The Second Canadian Consensus Conference on the Management of Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

The Second Canadian Consensus Conference on the Management of Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) was organized by the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology to address major advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of GERD, to review the new methods of investigation and therapy introduced since the first conference in 1992 and to examine the issue of relevant health economics. The changes that have taken place over the past four years have been sufficiently dramatic to necessitate reassessment of the recommendations made following the first conference. The second conference dealt with the investigation and treatment of uncomplicated GERD and the complex issues of esophageal and extraesophageal complications such as chest pain, Barrett's esophagus, and reflux-related pulmonary and laryngeal disorders. The role of laparoscopic surgery was also discussed. A decision tree for investigation and treatment of patients with GERD was developed. The 38 participants represented a broad spectrum of experience, location of practice and special interests. The distribution of participants conformed to the recommendations of the Canadian Medical Association guidelines for consensus documents in that there should be input from all possible interested parties. A list of the state-of-the-art lectures presented during the conference, the small group sessions, the session chairpersons and participants are appended to this document. CONCLUSIONS. UNCOMPLICATED GERD: GERD with alarm symptoms must be investigated immediately. There was no consensus about when to investigate uncomplicated GERD, ie, whether to perform endoscopy immediately or after initial therapy fails. There was controversy regarding 'step up' (H2 receptor antagonist [H2RA] or prokinetic [PK] first therapy) versus 'step down' therapy (proton pump inhibitor [PPI] first therapy). The majority decision was for short term 'step up' therapy and investigation if symptoms do not improve or recur. Maintenance therapy should be carried out with the initial therapy that was effective. H2RAs and PKs may suffice for maintenance therapy in milder GERD; however, for severe esophagitis, PPIs should be used. SURGERY: Indications for laparoscopic surgery should be the same as for conventional antireflux operations. NONCARDIAC ANGINA-LIKE CHEST PAIN: After exclusion of nonesophageal causes, the majority decided that eight weeks of therapy with a PPI should be performed, while some suggested work-up before a therapeutic test. In the absence of response or recurrence, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and, depending on the circumstances, 24 h ambulatory pH/motility may be indicated. BARRETT'S ESOPHAGUS: Only patients who, in case of future discovery of cancer or dysplasia, are able or willing to undergo therapy should have surveillance. In the absence of dysplasia EGD should be performed every two years, and in the presence of mild dysplasia every three to six months. All agreed that for severe dysplasia, esophagectomy or poor risk patients, esophageal mucosal ablation is indicated. ESTRAESOPHAGEAL COMPLICATONS (EECs): Asthma, chronic cough and posterior laryngitis were considered EECs. Although PPIs may decrease symptoms, improvement alone is not diagnostic of the presence of EEC. Ambulatory pH studies with two pH probes or ambulatory pH/motility may be useful in establishing causation. HEALTH ECONOMICS: There are limited data for an economic comparison among the different drugs or between medical and surgical therapy.

The role of ERCP in children and adolescents.

The diagnostic and therapeutic role of ERCP in 42 patients ranging from 1 to 19 years of age is discussed. ERCP provided useful additional information in 15 patients with biliary tract disease, 15 patients with pancreatic disease, and 9 patients with abdominal pain. The appropriate duct was cannulated in 95% of cases. Mild pancreatitis occurred in two patients after ERCP. Endoscopic papillotomy was successful in five patients. ERCP plays an important part in the investigation of unexplained biliary tract and pancreatic disease. It rarely demonstrates abnormal pathology in patients with otherwise unexplained abdominal pain.

The prevalence of Campylobacter pylori gastritis among asymptomatic adults.

To determine the prevalence of Campylobacter pylori colonization in the healthy population we studied 54 asymptomatic volunteers and 65 patients referred because of gastrointestinal symptoms. All subjects underwent gastroscopy and gastric biopsy. C. pylori was isolated from 6 volunteers (11%) and 36 patients (55%). Histologic evidence of inflammation was present in 98% of the culture-positive subjects. Linear regression analysis revealed that the prevalence of C. pylori colonization increased with age. There was no difference in the isolation rate between the two groups when adjusted for age. Four of the six culture-positive volunteers underwent repeat endoscopy and gastric biopsy 1 year later; despite remaining asymptomatic, all still had positive culture results and histologic evidence of gastritis. We conclude that the prevalence of C. pylori-associated gastritis among symptomatic patients increases with age and that the organism may be present in the gastrointestinal tract for prolonged periods without symptoms or evidence of disease progression.

Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage during ACTH treatment of ulcerative colitis. Report of a case and review of the literature.

Adrenal hemorrhage is uncommon and usually associated with severe stress, sepsis, or anticoagulant therapy. The association of adrenal hemorrhage and acute ulcerative colitis is rare, and is probably related to exogenous therapy with ACTH. The case of a 29-year-old woman who was hospitalized with severe ulcerative colitis, treated with ACTH, and who developed bilateral adrenal hemorrhage is presented. The difficulties of diagnosis and management are discussed. A review of the relevant literature concerning the pathophysiology of adrenal hemorrhage is presented also.

Duodenal duplication presenting as relapsing pancreatitis in an adult.

The first case of relapsing acute pancreatitis due to a tubular duodenal duplication is reported. The duplication is believed to have filled with secretions and intermittently impinged on and obstructed the pancreatic ductular system producing a clinical picture of relapsing acute pancreatitis. The increased pressure within the duplication also produced pressure necrosis of the mucosa lining the duplication with resultant hemorrhage and iron-deficiency anaemia. The diagnosis was made preoperatively with the aid of ERCP.

Direct cholangiography: its diagnostic and therapeutic role.

In the management of biliary tract disorders, direct cholangiography should be chosen over ultrasonic examination if the bile ducts are thought to be obstructed. Contrast medium can be introduced into the bile ducts either percutaneously or retrogradely via the ampulla of Vater, the choice of technique often depending on the clinical situation. Direct access to the biliary tree for diagnostic purposes has also led to advances in the treatment of mechanical disorders of the ducts.

Biliary tree in cystic fibrosis. Biliary tract abnormalities in cystic fibrosis demonstrated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.

Two female adolescents with cystic fibrosis were investigated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography for recurrent abdominal pain. The cholangiogram of 1 patient demonstrated multiple irregular filling defects throughout the biliary tree representing thickened bile and mucus as well as stones. The cholangiogram of the other case illustrated cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts with intrahepatic cholelithiasis as well as extensive irregularities of the smaller proximal ductules secondary to recurrent cholangitis or focal biliary cirrhosis, or both. Endoscopic papillotomy resulted in drainage of tenacious bile and mucus and stones in both cases. Sustained clinical improvement did not follow papillotomy in either case, whereas radiologic improvement was demonstrated in 1 case.

Biliary obstruction secondary to hepatic artery aneurysm: cholangiographic appearance and diagnostic considerations.

We present 2 patients with biliary compression by hepatic artery aneurysms and, for the first time, a cholangiographic demonstration of this rare cause of extrahepatic obstruction. The clinical features of hepatic artery aneurysms and modalities available for their diagnosis are reviewed. The cholangiographic appearance of smooth, gradual tapering of the biliary tree, although nonspecific, is not typical of the more commonly encountered bile duct carcinoma and should alert the investigator to the possibility of this uncommon diagnosis. Angiography must still be considered the procedure of choice but is unlikely to be performed without the necessary index of suspicion, either on clinical or radiologic grounds.

Intrapancreatic common bile duct compression causing jaundice in an adult with cystic fibrosis.

A 29-yr-old man with cystic fibrosis had a 4-yr history of recurrent episodes of obstructive jaundice. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography revealed a common bile duct smoothly narrowed in its intrapancreatic portion, with dilatation above. A choledochojejunostomy was performed, but the patient died of septic complications. At autopsy, extensive pancreatic fibrosis caused compression of the distal bile duct in a manner which is analogous to that seen in chronic pancreatitis. This complication of cystic fibrosis, not previously reported, may become more prevalent as more patients with cystic fibrosis are living into adulthood.

Periampullary tumours: advances in diagnosis and surgical treatment.

Forty-five carcinomas of the region of the ampulla of Vater were resected at the Toronto General Hospital during a 16-year period. In 26 the presenting symptom was pain and in 32 it was jaundice. The most useful means of investigation was endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Angiography was of value in determining resectability prior to operation, and percutaneous aspiration biopsy allowed a preoperative diagnosis in the case of large pancreatic tumours. In 39 patients who had a Whipple procedure the operative mortality was 8%. Total pancreatectomy performed in two patients and local excision of ampullary carcinoma in four patients were attended by no operative deaths. Long-term survival was best in patients with ampullary carcinomas and worst in those with pancreatic cancer.

Reproducibility and comparative analysis of repeated intravenous and oral glucose tolerance tests.

We have developed a methodology for measuring the reproducibility of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) in normal subjects and in offspring of conjugal diabetic parents. Both groups of subjects revealed more striking correlations of several parameters of blood glucose and insulin secretion between two IVGTTs than between two OGTTs. Employing arbitrary criteria, we calculated a "reproducibility index" as a quantitative measure of blood glucose variability in each subject. No significant difference was found in the reproducibility of OGTT versus IVGTT, nor in normals versus the offspring. Only about 50 per cent of the tests in normals and in the offspring could be considered to be "reproducible." The offspring revealed greater correlations of several parameters, particularly insulin secretion, between the two IVGTTs and between the two OGTTs as compared with the normal group. However, the blood glucose variations tended to be considerably greater in the offspring from one to the other test.

Meglumine iodipamide (Cholografin) hepatotoxicity.

Two cases of meglumine iodipamide (Cholografin) hepatotoxicity were confirmed by liver biopsy. The hepatic lesion was centrilobular in location and resolved within a short period of time. Nausea and vomiting commonly reported after intravenous cholangiography may be clinical manifestations of this entity.

Secretin and insulin: response to intraduodenal acid.

Immunoreactive secretin (IRS) and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) levels were measured in humans and dogs following the intraduodenal instillation of hydrochloric acid. IRS levels rose after acid in both instances, but a concomitant rise in peripheral IRI levels was not noted. Premedication of the humans with Scopolamine prevented a rise of IRS in the human subjects. It is concluded that the endovenous release of IRS alone does not result in increased IRI levels in peripheral blood and that IRS release may be under vagal control.

Acute abdominal complications of coeliac disease.

Two rare complications of coeliac disease are described in patients who presented as acute abdominal emergencies. One of the patients had both oesophageal and small intestinal obstruction produced by an ulcerative process involving these portions of the gastro-intestinal tract. The other, a patient with long standing dermatitis herpetiformis, perforated his small intestine at a site involved by both a lymphoma and partial villous atrophy.