Duodenal perforation following esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with cautery and epinephrine injection for peptic ulcer disease: An interesting case of nonoperative management in the medical intensive care unit (MICU)

Covered Self-expandable Metallic Stent Insertion as a Rescue Procedure for Postoperative Leakage after Primary Repair of Perforated Duodenal Ulcer

Surgery has been the standard treatment for perforated duodenal ulcers, with mostly good results. However, the resolution of postoperative leakage after primary repair of perforated duodenal ulcer remains challenging. There are several choices for re-operation required in persistent leakage from perforated duodenal ulcers. However, many of these choices are complicated surgical procedures requiring prolonged general anesthesia that may increase the chances of morbidity and mortality. Several recent reports have demonstrated postoperative leakage after primary repair of a perforated duodenal ulcer treated with endoscopic insertion using a covered self-expandable metallic stent, with good clinical results. We report a case with postoperative leakage after primary repair of a perforated duodenal ulcer treated using a covered self-expandable metallic stent.

Liquid biopsy in pancreatic cancer: the beginning of a new era

With dismal survival rate pancreatic cancer remains one of the most aggressive and devastating malignancy. Predominantly, due to the absence of a dependable methodology for early identification and limited therapeutic options for advanced disease. However, it takes over 17 years to develop pancreatic cancer from initiation of mutation to metastatic cancer; therefore, if diagnosed early; it may increase overall survival dramatically, thus, providing a window of opportunity for early detection. Recently, genomic expression analysis defined 4 subtypes of pancreatic cancer based on mutated genes. Hence, we need simple and standard, minimally invasive test that can monitor those altered genes or their associated pathways in time for the success of precision medicine, and liquid biopsy seems to be one answer to all these questions. Again, liquid biopsy has an ability to pair with genomic tests. Additionally, liquid biopsy based development of circulating tumor cells derived xenografts, 3D organoids system, real-time monitoring of genetic mutations by circulating tumor DNA and exosome as the targeted drug delivery vehicle holds lots of potential for the treatment and cure of pancreatic cancer. At present, diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is frantically done on the premise of CA19-9 and radiological features only, which doesn't give a picture of genetic mutations and epigenetic alteration involved. In this manner, the current diagnostic paradigm for pancreatic cancer diagnosis experiences low diagnostic accuracy. This review article discusses the current state of liquid biopsy in pancreatic cancer as diagnostic and therapeutic tools and future perspectives of research in the light of circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA and exosomes.