Case Reports in Gastroenterology最新文献

Introduction: Esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) is a common complication of portal hypertension. Guidelines recommend initiation of vasoactive agents in combination with antimicrobial therapy prior to endoscopic variceal ligation. In cases of refractory EVB, trans-jugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS) is recommended; however, it is contraindicated in up to 35% of cases.

Case presentation: We report a case of a 61-year-old male newly diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and extensive portal vein thrombosis. The patient developed a refractory EVB failing medical and endoscopic therapies which was successfully treated with transcutaneous left gastric vein embolization (LGVE).

Conclusion: LGVE could be contemplated in instances where anatomical complexities or contraindications to TIPSS arise.

Introduction: Patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) on conventional oral diets often face nutritional deficiencies and dehydration, a challenge further compounded during pregnancy. This case report describes the use of a glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) analog in the nutritional management of an SBS patient dependent on total parenteral nutrition (TPN).

Case presentation: A 29-year-old woman with a significant medical history of Crohn's disease leading to SBS was traditionally dependent on TPN for sustenance. During her pregnancy, she was successfully managed with a GLP-2 analog, which enabled her to wean off TPN. This successful management underscores the therapeutic potential of GLP-2 analogs in effectively altering the nutritional landscape for SBS patients, including during the physiologically demanding period of pregnancy.

Conclusion: GLP-2 analogs helped with the nutritional management of patients with SBS during pregnancy and helped them wean off TPN. There is a need for further research and exploration into GLP-2 analogs as viable alternatives to conventional treatments such as TPN in the care and management of SBS patients during pregnancy.

Introduction: Dieulafoy lesion is one of the most under-recognized sources of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding (GI), typically manifesting as acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding; endoscopy is usually the first diagnostic and therapeutic modality utilized to handle these lesions by employing a variety of procedures.

Case report: This is a case of an 81-year-old female who was being assessed after experiencing repeated bouts of melena with hemoglobin drop. The patient had multiple comorbidities but no history of gastrointestinal bleeding. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed only Erythematous duodenopathy without active bleeding; the initial colonoscopy revealed a large amount of blood without identifying the source of bleeding; a second colonoscopy revealed classic Dieulafoy lesions in the splenic flexure, which were injected and clipped, and the bleeding ceased.

Conclusion: Dieulafoy lesions are most frequently found in the stomach and gastroesophageal junction, but they have also been documented in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. In this particular instance, the lesions were identified in the colon, which is an unusual location for them, and they were treated endoscopically by clipping and injecting. In conclusion, colonic Dieulafoy lesions, although rare, have the potential to cause life-threatening bleeding and should be included in the differential diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Introduction: Acute gastric dilatation (AGD) is a massive distension of the stomach caused by the accumulation of gas, gastric secretions, or food material. AGD is a radiological diagnosis with no clear etiopathogenesis and is often misdiagnosed owing to a lack of clear diagnostic criteria and physician awareness.

Case presentation: In this case series, we describe the clinical presentations and outcomes of 4 patients with AGD. Three (75%) of the patients were female, and one (25%) was male. The patients' ages ranged from 53 to 84 years, with an average age of 73.5 years. Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting were the most frequently reported complaints. Two (50%) patients had cancer, one (25%) had an acquired duodenal stenosis, and the fourth patient experienced an ileus.

Conclusion: AGD is a surgical emergency with a 50-100% mortality rate; thus, prompt diagnosis and management are crucial. Herein, we describe a case series of AGDs that were diagnosed and managed at our institution. We aim to raise awareness about this fatal yet underrecognized clinical entity.

Introduction: Fishbone (FB) ingestion is a rare cause of gastrointestinal perforation. Herein, we report a case of FB-induced colonic perforation, in which the presence of a penile colonic carcinoma may have contributed to the development of the perforation.

Case presentation: An 83-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with severe abdominal pain during bowel movement. Computed tomography (CT) yielded a diagnosis of sigmoid colonic perforation due to FB and secondary peritonitis. Preoperative endoscopic examination suggested that the perforation was associated with a stalked colon tumor in the vicinity. After undergoing low anterior resection and sigmoid colostomy, the patient is currently doing well.

Conclusion: The incidence of FB-induced colorectal-cancer-related perforation is expected to increase in the future owing to an aging society, the increase in the rates of colorectal cancer, and increase in fish consumption. This rare case suggests that preoperative examinations are important and that even relatively small polyps can contribute to gastrointestinal perforation caused by FBs. Older individuals should exercise caution during fish ingestion.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1159/000518128.].

Introduction: Boerhaave syndrome is a rare condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. Prompt intervention greatly improves outcomes, with surgery traditionally being the mainstay of management. Recent advances in therapeutic endoscopy have led to increasing interest in endoluminal vacuum therapy (EVT), a minimally invasive technique, allowing wound debridement and drainage, encouraging granulation tissue formation. EVT has been associated with positive clinical outcomes, including lower mortality rates compared to surgery and stenting for the management of anastomotic leaks, and to a lesser extent, oesophageal perforations. EVT has been adopted into practice across Europe; however, only few cases have been reported from the UK.

Case presentations: We report three cases of Boerhaave syndrome, successfully managed with EVT, using the Eso-SPONGE ^® (B.Braun Medical Ltd, Sheffield, UK). EVT involves the placement of a polyurethane sponge into the wound cavity. The cavity is initially assessed, then an overtube is introduced through which the sponge is inserted, and then the overtube is removed. Sponge position is confirmed and adjusted if necessary. The sponge is connected via a trans-nasal drain to continuous negative pressure suction and is changed every 3-5 days. Having been deemed surgically unfit, all 3 patients were referred for EVT. All patients made excellent recovery and were discharged home.

Conclusion: EVT is an effective management strategy for surgically unfit Boerhaave syndrome patients. Eso-SPONGE use aided drainage of the septic focus and closure of the defect, leading to complete recovery. Our findings support the existing evidence that EVT is a promising solution for Boerhaave syndrome.

Introduction: The esophagus and duodenum are rare sites of manifestation for extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Its rarity makes the diagnosis challenging, especially when no other organ is involved, and the endoscopic findings may resemble malignancy.

Case presentation: We report a unique case of a 37-year-old woman who presented with dysphagia secondary to esophageal TB with an endoscopic appearance of a submucosal mass resembling malignancy.

Conclusion: Esophageal TB is a rare cause of dysphagia, especially in a western setting. It should always be considered as a potential etiology in patients with dysphagia.

Introduction: In recent years, the frequency of idiopathic peptic ulcers (IPUs) has increased. However, the clinicopathological characteristics of IPU have not been fully elucidated and treatment methods for recurrent and refractory cases have not yet been established.

Case presentation: A man in his forties complained of epigastric discomfort. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a gastric ulcer in the lesser curvature of the gastric angle. After Helicobacter pylori was eradicated, the gastric ulcer recurred despite the administration of a potassium competitive acid blocker (PCAB), and a diagnosis of IPU was made. Twenty-four-hour intragastric pH monitoring revealed insufficient gastric acid suppression. Misoprostol was added to the patient's treatment. Subsequently, the ulcer healed and recurrence was not observed.

Conclusion: For refractory IPU, the evaluation of pathophysiological function through 24-h gastric pH monitoring may lead to the selection of an appropriate treatment. If a proton pump inhibitor and PCAB do not improve the IPU, combination treatment with misoprostol may be considered as an option.

Introduction: Gastrointestinal tuberculosis (TB), specifically gastric TB, is a rare form of extrapulmonary TB. Diagnosis proves challenging with nonspecific signs and symptoms. In this case report, a 22-year-old male came in with complaints of recurrent hematemesis and melena.

Case presentation: We found a submucosal mass with ulceration in the stomach cardia on esophagoduodenoscopy (EGD). The endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) finding was a hypoechoic submucosal lesion with a clear margin; specimens were taken using fine needle aspiration (FNA) for further histopathological examination. The result indicated granuloma of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in pathology, suggesting that the diagnosis was gastric TB. The patient was then treated with antitubercular therapy regimen for 9 months. The previously documented mass in the stomach cardia was no longer visible on the follow-up endoscopy examination, and the patient was considered cured.

Conclusion: This case shows that gastric tuberculosis should be considered in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, especially those living in TB endemic regions. Endoscopic examinations, such as EGD and EUS, may aid in the diagnosis of gastric tuberculosis.