Bile leak from the duct of Luschka.

A 64-year-old diabetic man underwent an open cholecystectomy for acute necrotizing cholecystitis. Post-operatively he developed a biloma which was drained percutaneously. A bile leak was suspected and he underwent an ERCP. Initial cholangiography was normal, but upon continued injection of contrast agent, a bile leak originating from a branch of the right hepatic duct or duct of Luschka became evident. A sphincterotomy was performed and a plastic stent was placed into the common bile duct. The leak resolved and the plastic stent was removed 6 weeks later.

A retrospective analysis of emergency double-balloon enteroscopy for small-bowel bleeding.

Although the role of emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy for upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is well defined, there are no data on the concept of emergency double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) for small-bowel bleeding. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the concept of emergency DBE in overt obscure GIB and assess its impact on patient management. A total of 17 emergency DBEs for overt obscure GIB were carried out in ten patients (six women, four men; mean age 68 years, range 35 - 83). The following diagnoses were made: actively bleeding Dieulafoy lesions of the small bowel, n = 2; bleeding tumors, n = 4 (carcinoids n = 2, adenocarcinoma n = 1, lipoma n = 1); bleeding angiodysplasias and/or large arteriovenous malformation (AVM), n = 2; multiple ulcers, n = 1; and no diagnosis, n = 1. Endoscopic therapies included argon plasma coagulation (n = 6), injection of epinephrine (n = 3), and use of fibrin glue (n = 1). It appears that emergency DBE is technically feasible, facilitates both diagnosis and therapy and enables management of patients with massive overt obscure GIB. This study is a first step in establishing the concept of emergency DBE for patients with suspected small-bowel bleeding.

Double-balloon enteroscopy-assisted virtual chromoendoscopy for small-bowel disorders: a case series.

The Fujinon intelligent color enhancement (FICE) system is a new, virtual chromoendoscopy technique that enhances mucosal visibility. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) with FICE technology (EPX-4400 processor, Japan) for the characterization of various small-bowel diseases. Overall, a total of 574 endoscopic pictures were obtained and analyzed. FICE was found to be a helpful method for the evaluation of adenomatous small-bowel polyps and angiodysplasias. Its use for the characterization of celiac and Crohn's disease appears to be limited. Overall, FICE may become a useful method that aids in characterization and provides new insights to small-bowel pathologies.

[Catheter-free pH-metry using the Bravo capsule versus standard pH-metry in patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD)]. / Katheterfreie pH-Metrie mittels Bravo-Kapsel versus Standard-pH-Metrie bei Patienten mit nicht erosiver Refluxkrankheit (NERD).

BACKGROUND: pH-monitoring is considered the gold standard for the detection of acid reflux in patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). Preliminary pH studies performed over periods longer than 24 hours have shown that in up to one-third of subjects abnormal pH exposure is detected only on the second day of monitoring. Therefore, pH-monitoring during 48 hours may yield more information about pathological acid reflux in patients being investigated for NERD. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare conventional 24-hour pH-monitoring with the new wireless 48-hour Bravo pH-monitoring in patients with NERD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with typical reflux symptoms, a positive reflux disease questionnaire and negative endoscopy (NERD) and without any form of acid suppressive therapy were included in this prospective study. The patients were divided into two groups: group A for conventional 24-hour pH-monitoring and group B for wireless 48-h Bravo pH-monitoring. RESULTS: 76 patients with a diagnosis of NERD based on a positive RDQ questionnaire and negative endoscopy were included. (47 woman, 29 men, median age: 49 years). 54 underwent conventional pH-monitoring and 22 underwent 48-h pH-monitoring with the new wireless BRAVO system. The overall incidence of acid reflux was 55 % in patients with NERD. Acid reflux was detected less frequently when using Bravo as compared to conventional pH-monitoring. In addition, the Bravo pH-metry showed a large day-to-day variability. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged pH-monitoring over a period longer than 24 hours did not improve the detection of acid reflux in patients with NERD. Thus, it appears that the Bravo pH-metry does not offer an advantage over standard pH-metry in the daily clinical practice.

Small bowel polyps and tumours: endoscopic detection and treatment by double-balloon enteroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Double-balloon enteroscopy has allowed us not only to inspect deeply the small bowel but also to carry out interventions for diseases of the small bowel. AIM: To evaluate the utility of double-balloon enteroscopy for the diagnosis and therapy of these lesions. METHODS: All patients undergoing double-balloon enteroscopy for evaluation of small bowel polyps and tumours during a 3.75-year period at a university referral hospital were studied. The types of polyps and tumours as well as endoscopic technique of removal, surgery and complications were documented. RESULTS: The incidence of small bowel polyps and tumours in-patients undergoing DBE was 9.6%. A total of 40 double-balloon enteroscopy procedures were performed in 29 patients [13 female (44.8%), mean age 51 years, range 22-74]. The following lesions were found most frequently: adenomas in familial adenomatous polyposis syndrome, n = 8; hamartomas, n = 4 (Peutz-Jeghers and Cronkhite Canada syndromes), jejunal adenocarcinoma n = 5, neuroendocrine tumour n = 4 and others n = 6. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of small bowel tumours in those in-patients who were undergoing double-balloon enteroscopy was 10%. Double-balloon enteroscopy is useful for the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel polyps and tumours.

Incidence of bleeding lesions within reach of conventional upper and lower endoscopes in patients undergoing double-balloon enteroscopy for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is a useful method for evaluation of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). AIM: To determine the incidence of lesions within reach of conventional upper and lower endoscopes as the cause of OGIB in patients referred for DBE. METHODS: All patients undergoing DBE for OGIB during a 3.5-year period at a university hospital were studied. OGIB was defined according to American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) guidelines. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-three DBEs were performed in 107 patients for obscure overt (n=85) and obscure occult (n=22) GIB. Lesions outside the SB as possible sources of GIB were found in 51 patients (47.6%) and a definite source of bleeding outside the small bowel (SB) was detected in 26 patients (24.3%). Lesions considered to explain a definite source of GIB were: gastric ulcer (n=3), duodenal ulcer (n=3), Cameron's lesions (n=2), gastric antral vascular ectasias (n=4), radiation proctitis (n=1), radiation ileitis (n=2), duodenal angiodysplasias (n=1), haemorrhoids with stigmata of recent bleed (n=1), colon angiodysplasias (n=3), colon diverticulosis (n=3), colonic Crohn's disease (n=1), anastomotic ulcers (n=1). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of non-SB lesions definitely explaining the source of GIB in patients referred for DBE was 24.3%. Therefore, repeat esophago-gastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and ileocolonoscopy should be taken into consideration before DBE.

Characterization of yellow plaques found in the small bowel during double-balloon enteroscopy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The aim of this study was to characterize yellow (or whitish) plaques of the small bowel that were found during double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) performed for small-bowel evaluation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who were being evaluated for small-bowel pathology at our institution (for a variety of indications) were included in the study. In 16 patients, DBE revealed yellow or whitish submucosal plaques, defined as small, raised, submucosal lesions that were well circumscribed and covered by normal-appearing small-bowel mucosa. Biopsy tissue obtained during the procedures was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and with periodic acid-Schiff stain, and was subjected to immunochemical testing using endothelial markers (anti-CD31 and anti-CD34). RESULTS: These 16 patients were identified out of a total of 150 DBE procedures performed in 120 patients (eight men, eight women; mean age 62, range 33 - 78). The lesions were mostly single (range 1 to > 5 lesions), ranging in size from 2 mm to 15 mm, and were slightly raised (from 1 mm to 2 mm). In four cases the plaques could not be biopsied because the patient had a coagulation disorder or because the DBE was being performed to investigate severe acute bleeding. In the other 12 patients, a characteristic white-yellow liquid exudated from the biopsy site in 80 % of lesions, and these 12 patients were shown to have lymphangiectasias. No association with an infiltrative disorder could be detected. CONCLUSIONS: Yellow and white submucosal plaques are found in up to 13 % of patients undergoing DBE. They are most likely to be lymphangiectasias and are a normal anatomical variant. They do not require further work-up.

Incidence, clinical management and outcomes of esophageal perforations after endoscopic dilatation.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal dilatation is performed for the treatment of anatomic and sometimes functional narrowing of the esophageal lumen caused by a variety of benign and malignant conditions. Esophageal perforation is the major complication associated with endoscopic dilatation. AIM: The object of this study was to assess the incidence of perforation, management and outcomes after endoscopic esophageal dilatation. METHODS: All patients who underwent endoscopic esophageal dilatation at our institution from June 2001 to December 2006 were identified. Data were obtained by searching our prospectively collected electronic database (MEDOS AG, Langenselbold, Germany), which includes all endoscopic reports as well as discharge summaries of patients who have undergone endoscopy in our department. RESULTS: 248 patients (148 male, 100 female, mean age 58 years, range 14-87 years) underwent 365 esophageal dilatations: 74 pneumatic balloon dilatations for achalasia, 79 balloon dilatations for other reasons such as tumors, peptic stenosis, or post-radiotherapy stenosis and 212 dilatations with Savary bougies. The overall incidence of perforation based on the number of procedures was 2.2% (8 perforations/365 procedures) and 3.2% (8/248 patients) based on the number of patients. The perforation rate was 1.9% for bougie dilatation, 0% for balloon dilatation and 5-4% for pneumatic balloon dilatation for achalasia. Five patients were treated surgically and 3 patients were managed conservatively. The mean hospital stay was 14 days (7-33 days). One patient in whom the perforation was recognized 16 days after the dilatation died. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic esophageal dilatation is a safe procedure for the palliation of malignant strictures, for the management of benign strictures as well as for the therapy of achalasia. The perforation rate after these procedures is low. Early recognition of the perforation is associated with a good outcome. Small perforations can be treated conservatively.