadas entre 1971 y 1987. Se analizan las manifestaciones clínicas, localización, clasificación endoscópica e histopatológica; grado de penetración y las lesiones mucosas y neoplasias asociadas. La sobrevida actuarial a 5 años fue del 81,5% comparado con el 21,63% obtenido en el cáncer gástrico invasor. Se enfatiza la importancia de incrementar el diagnóstico de las formas tempranas utilizando los procedimientos endoscópicos en los pacientes sintomáticos y realizando adecuados seguimientos de los enfermos con lesiones mucosas asociadas, consideradas de alto riesgo (AU)