Endoscopy Management of Complete Gastric Outlet Obstruction Secondary to Elipse™ Intragastric Balloon.

The Allurion Elipse™ device is a swallowable balloon in the form of a capsule placed without endoscopy that serves the same purpose as an intragastric balloon (IGB) used for weight loss. We report a case of a 43-year-old female who presented with a complete gastric outlet obstruction confirmed by computed tomography (CT) scan. The patient initially failed conservative management; therefore, the IGB was later removed endoscopically. This is a rare complication and one of the first cases described in the literature; therefore, further studies are needed before its widescale implementation.

Qualitative study of knowledge, perception, behavior and barriers associated with cardiovascular disease risk among overweight and obese Hispanic taxi drivers of South Bronx, NYC.

BACKGROUND: Taxi drivers are prone to developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors by adopting poor health behaviors due to their work environment. The population of Hispanic taxi drivers in inner city South Bronx, NYC, have not been studied. The goal of our qualitative study is to understand the perception, knowledge, behavior and barriers that influence CVD risk in overweight and obese inner-city Hispanic drivers. METHODS: A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted among community-based taxi drivers in South Bronx, NYC. Hispanic taxi drivers with body mass index of greater than 25 kg/m2 were screened and recruited for the study. Focus groups were organized to evaluate CVD and obesity risk factors through open-ended questions. The discussions were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using standard qualitative techniques. The Health Belief Model framework was applied to understand and evaluate likelihood of promoting health behaviors in this population based on the findings from the focus groups. RESULTS: We conducted 3 focus groups (N = 25) and themes that emerged were evaluated. Through the Health Belief Model framework, Hispanic taxi driver participants reported demanding and stressful work shifts, barriers to better nutrition and good health, poor support systems, and low self-efficacy in overcoming barriers to improve their risk for CVD, due to lower perceived benefits and greater perceived barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Inner-city Hispanic NYC taxi drivers have several contributing factors and barriers leading to a poor CVD risk and high body weight profile. Understanding their knowledge, perception and barriers the drivers face in improving their CVD risk, underscores the importance of community outreach programs to develop a framework in empowering and improving the health of this population.

Qualitative Study of Knowledge, Perception, and Behavior Related to Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Among Hypertensive African-Americans in Urban Inner City of South Bronx, New York.

OBJECTIVE: To study the knowledge, perception, and behaviors among hypertensive African-Americans in South Bronx, New York, to elucidate any gaps that could explain their poor blood pressure control. METHODS: Cross-sectional qualitative study on African-American participants with essential hypertension, on single or combined oral antihypertensive regimen. Three focus groups were presented with open-ended questions on topics including cardiovascular disease knowledge, perception, and behaviors. A total of 18 data collection tools were used. Concepts formulated were categorized into dominant themes. A sample size of 21 participants was attained based on the saturation point related to emerging common themes. RESULTS: Six dominant themes identified were unhealthy diet, stress, patient-physician relationship, medication non-compliance, decreased physical activity, and hypertension complications. The most dominant was unhealthy diet with self-identified barriers such as poor food selection, family tradition, economical cost, will-power, food taste, and accessibility to healthier food. Regarding medication adherence, participants recognized trust was a determining factor that has been negatively reinforced by previous experiences with their healthcare providers especially when they were not perceived as knowledgeable. Participants have also felt they have been influenced by historic events in their health decision-making process. CONCLUSIONS: The South Bronx African-American population has some feelings that are valid and not simply misconceptions. Some of them are historically related, gaps in knowledge influenced by culture and traditions, and barriers to healthy behaviors enhanced by economic status, lack of will-power, physical limitations, and stress from daily living. A physician partnership with this African-American community to improve trust, raise awareness, facilitate, and change in behavior that could help address blood pressure control and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Factores de riesgo cardiovascular en un grupo de mujeres con sobrepeso y obesidad / Cardiovascular risk factors in a group of women with overweight and obesity

Justificación y objetivo: La enfermedad isquémica cardiovascular es definida por la Organización Mundial de la Salud como la incapacidad cardiaca aguda y crónica, resultante de la reducción o suspensión del flujo sanguíneo del miocardio, asociado con procesos patológicos en el sistema arterial coronario. Es una de las principales causas de muerte entre los individuos adultos de Costa Rica y el mundo. El presente trabajo describe los factores de riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular hallados en un grupo de mujeres con sobrepeso y obesidad residentes del área de atracción de salud del programa de Atención Integral en Salud, PAIS, correspondientes a los distritos de La Unión, Curridabat y Montes de Oca. Métodos: Se estudiaron un total de 90 mujeres diagnosticadas con sobrepeso u obesidad, con edades comprendidas entre los 18-49 años, 30 de cada uno de los distritos que conforman el área de cobertura PAIS, Curridabat, La Unión y Montes de Oca, durante 2007. Se evaluaron los factores de riesgo cardiovascular recomendados por el ATPIII establecidos por la Asociación Americana del Corazón. Resultados: Un 75 por ciento de las mujeres del estudio mostraron niveles de LDL colesterol fuera del rango aceptable, el 50 por ciento presentó niveles no deseables del colesterol total y el 51.3 por ciento presentó hipertensión. Los factores de riesgo predisponentes más prevalentes fueron la obesidad, 64 por ciento, y el 61 por ciento gastó menos de 2000 kcal por semana en actividad física que las clasifica como sedentarias. El único factor de riesgo condicionante que se evaluó fue la hipertrigliceridemia, presentada en el 25.3 por ciento de las mujeres. Conclusión: Las mujeres en estudio presentaron al menos dos factores de riesgo cardiovascular; son un grupo de especial atención, de manera que sean sujeto de intervenciones de tipo integral que aborden la promoción de la salud, tanto en las mujeres como en sus familias y comunidades.