Enteral stenting versus gastrojejunostomy for palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction

Background and aims

Endoscopic placement of enteral self-expandable metallic stents is an alternative to surgical gastrojejunostomy (GJ) for palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). Factors associated with clinical outcomes are not known. The aims of this study are to compare the overall complication rate and effectiveness (duration of oral intake) between endoscopic stenting (ES) and GJ in patients with GOO and identify predictors of clinical outcomes.

Patients and methods

This was a retrospective cohort study at a single tertiary academic center. Patients who underwent ES or GJ for treatment of GOO between 1/2001 and 12/2010 were identified using an institutional claims database. The electronic medical records for each patient were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to study the association of treatment outcomes with patient factors and cancer therapy.

Results

120 patients had ES while 227 had GJ. Technical success was higher for GJ (99 vs. 96 %, p = 0.004). Complication rates were higher in the GJ group (22.10 vs. 11.66 %, p = 0.02). Reintervention was more common with ES [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 9.18, p < 0.0001]. Mean length of hospital stay (LOHS) was shorter (adjusted p = 0.005) in the ES compared with the GJ group. However, mean hospital charges, including reinterventions, were greater in the ES group (US $34,250 vs. US $27,599, p = 0.03). ES and GJ had comparable reintervention-free time in patients who had reintervention (88 vs. 106 days, respectively, p = 0.79). Chemotherapy [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 3 > 0.57, p = 0.04] and radiation therapy (adjusted HR 0.35, p = 0.03) were associated with significantly longer duration of oral intake after ES or GJ.

Conclusion

ES is associated with fewer complications, shorter LOHS, but higher reintervention rates and overall charges.     

Endoscopic stenting for benign upper gastrointestinal strictures and leaks

Background

Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) and self-expandable plastic stents (SEPS) maybe used for the treatment of benign upper gastrointestinal (GI) leaks and strictures. This study reviewed our experience with stent insertions in patients with benign upper GI conditions.

Methods

Patients who underwent stent placement for benign upper GI strictures and leaks between March 2007 and April 2011 at a tertiary referral academic center were studied using an endoscopic database and electronic patient records. The technical success, complications, and clinical improvement after stent removal were compared according to type of stent. The outcomes measured were clinical response, adverse events, and predictors of stent migration.

Results

Thirty-eight patients (50 % male, mean age = 54 years, range = 12–82) underwent 121 endoscopic procedures. Twenty patients had stents placed for strictures, and 18 had stents placed for leaks. Stent placement was technically successful in all patients. The average duration of stent placement was 54 days (range = 18–118). Clinical improvement immediately after stent placement was seen in 29 of the 38 patients (76.3 %). Immediate post-procedure adverse events occurred in 8 patients. Late adverse events were seen in 18 patients. Evidence of stent migration occurred in 16 patients and was seen in 42 of the 118 successfully placed stents (35.5 %). Migration was more frequent with fully covered SEMS (p = 0.002). After stent removal, 27 patients were evaluable for long-term success (median follow-up time of 283 days, IQR 38–762). Resolution of strictures or leaks was seen in 11 patients (40.7 %). Predictors for long-term success included increasing age and if the stent did not cross the GE junction.

Conclusions

Placement of SEPS and SEMS for benign refractory strictures and fistulas has modest long-term clinical efficacy and is limited by a significant migration rate. Stent migration is common and frequent with fully covered SEMS compared to other types of stents, regardless of indication or location.     

A decision impact,decision conflict and economic assessment of routine Oncotype DX testing of 146 women with node-negative or pNImi,ER-positive breast cancer in the UK

Background:

Tumour gene expression analysis is useful in predicting adjuvant chemotherapy benefit in early breast cancer patients. This study aims to examine the implications of routine Oncotype DX testing in the UK.

Methods:

Women with oestrogen receptor positive (ER+), pNO or pN1mi breast cancer were assessed for adjuvant chemotherapy and subsequently offered Oncotype DX testing, with changes in chemotherapy decisions recorded. A subset of patients completed questionnaires about their uncertainties regarding chemotherapy decisions pre- and post-testing. All patients were asked to complete a diary of medical interactions over the next 6 months, from which economic data were extracted to model the cost-effectiveness of testing.

Results:

Oncotype DX testing resulted in changes in chemotherapy decisions in 38 of 142 (26.8%) women, with 26 of 57 (45.6%) spared chemotherapy and 12 of 85 (14.1%) requiring chemotherapy when not initially recommended (9.9% reduction overall). Decision conflict analysis showed that Oncotype DX testing increased patients'' confidence in treatment decision making. Economic analysis showed that routine Oncotype DX testing costs £6232 per quality-adjusted life year gained.

Conclusion:

Oncotype DX decreased chemotherapy use and increased confidence in treatment decision making in patients with ER+ early-stage breast cancer. Based on these findings, Oncotype DX is cost-effective in the UK setting.     

Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma associated with paraproteinemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma developing into chronic lymphocytic leukemia: the first case reported in the literature and review of the literature

A 56-year-old married female presented in May 1998 with a 5-month history of xanthelasma of the eyelids, followed 4 months later by two enlarged lymph nodes of the left side of the neck and three of the left axilla. At the same time, she developed xanthomatous patches on the face, neck, and shoulders (Fig. 1). The cutaneous lesions were xanthomatous nodules and plaques, affecting the periorbital regions. Later, the whole face was affected, followed by ulcerated lesions on the scalp, chest, back, and extremities (Fig. 2). The skin lesions became painful, pruritic, ulcerated tumors (Fig. 3). In July 1998, computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest and abdomen with contrast medium showed pretracheal, bilateral axillary, right retrochural, paracaval, aortocaval, and para-aortic lymph node enlargement. These findings were suggestive of lymphoma. CT scan also showed slight heterogeneous hypodensity in the upper part of the right lobe of the liver, suggesting fatty infiltration. The spleen, pancreas, and suprarenal glands appeared normal. One cervical and two left axillary lymph nodes were excised. They revealed total replacement of the nodular architecture by a diffuse proliferation of mature lymphoid cells having small nuclei and a crumbled chromatin pattern, and very rare mitosis. It was concluded from the lymph node biopsies that these changes were typical of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, diffuse and small cell type, of low-grade malignancy. A bone marrow aspirate showed a marrow heavily infiltrated by lymphoid cells with some immaturity. The megakaryopoiesis was adequate. Trephine biopsies showed similar changes. Iron stores appeared to be absent. The bone marrow picture was consistent with diffuse, well-differentiated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, developing into chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Endoscopy showed antral-type gastric mucosa exhibiting mild chronic gastritis. Skin biopsy from a fresh lesion on the back showed a diffuse inflammatory cell infiltrate with collections of histiocytic cells. It also showed necrobiotic foci, surrounded by mixed inflammatory cells, dark palisaded foamy histiocytes, and a few Touton giant cells. These findings are compatible with necrobiotic xanthogranuloma (NXG) (Figs 4 and 5). Blood film showed normochromic, normocytic erythrocytes with anisopoikilocytotic leukocytes and normal platelets. The sedimentation rate was 90 mm in the first hour. The blood picture also showed monoclonal IgG paraprotein (3170 mg/dL) of the kappa light chain type. The patient was treated by the oncologist for her lymphoma, and was given Cytoxan, prednisolone, endoxan, Leukeran, and melphalan. She showed an excellent response to pulsed treatment with steroids (60 mg prednisolone orally daily for 5 days, repeated every month for 6 months). She also responded to Leukeran at a dose of 5 mg daily for 5 days every month for 6 months, and showed regression in the size of the lymph nodes. The treatment of her skin lesions was unsatisfactory in spite of the fact that she was given cyclosporine and both systemic and topical corticosteroids.     

Comparison of phenolphthalein and phenolphthalein glucuronide on net water transport in rat ileum and colon

Phenolphthalein is an odorless, tasteless compound, poorly soluble in water, but readily soluble in alcohol or ether. Although its laxative activity was discovered in 1902, the mechanism of action remains unclear. Phenolphthalein has been found to be an ineffective laxative in both jaundiced patients and in experimental animals with ligated common bile ducts. In contrast to the poor solubility of phenolphthalein, phenolphthalein glucuronide is highly water-soluble. In addition, phenolphthalein glucuronide is found in bile following oral phenolphthalein administration, suggesting an enterohepatic circulation. We compared the effect of phenolphthalein and phenolphthalein glucuronide on net water absorption of the ileum and colon of Sprague-Dawley rats using a single-pass perfusion technique. Perfusion of phenolphthalein (10 mg/dl in 154 mM NaCl with 0.5% ethanol and 0.1 g/l gum arabic) resulted in significantly reduced water absorption in both the ileum and colon (66% and 64%, respectively, P less than 0.05). In contrast, phenolphthalein glucuronide did not have a significant effect on net water flux compared to control perfusion in either the ileum or colon. In the ileum only 77 +/- 3% and colon 71 +/- 1.2% of the phenolphthalein infused was recovered, suggesting that much of the infused phenolphthalein was absorbed. In contrast there was no evidence of absorption of phenolphthalein glucuronide, as 98.9 +/- 1.2% was recovered from ileal and colon perfusions. Phenolphthalein glucuronide is not the active form of phenolphthalein, although it may be an effective laxative after deconjugation by colonic bacteria.     

Management of pancreatic fluid collections: A comprehensive review of the literature

Pancreatic fluid collections(PFCs) are a frequent complication of pancreatitis. It is important to classify PFCs to guide management. The revised Atlanta criteria classifies PFCs as acute or chronic, with chronic fluid collections subdivided into pseudocysts and walled-off pancreatic necrosis(WOPN). Establishing adequate nutritional support is an essential step in the management of PFCs. Early attempts at oral feeding can be trialed in patients with mild pancreatitis. Enteral feeding should be implemented in patients with moderate to severe pancreatitis. Jejunal feeding remains the preferred route of enteral nutrition. Symptomatic PFCs require drainage; options include surgical, percutaneous, or endoscopic approaches. With the advent of newer and more advanced endoscopic tools and expertise, and an associated reduction in health care costs, minimally invasive endoscopic drainage has become the preferable approach. An endoscopic ultrasonography-guided approach using a seldinger technique is the preferred endoscopic approach. Both plastic stents and metal stents are efficacious and safe; however, metal stents may offer an advantage, especially in infected pseudocysts and in WOPN. Direct endoscopic necrosectomy is often required in WOPN. Lumen apposing metal stents that allow for direct endoscopic necrosectomy and debridement through the stent lumen are preferred in these patients. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography with pancreatic duct(PD) exploration should be performed concurrent to PFC drainage. PD disruption is associated with an increased severity of pancreatitis, an increased risk of recurrent attacks of pancreatitis and long-term complications, and a decreased rate of PFC resolution after drainage. Any pancreatic ductal disruption should be bridged with endoscopic stenting.