Birinder Nagi

Corrosive induced carcinoma of esophagus: Report of three patients and review of literature

Patients with corrosive induced esophageal strictures have more than a 1000‐fold risk of developing carcinoma of the esophagus. We report three cases of corrosion carcinoma seen by us (a team of gastroenterologists, radiologists and a surgeon) in the last 15 years. Two cases were among 156 patients with corrosive induced strictures on our follow‐up, and constituted the only corrosion carcinoma out of 650 esophageal carcinomas operated on by us. Nearly all reported patients with corrosion carcinoma in the published literature had consumed an alkali, but two of our three patients had consumed an acid.

Cholangiopathy in extrahepatic portal venous obstruction: Radiological appearances

Purpose: To evaluate cholangiographic abnormalities resulting from extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) by sonography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP). Material and Methods: Forty-three patients with an established diagnosis of EHPVO were subjected to duplex Doppler sonography and ERCP. Of these, 8 patients had obstructive jaundice. Results: Dilated common bile duct with pericholedochal varices showing a continuous type of flow pattern was seen in 5 EHPVO patients with obstructive jaundice. ERCP revealed cholangiographic abnormalities in 40 patients (93%). Extrahepatic bile ducts were involved in 100% of cases compared to intrahepatic bile ducts (57%). Abnormalities noted were contour irregularity with indentations, displacement and angulation, strictures and filling defects in the extrahepatic ductal system. Intrahepatic bile ducts showed dilatation with areas of narrowing and filling defects. Conclusion: Cholangiographic abnormalities are very common in patients with EHPVO, even without clinical manifestations of biliary disease. Extrahepatic bile ducts are far more often involved compared to intrahepatic bile ducts. Extrinsic compression with contour irregularity is the most common cholangiographic finding. Sonographic findings are not diagnostic. Dilated common bile duct with pericholedochal varices was seen in only 5 patients.

Clinical Profile of Idiopathic Chronic Pancreatitis in North India

BACKGROUND & AIMS Tropical pancreatitis, a form of idiopathic chronic pancreatitis (ICP) with unique features, has been described in South and North India. We investigated the clinical profile of ICP patients in North India. METHODS Detailed demographic data were recorded; hematological and biochemical analyses were performed on samples from 155 patients (mostly from North India) who had been diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis. Ultrasonography and computed tomography were performed on all patients. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, glucose tolerance tests, and fecal fat studies were performed on some patients. Patients were divided into groups based on early- or late-onset ICP (before or after 35 years of age). RESULTS ICP was reported in 41.3% of patients and alcoholic chronic pancreatitis in 38.1%. The mean age of ICP patients was 33.0 +/- 13.0 years and the mean duration of symptoms at the time of presentation was 40.2 +/- 34.4 months. Pain was the dominant symptom in patients with early- (95.1%) and late-onset (100%) ICP; pseudocyst was the most common local complication. Diabetes was observed in 17.1% of patients with early-onset ICP and 34.8% with late-onset ICP. Pancreatic calcification was noted in 46.3% of patients with early-onset and 47.8% with late-onset ICP. Pseudocyst and segmental portal hypertension occurred more frequently in non-calcific ICP, whereas diabetes mellitus and abnormal fecal fat excretion occurred more frequently in patients with calcific ICP. CONCLUSIONS In North India, ICP differs from the classical tropical pancreatitis described in the literature. It is associated with a higher prevalence of pain and lower frequencies of diabetes, calcification, and intraductal calculi.

Endoscopic balloon dilation in caustic-induced chronic gastric outlet obstruction

BACKGROUND The standard treatment of caustic-induced gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is surgery. There are only a few reports in the medical literature on endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) for caustic-induced GOO. OBJECTIVE To study the short-term and long-term response of EBD in patients with caustic-induced GOO. SETTING Tertiary-care center in India. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of data. PATIENTS Of the 49 patients with caustic-induced GOO seen by us between January 1998 and December 2003, 41 were treated by EBD. Thirty-seven patients had consumed an acid and 4 had consumed an alkali a mean (SD) of 19.5 +/- 14.5 weeks earlier. EBD was performed every 3 weeks by using through-the-scope balloons under endoscopic guidance. INTERVENTION The balloon was negotiated across the narrowed segment and inflated for 60 seconds by using a pressure gun. Balloons of incremental diameters, up to a maximum of 3 sizes, were used in each sitting. The end point of dilation was 15 mm, after which patients were assessed for recurrence. The patients were observed until August 2007. RESULTS All 41 patients (23 men; mean [SD] age 29.6 +/- 8.5 years) could be successfully taken for EBD. Thirty-nine patients underwent successful repeated dilations, which required a mean (SD) of 5.8 +/- 2.6 dilations (range 2-13) to achieve the end point of 15 mm. All 39 patients were followed up for an average (SD) of 35.4 +/- 11.1 months (range 18-58 months). The mean (SD) size of the first dilator was 8.2 +/- 0.6 mm (range 8-10 mm). One patient had a perforation and was subjected to antrectomy; another patient had pain every time he received EBD; he also had surgery. Other complications were minor: self-limiting pain (n = 8) or bleeding (n = 7). CONCLUSIONS EBD is a safe, effective, and long-lasting alternative to surgery for caustic-induced GOO.

Management of multiple and large pancreatic pseudocysts by endoscopic transpapillary nasopancreatic drainage alone.

OBJECTIVE:Endoscopic drainage of a single pseudocyst is a well-known treatment modality. Its role in the management of multiple pseudocysts is not well established. We evaluated the role of endoscopic transpapillary nasopancreatic drain (NPD) placement in the management of multiple and large pseudocysts.METHODS:Over 3 yr (2001–2004), endoscopic transpapillary NPD placement was attempted in 11 patients (age range 12–50 yr, 10 men) with symptomatic communicating multiple pseudocysts of pancreas (three in two and two in nine cases). A 5Fr/7Fr NPD was placed across the most distal duct disruption or into one of the pseudocysts.RESULTS:Eight patients had an underlying chronic pancreatitis and three patients had pseudocysts as seque-lae of acute pancreatitis. The size of pseudocysts ranged from 2 to 14 cm (mean 7.5 cm). Eight patients (72.7%) had at least one pseudocyst more than 6 cm in size. Nine patients had a partial disruption and two patients had complete disruption of the pancreatic duct. The NPD was successfully placed in 10 of 11 (90.9%) patients. Postprocedure acute febrile illness in one patient was the only complication noted, which responded to intravenous antibiotics. All pseudocysts resolved in 4–8 wk in 7 of 7 patients with successful bridging of the most distal ductal disruption. There was no recurrence of the pseudocysts in a mean follow-up of 19.4 months. Two patients, in whom there was a complete disruption and the NPD could not bridge the disruption, required surgery for the nonresolution of pseudocysts. In one patient with partial ductal disruption that could not be bridged, there was complete resolution of one pseudocyst and a decrease in the size of the other pseudocyst from 12 to 4 cm. The NPD was replaced by a stent and both the pseudocysts resolved in 20 wk.CONCLUSION:Endoscopic transpapillary NPD placement is a safe and effective modality for the treatment of multiple and large pseudocysts, especially when there is partial ductal disruption, and the disruption can be bridged.

Imaging of esophageal tuberculosis: A review of 23 cases:

Purpose: To evaluate the various radiological abnormalities in patients with proven esophageal tuberculosis. Material and Methods: The case records of 23 patients with proven esophageal tuberculosis were evaluated retrospectively for various radiological abnormalities. Twenty-two patients had secondary involvement of esophagus in the form of direct extension of mediastinal and pulmonary tuberculosis or spinal tuberculosis. Only 1 patient had primary involvement of the esophagus with no evidence of disease elsewhere. The diagnosis was confirmed by endoscopic and CT-guided biopsy/aspiration cytology in 7 and 6 cases, respectively. Diagnosis was made on the basis of surgical biopsy of lymph node and autopsy in 1 patient each. In the remaining 8 patients the diagnosis was based on radiological and endoscopic findings and the response to antituberculous treatment. Results: Chest radiography (CXR) was abnormal in 65% patients. While the findings were non-conclusive for esophageal tuberculosis, characteristic lesions of tuberculosis in lungs or spine were suggestive of tuberculous etiology. In 15 patients, CT of the chest confirmed the corresponding CXR findings and also showed additional findings of mediastinal lymphadenopathy when CXR was normal. Fourteen patients showed mediastinal lymphadenopathy on CT of the chest. In all these patients, more than one group of lymph nodes was involved. The characteristic hypodense center of lymph nodes suggestive of tuberculosis was seen in 12 patients. Radiological abnormalities seen in barium swallow examination were extrinsic compression, traction diverticula, strictures, sinus/fistulous tracts, kinking and pseudotumor mass of esophagus in decreasing order of frequency. The middle third of the esophagus was found to be the most frequent site of involvement.

Endoscopic transpapillary nasopancreatic drainage alone to treat pancreatic ascites and pleural effusion

Background:  Pancreatic ascites and pleural effusion are uncommon sequelae of pancreatitis and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic decompression of the pancreatic duct through transpapillary stent or nasopancreatic drain (NPD) has shown encouraging results but the experience is limited. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic transpapillary nasopancreatic drainage in patients with pancreatic ascites and pleural effusion.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the evaluation of anomalous junction of the pancreaticobiliary duct and related disorders

AbstractBackground: Anomalous junction of the pancreaticobiliary duct (AJPB) is a rare finding in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). We present our data on the incidence of AJPB and associated diseases. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 2885 ERCPs performed over 15 years was done to study the incidence of AJPB and the diseases associated with this anomaly. Results: Of the 2885 patients who underwent ERCP, AJPB was seen in 46 (1.6%). AJPB was taken as a common channel exceeding 15 mm in length with or without dilatation of the common channel. Anomalous junction was of type I in 50%, type II in 39.1%, and type III in 2.2% cases. Y-type anomalous junction was seen in 8.7% of cases. Choledochal cyst was found in 87% of patients. Other disorders associated with AJPB were gallstones, gallbladder polyps, gallbladder carcinoma, protein plugs. and pancreatic ductal calculi. Four patients with AJPB did not show any associated abnormality. Conclusion: AJPB is a rare finding, and the diagnosis is based on a common channel longer than 15 mm on ERCP. Choledochal cyst is the most common association with AJPB. We believe that the clinical spectrum of AJPB may unfold further with the widespread use of cholangiographic techniques.

Endoscopic transpapillary drainage for external fistulas developing after surgical or radiological pancreatic interventions.

Background and Aims:  External pancreatic fistulas (EPFs) are a therapeutic challenge. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic transpapillary nasopancreatic drainage (NPD) in patients with EPF.

Endoscopic Management of Pancreatic Injury Due to Abdominal Trauma

Context There is limited experience with pancreatic endotherapy in patients with pancreatic injury due to trauma. Objective To retrospectively evaluate our experience of endoscopic management of pancreatic trauma. Patients Eleven patients (10 males and 1 female; mean age: 21.8±11.9 years) with pancreatic trauma. Intervention Endoscopic therapy. Patients with pseudocyst and a gastroduodenal bulge were treated with endoscopic transmural drainage. Pseudocysts without bulge or patients with external pancreatic fistula were treated with transpapillary drainage. Results Seven patients (6 males, 1 female) were treated for symptomatic pseudocyst and 4 patients (all males) were treated for persistent external pancreatic fistula. Three patients with external pancreatic fistula had partial disruption of pancreatic duct (head: 2 cases; tail: 1 case) and were successfully treated with bridging pancreatic stent (2 cases) or bridging nasopancreatic drain (1 case) with resolution of external pancreatic fistula in 4 to 6 weeks. Of seven patients presenting with symptomatic pseudocyst (size range: 4-14 cm), two patients were successfully treated with cystogastrostomy and there has been no recurrence over a follow up of 20 and 16 months, respectively. Five patients underwent transpapillary drainage. Three patients had partial disruption and two had complete disruption. In the former, a bridging nasopancreatic drain was placed in one patient and stent in two patients. All three patients had resolution of pseudocyst within 8 weeks and there has been no recurrence over a follow-up of 11 to 70 months. In two patients with complete disruption, non-bridging stent did not resolve the pseudocysts and required surgery. Conclusion Pancreatic injury due to trauma can be effectively treated endoscopically.