Endoscopic balloon dilation for the prevention of severe strictures caused by acute esophageal necrosis.

A 58-year-old man who had the history of alcohol dependence was referred to our emergency center due to severe nausea, vomiting, and subsequent onset of chest and back pain. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed black-appearing esophagus mucosa extending from the cervical esophagus to the esophagogastric junction with clear margins, a condition typically referred to as a black esophagus. Alcohol abuse was considered an important factor associated with acute esophageal necrosis in this patient. After admission, he received fluid resuscitation and proton-pump inhibitors, with restriction of oral intake and treatment of alcohol dependence. Follow-up EGDs and endoscopic balloon dilation were performed for the management of esophageal narrowing before the development of severe strictures. Strictures were successfully treated endoscopically without complications such as perforation.

Outcomes in high and low volume hospitals in patients with acute hematochezia in a cohort study.

Outcomes of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding have not been compared according to hospital capacity. We aimed to perform a propensity score-matched cohort study with path and mediation analyses for acute hematochezia patients. Hospitals were divided into high- versus low-volume hospitals for emergency medical services. Rebleeding and death within 30 days were compared. Computed tomography, early colonoscopy (colonoscopy performed within 24 h), and endoscopic therapies were included as mediators. A total of 2644 matched pairs were yielded. The rebleeding rate within 30 days was not significant between high- and low-volume hospitals (16% vs. 17%, P = 0.44). The mortality rate within 30 days was significantly higher in the high-volume cohort than in the low-volume cohort (1.7% vs. 0.8%, P = 0.003). Treatment at high-volume hospitals was not a significant factor for rebleeding (odds ratio [OR] = 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-1.06; P = 0.23), but was significant for death within 30 days (OR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.17-3.52; P = 0.012) on multivariate logistic regression after adjusting for patients' characteristics. Mediation effects were not observed, except for rebleeding within 30 days in high-volume hospitals through early colonoscopy. However, the direct effect of high-volume hospitals on rebleeding was not significant. High-volume hospitals did not improve the outcomes of acute hematochezia patients.

Endoscopic treatment for a giant gastric bezoar: Sequential use of electrohydraulic lithotripsy, alligator forceps, and snares.

A 62-year-old woman with no past history was referred to our hospital for endoscopic treatment of a large gastric bezoar measuring 10 cm in diameter. The bezoar had a hard surface and huge volume. A tunnel was created at the center of the bezoar using electrohydraulic lithotripsy and was dilated using a through-the-scope balloon. The bezoar was then gradually crushed using alligator forceps and snares to decrease the risk of intestinal obstruction by the crushed bezoar fragments. The sequential use of electrohydraulic lithotripsy, alligator forceps, and snares according to the therapeutic plan enabled the endoscopic treatment of the giant gastric bezoar without surgery.

Familial Occurrence of Enteric Muco-Submucosal Elongated Polyp.

We report 2 cases of enteric muco-submucosal elongated polyps (EMSEPs) that presented with gastrointestinal bleeding. The 2 patients are siblings. They both had a history of percutaneous coronary intervention for coronary artery disease and were on dual antiplatelet therapy. They underwent endoscopic resection of the polyps, which displayed identical endoscopic and histological features compatible with EMSEP. This is the first report of familial occurrence of EMSEP, suggesting possible genetic involvement. It is also important to note that the use of antiplatelet agents appears to be a predisposing factor for gastrointestinal bleeding from EMSEP.

Endoscopic band ligation for colonic diverticular bleeding: possibility of standardization.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic band ligation (EBL) has been used to achieve hemostasis in patients with colonic diverticular bleeding. The safety and effectiveness of EBL when performed by non-expert endoscopists have not been sufficiently verified. This study aimed to elucidate the feasibility of the EBL technique when performed by non-expert endoscopists and of considering EBL as a standard treatment for colonic diverticular bleeding. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary referral center in Tokyo, Japan, between June 2009 and October 2014. A total of 95 patients treated with EBL were included in the study and were divided into two groups according to whether they had been treated by expert or non-expert endoscopists. Comorbidities, medications, shock index, hemoglobin level on admission, location of the bleeding diverticula, rate of bowel preparation, procedure time, and EBL-associated adverse events were evaluated in each group. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to investigate factors related to EBL procedure time, which is the time elapsed between marking the site of bleeding with hemoclips and completion of the band release. RESULTS: A total of 47 (49.5 %) procedures were performed by expert endoscopists. In a bivariate analysis, the median EBL procedure times in the expert and non-expert groups were 15 minutes (range 4 - 45) and 11 minutes (range 4 - 36), respectively (P = 0.03). When a multivariate linear regression model was used, EBL for right-sided diverticula was the factor most significantly affecting EBL procedure time. No adverse events were encountered. CONCLUSION: EBL can be safely and effectively performed by non-expert endoscopists. A right-sided location of diverticula was the factor most significantly affecting EBL procedure time.