[Diagnosis and treatment of duodenal injury and fistula]

Duodenal injury is a serious abdominal organ injury. Duodenal fistula is one of the most serious complications in gastrointestinal surgery, which is concerned for its critical status, difficulty in treatment and high mortality. Thoracic and abdominal compound closed injury and a small part of open injury are common causes of duodenal injury. Iatrogenic or traumatic injury, malnutrition, cancer, tuberculosis, Crohn's disease etc. are common causes of duodenal fistula, however, there has been still lacking of ideal diagnosis and treatment by now. The primary treatment strategy of duodenal fistula is to determine the cause of disease and its key point is prevention, including perioperative parenteral and enteral nutrition support, improvement of hypoproteinemia actively, avoidance of stump ischemia by excessive separate duodenum intraoperatively, performance of appropriate duodenum stump suture to ensure the stump blood supply, and avoidance of postoperative input loop obstruction, postoperative stump bleeding or hematoma etc. Once duodenal fistula occurs, a simple and reasonable operation can be selected and performed after fluid prohibition, parenteral and enteral nutrition, acid suppression, enzyme inhibition, anti-infective treatment and maintaining water salt electrolyte and acid-base balance. Double tube method, duodenal decompression and peritoneal drainage can reduce duodenal fistula-related complications, and then reduce the mortality, which can save the lives of patients.

[Treatment and prevention of erosive and ulcerative lesions in the stomach and duodenum caused by intake of non-steroidalanti-inflammatory drugs]

Therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is a diffcult task. Good anti-inflammatory effect increases the risk of gastrointestinal complications with a frequency of 10-50%. The risk further increases with age (above 60-70 yr), the history of ulcer disease concomitant intake of acetylsalicylic acid, anticoagulants, and glucocorticosteroids. Long-term antisecretory therapy with proton pump inhibitors, e.g., esomeprazole, was shown to be an effective prophylactic tool. This drug maintains the intragastric pH value above 4 for 15 hr on the average. The risk of erosive and ulceraive lesions in the stomach and duodenum significantly decreases by selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, e.g., coxibs, that however increase the risk of thrombotic cardiovascular complications. The author proposes recommendations on the use of NSAIDs in the patients at risk of serious gastrointestinal and cardiovascular pathology. Naproxen in combination with proton pitmp inhibitors is the drug of choice among NSAIDs. Vimovo is a fixed combination of naproxen and esomeprazole. Results of comparative studies on the efficacy of vimovo and celecoxib are presented along with the data on the safety of this. combination compared with that of naproxen monotherapy

[State of duodenal patency in patients with postgastrectomy syndromes]

It was analyzed the examination and treatment results of 100 patients who underwent resection of stomach by Billroth-I in case of peptic ulcer. Chronic disorders of duodenal patency were diagnosed in 86% of patients. The main role of chronic disorders of duodenal patency in postgastrectomy syndromes development was proved. There were a combination of reflux gastritis with dumping syndrome in 66.3% of patients, a combination of reflux gastritis with recurrent ulcer in 8.1% of patients. Correction of chronic disorders of duodenal patency is necessary stage in conservative and surgical treatment of postgastrectomy syndromes.

Eviendep® reduces number and size of duodenal polyps in familial adenomatous polyposis patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis

AIM: To evaluate if 3 mo oral supplementation with Eviendep^® was able to reduce the number of duodenal polyps in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA).

METHODS: Eleven FAP patients with IPAA and duodenal polyps were enrolled. They underwent upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy at the baseline and after 3 mo of treatment. Each patient received 5 mg Eviendep twice a day, at breakfast and dinner time, for 3 mo. Two endoscopists evaluated in a blinded manner the number and size of duodenal polyps. Upper GI endoscopies with biopsies were performed at the baseline (T0) with the assessment of the Spigelman score. Polyps > 10 mm were removed during endoscopy and at the end of the procedure a new Spigelman score was determined (T1). The procedure was repeated 3 mo after the baseline (T2). Four photograms were examined for each patient, at T1 and T2. The examined area was divided into 3 segments: duodenal bulb, second and third portion duodenum. Biopsy specimens were taken from all polyps > 10 mm and from all suspicious ones, defined by the presence of a central depression, irregular surface, or irregular vascular pattern. Histology was classified according to the updated Vienna criteria.

RESULTS: At baseline the mean number of duodenal detected polyps was 27.7 and mean sizes were 15.8 mm; the mean Spigelman score was 7.1. After polypectomy the mean number of duodenal detected polyps was 25.7 and mean sizes were 7.6 mm; the mean Spigelman score was 6.4. After 3 mo of Eviendep bid, all patients showed a reduction of number and size of duodenal polyps. The mean number of duodenal polyps was 8 (P = 0.021) and mean size was 4.4 mm; the mean Spigelman score was 6.6. Interrater agreement was measured. Lesions > 1 cm found a very good degree of concordance (kappa 0.851) and a good concordance was as well encountered for smaller lesions (kappa 0.641).

CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that short-term (90 d) supplementation with Eviendep^® in FAP patients with IPAA and with recurrent adenomas in the duodenal mucosa, resulted effective in reducing polyps number of 32% and size of 51%.

A technique to prevent duodenal blowout after difficult gastrectomies

A simple technique of decompressing the duodenum following difficult gastrectomies is described which can be applied across the country to reduce the incidence of this serious complication. The procedure has been used in 120 patients with no instance of duodenal blowout.

[To the problem of evaluation of public health: screening for gastroduodenal pathology on the example of atrophic gastritis in mass medical examination of the population]

Assessment of health status of the population - the most important issue in preventive medicine. The objective of this work - to determine the possibility of nonendoscopic screening for gastroduodenal pathology, by the example of atrophic gastritis, in mass medical examinations of working residents in Moscow. Minimally invasive diagnostic test system GastroPanel ("Biohit", Finland) has been used. It allows with the ELISA method to determine both serum indicators of the function of the stomach -pepsinogen 1, gastrin 17 and the presence of H. pylori infection. 758 persons have been examined. The performed study confirms the possibility with the use of a set of mentioned indicators to identify individuals suspected for the presence of gastroduodenal disorders, especially atrophic gastritis, recognized as a precancerous condition. The use in preventive medicine complex diagnostic system, firstly, will make assessment of the health of the population more correct, increase the effectiveness of preventive measures and quality of life, and secondly, will contribute to the diagnosis of diseases of the stomach and duodenum in the early stages.

Gender-specific protection of estrogen against gastric acid-induced duodenal injury: stimulation of duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion

Because human duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion (DMBS) protects duodenum against acid-peptic injury, we hypothesize that estrogen stimulates DMBS, thereby attributing to the clinically observed lower incidence of duodenal ulcer in premenopausal women than the age-matched men. We found that basal and acid-stimulated DMBS responses were 1.5 and 2.4-fold higher in female than male mice in vivo, respectively. Acid-stimulated DMBS in both genders was abolished by ICI 182,780 and tamoxifen. Estradiol-17beta (E2) and the selective estrogen receptor (ER) agonists of ERalpha [1,3,5-Tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-propyl-1H-pyrazole] and ERbeta [2,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionitrile], but not progesterone, rapidly stimulated ER-dependent murine DMBS in vivo. E2 dose dependently stimulated murine DMBS, which was attenuated by a Cl(-)/HCO3(-) anion exchanger inhibitor 4,4'-didsothio- cyanostilbene-2, 2'-disulfonic acid, removal of extracellular Cl(-), and in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator knockout female mice. E2 stimulated murine DMBS in vitro in both genders with significantly greater response in female than male mice (female to male ratio = 4.3). ERalpha and ERbeta mRNAs and proteins were detected in murine duodenal epithelium of both genders; however, neither ERalpha nor ERbeta mRNA and protein expression levels differed according to gender. E2 rapidly mobilized intracellular calcium in a duodenal epithelial SCBN cell line that expresses ERalpha and ERbeta, whereas BAPTA-AM abolished E2-stimulated murine DMBS. Thus, our data show that E2 stimulates DMBS via ER dependent mechanisms linked to intracellular calcium, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, and Cl(-)/HCO3(-) anion exchanger. Gender-associated differences in basal, acid- and E2-stimulated DMBS may have offered a reasonable explanation for the clinically observed lower incidence of duodenal ulcer in premenopausal women than age-matched men.

Increased number of CCR4-positive cells in the duodenum of ovalbumin-induced food allergy model Nc/jic mice and antiallergic activity of fructooligosaccharides

BACKGROUND

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) in prebiotic foods can alter intestinal immune responses. The combination of probiotics with oligosaccharides has been reported to alter intestinal flora and suggested to be beneficial against food allergy in humans.

METHODS

All male Nc/jic mice used in this 8-week study were 6 weeks of age and were allotted to the following three groups: (1) the nonsensitization group; (2) the ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization +5% fructose-containing control food administration group; and (3) the OVA sensitization +5% FOS-containing food administration group. Duodenal tissues were collected and then immunohistochemically stained with monoclonal antibodies to CCR4 and CCR5. The number of mast cells and the villus edema formation rate in the duodenum were determined by image analysis.

RESULTS

The number of CCR4-positive cells increased significantly in Group 2 as compared with Group 1 and tended to decrease in Group 3 as compared with Group 2. Relatively few CCR5-positive cells were observed in the duodenum. FOS tended to reduce the number of CCR4-positive cells but significantly reduced the number of mast cells and the edema formation rate in the duodenum.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated a correlation between the number of CCR4-positive cells and villus edema formation rate. Therefore, FOS, which we inferred to show antiallergic activity for food allergy in this study and which has already been established to be safe for use as food in humans, can be considered to be potentially useful for the prevention of food allergy in pediatric patients with allergy.

A ten-year retrospective review: does pyloric exclusion improve clinical outcome after penetrating duodenal and combined pancreaticoduodenal injuries?

OBJECTIVES

We sought to determine whether the performance of pyloric exclusion during repair of penetrating advanced duodenal injuries prevents postoperative duodenal fistulas and improves clinical outcome.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of patients from 1995 to 2004 with penetrating duodenal injuries >or=grade II and all combined pancreaticoduodenal injuries was performed. Patients managed either without or with pyloric exclusion were compared on the basis of age, sex, mechanism, injury grade, Injury Severity Score (ISS), hemodynamic stability, the presence of vascular injury or associated injuries, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and mortality.

RESULTS

Fifteen of 29 patients were managed without pyloric exclusion and 14 with exclusion. Both groups were similar with respect to age, sex, mechanism, injury grade, ISS, hemodynamic stability, the presence of vascular injury, associated abdominal injuries, and mortality rates. A trend toward a higher overall complication rate (71% vs. 33%), pancreatic fistula rate (40% vs. 0%), and length of hospital stay (24.3 days vs. 13.5 days) was evident in the pyloric exclusion group. No duodenal fistula was detected in either patient group.

CONCLUSION

In our study population, the performance of pyloric exclusion for penetrating advanced duodenal injury and combined pancreatic and duodenal injuries did not improve clinical outcome. The trend toward a greater overall complication rate, pancreatic fistula rate, and increased length of hospital stay in the pyloric exclusion group suggests that simple repair without pyloric exclusion is both adequate and safe for most penetrating duodenal injuries.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy in the presence of superior mesenteric venous obstruction

The study goal was to determine the technical feasibility and outcomes associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy for periampullary malignancies with near (>80%) or complete (100%) superior mesenteric venous (SMV) obstruction. A retrospective examination of 11 patients with high-grade or complete SMV obstruction who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at five academic medical centers is reviewed. Pancreaticoduodenectomy for locally advanced periampullary malignancies causing high-grade or complete SMV obstruction is technically feasible. Operative approaches and outcomes are presented. One 30-day death was observed. Median survival of the cohort is 18 months. Survivals exceeding 2 years post-resection have been observed. In a number of cases, significant palliation of pain and of biliary and duodenal obstruction were achieved. Based on this initial series, pancreaticoduodenectomy in the presence of near or total SMV obstruction is feasible, may result in an R0 resection, and may be beneficial in select patients with a periampullary malignancy. We suggest such an approach be considered particularly following completion of neoadjuvant therapy without systemic progression. Further studies and more long-term follow-up at high-volume centers are required, however, to better determine the indications and potential benefit of such an undertaking.

Duodenal adenomatosis in familial adenomatous polyposis

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of duodenal carcinoma is much higher in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) than in the background population, and duodenal adenomatosis is found in most polyposis patients.

AIMS

To describe the long term natural history of duodenal adenomatosis in FAP and evaluate if cancer prophylactic surveillance of the duodenum is indicated.

METHODS

A prospective five nation study was carried out in the Nordic countries and the Netherlands.

PATIENTS

A total of 368 patients were examined by gastroduodenoscopy at two year intervals during the period 1990-2001.

RESULTS

At the first endoscopy, 238 (65%) patients had duodenal adenomas at a median age of 38 years. Median follow up was 7.6 years. The cumulative incidence of adenomatosis at age 70 years was 90% (95% confidence interval (CI) 79-100%), and of Spigelman stage IV 52% (95% CI 28-76%). The probability of an advanced Spigelman score increased during the study period (p<0.0001) due to an increasing number and size of adenomas. Two patients had asymptomatic duodenal carcinoma at their first endoscopy while four developed carcinoma during the study at a median age of 52 years (range 26-58). The cumulative incidence rate of cancer was 4.5% at age 57 years (95% CI 0.1-8.9%) and the risk was higher in patients with Spigelman stage IV at their first endoscopy than in those with stages 0-III (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The natural course of duodenal adenomatosis has now been described in detail. The high incidence and increasing severity of duodenal adenomatosis with age justifies prophylactic examination, and a programme is presented for upper gastrointestinal endoscopic surveillance.

[Helicobacter pylori and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents]

Observations on the interactions between the two main causes of gastroduodenal lesions--treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and Helicobacter pylori(H.p.)-infection--remain controversial. However, H.p.-infection does not need to be harmful additively or synergistically, but could also be protective against the toxic effects of NSAIDs on the mucosa. Therefore, specific therapeutic strategies are needed for different clinical situations.

The gastroduodenal toxicity of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a review of the literature

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are popular and important for the treatment of inflammation and pain. However, conventional NSAIDs are intrinsically toxic to the gastroduodenal (GD) mucosa. The literature can, and should, guide us towards safer prescribing of NSAIDs. Factors known to increase the risk of GD toxicity include: history of peptic ulcer disease; advanced age; high doses; and coadministration of aspirin, anticoagulants or corticosteroids. Patients with any one of these risk factors, with the possible exception of age alone, should receive gastroprotective prophylaxis with proton pump inhibitors or misoprostol. Standard dose H2 antagonists do not protect against NSAID-induced gastric ulcers and are unsuitable for prophylaxis. Awareness of risk factors and appropriate prophylactic agents will minimize the risk to patients. Whether the new generation of highly selective COX-2 inhibitors and nitric oxide-donating NSAIDs are safer drugs in long-term use be remains to be proven, though initial clinical trial data are positive.

Pantoprazole versus one-week Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy for the prevention of acute NSAID-related gastroduodenal damage in elderly subjects

AIM

To compare the efficacy of pantoprazole vs. a one-week Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy for the prevention of NSAID-related gastroduodenal damage.

METHODS

Patients over 60 years old with symptoms and/or a history of ulcer who needed NSAID treatment were evaluated by endoscopy. H. pylori positive subjects who had no severe gastroduodenal lesions were randomized to take, concomitantly with NSAID therapy, either: (i) pantoprazole 40 mg daily plus amoxycillin 1 g b.d. and clarithromycin 250 mg b.d. for 1 week (35 subjects, Group PAC) or (ii) pantoprazole 40 mg daily for 1 month (34 subjects, Group P). Endoscopy was repeated after 1 month.

RESULTS

A significantly higher incidence of severe gastroduodenal damage was found in Group PAC than in Group P (29% vs. 9%, P<0.05). The percentages of patients worsened, unchanged and improved after 1 month were, respectively: Group PAC: 46%, 46%, and 9% and Group P: 7%, 65%, and 29% (P<0.0008). The percentage of H. pylori-negative subjects was 89% in Group PAC and 52% in Group P (P=0.0009). The incidence of gastroduodenal damage was higher in Group PAC treatment failures than in cured patients (50% vs. 25.8%, P=ns).

CONCLUSION

One month of pantoprazole was more effective than a proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy in the prevention of gastroduodenal damage in elderly H. pylori-positive NSAID users.

Efficacy of misoprostol in the prophylaxis of gastroduodenal lesions induced by short-term nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug therapy in elderly patients. A multicenter double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Advanced age is an established risk factor for gastrointestinal toxicity of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and the duration of use of these agents in elderly patients should be kept as short as possible. A multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of misoprostol in preventing gastrointestinal toxicity in elderly patients (> or = 65 years) given nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents for no more than ten days. Patients who were to receive a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent for ten days to treat an acute rheumatic condition were randomly allocated to treatment with either a placebo or misoprostol in a dose of 200 micrograms bid. The primary efficacy criterion was the result of a gastroduodenal endoscopic evaluation done on day 10. The outcome of the rheumatic condition, changes in serum creatinine levels, and clinical safety were also evaluated. The study population included 208 subjects with a mean age of 81.4 +/- 6.4 years, of whom 81.3% were women. The misoprostol group (n = 104) and the placebo group (n = 104) were comparable at baseline. The incidence of endoscopically visible gastric lesions after ten days of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug therapy was significantly lower in the misoprostol group (25%) than in the placebo group (43%) (P = 0.001). In contrast, no statistically significant difference was found for the incidence of duodenal lesions between the two groups. The incidence of gastroduodenal ulcers was significantly lower (P < 0.021) in the misoprostol group (4.1%) than in the placebo group (13.5%). Changes in serum creatinine levels on day 10 versus baseline were similar in the two groups. The nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug was well tolerated clinically when given alone or in combination with misoprostol.

[Gastroduodenal stress hemorrhage during intensive care]

Stress gastric erosions are in fact the gastroduodenal expression of a most disseminated injury involving whole organism. Ischemia represents the main factor leading to the decrease of gastric mucosa protective mechanisms. The most important complication of stress ulceration is acute bleeding. Gastrointestinal hemorrhages of clinical relevance are now so scarce that widespread systematic prophylaxis against stress ulcers can be safely withheld. Supportive therapy of associated acute organ failure remains the most accurate prophylaxis. Patients who are the most likely to benefit from specific prophylaxis are still unknown.

[The early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the gastric and duodenal involvement in patients with rheumatic diseases]

There have been 643 patients with rheumatic diseases under observation 355 of whom underwent elaborated by the authors methods of early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of gastroduodenal lesions. Results of the study allowed to formulate principles of prevention of gastroduodenal lesions in patients with rheumatic diseases.

[Prevention of gastroduodenal lesions induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Economic analysis from a survey of 356 physicians]

In order to obtain information on prescribing habits concerning the prevention of gastroduodenal lesions induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAI), 356 physicians practicing in 2 French departments were asked to fill a posted questionnaire. Fifty-one percent of these doctors gave an assessable answer. Among these, 84 percent occasionally prescribe "gastric protectors" associated with NSAI's in 32 percent of the prescriptions. They use antacids (48 percent), anti-H2 products (27 percent), sucralfate (11 percent) or prostaglandins (13 percent). This represents a daily cost of additional treatment ranging from 0.87 to 2.49 francs. If fibroscopies and further consultations necessitated by the prescription of NSAI's are taken into account, then 86 to 140 percent must be added to the cost of NSAI's. The profitability of these preventive measures in terms of public health will be really estimated only when the number of severe gastroduodenal lesions effectively prevented by taking topical gastric protectors or anti-secretory agents will be known.

[Clinical report of cimetidine therapy for the prevention of the gastro-duodenal bleeding after the open heart surgery]

The efficacy of cimetidine administration after the open heart surgery was studied using the cimetidine concentration examination in the twenty five consecutive cases. Cimetidine was administered intravenously. The cases were divided into five groups for the infusion period. There was no case which developed the gastro-duodenal bleeding after the surgery. The concentration of cimetidine has showed more than 0.5 microgram/ml in each group. It was concluded that the administration of 800 mg cimetidine infused more than three hours, repeated every twelve hours was the possible treatment for the prevention of the gastro-duodenal bleeding after the open heart surgery.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-day evaluation of two doses of misoprostol in gastroduodenal mucosal protection against damage from aspirin and effect on bowel habits

Ninety-one normal, healthy volunteers participated in a single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel group study: 1) to compare the prostaglandin E1 analog, misoprostol, given at a dose of 200 micrograms bid, with the recommended dose of 200 micrograms qid in protecting the gastroduodenal mucosa against injury due to anti-inflammatory doses of aspirin (3900 mg/day); and 2) to determine whether the reduced dose was associated with a lesser incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, particularly diarrhea. All subjects received 975 mg of aspirin qid with meals and at bedtime. They were concurrently administered either misoprostol 200 micrograms qid, misoprostol 200 micrograms bid and placebo bid, or placebo qid. All subjects were endoscopically normal at the onset of the study and were re-endoscoped on the morning of the 7th day of therapy, 2 h after the morning dose of medications. Gastric and duodenal mucosa were assessed separately on a 0-7 scale which gave a greater weight to erosions than to hemorrhages. GI symptoms, especially bowel habits, were assessed by means of diary cards. Subjects in both misoprostol groups had significantly less gastric and duodenal mucosal injury than subjects who received placebo (p less than 0.007 for each pairwise comparison). There was no statistically significant difference between the two misoprostol groups (p less than 0.093). Subjects in the misoprostol 200 micrograms qid group had significantly more loose and watery bowel movements than the subjects in the misoprostol 200 micrograms bid group (p less than 0.013), whereas there were no significant differences in bowel habits between the misoprostol 200 micrograms bid and placebo groups (p less than 0.122). More subjects in the misoprostol 200 micrograms qid group reported abdominal pain, loose stools, watery stools, flatulence, dyspepsia, and nausea than in the misoprostol 200 micrograms bid and placebo groups. In conclusion, the adverse events in the misoprostol 200 micrograms bid group were not significantly different from those in the placebo group, and were significantly better than in the misoprostol 200 micrograms qid group. The lower dose retained mucosal protective activity that was statistically indistinguishable from that of misoprostol 200 micrograms qid.

Fish oil reduces ethanol-induced damage of the duodenal mucosa in humans

Eight healthy volunteers were studied before and after 3 weeks of dietary supplementation with fish oil (10.5 g day-1, 18% (1.9 g) eicosapentaenoic acid). Duodenal mucosal lesions were induced by instillation of 40 ml ethanol (40%). Mean endoscopic lesion score was lower after fish oil treatment (1.62 +/- 0.32; mean +/- SEM) than before (3.25 +/- 0.31; P less than 0.01). Histologic lesion score fell from 22.75 +/- 1.98 before treatment to 13.50 +/- 1.51 after fish oil (P less than 0.01). Basal and pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid output remained unaffected. Release of prostaglandin E2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, and thromboxane B2 from biopsy specimens of the duodenal mucosa in vitro was not significantly altered after fish oil ingestion. In the same in vitro system calcium ionophore A23187-induced release of total leukotriene C (LTC) increased from 10.6 +/- 1.5 ng g-1 mucosa 20 min before treatment to 30.4 +/- 3.2 ng after fish oil. High pressure liquid chromatography analysis showed that this increase was partly due to formation of LTC5 as after fish oil 28% of total LTC were identified as LTC5 whereas 72% were LTC4. We conclude that in humans fish oil reduces ethanol-induced damage of the duodenal mucosa without inhibiting gastric acid secretion or stimulating prostaglandin formation. It remains to be clarified if the changes in leukotriene formation are relevant for the mucosaprotective fish oil effect.

Indications for gastric bypass in palliative operations for pancreatic carcinoma

This review was undertaken to determine whether there are specific factors which predict the development of gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) in patients with pancreatic carcinoma. One hundred forty-two patients with biopsy proven pancreatic carcinoma had palliative operations of whom 74 had gastric bypass (GB). Of the 68 who did not, four died after biliary bypass. The 64 patients who remained at risk for GOO are the subject of this report. Seven of those patients developed GOO in the postoperative period and were compared with the 57 who did not. No significant difference was found between the two groups when they were compared on the basis of 20 historic, laboratory, and operative finding criteria. These data indicate that accurate prediction of subsequent GOO is not possible based on available objective data. Because GB creation does not increase operative blood loss, operative time, postoperative stay, or postoperative morbidity, and because prediction of need is difficult, prophylactic GB should be applied very liberally.

Endoscopic comparison of cimetidine and sucralfate for prevention of naproxen-induced acute gastroduodenal injury. Effect of scoring method

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug-induced gastroduodenal mucosal damage observed endoscopically is usually categorized as hemorrhages, erosions, or ulcerations. We undertook this study to determine whether the injury produced by a commonly prescribed NSAID, naproxen, could be reduced by cotherapy with sucralfate or cimetidine and to determine how dependent the differences in the degree of protection against mucosal injury measured were on the scoring system used. Four groups of 20 healthy volunteers with endoscopically normal gastric and duodenal mucosa received naproxen (500 mg twice a day) plus cimetidine (300 mg four times a day or 400 mg twice a day), sucralfate (1 g four times a day), or placebo for seven days. After seven days of therapy, a second endoscopy was performed. Separate scoring systems were used for the presence of hemorrhages, erosions, and a combination of both types of injury. There were significantly fewer mucosal hemorrhages present when naproxen and cimetidine were administered than when naproxen was administered with placebo or sucralfate (placebo vs 300 mg cimetidine, P = 0.04, and placebo vs 400 mg cimetidine, P = 0.006, placebo vs sucralfate, P = 0.26). Both cimetidine dosages resulted in significantly fewer hemorrhages than were present following cotherapy of naproxen and sucralfate (P less than 0.05). In contrast, there was no discernible difference in the mucosal injury between placebo and any drug or between any two active therapies when the injury was evaluated based on the presence of gastric erosions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The prevention of gastroduodenal diseases in metallurgists]

Prophylactic treatment was carried out in 32 metallurgists suffering of gastroduodenal diseases. The treatment included Eleutherococcus, alpha-tocopherol acetate, methyuracil, milfoil, nettle leaves, wort and camomile leaves, oxygen foam cocktails. Clinical, biochemical, immunological, endoscopic and morphological examinations revealed efficiency of the prophylactic treatment.

NSAID-associated gastroduodenal damage: does famotidine protection extend into the mid- and distal duodenum?

Eighteen healthy volunteers were included in a cross-over, double-blind study where 500 mg naproxen b.d. was given for 1 week with 20 mg famotidine b.d., 40 mg nocte or placebo. Endoscopic evaluation of the gastroduodenal mucosa was performed before and after each treatment period, with separate evaluation of the mid- and distal duodenum. 51Cr-EDTA-permeability tests were done to study effects on the mid- and distal gut, and, in addition, symptom registration was performed. The mucosal damage was significant in all treatment periods, and a statistically significant reduction was seen with 20 mg famotidine b.d. for erosive lesions in the stomach/duodenal bulb region as well as for the sum of damage score in the mid- and distal duodenum. The reduction was considerable in a few subjects with extensive duodenal damage. The reduction was considerable in a few subjects with extensive duodenal damage. Intestinal permeation increased significantly in all periods, and was not reduced by famotidine. Symptoms were modest and equal in all periods.

Cimetidine decreases indomethacin induced duodenal mucosal damage in patients with acute musculoskeletal disorders

The effect of two doses of cimetidine, 400 mg at night and 400 mg bd, on the protection of indomethacin (50 mg tid) induced mucosal damage was evaluated in a double blind study in patients with acute musculoskeletal disorders. Endoscopic mucosal lesions were scored before and after five to seven days of treatment. One hundred and ninety one patients were endoscoped before the trial, 34 (17.8%) had greater than one erosion and were not recruited. Forty patients were excluded for non-compliance, or lost to follow up. At the second endoscopy, oesophageal, and fundic damage was negligible. Gastric and duodenal lesion score in patients treated with cimetidine 400 mg bd: 2.7 (0.5) (SE); n = 42) was significantly lower (p less than 0.0122) than in placebo treated patients: 6.1 (0.9) (n = 50) or in patients treated with cimetidine 400 mg at night 7.1 (0.8) (n = 21). Cimetidine 400 mg bd provided significant protection for the duodenum, but its protection of antral mucosa did not reach statistical significance. There was no correlation between upper gastrointestinal symptoms and endoscopic findings.

Pyloric exclusion. Suture material of choice

Pyloric exclusion was first reported in 1977 as a temporary method of providing duodenal decompression in an attempt to protect the duodenum in the early postoperative period during the healing phase, followed by the return of normal gastrointestinal transit. It has been adopted by several trauma centers across the country as part of their armamentarium for managing moderate to severe duodenal injuries. Most series report using a polyglycolic acid (PGA) suture in performing the exclusion, anticipating a 3- to 4-week interval before pyloric patency is re-established. A comparison of polypropylene (PP), polyglycolic acid (PGA), and polydioxanone (PDS) sutures in the dog model suggests, however, that only PDS reliably accomplishes this goal. The low (approximately 5-10%) but finite incidence of fistula formation reported with pyloric exclusion using PGA may be improved by using PDS instead.

[Reversible pyloroduodenal exclusion. Method of temporary protection of the duodenal circuit]

Reversible duodenal exclusion is a technique used to protect difficult duodenal sutures without the problems of permanent exclusion. It is effective throughout the healing period, then disappears when the suture material used for occlusion of the pylorus has been digested by the gastric fluid. Three cases are reported which confirm the usefulness of this technique.

Cimetidine for prevention and treatment of gastroduodenal mucosal lesions in patients in an intensive care unit

The efficacy of cimetidine in the prevention and treatment of stress-induced gastroduodenal lesions was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which serial endoscopy was used to examine patients without clinical evidence of bleeding who were admitted to a medical intensive care unit. Endoscopy showed that 14 of 21 patients treated with cimetidine, compared with 5 of 18 patients treated with placebo, had normal or improved gastroduodenal mucosa (p less than 0.05). Endoscopic signs of bleeding cleared or did not develop in 20 patients treated with cimetidine and in 11 patients treated with placebo (p less than 0.01). Significantly fewer blood transfusions were given to patients with endoscopic signs of bleeding in the cimetidine-treated group (0.5 +/- 0.3 [SE] units) than in placebo-treated patients (4.5 +/- 1.5 units; p less than 0.05). The mortality rate was not statistically different between treatment groups. By preventing established gastroduodenal stress lesions from progressing in severity, cimetidine diminished both bleeding and the need for transfusions.

[Postoperative pancreatic fistulas: clinical study of a series of 114 consecutive cephalic duodeno-pancreatectomies]

The present study explores the incidence, the predisposing factors and the consequences of pancreatic fistulae in a series of 114 consecutive, non selected, pancreatico-duodenal resections performed during the period January 1967-December 1982 for malignant and benign diseases of the (peri)ampullary region and the head of the pancreas. Overall hospital mortality reached 10.8% (12/114 pat.). The most common surgical complication was pancreatic fistula (17 pat.-14.9%) responsible for half of the postoperative fatal outcomes. The incidence of the pancreatic fistula is significantly influenced by a patient age of over 65 years, a preoperative serum bilirubin level exceeding 6 mg %, urgent degree of the intervention, presence of a renal insufficiency and last but not least by the poor quality of the pancreatic remnant. As surgical treatment of this complication is compromised by a high mortality (40% - 4/10 pat.), surgery should be reserved to hemorrhagic or persistent local or systemic, septic complications. Therefore more attention should be given to the prevention of this complication by a careful patient selection, based on evaluation of the different mentioned risk factors and by an adequate technique based on a separation of the different anastomoses by the greater omentum and the transverse mesocolon.

[Prevention of reflux by jejunal transposition--a clinical study (author's transl)]

The prevention of duodenogastric reflux by a jejunal transposition was studied in 11 patients following Billroth II to Billroth I reinterventions. For this purpose intragastric lysolecithin and bile acids were measured. While resected stomachs with a 25 cm isoperistaltic jejunal transposition showed normal reflux values, shorter jejunal segments still had a pathological reflux. The role of the jejunal transposition as an antireflux procedure in ulcer surgery is discussed.

Experimental microsurgical model in rats preventing duodenogastric reflux. A preliminary report

For the purpose of studying the significance of the bile and duodenal reflux into the stomach in rats we present an experimental animal model which--in contrast to the procedures reported until now--can exactly be reproduced due to the advantage of microsurgical techniques, thus reducing the operative trauma and accidental results during experimentation. The surgical procedure consists of a pylorojejunostomy with a Roux-en-y loop. This experimental model offers the possibility to discern a great deal of the problems and conditions which may be responsible in the adverse effect of bile and/or duodenal juice on the gastric mucosa.

Proximal gastric vagotomy and suprapyloric antrectomy. Experimental evaluation in dogs

In five dogs with Heidenhain pouches, proximal gastric vagotomy and suprapyloric antrectomy did not alter the rate of gastric emptying of 300 mL of 1% dextrose or of 40 plastic spheres, or disrupt the barricade preventing duodenogastric reflux. However, the operation did slow gastric emptying of 50 g of cubed liver and increase the postprandial secretion of hydrochloric acid from the pouch. We concluded that suprapyloric antrectomy can be combined with proximal gastric vagotomy without disturbing the gastric emptying of liquids and indigestible solids or resulting in increased duodenogastric reflux. However, the operation does slow gastric emptying of digestible solids.

[Reflux-preventing gastric resection. An animal experiment study]

In 30 pigs the prevention of duodenogastric reflux following distal gastrectomy through different types of jejunal transposition or Roux-en-Y-gastroenterostomy was studied. The reflux was measured by determination of the intragastric amounts of bile acids and lysolecithin, and by the total number of glycerophosphatids. After distal gastrectomy and proximal selective vagotomy, isoperistaltic jejunal segments of different lengths were transposed between gastric remnant and duodenum. The reflux was normalized by 25-cm segments. Shorter segments led to no significant decrease of the reflux. The jejunal invagination of additional isoperistaltic valve did not have a significant effect. The same protection as from 25-cm segments was obtained by Roux-en-Y-gastrojejunostomy. The role of the duodenogastric reflux following gastrectomy for the gastric mucosa is disucssed. The necessity of the reparation of the pyloric function is shown.