Daisuke Izumi

Specific locations of linear furrows in patients with esophageal eosinophilia

Linear furrows are the most frequently found endoscopic abnormality in patients with esophageal eosinophilia (EE); however, the precise endoscopic features remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we aimed to clarify the endoscopic features of EE, essential for the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), by focusing on the specific locations of linear furrows in a Japanese population.

Effects of Metoclopramide on Esophageal Motor Activity and Esophagogastric Junction Compliance in Healthy Volunteers

Background/Aims Prokinetic drugs such as metoclopramide are frequently used as second-line therapy for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, their beneficial effects remain unclear. Esophageal motor activities and compliance of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) are important for prevention of gastroesophageal reflux. Although metoclopramide has been reported to increase lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, its effects on EGJ compliance have not been evaluated. In the present study, we investigated the effects of metoclopramide on esophageal motor activities and EGJ compliance. Methods Nine healthy male volunteers without abdominal symptoms were enrolled. Peristaltic esophageal contractions and LES pressure were examined using high-resolution esophageal manometry, while EGJ compliance was evaluated with an endoluminal functional lumen-imaging probe. After obtaining baseline values for esophageal motor activities and EGJ compliance, metoclopramide (10 mg) was intravenously administered, then all measurements were repeated at 15 minutes after administration in each subject. Results Following administration of metoclopramide, mean resting LES pressure was significantly increased as compared with the baseline (13.7 ± 9.2 vs 26.7 ± 8.8 mmHg, P < 0.05). In addition, metoclopramide significantly augmented peristaltic contractions, especially in the distal esophageal segment (P < 0.05). On the other hand, distensibility index did not change after administration (4.5 ± 0.5 vs 4.1 ± 0.5 mm2/mmHg), suggesting no significant effect of metoclopramide on EGJ compliance. Conclusions Metoclopramide augmented esophageal contractions without changing EGJ compliance in healthy adults.

Esophageal triamcinolone acetonide–filling method: a novel procedure to prevent stenosis after extensive esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (with videos)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for extensive esophageal carcinomas may cause severe stenosis requiring endoscopic balloon dilations (EBDs). A standard prevention method has not been established. We propose the esophageal triamcinolone acetonide (TA)-filling method as a novel local steroid administration procedure. METHODS We enrolled 22 consecutive patients with early esophageal cancer who were treated using either subcircumferential or circumferential ESD (15 and 7 procedures, respectively) in this case series. Esophageal TA filling was performed on the day after ESD and 1 week later and was performed again if mild stenosis was found on follow-up. EBD with TA filling was performed only for severe stenosis that prevented endoscope passage. The primary endpoint was the incidence of severe stenosis. Secondary endpoints were the total number of EBDs and additional TA filling, dysphagia score, time to stenosis and to complete re-epithelialization, and any adverse events. RESULTS The incidence of severe stenosis was 4.5% (1/22; confidence interval, .1%-22.8%), and EBD was performed 2 times in 1 patient. Mild stenosis was found in 9 patients. Additional TA filling was performed in 45.5% of patients (10/22; median, 5 times; range, 1-13). The dysphagia score deteriorated to 1 to 2 in 31.8% (7/22) but showed a final score of 0 after complete re-epithelialization in 90.9% (20/22). The median time to stenosis was 3 weeks (range, 3-4) and that to complete re-epithelialization was 7 weeks (range, 4-36). No severe adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS The esophageal TA-filling method is highly effective for preventing severe stenosis after extensive esophageal ESD.

Isolated Superior Mesenteric Artery Dissection with Small Intestine Ischemia

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection without aortic dissection is a rare condition, and its diagnosis is considered to be difficult. Intestinal infarction is a severe complication of the disease, which may require resection of the intestine. We present a case of isolated SMA dissection. A 53-year-old man experienced sudden pain in the abdomen while playing Japanese pinball and was admitted to our hospital due to acute abdominal symptoms of uncertain cause. Enhanced CT revealed a defect of the root of the SMA, while angiography and intravascular ultrasound findings showed dissection of the SMA wall. Conservative treatment was chosen at the time, while a part of the small intestine was eventually resected because of progressive ischemia. Although SMA dissection is a rare occurrence in cases with acute abdominal symptoms, awareness of the condition is important for differential diagnosis.

Poor inter-observer agreement on the endoscopic diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis among Japanese endoscopists

BackgroundA variety of endoscopic findings are considered useful for the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). However, the diagnostic consistency among Japanese endoscopists for those findings has not been fully examined. The aim of this study was to investigate the inter- and intra-observer agreement for endoscopic findings suggesting EoE.MethodsForty endoscopists, including 20 with board certification from the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society (JGES), participated in this study. Initially, they examined 50 randomized white-light endoscopic images from 30 patients with EoE and 20 without EoE. Four weeks later, the same 50 endoscopic images were re-examined in a different random order. Inter- and intra-observer agreement was calculated using kappa statistics for multiple observers.ResultsThe kappa coefficient of reliability [95% confidence interval (CI)] for all 40 endoscopists for diagnosis of EoE was 0.34 (0.33–0.35), indicating poor level of inter-observer agreement, while intra-observer agreement showed a moderate value of 0.52 (0.47–0.57). Among 4 possible endoscopic findings (linear furrows, concentric rings, edema, white exudates) for EoE, acceptable levels (kappa value >0.4) of inter- and intra-observer agreement were seen only for linear furrows. When the JGES board-certified and non-certified endoscopists were compared for successful diagnosis of EoE, the value was significantly higher for the board-certified group. However, the level of inter-observer agreement remained poor level.ConclusionWe concluded that inter-observer agreement on the endoscopic diagnosis of EoE among Japanese endoscopists did not reach a clinically acceptable level.

Mucosal breaks show same circumferential distribution in majority of patients with recurrent reflux esophagitis

Background and study aims Esophageal mucosal breaks in patients with reflux esophagitis (RE) have a unique circumferential distribution. However, the specific location of mucosal breaks during recurrence of RE remains unclear. We investigated the circumferential distribution of mucosal breaks in patients with recurrent RE and compared their location to that noted at the initial diagnosis. Patients and methods We retrospectively enrolled patients with recurrent RE with Los Angeles (LA) grade A-C who were treated at our University Hospital between July 1996 and June 2014. The circumferential distribution of esophageal mucosal breaks was evaluated at the time of the initial diagnosis and again at the time of recurrence. Information regarding clinical parameters, including proton pump inhibitor administration, presence of hiatal hernia, and mucosal atrophy, was also reviewed. Results A total of 114 patients with recurrent RE were examined during the study period, with a mean duration to recurrence after initial diagnosis of 39.4 months. The majority (72.8 %) had the same LA grade at recurrence. In addition, recurrent mucosal breaks in 96 (84.2 %) patients were observed to have occurred in the same circumferential location as at the initial diagnosis, while those in 18 (15.8 %) were observed in a different location. When recurrent lesions had a different location, the LA grade also tended to be different (P = 0.02). Conclusions We found that most patients with recurrent RE developed lesions in the same circumferential location as noted for the initial lesions. Those in different locations at recurrence were associated with a change in LA grade.

Acotiamide Has No Effects on Esophageal Motor Activity or Esophagogastric Junction Compliance

Background/Aims The novel prokinetic drug acotiamide is used for treatment of functional dyspepsia. It is still unclear how acotiamide has effects on esophageal motor function. Esophageal peristalsis and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) compliance has an important role for prevention of esophageal mucosal damage caused by gastroesophageal reflux, however, few studies have analyzed the effects of acotiamide on those former activities and none have investigated its effects on EGJ compliance. The aim of our research was to examine the effects of acotiamide on esophageal motility and EGJ compliance. Methods We enrolled 3 gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients as well as 9 healthy volunteers. Using high-resolution manometry, we examined esophageal motor activity parameters, including esophageal body contractions and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure. While, EGJ compliance was evaluated using a functional lumen imaging probe. Following determination of baseline values for esophageal motor activities and EGJ compliance, acotiamide at a standard dose of 300 mg/day was administered for 3 days. All measurements were performed again 2 hours after the last acotiamide administration. Results In the healthy volunteers, as compared with the baseline values, acotiamide administration did not significantly change esophageal body contractions and LES pressure. And EGJ distensibility was not significantly changed (distensibility index in 40-mL distension: 3.5 ± 0.4 vs 3.3 ± 0.5 mm2/mmHg). Similarly in the GERD patients, there were no differences in either esophageal motility or EGJ compliance between before and after acotiamide administration (distensibility index in 40-mL distension: 6.2 ± 0.5 vs 6.5 ± 1.1 mm2/mmHg). Conclusion In both healthy individuals and GERD patients, standard dose acotiamide dose does not have significant effects on esophageal motor activities or EGJ compliance.

Ankylosaurus back sign: novel endoscopic finding in esophageal eosinophilia patients indicating proton pump inhibitor response

Background and study aims  Characteristic endoscopic findings, such as linear furrows, rings, and whitish exudates, indicate the presence of esophageal eosinophilia (EE), though no specific findings are known to distinguish eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) from proton pump inhibitor-responsive esophageal eosinophilia (PPI-REE). Here, we present a novel endoscopic finding in some EE patients possessing a linear longitudinal arrangement of whitish nodules with the appearance of the back of an Ankylosaurus dinosaur, termed Ankylosaurus back sign (ABS), and evaluations of its significance in affected patients. Patients and methods  Fifty-five patients diagnosed with EE (≥ 15 eosinophils/high power field) who were treated at our hospital and shown to evaluate a PPI response were enrolled. Endoscopic findings at baseline and clinical parameters were retrospectively reviewed. Furthermore, the clinicopathological features of patients with ABS, as well as the relationship between its presence and PPI response were evaluated. Results  Fifty-five patients (47 males, 8 females) with EE (17 with EoE, 38 with PPI-REE) were evaluated, of whom 50 (90.9 %) had linear furrows, the most frequently found feature, while ABS was found in 9 (16.4 %). Inter-observer agreement was substantial for ABS (κ 0.77). Interestingly, all patients with ABS had PPI-REE. Our findings revealed that the presence of ABS was closely associated with reflux esophagitis (RE) in patients with PPI-REE. Conclusions  Although ABS was less frequent than typical endoscopic findings such as linear furrows in EE, this novel finding was closely associated with PPI-REE accompanied with RE. The clinical implications of ABS in patients with EE should be investigated further.

Evaluation of esophageal intramural pseudo-diverticulosis using high-resolution manometry

Esophageal intramural pseudo-diverticulosis (EIPD) is a rare disease characterized by multiple small flask-shaped pouches in the esophageal wall, with the predominant symptom of chronic progressive or intermittent dysphagia. However, its etiology and pathogenesis remain unknown. We present a case of EIPD evaluated with high-resolution manometry in a 75-year-old man with food impaction after eating beef, who came to our emergency department. The patient experienced similar episodes three times previously, though the cause was unknown. Computed tomography (CT) findings revealed diffuse wall thickness in the upper intrathoracic esophagus, while esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed multiple small depressions and several white plaque patches, and a barium meal esophagogram showed characteristic multiple small outpouching areas. From these findings, we diagnosed the patient with EIPD. In addition, high-resolution manometry revealed strong contractions in the distal esophagus. We started an administration of isosorbide dinitrate, because abnormal esophageal motility may have been causative of the condition and development of pseudo-diverticulosis. Thereafter, the patient had a good clinical course without food impaction. Elevated intra-esophageal luminal pressure caused by abnormal esophageal motility seems to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of EIPD in some cases.

Successful Endoscopic Management of Non-Healing Perforated Duodenal Ulcer with Polyglycolic Acid Sheet and Fibrin Glue

In recent years, treatment techniques in which polyglycolic acid sheets are applied to various situations with fibrin glue have exhibited great clinical potential, and previous studies have reported safety and efficacy. We describe closure of a non-healing perforated duodenal ulcer with the use of a polyglycolic acid sheet and fibrin glue in an elderly patient who was not a candidate for surgery.