Mukesh Nasa

Management of Cardiopulmonary Complications of Cirrhosis

Advanced portal hypertension accompanying end-stage liver disease results in an altered milieu due to inadequate detoxification of blood from splanchnic circulation by the failing liver. The portosystemic shunts with hepatic dysfunction result in an increased absorption and impaired neutralisation of the gastrointestinal bacteria and endotoxins leads to altered homeostasis with multiorgan dysfunction. The important cardiopulmonary complications are cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, hepatopulmonary syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, and right-sided hydrothorax.

Impact of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration in prospective liver transplant recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma and lymphadenopathy

BackgroundDiagnosis of metastatic disease is important in patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to prevent futile liver transplantation. Some of these patients have metastatic lymphadenopathy; however, it is difficult to perform percutaneous fine-needle aspiration due to presence of collateral and anatomic location. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of lymph nodes offers several advantages like real-time vision, proximity to target, and avoidance of collaterals.AimThe aim of this study was to look for metastatic lymphadenopathy by EUS-guided FNA (EUS-FNA) in prospective liver transplant recipients with HCC.MethodsA prospective study was conducted from January 2013 to January 2016 at a tertiary care center. All prospective liver transplant recipients with HCC had PET-CT and bone scan to look for metastatic disease. EUS-FNA was done in patients with abdominal or mediastinal lymphadenopathy and no evidence of extrahepatic disease. Data is shown as median (25–75 interquartile range).ResultsEUS-guided FNA was done for 50 patients (42 abdominal and 8 mediastinal lymph nodes), age 57 (53–62) years, Child-Turcotte-Pugh 7 (6–9), and model for end-stage liver disease 10 (7–16). FNA material was adequate in 92% patients, metastasis in 15 (30%), granulomatous lymphadenopathy in 4 (8%), and reactive change in 27 patients (54%). The material was inadequate for diagnosis in 4 (8%) patients. Thus, EUS-guided FNA precluded transplantation in 30% of patients with lymphadenopathy, and 4 (8%) patients received anti-tubercular therapy before liver transplantation.ConclusionIn patients with HCC and lymphadenopathy, EUS-guided FNA detected metastatic disease and precluded liver transplantation in approximately one third of patients.

Gastric lipoma: an unusual cause of dyspeptic symptoms

Gastric lipomas are rare tumours accounting for 2–3% of all benign gastric tumours. These are usually submucosal in origin but in rare cases may be subserosal in origin. Although a majority of gastric lipomas are asymptomatic and usually detected incidentally, occasionally these can cause abdominal pain, dyspeptic disorders, obstruction, invagination and haemorrhages. In the literature, only 200 cases of gastric lipomas have been reported so far. We report a case of a 56-year-old female with a submucosal symptomatic gastric lipoma presenting with disabling dyspeptic symptoms.

Prospective evaluation of yield of endoscopic ultrasonography in the etiological diagnosis of "idiopathic" acute pancreatitis

Background: Etiology of acute pancreatitis (AP) remains idiopathic in 30% of patients. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has been shown to increase the diagnostic yield in patients with idiopathic AP (IAP). Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of EUS in achieving etiological diagnosis in patients with IAP. Materials and Methods: Consecutive 192 patients with IAP were evaluated prospectively with EUS over a period of 2 years. Patients who had no etiological diagnosis for AP after detailed history, clinical examination, laboratory investigations, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography were included in the study. Results: The mean age of patients was 34.6 ± 12 and male:female ratio was 2.1:1. Of these, 135 patients had gallbladder intact (Group A) and 57 patients had undergone cholecystectomy (Group B). In Group A, EUS identified a possible cause in 79 (58.5%) patients; microlithiasis (n = 48), chronic pancreatitis (CP) (n = 23), common bile duct (CBD) and gallbladder stone (n = 3), pancreatic divisum (n = 3), small pancreatic tumor (n = 1), and anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction (n = 1). In Group B, EUS yielded diagnosis in 28 (49.1%) patients; CP (n = 22), ascariasis (n = 3), CBD stone (n = 2), and pancreatic divisum (n = 1). Overall EUS helped in achieving etiological diagnosis in 107 (55.1%) of patients with IAP. The presence of intact gallbladder showed a tendency for increased diagnostic yield (P = 0.06). Conclusion: EUS is a useful modality to establish the diagnosis in IAP and this technique should be incorporated in the evaluation of IAP.

Impact and safety of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration on patients with cirrhosis and pyrexia of unknown origin in India

Background and aims: Etiologic diagnosis of pyrexia of unknown origin is important in patients with cirrhosis for optimal management and to prevent flare up of infectious disease after liver transplantation. However, there is very limited literature available on this subject. The present study aimed to examine the safety and impact of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) in patients with cirrhosis. Methods: The study was conducted between January 2014 and January 2016 at a tertiary care center. A total of 50 (47 lymph nodes, 3 adrenal) EUS guided FNAs were performed in 46 patients. Data are presented as median (25 – 75 IQR). Results: The study included 46 patients (40 males) whose mean age was 47.9 ± 11.1 (SD) years; mean Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score and mean MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score were 10 (8 – 11) and 18 (12 – 20), respectively. The Child Pugh class was A in 4, B in 14, and C in 28 (including three patients with adrenal FNAs). Indications for FNA were pyrexia of unknown origin and lymphadenopathy on CT imaging. The cytopathological diagnoses were metastatic disease in 1 (adrenal), granulomatous change in 10 (6 positive with acid fast bacilli stain), histoplasmosis in three (two adrenals, one lymph node), 32 lymph nodes were reactive and four lymph node FNAs showed inadequate cellularity. The pathologic nodes had significantly lower long-to-short axis ratio [1.25 (1.09 – 1.28) versus 1.46 (1.22 – 1.87), P = 0.020]; a higher proportion of hypoechoic echotexture (5 versus 3, P = 0.017), and sharply defined borders (4 versus 2, P = 0.029). Complications included mild hepatic encephalopathy related to sedation in two patients with Child’s C status. Conclusion: EUS guided FNA is safe in patients with cirrhosis and modified the management in 14/46 (30.4 %) patients.

Pancreaticopericardial fistula: a rare complication of chronic pancreatitis

Pancreaticopericardial fistula (PPF) is an extremely rare clinical problem encountered in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The diagnosis should be suspected if a patient presents with pericardial effusion on a background of chronic pancreatitis. Significantly raised amylase in the pericardial fluid offers an important clue for the diagnosis. CT is the initial imaging modality to look for pancreatic and pericardial changes. The therapeutic options include medical, endoscopic or surgical interventions. Medical and endoscopic therapies are the preferred modes of treatment while surgery is reserved for those who fail these measures.

IDDF2018-ABS-0020 Spectrum of pseudoaneurysms complicating acute pancreatitis and its radiologic management

Background The aim of the present study was to study the spectrum of pseudoaneurysms secondary to acute pancreatitis, endovascular therapy and outcome of pseudoaneurysms. Methods Patients with acute pancreatitis with pseudoaneurysm who underwent angiography and coiling of pseudo-aneurysm between Jan 2015 to Jan 2016 were included. Results Twenty patients of pseudoaneurysms associated with acute pancreatitis were included. The diagnosis of a pseudoaneurysm was made on computerised tomography (CT) angiography in all the patients. At angiography, coil embolisation was attempted in 7 patients, glue in 8 patients and coil with glue in 3 patients in the initial sitting. Two patients were taken for percutaneous thrombin occlusion of pseudo-aneurysm, but both had non-obliteration of the pseudo-aneurysm. One underwent coiling, and another had coil along with stent insertion done. There were no episodes of re-bleeding following embolisation. The average size of the pseudo-aneurysm was 8.25 mm. All the patients had single pseudo-aneurysm in the present series. All patients that were successfully treated demonstrated radiological resolution of their pseudoaneurysms, with a median follow-up of 10 months. Conclusions Endovascular embolisation is a suitable first-line management strategy for the management of visceral artery pseudoaneurysm complicating acute pancreatitis with low recurrence rates.

Uncommon cause of dysphagia: paraneoplastic achalasia

Achalasia secondary to underlying neoplasm is a rare entity. Early recognition of secondary achalasia is important as its treatment involves management of underlying malignancy, while treatment of primary achalasia mainly involves lowering the lower oesophageal sphincter pressure with pneumatic dilatation or Heller’s myotomy. We discuss an interesting case of achalasia secondary to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Isolated splenic tuberculosis diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration

Our patient was a 48-year-old female, who presented with history of persistent low-grade fever and weight loss. The CT scan of the abdomen revealed multiple hypodense lesions in spleen. No primary focus of infection was detected in any other organs. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of splenic lesion revealed granulomatous inflammation. The patient was started on anti-tuberculous therapy. There is a diagnostic possibility of splenic tuberculosis even in immunocompetent individuals and we chose a combination anti-tuberculous therapy as the first line treatment with consideration of splenectomy depending on the response.

A case of abdominal pain and abnormal location of gallstone diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound

A 50-year-old male came to us with pain abdomen; endoscopic ultrasound. (EUS) made a diagnosis of cholecystoduodenal fistula which was later on confirmed on gastroscopy and surgery. We present interesting images of EUS; a calculus is visualized outside gallbladder with inflammatory changes of duodenal wall.