Microbiology of bile in patients with cholangitis or cholestasis with and without plastic biliary endoprosthesis.

Background: Cholangitis is a frequent complication of biliary stents. Empiric antibiotic selection is primarily based on bile cultures obtained from patients undergoing surgery and few data are available with respect to ERCP and biliary stents. This study analyzed the microbiology of bile and the antibiotic sensitivities of the organisms identified in patients presenting with clinical cholangitis or cholestasis.

Collagenous gastritis: a case report, morphologic evaluation, and review.

Collagenous gastritis is rare; there are only four previous case reports. Histologic features seem to overlap with the other "collagenous enterocolitides"; however, pathologic criteria are not yet established for the diagnosis of collagenous gastritis. We describe an additional case of ostensible collagenous gastritis in a patient who initially presented with celiac sprue and subsequently developed colonic manifestations of mucosal ulcerative colitis.

Early recognition of post-ERCP pancreatitis by clinical assessment and serum pancreatic enzymes.

Background: This study evaluates the relative value of clinical assessment and serum pancreatic enzymes in the discharge management of outpatients undergoing ERCP.

Methods: Two hundred thirty-one patients who underwent ERCP had a detailed clinical assessment performed 2 h after the procedure and blood drawn for amylase and lipase.

Results: One-third of the patients who later developed pancreatitis had no pain 2 h after the end of the procedure, whereas an equal number who had no pancreatitis did complain of pain.