Endoscopic examination of the upper esophagus by withdrawal of endoscope over guide wire.

Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy is an important diagnostic modality in evaluation of patients with upper gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. However, lesions located in the cricopharyngeal area and upper esophagus can be missed, as this area may not be well visualized during endoscopy. This study was conducted to study the utility of a new technique of endoscopic examination of the upper esophagus by withdrawal of endoscope over guide wire in diagnosing esophageal disorders. Patients with suspected upper esophageal disorders on history and radiological investigations were assessed using guide wire assisted endoscopic examination during withdrawal of the endoscope. In this technique, endoscope is inserted into the esophagus under vision and thereafter the whole of esophagus, stomach and proximal duodenum is examined. The endoscope is then withdrawn into the mid-esophagus, a guide wire is fed into the biopsy channel, and thereafter inserted into the esophagus. Once guide wire has been advanced into the esophagus, the endoscope is withdrawn gently over the guide wire into esophagus carefully examining for lesions in upper esophagus and cricopharyngeal area. Twenty cases of various abnormalities localized to the upper esophagus were studied. The final diagnosis in these patients was cervical esophageal web (10), post transhiatal esophagectomy leak (4), heterotopic gastric mucosa (3), posttraumatic esophageal perforation (2), and Zenker's diverticulum (1). Intact web was detected in 2 patients and in 8 patients fractured web was seen. Guide wire assisted examination of upper esophagus improved the ability to visualize and characterize these lesions and no complications were encountered as a result of this procedure. Endoscopic examination of the upper esophagus by withdrawal of endoscope over guide wire is safe and effective in diagnosing anatomical abnormalities of the upper esophagus that may be missed or poorly characterized during standard endoscopy.

Prevalence of obesity, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia in patients with cryptogenic liver cirrhosis.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is emerging as an important cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis. Obesity, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia are important risk factors for NASH. The presence of these risk factors in patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis may suggest NASH as an aetiology of cirrhosis in them. Twenty-five patients of cryptogenic cirrhosis were compared with 18 patients of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus related cirrhosis and primary biliary cirrhosis for the presence of obesity, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia. Patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis were found to have a significantly higher body - mass index increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus and lower high-density lipoprotein compared to the controls. Increased body weight and diabetes mellitus may play a role in the causation of cirrhosis in patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis.