Digestive System
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Many chronic pancreatitis causing biliary stricture are asymptomatic or associate minimal changes in liver blood tests particularly ALP. In order to call cholestasis we have to see an increase in of usually >3 times ULN of alkaline phosphate (this is about >350-400 U/L)  As long as it does not cause significant cholestasis or cholangitis, there is no indication of biliary draining. IF they associate biliary stones , episodes of repeating infection or biliary pain (his pain seems more due to chronic pancreatitis) then it is justifed to drain the biliary tree.

Despite some increases in ALP, Conservative management with close monitoring is still adequate in this case, as well as recommend complete alcohol abstinence. If his bloods worsen or the bile dilation progresses during the next months, ERCP could be dicussed in a multidisciplinary meeting (risk of stenosis progression and cholestasis vs risk of ERCP adverse events)

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm account for around 5% of pancreatic neoplasm. They are almost exclusively found in females (f:m ratio 10:1) and usually appear in their 20s.  CT and EUS can show well-encapsulated mass with varying solid and cystic components, caused by hemorrhagic degeneration. Peripheral calcification may occur.  They appearance can vary from solid to purely cystic- therefore even a small cystic lesion in a young female without previous pancreatitis episodes must make us consider this diagnosis

These lesion have a potential for malignant degeneration (Around 15%) therefore surgical removal is recommended . Cytology can show cluster  or sheets of papillary cells, PAS + and Vimentin.

• CLINICAL CASE AND Image: Dr Hajar Adil
• Source: Endosonography, 5th Edition by Shyam Varadarajulu, MD, Paul Fockens, MD, PhD and Robert H. Hawes, MD.
• Learning point brought by Dr Sarto Paquin

-MRCP does not usually require contrast.  The technique enhances any fluid  (the normal fluid which is present in the biliary and pancreatic ducts) as an intrinsic contrast medium by using heavily T2-weighted sequences. T2 potentiate water , therefore this structures will appear hyperintense against the surrounding non-fluid-containing tissues. We can see structures like stomach or duodenum being also bright due to the fluid content.

-Gadolinum is the typical MRI contrast causing brigher T1-weighted images , helping detection of focal lesions (e.g. tumor, abscess, metastasis) venography or calculating MR perfusion parameters.

-Omnipaque® is a low-osmolar iodinated contrast media is indicated for intravenous, intra-arterial or  oral use. Iodine-based contrast are often used in CT scan.

-SonoVue ® is a constrast based on sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles , which used is mainly on contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging. Bubbles are extremely small—smaller than a red blood cell—and have a high degree of "echogenicity", reflecting ultrasound waves. Structures with higher echogenicity will be brighter on ultrasound.  The microbubbles dissolve, usually within 10 to 15 minutes, and the gas within them is cleared from the body through exhalation.

For standard colonoscopies,  ASGE  and ESGE  agree that it should be an overall > 25% (for men ≥30%, for women ≥20%)

The  BSG minimum standard is slightly lower to > 15% (aspirational 20%)

Based on this metanalysis of real life Colonoscopy findings in >3.5 million patients, this percentage are pooled to real life colonoscopies

This rate is for standard colonoscopies, does not take into account FIT/FOBT  positive patients (Positive faecal blood patients in bowel screening) in which the aspirational should be at least 40-50% of adenoma or cancer detection. (See report from bowel screening in the UK)

It is not 2 times higher, it is actually > 10 times higher!!

This is the reason ADR is probably  the most important surrogate marker of a good  quality colonoscopy, (others are bowel preparation, caecal intubation and withdrawal time) and we need to maintain ADR  at least >20%

This is a case of Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile colitis with typical pseudomembranes on the colonic mucosa.  Elderly and nursing home patients are risk factors. We should take biopsies and ask for faecal sample (GDH and /or culture for toxigenic C.diff) because pseudomembrane rarely can have other causes (Staphylococcus aureus, CMV, radiation, ischemic, chemotherapy)

Patient does not meet the definition of Severe (>15000 leucocytes or deranged Creatinin) or fulminant (hypotension, septic shock, megacolon)

Most guidelines no longer recommend Metronidazole for C.diff as first line unless no other alternative available.  Despite ACG recommends either Vancomycin or Fidaxomicin as first line, (Fidaxomicin is more expensive) the European guidelines recommend Fidaxomicin over Vancomycin (Vancomycin is a perfect acceptable good choice , however despite both curing the infection in about the same rates (76.2% vs 70.5%),  lower recurrence rates with fidaxomicin are described (8.3% vs 32.6%) which could justify its higher cost.

We need to differenciate between non dysplastic (the majority of Barrett's do not have any dysplasia, just metaplasia) versus dysplastic changes (proliferative changes that is characterized by a loss in the uniformity of individual cells in a tissue and loss in the architectural orientation )

The overall yearly incidence of  eosphageal adenocarcinoma in non dysplasitc  is 0.3% (. This is approximate and based on a metanalysis, although we know that factors such a age, smoking or obesity increase the overall risk of adenocarcinoma in Barrett's patients, and equally, the risk lowers when short segment (<3cm) - down to 0.19 % per year)

9.1% is the overall incidence of progression (to either HGD or adenoca) in those who already present low grade dysplasia, up to   9.1% per patient/year  with pooled annual incidence of adenocarcinoma of 0.54% per year

This is a healthy patient wihout history of mental health illness or impaired cognitive issues.  Age and sex may suggest EoE or peptic stricture as possible etiology.

As there is no suspicion of intentional multiple foreing body ingestions, x ray would not be necessary. (Xray can be very useful to guide us when radiopaque objects have been ingested, to see whereabouts in the GI tract they may be lying)  As there is no subcutaneous emphysema or abdominal pain or guarding to suggest any perforation , a CT scan would not be needed.

As per the timing, ASGE  recommends emergent endoscopy for complete esophageal obstruction. ESGE   recommends emergent (preferably within 2 hours, but at the latest within 6 hours) gastroduodenoscopy for foreign bodies inducing complete esophageal obstruction, and for sharp-pointed objects or batteries in the esophagus. The cough and sialorrhaea suggest a complete obstruction.

They recommend urgent (within 24 hours)  for other esophageal foreign bodies without complete obstruction 

AGA-For patients with suspected non bony food bolus impaction without complications (eg,no evidence of perforation or respiratory distress),endoscopy may be performed without obtaining radiographs.

Glucagon 1mg iv can be given to induce esophageal relaxation and try and avoid urgent endoscopy, however it should not delay endoscopy and definetely we do not need 6-10 hours to see if it works.

Andexanet is factor Xa inhibitor which is approved to reverse Rivaroxaban and Apixaban. However, it has not being proved to be efficacious against Edoxaban. Dabigatran is  a direct thrombin (factor IIa) inhibitor, not a Xa inhibitor.

Check the guidelines