Gastrointestinal leaks and fistulae are grave conditions associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Expandable stents have shown significant success in the management of leaks and fistulae, providing an efficacious minimally invasive approach in patients who are frequently poor surgical candidates. Most reports, however, are limited by their small size or the pooling of different stents, techniques and locations of leaks and fistulae. Despite the numerous alterations in stent design, migration remains the pivotal drawback of this technique. In this article, we review the current status of expandable stents in the management of gastrointestinal leaks and fistulae, available anti-migration techniques and evolving innovations in stent design.
Anastomotic Leak ; Esophageal Fistula ; Fistula* ; Gastric Fistula ; Humans ; Mortality ; Stents*

Malignant cologastric fistulas are relatively rare. The fistulas probably result from the contiguous growth of a tumor or tumors as they permeate and penetrate all layers of the adjacent viscus and because of the behavior characteristics of mucinoid tumor types under going avascular necrosis aided by digestion of gastric juices. An almost constant finding in cases of cologastric fistulas originating from the colon cancer is that the tumors are bulky, infiltrating, and associated with a marked inflammatory reaction. Formation of the fistulous communications depend on the anatomic locations of the primary tumor. We experienced three cases of malignant cologastric fistulas recently, and we report these three cases.
Colonic Neoplasms ; Digestion ; Fistula* ; Gastric Juice ; Necrosis

Benign gastrobronchial fistula (GBF) after Ivor Lewis operation is a very rare and serious complication. We describe a patient with GBF who was successfully managed on the single-stage repair, 15 months after the Ivor Lewis operation. After the division of the GBF, the bronchial and gastric defects were closed directly. The omental flap and the pedicled 5th. intercostal muscle flap were interposed between the closed defects. The literature of this subject is reviewed and discussed.
Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophagectomy* ; Fistula* ; Gastric Fistula ; Humans ; Intercostal Muscles

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Performing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients who have undergone Rouxen-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is challenging. Standard ERCP and enteroscopy-assisted ERCP are associated with limited success rates. Laparoscopy- or laparotomy-assisted ERCP yields improved efficacy rates, but with higher complication rates and costs. We present the first multicenter experience regarding the efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE) or EUS. METHODS: All patients who underwent EDGE at two academic centers were included. Clinical success was defined as successful ERCP and/or EUS through the use of lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS). Adverse events related to EDGE were separated from ERCP- or EUS-related complications and were defined as bleeding, stent migration, perforation, and infection. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were included in the study. Technical success was 100%. Clinical success was 90% (n=10); five patients were awaiting maturation of the fistula tract prior to ERCP or EUS, and one patient had an aborted ERCP due to perforation. One perforation occurred, which was managed endoscopically. Three patients experienced stent dislodgement; all stents were successfully repositioned or bridged with a second stent. Ten patients (62.5%) had their LAMS removed. The average weight change from LAMS insertion to removal was negative 2.85 kg. CONCLUSIONS: EDGE is an effective, minimally invasive, single-team solution to the difficulties associated with ERCP in patients with RYGB.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Fistula ; Gastric Bypass ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Stents ; Ultrasonography*

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is a rare type of chronic inflammation of the gallbladder characterized by focal or diffuse destructive inflammatory responses. Although it is a benign condition, its destructive course may lead to more aggressive outcomes of the gallbladder, such as local infiltration, fistula, stricture, and perforation as compared with other gallbladder inflammations. There are reports about XGC accompanied by cholecystoenteric fistula. However, XGC accompanied by more than one cholecystoenteric fistula is rare. We report a case of a 54-year-old man with gastric outlet obstruction arising from XGC, accompanied by cholecystoduodenal fisula and cholecystocolonic fistula, but without impacted gallstones.
Cholecystitis* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Fistula* ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intestinal Fistula ; Middle Aged

Gastrointestinal (GI) fistulas are frequently very serious complications that are associated with high morbidity and mortality. GI fistulas can cause a wide array of pathophysiological effects by allowing abnormal diversion of the GI contents, including digestive fluid, water, electrolytes, and nutrients, from either one intestine to another or from the intestine to the skin. As an alternative to surgery, recent technical advances in interventional radiology and percutaneous techniques have been shown as advantageous to lower the morbidity and mortality rate, and allow for superior accessibility to the fistulous tracts via the use of fistulography. In addition, new interventional management techniques continue to emerge. We describe the clinical and imaging features of GI fistulas and outline the interventional management of GI fistulas.
Drainage ; Gastric Fistula/diagnosis/radiography/*therapy ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/diagnosis/radiography/*therapy ; Punctures ; *Radiography, Interventional

BACKGROUND

Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) results from intrinsic and extrinsic obstruction of the pyloric channel or the duodenum. Here we present a rare case of GOO attributed to dense adhesions between the gallbladder and duodenum secondary to chronic cholecystitis with choledococystoduodenal fistula formation. Previous reports identified elderly females with comorbidities as a predisposing factor; however, our patient was an immunocompetent adult male.

A 43-year-old male with no comorbidities consulted for recurrent epigastric pain, vomiting and weight loss. On contrast enhanced abdominal CT scan, a lamellated cholelithiasis with pneumobilia and an irregular thickening at the proximal duodenum with subsequent GOO was identified. A choledococystoduodenal fistula was considered. Exploratory laparotomy revealed extensive fibrosis and cholecystitis with dense adhesions to surrounding structures. Dissection revealed a gallstone impacted in and adherent to the wall of the gallbladder and a fistula opening into the duodenum. However, there was no definite evidence of impacted gallstone in the duodenum. The dense adhesions secondary to chronic cholecystitis caused duodenal narrowing and subsequent GOO. He eventually underwent antrectomy, pancreatic sparing, total duodenectomy, cholecystectomy, with loop gastrojejunostomy, cholecystojejunostomy and pancreaticojejunostomy. Biopsy specimens taken were negative for malignancy. He was discharged subsequently. However, he was readmitted after five months due to acute abdomen secondary to small bowel rupture, likely from a marginal ulcer.

This case highlights that preoperative and intraoperative differential diagnosis of GOO is a challenge. Chronic calculous cholecystitis through severe inflammation can present as a rare cause of GOO. Optimal treasaFtment plan should take into consideration the underlying etiology of the GOO.

Foreign body ingestions pose a significant health risk in children. Neodymium magnets are high-powered, rare-earth magnets that is a serious issue in the pediatric population due to their strong magnetic force and high rate of complications. When multiple magnets are ingested, there is potential for morbidity and mortality, including gastrointestinal fistula formation, obstruction, bleeding, perforation, and death. Many cases require surgical intervention for removal of the magnets and management of subsequent complications. However, we report a case of multiple magnet ingestion in a 19-month-old child complicated by gastroduodenal fistula that was successfully treated by endoscopic removal and supportive care avoiding the need for surgical intervention. At two-week follow-up, the child was asymptomatic and upper gastrointestinal series obtained six months later demonstrated resolution of the fistula.
Child ; Eating ; Endoscopy ; Fistula* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foreign Bodies ; Gastric Fistula ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestinal Fistula ; Mortality ; Neodymium*

Gastric peptic ulcer operation is designed to reduce gastric secretion, of gastric acid and pepsin enough to control the peptic ulcer diathesis and also to have least complications after operation which are related to alterations of gastric motility and emptying rate. The author studied the physiologic effects of proximal gastric vagotomy with pyloroplasty on the gastric secretion, gastric acid, gastric pepsin, gastric motility and gastric emptying rate by means of the ballon-physiographic method through gastric fistula. In this exprimental studies, 2 kinds of animal i.e. dogs and cats were used. 15 dogs were used which were divided into 5 groups i.e. gastrostomy for control, proximal gastric vagotomy, truncal vagotomy only and truncal vagotomy with gastric pyloroplasty. Cats were used 25 ones which were divided into 3 groups i.e. gastrostomy for control, proximal gastric vagotomy and truncal vagotomy and following results and conclusion were obtained. 1. Important role on the gastric secretion, gastric acid, gastric pepsin, gastric motility, gastric emptying and the relationship between the intragastric pressure and volume.2. Both proximal gastric vagotomy and subtotal gastrectomy(Billroth II) made a marked reduction on the gastric secretion, gastric acid and gastric pepsin than that of control group but were similar to control group on the gastric motility and gastric emptying rate. 3. Truncal vagotomy alone caused marked reduction on gastric secretion, gastric acid and gastric pepsin and showed remarkable slowness on gastric motility and gastric emptying rate. 4. The wave of contraction and motility index in duodenum were more higher than that gastric body and antrum and antral contraction is higher than that of gastric body in control groups. 5. Pacesetter potential is formed by intrinsic myogenic phenomena and is related to motor activity and gastric emptying. 6. Truncal vagotomy with pyloroplasty hastened the gastric emptying rate of liquid meals and rate of emptying of solid meals was slightly faster than that of control groups. 7. Emptying of liquid meal is controlled by intragastric transmural pressure and emptying of solid meal is controlled by antral contraction. 8. The vagus distributed on the stomach was divided into cholinergic excitory fibers and noncholinergic or nonadrenergic inhibitory fibers. As gastric vagal inhibitory fibers were cut when vagotomy was done, pyloroplasty was must be done.
Animals ; Cats ; Disease Susceptibility ; Dogs ; Duodenum ; Gastric Acid ; Gastric Emptying ; Gastric Fistula ; Gastrostomy ; Meals ; Motor Activity ; Pepsin A ; Peptic Ulcer* ; Stomach ; Vagotomy ; Vagotomy, Proximal Gastric ; Vagotomy, Truncal

Gastrogastric fistula is an extremely rare complication of benign gastric ulcer. We report a case of gastrogastric fistula in a 67-year-old male who presented with symptoms of dyspnea on exertion, pretibial pitting edema, and dyspepsia. He suffered from a peptic ulcer 9 years ago and from a gastric outlet obstruction 5 years ago. A gastrogastric fistula was observed by endoscopy, and the biopsy forceps were passed through the fistulous tract. The patient was treated with proton pump inhibitors, and H. pylori was eradicated. Gastrogastric fistula, unlike other types of gastric fistulas, can be cured using non-surgical therapy as long as complications such as peritonitis, gastric outlet obstruction, and bleeding do not occur.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Dyspepsia ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Endoscopy ; Fistula* ; Gastric Fistula ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Peptic Ulcer ; Peritonitis ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; Stomach Ulcer* ; Surgical Instruments