Crohn's disease of esophagus,stomach and duodenum

Crohn's disease with involvement of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum has a prevalence of 0.5% to 4% in symptomatic adult patients, but some studies have shown that these results may be underestimated, since upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is not performed routinely in the initial evaluation of the disease in adult patients, as it is in the pediatric population. In general, involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract in Crohn's disease occurs concomitantly with involvement of the lower gastrointestinal tract. The diagnosis depends on clinical,endoscopic, histological and radiological evaluation. The presence of aphthoid ulcers, longitudinal ulcers, bamboo-joint-like appearance, stenoses and fistulas are endoscopic findings suggestive of the disease, and it is important to exclude the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. The primary histological findings,which facilitate the diagnosis, are the presence of a chronic inflammatory process with a predominance of lymphoplasmacytic cells and active focal gastritis. The presence of epithelioid granuloma, although less frequent, is highly suggestive of the disease in the absence of chronic granulomatous disease. Treatment should include the use of proton pump inhibitors associated with corticosteroids,immunomodulators and biological therapy according to the severity of the disease.     

Campylobacter pylori in esophagus,antrum, and duodenum

Two hundred forty-six patients with a wide range of upper gastrointestinal tract disorders were investigated for the presence of Campylobacter pylori infection in esophagus, gastric antrum, and duodenum. C. pylori was identified in 52% of patients in at least one site, and microbiological and histological techniques were used to exclude the presence of the organism. Esophageal infection was not significant and is probably due to reflux. Antral C. pylori was significantly associated with active gastritis and active duodenitis and is possibly pathogenic.     

Barrett's esophagus associated to caustic stenosis of the esophagus

BACKGROUND: The esophageal stenosis secondary to the ingestion of caustic products is frequent in Brazil, mainly due to an attempt suicide. The Barrett's esophagus is consequence of the chronic gastroesophageal reflux. The literature consulted showed that are a rare association. CASUISTIC AND METHODS: From 1981 to 2000 were admitted and treated in the "Gastrocentro" State University of Campinas, SP, Brazil, 120 patients presenting caustic stenosis of the esophagus, and during the follow-up were found nine cases with Barrett's esophagus associated (7,5%). The time of caustic ingestion varied from 4 years to 54 years (mean 29 years), and they were four males and five females, eight whites and one black, with the mean age of 57,7 years (43 to 72 years). RESULTS: All the cases presented dysphagia and the flexible upper endoscopy showed stenotic areas and caustic esophagitis sequels. Three patients referred symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, but hiatus hernia were found in only one case. The Barrett's esophagus was found in the middle third of the esophagus above the stenotic areas in three cases, and in the distal third in six cases. The dysphagia was treated with periodic esophageal dilatations. Two patients presenting severe symptoms of reflux were submitted to modified Nissen fundoplication by videolaparoscopy, with good results. CONCLUSIONS: The Barrett's esophagus in these patients could be associated to the caustic ingestion, because it is not situated in the distal third of the esophagus, as commonly found in reflux esophagitis. Its is very important the follow-up and biopsies of the Barrett's esophagus, due to the possibility of malignancy.     

Endoscopy of the esophagus, stomach and duodenal bulb

The authors report on the position of the endoscopy of oesophagus, stomach and duodenal bulb within the diagnostic endoscopy. The therapeutic endoscopy including polypectomy remains widely not taken into consideration. They particularly deal with the endoscopic-bioptic diagnosis of the stenoses of the oesophagus, the gastric ulcers and the early carcinoma of the stomach. It is referred to the importance of the endoscopy for the diagnostics of varicose veins of the oesophagus and of duodenal ulcers. For the clinician references to the clinical elaboration of the endoscopic and bioptic findings are given.     

Experimental reconstruction of dog's esophagus with biotype artificial esophagus

OBJECTIVE: At present, there are few materials available for esophagus reconstruction anywhere in the world. The reported survival rate in animals during the perioperative period is comparatively low. The present study assessed the feasibility of using a biotype artificial esophagus in the reconstruction of a dog's esophagus. METHODS: In 30 mongrel dogs, a portion of the thoracic esophagus was resected and an 8 cm section of artificial esophagus was transplanted to reconstruct the organ. The survival rate, food intake and process of healing were observed. RESULTS: Of the 30 dogs, 28 survived the peri­operative period (93.3% survival). Two dogs (6.7%) developed an anastomotic fistula; 19 dogs survived for 1 year, a survival rate of 79.2% (19/24) with the remaining six dogs were killed according to the experimental protocol. Detachment of the artificial esophagus occurred on average 28.8 days after operation and the dogs suffered from varying degrees of dysphagia 23?45 days after operation. Gradual remission occurred after 4 months. The histological study revealed that the regenerated esophagus was composed of fibrous and connective tissues and the luminal surface was covered with squamous epithelium in 3?6 months. CONCLUSION: The transplanted artificial esophagus detached after the surrounding ‘regenerated esophagus’ had formed, and the squamous epithelium gradually covered the luminal surface. Continuous remodeling of the ‘regenerated esophagus’ gradually relieved the stenosis. Whether detachment of the implant and the postoperative stenosis can be solved is the key problem restricting the use of the biotype artificial esophagus in clinical practice.     

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett esophagus, and esophageal adenocarcinoma

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has been rising rapidly over the past few decades. The major risk factors predisposing to the development of adenocarcinoma are long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett esophagus, but other factors may be involved as cancer can occur in their absence. In patients with Barrett esophagus, the extent and degree of dysplasia influence the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. As neither medical nor surgical therapies have been proven to prevent adenocarcinoma, endoscopic screening of patients with chronic reflux and endoscopic surveillance of patients diagnosed with Barrett esophagus are usually performed in an effort to detect adenocarcinomas at earlier stages. The evidence supporting strategies in the management of patients with gastroesophageal reflux and Barrett esophagus is presented.     

Chemoprevention and Barrett's esophagus: decisions, decisions

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma continues to increase at a rate greater than that of any other cancer in the western world. Current strategies to deal with this situation are problematic, and the time has come for new approaches to this problem. Chemoprevention is one such approach. In this issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology, Hur et al. examined Barrett's esophagus patient preferences for cancer chemoprevention with either aspirin or celecoxib. They found that 93% of their patients were willing to take one of these two drugs, but that nearly five times as many patients preferred aspirin to celecoxib (76%vs 15%). The most important reason for willingness to use celecoxib or aspirin was cancer prevention, while the most important reason for not using celecoxib was risk of myocardial infarction and for aspirin gastrointestinal adverse events. While this study indicates that there is a strong interest among Barrett's esophagus patients for chemoprevention, it is still premature for our patients to embark on such an approach. The role of chemoprevention in Barrett's esophagus still awaits the results of ongoing clinical trials in the United Kingdom and North America.     

Barrett's esophagus

Barrett's oesophagus is a premalignant metaplastic change of the oesophageal mucosa. Due to its relationship with oesophageal reflux disease and the development of adenoma-carcinoma of the oesophagus the problem arouses increasing interest. In the wide pathogenesis of the disease most probably the composite effect of the refluxed HCl content and duodenal juices play a part. In the diagnosis in addition to fundamental methods--endoscopy and histology--increasingly chromoendoscopy and fluorescent endoscopy are involved. Dispensarization of patients is essential and depends on the degree of pathohistological epithelial changes. Treatment of Barrett's oesophagus can be divided into conservative, where the drug of choice are proton pump inhibitors, and surgical treatment. Promising is endoscopic ablation of the epithelium in combination with subsequent antisecretory therapy.     

Barrett's esophagus

Barrett's esophagus is an acquired condition resulting from severe esophageal mucosal injury. It still remains unclear why some patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease develop Barrett's esophagus whereas others do not. The diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus is established if the squamocolumnar junction is displaced proximal to the gastroesophageal junction and if intestinal metaplasia is detected by biopsy. Despite this seemingly simple definition, diagnostic inconsistencies remain a problem, especially in distinguishing short segment Barrett's esophagus from intestinal metaplasia of the gastric cardia. Barrett's esophagus would be of little importance were it not for its well-recognized association with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma continues to increase and the 5-year survival rate for this cancer remains dismal. However, cancer risk for a given patient with Barrett's esophagus is lower than previously estimated. Current strategies for improved survival in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma focus on cancer detection at an early and potentially curable stage. This can be accomplished either by screening more patients for Barrett's esophagus or with endoscopic surveillance of patients with known Barrett's esophagus. Current screening and surveillance strategies are inherently expensive and inefficient. New techniques to improve the efficiency of cancer surveillance are evolving rapidly and hold the promise to change clinical practice in the future. Treatment options include aggressive acid suppression, antireflux surgery, chemoprevention, and ablation therapy, but there is still no clear consensus on the optimal treatment for these patients.