Infant with bilious emesis

Clinical findings and imaging studies revealed an additional cause for concern.

Congenital left intrahepatic bile duct draining into gastric wall mimicking biliary reflux gastritis

Abnormalities and variations of the biliary ducts are not rare. Most aberrant bile ducts eventually drain into the descending part of duodenum through the papilla of vater. However, drainage of the left hepatic bile duct into the stomach is extremely rare. A 29-year old man was admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of biliary reflux gastritis. Comprehensive imaging modalities were performed including electronic endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography. Finally, congenital ectopic left intrahepatic bile duct draining into the stomach was found, which caused biliary reflux gastritis. The patient did not receive any surgery. Good recovery was achieved by medical treatment.

[Biliary reflux in a reflux disorder of the oesophagus]

This study assesses complications of a combined duodenogastric reflux disorder of the oesophagus. It has been proved that a degree of morphological affections of the mucosa is higher with an alcalic biliary reflux and can be assessed histologicaly. Primarily, the biliary portion of the reflux was assessed. Qualitative reflux parametres were assessed using a spectrophotometric examination. The examination can replace an expensive (and, therefore, generally unavailable) Bilitec 2000 system. In 21 subjects out of the total of 64 oesophageal reflux patients examined in the 2000-2003 period, complications of the disorder were confirmed. The biliary reflux was expected in 9 patients, however, using the spectrophotometry, it was confirmed in 3 patients. In this patient group, a more severe deterioration of the oseophageal mucosa by the alcalic reflux was confirmed, resulting in higher incidences of the disorder complications. The complications included strictures of the oesophagus, developement of a Barret's oesophagus and an adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. Therefore, in order to prevent complications in this patient group, surgical management is preferred to conservative therapy.

[Chronic gastritis. Pathogenesis, clinical aspects and therapy]

Based on clinical and histopathological features, three different types of chronic gastritis can be distinguished: gastritis A is confined to the proximal stomach and is the result of an autoimmunological process with antibodies against parietal cells and intrinsic factor. It is a rare disorder and may lead to pernicious anaemia. Distal, antral gastritis B is caused by an infection of the gastric mucosa with Helicobacter pylori (HP). Its incidence increases with age (greater than 50% above age 50). Gastritis C may be caused by drugs and alcohol but is mainly found in gastric remnants after partial resection as a consequence of biliary reflux. Gastritis A rarely causes symptoms. A relationship between gastritis B and C and non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) is highly controversial. Gastritis B is very closely associated with peptic ulcer disease. HP-positive antral gastritis seems to be the prerequisite for ulcer formation. All 3 types of gastritis carry an increased risk of malignancy, which seems to be positively correlated with hypoacidity, the chronicity of the inflammation and the histopathological feature of intestinal metaplasia. Noninvasive diagnostic tests (serology, breath tests, scintigraphy) are available, but the diagnosis of gastritis is still mainly based on endoscopy and biopsy. Treatment of gastritis A is not possible. Gastritis B can be healed by eradication of HP using bismuth salts and antibiotics but only combinations of 2-3 compounds seem to afford long-term positive results. Further clinical trials are needed to determine whether such treatment is justified in patients with gastritis and NUD. In patients with chronic recurrent peptic ulcers eradication of HP prevents relapses and heals ulcer disease. Gastritis C complicated by severe symptoms or ulcer can only be successfully treated by a biliary diversion, i.e. Roux-Y-gastrojejunostomy. The discovery that gastritis B is caused by HP improves our understanding of peptic ulcer disease and will change therapeutic concepts.

[Diagnosis and treatment of postresection reflux gastritis]

An analysis of 78 patients with postresection reflux-gastritis after resection of the stomach for ulcer disease of the stomach and duodenum is presented. Of special significance for diagnosis is fiber gastroscopy with aimed biopsy. The conservative treatment was used in 74 patients, little effect was obtained in 19 of them. Four patients were operated on with V-shaped anastomosis after Roux. Results of the operations were good.

Alkaline reflux gastritis and esophagitis

Alkaline reflux (bile) gastritis and esophagitis result from mucosal injury by duodenal contents. Bile gastritis occurs after gastric surgery, cholecystectomy, ampullary sphincteroplasty, and, rarely, in nonoperated patients. Diagnostic features include chronic, continuous epigastric pain, exacerbated by eating, bilious vomiting, weight loss, iron deficiency anemia, achlorhydria, gastritis, and intragastric bile. The pathophysiology probably relates to excess enterogastric reflux and bile-induced mucosal damage. There is no perfect diagnostic test, but chemical and scintigraphic documentation of enterogastric reflux, as well as provocative testing with alkali solutions, are promising new techniques. Medical therapy with antacids, H2 antagonists, bile salt absorbants, and metoclopramide has been without significant benefit. Prostaglandins and sucralfate are now being evaluated. Surgical therapy that diverts duodenal contents away from the stomach is usually of benefit in appropriately selected patients. Alkaline reflux esophagitis shares many features with alkaline gastritis.