Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction in patients with extensive bowel resection for Crohn's disease

We report three cases of severe chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction after extensive bowel resection for Crohn's disease. The patients retained less than or equal to 150 cm jejunum in continuity with the left half of the colon and had no evidence of inflammatory activity in the remaining bowel. Total parenteral nutrition was required, since even very small meals caused abdominal distention, pain, and vomiting. Two patients had a sigmoidostomy constructed, which alleviated the symptoms and enabled a normal oral intake, but only temporarily in one of the patients. Even with a sigmoidostomy the patients needed supplementary parenteral nutrition because of severe malabsorption with high stomal output.     

Management of patients with a short bowel

There are two common types of adult patient with a short bowel, those with jejunum in continuity with a functioning colon and those with a jejunostomy. Both groups have potential problems of undernutrition, but this is a greater problem in those without a colon, as they do not derive energy from anaerobic bacterial fermentation of carbohydrate to short chain fatty acids in the colon. Patients with a jejunostomy have major problems of dehydration, sodium and magnesium depletion all due to a large volume of stomal output. Both types of patient have lost at least 60 cm of terminal ileum and so will become deficient of vitamin B(12). Both groups have a high prevalence of gallstones (45%) resulting from periods of biliary stasis. Patients with a retained colon have a 25% chance of developing calcium oxalate renal stones and they may have problems with D(-) lactic acidosis. The survival of patients with a short bowel, even if they need long-term parenteral nutrition, is good.     

Effect of cimetidine on enzyme inactivation, bile acid precipitation, and lipid solubilisation in pancreatic steatorrhoea due to cystic fibrosis.

In pancreatic steatorrhoea, both pH-dependent bile acid precipitation and enzyme inactivation may limit the efficacy of pancreatic enzyme supplements and both may be preventable by addition of cimetidine. To separate these effects we compared postprandial jejunal aspirate from eight adults with steatorrhoea due to cystic fibrosis on three randomised treatment regimens (pancreatin, cimetidine, and both together). We also compared the results with those of previous studies of patients on no treatment, and of healthy subjects. On pancreatin 60% of the test meal entered the jejunum at pH less than 5 compared with 17% in health. Lipase concentration and lipolysis increased over the values on no treatment (14.2 vs 4.4 U/l, p less than 0.01; 16% vs 11%, p less than 0.02) but bile acid precipitation was not reduced (38% vs 27%, NS), and aqueous-phase lipid concentration decreased (6.7 vs 8.6 mM/l, p less than 0.05). On cimetidine, bile acid precipitation fell (19% vs 38%, p less than 0.05); although lipase concentration and lipolysis were lower than on pancreatin (4.8 U/l vs 14.2 U/l, p less than 0.01; 9% vs 16%, p less than 0.01) lipid solubilisation increased (8.8 vs 6.7 mM/l, p less than 0.05). On the combination, there was a marked improvement (p less than 0.02) in lipid solubilisation (18.3 mM/l), reflecting the improvement both in lipase (38.4 U/l) and lipolysis (24%), and in bile acid precipitation (5.6%). We conclude that the efficacy of pancreatin is limited by pH-dependent bile acid precipitation in addition to enzyme inactivation. The action of cimetidine in improving the efficacy of pancreatin depends on prevention of both these effects.     

Disturbed gastric emptying in the short bowel syndrome. Evidence for a 'colonic brake'.

Gastric emptying of liquid (orange juice containing technetium-99m (99mTc) labelled antimony sulphide colloid) and solid (570 kcal pancake containing 0.5 mm resin microspheres labelled with Indium-111 (111-In)) was measured in seven patients with jejunum and no colon (jejunal lengths 30-160 cm), six patients with jejunum in continuity with the colon (jejunal length 25-75 cm), and in 12 normal subjects. In patients with no colon early emptying of liquid was rapid (median 25% emptying: 7 v 25 min, no colon v normal, p < 0.05); early gastric emptying of solid was rapid in two (each with less than 100 cm jejunum) and normal in the other five. Gastric emptying of liquid and solid for patients with jejunum in continuity with the colon was normal for the first three hours. There was increased liquid and solid retained in the stomach at six hours in both groups of patients (p < 0.01). Small bowel transit time was faster than in normal subjects for liquid in both groups of patients (p < 0.05) and for solid in those with no colon (p < 0.05). Rapid gastric emptying of liquid may contribute to the large stomal output in patients with a high jejunostomy. Preservation of the colon after a major small intestinal resection exerts a braking effect on the rate of early gastric emptying of liquid.     

GORD patients on chronic acid suppressive medication: A population-average psychological state

We report three cases of severe chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction after extensive bowel resection for Crohn's disease. The patients retained ≤ 150 cm jejunum in continuity with the left half of the colon and had no evidence of inflammatory activity in the remaining bowel. Total parenteral nutrition was required, since even very small meals caused abdominal distention, pain, and vomiting. Two patients had a sigmoidostomy constructed, which alleviated the symptoms and enabled a nor-al oral intake, but only temporarily in one of the patients. Even with a sigmoidostomy the patients needed supplementary parenteral nutrition, because of severe malabsorption with high stomal output.     

Severe short bowel syndrome with a surgically reversed small bowel segment

Summary We report a case of short bowel syndrome (60 cm of jejunum anastomosed to the left colon) with reversal of the distal 15 cm of jejunum in a 21-year-old man. The nutritional absorptive capacity and digestive motility was studied for 18 months postoperatively. His absorptive capacity reached subnormal values allowing him oral nutritive autonomy and normal social life. The results of the manometric study suggested that the reversed segment delayed intestinal transit time. The prolonged contact of the chyme with the intestinal absorptive mucosa possibly increased its absorptive capacity.Our data and the literature reports suggest that reversal of a bowel loop could help wean patients from their dependence on parenteral nutrition.     

Long-term and short-term evaluation of esophageal reconstruction using the colon or the jejunum in esophageal cancer patients after gastrectomy

SUMMARY.  For esophageal cancer patients, the gastric tube is the first choice as an esophageal substitute, with the colon or the jejunum being used when the stomach cannot be used. We retrospectively compared these two methods from the viewpoint of peri-operative complications and long-term bodyweight alteration. From 1998 to 2005 53 patients who had undergone subtotal esophagectomy due to thoracic esophageal cancers were given reconstruction with the colon (28 cases) or the jejunum (25 cases). Both intestines were reconstructed via the subcutaneous route and were anastomosed to the internal mammalian artery and vein for a supercharged blood supply. There was no difference in operating time and blood loss. Compared with the colon reconstruction group, the hospital stay of the jejunum reconstruction group was significantly shorter (65 days vs 45 days, P  = 0.0120) and the incidence of anastomotic leakage tended to be less (13 cases, 46% vs 6 cases, 24%, P  = 0.1507), while other operative morbidity did not differ between the two groups. Bodyweight loss, which is a serious postoperative sequela after esophagectomy, was less in the jejunum group than in the colon group, showing a significant difference at 12 months after surgery. Our retrospective study revealed the jejunum to be superior to the colon for the reconstruction after esophagectomy along with gastrectomy, with respect to anastomotic leakage and bodyweight loss. The next step will be to conduct a prospective large cohort study.     

Evidence for Colonic Conservation of Malabsorbed Carbohydrate in Short Bowel Syndrome

The purpose of this study was to determine whether energy from malabsorbed carbohydrate could be conserved through colonic fermentation in short bowel syndrome. Seven patients with short bowel anastomosed to the remaining colon and five patients with short bowel without a colon were selected from the home total parenteral nutrition (TPN) program. Six normal volunteers also were studied. After an overnight fast, subjects consumed a 50-g carbohydrate bread meal and were studied hourly over the next 6 h. Carbohydrate malabsorption, estimated by lactulose breath hydrogen testing, was 48 +/- 13% in short bowel patients. After the bread meal, breath hydrogen was higher in short bowels with colons (69 +/- 20 ppm) than in either short bowels without colons (11 +/- 7 ppm) or normal subjects (10 +/- 3 ppm) (p less than 0.01). Blood acetate levels also were higher in short bowels with colons than in those without colons, reaching a peak of 167 +/- 27 mumol/L at 4 h (p less than 0.05). We conclude that in patients with a short bowel and a colon, malabsorbed carbohydrate is fermented and there is a rise in blood acetate, suggesting that the colon has a role in salvaging malabsorbed carbohydrate as a source of energy through carbohydrate fermentation.     

Nutritional support and therapy in the short bowel syndrome

The clinical response of a patient to intestinal resection depends on several factors. With more than 60 to 80 cm of bowel remaining, refeeding usually will be progressive until a full oral diet is reached. The type of diet and vitamin supplements are then prescribed according to the site of resection. In general, the diet should not be restricted in terms of fat. In the case of ileal resection and a preserved colon, a low-oxalate diet should be prescribed along with calcium supplements. These patients may also develop a cholereic diarrhea, depending on the size of the ileal resection. Cholestyramine should then be added. With a very short bowel (less than 60 to 80 cm), parenteral nutrition is started immediately. This type of nutrition may be tapered progressively over a period of time as enteral feeding is gradually increased, according to the amount of residual disease and the rate of adaptation of the intestinal remnant. If patients cannot maintain their nutritional status and also be free of serious diarrhea when on a normal or modified oral or enteral diet, then long-term parenteral nutrition is considered.     

Histological studies of Auerbach's plexuses of the oesophagus, stomach, jejunum, and colon in patients with achalasia of the oesophagus: correlation with gastric acid secretion, presence of parietal cells and gastric emptying of solids.

Histological changes in the Auerbach's plexuses of the oesophagus, stomach, jejunum, and colon were analysed in a prospective study in 34 patients with achalasia of the oesophagus. At the distal end of the oesophagus ganglia cells were absent in 91% of cases as well as in the middle third of the stomach (20%). The Auerbach's plexuses were normal in the jejunum and colon. The results of gastric acid secretion showed that the peak acid output was significantly lower in achalasia patients compared with controls (p less than 0.001). There was no correlation between the mean ganglion neuronal count in the gastric plexuses and the rate of gastric acid output (r = 0.33). Gastric emptying of solids was also evaluated, but there was no correlation between gastric emptying and the mean ganglion neuronal count in the gastric Auerbach's plexuses. The rate of gastric emptying of solids was similar in controls and patients with achalasia. These studies suggest that denervation of the oesophagus in patients with achalasia, which is a constant finding in several previous reports may extend beyond the oesophagus to the stomach in nearly half the cases.     

Liver resection for large-size hepatocellular carcinomas in 47 non-cirrhotic patients--no mortality and long-term survival

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Few reports have analyzed short- and long-term outcomes in the subset of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on non-cirrhotic liver. METHODOLOGY: From January 1985 to December 2002, 277 patients underwent liver resection for HCC; in only 47 the liver was normal or showed mild chronic hepatitis at histology. RESULTS: A major hepatectomy (MHR) was accomplished in 37 cases (78.7%) including an extended hepatic resection in 18 (38.3%). In-hospital mortality was nil. The rate of complications was 40.4%. Overall and disease-free survival rates at 5 years were 30.9% and 33.9%. Fifteen patients are actually alive with a median survival of 33.3 months. By multivariate analysis, tumor size > 10cm and presence of satellite nodules were independent predictive factors of 5-year survival; median survival of thirteen patients with HCCs < or = 10cm and without daughter nodules was 60 months. Twenty-six patients had a margin less than 1cm and without cancer involvement; overall and recurrence-free survival rates were comparable to those of the patients with a > 1cm margin. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of HCC without cirrhosis, major hepatic resections are often needed. Tumors less than 10cm in size and without satellite nodes are the best candidates for operation. The width of the resection margin is unimportant provided that there is no microscopic infiltration.     

Frequency of isolated proximal colonic polyps among patients referred for colonoscopy

The American Cancer Society now advocates screening asymptomatic populations over the age of 40 to 50 years for colonic malignancy. It is possible, however, that fecal occult blood testing and sigmoidoscopy to 60 cm would fail to identify patients with adenomatous polyps located only in the proximal colon. The purpose of this study was to determine how many patients without polyps in the distal 60 cm of the colon would have more proximal lesions. Ninety-eight consecutive patients with positive fecal blood test results or suspicious barium enema results were studied, using the assumption that if they had been seen six months earlier, when asymptomatic, they would have been candidates for screening examination. Forty-one (42%) of 98 patients had adenomatous polyps or cancer, and 15 (37%) of these patients had isolated proximal lesions. The polyp detection rate from 0 to 60 cm was significantly less than the detection rate for a full colonoscopy (27% vs 42%). We conclude that isolated proximal colonic polyps may be common.     

Patients with a high jejunostomy do not need a special diet

Absorption from a chemically defined liquid feed consisting of small peptides, oligosaccharides, and little fat (half medium-chain triglycerides) was compared with that from a feed of whole protein, polysaccharides, and long-chain triglycerides in 7 patients with less than 150 cm of jejunum ending in a stoma. Comparisons of absorption from three solid food diets varying in their fiber and fat content but containing equal amounts of nitrogen and minerals were also made in 4 of the patients. There were no consistent differences between the two liquid or three solid-food diets in percentage of calorie, nitrogen, or fat absorption. The absolute loss of fat depended on the fat intake, but larger losses did not appear detrimental. A liquid diet consisting of peptides, oligosaccharides, and medium-chain triglycerides is not more beneficial than a polymeric diet in patients with a high jejunostomy. A liberal attitude is appropriate toward the fat and fiber content of the diet. Electrolyte supplements, especially sodium and magnesium, are often needed.     

Absorption of urso- and chenodeoxycholic acid and their taurine and glycine conjugates in rat jejunum, ileum, and colon

Chenodeoxycholic acid (cheno) and ursodeoxycholic acid (urso) dissolve cholesterol gallstones in man. Comparative studies of the absorption of cheno and urso are not available. The absorption of urso and cheno and their glycine and taurine conjugates in jejunum, terminal ileum, and colon of the rat were therefore determined in an open in situ perfusion system. Absorption of unconjugated urso and cheno in jejunum, ileum, and colon was similar. In the jejunum conjugated urso and cheno were absorbed only in minimal amounts. In the ileum glycine-conjugated urso was absorbed to a lower extent than glycine-conjugated cheno (6.5 +/- 0.4 vs. 8.6 +/- 0.6 nmol/cm X h at 25 mumol/l bile acid concentration, p less than 0.05) and taurine-conjugated urso was absorbed less than taurine-conjugated cheno (6.4 +/- 0.5 vs. 8.1 +/- 0.7 nmol/cm X h, p less than 0.05). In the colon glycourso and taurourso were not absorbed, while glycocheno and taurocheno were absorbed in small amounts. The low reabsorption rates of urso conjugates in ileum and colon may contribute to the relatively low urso content in bile during urso treatment.     

Piezoelectric lithotripsy: stone disintegration and follow-up results in patients with symptomatic gallbladder stones

One hundred symptomatic patients with radiolucent gallbladder stones were treated with a new piezoelectric lithotripter and oral chemolitholytic agents. Stone disintegration was achieved in 99 of these patients (99%) with a mean (+/- SD) maximum fragment size of 5.1 +/- 4.1 mm. Significant differences were found when the mean (+/- SD) fragment sizes of single stones less than or equal to 20 mm (4.2 +/- 2.5 mm) were compared with those of single stones greater than 20 mm (5.8 +/- 3.4 mm; P less than 0.05) and multiple stones (6.2 +/- 3.8 mm; P less than 0.05), respectively. None of the patients required anesthesia, analgesics, or sedatives before or during the treatment. The stone-free rates for all patients followed up for up to 4-12 months (mean +/- SD, 10.7 +/- 2.9 months) were 18% (1 month), 25% (2 months), 38% (4 months), 52% (8 months), and 67% (12 months). Partly significant differences were obtained in stone-free rates for single stones (less than or equal to 20 mm) compared with larger stones (greater than 20 mm) and multiple stones (P less than 0.05), respectively. Serious adverse reactions (i.e., cholestasis and pancreatitis) were observed in only 3 patients (3%). These conditions were induced by fragment impaction in the common bile duct. In 2 of these patients, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with endoscopic sphincterotomy was required. It is concluded that piezoelectrically generated shock waves are suitable for the effective and safe disintegration of gallbladder stones in humans. The anesthesia-free and analgesia-free shock-wave application opens up the possibility to perform biliary lithotripsy as an outpatient procedure. The stone-free rate achieved in combination with oral bile acids is most promising for single stones (less than or equal to 20 mm).     

Gallbladder function, cholesterol stones, and bile composition.

Gallbladder bile obtained at operation from five patients with no symptoms of biliary disease was undersaturated with cholesterol in every case. However, gallbladder bile from patients with stones composed of 97-100% crystalline cholesterol was on average just saturated with cholesterol when the gallbladder was functioning and undersaturated when it was not. Regardless of gallbladder function, the patients with stones had on average significantly more cholesterol in their bile than in the control group, but the differences between the mean composition of bile from functioning and non-functioning gallbladders were not significant. Common duct bile from patients with non-functioning and functioning gallbladders was on average supersaturated with cholesterol, but there was significantly more bile salt and significantly less cholesterol in the bile from patients with non-functioning gallbladders. Only in the case of patients with functioning gallbladders did the mean composition of the common duct and gallbladder biles differ significantly. The former contained significantly more cholesterol and less bile salt than the latter. It is suggested that patients with non-functioning gallbladders may be 'autocholecystectomised' with the duct bile reverting to a more 'normal' composition.     

Colonic adenomas--a colonoscopy survey.

A colonoscopy survey of 620 patients with 1049 colon adenomas showed a predominantly left-sided distribution (77%). Of these lesions 97% were amenable to endoscopic removal or ablation. Sixty per cent of patients presented with rectal bleeding as their major symptom. There was agreement between radiology and colonoscopy in only 62% of patients, as many of the studies were single contrast barium enemas, performed before referral. Forty-eight per cent of adenomas in our series were less than 1.0 cm in diameter. Of the larger adenomas (greater than 2.0 cm in diameter) 66% were situated in the sigmoid colon, and of those containing invasive carcinoma (4.8% of the total) an even higher percentage (94%) were in the sigmoid and low descending colon. With increasing polyp size, there was a greater predominance of villous elements and this was associated with a higher risk of malignant change than the more frequent and generally smaller tubular adenoma. Local colonoscopic excision alone is sufficient treatment for adenomas with malignant change unless they are poorly differentiated histologically and providing adequate resection is demonstrated. Twenty-eight patients treated in this way are alive without recurrence at periods from six to 62 months. Although 65% of patients had only one adenoma, and 90% three or less, there is a risk of developing other benign and malignant colon neoplasms and careful follow-up is required.     

Papillary function of patients with juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum. Consideration of pathogenesis of common bile duct stones

The papillary function of cholelithiasis patients with and without juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum (JPDD) was examined manometrically. The papillary function was evaluated on the basis of dP(0.5), the pressure difference between the resting pressure and the perfusion pressure. Patients with a dP(0.5) less than 5 cm H2O were considered to have papillary dysfunction. In cholecystolithiasis patients the incidence of papillary dysfunction was significantly greater in those with JPDD than in those without JPDD (p less than 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in dP(0.5) between those with and without JDPP because of the small number of patients involved. Also, in patients with choledocholithiasis there was no difference in the papillary function between those with and without JPDD. All who had JPDD showed papillary dysfunction. From our results, JPDD is suspected to have an important role in causing papillary dysfunction or loss of papillary muscle tone. This dysfunction may be closely connected with the formation of common bile duct stones.     

Short-bowel syndrome

Opinion statement Short-bowel syndrome is defined as a malabsorption state caused by intestinal resection. The symptomatology of patients with short-bowel syndrome covers a spectrum from chronic watery diarrhea to severe panmalabsorption, depending upon length and site of remaining intestine. The majority of patients can be managed on oral intake with supplements. A subset of patients, usually with jejunostomies and a short jejunal remnant (less than 200 cm) have high stomal outputs and require parenteral fluid and electrolyte supplements. Another subset with even shorter jejunal remnants develop severe nutrient malabsorption and need long-term parenteral alimentation. Surgical interventions such as intestinal transplantation for severe short-bowel syndrome should be reserved for the rare patient who has failed conservative treatment.     

胆总管结石十二指肠镜治疗后复发因素研究

目的 探讨胆总管结石经ERCP治疗后复发的相关因素.方法 选择资料完整经ERCP治疗的胆总管结石患者,共802例,其中297例伴胆囊结石,222例胆囊已切除,283例胆囊无结石,统计复发频度并对复发因素进行单变量和多变量logistic回归分析.结果 802例患者平均随访84.8个月,92例（11.5%）结石复发.胆囊结石,胆总管直径≥1.5 cm,机械碎石及胆管角度≤120°在单因素及多因素分析中均显示为复发因素;胆固醇结石,乳头狭窄或Oddi括约肌功能障碍在多因素分析中为复发因素;胆囊切除,毕Ⅱ式胃大部切除,结石≥1.5 cm及多发结石在单因素分析中为复发因素.结论 ERCP治疗胆总管结石的病例中胆囊结石,胆总管直径≥1.5 cm,机械碎石及胆管角度≤120°可能为主要的复发因素;胆囊切除,毕Ⅱ式胃大部切除,乳头狭窄或Oddi括约肌功能障碍,结石≥1.5 cm,胆固醇结石及多发结石也是复发相关因素.