Large symptomatic esophageal diverticulum.

A 72-year-old woman was referred from primary care to the gastroenterology clinic because of heartburn and occasional dysphagia for the last 8 years, with some isolated food regurgitation events and no other warning signs; she is currently asymptomatic on omeprazole. Gastroscopy revealed a dilated esophagus and food remnants with inability to reach the gastric lumen, which led to the suspicion of achalasia. The study was completed with pH-metry, which found no pathological reflux; esophageal manometry, with absence of esophageal motor abnormalities; and barium swallow, which revealed a large diverticulum on the posterior wall of the lower third of the esophagus, which had food remnants but no other changes or evidence of achalasia. Given these findings, a repeat gastroscopy was carried out that revealed a large diverticulum in the distal third of the esophagus that occluded 50 % of the esophageal lumen, with a length of 4-5 cm and abundant semi-liquid food remnants; upon aspiration of the latter a whitish mucosa with erythematous areas was revealed, as well as a 1.5-cm sliding hiatal hernia. No changes were found on advancing to the second duodenal portion. In view of the above findings and symptoms, the patient was referred to the surgery department to be evaluated for diverticulectomy.

Usefulness of fully covered self-expandable biliary metal stents for the treatment of post-sphyncterotomy ERCP bleeding

Background: post-sphyncterotomy endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) bleeding is an adverse event with an estimated incidence rate of 1.34%. There is no established consensus about how to treat this particular type of gastrointestinal bleed. Placement of fully covered self-expandable biliary metal stents (FCSEBMS) has been evaluated as an alternative treatment with positive outcomes and a low complication rate. Aim: to report the results of a cohort of patients with post-sphyncterotomy bleeding treated in a tertiary care referral hospital with FCSEBMS. Methods: a retrospective cases series study was performed including all post-ERCP bleeds treated with FCSEBMS (immediate or delayed) from January 2015 to June 2017. Clinical data, laboratory results and endoscopic reports were collected in order to evaluate the rebleeding rate after endoscopic treatment. Two different scenarios were considered: a) prophylactic stent placement after effective endoscopic treatment; and b) stents placed for the treatment of an active postsphyncterotomy bleed, refractory to standard endoscopic therapy. Results: twenty-two patients (14 male, eight women) diagnosed with postsphyncterotomy bleeding were treated with FCSEBMS placement. The stents were placed prophylactically in 15 patients, while the stents were placed as a treatment for a refractory bleed in seven patients. No differences were found between both groups except for a higher anticoagulation rate in the treatment group. Clinical success was achieved in all but one patient, with no complications in relation to stent placement. Distal migration was described in two of the 22 patients included in the study. Conclusions: temporary placement of FCSEBMS seems to be a technically feasible treatment option for post-ERCP bleeding with a high clinical success rate. The complication rate was low, although randomized studies are needed

No disponible

Usefulness of fully covered self-expandable biliary metal stents for the treatment of post-sphyncterotomy ERCP bleeding.

BACKGROUND: post-sphyncterotomy endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) bleeding is an adverse event with an estimated incidence rate of 1.34%. There is no established consensus about how to treat this particular type of gastrointestinal bleed. Placement of fully covered self-expandable biliary metal stents (FCSEBMS) has been evaluated as an alternative treatment with positive outcomes and a low complication rate. AIM: to report the results of a cohort of patients with post-sphyncterotomy bleeding treated in a tertiary care referral hospital with FCSEBMS. METHODS: a retrospective cases series study was performed including all post-ERCP bleeds treated with FCSEBMS (immediate or delayed) from January 2015 to June 2017. Clinical data, laboratory results and endoscopic reports were collected in order to evaluate the rebleeding rate after endoscopic treatment. Two different scenarios were considered: a) prophylactic stent placement after effective endoscopic treatment; and b) stents placed for the treatment of an active postsphyncterotomy bleed, refractory to standard endoscopic therapy. RESULTS: twenty-two patients (14 male, eight women) diagnosed with postsphyncterotomy bleeding were treated with FCSEBMS placement. The stents were placed prophylactically in 15 patients, while the stents were placed as a treatment for a refractory bleed in seven patients. No differences were found between both groups except for a higher anticoagulation rate in the treatment group. Clinical success was achieved in all but one patient, with no complications in relation to stent placement. Distal migration was described in two of the 22 patients included in the study. CONCLUSIONS: temporary placement of FCSEBMS seems to be a technically feasible treatment option for post-ERCP bleeding with a high clinical success rate. The complication rate was low, although randomized studies are needed.