Lincoln Eduardo Villela Vieira de Castro Ferreira

Novel approach to therapeutic ERCP after long-limb Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery using transgastric self-expandable metal stents: experimental outcomes and first human case study (with videos)

BACKGROUND ERCP in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) patients is challenging. Balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) allows access to the excluded stomach with creation of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). Transgastric self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement may allow antegrade ERCP in 1 session. OBJECTIVE To determine the feasibility of transgastric endoscopy and ERCP through a newly created PEG augmented by SEMS placement. DESIGN Prospective live animal study; human case report. SETTINGS Animal laboratory and endoscopy units, tertiary care medical center. SUBJECTS Nine domestic pigs; 1 patient. INTERVENTIONS PEG tract with SEMS placement; transgastric endoscopy through SEMS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Technical success, feasibility of transgastric endoscopy. RESULTS Successful SEMS deployment was achieved in 9 of 9 animals. The stent was removed in 6 animals; 3 were killed within 24 hours (group A) and 3 were killed 1 week later (group B). In 3 animals, stents remained in place, they were killed 9 to 15 days later (group C). Duodenoscopy was difficult in 1 animal from group A resulting in stent dislodgment. Peristomal infection occurred in 1 animal in group B. In group C, 1 stent was buried subcutaneously and 1 completely migrated out. Necropsy showed no peritoneal fluid or peritonitis in any animal. In the 1 patient, BAE-assisted PEG and SEMS placement in the excluded stomach allowed antegrade ERCP and biliary sphincterotomy without adverse events. LIMITATIONS Small number of subjects. CONCLUSIONS Performance of PEG with immediate SEMS placement allows for antegrade transgastric ERCP during 1 procedure. With the use of BAE, retrograde PEG/SEMS in excluded stomach allows therapeutic ERCP without need for surgery.

Management of acute postoperative hemorrhage in the bariatric patient.

Bariatric surgery is one of the treatment options for achieving and preserving weight loss and managing medical complications related to obesity. After bariatric surgery, early or late adverse events, such as intraluminal or extraluminal gastrointestinal hemorrhage, can occur. Early gastrointestinal bleeding is more often a complication associated with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery than other bariatric procedures and usually arises from the gastrojejunal anastomosis. Early postoperative bleeding may be potentially life threatening, although death after postbariatric surgery as a consequence of acute bleeding is uncommon. Although early postoperative intraluminal bleeding can usually be managed conservatively, endoscopic therapy may be required.

ACUPUNCTURE EFFECTIVENESS AS A COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY IN FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA PATIENTS

CONTEXT Functional dyspepsia represents a frequent gastrointestinal disorder in clinical practice. According to the Roma III criteria, functional dyspepsia can be classified into two types as the predominant symptom: epigastric pain and postprandial discomfort. Even though the pathophysiology is still uncertain, the functional dyspepsia seems to be related to multiple mechanisms, among them visceral hypersensitivity, changes in the gastroduodenal motility and gastric accommodation and psychological factors. OBJECTIVE Evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture as a complementary to conventional treatment in functional dyspepsia patients. METHODS Randomized clinical trial in which were enrolled patients with functional dyspepsia patients in according with Rome III criteria. One group was submitted to drug therapy and specific acupuncture (GI) and the other to drug therapy and non-specific acupuncture (GII). The gastrointestinal symptoms, presence of psychiatric disorders and quality of life were evaluated, at the end and three months after treatment. RESULTS After 4 weeks of treatment there was improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms in Group I (55 ± 12 vs 29 ± 8.8; P = 0.001) and Group II (50.5 ± 10.2 vs 46 ± 10.5; P = 0.001). Quality of life was significantly better in Group I than group II (93.4 ± 7.3 vs 102.4 ± 5.1; P = 0.001). Anxiety (93.3% vs 0%; P = 0.001) and depression (46.7% vs 0%; P = 0.004) were significantly lower in Group I than group II. When comparing the two groups after 4 weeks of treatment, gastrointestinal symptoms (29 ± 8.8 vs 46 ± 10.5; P<0.001) and quality of life (102.4 ± 5.1 vs 96 ± 6.1; P = 0.021) were significantly better in Group I than group II. Three months after the treatment, gastrointestinal symptoms remained better only in Group I, when compared to the pre-treatment values (38 ± 11.3 vs 55 ± 12; P = 0.001). CONCLUSION In patients with functional dyspepsia the complementary acupuncture treatment is superior to conventional treatment. Further studies with more patients are needed to confirm these findings.

Acute biliary conditions

Acute biliary complications may result from several medical conditions such as gallstone pancreatitis, acute cholangitis, acute cholecystitis, bile leak, liver abscess and hepatic trauma. Gallstones are the most common cause of acute pancreatitis. About 25% of theses patients will develop clinically severe acute pancreatitis, usually due to necrotizing pancreatitis. Choledocholithiasis, malignant and benign biliary strictures, and stent dysfunction may cause partial or complete obstruction and infection in the biliary tract with acute cholangitis. Bile leaks are most commonly associated with hepatobiliary surgeries or invasive procedures such as open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy, hepatic resection, hepatic transplantation, liver biopsy, and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) may have an essential role in the management of these complications.

Insulin resistance in non-diabetic patients with chronic hepatitis C: what does it mean?

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) in non-diabetic patients with chronic hepatitis C, and to assess the association between IR, laboratory parameters and histological findings. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Eighty-two patients had their serum analyzed for glucose, lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), HOMA-IR, viral load and HCV genotype. Patients with HOMA-IR levels > 2.5 were considered as carriers of insulin resistance. RESULTS IR was observed in 27% of patients and was associated with age, waist circumference and body mass index. IR patients were more likely to have more advanced hepatic fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity, higher levels of aminotransferases and liver steatosis than patients without IR. CONCLUSIONS Insulin resistance is often present in patients with chronic hepatitis C, and this parameter is associated with more advanced HCV-related hepatic fibrosis.

Idiopathic acute pancreatitis due to biliary sludge: prevention of relapses by endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy in high-risk patients.

“idiopathic” acute pancreatitis due to biliary sludge: prevention of relapses by endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy in high-risk patients

Small-Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth is Associated With Concurrent Intestinal Inflammation But Not With Systemic Inflammation in Crohn’s Disease Patients

Goals: We studied the prevalence and predictors of small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in Crohn’s disease (CD) outpatients and the relationship between SIBO and intestinal and/or systemic inflammation. Background: The relationship of SIBO with systemic and intestinal inflammation in CD patients is unclear. Study: In this cross-sectional study, conducted between June, 2013 and January, 2015, 92 CD patients and 97 controls with nonchronic gastrointestinal complaints were assessed for the presence of SIBO using the H2/CH4 glucose breath test. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to investigate the potential association between SIBO and demographic, disease-related data, systemic markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate), and biomarker of intestinal inflammation [fecal calprotectin concentration (FCC)]. Results: The SIBO rate was significantly higher in CD patients than in controls (32.6% vs. 12.4%, respectively, P=0.0008). Patients with and without SIBO were comparable with regard to demographics, systemic inflammatory biomarkers, and disease characteristics, except for the stricturing phenotype being more common in SIBO-positive CD patients (43.3% vs. 19.3%, P=0.015). Notably, FCC was significantly higher in SIBO-positive patients (median of 485.8 vs.132.7 &mgr;g/g; P=0.004). Patients presenting increased FCC and stricturing disease had an odds of 9.43 (95% confidence interval, 3.04-11.31; P<0.0001) and 3.83 (95% confidence interval, 1.54-6.75; P=0.025) respectively, for SIBO diagnosis. Conclusions: In CD patients, SIBO is a highly prevalent condition. Stricturing phenotype and increased FCC were strongly and independently associated with the presence of SIBO. SIBO diagnostic work-up followed by directed treatment is recommended in CD patients who present stricturing disease, especially in those with concurrent intestinal inflammation.

Colonoscopy sedation: clinical trial comparing propofol and fentanyl with or without midazolam

Colonoscopy is one of the most common procedures. Sedation and analgesia decrease anxiety and discomfort and minimize risks. Therefore, patients prefer to be sedated when undergoing examination, although the best combination of drugs has not been determined. The combination of opioids and benzodiazepines is used to relieve the patients pain and discomfort. More recently, propofol has assumed a prominent position. This randomized prospective study is unique in medical literature that specifically compared the use of propofol and fentanyl with or without midazolam for colonoscopy sedation performed by anesthesiologists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the side effects of sedation, discharge conditions, quality of sedation, and propofol consumption during colonoscopy, with or without midazolam as preanesthetic. The study involved 140 patients who underwent colonoscopy at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I received intravenous midazolam as preanesthetic 5min before sedation, followed by fentanyl and propofol; Group II received intravenous anesthesia with fentanyl and propofol. Patients in Group II had a higher incidence of reaction (motor or verbal) to the colonoscope introduction, bradycardia, hypotension, and increased propofol consumption. Patient satisfaction was higher in Group I. According to the methodology used, the combination of midazolam, fentanyl, and propofol for colonoscopy sedation reduces propofol consumption and provides greater patient satisfaction.

Alterações no teste ultra-rápido da urease e no exame anatomopatológico para Helicobacter pylori induzidas por drogas anti-secretoras

Background - One of the major problems when evaluating dyspeptic patients at public hospitals is the large interval between the consultation and the endoscopy, leading to the prescription of antisecretory drugs, what can be responsible for false results on examinations. Aim - To evaluate changes in ultrarapid urease test and histopathological examination for Helicobacter pylori by antisecretory drugs. Methods - In a prospective double-blind study, 50 patients with dyspeptic complaints and endoscopic diagnosis of peptic ulcer, erosive gastritis, esophagitis or duodenitis, with a positive urease test, were randomized to a 7-day course of treatment with either omeprazole 20 mg or ranitidine 300 mg a day. Before and after treatment, two biopsy specimens each were obtained from the antrum and corpus and an ultrarapid urease test and a histopathological examination for Helicobacter pylori were performed. Results - There were no significant changes in the results of ultrarapid urease test and histopathological examination for Helicobacter pylori after treatment with ranitidine. With omeprazole, we observed a decrease in positive results in ultrarapid urease test and histopathological examination for Helicobacter pylori in the antrum, but not in the corpus. Conclusion - Omeprazole, used for 7 days, can lead to negative results in ultrarapid urease test and histopathological examination for Helicobacter pylori in the antrum, and should not be employed in patients before the endoscopy is performed.

Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en pacientes con hepatitis c en terapia doble y triple

OBJETIVO Comparar los puntajes de Calidad de Vida Relacionada con la Salud (CVRS) en pacientes con hepatitis C cronica sometidos a la terapia antiviral doble y triple y analizar los posibles factores relacionados con la CVRS. METODO La CVRS fue evaluada utilizando el Short Form 36 y elChronic Liver Disease Questionnaire , que fueron aplicados antes y en las semanas 4, 12 y 16 de tratamiento, en 32 pacientes divididos en 2 grupos: terapia doble con interferon pegilado (IFN-PEG) y ribavirina, y triple con IFN-PEG, ribavirina y telaprevir. RESULTADOS La reduccion de la CVRS fue mayor en pacientes en terapia triple cuando comparados con los tratados con dos drogas, siendo el momento mas critico la 12a semana en ambos grupos. Despues de la retirada del telaprevir, el grupo de terapia triple mejoro de modo significativo los puntajes de CVRS. Ansiedad y depresion en el pre tratamiento, situacion de empleo y raza se mostraron relacionados con la reduccion de la CVRS. CONCLUSION Pacientes sometidos a la terapia doble y triple presentan reduccion de los indices de CVRS, pero la adicion del telaprevir les proporciona una caida mas expresiva.OBJECTIVE Comparing Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) scores in patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing double and triple antiviral therapy and analyzing possible factors related to HRQoL. METHOD HRQoL was assessed using the Short Form 36 and Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire, which were applied at baseline and at weeks 4, 12 and 16 of treatment to 32 patients divided into two groups: double therapy with pegylated interferon (IFN-PEG) and ribavirin, and triple therapy with PEG-IFN, ribavirin and telaprevir. RESULTS The reduction of HRQoL was greater in patients receiving triple therapy compared to those treated with two drugs, the most critical time is at 12 weeks in both groups. After removal of telaprevir, the triple therapy group significantly improved their HRQoL scores. Anxiety and depression before treatment, employment status and race are significantly related to diminished HRQoL. CONCLUSION Patients undergoing double and triple therapy have diminished HRQoL indexes, but the addition of telaprevir chooses a more significant decrease.