Capsule endoscopy can be a diagnostic option for patients with esophageal diseases who cannot tolerate esophagogastroduodenoscopy.Functional modifications of the capsule allow for thorough examination of the esophagus. Esophageal capsule endoscopy has so farfailed to show sufficient performance to justify the replacement of traditional endoscopy for the diagnosis of esophageal diseasesbecause the esophagus has a short transit time and common pathologies appear near the esophagogastric junction. However,technological improvements are being introduced to overcome the limitations of capsule endoscopy, which is expected to become agood alternative to conventional endoscopy.
Barrett Esophagus ; Capsule Endoscopy* ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Esophageal Diseases ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Pathology

Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; diagnosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; pathology

Functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are common in the general population. Based on the Rome III classification, these disorders are mutually exclusive disorders keeping the homogeneity of each functional GI disorder in research area. In contrast, many population and clinical studies have reported a considerably high rate of overlap between functional GI disorders. The overlap of functional GI disorders over other intestinal diseases might simply occur by chance due to a highly prevalent disorder. Moreover, functional GI disorders is considered a chronic stable disorder that may wax and wane for several years. However, a recent study about the natural history of functional GI disorders showed substantial transition among functional GI disorders over time. The natural history of functional GI disorders with overlapping other functional GI disorders are still in infancy and better understanding of these will be important in determining the efficacy of future therapeutic interventions.
Dyspepsia/epidemiology/pathology ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/epidemiology/pathology ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/epidemiology/*pathology ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/epidemiology/pathology ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVETo compare the characteristics of esophageal gastric varices in portal hypertension patients with and without spontaneous shunts.

METHODSClinical data of 118 patients with esophageal gastric varices undergoing portal vein computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and gastroscopy between January 2012 and August 2015 was retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSPortal vein CTA results showed that spleno-renal or gastro-renal shunts were detected in 24 out of 118 cases. The average portal vein diameters (PVD) of patients with and without spontaneous shunt were (12.48±2.79) mm and (13.58±3.46) mm, respectively (P>0.05). The average area of gastric veins in patients with spontaneous shunt was significantly larger than that of patients without shunt [294.00 (0.00~2400.00) mm2 vs. 26.00 (0.00~1620.00) mm2, respectively, (P<0.001]. Compared with patients without spontaneous shunt, the location of esophageal varices was lower and the degree was less serious in patients with spontaneous shunt (P<0.05). No matter with history of uppergastrointestinal bleeding, the average area of gastric veins in patients with spontaneous shunt was significantly larger than that of patients without shunt (P<0.05). For patients having no history of splenectomy, the average portal vein diameter (PVD) in those with spontaneous shunt was significantly smaller than that in those without shunt (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe portal vein diameter of patients without splenectomy and with spontaneous shunts is shorter and their esophageal varices are less serious; the gastric veins are large and wriggly in patients with spontaneous shunts.

Angiography ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; physiopathology ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; physiopathology ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Spleen ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Portosystemic shunts, including surgical portosystemic shunts and transjugular intra-hepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), may have benefit over endoscopic therapy (ET) for treatment of variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension; however, whether there being a survival benefit among them remains unclear. This study was to compare the effect of three above-mentioned therapies on the short-term and long-term survival in patient with cirrhosis. METHODS: Using the terms "variceal hemorrhage or variceal bleeding or variceal re-bleeding" OR "esophageal and gastric varices" OR "portal hypertension" and "liver cirrhosis," the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Embase, and the references of identified trials were searched for human randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in any language with full texts or abstracts (last search June 2017). Risk ratio (RR) estimates with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using random effects model by Review Manager. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for the assessment of the risk of bias. RESULTS: Twenty-six publications comprising 28 RCTs were included in this analysis. These studies included a total of 2845 patients: 496 (4 RCTs) underwent either surgical portosystemic shunts or TIPS, 1244 (9 RCTs) underwent either surgical portosystemic shunts or ET, and 1105 (15 RCTs) underwent either TIPS or ET. There was no significant difference in overall mortality and 30-day or 6-week survival among three interventions. Compared with TIPS and ET, separately, surgical portosystemic shunts were both associated with a lower bleeding-related mortality (RR = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.01-0.32; P < 0.001; RR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.06-0.51, P < 0.005) and rate of variceal re-bleeding (RR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.10-0.51, P < 0.001; RR = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.04-0.24, P < 0.001), without a significant difference in the rate of postoperative hepatic encephalopathy (RR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.25-1.00, P = 0.14; RR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.59-2.01, P = 0.78). TIPS showed a trend toward lower variceal re-bleeding (RR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.36-0.58, P < 0.001), but a higher incidence of hepatic encephalopathy than ET (RR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.34-2.36, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The overall analysis revealed that there seem to be no short-term and long-term survival advantage, but surgical portosystemic shunts are with the lowest bleeding-related mortality among the three therapies. Surgical portosystemic shunts may be the most effective without an increased risk of hepatic encephalopathy and TIPS is superior to ET but at the cost of a higher incidence of hepatic encephalopathy. However, some of findings should be interpreted with caution due to the lower level of evidence and the existence of significant heterogeneity.
Confidence Intervals ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

The creation of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a widely performed technique to relieve portal hypertension, and to manage recurrent variceal bleeding and refractory ascites in patients where medical and/or endoscopic treatments have failed. However, portosystemic shunt creation can be challenging in the presence of chronic portal vein occlusion. In this case report, we describe a minimally invasive endovascular mesocaval shunt creation with transsplenic approach for the management of recurrent variceal bleeding in a portal hypertension patient with intra- and extrahepatic portal vein occlusion.
Adolescent ; Chronic Disease ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/complications ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/diagnostic imaging ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/therapy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/complications ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/diagnostic imaging ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/therapy ; Humans ; Jejunum/pathology ; Portacaval Shunt, Surgical ; Portal Vein/diagnostic imaging ; Portal Vein/pathology ; Portal Vein/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Venous Thrombosis/complications ; Venous Thrombosis/diagnostic imaging ; Venous Thrombosis/therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the technique, safety and clinical efficacy of transportal variceal sclerotherapy with n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for gastric fundal varices.

METHODSTwenty-one patients with gastric fundal varices confirmed by endoscopy were enrolled in this study. The causes of the gastric varices were cirrhosis caused by hepatitis virus B or C (n = 16) and hepatocellular carcinoma with portal venous obstruction (n = 5). Percutaneous transhepatic or transplenic portography were performed on all 21 patients. The gastric varices were treated with NBCA-lipiodol mixture injected via a microcatheter introduced into the varices. For 8 patients who had large gastrorenal shunts (GRS), a balloon-occluded catheter was introduced into the GRS via the right femoral and left renal veins before injecting the NBCA-lipiodol. During the NBCA-lipiodol injection, the balloon was inflated to block the flow of GRS. Follow-up evaluations included findings of the laboratory liver function tests, upper intestinal endoscopies, and the occurrences of rebleeding.

RESULTSIn 20 patients (95.2%), the gastric varices were successfully obliterated with 2-8 ml of NBCA-lipiodol. In one patient with a large GRS, sclerotherapy was not successfully performed because a balloon-occluded catheter was not available during the procedure. In five patients, small amounts of NBCA-lipiodol entered into the distal pulmonary artery branches. Two of them suffered from transient irritable coughs; no patient developed severe pulmonary embolism. Embolization of portal venous branches occurred in two patients, which were not treated specifically. In comparison with the findings before the treatments, the serum alanine aminotransferase levels decreased at both 3 and 6 months after treatments (P less than 0.05); serum albumin levels increased at 6 months (P less than 0.05); the prothrombin times decreased at 6 months (P less than 0.05); but no significant changes were seen in the serum bilirubin levels. Fifteen patients were followed-up endoscopically for 3 months after the treatment. Gastric varices were completely resolved in 10 patients (66.7%) and were markedly smaller in 4 patients (26.6%). Worsening of the esophageal varices occurred in 3 patients (20%). All the patients were followed-up from 1 to 30 months [(16.7+/-8.8) months]. Rebleeding was observed in 4 patients, and the cumulative rebleeding rate at 1 year was 9.52%.

CONCLUSIONTransportal variceal sclerotherapy with NBCA is a safe and effective method for treating gastric varices. Microcatheter technique and occlusion of the large gastrorenal shunt with a balloon-occluded catheter are necessary to ensure obliteration of gastric varices and prevent pulmonary embolism.

Adult ; Aged ; Catheterization ; Enbucrilate ; therapeutic use ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; therapy ; Female ; Gastric Fundus ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; Sclerotherapy ; methods

BACKGROUNDEsophageal variceal bleeding is a frequent and severe complication in patients with cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors of esophageal variceal rebleeding in cirrhotic inpatients.

METHODSConsecutive cirrhotic patients who were admitted to Changhai Hospital because of esophageal variceal bleeding were retrospectively analyzed. To assess the independent factors for recurrent hemorrhage after esophageal variceal bleeding, medical assessment was completed at the time of their initial hospital admission, including documentation of clinical, biochemical, and treatment methods that might contribute to variceal rebleeding. Univariate and multivariate analyses were retrospectively performed.

RESULTSTotally 186 patients (35.8%) were assigned to a rebleeding group and the other 334 patients (64.2%) to a non-rebleeding group. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that four variables were positively correlated with rebleeding: Child-pugh grade B (OR = 2.664, 95%CI 1.680 - 4.223) (compared with Child-pugh grade A), total bilirubin (Tbil) (OR = 1.0006, 95%CI 1.002 - 1.0107), creatinine (OR = 1.008, 95%CI 1.002 - 1.015) and the cumulative volume of blood transfusion (OR = 1.519, 95%CI 1.345 - 1.716). The presence of ascites (OR = 0.270, 95%CI 0.136 - 0.536) and prophylactic antibiotics (OR = 0.504, 95%CI 0.325 - 0.780) were negatively correlated with rebleeding of the cirrhotic inpatients. According to standardized coefficient, the importance of rebleeding predictors ranked from the most to the least was as follows: the cumulative volume of blood transfusion, Child-pugh grade B, Tbil and creatinine.

CONCLUSIONRebleeding in cirrhotic inpatients was associated with more blood transfusions, Child-pugh grade B, higher Tbil and creatinine.

Adult ; Aged ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; etiology ; pathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevention of esophageal varices recurrence by laser inducing esophageal mucosal fibrosis.

METHODSOur study included 42 patients after esophageal varices eradicated by endoscopic varices ligation, and they were divided into 2 groups randomly, each group included 21 patients. One group was assigned to received laser treatment, and indocyanine green solution (1 mg/ml) was injected submucosally, a diode laser (power 10 watts) was applied to the surface from the esophagogastric junction to 5 cm above it. Another group was controlling without any treatments. All patient were followed up by endoscopy every 3 months until 12 months.

RESULTSLaser irradiation was performed safely without any major complications. And lower esophageal mucosa produced fibrosis widely after laser irradiated 1 month. After 12 months follow up, the cumulative recurrence rate was significantly lower than the control group, 14% (3/21) vs 43% (9/21) (chi(2) = 4.20, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOur study indicates that laser inducing mucous fibrosis is safely and can prevent recurrence of esophageal varices.

Adult ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagoscopy ; Esophagus ; pathology ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laser Coagulation ; methods ; Ligation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; pathology ; Secondary Prevention

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was aimed to analyze the relationship between gastric varices and its collaterals using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and to assess the usefulness of MRA in studies of portosystemic circulation. METHODS: Eighty-one patients who had portal hypertension with gastric varices took MRA before the therapy for gastric varices. RESULTS: The types of collaterals observed by MRA were left gastric vein in 67 patients (83%), short gastric vein in 28 (35%), gastrorenal shunt in 25 (31%), and splenorenal shunt in 14 (17%). In most of patients with advanced gastric varices, the size of left gastric vein was larger than others. In most cases of large gastric varices, the short gastric vein ranged between 5 to 10 mm. Gastrorenal shunt was also correlated with the size of gastric varices. The types of more prominent esophageal varices showed a right type (left gastric vein predominance), but the types of more prominent gastric varices or only the gastric varices showed a left type (posterior or short gastric vein predominance) (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Gadolinium enhanced 3D-MRA can contribute to the study of the hemodynamic relationships between gastric vein and the collateral circulations by presenting more clear images for patients with portal hypertension.
Adult ; Aged ; *Collateral Circulation ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/complications/diagnosis/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal/complications/*pathology ; *Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach/*blood supply