1.Flexible endoscopic management of foreign body ingestion in children: A ten-year single-center retrospective study in the Philippines.
Jeremiah C. Torrico ; Germana Emerita V. Gregorio
Acta Medica Philippina 2026;60(1):45-56
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a common pediatric concern in the Philippines, but local studies on flexible endoscopic management are lacking. This study aimed to describe the clinical profile and outcomes of children referred for flexible endoscopic management and identify factors associated with poor outcomes.
METHODSThis retrospective cohort study included 145 patients aged
RESULTSMost FB ingestions (96.55%) were accidental, with coins as the most common FB (56.55%). Patients were admitted an average of 40.42 hours post-ingestion and referred for endoscopy within 9.28 hours. Flexible endoscopy was performed in 44.83% of cases, with a 98.46% success rate and an average procedure time of 32.25 minutes. Spontaneous passage occurred in 50.34% of cases. Poor outcomes were linked to age 48 hours; OR: 15.43, p = 0.0181), and prolonged procedures (>30 minutes; OR: 12, p = 0.0318). Good outcomes were associated with unremarkable physical exams (OR: 0.078; p = 0.0018), early admission (CONCLUSION
Flexible endoscopy is effective and safe for FB extraction in children. Early admission and timely intervention significantly improve outcomes, while delays and prolonged procedures increase the risk of complications.
Human ; Adolescent: 13-18 Yrs Old ; Child: 6-12 Yrs Old ; Foreign Bodies ; Endoscopy ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Eating ; Methods ; Numismatics ; Patients ; Philippines ; Physical Examination ; Time
2.Ruptured community-acquired methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) hepatic abscess in an immunocompetent child treated successfully with culture-guided antibiotic therapy: A case report.
Jeremiah C. Torrico TORRICO ; Paul Sherwin O. TARNATE
Acta Medica Philippina 2026;60(9):133-138
Methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is an uncommon etiologic agent of hepatic abscess in children, particularly those without an underlying immunocompromised condition.
We describe a rare case of community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) hepatic abscess with rupture into the anterior abdominal wall in an otherwise healthy 3-year-old Filipino male, manifesting as a one-week history of an enlarging epigastric mass accompanied by abdominal pain and fever. He was treated noninvasively with ciprofloxacin (intravenous at 10 mg/kg every 12 hours for 14 days followed by oral at 15 mg/kg every 12 hours for 28 days), and clindamycin (intravenous at 10 mg/kg every 6 hours for 14 days followed by oral at 10 mg/kg every 6 hours for 28 days), resulting in the resolution of the hepatic abscess and its associated symptoms.
CA-MRSA hepatic abscess is extremely rare in immunocompetent children, and an appropriate diagnostic approach involving imaging and culture studies is crucial in its diagnosis and management.
Human ; Child Preschool: 2-5 Yrs Old ; Therapeutics ; Staphylococcus Aureus ; Staphylococcus ; Residence Characteristics ; Research Report ; Dihydrotachysterol
3.Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis presenting as melena in an adolescent Filipino male: A case report and literature review
Jeremiah C. Torrico ; Germana Emerita V. Gregorio
Acta Medica Philippina 2025;59(5):92-98
Schistosomiasis, a snail-borne disease caused by infection with a trematode parasite of the genus Schistosoma, is one of the most neglected tropical diseases in the world. One of its rare complications is hepatosplenic schistosomiasis which ultimately leads to fibrosis and presinusoidal portal hypertension.
We report a case of a 13-year-old Filipino male from Quezon City with previous one year residence in the endemic island of Leyte, presenting with melena. Diagnostic work-up revealed hepatosplenomegaly and periportal fibrosis with multiple hepatic nodules on ultrasound, positive Schistosoma japonicum eggs on Kato-Katz stool examination technique, and findings of esophageal varices on upper endoscopy. The patient was managed with praziquantel, propranolol, and endoscopic rubber band ligation of the esophageal varices, with note of resolution of bleeding, and improvement on sonographic liver findings.
The degree of liver fibrosis from schistosomiasis is affected by poorly understood mechanisms which affect its severity, progression, and complications, regardless of biosocial factors including egg burden and duration of parasite exposure. This is the first case report on a Filipino adolescent to document significant interval improvement, within four weeks of treatment, of the characteristic fibrotic pattern in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis is still often missed out as the diagnosis in patients who consult with common symptoms, and high index of suspicion is recommended for those with history of residence in endemic areas. Likewise, treatment focusing on parasite eradication can aid in promptly addressing the resulting fibrosis and its complications.
Human ; Male ; Adolescent: 13-18 Yrs Old ; Fibrosis ; Hypertension, Portal
4.Flexible endoscopic management of foreign body ingestion in children: A ten-year single-center retrospective study in the Philippines
Jeremiah C. Torrico ; Germana Emerita V. Gregorio
Acta Medica Philippina 2025;59(Early Access 2025):1-12
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a common pediatric concern in the Philippines, but local studies on flexible endoscopic management are lacking. This study aimed to describe the clinical profile and outcomes of children referred for flexible endoscopic management and identify factors associated with poor outcomes.
METHODSThis retrospective cohort study included 145 patients agedRESULTS
Most FB ingestions (96.55%) were accidental, with coins as the most common FB (56.55%). Patients were admitted an average of 40.42 hours post-ingestion and referred for endoscopy within 9.28 hours. Flexible endoscopy was performed in 44.83% of cases, with a 98.46% success rate and an average procedure time of 32.25 minutes. Spontaneous passage occurred in 50.34% of cases. Poor outcomes were linked to age 48 hours; OR: 15.43, p = 0.0181), and prolonged procedures (>30 minutes; OR: 12, p = 0.0318). Good outcomes were associated with unremarkable physical exams (OR: 0.078; p = 0.0018), early admission (CONCLUSION
Flexible endoscopy is effective and safe for FB extraction in children. Early admission and timely intervention significantly improve outcomes, while delays and prolonged procedures increase the risk of complications.
Human ; Adolescent: 13-18 Yrs Old ; Child: 6-12 Yrs Old ; Foreign Bodies ; Endoscopy ; Child ; Retrospective Studies
5.Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis presenting as melena in an adolescent Filipino male: A case report and literature review
Jeremiah C. Torrico ; Germana Emerita V. Gregorio
Acta Medica Philippina 2024;58(Early Access 2024):1-7
:
Schistosomiasis, a snail-borne disease caused by infection with a trematode parasite of the genus Schistosoma, is one of the most neglected tropical diseases in the world. One of its rare complications is hepatosplenic schistosomiasis which ultimately leads to fibrosis and presinusoidal portal hypertension.
:
We report a case of a 13-year-old Filipino male from Quezon City with previous one year residence in the endemic island of Leyte, presenting with melena. Diagnostic work-up revealed hepatosplenomegaly and periportal fibrosis with multiple hepatic nodules on ultrasound, positive Schistosoma japonicum eggs on Kato-Katz stool examination technique, and findings of esophageal varices on upper endoscopy. The patient was managed with praziquantel, propranolol, and endoscopic rubber band ligation of the esophageal varices, with note of resolution of bleeding, and improvement on sonographic liver findings.
The degree of liver fibrosis from schistosomiasis is affected by poorly understood mechanisms which affect its severity, progression, and complications, regardless of biosocial factors including egg burden and duration of parasite exposure. This is the first case report on a Filipino adolescent to document significant interval improvement, within four weeks of treatment, of the characteristic fibrotic pattern in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis is still often missed out as the diagnosis in patients who consult with common symptoms, and high index of suspicion is recommended for those with history of residence in endemic areas. Likewise, treatment focusing on parasite eradication can aid in promptly addressing the resulting fibrosis and its complications.
fibrosis
;
hypertension, portal


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