Raymond Sayegh

Influence of acetaminophen at therapeutic doses on surrogate markers of severity of acute viral hepatitis.

OBJECTIVES Data on the influence of acetaminophen intake on acute viral hepatitis is scarce, but it could play a role in the worsening of this disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether the intake of acetaminophen at therapeutic doses affects the severity of acute viral hepatitis. METHODS This was a prospective study concerning 37 consecutive patients hospitalized for acute viral hepatitis. Acetaminophen consumption and time since last intake were assessed by a questionnaire. Parameters of severity were studied in comparison to time related serum concentrations of acetaminophen. RESULTS Patients hospitalized for acute viral hepatitis (18 male, 19 female patients) had a mean age of 29.2 +/- 11.5 years. The causal virus was HAV (n=23), HBV (n=7) and other viruses (n=8). The mean cumulated dose of acetaminophen was 7.7 +/- 5.65 g. The daily dose did not exceed the therapeutic dosage and the mean was 1.95 +/- 0.81 g (1-3 g). Patients who received 7.5 g of acetaminophen or more had a lower prothrombin index 52.4 +/- 30.3% vs 74.2 +/- 17.2% (P=0.039), and a lower factor V 54.7 +/- 33.2% vs 83.3 +/- 19.6% (P=0.033). Prothrombin index and bilirubinemia were negatively correlated with time related plasma acetaminophen concentrations. CONCLUSIONS The use of acetaminophen at therapeutic doses was associated with greater alterations of surrogate markers of the severity of acute viral hepatitis especially hepatitis A. This was related to cumulated dosages and correlated to the time related acetaminophen plasma concentrations. Acetaminophen use should be interrupted when acute hepatitis is suspected.

Isolated fever induced by mesalamine treatment

Adverse reactions to mesalamine, a treatment used to induce and maintain remission in inflammatory bowel diseases, particularly ulcerative colitis, have been described in the literature as case reports. This case illustrates an unusual adverse reaction. Our patient developed an isolated fever of unexplained etiology, which was found to be related to mesalamine treatment. A 22-year-old patient diagnosed with ulcerative colitis developed a fever with rigors and anorexia 10 d after starting oral mesalamine while his colitis was clinically resolving. Testing revealed no infection. A mesalamine-induced fever was considered, and treatment was stopped, which led to spontaneous resolution of the fever. The diagnosis was confirmed by reintroducing the mesalamine. One year later, this side effect was noticed again in the same patient after he was administered topical mesalamine. This reaction to mesalamine seems to be idiosyncratic, and the mechanism that induces fever remains unclear. Fever encountered in the course of a mesalamine treatment in ulcerative colitis must be considered a mesalamine-induced fever when it cannot be explained by the disease activity, an associated extraintestinal manifestation, or an infectious etiology.

Unusual etiology of epigastric pain.

BACKGROUND Epigastric pain is a common presenting complaint encountered in urgent care settings. Although peptic, biliary, and pancreatic pathologies are the most frequent findings, other rare diagnoses also can be found. OBJECTIVES We report an unusual case of acute epigastric pain in which abdominal ultrasound was of great support in revealing the diagnosis. CASE REPORT A 64-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department after rapid onset of acute epigastric pain. Abdominal ultrasound showed a multi-cystic heterogeneous mass between the stomach and the liver. Abdominal computed tomography scan confirmed the gastric origin of the mass and showed torsion signs. Urgent laparotomy was performed with tumor excision. The diagnosis of pedunculated exophytic gastric stromal tumor was made and long-term follow-up was arranged. CONCLUSIONS Acute presentation revealed the presence of the tumor, which was excised surgically.

Prospective Audit of Colonoscopy Practice in a Lebanese University Hospital

Background Colonoscopy has a great impact on diagnosis and management of the diseases of the colon. In general its a safe and accurate procedure. No evaluation has been done of any endoscopic practices in a country where the practice of medicine is totally private. Objectives Prospective audit of technical success and complication rates of both therapeutic and diagnostic colonoscopy. Setting One endoscopy unit of a Lebanese university hospital. Patients and design 407 consecutive colonoscopies were evaluated over a 6-month period. Data were recorded for age and sex of the patients, indication of the colonoscopy, presence of comorbidities, patients risk stratification, administrated dose of anesthetic drugs. Data concerning the procedure itself were also monitored. Intervention Completion rate as well as complications reported during or post colonoscopy. All patients were called back by phone 48 hours and 1 month later to identify any related post-procedural complication. Results 407 patients underwent colonoscopy. All patients were sedated with midazolam, propofol and fentanyl. The overall caecal intubation rate was 99.99%. 70 snare polypectomies and 29 cold forceps excision were performed as well as 5 coagulations with Argon Plasma Coagulation. The most important post-procedural complication was chemical colitis in 2 cases. Limitations Patients and endoscopists satisfaction was not evaluated. Its an audit of a single tertiary French affiliated hospital. It does not necessarily reflect whats really happening on a national level. Conclusion This audit enabled us to change some of our practices; i.e. rinsing method of endoscopes. It stimulated the team to keep a high performance level without neglecting the risk of potential complications.

An unusual internal pile

A 60 year old female underwent total colonoscopy for recurrent painless haematochezia. She reported no past medical history of abdominal or anorectal symptoms. Physical examination was unremarkable. …

Percutaneous endoscopic gastro-duodenostomy: modified technique: Nine cases and review of the literature

OBJECTIVES Percutaneous endoscopic gastro-jejunostomy is appropriate for patients with severe neurologic deficit to avoid repeated tube feeding-related aspiration. We describe a modified technique of endoscopic gastro-duodenostomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS This technique was performed in 9 patients with severe neurologic deficit. No fluoroscopy was necessary. The gastrostomy button was pushed across the pylorus into the bulb; a nasogastric tube was then placed in the duodenum under endoscopic control and the button was drawn to the gastric wall. When the gastroduodenal tube migrated or was occluded, the button was placed in the bulb through the pylorus and maintained in this position for alimentation. RESULTS Placement of the gastro-duodenostomy tube was successful without any complication in 100% of patients. The mean duration of the procedure was 15 min. The tube had to be removed for migration (N = 4) and occlusion (N = 5) after a mean period of 5.8 weeks (range: 2-10). During the follow-up period, no tube feeding-related aspiration was observed. CONCLUSION This modified low-cost technique of endoscopic gastro-duodenostomy is simple and efficient.