Innovative Water-Wire Cannulation Technique for Managing Near-Complete Obstruction Due to Post-orthotopic Liver Transplant Anastomotic Strictures: A Report of Two Cases.

This report presents an innovative water-wire cannulation technique for managing challenging anastomotic strictures in post-orthotopic liver transplant patients, highlighting its successful application in two distinct cases. Anastomotic strictures pose a significant hurdle in hepatobiliary medicine, often complicating the course post-liver transplantation. Standard endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) methods frequently encounter limitations in severe stricture cases, necessitating alternative approaches. The water-wire cannulation technique, introduced in this report, innovatively utilizes water injection to gently dilate the stricture, enabling successful guidewire insertion and subsequent standard endoscopic interventions. This method was effectively applied in two patients with severe anastomotic strictures, where conventional ERCP techniques were unsuccessful. The technique's effectiveness, demonstrated in these cases, offers a less invasive and potentially safer alternative to traditional options like cholangioscopy, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), or surgical revision, which carry higher risks and complexities. The water-wire cannulation technique's success emphasizes the need for innovative and adaptable strategies in hepatobiliary medicine, especially for managing post-transplant complications. Its potential applicability in a broader spectrum of biliary strictures warrants further exploration. Overall, this technique represents a significant advancement in the endoscopic management of complex biliary strictures, promising to enhance patient care and outcomes in hepatobiliary medicine.

An Incidental Finding of Suppurative Appendicitis During Colonoscopy.

Colonoscopic diagnosis of acute appendicitis is extremely rare. Although a few appendicitis cases were reported in literature following colonoscopy, we present a case today of a patient who underwent elective colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening. The presence of an inflamed appendiceal orifice with projecting pus was documented, and the patient was referred to the surgical team for intervention. Endoscopic and intra-operative results are also illustrated.

Pneumoperitoneum After Jejunostomy Tube Placement Managed by Needle Decompression: A Case Report.

Percutaneous endoscopic feeding tube placement is a commonly performed procedure in patients who cannot take food by mouth. While it is considered a safe and effective method of providing nutritional support, like any medical procedure, it can lead to complications. Feeding tube placement, including percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ), is associated with several complications, including bleeding, site infection, aspiration, buried bumper, tube dislodgement, and pneumoperitoneum. We report a case of a 20-year-old male with multiple medical issues who underwent a PEJ that was complicated by bowel distension. The patient developed tension pneumoperitoneum post-procedure, which was treated with a bedside needle decompression. This case report highlights the significance of promptly recognizing and intervening in complications that may arise during a frequently performed medical procedure, PEJ tube placement, to prevent serious consequences, including bowel ischemia.

Main-Duct Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm Complicated by a Pancreaticogastric Fistula and a Pancreaticocholedocal Fistula.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas are a spectrum of benign to malignant epithelial neoplasms that are characterized by papillary proliferation, duct dilation, and cyst formation. A rare complication of IPMNs is fistula formation into adjacent organs such as the duodenum, biliary system, and stomach. Here, we report a case of IPMN with a pancreaticobiliary fistula and pancreaticogastric fistula. An 84-year-old woman with early Alzheimer's disease was diagnosed with IPMN of the pancreas. She deferred surgery given her age and remained asymptomatic for five years until presenting with cholangitis. She had been further evaluated and was found to have a pancreaticobiliary fistula, which was treated with biliary stent placement. Her subsequent admission involved the formation of a new pancreaticogastric fistula. This case highlights potential complications of excess mucin production from unresected IPMNs and demonstrates a guarded prognosis in elderly patients.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Choledocholithiasis in Omani Patients With Sickle Cell Disease Undergoing Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a prevalent genetic disorder in the Middle East, particularly in Oman, leading to significant morbidity. It is caused by a mutation in the gene encoding hemoglobin (Hb) molecules, resulting in the formation and polymerization of hemoglobin S (HbS), which subsequently leads to hemolysis. Chronic hemolysis in SCD patients often results in various complications, including increased bilirubin levels in the gallbladder and the formation of pigmented biliary stones, which may obstruct the biliary tract system. In such cases, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is often employed as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool to manage biliary complications. Objectives and rationale Considering the lack of studies on the Omani population with SCD, our study aims to determine the incidence of biliary stone formation in SCD patients undergoing ERCP and identify associated risk factors. Subjects and methods This retrospective study included 79 SCD patients aged over 12 years who underwent ERCP at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, between January 2010 and January 2023. Patient data were extracted from medical records. Continuous variables were analyzed using mean and standard deviation calculations, with independent sample t-tests for mean comparisons. The chi-square test assessed associations between categorized variables, with a p-value of ≤0.05 denoting statistical significance. Results The prevalence of choledocholithiasis in SCD patients undergoing ERCP was 67.1%. The incidence was higher in females (68.9%) than males (65.9%), in patients aged 12-29 (71.2%) compared to those aged ≥29 (59.3%), in patients with SCD (70.6%) versus sickle cell thalassemia (66.1%), and in those who had undergone gallbladder removal (80.0%) compared to those who did not (61.3%). Prevalence was also higher in patients not using hydroxyurea and folic acid (70.6% and 84.6%, respectively); however, chi-square analysis showed no significant association (p-value > 0.05). Additionally, t-test comparisons of HbS and HbF levels showed no significant differences. Conclusion This study documents a high prevalence of choledocholithiasis (67.1%) in SCD patients undergoing ERCP. Although the prevalence is notable, the examined risk factors did not show a significant association with stone formation.

Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm of the Pancreas in Pregnancy: A Case Report.

Mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) of the pancreas are rare epithelial neoplasms, characterized by an inner epithelial layer and an ovarian-type sub-epithelial stroma. These lesions are typically benign but can pose challenges during pregnancy due to their rapid growth potential, associated risk of malignant transformation, and complications such as pancreatitis. We present a case of a 39-year-old pregnant female with a history of recurrent acute pancreatitis, diagnosed with an MCN during pregnancy. Diagnostic procedures were deferred until after delivery, followed by successful distal pancreatectomy. This case underscores the importance of individualized management strategies in pregnant patients with pancreatic MCNs, balancing the need for timely intervention with maternal and fetal safety. Long-term follow-up is generally unnecessary for MCNs without associated invasive carcinoma, emphasizing the favorable prognosis of these lesions following complete surgical resection.

A Novel Technique Using Ryle's Tube for Colonic Decompression in Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, also known as Ogilvie's syndrome, involves colon dilation without mechanical obstruction. It is conventionally treated with conservative measures such as fasting, nasogastric and rectal tube placement, correction of fluids and electrolytes, and, if necessary, use of neostigmine and colonic decompression through colonoscopy. Surgical intervention may be considered in severe cases. In this report, we present a case of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction where initial conservative management failed. The patient was successfully treated using a novel rectal tube insertion technique.

Periampullary Clot Causing Biliary Obstruction: A Rare Presentation.

Acute cholangitis is an emergency condition that requires an emergency biliary drainage for source control of the infection. Commonly cholangitis is precipitated by biliary obstruction due to causes like stones, strictures, stents, or malignancy of the pancreaticobiliary or ampullary origin. We report a unique case of a man who had acute cholangitis due to a periampullary clot who was fully recovered after clot removal by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Treatment With Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)-Guided Transesophageal Coil Embolization Without Sclerotherapy: A Novel Therapy for Giant Distal Esophageal Hemangioma.

Giant esophageal hemangiomas are rare. The extent is usually in the mediastinum but may spread down to the upper abdomen. Such vascular pathology is hard to treat and typically to be resected along with the organs it is attached to. Here we report a novel way of treatment of giant distal esophageal hemangioma that was considered difficult for resection due to its anatomical spread. With endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guidance, a few coils were placed in the hemangioma, which lead to stasis of blood and a significant reduction in the size of the lesion in over three months.

Discharge against Medical Advice among Children in Oman: A university hospital experience.

OBJECTIVES: Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) is a major problem in healthcare delivery as it can complicate the health problems from which patients are suffering. The aim of this study was to understand DAMA among children in a tertiary teaching hospital in Oman and to evaluate the documentation of the events in the medical records. METHODS: A retrospective survey of the medical records of patients discharged against medical advice over a two-year interval was performed (2004-2006). RESULTS: Of the 11,802 admissions, there were 38 cases of DAMA, giving a prevalence rate of 0.32%. In 39.5% of the cases, the discharge happened within 24 hours of hospital admission. The majority of the cases were infants (n = 24; 63.25%). The diagnosis at discharge in some cases included life-threatening conditions. However, in 57.9% of the cases, the reasons for DAMA were neither reported nor documented in the patients' medical records. CONCLUSION: Although the results of this study yielded a low prevalence rate compared to the rates reported in other studies, the occurrence of DAMA for children in a tertiary hospital is a distressing phenomenon. It was evident that the documentation of the DAMA process was poor. More studies should be conducted to understand the details of the problem. Policies should be established and implemented in order to attempt to reduce DAMA among child patients and to protect them from the consequences of such discharges.