A Hagel

Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography for Assessment of Crohn’s Disease Activity

A preliminary study suggests that intestinal-wall assessment by means of noninvasive multispectral optoacoustic tomography may distinguish remission from active disease in patients with Crohn’s disease.

Colonoscopy‐associated perforation: a 7‐year survey of in‐hospital frequency, treatment and outcome in a German university hospital

Aim  Perforation occurs rarely after colonoscopy, but is associated with high morbidity and mortality. In this study, we assessed the perforation rate in our hospital, its clinical diagnosis and the long‐term outcome.

The Malabsorption of Commonly Occurring Mono and Disaccharides: Levels of Investigation and Differential Diagnoses

BACKGROUND Adverse food reactions (AFR) have has recently attracted increased attention from the media and are now more commonly reported by patients. Its classification, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment are complex and present a considerable challenge in clinical practice. Non-immune-mediated types of food intolerance have a cumulative prevalence of 30% to 40%, while true (immune-mediated) food allergies affect only 2% to 5% of the German population. METHOD We selectively searched the literature for pertinent publications on carbohydrate malabsorption, with special attention to published guidelines and position papers. RESULTS Carbohydrate intolerance can be the result of a rare, systemic metabolic defect (e.g., fructose intolerance, with a prevalence of 1 in 25,000 persons) or of gastrointestinal carbohydrate malabsorption. The malabsorption of simple carbohydrates is the most common type of non-immune-mediated food intolerance, affecting 20% to 30% of the European population. This condition is caused either by deficient digestion of lactose or by malabsorption of fructose and/or sorbitol. Half of all cases of gastrointestinal carbohydrate intolerance have nonspecific manifestations, with a differential diagnosis including irritable bowel syndrome, intolerance reactions, chronic infections, bacterial overgrowth, drug side effects, and other diseases. The diagnostic evaluation includes a nutritional history, an H2 breath test, ultrasonography, endoscopy, and stool culture. CONCLUSION The goals of treatment for carbohydrate malabsorption are to eliminate the intake of the responsible carbohydrate substance or reduce it to a tolerable amount and to assure the physiological nutritional composition of the patients diet. In parallel with these goals, the patient should receive extensive information about the condition, and any underlying disease should be adequately treated.

colon capsule endoscopy: Detection of colonic polyps compared with conventional colonoscopy and visualization of extracolonic pathologies

BACKGROUND Conventional colonoscopy (CC) is the gold standard for diagnostic examination of the colon. However, the overall acceptance of this procedure is low due to patient fears of complications or embarrassment. Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) represents a minimally invasive, patient-friendly procedure that offers complete visualization of the entire intestine. OBJECTIVE To assess the PillCam Colon 2 (Given Imaging Ltd, Israel) capsule with regard to feasibility, sensitivity and specificity for the detection of colonic pathologies and additional recorded extracolonic findings. METHODS CCE was performed before CC in patients indicated for CC for known or suspected colonic disease. The results of both techniques were compared with regard to polyp detection. Additionally, bowel preparation and extracolonic pathologies were analyzed. RESULTS Twenty-four patients (mean age 51.1 years) were included in the analysis. Visualization of the colon was complete in 23 CCs and 17 CCEs. No adverse events or major technical failures occurred. CC detected 47 polyps and CCE detected 43 polyps of any size (per-finding sensitivity 90.9%, specificity 67.6%). The accuracy of CCE in detecting polyp carriers was 81.5% (per-patient analysis). On average, the colon was adequately cleansed in 90.1% of patients. CCE identified esophageal, gastric and small bowel pathologies in seven (24%), nine (38%) and 14 (58%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS CCE proved to be technically feasible and safe. Acceptable sensitivity and moderate specificity levels in polyp detection were recorded. Bowel preparation was adequate in most patients. Because extracolonic pathologies were effectively visualized, new indications for the PillCam Colon 2 may be defined.

Small-bowel capsule endoscopy in patients with gastrointestinal food allergy.

To cite this article: Hagel AF, de Rossi TM, Zopf Y, Lindner AS, Dauth W, Neurath MF, Raithel M. Small‐bowel capsule endoscopy in patients with gastrointestinal food allergy. Allergy 2012; 67: 286–292.

Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography in Crohn’s Disease: Noninvasive Imaging of Disease Activity

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QuickView video preview software of colon capsule endoscopy: reliability in presenting colorectal polyps as compared to normal mode reading

Abstract Objective. Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) proved to be highly sensitive in detection of colorectal polyps (CP). Major limitation is the time-consuming video reading. The aim of this prospective, double-center study was to assess the theoretical time-saving potential and its possible impact on the reliability of “QuickView” (QV), in the presentation of CP as compared to normal mode (NM). Methods. During NM reading of 65 CCE videos (mean patient´s age 56 years), all frames showing CPs were collected and compared to the number of frames presented by QV at increasing QV settings (10, 20, ... 80%). Reliability of QV in presenting polyps <6 mm and ≥6 mm (significant polyp), and identifying patients for subsequent therapeutic colonoscopy, capsule egestion rate, cleansing level, and estimated time-saving potential were assessed. Results. At a 30% QV setting, the QV video presented 89% of the significant polyps and 86% of any polyps with ≥1 frame (per-polyp analysis) identified in NM before. At a 10% QV setting, 98% of the 52 patients with significant polyps could be identified (per-patient analysis) by QV video analysis. Capsule excretion rate was 74% and colon cleanliness was adequate in 85%. QV´s presentation rate correlates to the QV setting, the polyp size, and the number of frames per finding. Conclusions. Depending on its setting, the reliability of QV in presenting CP as compared to NM reading is notable. However, if no significant polyp is presented by QV, NM reading must be performed afterwards. The reduction of frames to be analyzed in QV might speed up identification of candidates for therapeutic colonoscopy.

Periprosthetic femoral fracture - an interdisciplinary challenge.

BACKGROUND The increasing implantation rates of total hip and knee prostheses have been accompanied by a corresponding rise in periprosthetic fractures (PPF), most often affecting the femur. METHOD This review is based on a selective search of the PubMed database for articles in English and German. The search was carried out with a set of pertinent medical subject headings (MeSH) and as a free text search employing a logical combination of search terms (evidence grade III-IV). RESULTS Soft-tissue-sparing, stable-angle plate osteosynthesis with a firmly seated implant is a safe treatment of periprosthetic femoral fracture (PPFF). A correct assessment of the stability of the prosthesis is a prerequisite for the success of treatment. A loose prosthesis must be surgically revised, and a failed osteosynthesis can also necessitate revision of the prosthesis. The conservative management of PPFF is generally not indicated, as it has a high complication rate. CONCLUSION The treatment of periprosthetic fractures requires competence, not just in osteosynthetic techniques, but also in endoprosthesis implantation and revision. Careful preoperative planning to select the proper treatment is essential, and the necessary equipment must be on hand.

Arthroscopic treatment of bilateral snapping scapula syndrome: a case report and review of the literature

Snapping scapula syndrome represents a rare entity in shoulder surgery. Clinically, it presents as shoulder pain and loud crepitus during shoulder movement. Moreover, glenohumeral bursitis can cause additional pain. Snapping scapula syndrome is caused by an increased angulation of the superomedial part of the scapula combined with bursitis. Other common causes such as subscapular osteochondroma or rib fracture non-unions were excluded. We report a 24-year-old female patient with persisting shoulder pain and disturbing crepitus during movement of the left shoulder. Radiographic examination revealed increased angulation of the superomedial scapula on both sides and MRI, bursitis of the left shoulder. The patient was successfully treated with minimally invasive arthroscopic trimming of the prominent osseous formation at the left scapula combined with bursectomy. Additionally, specific pain-adapted physiotherapeutic exercises of both shoulders were performed. The patient had a pain-free shoulder movement without crepitus on both sides at the 6th month follow-up.

Brown Bowel Syndrome: A Rare Complication in Diseases Associated with Long-Standing Malabsorption

Background/Aims: Longtime chronic malabsorption may among other things cause a lack of liposoluble vitamins. Vitamin E deficiency can lead to formation of lipofuscin aggregates. Its deficiency is also associated with an increased lipofuscinosis of the bowel, i.e. brown bowel syndrome. Methods: Systematic research via Medline on brown bowel syndrome, lipofuscinosis, and vitamin E deficiency was performed. We combined our own clinical experience and a review of the literature for this paper. Its goal is to inform about the possible consequences of severe malabsorption and brown bowel syndrome. Results: Systematic data about the occurrence of severe malabsorption and brown bowel syndrome are rare. Only about 27 scientific reports can be found on this subject. Brown bowel syndrome is found mostly in conjunction with vitamin E deficiency and lipofuscinosis of the bowel. The clinical findings are caused by both malabsorption and lipofuscinosis. Case reports show a therapeutic effect of vitamin E. Conclusion: Vitamin deficiency caused by longtime chronic malabsorption can lead to the development of brown bowel syndrome, which is seen as the expression of lipofuscinosis of the bowel, and can cause further clinical disorders. Patients with malabsorption should therefore be monitored regarding their vitamin E levels.