Management options for rectal variceal bleeding in the setting of hepatic encephalopathy

Bleeding related to rectal varices associated with portal hypertension is rare but life‐threatening, and requires prompt treatment. We reviewed the literature for patients with this complex presentation and current recommendations, and commented on a case at our institution of a 68‐year‐old man with Child‐Pugh B alcoholic liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy who presented with profuse life‐threatening rectal variceal bleeding. Treatment options for rectal varices in patients with hepatic encephalopathy were reviewed and a management algorithm was devised from current knowledge in the literature. We suggest endoscopic management, and if unsuccessful then to proceed to angioembolization and/or balloon‐occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration, which may be used in conjunction with surgical management. The chosen therapeutic option may depend on the clinical condition of the patient, the cause of portal hypertension and clinical expertise or facilities available. Given that transjugular intra‐hepatic portosystemic shunting is contraindicated in patients with hepatic encephalopathy, management of life‐threatening rectal variceal bleeding should be multimodal.     

Portoenterostomy for biliary atresia: Long-term survival and prognosis after esophageal variceal bleeding

Background/purpose

Portoenterostomy is the procedure of choice in patients with biliary atresia. The authors analyzed the long-term survival rate and complications of the procedure in children operated on at The University of Hong Kong Medical Centre between 1979 and 2000.

Methods

Seventy-seven consecutive patients were analyzed by retrospective chart review. The patients were divided into groups according to postoperative bile flow, decade of operation, and age at operation. The data were analyzed statistically.

Results

The overall actuarial transplant-free survival rate was 68% at 10 years after operation. For patients with poor, partial, and good postoperative bile flow, transplant-free survival rate was 0%, 22%, and 96%, respectively (P < .001). Age and decade of operation were not significant risk factors. Esophageal variceal bleeding occurred in 13 patients and was a prognostic indicator for end-stage liver failure (P = .044); the poor prognosis of patients with variceal bleeding, however, was related to poor or partial initial bile drainage.

Conclusions

The postoperative serum bilirubin level is the most important predictor of long-term survival in patients with portoenterostomy for biliary atresia. Esophageal hemorrhage is not an absolute indication for urgent liver transplantation in patients with good bile drainage.     

Effects of postoperative use of proton pump inhibitors on gastrointestinal bleeding after endoscopic variceal treatment during hospitalization

BACKGROUND Endoscopic variceal treatment(EVT) is recommended as the mainstay choice for the management of high-risk gastroesophageal varices and acute variceal bleeding in liver cirrhosis. Proton pump inhibitors(PPIs) are widely used for various gastric acid-related diseases. However, the effects of PPIs on the development of post-EVT complications, especially gastrointestinal bleeding(GIB), remain controversial.AIM To evaluate the effects of postoperative use of PPIs on post-EVT complications i...     

Better control of esophageal variceal bleeding by sclerotherapy followed by surgery

This paper reports the clinical results of a retrospective study comparing endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) and back-up surgical treatment after EIS in the management of acute variceal bleeding. The 74 patients included in the study were divided into 2 groups. Group I consisted of 41 patients who received EIS over a mean period of 2.2 sessions and Group II consisted of 33 patients who underwent EIS and subsequent surgical intervention, in the form of 19 distal splenorenal shunts and 14 nonshunting procedures. The overall percentage of patients in whom initial control of variceal bleeding was achieved was 91.8 per cent. Four of the Group II patients were saved by emergency nonshunting operations. Rebleeding was experienced by 4 (28.6 per cent) of the 14 patients who underwent nonshunting surgery but by only 1 (5.3 per cent) of the 19 patients who underwent selective shunt surgery. The cumulative survival in Group II was significantly superior to that in Group I with 2 year survival being achieved in 66.7 per cent of the Group II patients but in only 23 per cent of Group I patients. Thus, the combination of initial EIS and back-up surgical intervention may be more benefical than sclerotherapy alone for patients with acute variceal bleeding, while, the distal splenorenal shunt may be a more suitable surgical technique for patients having previously EIS.     

急诊内镜治疗食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血的护理风险管理

目的探讨急诊内镜治疗食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血护理风险管理方法及应用效果。方法将201例食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血患者按照时间顺序分组,2015年1~12月的93例设为实施前组,实施常规护理。2016年1~12月108例设为实施后组,应用医疗失效模式与效应分析(HFMEA)方法,分析急诊内镜治疗食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血失效模式和潜在风险原因,计算优先风险数(RPN),对需要优先解决的问题进行干预,并对实施HFMEA前后的效果进行评价。结果实施HFMEA管理后,患者护理安全不良事件发生率显著低于实施前(均P<0.05),RPN下降。结论应用HFMEA能改进急诊内镜治疗食管胃底静脉曲张破裂出血的流程,降低围手术期患者护理安全不良事件风险率,保证患者安全。     

Emergency sclerotherapy for control of acute oesophageal variceal bleeding using 3% aqueous phenol: a 15-year experience

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to compare the efficacy of emergency endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy (EVS) using 3% aqueous phenol as an initial procedure to control acute oesophageal variceal bleed. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-five consecutive patients presenting with acute variceal bleed were included in the study. Protocol based endoscopic sclerotherapy and management of bleeding oesophageal varices was done. Immediate cessation of bleeding, re-bleeding within the first 72 h, success of first injection, final success of EVS, short-term mortality, influence of aetiology of portal hypertension and severity of liver disease on these results were studied. RESULTS: Immediate cessation of bleeding was obtained in 191 out of 195 patients (97.9%). Twenty-seven (13.8%) patients re-bled within 72 h. On re-injection final success of EVS was 87.2% (170/195 patients). There was no significant difference between final success rate in cirrhotic versus non-cirrhotic patients (103/118 (87.3%) vs. 67/77 (87%)). Success of first sclerotherapy session was significantly higher than that of second sclerotherapy session. Surgical rescue was required in 25 (12.8%) patients. Mortality was 3.6%. Failure of EVS and mortality was significantly higher in Child's C group (P = 0.04, Relative risk = 0.5, confidence interval 0.22-1.16). CONCLUSION: EVS remains an effective and cost effective modality of treatment to control acute variceal bleeding irrespective of aetiology of portal hypertension provided strict protocol based management is followed. With timely surgical rescue for the failures, the overall mortality can be reduced to less than 5%.     

内镜下硬化与套扎治疗食管静脉曲张破裂出血疗效比较

目的：对比内镜下硬化治疗（EIS）、套扎治疗（EVL）及套扎联合硬化治疗（ESL）3种方法对食管静脉曲张破裂出血的临床疗效。方法：回顾分析中日友好医院消化内科2001—2005年内镜下治疗肝硬化单纯食管静脉曲张破裂出血149例,其中EIS46例、EVL32例、ESL71例,对3种方法的止血率、静脉曲张消失率及再出血率进行比较。结果：3种治疗方法止血率均在90%以上;静脉曲张消失率分别为EIS80.4%、EVL68.8%、ESL87.3%;2年内再出血率分别为EIS52.2%、EVL59.3%、ESL43.6%,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论：内镜下EIS、EVL及ESL治疗肝硬化食管曲张静脉出血均可达到较好效果,临床实践中可结合患者实际情况综合考虑后选择。     

食道胃底静脉曲张出血套扎术联合聚桂醇硬化术的疗效观察

目的观察内镜下套扎术联合聚桂醇硬化术治疗食道胃底静脉曲张出血的疗效。方法 103例食管胃底静脉曲张出血患者,予套扎术联合聚桂醇硬化术治疗,观察其疗效。结果治疗后患者食管静脉曲张消失率为95.1%（98/103）。随访半年至1年中,患者再出血病例4例（3.9%）,3例为合并门脉高压性胃病患者,1例为注射点渗血,死亡1例。治疗后胸骨后疼痛12例,合并胸膜炎10例,发热8例,早期再出血1例,无出现食管狭窄或食管穿孔病例。结论内镜下食管胃底静脉曲张套扎术联合聚桂醇硬化治疗食管胃底静脉曲张出血效果好,复发率低,副反应小,临床应广泛开展应用。     

Equality of the left and right renal venous flow predicts the severity of variceal bleeding in portal hypertensive children

Portasystemic collaterals develop as a result of portal hypertension. The collaterals in the cardioesophageal region is the leading cause of bleeding from esophageal varices. Some of the portal hypertensive patients present with bleeding episodes but the others do not, and some of the bleeders do not respond to endoscopic sclerotherapy procedure, although the underlying pathology is the same. The capacity of the natural collateral vessels might be a determining factor about the hemorrhagic events. Since the first step of portasystemic collateralization takes place in the naturally existent vascular channels, the present study, with its anatomic and clinical parts, was focused on these venous structures.     

Effect of aluminum phosphate gel on prevention of early rebleeding after ligation of esophageal variceal hemorrhage

BACKGROUNDLiver cirrhosis is the main cause of portal hypertension. The leading cause of death in patients with liver cirrhosis is its most common complication, esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB). Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is recommended by many guidelines to treat EVB and prevent rebleeding; however, esophageal ulcers occur after treatment. Delayed healing of ulcers and unhealed ulcers lead to high rebleeding and mortality rates. Thus, the prevention of early postoperative rebleeding is of great significance in improving the quality of life and prognosis of patients.AIMTo evaluate the efficacy of aluminum phosphate gel (APG) plus a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in the prevention of early rebleeding after EVL in patients with EVB.METHODSThe medical records of 792 patients who were diagnosed with EVB and in whom bleeding was successfully stopped by EVL at Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Guangdong Province, China from January 2015 to December 2020 were collected. According to the study inclusion and exclusion criteria, 401 cases were included in a PPI-monotherapy group (PPI group), and 377 cases were included in a PPI and APG combination therapy (PPI + APG) group. We compared the incidence rates of early rebleeding and other complications within 6 wk after treatment between the two groups. The two-sample t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and chi-squared test were adopted for statistical analyses.RESULTSNo significant differences in age, sex, model for end-stage liver disease score, coagulation function, serum albumin level, or hemoglobin level were found between the two groups. The incidence of early rebleeding in the PPI + APG group (9/337; 2.39%) was significantly lower than that in the PPI group (30/401; 7.48%) (P = 0.001). Causes of early rebleeding in the PPI group were esophageal ulcer (3.99%, 16/401) and esophageal varices (3.49%, 14/401), while those in the PPI + APG group were also esophageal ulcers (5/377; 1.33%) and esophageal varices (4/377; 1.06%); such causes were significantly less frequent in the PPI + APG group than in the PPI group (P = 0.022 and 0.024, respectively). The early mortality rate within 6 wk in both groups was 0%, which was correlated with the timely rehospitalization of all patients with rebleeding and the conduct of emergency endoscopic therapy. The incidence of adverse events other than early bleeding in the PPI + APG group (28/377; 7.43%) was significantly lower than that in the PPI group (63/401; 15.71%) (P < 0.001). The incidence of chest pain in the PPI + APG group (9/377; 2.39%) was significantly lower than that in the PPI group (56/401; 13.97%) (P < 0.001). The incidence of constipation in the PPI + APG group (16/377; 4.24%) was significantly higher than that in the PPI group (3/401; 0.75%) (P = 0.002) but constipation was relieved after patients drank more water or took lactulose. In the PPI and PPI + APG groups, the incidence rates of spontaneous peritonitis within 6 wk after discharge were 0.50% (2/401) and 0.53% (2/377), respectively, and those of hepatic encephalopathy were 0.50% (2/401) and 0.27% (1/377), respectively, presenting no significant difference (P > 0.999).CONCLUSIONPPI + APG combination therapy significantly reduces the incidence of early rebleeding and chest pain in patients with EVB after EVL.     

Colonic Diverticular Bleeding with Comorbid Diseases may Need Elective Colectomy

Background  Colonic diverticular bleeding can usually be managed with conservative treatment. However, in a selected group of patients under conditions of recurrent, persistent bleeding influencing quality of life or causing life-threatening shock, it should be managed with surgery. This is a retrospective study to clarify the risk factors relating to colectomy for colonic diverticular bleeding. Methods  Between 1997 and 2005, a retrospective chart review of 73 patients with colonic diverticular bleeding was undertaken. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the relevant risk factors correlating to colectomy. Results  The mean age of the 73 patients was 70 years (range, 22–90 years). Most colonic diverticular bleeding could be managed with conservative treatment (n = 63, 86.3%), and urgent colectomy was performed in ten patients (13.7%). The bleeding site could not be well identified in six of those ten patients and so underwent total abdominal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis, and the other four underwent right hemicolectomy after a diagnosis of right-sided colon diverticula with bleeding. There were two deaths in the surgical group and one death in the nonsurgical group. The overall mortality rate in the series was 4.11% and 20% among patients undergoing urgent colectomy. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of comorbidities and daily maximum blood transfusion requirement were risk factors for urgent colectomy for colonic diverticular bleeding. Conclusion  Preoperative comorbid diseases may increase operative risk in urgent surgery, and the outcome is poor. To avoid high mortality and morbidity relating to the urgent colectomy, we suggest that patients of colonic diverticular bleeding with comorbid diseases, especially subgroups of patients with diabetes and gouty arthritis, may need early elective colectomy.     

Successful splenorenal shunt for emergent control of variceal bleeding in a small child.

A 8.6-kg, 10-month-old boy with idiopathic cavernous transformation of the portal vein developed variceal hemorrhage refractory to nonoperative management. A distal splenorenal shunt was performed while the bleeding was controlled with balloon tamponade. Hemorrhage was successfully controlled with no recurrent bleeding and the shunt remains patent at 1 year of follow-up.     

改良青木春夫断流术治疗胃底食管静脉破裂出血的临床研究

目的:改良青木春夫断流术用于急诊治疗食管胃底静脉破裂出血的安全性和有效性研究。方法:回顾性分析肝硬化合并胃底食管静脉破裂出血60例患者,24 h保守治疗无效的27例急诊行改良青木春夫断流术(Ⅰ组);另外33例出血经内科治疗控制后,择期行相同手术(Ⅱ组)。术后随访4年,对比观察术后再出血、肝昏迷、肝腹水以及生存状况。Ⅰ、Ⅱ组失访患者分别为3、4例,将Ⅰ组24例、Ⅱ组29例纳入研究。结果:Ⅰ组术后再出血5例、肝性脑病2例、肝腹水3例;围手术期死亡5例,均为Child-Pugh C级患者,其中死于肝性脑病合并肝功能衰竭2例、重度腹水合并感染导致肝功能衰竭2例,术后再出血死亡1例;1、2、4年存活率为79.2%、100%、100%。Ⅱ组术后发生肝性脑病1例、肝腹水4例;无围手术期死亡;4年随访中死亡2例,1例术后2年死于重度腹水伴腹腔感染导致的肝功能衰竭,1例术后4年死于再出血;1、2、4年存活率分别为100%、96.6%、93.1%。Ⅰ、Ⅱ组围手术期死亡率为20.8%(5/24)、0(P<0.01);术后再出血率为20.8%(5/24)、3.4%(1/29,P<0.05),术后肝性脑病发生率为8.3%(2/24)、3.4%(1/29,P<0.05);肝腹水发生率为12.5%(3/24)、13.8%(4/29,P>0.05);2组术后1年存活率差异亦有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论:改良青木春夫断流术在治疗和预防食管胃底静脉破裂出血方面是安全的、有效的;但对于Child-Pugh分级C级的急诊患者,其围手术期死亡率高,急诊选用应慎重。     

肝硬化伴食管静脉曲张破裂出血行脾切除加断流治疗与内镜治疗的疗效对比分析

目的探讨外科手术治疗(脾切除+门奇静脉断流术)与内镜下治疗(内镜下套扎和硬化剂治疗)对肝硬化所致食管静脉曲张破裂出血的疗效,并寻找导致术后再出血的危险因素。方法回顾性分析陆军军医大学大坪医院2012年1月至2017年11月收治的肝硬化伴食管静脉曲张破裂出血病人的资料。将行脾切除、门奇静脉断流术者纳入外科手术治疗组(54例);将内镜下行套扎、硬化剂治疗者纳入内镜治疗组(63例)。根据搜集所得资料及电话随访结果,统计病人治疗后的再出血率、治疗后再出血的平均间隔时间等。数据采用SPSS(23.0版)软件进行处理。结果手术治疗组术后1、3、5年再出血率分别为9.3%、20.5%、23.1%,内镜治疗组术后1、3、5年再出血率分别为39.7%、73.0%、74.8%,手术治疗组再出血率明显低于内镜治疗组(P<0.001)。COX多因素分析显示:内镜治疗术后再出血的风险是手术治疗的7.2倍(P<0.001)。曲张的食管静脉距门齿的距离、脾脏的大小、脾功能亢进的程度与术后再出血与否无统计学相关性。结论外科手术治疗相比内镜治疗可更好地控制曲张食管静脉的破裂出血,其1、3、5年再出血率明显小于内镜治疗组。治疗方式是病人术后再次出血的危险因素。     

Colonic angiosarcoma: A case report and review of literature

INTRODUCTIONAngiosarcomas are rare tumours that arise from the vascular endothelium. They can occur anywhere in the body, mostly affecting the head and neck. Their occurrence in the gastrointestinal tract is quite rare with a few reported cases in medical literature.PRESENTATION OF CASEA 40-year-old man presented with metastatic sigmoid colon angiosarcoma, for which he was operated due to endoscopically uncontrollable massive tumour bleeding. The patient is presently still alive at 24 months after his first presentation. He is receiving palliative care.DISCUSSIONThis article presents a review of the literature on this rare clinical entity, emphasising the very aggressive behaviour and the poor outcome of this malignancy. We present, briefly, 17 reported cases on primary colonic angiosarcoma since 1949.CONCLUSIONThe role of chemotherapy and radiation is established neither in the adjuvant setting nor in metastatic disease. Surgery is the mainstay to treat localised colorectal angiosarcomas.     

Colonic anastomosis performed with a memory-shaped device

BACKGROUND: The present study was prompted by our previous successful experience with the compression anastomosis clip (CAC) on animals followed by a study on 20 patients scheduled for colonic resection. METHODS: Sixty patients with colonic cancer were assigned randomly to undergo an anastomosis either with the CAC or a stapler. To perform anastomosis with CAC, the 2 edges of the resected colon are aligned. Two 5-mm incisions are made close to the edges, through which (using a special applier) the CAC, after being cooled in ice water, is introduced in an open position. In response to the body temperature, the clip resumes its original (closed) position, thereby clamping the 2 bowel segments together. At the same time, a small scalpel incorporated in the applier makes a small incision through the clamped walls for the passage of gas and feces. The clip is detached from the applier to be left inside the intestine. The 2 5-mm incisions are sutured. The clip is expelled with the stool within 5 to 7 days, creating a perfect uniform compression anastomosis. RESULTS: Neither group had anastomotic complications such as leakage or obstruction. All the other parameters were better in the study group than in the control patients. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the CAC for colonic surgery is safe, simple, efficient, shortens operation time, and is almost what we call the "no-touch concept" in surgery and may decrease infection.     

Survivin和Caspase-3在结肠癌和结肠腺瘤组织中的表达及意义

为探讨Survivin和Caspase-3在结肠癌和结肠腺瘤组织中的表达及意义,应用免疫组织化学染色法对42例结肠癌和结肠正常黏膜组织、38例结肠腺瘤组织进行Survivin和Caspase-3检测。结果显示,结肠癌组织中Survivin阳性率明显高于结肠腺瘤和结肠正常黏膜组织（P〈0．05）,结肠癌组织中Caspase-3阳性率明显低于结肠腺瘤组织（P〈0．05）。Survivin和Caspase3在结肠癌组织中的表达呈负相关（r=-0．8535,P=0．000）。结果表明,Survivin可能通过抑制结肠癌细胞凋亡,对结肠癌的发生发展起重要作用;在结肠癌的癌变过程中,Survivin的作用可能是通过抑制Caspase-3介导的细胞凋亡实现的。     

Mesenterico left portal bypass for variceal bleeding owing to extrahepatic portal hypertension caused by portal vein thrombosis

Background/Purpose

Portosystemic shunt operations are indicated in patients with extrahepatic portal hypertension owing to portal vein thrombosis (EPH-PVT) suffering from recurrent variceal bleeding despite endoscopic sclerotherapy. Mesenterico left portal bypass procedure (MLPB) is an alternative procedure to the portosystemic shunt operations in patients with EPH-PVT. MLPB operation reestablishes hepatopetal portal blood flow. We herein present our experience with MLPB in children with EPH-PVT.

Methods

Six patients were treated for EPH-PVT with recurrent bleeding despite endoscopic sclerotherapy (2 boys and 4 girls) in our unit. All patients were evaluated preoperatively with complete blood count, portal duplex system Doppler ultrasonography, magnetic resonance angiography, and upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. MLPB operation was performed as described by de Ville de Goyet. During the postoperative period, patients were evaluated with complete blood count, portal duplex system Doppler ultrasonography, upper GI endoscopy, and magnetic resonance angiography.

Results

Six patients were assessed to be candidates for MLPB procedure and were operated to perform the MLPB procedure. Left portal veins were found to be patent during the operation in 4 patients, and the MLPB procedure was performed. Internal jugular vein was used in 3 patients and enlarged inferior mesenteric vein in 1 patient. Left portal veins of the remaining 2 patients were found to be obliterated; therefore, mesocaval shunt was performed. The postoperative course of the patients was uneventful except for 1 patient. During the following period, the leukocyte and the platelet counts were significantly increased in 3 of the 4 patients after the MLPB procedure. Upper GI bleeding occurred in the early postoperative period in 1 patient with MLPB procedure because of prepyloric ulcer that was successfully treated by endoscopic sclerotherapy. Internal jugular vein graft thrombosis was detected on the 10th postoperative day. This patient underwent a second laparotomy, the distal half of the graft was found to be sclerosed and narrowed that the graft was revised with a synthetic allograft.

Conclusions

Based on a review of the literature, the MLPB functions well in patients with portal hypertension caused by portal vein thrombosis and appears to have a physiologic advance over shunts that decompress but do not return blood directly to the liver. Because intra-abdominal veins appear to function well as a conduit in this operation, it may be favored by eliminating additional incision and increased risk in such patients.     

Trilogy of gastrointestinal atresias: a case report and review of the literature

This is a case report of a child with a rare combination of pyloric and colonic atresias, imperforate anus, hypoganglionosis of the rectum and sigmoid colon, unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney, bilateral sensorineural deafness, spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia, subglottic stenosis, growth failure, and limb anomalies.     

Galactose half-life is a useful tool in assessing prognosis of chronic liver disease in children

In children, optimal timing of liver transplantation (LT) is crucial, but reliable prognostic tools for chronic liver diseases are scarce. We assessed the predictive value of galactose half‐life (Gal½) for LT or death. A retrospective search of hospital database 2003–2010 revealed 92 consecutive children with chronic liver disease (36 biliary atresia) whose liver function was assessed with Gal½ measurement. Gal½, follow‐up data, and liver biochemistry were recorded and pediatric/model for end‐stage liver disease (P/MELD) scores calculated. Patients listed for LT or those who died within 1 year of the Gal½ measurement (Group 1) were compared to those surviving without listing (Group 2). Predictive value of Gal½ and P/MELD for listing for LT was assessed with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) analysis. Group 1 had markedly increased median Gal½ [17.0 (interquartile range 12.5–28.5) min] and higher P/MELD [13 (?1–23)] compared with group 2, [10.5 (9.5–12.5) min and ?1 (?8–8); P < 0.001 for both]. Both Gal½ and P/MELD (P < 0.001) predicted listing or death with respective AUROCs of 0.808 (95% CI 0.704–0.913) and 0.780 (0.676–0.890), and 85% sensitivity and 69% specificity for Gal½≥12.0 min. Gal½ is a useful tool when evaluating 1‐year prognosis in children with chronic liver disease.