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Background: The Dieulafoy lesion is an important cause of gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage. Optimal treatment and long-term outcome are unknown. This study aimed to characterize the presentation of the Dieulafoy lesion and to summarize the results and report the long-term outcome of endoscopic therapy., Methods: Data regarding diagnosis, treatment and outcomes were derived from our GI Bleed Team database, patient records and follow-up correspondence., Results: Ninety Dieulafoy lesions were identified in 89 patients after a mean of 1.9 endoscopies. Their mean age was 72 years. Thirty-four percent of lesions were extragastric. Median transfusion requirement was 5 units. Two patients exsanguinated and 3 required surgery; all others were initially successfully treated endoscopically (with or without epinephrine injection): heat probe (71 patients), band ligation (3), hemoclip (1), laser (2), bipolar probe (4), sclerotherapy (2) and epinephrine alone (2). Gastric perforation occurred in 1 patient following sclerotherapy. Thirty-day mortality was 13%, 4 related to hemorrhage and 5 related to comorbidity. During median follow-up of 17 months, 34 patients (42%) died. One patient had recurrent bleeding 6 years after operation., Conclusions: Dieulafoy lesion is relatively common and often extragastric. Endoscopic therapy is safe and effective. Long-term recurrence was not evident following endoscopic ablation. Follow-up after ablative therapy appears unnecessary.

Background: Acute major gastrointestinal hemorrhage is uncommon in inflammatory bowel disease., Methods: We characterized the clinical features and course of such hemorrhage in patients at our institution from 1989 to 1996., Results: Thirty-one patients had acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding from inflammatory bowel disease and one had upper gastrointestinal bleeding from duodenal Crohn's disease. Three patients had ulcerative colitis and 28 had Crohn's disease, representing 0.1% of admissions for ulcerative colitis and 1.2% for Crohn's disease. In addition, another patient bled from an ileal J-pouch. In patients with Crohn's disease, the site of bleeding was duodenal in 1, small intestinal in 9, ileocolonic in 8, and colonic in 10. All ulcerative colitis patients had pancolitis. Medical therapy was initiated in 27 patients, including endoscopic therapy in 3. Five patients underwent surgery immediately, and 7 medically treated patients eventually required surgery for ongoing or recurrent bleeding., Conclusions: Acute major gastrointestinal bleeding is uncommon in inflammatory bowel disease. Most cases are due to Crohn's disease, without a predilection for site of involvement. The presence of an endoscopically treatable lesion is uncommon, and surgery is required in less than half of cases during the initial hospitalization. Recurrent hemorrhage is not rare, and for these cases surgery may be the most appropriate treatment.

Objectives: Although patients with bleeding Mallory-Weiss tears are generally hospitalized, we wished to develop guidelines facilitating the selection, by clinical and endoscopic criteria, of patients who do not need hospitalization. Our specific aims were to determine whether presenting manifestations of bleeding differed in hemodynamically unstable patients, whether active bleeding or stigmata of bleeding at endoscopy were prognosticators for significant rebleeding, and the outcomes in endoscopically managed patients., Methods: The endoscopic and clinical features of all patients with acute GI bleeding from a Mallory-Weiss tear were obtained from our GI Bleeding Team database over a consecutive 4-yr period and analyzed for prognostic indicators., Results: 1) Presenting manifestations, e.g., hematochezia, were significantly different in hypotensive patients. 2) Active bleeding but not stigmata was associated with higher transfusion requirements. 3) Rebleeding was unusual, occurring within 24 h, more often in patients with a bleeding/coagulation diathesis. The median hospital stay was 4 days (range 1-24). Fifty-seven percent of patients received transfusion (median 4 units, range 1-26 units); requirements were higher in patients with coagulopathies., Conclusions: Patients without risk factors for rebleeding (portal hypertension, coagulopathy), clinical features indicating severe bleeding (hematochezia, hemodynamic instability), or active bleeding at endoscopy can be managed with a brief period of observation. Patients with endoscopically active bleeding may benefit from endoscopic therapy.

Background: Our goal was to evaluate the long-term sequelae of repeated thermal injury to the gastric mucosa of patients undergoing laser therapy for watermelon stomach., Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent endoscopic laser therapy for watermelon stomach from 1987 to 1994 was performed to identify patients with antral polyps following laser photoablation therapy. Statistical analysis was performed using the paired t test., Results: Antral hyperplastic polyps as large as 4 cm developed in 4 of 60 patients (7%) and were associated with recurrent anemia in 3. All patients had received significantly more laser thermal energy during the course of therapy for their watermelon stomach. Conventional polypectomy was used to remove the polyps., Conclusions: Repeated thermal injury to the antral mucosa in patients with the watermelon stomach may result in the development of hyperplastic polyps. These may be large, may contribute to significant blood loss with anemia, and are amenable to conventional polypectomy.

Objectives: Our goal was to assess the incidence of the endoscopically-identified small intestinal and colonic Dieulafoy-like lesions in our GI bleeding population and to characterize the clinical and endoscopic features and response to endoscopic therapy., Methods: Patients with GI bleeding from Dieulafoy lesions were identified from our Bleeding Team and GI laser data bases from August 1984 to September 1993. Clinical and endoscopic information contained within the data bases and from each patient's medical record were retrospectively reviewed. Diagnostic criteria that had been used to endoscopically diagnose a Dieulafoy lesion were arterial bleeding or nonbleeding visible vessel stigmata, all without ulceration or erosion., Results: Nine patients (three male; six female; median age, 70 yr; range, 16-94) were identified from a population of 3059 patients. Symptoms included: melena (2); hematochezia (7); and unstable hemodynamics (3). The mean hemoglobin was 8.4 +/- 2.2 g/dl. There was no significant nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug or alcohol use. Four patients had small bowel and five patients had colonic Dieulafoy's lesions. Specific sites were: distal duodenum (3); jejunum (1); cecum (1); hepatic flexure (3); and transverse colon (1). The diagnosis was made at initial endoscopy in seven patients, after two endoscopies in one patient, and after four in another patient. Active bleeding was encountered in seven patients (three small bowel; four colon). Endoscopic therapy was successful. Two patients rebled, one from the same site (small bowel) 1 yr later. Both were successfully retreated. There were no complications or deaths., Conclusions: The endoscopic Dieulafoy lesion of the small bowel and colon is infrequently encountered. The diagnosis is most often made during active bleeding. The endoscopic diagnosis requires an aggressive approach, including repeated endoscopy. Endoscopic therapy of proximal small intestinal and colonic Dieulafoy lesions is safe, effective, and should be performed.

Objective: To summarize the results of endoscopic therapy for acute hemorrhage from gastroduodenal malignant lesions., Design: The 3-year experience (1989 through 1991) of a specialized gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding team in the endoscopic treatment of acute upper GI bleeding from gastroduodenal malignant tumors was retrospectively reviewed., Material and Methods: Of 1,083 consecutive patients with acute major upper GI hemorrhage, 21 (1.9%) were found to have advanced tumors of the stomach and duodenum, 15 of whom received endoscopic therapy. In this study group of 15 patients, the tumors were gastric in 11 and duodenal in 4. Endoscopic treatment consisted of injection of epinephrine, heater probe coagulation, neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser coagulation, or injection of sodium tetradecyl sulfate., Results: Initial endoscopic hemostasis was achieved in 10 of the 15 patients (67%); however, bleeding recurred in 8 of 10 (80%), and all 5 in whom endoscopic hemostasis was not achieved continued to bleed. Mean transfusion requirements for the 30 days before and the 30 days after the first endoscopic treatment were 7.6 and 6.4 units of packed erythrocytes, respectively (P > 0.10). Five major procedure-related complications occurred, two of which were fatal. The median duration of survival after the first endoscopic treatment was 39 days (range, 1 to 1,414)., Conclusion: In patients with major bleeding from advanced gastroduodenal malignant lesions, endoscopic therapy seems to provide limited benefit.

Background/aims: Reasons for the variable efficacy of prokinetic agents in the treatment of chronic intestinal motility disorders are unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of extrinsic autonomic neuropathy and motility patterns on the symptom response to cisapride in 42 such patients., Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-dose (10 and 20 mg, three times daily), 12-week study included (1) measurement of autonomic (including abdominal vagal) function; (2) standardized 5-hour upper gastrointestinal manometry; and (3) assessment of symptoms based on visual analog scale at baseline and 6 and 12 weeks. Statistical analysis compared symptom response among treatment and autonomic dysfunction groups and assessed the influence of absence of migrating motor complexes and presence of postprandial antral hypomotility on symptomatic responses to cisapride., Results: There was no significant overall effect of cisapride in the entire group of 42 patients. Generalized sympathetic and vagal dysfunctions influence the response of patients with neuropathic chronic intestinal motility disorder to two doses of cisapride., Conclusions: Idiopathic intestinal motility disorder, unassociated with abdominal vagal dysfunction, is more likely to respond to cisapride. Detailed characterization of patient subgroups is crucial to designing treatment trials in patients with small bowel motility disorders.

The clinical and endoscopic features of patients diagnosed with acute bleeding due to portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) were evaluated. Acute bleeding from PHG was diagnosed in 12 patients (0.8%) of 1496 patient admissions prospectively evaluated by our Gastrointestinal Bleeding Team over a 3-yr period, and accounted for 8% of nonvariceal bleeding diagnosed in patients with liver disease. The median age of PHG patients (8M:4F) was 66 yr (range, 37-72). The most common underlying liver disease was alcoholic cirrhosis (five patients). The majority of patients presented with melena. There was no hemodynamic instability. Six patients had prior sclerotherapy. Esophageal varices, grades 1 (five patients) and 2 (three patients), were present. Severe PHG was encountered in seven patients. There was no correlation between the presence or absence of varices, the grade of esophageal varices, and prior sclerotherapy on the severity of PHG or continued bleeding. The mean hospital stay was 6 days. An average of 4 units of blood was transfused per patient (range, 2-8). Continued bleeding occurred in nine patients (75%), one of whom had mild PHG. Two patients with continued bleeding subsequently were diagnosed with portal hypertensive vasculopathy distal to the stomach. There was one episode of encephalopathy and no related mortality. Acute (overt) bleeding from PHG is uncommon, likely to recur, and can evolve into a pattern of chronic blood loss.

We prospectively evaluated autonomic function in 50 patients with clinical and manometric features of a neuropathic form of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIP). In 26 patients, there were underlying disease processes that may have affected extrinsic neural control to viscera: diabetes mellitus (n = 16), previous gastric surgery (n = 5), and other neurologic disorders (n = 5). Our aim was to characterize autonomic function in these patients, and those 24 with CIP unassociated with a known underlying neurologic disorder (idiopathic group). We assessed vagal function and sympathetic cholinergic and adrenergic function by means of standardized autonomic tests and quantitated postprandial antral pressure activity. We also measured postprandial levels of pancreatic polypeptide and neurotensin as indicators of vagal function and of the delivery of nutrients to the distal small bowel. Among the idiopathic group (n = 24), two had evidence of a generalized sympathetic neuropathy and five abdominal vagal dysfunction (one had both). Among diabetic patients, three had sympathetic adrenergic failure, six had orthostasis with normal plasma noradrenaline, ten had signs of generalized sympathetic neuropathy and eight had abdominal vagal dysfunction. Vagal dysfunction was identified in all three patients who underwent vagotomy as part of their previous gastric surgery. In the other neurologic syndromes, vagal function was abnormal in three of the five patients. Thus, autonomic and, particularly, vagal dysfunction are confirmed in a majority of patients with CIP associated with known diabetes or neurologic disorders; however, a previously unrecognized autonomic (chiefly vagal) neuropathy of undetermined cause has been identified in five of the 24 'idiopathic' CIP patients.

The experience of a specialized management team using urgent endoscopy in the management of acute gastrointestinal bleeding from Dieulafoy's disease is presented. Dieulafoy's disease was found in 19 of 1124 consecutive patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Most patients with Dieulafoy's disease were elderly men with severe acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Endoscopic diagnosis was possible in all patients, but required multiple endoscopies in 37%. The lesions were in the proximal stomach (79%) and duodenal bulb (21%). Endoscopic therapy included epinephrine injection, then heater probe coagulation in 17 patients, bipolar electrocoagulation in 1, and Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation in 1. Endoscopic therapy was successful in 18 patients (95%); one patient had successful surgery after endoscopic therapy failed. There were no deaths due to bleeding and no endoscopic complications. Dieulafoy's disease is an unusual cause of acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Endoscopic diagnosis is sometimes difficult, but primary endoscopic therapy is safe, successful, and should be attempted.

Ninety-three consecutive patients with transfusion-dependent gastrointestinal bleeding from vascular malformations (VMs) underwent systematic assessment in our gastrointestinal laser suite with extended upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy. Of these patients, 83 had angiodysplasia and 10 had the Osler-Weber-Rendu (OWR) syndrome. The median age in each of these groups was 70 and 63 years, respectively. Cardiovascular disease, especially valvular disease, was common. A poor correlation existed between the results of endoscopically identified VMs and visceral angiography in patients with angiodysplasia. A combination of upper and lower gastrointestinal VMs was found in 11% of patients with angiodysplasia and 60% of those with the OWR syndrome. All identified VMs were completely obliterated by photocoagulation with use of a neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. Bleeding was successfully controlled in 9 patients with the OWR syndrome and in 72 patients with angiodysplasia (range of follow-up, 1 to 39 months). In 243 laser treatments, 3 perforations and 5 episodes of delayed bleeding occurred. This experience demonstrates that extended upper endoscopy is useful in identifying VMs and that gastrointestinal bleeding from VMs can be safely and successfully controlled with use of endoscopic Nd:YAG laser therapy.

Twenty patients with dysphagia due to inoperable esophageal cancer were randomized to receive either contact or noncontact endoscopic laser treatment. Treatment groups were similar with respect to age, dysphagia score, and tumor dimensions. The median number of initial treatment sessions was two in both groups, and the median treatment times per session were 23 min (range, 12 to 55 min) in the contact group and 19 min (range, 5 to 28 min) in the noncontact group. Median dysphagia scores were also similar in both groups 1 month after laser treatment, and no difference was apparent in the duration of palliation. There were no patient complications attributable to laser therapy, but damage to the laser wave guide occurred in three contact sessions and two noncontact sessions. These data suggest no advantage for the contact method of endoscopic Nd:YAG laser palliation of esophageal carcinoma with respect to number of treatment sessions, relief of dysphagia, or occurrence of complications.

Hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) is a photoactive, oncophilic substance that produces cutaneous photosensitivity as its only significant side effect. Twenty-three patients who received systemic HpD and the usual light-avoidance precautions were studied prospectively to determine the incidence and severity of cutaneous phototoxicity (CP). Seventeen of the 23 patients (74%) reported CP, including three patients (18%) who experienced blister formation. Symptoms of CP occurred for a mean duration of 6 weeks (range 5-23 weeks). Lack of compliance with restrictive photoprotective measures was felt to be a major contributing factor. Other HpD-related complications included skin hyperpigmentation, ocular discomfort, pruritus, pain at injection site, and urticaria. CP and the restrictive measures to avoid it represent major disadvantages of the clinical use of HpD.

Thirteen patients (9 women, 4 men) with anemia from acute and chronic gastrointestinal bleeding were found to have antral vascular disease consistent with watermelon stomach. The median age was 73 yr, with a range of 54-88 yr. Eight of the patients were transfusion-dependent, requiring a median of 5.5 U within the 12 mo before treatment. All were treated with endoscopic neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser coagulation. Endoscopic and hematologic improvement were evident in 12 patients available for follow-up after a median period of 6 mo. There was a median increase of 4 g/dl in hemoglobin concentration; thus, the need for transfusion was eliminated. No major complications were encountered. Laser coagulation for watermelon stomach appears to be safe and efficacious and may be a therapeutic alternative for this disorder.

We prospectively studied the short-term and long-term efficacy and safety of endoscopic laser treatment in 25 patients with dysphagia from advanced esophageal cancer. Malignant stenoses were recanalized in all patients, and the ability to swallow was improved in about 80%. Results were best in patients with adenocarcinomas and in those who reported a good appetite. A single laser treatment provided adequate palliation in more than half the patients until the time of death. In those patients in whom stenosis recurred, re-treatment was necessary a median of 3.2 months after the initial laser treatment. No laser-related mortality or major morbidity occurred. We conclude that endoscopic laser therapy seems to be a feasible method of palliating malignant dysphagia.