Predictive Model for Positive Video Capsule Endoscopy in Iron Deficiency Anemia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract can contribute to the development of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among individuals without another obvious source of bleeding. In order to identify patients most likely to benefit from examination of the small bowel, our aim was to create a risk score for positive video capsule endoscopy (VCE) in IDA utilizing a multicenter collection of studies. METHODS: We performed a retrospective multicenter study utilizing VCE studies performed for an indication of IDA between 1/1/2005 and 7/31/2018. VCE findings were graded based on the P0-P2 grading system. The primary outcome of interest was a positive (P2) VCE. Data were analyzed with Student's t test for continuous variables and the Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. Logistic regression was used to identify independent associations with positive VCE. RESULTS: In total, 765 VCE procedures were included with 355 (46.5%) male subjects and a median age of 63.2 (SD 15.3) years. One hundred ninety studies (24.8%) were positive (P2) for small bowel bleeding. Four variables associated with positive VCE which were incorporated into a point scoring system: (+) 1 for age ≥ 66 years, active smoking and cardiac arrythmia and (-) 1 for preceding hemoglobin level ≥ 8.5. The risk probabilities for positive VCE-assigned scores - 1, 0, 1, and 2 + were 12.3% (95% CI 7.3-17.3%), 20% (14.9-25.1%), 34.8% (28.6-41%), and 39% (30-47.8%). CONCLUSION: In order to improve the diagnostic yield of capsule examinations, risk factors should be applied to clinical decision-making. We created a risk score for positive VCE in IDA, including the risk factors of age, smoking, history of cardiac arrythmia, and preceding hemoglobin level.

Inappropriate Testing for Acute Viral Hepatitis Is Common-Impact of an Intervention Using the Electronic Health Record in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital in the United States.

Background: Unnecessary laboratory tests contribute to the financial burden placed on hospitals, patients, insurers, and taxpayers. In our institution, we noted acute viral hepatitis serologic testing in patients with chronic liver disease, sometimes done repetitively, in the absence of substantially elevated aminotransferase levels. The goal of this study was to determine the frequency of unnecessary testing for acute hepatitis A and B infections and then reduce testing rates by implementing an intervention in the electronic health record. Methods: In a 2-year period, 2 successive interventions questioning the appropriateness of ordering viral hepatitis serology based on transaminase elevation and prior serology results were implemented in the electronic health record system at Saint Louis University Hospital. The first intervention allowed providers to override the warning without providing a reason; the second intervention required justification to proceed with the order. Preintervention and postintervention appropriate and inappropriate testing proportions were compared using Fisher exact test. Results: The electronic reminders resulted in a statistically significant reduction of inappropriate testing rates; however, testing rates remained high whether the provider had to justify overriding the automatic alert or not. Conclusion: Our research demonstrated that the rates of inappropriate testing for acute viral hepatitis at our institution were unnecessarily high and showed that a simple intervention in the medical record system may be useful in reducing inappropriate testing. Our interventions were feasible and implemented at minimal cost. Similar interventions could be used to target other unnecessary tests, but education and additional interventions will likely be required to reduce unnecessary testing further.

Endoscopic Retrieval vs Observation in Cylindrical Battery Ingestion.

Background: Battery ingestion, particularly in the pediatric population, has become more common since the development of button batteries. Consequently, formal recommendations regarding the management of this battery type have been developed. Larger cylindrical battery ingestion is less common, with fewer cases reported. As such, no clear practice guidelines have been developed for the management of cylindrical battery ingestion. Case Report: We present a case of an incarcerated adult who ingested 2 AA batteries. One battery was retrieved endoscopically, but the second passed into the distal small bowel beyond endoscopic means of retrieval. The second battery passed spontaneously via the rectum after administration of laxatives and supportive care. Conclusion: Our case and review of the literature demonstrate that nonsurgical, conservative management with close clinical monitoring is possible in a hospital setting after cylindrical battery ingestion. Cases with concerning clinical symptoms or a history of damage to the battery casing warrant endoscopic or surgical intervention.

Trans-Hepatic Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube Placement: A Case Report of A Rare Complication and Literature Review.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes have emerged as the standard of care for long-term enteral feeding. This procedure is relatively safe; however, complications do occur, and one of the most dreaded complications is trauma to the surrounding organs. Hepatic injury during PEG placement is an extremely rare complication of the PEG procedure, with a handful of cases described in the medical literature. We describe the case of an accidental trans-hepatic placement of a PEG tube in a 78-year-old morbidly obese female, even with excellent trans-illumination and manual external pressure achieved during endoscopic placement. Post-procedure, cross-sectional imaging of the abdomen showed a gastrostomy tube traversing the lateral margin of the liver with adjacent small hematoma. Physical exam was unremarkable for abdominal tenderness or guarding/rigidity, and no blood or drainage was noted at the site of PEG insertion. Enteral nutrition was started after 24 h of PEG tube insertion and patient tolerated well with no complications. The patient was discharged to a nursing home but unfortunately died the following week to an unknown cause.

Denture-Associated Oral Microbiome and Periodontal Disease Causing an Anaerobic Pyogenic Liver Abscess in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case report and Review of the Literature.

Pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA) develop from the spread of infection through the portal circulation, biliary infections or arterial hematogenous seeding in the setting of systemic infections. PLA are often poly-microbial and are uncommonly reported to be due to anaerobic species. We report the case of a previously healthy, immunocompetent 63-year-old man with hepatic abscesses as a result of Fusobacterium nucleatum periodontal disease. In addition, a systemic review of the literature is performed. Fusobacterium is a very rare cause of PLA in immunocompetent hosts with only a handful of cases reported in the literature. Although anaerobic infections such as Fusobacterium most often occur in immunocompromised individuals, clinicians should have a high index of suspicion in immunocompetent patients with periodontal disease or chronic stomatitis.

Mixed Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Duodenum: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Despite being the largest part of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the small intestine accounts for only 1-1.4% of all GI malignancies. Adenocarcinoma is the most common primary small bowel malignancy, with the most common site being the duodenum. On the other hand, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the duodenum is extremely uncommon. We report the first case of mixed adenocarcinoma and SCC occurring in the third part of duodenum (D3). Our patient, a 64-year-old female with history of GERD, hypertension, and IDDM presented with 4 weeks of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Tomographic imaging of her abdomen demonstrated a distended stomach and a proximal duodenum with narrow caliber changes at the level of D3. An EGD revealed a tight stricture at D3 that could not be traversed. Stricture biopsies revealed duodenal mucosa with two small foci of SCC (positive for p63 and CK5/6) and adenocarcinoma (positive for CK7 and Moc31). Peritoneal metastases were detected on exploratory laparotomy, making the tumor surgically incurable. As she progressively declined and with worsening liver enzymes and general debility, she was not a candidate for chemotherapy and was eventually discharged on home hospice. Small bowel SCC/adenocarcinoma is an exceedingly uncommon cancer, making further case reports such as ours important to understand the nature of this entity and establish management guidelines.

Idelalisib-induced colitis and skin eruption mimicking graft-versus-host disease.

INTRODUCTION: Idelalisib is a selective inhibitor of the delta isoform of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase which was approved by the United States Federal Drug Administration in 2014 for the treatment of relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia and indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Drug-induced injury of the gastrointestinal tract is a relatively frequent but usually under-recognized disease entity. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 56-year-old male with a history of relapsed follicular lymphoma status post allogenic bone marrow transplant who developed severe diarrhea with a skin eruption mimicking graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) 6 months after starting idelalisib. He underwent a colonoscopy demonstrating a grossly normal-appearing colon and terminal ileum. Biopsies taken during the procedure revealed mild active ileitis, colitis, and proctitis with frequent epithelial apoptosis, and focal intra-epithelial lymphocytosis. Skin biopsies revealed sub-acute spongiotic dermatitis suggestive of either contact dermatitis or an eczematous drug reaction. Symptoms were attributed to idelalisib given their resolution with withdrawal of the drug in conjunction with the skin and colonic biopsies. CONCLUSION: High clinical suspicion and awareness of the histological features of idelalisib-associated colitis is important to distinguish it from potential mimickers such as GVHD and infectious colitis.