Complications of intrathoracic gastric ulcer associated with hiatus hernia. A description of five cases

Survival Following Gastro-Left Ventricular Fistula in a Patient Post Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

We report a case of a 55-year old woman with a prior roux-en-Y gastric bypass who survived after surgical repair of a gastro-left ventricular fistula.

Pleural effusions of extravascular origin

Most pleural effusions are caused by hydrostatic and oncotic pressure imbalance, inflammation or infection, or abnormalities in lymphatic drainage. A select number of effusions are caused by fluid of extravascular origin. Some of these effusions result from complications of treatment, whereas others are a ramification of the underlying disease. The incidence, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, chest radiographic manifestations, pleural fluid analysis, diagnosis, and management are discussed.

Gastroaortic fistula as an early complication of esophagectomy

Gastroaortic fistula following esophagogastrectomy is an uncommon and invariably fatal complication without urgent surgical intervention. We report 1 such case and review the world literature identifying 22 previous cases. It characteristically presents 2 to 3 weeks after esophagogastrectomy with an initial herald bleed, followed by a latent period with a mean duration of 10 hours (range: 30 minutes to 3 days) and final exsanguination. Only 1 patient in this series survived. Awareness is necessary to allow prompt diagnosis and treatment of this almost invariably lethal but curable condition.

Hiatal hernia with cameron ulcers and erosions

Cameron lesions are seen in 5.2% of patients with hiatal hernias who undergo EGD examinations. The prevalence of Cameron lesions seems to be dependent on the size of the hernia sac, with an increased prevalence the larger the hernia sac. In about two thirds of the cases, multiple Cameron lesions are noted rather than a solitary erosion or ulcer. Historically, Cameron lesions present clinically with chronic GI bleeding and associated iron deficiency anemia. With increased awareness of the existence of this lesion, however, it is now more frequently seen as an incidental finding during EGD. Cameron lesions can also present as acute upper GI bleeding, occasionally life-threatening, in up to one third of cases. Therefore, Cameron lesions should be considered in any patient in whom a hiatal hernia is noted during endoscopic examination. Concomitant acid-peptic diseases are seen in a majority of individuals, especially reflux esophagitis and its complications. Mechanical trauma, ischemia, and acid mucosal injury may play a role in the pathogenesis of Cameron lesions. The choice of therapy of Cameron lesions, medical or surgical, should be individualized for each patient. Of those patients who were treated with a spectrum of medical therapy and who have had long-term follow-up, about one third have had a recurrence of the lesion and 17% (8/48) have developed complications, most commonly either acute upper GI bleeding (6.3%) or persistent and recurrent iron deficiency anemia (8.3%).

Hiatal hernial ulcers: clinical features and follow-up

We describe the clinical features and therapeutic outcome in 49 patients in whom benign gastric ulceration of an hiatal hernia was demonstrated endoscopically. Hiatal hernia ulcers accounted for 10% of all benign gastric ulcers. The typical patient was an elderly female with a history of dyspepsia who was receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Twenty-seven (55%) patients had evidence of haemorrhage (acute in 15; chronic in 12) from the hiatal hernial ulcer at presentation. In 16 (33%) patients, symptoms attributable to haemorrhage constituted the sole clinical evidence of the hiatal hernial ulcer. Acute haemorrhage from hiatal hernial ulcers was associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment (P less than 0.05). Chronic blood loss from hiatal hernial ulcers was associated with female gender (P less than 0.005) but not with NSAID treatment. Hiatal hernial ulcers healed slowly in response to medical treatment with H2-receptor antagonists (median time to healing 12 weeks). Surgical treatment may be the therapy of choice for hiatal hernial ulcers because of the high complication rate, poor response to medical therapy, and the apparent predominance of mechanical aetiological factors.

Peptic ulceration affecting the left ventricle

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Hiatal hernia complicated by gastric ulceration and perforation

The incidence of gastric ulcer in hiatal hernia is highest in para-esophageal hernia and in chronic incarcerated hernia in older patients. Two patients with chronic incarcerated sliding hernias complicated by unrecognized gastric ulceration and perforation are described. One patient developed a subhepatic and mediastinal abscess; the other developed a gastropleural fistula. The incidence, clinical and roentgen findings, complications, and treatment of gastric ulcers in hiatal hernia are discussed.

The changing face of peptic ulcer in the elderly

The elderly patient presents a challenge to the physician both in recognition of peptic ulcer disease and in long term management. Only with close observation and an awareness of the higher complication rate can a successful therapeutic approach be developed.