A Case of Emergency Endoscopic Treatment of Sigmoid Volvulus / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Sigmoid volvulus is a unfrequent cause of colon obstruction in Korea. Colonoscopic reduction and decompression is the preferred initial treatment of patients with sigmoid volvulus who do not have signs of bowel strangulation because of the high mortality associated with emergency surgery. We experienced a case of sigmoid volvulus in a 60-year-old male who presented with constipation, abdominal distension and abdominal pain. Sigmoid volvulus was diagnosed by simple abdominal film and he had taken successful emergency colonoscopic reduction of sigmoid volvulus. We report our experience & reviews the literature on the use of the colonoscope to treat sigmoid volvulus.

Two Cases of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis / 대한내과학회지

Primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease of unknown origin. The small and medium sized intrahepatic bile ducts are destroyed by an inflammatory process, which, it has been suggested, is of the autoimmune type. It is strongly associated with the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies, predominantly IgM and IgG. The liver changes are classified into four stages, of which stage IV represents the development of cirrhosis, which required orthotropic liver transplantation in the longrun. The prevalence rates was reported 128 per millon in Sweden , but the disease is relatively rare in Oriental area. In medical treatment, long-term administration of ursodeoxycholic acid improves both clinical and biochemical signs, slows the progression of the disease and reduces the complication requiring liver transplantation. We report two cases of PBC, one with histologically proven cirrhosis, and the other with bile duct destruction consistent with stage III and hypothyroidism.

A Caae of Gastrocolie Fistula Secondary to Benign Gastric Ulcer / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Gastrocolic fistula is a rare lesion which is caused most commonly by carcinoma of colon or stomach. The less common causes of gastrocolic fistula are follows: trauma, faulty gastrocolic anastomosis during gastrectomy, benign gastric ulcer, syphilis, carcinoid tumor, tuberculosis, intraperitoneal abscess, lymphoma, perforated diverticulum of colon, and ulcerative colitis. The locations of fistulae are mostly between greater curvature of stomach and distal half of the transverse colon. In the case of penetrating benign gastric ulcer and gastrcolic fistula, it is usually associated either with asipirin or with prolonged steroid administration. A 36-year-old male who had an unusual gastrocolic fistula secondary to non-surgically treated benign gastric ulcer is presented. The exitence of a gastrocolic fistula was dernonstrated by radiological examination of the colon and the stomach. In this patient, the colonoscope passde through the fistula and the stomach could be examined. Careful preparation was carried out preoperatively with intravenous fluids and blood transfusions. Resection of the distal stomch, fistulous tract, and segment of the transverse colon was then accamplished.