The Efficacy and Safety of Endoscopic Balloon Dilatation in the Treatment of Functional Post-Sleeve-Gastrectomy Stenosis.

Background and Objectives: Functional gastric stenosis, a consequence of sleeve gastrectomy, is defined as a rotation of the gastric tube along its longitudinal axis. It is brought on by gastric twisting without the anatomical constriction of the gastric lumen. During endoscopic examination, the staple line is deviated with a clockwise rotation, and the stenosis requires additional endoscopic manipulations for its transposition. Upper gastrointestinal series show the gastric twist with an upstream dilatation of the gastric tube in some patients. Data on its management have remained scarce. The objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of endoscopic balloon dilatation in the management of functional post-sleeve gastrectomy stenosis. Patients and Methods: Twenty-two patients with functional post-primary-sleeve-gastrectomy stenosis who had an endoscopic balloon dilatation between 2017 and 2023 were included in this retrospective study. Patients with alternative treatment plans and those undergoing endoscopic dilatation for other forms of gastric stenosis were excluded. The clinical outcomes were used to evaluate the efficacy and safety of balloon dilatation in the management of functional gastric stenosis. Results: A total of 45 dilatations were performed with a 30 mm balloon in 22 patients (100%), a 35 mm balloon in 18 patients (81.82%), and a 40 mm balloon in 5 patients (22.73%). The patients' clinical responses after the first balloon dilatation were a complete clinical response (4 patients, 18.18%), a partial clinical response (12 patients, 54.55%), and a non-response (6 patients, 27.27%). Nineteen patients (86.36%) had achieved clinical success at six months. Three patients (13.64%) who remained symptomatic even after achieving the maximal balloon dilation of 40 mm were considered failure of endoscopic dilatation, and they were referred for surgical intervention. No significant adverse events were found during or following the balloon dilatation. Conclusions: Endoscopic balloon dilatation is an effective and safe minimally invasive procedure in the management of functional post-sleeve-gastrectomy stenosis.

Clinical, endoscopic and histological profile of colorectal cancers seen on colonoscopy in Kano, North-Western Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most prevalent gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. With 5% risk of developing CRC in life, it became the third leading cause of cancer death in developed nations. In Nigeria, it is the most common GI cancer. However, there are limited data on CRC in the study area (North-Western part of Nigeria). The aim of this study was to identify the clinical, endoscopic and histological profile of CRC seen on colonoscopy. METHODOLOGY: This was a retrospective descriptive study where colonoscopic and histological records of suspected CRC in the study centre between January 2008 to December 2017 were evaluated. RESULTS: Records of 135 patients were reviewed, and males constituted 63.7%. The mean age was 46.61 ± 16.80 years, with 30-39 years as a modal group. Common presentations were diarrhoea (86.7%) and bleeding per rectum (68.9%). Areas affected were rectosigmoid colon (63%), ascending colon (14.1%), descending colon (8.9%), transverse colon (7.4%) and anal canal (6.7%). Histologically, adenocarcinoma was reported in 57.8%, mucinous adenocarcinoma in 8.1% and signet ring cell adenocarcinoma in 3.7%. Tubular and villous adenomas were 3% each. Others were carcinoid tumours (1.5%), metastatic adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, GI stromal tumour, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour, angiosarcoma and adenoid cyst carcinoma reported in 0.7% each. CONCLUSION: Majority of the patients with CRC were in their young age. The most common presentations were diarrhoea, weight loss and anaemia. The most common site of affectation was in the left colon, while the most common histological finding was adenocarcinoma.