Werlang, Monia E.

Abstract Background and study aims Anticoagulation (AC) and antiplatelet (AP) therapy may increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding after double balloon enteroscopy (DBE); however, limited data are currently available regarding the incidence. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and clinical characteristics of post-DBE bleeding in patients on AC and AP therapy. Patients and methods The medical records of patients who underwent DBE between 2009 and 2013 at Mayo Clinic, Florida, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups: 1) continued AP therapy; 2) AC therapy; and 3) neither AP nor AC at the time of DBE. Follow-up data were collected at 60 days and 1 year. Results A total of 683 patients were identified; 43 on AC, 183 on AP and 457 not on AP or AC therapy. The most common indication for DBE was obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in the groups on and not on AP (85.3 % vs 70.9 %, P < 0.0001). There was no statistical difference in post-DBE bleeding rates in patients on AP vs not on AP at 60 days (11.5 % vs 7.5 %, P = 0.12) or 1 year (19.9 % vs 15.7 %, P = 0.23). Rates of bleeding in patients on AC were 11.6 % within 60 days and 22.5 % within 1 year. Multivariate analysis reflected American Society of Anesthesiologist > 3 and indication for DBE of GI bleeding were independent risk factors for post-DBE bleeding within 1 year. Conclusions Continued antiplatelet use at the time of DBE was not an independent risk factor for bleeding post-DBE at 60 days or 1 year of follow up.

Eating disorders involve irregularities in eating behavior that may cause gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Consequently, many patients with eating disorders seek gastroenterological healthcare at some point in their illness, with many seeking this care even before they seek treatment for and/or diagnosed with their eating disorder. As such, the gastroenterology provider is in a unique position to identify, manage, and facilitate treatment for an eating disorder early in the course of the illness. Although assessing eating disorders is already a difficult task, the identification of eating disorders in patients with GI disease represents an even greater challenge. In particular, common GI symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and bloating, may disguise an eating disorder because these symptoms are often viewed as a sufficient impetus for dietary restriction and subsequent weight loss. In addition, the focus on identifying an organic etiology for the GI symptoms can distract providers from considering an eating disorder. During this prolonged diagnostic evaluation, the eating disorder can progress in severity and become more difficult to treat. Unfortunately, a misconception that hinders eating disorder detection is the notion that the rate or method of weight loss is associated with an eating disorder. Regardless of whether weight loss is slow or rapid, purposeful or accidental, eating disorder behaviors and thought patterns may be present. Unidentified eating disorders are not only dangerous in their own right but also can interfere with effective management of GI disease and its symptoms. As such, it is imperative for the GI provider to remain well versed in the identification of these diseases.

INTRODUCTION: Aberrant subclavian artery (ASA) is a rare anatomic variant and frequently asymptomaticcondition. We present a case of a young patient with progressive dysphagia who underwent extensive workup and repetitive endoscopic procedures until diagnosed. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: 35-year-old female with history of systemic lupus erythematous, presented with progressive dysphagia for several weeks. No preceding trauma, procedures or infections. She had anunremarkable upper endoscopy, but an empiric esophageal dilation was performed. However, in few months her symptoms recurred; another dilation was pursued along with proton pump inhibitor therapy and dietary changes. Three years later, she had worsening dysphagia, leading to an 8-pound weight loss. An esophagram raised suspicion for an extrinsic esophageal compression (Figure 1). A computed tomography (CT) angiogram confirmed the presence of a right ASA (Figure 2). Patient was referred to thoracic surgery and underwent operative repair of right ASA (Figure 3). A repeated esophagram on the 5th day after surgery, showing no delay in the passage of the barium pill. Upon discharge, she was tolerating soft diet and in one month she was able to eat normally. DISCUSSION: ASA is characterized by a vascular ring structure due to aberrant arising of one of the subclavian arteries (arteria lusoria) from the aortic arch. Although ASA is the most common congenital aortic arch anomaly, it occurs in less than 2.5% of overall population. Its management depends on symptoms: if mild and intermittent, dietary and behavioral modifications are appropriate; if severe dysphagia, surgery should be considered. During adulthood, 30% of patients are symptomatic with intermittent dysphagia being the most prominent symptom. Late presentation is probably related with atherosclerosis and aneurismal formation due to advancing age. Even though ASA is found mostly in women and its possible relation with atherosclerosis, we could not find any data in literature linking ASA to SLE. Dysphagia lusoria can be easily diagnosed by barium esophagogram, an inexpensive test which would typically show an impression defect at the level of the third or fourth vertebra. Esophageal manometry and upper endoscopy usually are unrevealing but a CT angiogram can confirm the diagnosis. Because of its rarity, ASA is not commonly suspected upon evaluation of dysphagia in adults, often times causing recurrent endoscopies and other non-revealing tests to be repeated.

INTRODUCTION: Ileus is a known early complication following kidney transplant (KTx). There is limited data largely from case reports documenting the occurrence of ileus in KTx patients. Potential risk factors include post-operative setting, steroid withdrawal, or even peritoneal sclerosis in patients with a history of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The aim of this study is to assess inpatient prevalence and outcomes of ileus in the same admission as the KTx occurred. METHODS: Case-control study using the NIS 2012-2016. The ICD9-10CM procedural codes for KTx were used to identify all patients that underwent KTx during the same admission. None were excluded. Patients with associated ileus were identified using ICD9-10CM diagnostic codes. The primary outcome was determining the odds of ileus in post-KTx patients. Secondary outcomes were inpatient mortality, postoperative complications, resource utilization, length of hospital stay (LOS), total hospitalization charges and costs. Propensity score matching was used to create a matching population for gender, age and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Multivariate analysis were used to adjust for income in patients’ zip code, hospital region, location, size and teaching status. RESULTS: A total of 89,065 KTx patients were identified, of which 16,880 were propensity score matched for the selected covariates. The mean patient age was 50 years, and 40% were female. On multivariate analysis, the odds of ileus in the KTx cohort was 3.90 ( P < 0.01) compared to patients who did not undergo KTx surgery. When patients that underwent KTx and developed ileus during the admission, they had greater adjusted odds of shock, TPN, AKI, multi-organ failure, post-op infection, Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism, and bleeding compared to patients with no KTx. In addition, those who developed ileus had greater hospitals costs, charges, and length of stay (LOS) (Table 1). CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing kidney transplant are more likely to develop ileus than patients who did not have kidney transplant surgery, confirming known reports documenting ileus in the early post-operative period. This cohort of patients who developed ileus following transplant have greater odds of post-operative complications, as well as increased morbidity, resource utilization and economic burden. Future studies should focus on elucidating the etiology of ileus following kidney transplant, as well as associated factors, and creating strategies to address it.

AbstractAimPatent foramen ovale (PFO) is a common atrial septal defect that is largely asymptomatic and often undiagnosed. The impact of aPFOin patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) is unknown.ObjectiveAssess the impact ofPFOand physiologic intrapulmonary shunt (IPS) on the perioperative outcomes of patients who underwentLT.MethodsWe performed a retrospective, intention‐to‐treat analysis of patients withPFOand controls withoutPFOwho underwentLTat Mayo Clinic in Florida between 2008 and 2013. Patients with physiologicIPSwere also analyzed. The cohorts were compared for baseline characteristics, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), postoperative oxygen requirements, 30‐d cerebrovascular accidents, and mortality.ResultsOf the 935 patients who underwentLT, 10.4% had provenPFOby pre‐LTechocardiogram. Control patients (n = 101) were statistically older thanPFOandIPS(n = 56) patients, but similar in sex,BMI, Model for End‐stage Liver Disease score, American Society of Anesthesiologist score, and left ventricular ejection fraction.PFOandIPSpatients had similar length of stay in theICU, mechanical ventilation times, post‐LToxygen requirements, and 30‐d mortality compared to controls. Subgroup analysis showed similar outcomes for largePFOandIPSpatients to controls.ConclusionsThe presence ofPFOdid not have a negative impact on perioperativeLToutcomes.