Revista Española de Enfermedades Digestivas

Capsule reading is resources consuming: how can we make the best of it?

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: which factors are associated with positive capsule endoscopy findings?

Background: Capsule endoscopy is a first line examination to evaluate obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. The identification of factors associated with the detection of lesions by capsule endoscopy could improve resource utilization and patient selection. Objectives: To identify factors associated with positive capsule endoscopy findings in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods: Retrospective, single-center study, including 203 patients (214 capsule endoscopy procedures) submitted to capsule endoscopy in the setting of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Type of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, number of units of packed red blood cells transfused, type of positive finding, number of endoscopy studies performed prior to capsule endoscopy, comorbidities, medication and Charlson index were evaluated. Overt bleeding was subdivided into ongoing and previous gastrointestinal bleeding. Only lesions with high hemorrhagic potential (P2) were classified as positive findings. Results: The mean age was 62.2 years and 59.7% of patients were female. Most patients were referred for occult gastrointestinal bleeding (64.5%), while 35.5% were referred for overt gastrointestinal bleeding (63.2% previous-overt gastrointestinal bleeding). The most frequent positive findings included ulcers/erosions (34%) and angioectasias (32%). In univariate analysis, the identification of positive findings was significantly higher in those with ongoing-overt bleeding (p < 0.001), advanced age (p = 0.003), increasing number of pre-capsule endoscopies (p < 0.001), increasing transfusion requirements (p < 0.001), moderate/severe renal disease (p = 0.009) and antiplatelet drugs (p = 0.021) and NSAID intake (p = 0.005). In multivariate analysis, positive findings were significantly higher only in those with ongoing-overt bleeding (odds ratio [OR] 18.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.98-85.6, p < 0.001), higher transfusion requirements (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.1-1.4, p < 0.001) and NSAID intake (OR 5.9, 95% CI 2.1-17.3, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Capsule endoscopy should be used early in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Ongoing-overt bleeding, higher transfusion requirements and NSAIDs intake were associated with positive findings on capsule endoscopy.

Long-term oncologic results in cancer of the rectum treated by preoperative chemoradiotherapy and surgery: an analysis of 500 cases

Background: The standard treatment for locally advanced cancer of the rectum (LACR) and selective cases of stage IV disease is preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by total mesorectal excision (TME). Despite reductions in local recurrence, disease-free survival (DSF) has remained stable in recent years. Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze patterns of recurrence, long-term survival and prognostic factors in a program of neoadjuvant CRT and surgery in LACR. Methods: Between January 1992 and December 2011, 446 patients with LACR and 54 patients (with single metastases) were treated with pre-operative long course CRT and surgery. Three hundred forty four (66.8%) anterior resections of the rectum and 123 (24.6%) abdomino-perineal resections were performed. Results: With a mean follow-up of 70.06 months, local recurrence was 4.8% and distant recurrence 25.5%. No differences were found in the histopathologic prognostic factors across the three groups studied depending on distance (cm) from the anal margin. Involvement of the circumferential resection margin (CRM+) was significantly greater in tumors in the distal third of the rectum (8.5%; p = 0.04). 67 patients (13.4%) showed a complete pathologic response. DSF at 5 and 10 years was significantly lower in patients with tumors affecting the distal third as compared to the middle third of the rectum (61.9% vs. 57.7%; p = 0.04). Tumors at this distal location resulted in a significantly higher incidence of lung metastases (p = 0.016).

Antecedentes: el tratamiento del cáncer de recto localmente avanzado (CRLA) y de casos selectivos de estadio IV es la quimio-radioterapia (QRT) preoperatoria seguida de la extirpación completa del meso-recto (ETM). A pesar de la reducción en la recurrencia local, la supervivencia libre de enfermedad (SLE) permanece estable en los últimos años. Objetivo: el objetivo de este trabajo es analizar el patrón de recidiva, supervivencia a largo plazo y los factores pronósticos en un programa de QRT neoadyuvante y cirugía en el CRLA. Métodos: ent re enero de 1992 y diciembre de 2011, 446 pacientes con CRLA y 54 pacientes (con metástasis únicas) fueron tratados con QRT preoperatoria de curso largo y cirugía. Se realizaron 344 (68,8%) resecciones anteriores de recto y 123 (24,6%) amputaciones abdominoperineales. Resultados: con una mediana de seguimiento de 70,06 meses, la recurrencia local fue del 4,8% y a distancia del 25,5%. No se encontraron diferencias en los factores pronósticos histopatológicos entre los tres grupos estudiados dependiendo de la distancia (cm) al margen anal. La afectación del margen circunferencial (MCR+) fue significativamente mayor en el tercio distal (8,5%; p = 0,04). Sesenta y siete pacientes (13,4%) mostraron una respuesta patológica completa. La supervivencia libre de enfermedad a los 5 y 10 años fue significativamente menor en los tumores del tercio distal del recto que en los del tercio medio (61,9% y 57,7%; p = 0,04). En dicha localización se produjo una incidencia significativamente mayor de metástasis pulmonares (p = 0,016).

Drug consumption and additional risk factors associated with microscopic colitis: case-control study

Background: Microscopic colitis has now emerged as a common cause of chronic diarrhoea, but its aetiology remains unknown. Some studies suggest that commonly prescribed drugs and other additional risk factors may be triggers. Aims: To evaluate the effects of drug intake and other risk factors on microscopic colitis patients. Methods: A prospective, case-control study with all consecutive adult patients referred to the Hospital General de Tomelloso (Ciudad Real, Spain) for chronic watery diarrhoea (from 2008 to 2011) was performed. Microscopic colitis was diagnosed following the commonly accepted histopathological criteria. Results: 46 consecutive new cases of microscopic colitis and 317 chronic diarrhoea controls were recruited. Five independent risk factors significantly associated with microscopic colitis were identified: Abdominal pain (OR 3.25; 95%CI, 1.49-7.08), weight loss (OR 2.67; 95%CI, 1.16-6.15), celiac disease (OR 15.3; 95%CI, 3.70-63.5), topiramate intake (OR 13.6; 95%CI, 1.84-100.8), and older age at diagnosis (OR 1 year increase 1.022; 95%CI, 1.002-1.042). Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was associated with microscopic colitis in the subgroup of patients who fulfilled irritable bowel syndrome criteria (38.5% vs. 10.8%; p < 0.017). Conclusions: Microscopic colitis is associated with autoimmune disease, an increased age at diagnosis, topiramate intake and only in a sub-group of irritable bowel disease patients with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Normal values for water-perfused esophageal high-resolution manometry

Background: Normal values for water-perfused esophageal high-resolution manometry have still not been established in our environment, despite its generalized use and the recommendation to determine reference values for each Motility Unit based on their equipment. Normal values established with solid-state high-resolution manometry are currently being used as reference values for water-perfused high-resolution manometry. Objectives: To obtain normal values for water-perfused esophageal high-resolution manometry, based on the esophageal motility analysis of healthy subjects. Methods: 16 healthy volunteers without history of digestive complaints or esophageal symptoms were included. 22-channel water-perfused high-resolution manometry was performed. Results: Normal values were calculated as 5th-95th percentile ranges for the following parameters; upper esophageal sphincter resting pressure (UESRP) (40-195 mmHg); upper esophageal sphincter residual pressure (UESResP) (30-115 mmHg), contractile front velocity (CFV) (2.4-7.1 cm/s), distal contractile integral (DCI) (285-2820 mmHg.s.cm), distal contraction latency (DL) (6.1-10.9 s), intrabolus pressure (IBP) (7-19 mmHg), integrated relaxation pressure (IRP 4s) (2-20 mmHg), lower esophageal sphincter resting pressure (LESRP) (5-54 mmHg), esophageal shortening (Es) (0.3-1.3 cm) and lower esophageal sphincter lift (LESL) (0,1-1,2 cm). Conclusion: Normal values for the most important parameters (such as IRP 4s, DL and CFV), obtained using a 22-channel water-perfused system resemble previously published data from other perfusion devices. However, there exist small but significant variations compared with values established with solid-state high-resolution manometry. Thus, when using water-perfused catheters, caution is required when normative values are used that were established with solid-state catheters.

Antecedentes: los valores de referencia de la manometría esofágica de alta resolución mediante sistema de perfusión aún no han sido establecidos en nuestro medio, a pesar de su empleo generalizado en múltiples Unidades de Motilidad y la recomendación de determinar valores de referencia propios de cada Unidad en función de sus equipos. Actualmente se utilizan como referencia los valores de normalidad de la manometría de alta resolución en estado sólido. Objetivos: el objetivo de este estudio es establecer los valores de normalidad para la manometría de alta resolución de perfusión de 22 canales a partir del análisis de la motilidad esofágica de individuos sanos. Métodos: se incluyeron 16 voluntarios sanos, sin patología digestiva ni síntomas esofágicos, a los que se realizó una manometría de alta resolución mediante sistema de perfusión de 22 canales. Resultados: los datos vienen referidos como la media y el rango comprendido entre los percentiles 5 y 95. Los percentiles 5 y 95 de cada uno de los parámetros fueron de 40-195 mmHg para la presión de reposo del esfínter esofágico superior (PRESS), 30-115 mmHg para la presión residual del esfínter esofágico superior (PResEES), 2,4-7,1 cm/s para la velocidad de frente contráctil (VFC), 285-2.820 mmHg.s.cm para la integral contráctil distal (ICD), 6,1-10,9 s para la latencia distal (LD), 7-19 mmHg para la presión intrabolo (PIB), 2-20 mmHg para la presión de relajación integrada a los 4 segundos (PRI4s) y 5-54 mmHg para la presión de reposo del esfínter esofágico inferior (PREEI). Los percentiles 5 y 95 del acortamiento esofágico (aE) fueron 0,3-1,3 cm y del ascenso del esfínter esofágico inferior (aEEI) 0,1-1,2 cm. Conclusión: los rangos de normalidad obtenidos mediante sistema de perfusión de 22 canales para los parámetros manométricos más importantes (PRI4s, LD, VFC) son similares a los previamente publicados con equipos de perfusión, existiendo variaciones pequeñas, pero significativas, respecto a los valores establecidos por equipos de estado sólido.

Feasibility of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and biopsy (FNB) with a new slim linear echoendoscope

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and biopsy (FNB) is considered a very accurate and safe tool for sampling extra-intestinal tumors. Standard echoendosocopes for FNA/FNB are large with a sharpened tip that can be associated with complications. A new slim linear echoendoscope have been developed trying to overcome this limitation. Aim: Of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility; safety and diagnostic yield of this newly developed slim echoendoscope for performing EUS-guided FNA/FNB. Methods: A pilot observational study was performed. Consecutive patients submitted for a EUS-FNA/FNB were prospectively included in the study. Patients underwent EUS procedure using the new slim linear PENTAX-echoendoscope. Tissue acquisition was done with standard and histology needles. Feasibility and diagnostic yield were evaluated. A descriptive analysis was performed. Results: 87 patients were included (mean age 66.7 years (range 24-90 years), 45 male. Mean size was of lesions sampled were 33.43 ± 20.8 mm. Esophagus intubation and access to the second portion of the duodenum (D2) were considered easy in all 87 cases (100%). Nineteen procedures (21.8%) were performed from the esophagus, 42 (48.3%) from the stomach, 22 (25.3%) cases from duodenal bulb, and 4 (4.6%) cases from D2. EUS-FNB was feasible in 85 cases (97.7%), failed in 2 pancreatic lesions accessed from D2. Diagnostic yield was 86.21% (95%CI 77.4-91.9) in the intention-to-treat analysis and 88.24% (95%CI 79.7-93.5) in per-protocol analysis. There were no complications related to the technique. Conclusion: Performing a EUS-FNA/FNB with the newly designed slim scope is feasible and safe for cyto-histopathology diagnosis of intra-intestinal and extra-intestinal mass lesions.

Enteric neuropathy associated to diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of diseases highly prevalent nowadays. Its different types produce very similar symptoms with acute and chronic complications. Amongst these, gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility, associated with the development of neuropathy in the enteric nervous system (ENS) is recognized. The objective is to review the current knowledge on GI dysmotility and enteric neuropathy associated to diabetes mellitus. The different functional and structural alterations within the digestive tract in diabetic patients and animal models are described. Finally, the therapeutic and preventive strategies tested so far in the context of enteric diabetic neuropathy are briefly summarized. In conclusion, amongst the alterations described in DM, the loss of inhibitory intrinsic innervation of the gut is most remarkable. Different therapeutic and/or preventive strategies, including the use of insulin, nerve growth factor or antioxidants, as well as myenteric neuron transplantation, are proposed.

La diabetes mellitus (DM) es un conjunto de enfermedades de gran prevalencia en la actualidad. Sus diferentes variantes se caracterizan por producir síntomas muy semejantes con complicaciones agudas y crónicas. Entre estas se encuentra la dismotilidad gastrointestinal (GI) asociada al desarrollo de neuropatía en el sistema nervioso entérico (SNE). El objetivo de este artículo es revisar los conocimientos sobre la dismotilidad GI y la neuropatía entérica asociada a diabetes mellitus. Para ello se describen las diversas alteraciones funcionales y estructurales encontradas en el sistema digestivo tanto en el hombre como en diversos modelos animales de diabetes. Para finalizar, se hace un breve resumen de las estrategias de tratamiento y prevención de la neuropatía diabética entérica que se han considerado hasta la fecha. En conclusión, entre las alteraciones descritas en la DM destaca especialmente la pérdida de inervación intrínseca inhibidora. Como posibles estrategias terapéuticas y/o preventivas se propone desde el uso de insulina, el factor de crecimiento nervioso y antioxidantes hasta el trasplante de neuronas mientéricas.

Gastroduodenal artery aneurysm presenting as a pancreatic mass

Pseudoaneurysm of the cystic artery: an uncommon cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a case of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis

Double pylorus

A peripheral approach allowing successful endoscopic submucosal dissection for early colorectal carcinoma near the diverticula

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of antral subepithelial lesion suspected of malignancy

Subepithelial gastric tumours comprise a heterogeneous group of lesions. Endoscopic ultrasonography with fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is a useful approach but cannot always offer a definitive diagnosis to guide future therapeutic decisions. In the case we describe, biopsy samples of an antral subepithelial lesion and cytological analysis obtained with an EUS-FNA suggested the diagnosis of an adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) allowed en bloc resection of the tumour ensuring diagnosis and providing a definitive treatment.

An adult case of systemic Epstein-Barr virus-positive T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder with severe hepatic dysfunction and megalosplenia

Epstein-Barr virus-positive T/NK-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV+T/NK-LPD) is a continuous spectrum of diseases that share a common feature observed in T cells and NK cells: Excessive lymphoid proliferation. This disease is rare in adults and predominantly affects children with high mortality. Herein, we present a case of EBV+T-LPD that occurred in an adult with clinical manifestations of hepatic dysfunction and megalosplenia. The patient received a splenectomy at a local hospital for the treatment of megalosplenia. Before surgery, she exhibited mild hepatomegaly and normal liver function. However, after the operation, abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed obvious hepatomegaly and severely damaged liver function. After a final diagnosis of EBV+T-LPD at our hospital, the patient received combination therapy with antiviral and immunosuppressive agents. At the 4-month follow-up visit, hepatic function was normal and the size of the liver decreased. Because this patient presented with hepatomegaly before the splenectomy and because hepatic dysfunction rapidly progressed after surgery, an early diagnosis of EBV+T-LPD was crucial. Splenectomy may be recommended before liver involvement to reduce negative postoperative effects on the liver.

Fármacos biológicos en la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal: indicación y cuidados

Advances and pitfalls in the management of small bowel polyps in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Comment on conservative management of isolated dissection of the superior mesenteric artery

Gastric fundus splenosis mimicking stromal tumor

Giant Meckel's diverticulum torsioned: an unnusual presentation

Crohn's disease and systemic lupus erythematosus: a rare and challenging association

Hemocholecyst: a rare cause of acute abdomen

Well differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of the appendix and low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm presenting as a collision tumor

Pylephlebitis and liver abscesses secondary to acute advanced appendicitis