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PubMed2004

An endoscopic study of upper-GI mucosal changes in patients with congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Congestive heart failure results in an increase in systemic venous pressure that is transmitted to the inferior vena cava and to the hepatic veins. This can cause GI vascular and mucosal congestion. The aim of this study was to define upper-GI mucosal changes in patients with congestive heart failure. METHODS: A total of 57 patients with congestive heart failure presenting with GI symptoms underwent upper endoscopy. Echocardiography was performed in all patients to determine the ejection fraction and the degree of tricuspid regurgitation. Transabdominal US was performed to measure the diameters of the hepatic veins, the inferior vena cava, and the portal vein. The presence and the severity of gastropathy and duodenopathy were compared with the parameters relating to severity of cardiac failure. RESULTS: Of the 57 patients studied, gastric mucosal changes were observed in 50 (88%), duodenal mucosal changes in 31 (54%), and esophageal mucosal changes in none. Gastric mucosal changes were the following: mosaic-like pattern (n = 50), punctate spots (n = 34), thickened folds (n = 5), watermelon stomach (n = 3), and telangiectasia (n = 10). Duodenal mucosal changes were the following: mosaic-like pattern (n = 29), thickened folds (n = 8), and telangiectasia (n = 2). Upper-GI symptoms were associated with gastropathy ( p = 0.027) and duodenopathy ( p = 0.003). The presence and the severity of duodenopathy showed a high degree of positive correlation with the presence and the severity of gastropathy (gamma value 0.690; p value <0.001). Patients with gastropathy and duodenopathy had higher mean inferior vena cava and hepatic vein diameters than those without gastropathy and duodenopathy. The severity of duodenopathy but not that of gastropathy was significantly associated with increasing severity of tricuspid regurgitation ( p = 0.001), larger portal vein diameter ( p = 0.02), and lower ejection fraction ( p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with congestive cardiac failure with GI symptoms, changes of congestive gastropathy are evident in 88% and duodenopathy in 54%. The presence and the severity of duodenopathy was significantly associated with increasing severity of features of congestive heart failure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Development of a new access device for transgastric surgery.

Flexible endoscope-based endoluminal and transgastric surgery for cholecystectomy, appendectomy, bariatric, and antireflux procedures show promise as a less invasive form of surgery. Current endoscopes and instruments are inadequate to perform such complex surgeries for a variety of reasons: they are too flexible and are insufficient to provide robust grasping and anatomic retraction. The lack of support for a retroflexed endoscope in the peritoneal cavity makes it hard to reach remote structures and makes vigorous retraction of tissues and organs difficult. There is also a need for multiple channels in scopes to allow use of several instruments and to provide traction/countertraction. Finally, secure means of tissue approximation are critical. The aim was to develop and test a new articulating flexible endoscopic system for endoluminal and transgastric endosurgery. A multidisciplinary group of gastrointestinal physicians and surgeons worked with medical device engineers to develop new devices and instruments. Needs assessments and design parameters were developed by consensus. Prototype devices were tested using inanimate models until usable devices were arrived at. The devices were tested in nonsurvival pigs and dogs. The devices were accessed through an incision in the wall of the stomach and manipulated in the peritoneal cavity to accomplish four different tasks: right upper quadrant wedge liver biopsy, right lower quadrant cecal retraction, left lower quadrant running small bowel, and left lower quadrant exposure of esophageal hiatus. In another three pigs, transgastric cholecystectomy was attempted. The positions of the device, camera, and endosurgical instruments, with and without ShapeLock technology, were recorded using laparoscopy and endoscopy and procedure times and success rates were measured. Instrument design parameters and their engineering solutions are described. Flexible multilumen guides which could be locked in position, including a prototype which allowed triangulation, were constructed. Features of the 18-mm devices include multidirectional mid body and/or tip angulation, two 5.5-mm accessory channels allowing the use of large (5-mm) flexible endosurgical instruments, as well as a 4-mm channel for an ultraslim prototype video endoscope (Pentax 4 mm). Using the resulting devices, the four designated transgastric procedures were performed in anesthetized animals. One hundred percent of the transgastric endosurgical procedures were accomplished with the exception of a 50% success for hiatal exposure, a 90% success rate for wedge liver biopsy, and a 33.3% success rate for cholecystectomy. A new endosurgical multilumen device and advanced instrumentation allowed effective transgastric exploration and procedures in the abdominal cavity including retraction of the liver and stomach to allow exposure of the gallbladder, retraction of the cecum, manipulation of the small bowel, and exposure of the esophageal hiatus. This technology may serve as the needed platform for transgastric cholecystectomy, gastric reduction, fundoplication, hiatus hernia repair, or other advanced endosurgical procedures.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Altered plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9/tissue inhibitor of matrix [corrected] metalloproteinase-1 concentration during the early postoperative period in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The authors have previously demonstrated that insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) is depleted in plasma for 1 to 3 days after major open surgery (OS), but not after laparoscopic surgery (LS). After surgery, IGFP-3 cleavage occurs rapidly and is likely attributable to altered plasma proteolytic activity. This study aimed to assess plasma proteolysis after both open and closed colorectal resection and, if possible, to identify a protease/protease inhibitor system affected by surgery. METHODS: Plasma from 88 patients with colorectal cancer (stages I-III) who underwent resection was obtained preoperatively (pre-OP) and on postoperative days (POD) 1 to 3. Plasma proteolytic activity was assessed via zymography. On the basis of the results, specific protease and protease inhibitor concentrations were next measured via enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon's test. RESULTS: Early after surgery, zymography showed a predominant band representing a 92-kDa gelatinase corresponding to a proform of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), a protease known to cleave IGFBP-3. In OS patients, the mean concentration of plasma MMP-9 was significantly higher on POD 1 than at pre-OP (p < 0.003). On POD 2 and 3, no differences were noted. In the LS group, the mean levels of MMP-9 before and after surgery were comparable. The levels of a natural MMP-9 inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), also were measured. In the OS group, the level of TIMP-1 was significantly higher on POD 1 (p < 0.0003) and POD 2 (p < 0.01) and 3 (p < 0.01) than at pre-OP. In the LS group, a smaller but significant increase in TIMP-1 levels was found between the pre-OP sample and the POD 1 (p < 0.01) and POD 2 (p < 0.01) samples. No difference was noted on POD 3 (p = 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Open surgery, but not laparoscopic surgery, is accompanied by a short-lived significant increase in MMP-9 levels, which likely accounts for the decrease in IGFBP-3 levels observed after OS. The transitory nature of MMP-9 imbalance may be attributable to the increase in TIMP-1 levels postoperatively.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Therapeutic endoscopy: removal of gastrointestinal foreign bodies in children.

Endoscopic removal of foreign bodies (FBs) is an important part of therapeutic endoscopy in children. The majority of FB ingestion occur in children under 5 years. Children most often ingest coins, pins, keys, round stones or marbles, nails, rings, batteries and toys, and coins are the most common in the pediatric series of 139 children, who underwent endoscopic removal in Seoul National University, Children's Hospital. The management of FBs in children depends on the type (sharp or dull, pointed or blunt, and toxic or nontoxic) and the-size, along with the location of FB in the gastrointestinal tract. The endoscopist should decide whether endoscopic intervention is necessary and how urgently it has to be done. Indications for removal of FBs from the gastrointestinal tract in children are 1) all esophageal FBs. 2) gastric and duodenal FBs if they are sharp or pointed, if more than 4 cm long or 2 cm wide in young infants and children, if containing toxic substances and if blunt objects after 2 weeks observation in the stomach or 1 week observation in the duodenum. All FBs impacted in the esophagus should be removed within 24 hours because of the risks of perforation and serious fistula formation. Disk batteries can cause corrosive injury to the esophagus within 4 hours, and should be removed as soon as possible. Coin retrieval can be done very securely by the W-shape FB grasping forcep without an endotracheal general anesthesia. Blunt FBs, such as marbles can be best removed with a stone retrieval basket, which can be made from a condom. Disk batteries can not be grasped with the FB forceps and snares, but very safely with the powerful magnet attached to the tip of the scope. Overtubes and protective rubber hoods are useful for removing sharp or pointed objects. It is important to test the available grasping accessories on a duplicate of the FB as a "dry run" to determine which accessories will grasp the FB securely.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Gastrointestinal disorders in children with atopic dermatitis.

UNLABELLED: The aims of this study were to analyze the peculiarities of allergies to food; to determine gastrointestinal disorders, endoscopic signs of mucosal damage and histological lesions of the mucosa and to establish their relation to the extent of atopic dermatitis and its degree of severity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 164 children (86 boys and 78 girls) suffering only from atopic dermatitis were examined. Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed using standard diagnostic criteria; extent of disease (the Basic Clinical Scoring System (BCSS)) and the severity (Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index), total serum IgE levels were determined; skin prick and patch tests with the main food allergens were performed. Using questionnaire gastrointestinal disorders with the symptoms of atopic dermatitis were ascertained. In children with atopic dermatitis suffering from chronic dyspepsia esophagealgastroduodenoscopy was performed and biopsy samples from the antrum of the stomach and duodenum were taken. RESULTS: The age of patients ranged from 6 months to 18 years. According to extent of atopic dermatitis and degree of severity localized, mild atopic dermatitis prevailed. Analysis of the changes in total Ig E levels showed different degree of sensitization of the children examined. Considering the type of allergic reaction, immediate-type allergic reactions dominated only in 11.6% of children with atopic dermatitis, whereas delayed-type allergic reactions manifested in 44.5% of children. No food allergy was present in one-fifth of children with atopic dermatitis. One hundred four (63.4%) children complained of gastrointestinal disorders. Of these 104 patients, 17 children (mean age 6.9 years) who underwent esophagealgastroduodenoscopy with biopsy had no pathology; however, histological examination of mucosa revealed eosinophilic infiltration in the gastric antrum and duodenum in three children. CONCLUSIONS: The most common gastrointestinal disorders are: abdominal pain vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal distention, and constipation. The incidence of gastrointestinal disorders does not depend on the extent and severity of atopic dermatitis. Gastrointestinal disorders manifest independent of the type of allergic reactions inducing atopic dermatitis. The most common food allergens, such as soy, milk, peanuts, corn, carrots, rye, wheat, white of the egg, cod, and chicken were determined by skin patch test. According to our data, no pathology was found in children with atopic dermatitis during endoscopic examination. Our data showed that allergic-like changes in gastric and duodenal mucosa were present only in older (7-10-year-old) children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Presentation and outcome of gastrointestinal involvement in systemic necrotizing vasculitides: analysis of 62 patients with polyarteritis nodosa, microscopic polyangiitis, Wegener granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, or rheumatoid arthritis-associated vasculitis.

We reviewed the medical records of 62 patients with systemic small and medium-sized vessel vasculitides and gastrointestinal tract involvement followed at our institution between 1981 and 2002. This group included 46 men and 16 women (male:female ratio, 2.9), with a mean age of 48 +/- 18 years. Vasculitides were distributed as follows: 38 polyarteritis nodosa (21 related to hepatitis B virus), 11 Churg-Strauss syndrome, 6 Wegener granulomatosis, 4 microscopic polyangiitis, and 3 rheumatoid arthritis-associated vasculitis. Gastrointestinal manifestations were present at or occurred within 3 months of diagnosis in 50 (81%) patients and were mainly abdominal pain in 61 (97%), nausea or vomiting in 21 (34%), diarrhea in 17 (27%), hematochezia or melena in 10 (16%), and hematemesis in 4 (6%). Gastroduodenal ulcerations were detected endoscopically in 17 (27 %) patients, esophageal in 7 (11%), and colorectal in 6 (10%), but histologic signs of vasculitis were found in only 3 colon biopsies. Twenty-one (34%) patients had a surgical abdomen; 11 (18%) developed peritonitis, 9 (15%) had bowel perforations, 10 (16%) bowel ischemia/infarction, 4 (6%) intestinal occlusion, 6 (10%) acute appendicitis, 5 (8%) cholecystitis, and 3 (5%) acute pancreatitis. (Some patients had more than 1 condition.) Sixteen (26%) patients died.The respective 10-month and 5-year survival rates were 71% (95% confidence interval [CI], 52-90) and 56% (95% CI, 35-77) for the 21 surgical patients; and 94% (95% CI, 87-101) and 82% (95% CI, 70-94) for the 41 patients without surgical abdomen (p = 0.08). Peritonitis (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.3, p < 0.01), bowel perforations (HR = 5.7, p < 0.01), gastrointestinal ischemia or infarctions (HR = 4.1, p < 0.01), and intestinal occlusion (HR = 5.5, p < 0.01) were the only gastrointestinal manifestations significantly associated with increased mortality in multivariate analysis. For this subgroup of 15 patients, 6-month and 5-year survival rates were 60% (95% CI, 35-85) and 46% (95% CI, 19-73), respectively (p = 0.003). None of the other gastrointestinal or extraintestinal vasculitis-related symptoms, or angiographic abnormalities (seen in 67% of the 39 patients who underwent angiography), was predictive of surgical complications or poor outcome. However, prognosis has dramatically improved during the past 30 years, probably owing to better management of these more severely ill patients, with prompt surgical intervention when indicated, and the combined use of steroids and immunosuppressants.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2003

A 12 years audit of upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy in terms of indications, diagnostic efficacy, and diseases diagnosed. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational case series. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: DHQ Teaching Hospital, Rawalpindi, from March 1990 to December 2001. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent upper GI endoscopy in 12 years were included. Upper GI endoscopies were performed according to standard protocol. Endoscopic diagnoses were based on widely accepted criteria. RESULTS: Of the 8481 patients, 4935 (58.2%) were female and 3546 (41.8%) male. Mean patient age was 40.5 years. Dyspepsia (42.6%), upper GI bleed (32.8%), and evaluation of chronic liver disease (10.2%) were common indications of the procedure. An endoscopic diagnosis was possible in 82.6% patients. Varices, gastritis, duodenitis, and combined lesions were common endoscopic diagnosis. Gastritis and duodenitis were most frequent causes of upper GI bleed. We noted more gastric ulcers compared to duodenal ulcers. Females had significantly more normal endoscopies, p-value=0.02. CONCLUSION: Upper GI endoscopy is an effective procedure. Dyspepsia evaluation is commonest indication for upper GI endoscopy in our patients. Etiology of upper GI bleed, and incidence of duodenal ulcer compared to gastric ulcer in our patients are different than described in literature. Females have significantly more normal endoscopies.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Ectopic intestinal varices as a rare cause of lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

Ectopic intestinal varices are rarely responsible for lower gastrointestinal (GI) haemorrhage. A case of 55 years old male with recurrent melena is being presented, who was found to have scattered varices on small as well as large intestine. Selective review of literature regarding presentation, diagnosis and management of these cases is also part of presentation.

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMed1995

A pilot project in office-based diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy comparing two nonintravenous methods of sedation and anesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance and findings of diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) procedures in a primary care office setting, comparing two nonintravenous methods of sedation and anesthesia. DESIGN: A consecutive case series of patients with appropriate indications referred over a 13-month period for the EGD procedure was studied. Procedure outcomes and patient acceptance were evaluated following the procedure. SETTING: Patients were referred from community primary care physician offices to another community private office. PATIENTS: Medically stable adult patients with indications for nonemergent EGD were referred for evaluation. INTERVENTION: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed in an office setting using small-caliber (7.9-mm or 9.0-mm) fiberoptic endoscopes. Patients were given either diazepam orally and ketorolac tromethamine intramuscularly or triazolam orally and butorphanol tartrate spray intranasally as sedation prior to the procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical findings observed, histopathologic results, complications, oxygen desaturation, cardiac dysrhythmias, and length of procedures were recorded. Patients reported pain and satisfaction scores on a linear numeric scale following the procedure. RESULTS: No major complications were noted in this study population. Seventy-three percent (52/71) of all patients rated their discomfort during the office-based EGD procedure as mild, with 49% (35/71) giving the lowest possible pain score rating. Ninety-six percent (68/71) of all patients rated their satisfaction with the procedure as high, with 65% (46/71) reporting the highest possible level of satisfaction. The study did not demonstrate a significant difference in patient comfort or satisfaction between the two methods of nonintravenous sedation. CONCLUSIONS: Two alternative methods to intravenous sedation and anesthesia appear to create adequate comfort and satisfaction for patients undergoing EGD and merit future study and consideration.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1998

Globus sensation: pharyngoesophageal function, psychometric and psychiatric findings, and follow-up in 88 patients.

BACKGROUND: The globus sensation has been widely regarded as psychogenic, but organic disorders were found to be etiologically significant. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the structural, functional, psychological, and psychiatric factors possibly eliciting the globus sensation and influencing its course. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients, 67 women and 21 men (aged 22-71 years), referred to 2 tertiary care centers underwent history taking, otolaryngological examination, pharyngoesophageal videofluoroscopy and manometry, psychosocial evaluation, psychometric tests, psychiatric interview, and when indicated, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, esophageal bolus transport, gastroesophageal reflux, and gastric emptying studies. According to revealed disorders, therapy was initiated, and the outcome was studied. RESULTS: Only 15 patients had normal pharyngoesophageal function; of these 15, 6 had chronic tonsillitis or pharyngitis, 3 had thyroid adenomata, 4 had cervical spondylosis, and 1 each had dry oropharyngeal mucosa and chronic bronchitis. Of the other 73 patients, 2 had pharyngeal dysfunction, 24 had achalasia, 1 had diffuse esophageal spasms, 3 had "nutcracker esophagus," 30 had nonspecific esophageal motor disorders, and 13 had gastroesophageal reflux. Psychometry revealed no more anxiety and depression than in general medical outpatients. Of 58 patients interviewed, 37 met criteria for psychiatric disorders. Psychometric scores and psychiatric characteristics were unrelated to the sensation's course. Therapy was recommended, but only 26 patients were treated accordingly; 22 received nonspecific treatment. Follow-up 3 to 59 months later revealed that the sensation had vanished in 13 patients who had received specific treatment, 5 who had received nonspecific treatment, and 6 who had received no treatment; it was alleviated in 10 who had received specific treatment, 13 who had received nonspecific treatment, and 9 who had received no treatment; and it was unchanged in 3 who had received specific treatment, 5 who had received nonspecific treatment, and 23 patients who had received no treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Pharyngoesophageal disorders may be sensed only vaguely, inducing the globus sensation. Psychological and psychiatric characteristics could be relevant to the discomfort experienced but are unlikely to be etiologically significant.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Heartburn requiring frequent antacid use may indicate significant illness.

BACKGROUND: Many otherwise healthy individuals with episodic heartburn self-medicate with over-the-counter antacids. We evaluated clinical characteristics of subjects who had never been medically diagnosed as having any upper gastrointestinal tract disorder and who used antacids for symptomatic relief of heartburn. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects with at least 3 months of frequent heartburn relieved by antacids, and with heartburn on at least 4 of 7 days during the week prior to study entry, had their medical history and gastrointestinal pathological characteristics recorded. Tests included esophagogastroduodenoscopy, esophageal motility and sensitivity studies, and 24-hour pH monitoring. RESULTS: Of 178 subjects screened, 13 were excluded on the basis of other gastrointestinal diseases at baseline, including diffuse esophageal spasm, peptic ulcer disease, dysplastic columnar metaplasia of the esophagus (Barrett's esophagus), and adenocarcinoma. Ten subjects were ineligible because of insufficient baseline heartburn. The remaining 155 eligible subjects had heartburn for an average of 11 years. Forty-seven percent had daily symptoms and 70% described heartburn severity as moderate, even though on endoscopy most (53%) had normal-appearing esophageal mucosa (grade 0 or 1). Esophageal acid sensitivity was present in 86% of subjects. Mean lower esophageal sphincter pressures and esophageal contractile amplitudes were at the lower limits of normal and total esophageal acid contact time was slightly increased. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic heartburn can reflect a wide range of diagnostic findings, including important underlying pathological features, and may warrant a full medical examination to detect such abnormal conditions and to permit selection of appropriate therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

Increased prevalence of celiac disease in patients with dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND: Although 30% to 40% of patients with celiac disease (CD) (which affects 1 in 200 individuals) have dyspeptic symptoms, there is a lack o data concerning the prevalence of CD in patients with dyspepsia. METHODS: In this prospective series, we enrolled all consecutive outpatients undergoing endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract for dyspepsia at our centers between January and June 1998. The exclusion criteria were age younger than 12 years, workup or follow-up of an already known disease of the gastrointestinal tract, suspected CD, malabsorption, and/or iron-deficiency anemia. RESULTS: Of the 3019 patients who were evaluated, 517 (17%) were eligible for the study. Endoscopic findings suggested CD in 5 cases. Celiac disease was histologically diagnosed in 6 patients (5 women and 1 man; mean age, 31.3 years; age range, 20-46 years), 3 of whom had a normal endoscopic pattern and 3 of whom had an endoscopic pattern that was consistent with CD. In the patients with histologically diagnosed CD, antiendomysium antibody positivity supported the diagnosis. The relative risk for CD was 2.32 (95% confidence interval, 1.06-5.07) in comparison with the general population and higher among females (3.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-7.56). CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicate that the prevalence of CD in patients with dyspepsia is twice that of the general population. Thus, serological screening for CD should be considered in the early workup of these patients to allow diagnosis and treatment of an eminently treatable disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Physician, heal Thyself? Regular source of care and use of preventive health services among physicians.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the regular source of care (RSOC) among physicians, a group whose self-care may reflect the attitudes and recommendations they convey to their patients. METHODS: We performed a cohort study of physicians who graduated from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine from 1948 through 1964 to identify predictors of not having an RSOC, and to determine whether not having an RSOC was associated with subsequent receipt of preventive services. The RSOC was assessed in a 1991 survey; use of cancer screening tests and the influenza vaccine was assessed in 1997. RESULTS: The response rate in 1991 was 77% (915 respondents); 35% (312) had no RSOC. Internists (odds ratio [OR], 3.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58-6.74), surgeons (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.17-5.02), and pathologists (OR, 5.46; 95% CI, 2.09-14.29) were significantly more likely to not have an RSOC than pediatricians. Not having an RSOC was inversely related to the belief that health is determined by health professionals (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.29-0.68) and directly related to the belief that chance (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.28-2.82) determines health. Not having an RSOC in 1991 predicted not being screened for breast, colon, and prostate cancer, as well as not receiving an influenza vaccine at 6 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A large percentage of physicians in our sample had no RSOC, and this was associated with both medical specialty and beliefs about control of health outcomes. Not having an RSOC was significantly associated with failure to use preventive services several years later. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:3209-3214.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Esophageal candidiasis in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. A decision analysis to assess cost-effectiveness of alternative management strategies.

BACKGROUND: Currently no consensus exists concerning the timing of upper endoscopy and the choice of antifungal therapy for patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus who also have esophageal candidiasis. The objective of this research was to determine the clinical and economic effects of alternative management strategies for these patients. METHODS: Decision analysis was used to evaluate the outcomes, costs, and cost-effectiveness of two strategies for the diagnostic workup and treatment of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus with dysphagia and/or odynophagia: (1) empiric--a strategy to treat all patients empirically with an oral antifungal agent for up to 4 weeks; and (2) initial esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)--a strategy to perform EGD on all patients and to treat only those with esophageal candidiasis with an oral antifungal agent for up to 4 weeks. Within each strategy, three antifungal regimens were evaluated: ketoconazole, 200 mg daily; fluconazole, 100 mg daily; and ketoconazole, 200 mg daily, for 2 weeks followed by fluconazole, 200 mg daily, for 2 weeks in nonresponders. Information on the probability of esophageal candidiasis in patients with esophageal symptoms and the efficacy of antifungal therapy was obtained from the literature. The costs for diagnostic workup were estimated using both teaching hospital charges and Medicare reimbursement payments. The costs of antifungal therapy were estimated from local pharmacy charges. The average cost per complete response and incremental cost-effectiveness were calculated and subjected to sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Using the best available evidence for antifungal efficacy, empiric fluconazole was the most cost-effective strategy for all probabilities of esophageal candidiasis that were more than 0.55. Using teaching hospital charges in our base-case analysis, the average costs per complete response for empiric fluconazole and initial EGD and fluconazole were $2706 and $3141, respectively. The incremental cost-effectiveness of initial EGD and fluconazole compared with empiric fluconazole was $3792 per additional complete response. When the cost-effectiveness of the two strategies was compared as the cost of diagnostic workup was varied, initial EGD and fluconazole became the dominant strategy when the diagnostic workup cost fell below $710, a figure that is less than the current Medicare reimbursement payment. CONCLUSIONS: From the perspective of the payer of medical care, empiric fluconazole is the most cost-effective strategy for the initial management of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus with esophageal symptoms.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2004

Three-dimensional characteristics of the larynx with immobile vocal fold.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the 3-dimensional (3-D) characteristics of the laryngeal lumen in patients with unilateral vocal fold immobility (UVFI) during phonation with the aid of multislice helical computed tomography (MSHCT). DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: University hospital. Subjects Thirty-seven patients with UVFI. INTERVENTIONS: Each subject was asked to sustain the vowel /a/ and then to inhale slowly. The region over the larynx was scanned using MSHCT during each maneuver for 5 seconds; 3-D endoscopic images and coronal multiplanar reconstruction images were produced and evaluated. Thirty-two subjects underwent videostroboscopy within 2 weeks of the MSHCT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of thinning and paradoxical movement of the affected vocal fold, overadduction of the healthy fold, and vertical positional difference between the vocal folds during phonation were assessed based on 3-D and multiplanar reconstruction images. RESULTS: During phonation, the affected vocal fold was thinner in 31 subjects and was situated in a higher position in 21 subjects than the healthy fold. In 4 subjects, the affected vocal fold showed paradoxical movement and 3 other subjects had probable paradoxical movement. Overadduction of the healthy vocal fold occurred during phonation in 15 subjects. Videostroboscopy detected paradoxical movement in 2 of the 3 subjects with abduction of the affected vocal fold during phonation based on 3-D images, and overadduction in all 13 subjects examined. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of 3-D endoscopy with coronal multiplanar reconstruction images enables description of the 3-D characteristics of the unilaterally immobile larynx and supplements videostroboscopic findings exemplified by differences in vertical position and thickness between the vocal folds.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Asymmetry of the vocal folds in patients with vocal fold immobility.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the vocal fold length (VFL) during inspiration and phonation and to determine the vertical difference of the vocal folds during phonation in patients with unilateral vocal fold immobility. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital. Patients Thirty patients with unilateral vocal fold immobility. INTERVENTIONS: Each subject was asked to sustain the vowel /a/ and, after a short rest, to inhale slowly. The region over the larynx was scanned using multislice helical computed tomography during each maneuver; 3-dimensional endoscopic, coronal, and sagittal images were produced. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The VFLs on each side and the vertical differences between the vocal folds were calculated. RESULTS: The inspiratory VFL on both sides was significantly longer in men than in women. It was significantly longer on the healthy side than on the immobile side in both groups. On the healthy side, the inspiratory VFL was significantly longer than the phonatory VFL in men, but there was no significant difference in women. In contrast, on the immobile side, the phonatory VFL was significantly longer than the inspiratory VFL in women, but there was no significant difference in men. The VFLs of the healthy and immobile sides varied in tandem. The immobile vocal fold was situated lower than the healthy vocal fold during phonation in 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Multislice helical computed tomography is a novel method to measure the VFL and the vertical level difference between the vocal folds. Application of this method might facilitate further understanding of laryngeal behavior in patients with unilateral vocal fold immobility.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Efficacy of noninvasive tests in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection is likely acquired in childhood. Helicobacter pylori is recognized as a cause of gastritis and peptic ulcer. OBJECTIVE: To investigate some noninvasive tests, particularly H pylori fecal antigen, for the diagnosis of H pylori infection in comparison with the gold-standard invasive test, esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy. METHODS: We studied 250 patients (102 male; age range, 3-18 years) who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy (histologic examination and rapid urease test) for a suspicious upper gastrointestinal disease; in all of them, fecal H pylori antigen, serum H pylori immunoglobulin G, and cytotoxin-associated gene product A immunoglobulin G were measured. Sensitivity and specificity of noninvasive tests were compared with those of the gold-standard esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy. RESULTS: Ninety-three patients (37%) had positive histopathologic (Giemsa staining) and rapid urease test results. The H pylori fecal antigen revealed a sensitivity of 97%, a specificity of 98%, a positive predictive value of 97%, and a negative predictive value of 98%; serum H pylori immunoglobulin G had a sensitivity of 86%, a specificity of 80%, a positive predictive value of 72%, and a negative predictive value of 90%; and serum cytotoxin-associated gene product A immunoglobulin G had a sensitivity of 83%, a specificity of 80%, a positive predictive value of 71%, and a negative predictive value of 89%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that among noninvasive and easily applicable tests, particularly in small children, H pylori fecal test is simple, suitable, and has high accuracy for the screening of H pylori-positive patients.

Adolescent↗