Hyperemesis,gastrointestinal and liver disorders in pregnancy

Pregnant women may be affected by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or liver. These disorders can be related or unrelated to pregnancy. Conditions unrelated to pregnancy can be pre-existing or co-incident. These diseases have varying effects on obstetric outcome. Severe liver disease in pregnancy is rare. We present some common gastrointestinal and liver disorders focussing on the diagnosis, management and effects on pregnancy outcomes.     

Ultrasound and surgery for gall bladder carcinoma during pregnancy

Gall bladder carcinoma is the most common carcinoma of the biliary tract and the fifth most common malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. The patients usually have no symptoms at all or non-specific symptoms are present. The therapy for gall bladder carcinoma is complete removal. Unfortunately, in 80% of the cases the survival period is less than one year.     

Fetal plasma and renal responses to ruminal fluid

Amniotic fluid homeostasis is dependent on a balance of fetal fluid production and absorption. The fetal gastrointestinal tract is believed to resorb 500 to 1000 ml of amniotic fluid per day during 7 to 10 bouts of swallowing activity. However, the impact of ruminal fluid on fetal plasma composition and fluid homeostasis is largely unknown. Seven ovine fetuses (120 +/- 1 day) received intraruminal infusions of 0.9% or 3% saline solution on alternate days. In response to successive 40-minute intraruminal infusions of 0.9% saline solution (0.5 and 1.0 ml/kg/min), there was no change from basal levels of fetal plasma osmolality (295.7 +/- 2.9 mosm), plasma arginine vasopressin (1.45 +/- 0.29 pg/ml), urine osmolality (150 +/- 8 mosm), or urine volume (0.49 +/- 0.10 ml/min). In response to the 3% saline solution infusion, significant increases were noted in fetal plasma osmolality (295.4 +/- 3.1 to 302.6 +/- 2.6 mosm), plasma arginine vasopressin (1.77 +/- 0.31 to 4.84 +/- 0.79 pg/ml), and urine osmolality (157 +/- 13 to 342 +/- 25 mosm), whereas fetal urine volume significantly decreased (0.35 +/- 0.05 to 0.15 +/- 0.06 ml/min). These results indicate that hypertonic, but not isotonic, saline solution infusion into the fetal gastrointestinal tract may affect fetal plasma composition and urine production. Under conditions of significant plasma to luminal osmotic gradients, fetal gastrointestinal water and electrolyte transfer may be more rapid than can be compensated by either fetal renal function or placental equilibration.     

Endoscopic control of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage with a bipolar coagulation device

It has been difficult to determine the real efficacy of endoscopic treatment for upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding sites for several reasons. First, since 80 per cent of an unselected group are expected to stop bleeding spontaneously, it is important to focus upon those individuals who continue to bleed instead of a group in whom bleeding would have stopped spontaneously in the majority. Second, it is difficult, if not impossible, to have comparable groups of patients with similar lesions and similar rates of bleeding who can be randomized into different treatment groups. This report describes the use of a bipolar endoscopic coagulation device in 28 patients with active massive upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage who represent 10 per cent of the patients with hemorrhage during a one year interval. Endoscopic treatment controlled bleeding initially in 23 of these patients. Another eight patients with recent hemorrhage who were at high risk for recurrent bleeding (visible vessels) had endoscopic coagulation without subsequent hemorrhage. Immediate operations were required in five of the 28 and delayed operations in another four. Mortality in the patients treated by endoscopic or surgical therapy was comparable (20 per cent), but no patient died of hemorrhage. The high mortality in this group of patients is explained by associated illnesses. B-C is as effective as other endoscopic treatments for nonvariceal sources of upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage. This modality is relatively cheap compared with other devices, is theoretically less complicated and has minimal risk to the individual patient. Because of these considerations, it is a technique which deserves wider application and may become the endoscopic treatment of choice for control of upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage. Patients with endoscopic control of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding avoid perioperative morbidity, have a lower transfusion requirement and may have a shorter hospital stay than comparable individuals who require operative control of bleeding sites.     

Prepared for the Unexpected: Accessory Ovaries with Abernethy Malformation

Supernumerary and accessory ovaries are collectively coined ectopic ovaries. These are rarely encountered by the benign gynecologist and are often discovered incidentally during evaluation for other gynecologic, gastrointestinal, or urologic pathologies. We report the presentation of a patient with multiple accessory ovaries in addition to a rare congenital anomaly of the splanchnic vasculature called an Abernethy malformation. Incidental identification of ectopic ovaries necessitates a search for additional malformations outside of the genitourinary tract that can have larger implications for long-term health.     

Treatment of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage from aortoenteric fistula.

Massive hemorrhage of the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract presents a formidable crisis in surgical management. The preoperative diagnosis should be suspected in patients with a vascular prosthesis or primary abdominal aortic aneurysm. The characteristic signs and symptoms represent the triad of a pulsatile mass in the upper part of the abdomen, intermittent hemorrhage in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract and severe epigastralgia not relieved by antacids. No ideal operative technique has evolved for correcting the abnormal physiopathologic condition. Our recent experience with three patients highlights the problems of unremitting sepsis and recurrent fistulization.     

Prenatal orogastric gene delivery results in transduction of the small bowel in the fetal rabbit

BACKGROUND: Gene therapy for meconium ileus, or other genetic diseases involving the gastrointestinal epithelium, may be possible with prenatal delivery of the CFTR gene to the gastrointestinal tract. Although minimally invasive techniques will probably be used for any future therapy of gastrointestinal disease, it is important to first test this strategy with a reliable animal model. METHODS: The technique of orogastric fetal gene delivery was assessed using 7 pregnant rabbits (22 days' gestation n = 1, 25 days' gestation n = 4, 28 days' gestation n = 2). Four fetuses from each litter were given an adenoviral vector carrying a marker gene by instilling it into the posterior pharynx with an animal feeding needle (1 x 10(10) particles of ADV/RSV/LacZ suspended in 0.3 ml of saline), with the untreated fetuses serving as control animals. RESULTS: There were no recoverable fetuses from the does that had surgery at 22 and 28 days (n = 3) due to maternal death (n = 2) and premature delivery (n = 1). Among the 4 does that underwent hysterotomy at 25 days of gestation, 1 underwent cesarean section 2 days after fetal gene delivery and 3 delivered at term, 5 (n = 1) or 6 (n = 2) days following gene delivery. Eleven of the 16 experimental pups and 7 untreated control animals were collected alive, and were sacrificed at delivery for study. Nine of the 11 experimental pups (82%) showed positive blue (LacZ+) nuclei in the small intestine by X-gal staining. No positive cells were found in 7/7 control animals. The presence of the reporter gene LacZ was confirmed in 8/11 (73%) virus-treated pups by PCR with 5/5 control animals negative for LacZ by PCR. CONCLUSIONS: There was significant maternal and fetal loss related to anesthetic and husbandry issues when surgery was performed at 22 or 28 days of gestation. Based on these preliminary results, we conclude that orogastric gene delivery in the rabbit fetus at 25 days' gestation is an encouraging animal model to study fetal delivery to the gastrointestinal tract.     

"Nongynecologic" surgical procedures performed on a gynecologic oncology service

One thousand fifty-eight patients had major surgery in a community-based, university-affiliated gynecologic oncology service. Of these, 233 underwent a total of 275 "nongynecologic" surgical procedures. Two hundred twenty patients suffered from gynecologic malignancies, whereas 13 had surgery for benign disorders. Eighty-two procedures were performed on the gastrointestinal tract, 44 on the urinary tract, and 149 on extrapelvic lymph nodes. Except for ovarian carcinoma and benign conditions the majority of gastrointestinal or urinary tract operations were preceded by radiation therapy. When the nongynecologic operation was necessitated at a time subsequent to initial therapy of the malignancy, a high incidence of recurrent disease was discovered. Of the 275 procedures, reoperation because of early or late complications was necessary in only 8 instances. Only one postoperative death was caused by complications of surgery. Other mild postoperative complications were transient and responded to routine noninvasive care. The complication rate and morbidity of nongynecologic surgical procedures performed on a gynecologic oncology service are low and should encourage gynecologic oncologists to continue their present comprehensive approach to patient care.     

Identification of anastomotic sites with radiopaque markers

Routine marking of the anastomotic site in gastrointestinal and biliary tract operations by hemoclips is a useful adjunct in the study and interpretation of postoperative roentgenologic studies. The addition of this simple maneuver has been greeted with enthusiasm by our radiologists. We suggest that the use of hemoclips be made routine in gastrointestinal and biliary tract operations.     

胎儿畸形的脐动脉彩色多普勒血流频谱分析

目的探讨脐动脉彩色多普勒血流频谱分析在胎儿畸形中的临床意义.方法1997年10月至1999年11月于本院行彩色多普勒超声检查胎儿发育异常59例,全部病例在出生或引产后得到证实.同期收集正常孕妇154例作为对照组,研究其脐动脉血流收缩期峰速与舒张期末期最低速度之比值(S/D值).结果胎儿畸形组的S/D值明显高于正常组(P＜0.01);各类畸形中,多发畸形、消化系统畸形和中枢神经系统畸形组脐动脉血流S/D值异常者明显多于正常对照组(P＜0.005);而泌尿系统畸形和胸、腹水组与正常对照组比较,无显著差异(P＞0.01).结论胎儿畸形,尤其是多发畸影、消化系统畸形和中枢神经系统畸形可引起S/D值增高.     

Plasma creatinine in neonates with atresia of the upper gastrointestinal tract

The human fetus swallows a considerable amount of amniotic fluid which appears to be in balance with the urine output. Since amniotic fluid intake is considered to be compromised in fetuses with atresia of the upper gastrointestinal tract, glomerular function development in such infants may be delayed. Plasma creatinine level determined in 6 neonates with atresia of the upper gastrointestinal tract was similar to the level measured in neonates with lower obstruction, and both groups were within the range of values obtained during other studies in normal newborns. Glomerular functional development is probably not affected in neonates with atresia of the upper gastrointestinal tract.     

Intestinal Surgery in Gynaecological Oncology

Over a 4-year-period, 117 patients had 139 intestinal operations performed in a gynaecological oncology unit. Most of the patients had gynaecological malignancy as the indication for their operation, but 18% had a gastrointestinal primary and 10% had benign pelvic conditions which required intestinal surgery. Most of the patients with malignancy had an ovarian primary cancer. The next most common primary site was the gastrointestinal tract and here carcinoma of the sigmoid colon was the most common. There were 102 large bowel and 36 small bowel operations. Sixteen patients had more than one intestinal procedure. The most common complication of the intestinal operations was prolonged ileus which occurred in 9 instances. Three patients required repeat laparotomy for postoperative bowel obstruction. There were 3 postoperative deaths occurring within 30 days. An assessment of the usefulness of preoperative investigations showed that there was a 10.3% false negative result reported from X-rays, scans or endoscopies. This factor makes it imperative that the surgeon operating on gynaecological malignancy should be capable of dealing with intestinal surgical procedures when required as it is not possible to rely on preoperative investigations to point out those that may require intestinal surgery.     

Radical surgery for endometriosis

Infiltrative endometriosis is an uncommon condition that may involve all pelvic organs and is associated with considerable morbidity. A small percentage of patients will have disease that is unresponsive to hormonal therapy and is unsuitable for conservative surgery. Presented is a review of 5 case reports of patients who required radical surgery for control of symptoms caused by endometriosis. Radical surgery was associated with minimal morbidity and a high rate of resolution of symptoms. Radical surgery should be considered as part of the treatment strategy particularly when there is evidence of endometriosis invading into the adjacent gastrointestinal tract or urinary tract.     

Pinworm in Pregnancy

A case of enterobiasis in pregnancy that presented as copious nocturnal vaginal discharge is reported. Enterobius vermicularis is the most common parasite infecting humans. Transmission can be fecal‐oral or via fomites, and recently arrived immigrants from developing countries and individuals who live in households with young children are particularly at risk. Pinworms are most frequently found in the gastrointestinal tract but can also enter the vagina and bladder. Patients typically present with nocturnal anal itching, and diagnosis can be made by clinical history. Treatment includes an antihelminthic agent for the patient and members of the household as well as home hygiene measures to prevent transmission.     

Hepatic abscess due to gastric perforation by ingested fish bone demonstrated by computed tomography.

Perforation of the gastrointestinal tract by ingested foreign bodies is rare. Preoperative diagnosis of complications due to foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract can rarely be achieved because the conventional radiographic appearance is nonspecific. This report describes a 69-year-old woman who presented with vague clinical manifestations, intermittent abdominal pain, and low-grade fever. Hepatic abscess, secondary to a foreign body penetrating the gastric wall, was diagnosed preoperatively using computed tomography findings. On exploration, the foreign body turned out to be a fish bone. The abscess was confirmed and drained during surgery and a partial gastrectomy was performed. This case illustrates the value of CT in the evaluation of this condition.     

Primary lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract

Forty-six instances of gastrointestinal tract lymphoma are reviewed with attention to clinical features, diagnostic studies, surgical approach and adjuvant therapy. Gastrointestinal tract lymphoma may be present at any age in individuals with pain, abdominal mass or other abdominal findings, and all ulcers and other endoscopically accessible lesions require biopsy, without regard for roentgenologic or endoscopic appearance of benignity. Resection is recommended when cure is possible; adjunctive therapy is regarded as beneficial. There is a good prognosis for those patients surviving two to three years beyond diagnosis.     

Pregnancy complicated by acute pulmonary lymphangitic adenomatosis,metastasis and disseminated intravascular coagulation. A case report

BACKGROUND: The association of pregnancy and cancer is a rare event, occurring in less than 1 case per 5,000 pregnancies, and is a cause of maternal mortality in about 5% of cases. CASE: A 33-year-old, Japanese woman presented at the end of pregnancy with clinical manifestations of pneumonia and developed fatal disseminated intravascular coagulation in the postpartum period. The pathologic findings suggested the existence of a primary cancer in the gastrointestinal tract with pulmonary and placental metastases. CONCLUSION: The biologic course of malignancies in pregnancy is complex. In gastrointestinal cancer, normal pregnancy symptoms can mask and delay the diagnosis. As in this patient, very rare presentations are possible.     

A technique for long term continent gastrostomy

The use of the continent gastrostomy described herein offers several advantages: 1, the elimination of an indwelling catheter; 2, prevention of soiling at skin level; 3, long term access to the normal gastrointestinal track for alimentation without fear of tube erosion; 4, little compromise to gastric volume, and 5, ease of stoma care. We recommend this operation in instances when long term tube feedings are indicated either because of damage to the central nervous system or as a palliative treatment for patients with higher obstructing gastrointestinal malignant disease. The procedure may also be useful for patients in whom esophagogastric continuity has been interrupted (surgically or traumatically) and in whom reconstruction of the gastrointestinal tract would not seem feasible within a three to six month interval.     

Role of surgical treatment in the management of complications of the gastrointestinal tract in patients with leukemia

The clinical course of patients with leukemia, specifically after treatment, is complicated by opportunistic infections, often derived from the gastrointestinal tract. Four hundred and thirty-eight patients with leukemia were treated at the Arizona Health Sciences Center from 1976 to 1985. Fifty-five (13 per cent) had 60 major gastrointestinal complications develop. Thirty-seven were treated medically with a mortality rate of 51 per cent, while 18 who were treated surgically had a 17 per cent mortality rate. These infections usually occur during induction or consolidation chemotherapy. Positive blood cultures and white blood cell counts of less than 2,500 per millimeter are a frequent occurrence. The most common complications of the gastrointestinal tract are enterocolitis, perirectal sepsis and bleeding. Because of the combined defects in phagocytosis (neutropenia), antibody production and cell mediated immunity, opportunistic infections (such as viral, fungal, parasitic or bacterial) are frequent and often lethal, despite routine antibiotic coverage. A protocol to identify a subset of patients with septic leukemia who may require emergency surgical treatment is vital since death in this group is most commonly from undiagnosed sepsis or progression of hematologic defects. This protocol should include repeated physical examinations, daily roentgenograms of the abdomen, liberal use of endoscopy, contrast roentgenography and computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound. Extensive surgical procedures can be safely carried out in patients with leukemia. The diagnosis of leukemia should not be a deterrent to emergency surgical exploration.     

Retrograde intraoperative gastroscopy in obscure bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract

Intraoperative endoscopic localization of the lesions responsible for the bleeding in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract that escape detection in the preoperative period is an attractive alternative to the blind exploratory duodenogastrostomy. The retrograde technique described herein may be superior to the oral antegrade intraoperative method advocated by some authors. Large clots obscuring clear viewing are rapidly removed by way of the small gastrotomy, and the proximal hidden corners of the stomach are readily visualized even by a surgeon who lacks previous experience with endoscopic techniques. We suggest this to be the method of choice for localization of the obscure point of bleeding during emergent operations for bleeding of the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract.