Gastric Outlet Obstruction: Don't Miss Duodenal Tuberculosis.

We report a case of isolated duodenal tuberculosis (TB) in a patient who presented with features of gastric outlet obstruction. The diagnosis was made on repeat endoscopic duodenal biopsy after initial histopathology failed to reveal the diagnosis. The patient recovered with antitubercular therapy. The index of suspicion has to be high in TB endemic countries as clinical, radiological, and endoscopic features are nonspecific.

Safety and benefits of self-expandable metallic stents with chemotherapy for malignant gastric outlet obstruction.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The influence of chemotherapy on placement of self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) for malignant gastric outlet obstruction (MGOO) has not been evaluated extensively. We investigated the influence of chemotherapy on the clinical outcomes of SEMS placement for MGOO. METHODS: A total of 152 cancer patients with MGOO from a university hospital and affiliate hospitals were included. The patients were classified according to chemotherapy status and evaluated for palliative efficacy and safety of SEMS placement. RESULTS: Technical success rate, time to oral intake, and parameters indicating improvement of physical condition did not differ between the with- and without-chemotherapy groups after stent placement. Re-intervention and stent migration were significantly more frequent in the with-chemotherapy group than in the without-chemotherapy group after stent placement (re-intervention, 32.4% vs 7.8%, P = 0.0005; stent migration, 13.5% vs 1.7%, P = 0.0097). The frequency of adverse events did not differ between the with- and without-chemotherapy groups. Although chemotherapy after stent placement was an independent predictive factor for shortening the stent patency period (hazard ratio [HR], 3.10; P = 0.0264), the use of additional stents facilitated uneventful recovery and further prolonged survival time (HR, 0.60; P = 0.0132). CONCLUSIONS: Various cancer patients with MGOO can undergo SEMS placement safely regardless of chemotherapy, and concurrent chemotherapy after stent placement can prolong survival time, although re-intervention and stent migration may be increased.

Novel method for the management of stenosis after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection: mucosal incision with steroid injection contralateral to the severely contracted scar.

The aim of the present report was to investigate the efficacy of local steroid injection and oral administration contralateral to a severe contracted scar of large endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric cancer. Among 254 cases that underwent gastric ESD, seven patients underwent resection of more than three-quarters of the circumference of the stomach. Two patients were excluded because they did not meet curative resection criteria of Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society. Therefore, in five patients, circumferentiality, symptom appearance period, and weight loss period were examined. Effect of a contralateral normal mucosa incision for releasing the stenosis followed by local injection and oral steroids were also examined. Abdominal bloating, vomiting, and loss of appetite appeared 42 days on average after gastric ESD, whereas weight loss >5 kg was observed an average of 52.6 days after gastric ESD. Average contralateral mucosal incision length was 51 mm, whereas the average mucosal incision width was 31 mm. All patients underwent a mucosal incision and were given a local injection of 100 mg triamcinolone acetonide. Two patients received an additional 20 mg oral steroid. In cases combined with oral steroid, there was no re-stenosis after the mucosal incision, but two to three balloon dilatations were necessary in three cases in which oral steroids were not given. This method is considered useful for stenosis after large ESD for gastric cancer.

What is the ideal stent as initial intervention for malignant gastric outlet obstruction?

BACKGROUND: Self-expandable metal stents are effective palliation for malignant gastric outlet obstruction. The aims of study were to evaluate efficacy and safety of double-layered Comvi, uncovered and covered stent to find out protocols which enhance stent patency. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data from 224 patients who underwent endoscopic stent placement for malignant gastric outlet obstruction caused by stomach cancer from 2006 to 2011. Technical and clinical success rates were evaluated and clinical outcomes were compared according to stent types and chemotherapy. RESULTS: The overall technical and clinical success rates were achieved in 99.6% and 80.4%, respectively without immediate complications. The clinical success rate was not significantly different between three groups. The median stent patency time was 156 days [interquartile range 66-279] without differences between groups. The 4-, 8-, and 12-week patency rates were 89.4%, 77.3%, and 61.2%, respectively with no differences between groups. The re-stenosis of stent frequently occurred in the case of the uncovered stents, while migration was more likely to be observed for the covered and Comvi stent. Chemotherapy significantly lowered re-intervention rates, especially in uncovered stents. CONCLUSIONS: Patency rates are significantly improved by combining the use of uncovered stent with follow-up chemotherapy treatment, which retains the advantages of the mechanical and chemical aspects of stent and chemotherapy, respectively.

[Effective made of octreotide intravenous administration for malignant gastrointestinal obstruction in terminal cancer patients].

Continuous subcutaneous administration of octreotide acetate (SMS201-995: SMS) has not been done in Meiwa Hospital for malignant gastrointestinal obstruction in terminal patients for the following reasons: First, patients and families refuse an indwelling needle on the abdominal wall; second, an additional route limits daily activity; third, the needle site becomes inflamed or sclerosed; and fourth, an infusion pump is required. Hence, the effectiveness of three types of intravenous administration was investigated retrospectively in 15 patients in our hospital: 7 cases received intermittent IV drip infusion; 4 continuous IV drip infusion; and 4 bolus IV injection. As a result, 6 cases (86%), 2 cases (50%), and 1 case (25%), respectively, were successfully treated. These results suggested that intermittent IV administration of SMS is efficient, safe, and very convenient, while continuous IV administration is also efficient as long as the SMS potency is not reduced by mixed drugs.

Benign intermittent gastric outlet obstruction in an elderly: endoscopic management and brief review.

We describe the clinical scenario in an 80 year old female who presented with history of epigastric discomfort and postprandial fullness of three weeks duration without any alarming symptoms. On upper GI endoscopy she was found to have gastric polyp with a long stalk which was partially obstructing her pyloric ring giving rise to features of intermittent gastric outlet obstruction. Polypectomy was done with complete relief of symptoms. She is following our clinic for last 6 months now. Although possibility of malignant etiology in gastric outlet obstruction ranks high in the elderly some patients are lucky to have a benign cause as the index case. Report of the case and brief review is presented.

Hypertrophic pyloroduodenal tuberculosis.

Hypertrophic pyloroduodenal tuberculosis is a rare cause of Gastric Outlet Obstruction (GOO) often forgotten in the differential diagnosis of gastric outlet obstruction. Since laboratory and radiological investigations often prove inconclusive in reaching the diagnosis of hypertrophic pyloroduodenal tuberculosis, surgery has a key role in the management of hypertrophic pyloroduodenal tuberculosis. Postoperative anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy (ATT) becomes imperative for complete resolution of hypertrophic pyloroduodenal tuberculosis. This case report describes the condition and management in a young girl.

Steroid responsive eosinophilic gastric outlet obstruction in a child.

Gastric outlet obstruction is a rare complication of eosinophilic gastroenteritis, most commonly treated surgically. We report a case of eosinophilic gastric outlet obstruction in a child that responded to conservative medical management. A brief review of this clinical entity is also provided.

[Dual interventional therapy for malignant gastroduodenal obstruction].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstruction usually have unresectable primary lesion and distant metastasis. Intra-luminal metallic stent implantation followed by intra-arterial chemotherapy via the tumor feeding arteries, so-called "dual interventional therapy", could temporarily relieve obstructive symptoms. This study was to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of dual interventional therapy on advanced malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. METHODS: A total of 65 patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstruction underwent dual interventional therapy. Of the 65 patients, 33 had pyloric antrum obstruction, 22 had duodenal obstruction, and 10 had gastroduodenal obstruction with gastrojejunostomal obstruction; 9 had liver metastasis. The patients' survival was analyzed by log-rank test. RESULTS: Stents were successfully implanted into all enrolled patients. No severe adverse events were observed in these patients. The cumulative survival rates at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after dual interventional therapy were 90%, 66%, 49%, and 28%, respectively. The median survival time was 11.9 months. CONCLUSION: The dual interventional therapy, with metallic stent implantation to relieve malignant obstruction and high-selective intra-arterial chemotherapy to control tumor growth, is a safe, feasible and effective treatment for malignant gastroduodenal obstruction.

Side-effects of long-term prostaglandin E(1) treatment in neonates.

BACKGROUND: In some neonates suffering from ductus arteriosus dependent congenital heart defect, a Prostaglandin E(1) (PGE1) therapy longer than 2 weeks may be needed. However, PGE1 analogue compounds may produce several adverse effects. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed the data of nine patients who underwent a PGE1 treatment lasting longer than 14 days. RESULTS: The leukocyte count of the patients remained high throughout the treatment period, and the proportion of neutrophils was over 50%. Transient feeding difficulty and abdominal distension, and possible signs of gastric-outlet obstruction, were observed in two cases. In the case of three patients, cortical hyperostosis developed after different cumulative doses (1584, 3384 and 4320 microg). Significant correlations were found between the doses of PGE1 and serum K(+) levels (r=-0.770, P < 0.05) and between the blood standard bicarbonate levels and PGE1 doses (r= 0.889, P < 0.01). Bartter syndrome-like condition developed in those three patients who received the largest cumulative doses. CONCLUSIONS: Fluid-electrolyte parameters must be controlled frequently in the case of each patient treated with PGE1 for longer than 2 weeks. Although the dose, the length of the therapy and individual susceptibility may be equally important, fluid-electrolyte disturbances and the development of pseudo-Bartter syndrome seem to be more dose-dependent than cortical hyperostosis.

A pilot study of botulinum toxin injection for the treatment of delayed gastric emptying following esophagectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Esophagectomy may lead to impairment in gastric emptying, unless a pyloroplasty or pyloromyotomy is performed. These procedures may be technically challenging during minimally invasive esophagectomy, and they are associated with a small but definable morbidity, such as leakage and dumping syndrome. We sought to determine the results of our early experience with injecting the pylorus with botulinum toxin instead of conventional pyloric drainage. METHODS: Fifteen patients who had undergone esophagectomy and injection of the pylorus with botulinum toxin were identified. Twelve patients had undergone botulinum toxin injection at the time of minimally invasive esophagectomy, and the remaining three had been treated endoscopically after surgery. The latter three patients had undergone esophagectomy with either no pyloric drainage (n = 2) or an inadequate pyloromyotomy (n = 1), and they presented in the postoperative period with delayed gastric emptying. The adequacy of emptying after injection was assessed by the patients' ability to tolerate a regular diet, a barium swallow, and a nuclear gastric emptying study. RESULTS: No patient injected with botulinum toxin during esophagectomy developed delayed gastric emptying or aspiration pneumonia in the perioperative period. Eight of these patients underwent a nuclear emptying scan at a median of 4.2 months after surgery, which showed a mean emptying half-life of 100 min. With a median follow-up of 5.3 months, one patient (8%) required reintervention for symptoms of gastric stasis, presumably after the effect of the toxin subsided. All three patients injected postoperatively demonstrated an improvement in symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction and were able to resume a regular diet. CONCLUSIONS: Injection of the pylorus with botulinum toxin can be performed safely in patients undergoing esophagectomy. Longer-term studies are needed to clarify the efficacy and durability of this technique compared to the accepted procedures of pyloromyotomy or pyloroplasty.

Review article: Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric outlet obstruction - prevalence of the infection and role of antimicrobial treatment.

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in peptic ulcer disease complicated by gastric outlet obstruction seems to be, overall, lower than that reported in non-complicated ulcer disease, with a mean value of 69%. However, H. pylori infection rates in various studies range from 33% to 91%, suggesting that differences in variables, such as the number and type of diagnostic methods used or the frequency of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug intake, may be responsible for the low prevalence reported in some studies. The resolution of gastric outlet obstruction after the eradication of H. pylori has been demonstrated by several studies. It seems that the beneficial effect of H. pylori eradication on gastric outlet obstruction is observed early, just a few weeks after the administration of antimicrobial treatment. Furthermore, this favourable effect seems to remain during long-term follow-up. Nevertheless, gastric outlet obstruction does not always resolve after H. pylori eradication treatment and an explanation for the failures is not completely clear, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug intake perhaps playing a major role in these cases. Treatment should start pharmacologically with the eradication of H. pylori even when stenosis is considered to be fibrotic, or when there is some gastric stasis. In summary, H. pylori eradication therapy should be considered as the first step in the treatment of duodenal or pyloric H. pylori-positive stenosis, whereas dilation or surgery should be reserved for patients who do not respond to such medical therapy.

[Gastric outlet obstruction in chronic granulomatous disease]. / Akute Magenausgangsstenose - eine Manifestation der septischen Granulomatose.

We report the case of a three year old dystrophic boy who suffered from vomiting, loss of weight and fever. In the history there were several episodes of severe infections which had repeatedly lead to hospitalisation. The cause of the actual disorder was a gastric manifestation of chronic granulomatous disease, which led by an inflammatory thickening of the gastric wall to a gastric outlet obstruction. Treatment with prednisone and gamma interferon normalised the thickness of the gastric wall and gastric outlet function. A prophylactic treatment with antibiotic and antifungeal agents was started. During the following 13 months no further severe infections were observed. We discuss incidence, kinds of manifestation, diagnostics and therapeutical options of the disease and give an overview of the literature.

Establishment of surgically induced chronic acid reflux esophagitis in rats.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to establish an animal model of chronic acid reflux esophagitis which could be used for further investigations of the pathophysiology of reflux esophagitis. METHODS: Esophagitis was produced by ligating the transitional region between the forestomach and the glandular portion with a 2-0 silk thread and covering the duodenum near the pylorus ring with a small piece of an 18Fr Nélaton catheter. The histologic features of the esophagus were examined, and the survival rate of these animals was investigated. Moreover, the effects of lansoprazole on this model was studied. RESULTS: The 3-week survival rate was 90%, and esophagitis was noted in all rats. Esophagitis was found 2 or 3 cm above the esophagogastric junction in most cases and at 4.0+/-2.3 sites per animal. Histopathologically, there were increased thickness of the esophageal epithelium, elongation of the lamina propria papillae, which extended upward into the epithelium, marked inflammatory cell infiltration, interruption of the lamina muscularis mucosae, and increase of collagen fibers in the lamina propria and submucosa. These signs were in accord with the histologic features of typical chronic esophagitis. No signs of esophagitis were observed, except in one animal, in the rats given 1 mg/kg/day of lansoprazole. CONCLUSIONS: This experimental rat model is considered useful as a model of chronic acid-type esophagitis for the evaluation of the pathophysiology of reflux esophagitis and the evaluation of drug efficacy.

Two young Somalians with gastric outlet obstruction as a first manifestation of gastroduodenal tuberculosis.

Gastroduodenal tuberculosis (GDTB) is an uncommon condition which can mimic other gastrointestinal disorders. It usually occurs secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis. We describe two young Somalian patients who presented with abdominal pain and gastric outlet obstruction. GDTB was diagnosed in both patients and they were successfully treated with antituberculous drugs.

Gastric outlet obstruction as a presenting manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus.

A patient with nausea and vomiting who subsequently proved to have systemic lupus erythematosus is described. Although gastrointestinal involvement is common in systemic lupus erythematosus it is rare as an initial manifestation. Gastric outlet obstruction was shown on the air contrast examination while the mucosa at endoscopy was normal. The gastric symptoms regressed after treatment with high dose corticosteroids and a repeat air contrast examination of the stomach was normal. This stricturing process may have been caused by a local peritonitis.

Outpatient management with oral corticosteroid therapy for obstructive conditions in chronic granulomatous disease.

We report the outpatient management of three patients with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease, two of whom had episodes of gastric outlet obstruction and another, urinary bladder obstruction. These obstructive conditions were successfully treated with 2-week courses of orally administered corticosteroids with or without the addition of orally administered clindamycin. There were no infectious or other adverse reactions.