Adverse events associated with bidirectional endoscopy with midazolam and pethidine.

Same-day bidirectional endoscopy has been reported to reduce recovery time, and procedure-related cost. The safety of bidirectional endoscopy vs colonoscopy only, while using midazolam and pethidine, has never been evaluated. We reviewed 1,202 consecutive patients who underwent bidirectional endoscopy or colonoscopy only with administration of midazolam and pethidine in Toyoshima Ensdoscopy Clinic. We compared the clinical characteristics and adverse events associated with method of endoscopy (colonoscopy only vs bidirectional endoscopy). Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to study the role of age, sex, use of sedative, polypectomy, and bidirectional endoscopy in adverse events. In the bidirectional endoscopy group, the doses of pethidine and midazolam, and the incidence rates of hypoxia and posto-endoscopic nausea were significantly higher. On multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio = 1.061, p<0.001), use of pethidine (odds ratio = 4.311, p = 0.003), and bidirectional endoscopy (odds ratio = 3.658, p<0.001) were independently associated with hypoxia. On multivariate analysis, female sex (odds ratio = 10.25, p = 0.027) and bidirectional endoscopy (odds ratio = 6.051, p = 0.022) were independently associated with post-endoscopic nausea. In conclusion, bidirectional endoscopy could increase hypoxia in elderly patients using pethidine and post-endoscopic nausea in female patients.

[A case of pseudomembranous colitis concomitant with toxic megacolon and paralytic ileus].

A 60-year-old man was diagnosed as pseudomembranous colitis with chief complaint of fever and abdominal distension after a cerebral operation. It was ineffective although vancomycin hydrochloride (VCM) was given orally. Complications occurred. The patient had toxic megacolon and paralytic ileus. VCM was administrated via an ileus tube. In addition, the bowel was lavaged and VCM was sprayed by colonoscopy. This therapy was very effective. Generally, a patient with pseudomembranous colitis concomitant with toxic megacolon or/and paralytic ileus is considered to have a poor prognosis, however, he completely recovered by a combination of medical treatment.

Magnetic compression anastomosis for biliary obstruction: review and experience at Tokyo Medical University Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic compression anastomosis (MCA) is a revolutionary, minimally invasive method of performing choledochoenterostomy or choledochocholedochostomy without using surgical techniques in patients with biliary stricture or obstruction. Herein, we describe a case series of MCA for severe biliary stricture or obstruction, which could not be treated with conventional therapies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two patients with biliary obstruction were treated using MCA for choledochocholedochostomy and choledochoenterostomy at Tokyo Medical University Hospital and Tokyo Medical University Hachioji Medical Center. Endoscopically, a samarium-cobalt (Sm-Co) rare-earth magnet was placed at the superior site of obstruction through the percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage route and another Sm-Co magnet was placed at the inferior site of obstruction. A comprehensive computer-aided literature search for MCA was performed up to September 2009 by using MEDLINE and EMBASE. RESULTS: MCA techniques enabled complete anastomosis in both cases without procedure-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: The MCA technique is a revolutionary method of performing choledochocholedochostomy and choledochoenterostomy interventionally in patients with biliary obstruction, for whom the conventional endoscopic procedure is not available, or in candidates who are deemed unsuitable for surgery.

Initial experience of transnasal endoscopic biliary drainage without conscious sedation for the treatment of acute cholangitis (with video).

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic biliary drainage has been established as providing effective treatment for acute obstructive jaundice and cholangitis. A recently developed ultrathin transnasal videoendoscope is less invasive, even for patients who were critically ill, and can be performed without conscious sedation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of biliary drainage (BD) by using transnasal videoendoscopy (TNE) without conscious sedation. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: This procedure was performed at Tokyo Medical University Hospital. PATIENTS: Three patients with bile-duct stones and acute cholangitis and with a previous biliary endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) were included in this study. INTERVENTION: All patients underwent BD by using a front-viewing TNE. Two 5F stents were placed into the bile duct across the major papilla. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: The efficacy and safety of the TNE technique. RESULTS: Transnasal insertion of a TNE endoscope was feasible in all patients, without epistaxis. TNE BD was achieved in all patients. Abdominal pain, fever, and jaundice improved 24 hours after the procedure in all patients. Despite the absence of intravenous conscious sedation, all patients would agree to undergo the procedure again, if necessary. LIMITATIONS: Maneuverability of the TNE endoscope; limited to patients with a previous ES. CONCLUSIONS: In this small series, unsedated TNE can be used to successfully drain the biliary system in patients with a previous ES. Additional studies to validate this hypothesis are needed.