Steroid responsive eosinophilic gastric outlet obstruction in a child

Gastric outlet obstruction is a rare complication of eosinophilic gastroenteritis, most commonly treated surgically. We report a case of eosinophilic gastric outlet obstruction in a child that responded to conservative medical management. A brief review of this clinical entity is also provided.     

Endoscopic balloon dilatation of benign gastric outlet obstruction

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) has been used for the treatment of gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). There are several reports on the utility and success of this non-surgical treatment option in peptic GOO, with variable results. However, there are only a few reports documenting the efficacy of this method for non-peptic GOO. The authors here report on experience with balloon dilatation in peptic and non-peptic GOO over a 3-year period. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with benign GOO underwent EBD. Dilatation was carried out with through-the-scope balloon dilators after premedication. Dilatation was repeated every week and the response was documented on the basis of symptoms and endoscopic findings and barium studies. Helicobacter pylori was eradicated in patients with peptic GOO, when present. RESULTS: The 23 patients with GOO included 11 with peptic ulcer as the etiology, eight with corrosive-induced and four with chronic pancreatitis (alcohol three, idiopathic one). Patients with peptic GOO required 1-3 sessions (mean 2.0 +/- 0.63) to achieve a diameter of 15 mm dilatation, with uniformly good response over a mean follow-up period of 14.04 +/- 9.79 months. Corrosive-induced GOO required a larger number of dilatation sessions (2-9, mean 5.63 +/- 2.88), but the response was equally good, with follow up of 12-30 months. Patients with pancreatitis-related GOO, however, failed to respond despite a mean of 5.50 (+/-0.58) dilatations, and continued to have symptoms. All these patients were subjected to surgical bypass. There were no major complications such as perforation. CONCLUSIONS: A good response can be expected in the majority of patients with peptic and corrosive-related GOO after balloon dilatation; however, poor results are noted for chronic pancreatitis-related GOO.     

The outcome of laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy in malignant gastric outlet obstruction

Background and aims. The development of gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer is regarded by some as a terminal event. There are several interventional options available, one of which is laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy (LGJ). To date, there are little data on the effectiveness of this intervention. Using patient records we sought to analyze our own experience of LGJ in patients with terminal pancreatic cancer. Methods. A retrospective analysis of all patients with pancreatic or peri-ampullary cancer that under-went LGJ for GOO. All LGJ were performed by two consultant surgeons at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Patient notes were assessed for survival time after LGJ; post-operative complications; resumption of oral intake; time to discharge and recurrence of GOO after surgery. Results. A total of 18 patients underwent LGJ for GOO between 2000 and 2004. Median age at time of procedure was 66.5 yr (range 40 to 79). Two patients were converted to an open procedure for technical reasons, both of whom died in the post-operative period. Of the remaining 16, 15 had successful relief of GOO. The remaining patient underwent revisional open surgery 15 d post-operatively due to persistent GOO. Two patients died in hospital but 14 were discharged with symptom relief. Median survival for these patients was 59 d (range 12 to 248). Conclusion. The development of GOO in pancreatic and peri-ampullary cancer should not be regarded as a terminal event. LGJ should be considered as a treatment option in these patients.     

Endoscopic balloon dilation for benign gastric outlet obstruction in adults

Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) includes obstruction in the antropyloric area or in the bulbar or post bulbar duodenal segments. Though malignancy remains the most common cause of GOO in adults, a significant number of patients have benign disease. The latter include peptic ulcer disease, caustic ingestion, post-operative anastomotic state and inflammatory causes like Crohn's disease and tuberculosis. Peptic ulcer remains the most common benign cause of GOO. Management of benign GOO revolves around confirmation of the etiology, removing the offending agent Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. and definitive therapy. Traditionally, surgery has been the standard mode of treatment for benign GOO. However, after the advent of through-the-scope balloon dilators, endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) has emerged as an effective alternative to surgery in selected groups of patients. So far, this form of therapy has been shown to be effective in caustic-induced GOO with short segment cicatrization and ulcer related GOO. In the latter, EBD must be combined with eradication of H. pylori. Dilation is preferably done with wire-guided balloon catheters of incremental diameter with the aim to reach the end-point of 15 mm. While it is recommended that fluoroscopic control be used for EBD, this is not used by most endoscopists. Frequency of dilation has varied from once a week to once in three weeks. Complications are uncommon with perforation occurring more often with balloons larger than 15 mm. Attempts to augment efficacy of EBD include intralesional steroids and endoscopic incision.     

Update on endoscopic management of gastric outlet obstruction in children

Endoscopic balloon dilatation(EBD) and surgical intervention are two most common and effective treatments for gastric outlet obstruction. Correction of gastric outlet obstruction without the need for surgery is an issue that has been tried to be resolved in these decades; this management has developed with EBD, advanced treatments like local steroid injection, electrocauterization, and stent have been added recently. The most common causes of pediatric gastric outlet obstruction are idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, peptic ulcer disease followed by the ingestion of caustic substances, stenosis secondary to surgical anastomosis; antral web, duplication cyst, ectopic pancreas, and other rare conditions. A complete clinical, radiological and endoscopic evaluation of the patient is required to make the diagnosis, with complimentary histopathologic studies. EBD are used in exceptional cases, some with advantages over surgical intervention depending on each patient in particular and on the characteristics and etiology of the gastric outlet obstruction. Local steroid injection and electrocauterization can augment the effect of EBD. The future of endoscopic treatment seems to be aimed at the use of endoscopic electrocauterization and balloon dilatations.