Nihar Ranjan Dash

Palliative stenting for relief of dysphagia in patients with inoperable esophageal cancer: impact on quality of life

The aim of palliation in patients with inoperable esophageal cancer is to relieve dysphagia with minimal morbidity and mortality, and thus improve quality of life (QOL). The use of a self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) is a well-established modality for palliation of dysphagia in such patients. We assessed the QOL after palliative stenting in patients with inoperable esophageal cancer. Thirty-three patients with dysphagia due to inoperable esophageal cancer underwent SEMS insertion between October 2004 and December 2006. All patients had grade III/IV dysphagia and locally advanced unresectable cancer (n = 13), distant metastasis (n = 14), or comorbid conditions/poor general health status precluding a major surgical procedure (n = 6). Patients with grade I/II dysphagia and those with carcinoma of the cervical esophagus were excluded. The QOL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 (version 3) and EORTC QLQ-Esophagus (OES) 18 questionnaire (a QOL scale specifically designed for esophageal diseases) before and at 1, 4, and 8 weeks after placement of the stent. The mean age of the patients was 56 (range 34-78) years, and 22 were men. A covered SEMS was used in all patients. The most common site of malignancy was the lower third of the esophagus (n = 18, 55%). In 23 (77%) patients, the stent crossed the gastroesophageal junction. Seven patients required a reintervention for stent block (n = 5) and stent migration (n = 2). Dysphagia improved significantly immediately after stenting, and this improvement persisted until 8 weeks (16.5 vs. 90.6; P < 0.01). The global health status (5.8 vs. 71.7; P < 0.01) and all functional scores improved significantly after stenting from baseline until 8 weeks. Except pain (14.1 vs. 17.7; P = 0.67), there was significant improvement in deglutition (22.7 vs. 2.0; P < 0.01), eating (48 vs. 12.6; P < 0.01), and other symptom scales (19.7 vs. 12.1; P = 0.04) following stenting. The median survival was 4 months (3-7 months). Palliative stenting using SEMS resulted in significant improvement in all scales of QOL without any mortality and acceptable morbidity.

Diphtheria in urban slums in north India

We recorded a reappearance of cases of microbiologically confirmed diphtheria in a tertiary care hospital in north India. Poor immunisation coverage, population migrations, and overcrowded urban slums may be contributory factors.

Outcome Following Surgical Management of Corrosive Strictures of the Esophagus

Objective:To analyze the short- and long-term outcomes following surgical treatment for corrosive stricture of the esophagus. Background:Surgery is a well-established treatment for corrosive strictures of the esophagus and involves either resection or bypass of the damaged esophagus and replacement by a conduit. The need for resection and the choice of the ideal conduit for esophageal replacement in these patients continues to be debated and there are only a few studies reporting on the long-term outcome following the surgical treatment. Methods:This was a retrospective analysis of patients with corrosive stricture of the esophagus who were managed surgically between 1983 and 2009. The type of surgery performed (resection or bypass), the conduit used, the short- and long-term outcomes were assessed. Results:One hundred seventy-six corrosive strictures of the esophagus were managed surgically (resection: 64, bypass: 112). A transhiatal resection could be accomplished in 59 of 62 patients in whom it was attempted. Stomach conduits were used in 107 patients and colonic conduits in 69. The mean operating time was 4.3 ± 1.5 hours and the mean estimated blood loss 592 ± 386 mL. Cervical anastomotic leak occurred in 22 patients (12.5%). Follow up of more than 10 years was available for 78 patients (44.3%) and more than 15 years for 54 patients (30.7%). Recurrent dysphagia developed in 33 patients (18.7%). There were no differences in the short- or long-term outcomes in patients who underwent resection or bypass. The mean duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, incidence of conduit necrosis, and in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in patients with stomach conduits as compared with colonic conduits. There was a higher incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, recurrent dysphagia, and aspiration after surgery in patients with strictures involving the upper end of the esophagus at or near the hypopharynx. Conclusions:Satisfactory outcomes are achieved after surgery for corrosive strictures of the esophagus. Resection of scarred esophagus may be done without a substantial increase in the morbidity and mortality; however, the outcomes are not significantly different from bypass. Stomach is a good conduit and the colon should be reserved for cases where the stomach is not available. Long-term outcomes in patients with hypopharyngeal strictures, however, continue to be poor.

Endovascular Embolization of Visceral Artery Pseudoaneurysms Using Modified Injection Technique with N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate Glue.

PURPOSE To evaluate the indications, feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) with modified injection technique in embolization of visceral artery pseudoaneurysms (PSAs). MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective evaluation was performed of 31 patients (26 men, 5 women; mean age, 32.6 y) with visceral artery PSAs that were treated with embolization using NBCA with modified sequential injection and flushing technique. The most common indication for using NBCA was preservation of a major feeding artery (n = 18), followed by difficult catheterization secondary to arterial tortuosity (n = 5), failed previous coil embolization (n = 4), and short landing zone for coils (n = 4). NBCA alone was used in 25 patients, and NBCA with coils was used in 6 patients. The patients were followed clinically until discharge and 1 and 3 months after discharge. RESULTS The mean amount of NBCA-ethiodized oil (Lipiodol; Guerbet LLC, Villepinte, France) mixture injected was 0.24 mL (range, 0.1-1.1 mL). Embolization with NBCA was technically successful in all (100%) patients. Recurrence was seen in 3 (9.7%; 2--splenic artery; 1--left gastric artery) patients after a mean time of 16.3 days (range, 10-27 d) of initial embolization resulting in clinical success of 90.3%. All 3 patients underwent successful repeat embolization with secondary technical success rate of 100%. Minor (pain) and major (nontarget embolization in 2; microcatheter adhesion and fracture in 1) complications were seen in 3 patients each. CONCLUSIONS NBCA is a safe and effective embolization agent when injected with modified technique in treatment of visceral artery PSAs.

EUS diagnosis of a left gastric artery pseudoaneurysm and aneurysmogastric fistula seen with a massive GI hemorrhage (with video)

caused by injury from a nasoenteric feeding tube. J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1994;18:278-9. 3. Honda S, Sugimoto K, Iwasaki H, et al. Multiple mucosal bridge formation in the esophagus in a patient with Crohn’s disease. Endoscopy 1998;30:S37-8. 4. Itano T, Tomoda J, Harada H, et al. A case of systemic lupus erythematosus with esophageal mucosal bridge. Nippon Shokakibyo Gakkai Zasshi 1986;83:2598-601. 5. Rattan J, Hallak A, Rozen P, et al. Esophageal monilioma and mucosal bridge. Gastrointest Endosc 1982;28:114-5. 6. Sood A, Midha V, Sood N, et al. Multiple mucosal bridges in the oesophagus after sclerotherapy for varices. Trop Gastroenterol 2001;22:94-5. 7. Shikiya K, Kinjo N, Akamine K, et al. A case of mid-esophageal diverticulum with mucosal bridge caused by tuberculosis of the apex of the right lung. Nippon Shokakibyo Gakkai Zasshi 1991;88: 724-9.

Endoscopic ultrasound guided thrombin injection of angiographically occult pancreatitis associated visceral artery pseudoaneurysms: Case series.

Pseudoaneurysm is a known complication of pancreatitis associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis and management. Computed tomography (CT) helps localize the lesion and the severity of the background pancreatitis but digital subtraction angiography with coil embolization is recommended to avoid bleeding and inadvertent surgery. However, in cases where angiographic coil embolization is not feasible due to technical reasons, thrombin injection via CT or ultrasound guidance remains a viable option and often described in literature. In this series, effort has been made to highlight the role of endoscopic ultrasound guided thrombin instillation especially in patients with poorly visualized pseudoaneurysm on ultrasound thereby avoiding surgery and the associated mortality and morbidity.

Unilobar Versus Bilobar Biliary Drainage: Effect on Quality of Life and Bilirubin Level Reduction.

Background: Percutaneous biliary drainage is an accepted palliative treatment for malignant biliary obstruction. Purpose: To assess the effect on quality of life (QOL) and bilirubin level reduction in patients with inoperable malignant biliary obstruction treated by unilobar or bilobar percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). Materials and Methods: Over a period of 2 years, 49 patients (age range, 22–75 years) of inoperable malignant biliary obstruction were treated by PTBD. Technical and clinical success rates, QOL, patency rates, survival rates, and complications were recorded. Clinical success rates, QOL, and bilirubin reduction were compared in patients treated with complete (n = 21) versus partial (n = 28) liver parenchyma drainage. QOL before and 1 month after biliary drainage were analyzed retrospectively between these two groups. Results: Biliary drainage was successful in all 49 patients, with an overall significant reduction of the postintervention bilirubin levels (P < 0.001) resulting in overall clinical success rate of 89.97%. Clinical success rates were similar in patients treated with whole-liver drainage versus partial-liver drainage. Mean serum bilirubin level before PTBD was 19.85 mg/dl and after the procedure at 1 month was 6.02 mg/dl. The mean baseline functional score was 39.35, symptom scale score was 59.55, and global health score was 27.45. At 1 month, mean functional score was 61.25, symptom scale score was 36.0 4, and global health score was 56.33, with overall significant improvement in QOL (<0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in the improvement of the QOL scores (P = 0.002), among patients who achieved clinical success, compared with those patients who did not achieve clinical success at 1 month. We did not find any significant difference in the QOL scores in patients according to the amount of liver drained (unilateral or bilateral drainage), the type of internalization used (ring biliary or stent). Overall, minor and major complications rates were 14.3% and 8.1%, respectively. Conclusion: Percutaneous biliary drainage provides good palliation of malignant obstructive jaundice. Partial-liver drainage achieved results as good as those after complete liver drainage with significant improvements in QOL and reduction of the bilirubin level.

Transarterial chemoembolization for liver metastases from solid pseudopapillary epithelial neoplasm of pancreas: A case report

Solid pseudo-papillary epithelial neoplasm (SPEN) is a rare epithelial tumor of pancreas with a low malignant potential occurs most commonly in young females. We report a case of 40 years old woman presented with extensive liver metastasis from SPEN of pancreatic body for which she was operated four years ago. Due to the extensive nature of metastatic disease she was offered Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) using gemcitabine as chemotherapeutic agent. Short term follow up after a month of TACE with multiphase computed tomography showed > 90% resolution in the viable tumor with significant clinical improvement. TACE ensures targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs in higher doses with least systemic toxicity and is more effective and safe than systemic chemotherapy. TACE with gemcitabine was found to be very effective in our patient with numerous liver metastasis.

Alveolar Echinococcosis of Liver: A Diagnostic Problem in a Nonendemic Area

Alveolar echinococcosis is a parasitic disease primarily invading the liver. Due to its aggressive nature, it invades the adjacent structures and can even metastasize to distant organs. The appearance of hepatic involvement on computed tomographic scan is characteristic, but not specific, with areas of calcification seen within a hypoenhancing mass. Although magnetic resonance imaging may better define the extent of the disease, it often misleads the radiologist, especially if the lesion is devoid of cystic component(s) and if it occurs in nonendemic areas. Knowledge of the imaging appearance may prompt serological evaluation and aid in making an early diagnosis and planning appropriate treatment of this uncommon fatal disease, especially in nonendemic areas.

Combined presence of multiple gastrointestinal stromal tumors along with duodenal submucosal somatostatinoma in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1

Neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF-1) is an autosomal dominant disorder, with increased risk of developing benign and malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). However, the synchronous presence of multiple GIT stromal tumors and duodenal submucosal somatostatinoma, like in this 50-year-old female NF-1 patient, is very rare. She presented with hematemesis, malena, along with multiple neurofibromas all over the body. Thorough radiological and peroperative work-up revealed multiple ulcerated submucosal and serosal nodules in the proximal small intestine. Histological work-up revealed diagnosis of a duodenal submucosal somatostatinoma with multifocal serosal gastrointestinal stromal tumors. This case is being reported to highlight the rare coincidence of multiple GIT tumors in an NF-1 patient.