Diagnosis of metastatic angiosarcoma of the aorta in colonic lesion biopsies.

Angiosarcomas are rare tumors that usually entail a poor prognosis because of extensive invasiveness and high rates of distant metastasis. Gastrointestinal tract involvement is uncommon but may cause digestive bleeding. A definitive diagnosis requires histological and immunohistochemical testing. Metastatic lesions to the gut usually have a typical morphology, which must be identified in order to avoid delay in the diagnosis and potential treatment of this malignant condition.

Multitraction with rubber bands and surgical silk as a method to facilitate endoscopic submucosal dissection.

We propose this variant of the clip technique as a method that assist traction during endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD): traction on the mucosa plane using an hemoclip carrying a surgical silk and three rubber bands, before the incision, to allow easier access to the submucosa space. We propose this variant with the intention of facilitating access to ESD quickly and safely for beginners.

Colonic obstruction secondary to sigmoid fecaloma endoscopically resolved with Coca-Cola®.

BACKGROUND: Colonic obstruction is a relatively common condition in emergency care, with a mortality rate of up to 20%. In 90% of cases it results from colonic or rectal adenocarcinoma, volvulus, or stenosis secondary to diverticular disease. When fecal impaction is the underlying cause, the condition is usually managed conservatively, but may on occasion become complicated and even require surgical intervention. Based on the proven efficacy of Coca-Cola® to dissolve gastric phytobezoars, we report a case of colonic obstruction secondary to sigmoid fecaloma. CASE REPORT: A 58 years old woman arrived at the Emergency Room (ER) with persistent constipation for the last six days. An abdominal CT scan showed a large fecal mass at the sigmoid colon with retrograde dilated colonic loops. Cleansing enemas and oral lactulose were administered, which failed to resolve the clinical presentation, so we then proceeded to inject Coca-Cola® within the fecaloma using a sclerosing needle, and then washed the fecaloma surface also with Coca-Cola®. After a few minutes we started to fragment the fecalith, the consistency of which had been notably decreased. DISCUSSION: The use of Coca-Cola® for gastric washes in the management of phytobezoars is well established. Since fecaliths are partly composed of these same substances than phytobezoars, the use of Coca-Cola® might well be warranted against them as in our patient, without surgery. Our case report is the second one published in the literature, in which Coca-Cola® helped solve colonic obstruction secondary to fecaloma.

Caustic esophageal injury by impaction of cell batteries.

The ingestion of cell batteries can cause serious complications (fistula, perforation or stenosis) at the esophageal level. The damage starts soon after ingestion (approximately 2 hours) and is directly related to the amount of time the battery is lodged in said location, the amount of electrical charge remaining in the battery, and the size of the battery itself. Injury is produced by the combination of electrochemical and chemical mechanisms and pressure necrosis. The ingestion of multiple cells and a size > = 20 mm are related with more severe and clinically significant outcomes. A female patient, 39 years old, with a history of previous suicide attempts, was admitted to the Emergency Room with chest pain and dysphagia after voluntary ingestion of 2 cell batteries. Two cell batteries are easily detected in a routine chest X-ray, presenting a characteristic double-ring shadow, or peripheral halo. Urgent oral endoscopy was performed 10 hours after ingestion, showing a greenish-gray lumpy magma-like consistency due to leakage of battery contents. The 2 batteries were sequentially removed with alligator-jaw forceps. After flushing and aspiration of the chemical material, a broad and circumferential injury with denudation of the mucosa and two deep ulcerations with necrosis were observed where the batteries had been. The batteries' seals were eroded, releasing chemical contents. Despite the severity of the injuries, the patient progressed favorably and there was no esophageal perforation. Esophageal impaction of cell batteries should always be considered an endoscopic urgency.

Percutaneous Gastrostomies: Associated Complications in PUSH vs. PULL Techniques over 12 Years in a Referral Centre.

Objectives: To compare complications associated with percutaneous gastrostomies performed using PUSH and PULL techniques, whether endoscopic (PEG) or radiological (PRG), in a tertiary-level hospital. Methods: This was a prospective observational study. Adult patients who underwent percutaneous PULL or PUSH gastrostomy using PEG or PRG techniques at the Virgen del Rocio University Hospital and subsequently followed up in the Nutrition Unit between 2009-2020 were included. X2 tests or Fisher's test were used for the comparison of proportions when necessary. Univariate analysis was conducted to study risk factors for PRG-associated complications. Results: n = 423 (PULL = 181; PUSH = 242). The PULL technique was associated with a higher percentage of total complications (37.6% vs. 23.8%; p = 0.005), exudate (18.2% vs. 11.2%; p = 0.039), and irritation (3.3% vs. 0%; p = 0.006). In the total sample, there were 5 (1.1%) cases of peritonitis, 3 (0.7%) gastrocolic fistulas, and 1 (0.2%) death due to complications associated with gastrostomy. Gender, age, and different indications were not risk factors for a higher number of complications. The most common indications were neurological diseases (35.9%), head and neck cancer (29%), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (17.2%). Conclusions: The PULL technique was associated with more total complications than the PUSH technique, but both were shown to be safe techniques, as the majority of complications were minor.

Clinical utility of urinary gluten immunogenic peptides in the follow-up of patients with coeliac disease.

BACKGROUND: Gluten-free diet (GFD) is the only treatment for patients with coeliac disease (CD) and its compliance should be monitored to avoid cumulative damage. AIMS: To analyse gluten exposures of coeliac patients on GFD for at least 24 months using different monitoring tools and its impact on duodenal histology at 12-month follow-up and evaluate the interval of determination of urinary gluten immunogenic peptides (u-GIP) for the monitoring of GFD adherence. METHODS: Ninety-four patients with CD on a GFD for at least 24 months were prospectively included. Symptoms, serology, CDAT questionnaire, and u-GIP (three samples/visit) were analysed at inclusion, 3, 6, and 12 months. Duodenal biopsy was performed at inclusion and 12 months. RESULTS: At inclusion, 25.8% presented duodenal mucosal damage; at 12 months, this percentage reduced by half. This histological improvement was indicated by a reduction in u-GIP but did not correlate with the remaining tools. The determination of u-GIP detected a higher number of transgressions than serology, regardless of histological evolution type. The presence of >4 u-GIP-positive samples out of 12 collected during 12 months predicted histological lesion with a specificity of 93%. Most patients (94%) with negative u-GIP in ≥2 follow-up visits showed the absence of histological lesions (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the frequency of recurrent gluten exposures, according to serial determination of u-GIP, could be related to the persistence of villous atrophy and that a more regular follow-up every 6 months, instead of annually, provides more useful data about the adequate adherence to GFD and mucosal healing.

Gastrostomies: experience and complications with three modalities in a tertiary centre over a 26-year period.

Objectives: To describe the complications associated with the different gastrostomy techniques [endoscopic (PEG), radiologic (PRG), and surgical (SG)] performed in the last 26 years in a terciary hospital. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Patients who underwent gastrostomy at the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital between 1995 and 2021 were included. For PEG, the PULL technique was performed until 2018 and subsequently the PUSH technique predominantly. For PRG, a pigtail catheter was used until 2003, a balloon catheter between 2003 and 2009, and a balloon catheter with gastropexy between 2015 and 2021. For SG, the conventional technique (CSG) was performed until 2009 and since then the laparoscopic assisted percutaneous gastrostomy (PLAG) technique. Descriptive analysis was performed obtaining the median and quartiles of the quantitative variables [P50 (P25-P75)] and the frequency for the qualitative variables [n (%)].The comparison of complications between patients who underwent different techniques was performed with Fisher's test. Results: n = 1,070 (PEG = 608, PRG = 344, SG = 118). The three most frequent indications were head and neck tumors, neurological diseases and gastroesophageal tumors. The percentage of patients who had any complication was 48.9% (PEG-PULL), 23.7% (PEG-PUSH), 38.5% (pigtail PRG), 39.2% (balloon PRG), 29.7% (balloon with gastropexy PRG), 87.3% (CSG), and 41.26% (PLAG). 2 (0.18%) patients died from gastrostomy-related complications. 18(1.68%) presented with peritonitis and 5 (0.4%) presented with gastrocolic fistula. The rest of the complications were minor. Conclusion: Gastrostomy in any of its modalities is currently a safe procedure with a low rate of complications, most of which are minor.

Obstrucción colónica secundaria a fecaloma de sigma resuelta endoscópicamente con Coca-Cola(R) / Colonic obstruction secondary to sigmoid fecaloma endoscopically resolved with Coca-Cola(R)

Introducción: la obstrucción colónica es una patología relativamente frecuente en el área de urgencias, con una mortalidad de hasta el 20%. En el 90% de los casos se debe a adenocarcinoma de colon o recto, vólvulo o estenosis secundaria a enfermedad diverticular. Respecto a la impactación de material fecal como causa de la misma es una entidad que suele manejarse forma conservadora, aunque en ocasiones puede complicarse y precisar incluso de intervención quirúrgica para su resolución. Basándonos en la efectividad demostrada de la Coca-Cola® para disolver fitobezoars gástricos planteamos su uso en un caso de obstrucción colónica secundaria a fecaloma de sigma. Caso clínico: se trata de una mujer de 58 años que acude a urgencias por cuadro de estreñimiento pertinaz de 6 días de evolución. En las pruebas radiológicas realizadas se demostró la presencia gran masa de material fecal impactada en colon sigmoides que condicionaba dilatación retrógrada de asas colónicas. Tras el fracaso de las medidas conservadoras con enemas de limpieza y lactulosa oral, se decidió desimpactar el fecaloma mediante colonoscopia valiéndonos de Coca-Cola®, que aplicamos con irrigaciones e inyección local. Esto disminuyó su consistencia y permitió la fragmentación con asa del fecaloma. Discusión: la Coca-Cola® ya se emplea para disolver fitobezoars gástricos. La composición similar de los fecalomas hace suponer que esta sea también efectiva como así fue en el caso de nuestra paciente, permitiendo no tener que intervenir a la paciente. Nuestro caso es el segundo publicado en el que la Coca-Cola® ayudó a la resolución de una obstrucción colónica secundaria a fecaloma (AU)

Background: Colonic obstruction is a relatively common condition in emergency care, with a mortality rate of up to 20%. In 90% of cases it results from colonic or rectal adenocarcinoma, volvulus, or stenosis secondary to diverticular disease. When fecal impaction is the underlying cause, the condition is usually managed conservatively, but may on occasion become complicated and even require surgical intervention. Based on the proven efficacy of Coca-Cola® to dissolve gastric phytobezoars, we report a case of colonic obstruction secondary to sigmoid fecaloma. Case report: A 58 years old woman arrived at the Emergency Room (ER) with persistent constipation for the last six days. An abdominal CT scan showed a large fecal mass at the sigmoid colon with retrograde dilated colonic loops. Cleansing enemas and oral lactulose were administered, which failed to resolve the clinical presentation, so we then proceeded to inject Coca-Cola® within the fecaloma using a sclerosing needle, and then washed the fecaloma surface also with Coca-Cola®. After a few minutes we started to fragment the fecalith, the consistency of which had been notably decreased. Discussion: The use of Coca-Cola® for gastric washes in the management of phytobezoars is well established. Since fecaliths are partly composed of these same substances than phytobezoars, the use of Coca-Cola® might well be warranted against them as in our patient, without surgery. Our case report is the second one published in the literature, in which Coca-Cola® helped solve colonic obstruction secondary to fecaloma (AU)

Lesión esofágica cáustica severa por impactación de pilas de botón / Caustic esophageal injury by impaction of cell batteries

No dipsonible

Tratamiento con talidomida asociada a procedimiento endoscópico con argón plasma coagulado en la hemorragia rectal por lesiones vasculares secundarias a proctitis actínica grave / Thalidomide associated to endoscopic treatment with argon plasma coagulation in rectal bleeding caused by vascular injury secundary to severe actinic proctitis

No disponible

Tratamiento con talidomida asociada a procedimiento endoscópico con argón plasma coagulado en la hemorragia rectal por lesiones vasculares secundarias a proctitis actínica grave / Thalidomide associated to endoscopic treatment with argon plasma coagulation in rectal bleeding caused by vascular injury secundary to severe actinic proctitis

No disponible