A nine-year audit of open-access upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures: results and experience of a single centre.

Background: The appropriateness and safety of open-access endoscopy are very important issues as its use continues to increase.

Objective: To present a review of a nine-year experience with open-access upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with respect to indications, diagnostic efficacy, safety and diseases diagnosed.

Methods: A retrospective, observational case series of all patients who underwent open-access endoscopy between January 2000 and December 2008 was conducted.

Pruritus ani: an approach to an itching condition.

Pruritus ani is frequently encountered in children by the primary care physician and the pediatrician. It is mainly due to an infection with pinworms, but fecal soiling, poor hygiene, local irritation, and dietary agents should also be considered. Treatment should be directed at the underlying etiology.

Sleeve gastrectomy leads to Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Background: The role of Helicobacter pylori (HP) in patients scheduled and undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has not been previously evaluated.

Methods: Included were obese patients presenting to our institution for LSG over 24 months. All patients had presurgical HP breath test, and the symptomatic ones received triple therapy with symptom follow-up.

Incidental colorectal computed tomography abnormalities: would you send every patient for a colonoscopy?

Background: The clinical significance of colorectal wall thickening (CRWT) in patients undergoing abdominal computed tomography (CT) has not yet been definitively established.

Objectives: To compare alleged findings on abdominal CT with those of a follow-up colonoscopy.

Methods: Ninety-four consecutive patients found to have large-bowel abnormalities on abdominal CT were referred for colonoscopy.

Significant colonic neoplasia prevalence and ASGE recommendations: is it time for a change?

Goals And Background: To Evaluate the indications versus diagnostic yield of significant colonic neoplasia (SCN) in the open-access era and screening colonoscopy.

Study: During 6-year period, all procedural data were obtained from all consecutive patients who underwent colonoscopies. Indications were compared with American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guidelines.

[Open access colonoscopy: do primary care physicians use it properly?].

Background: Open access endoscopy facilitates the performance of colonoscopy on a physician's request, without a prior consultation with a gastroenterologist.

Objectives: To investigate: (1) the rates of relevant endoscopic findings in patients referred by family physicians compared to other specialists; (2) whether there is overuse of open-access colonoscopy in our country where the examination is free of charge for the patient; (3) whether a high rate of pre-malignant and malignant incidental findings might justify a more liberal approach to the indications of colonoscopy.

Methods: Prospective study including all consecutive ambulatory patients referred for open access colonoscopy.

Acute pancreatitis and upper gastrointestinal bleeding as presenting symptoms of duodenal Brunner's gland hamartoma.

Brunner's gland hamartomas are rare, benign small bowel tumours. There were fewer than 150 cases reported in the English literature until the end of the last century. These hamartomas may be discovered incidentally during an upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy.

Is traveler's diarrhea a significant risk factor for the development of irritable bowel syndrome? A prospective study.

A total of 564 travelers were enrolled in a study aimed at investigating the influence of traveler's diarrhea in the development of irritable bowel syndrome. At 6-7 months after repatriation, we found that an episode of traveler's diarrhea was associated with a quintuple risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome.

Hydrocortisone-induced convulsions.

Glucocorticoids may indirectly cause convulsions by the induction of electrolytes abnormalities, severe hypertension, or severe hyperglycemia. These agents may rarely cause convulsions by a direct toxicity to the central nervous system (CNS). We describe a 23-yr-old patient with Crohn's disease in whom generalized convulsions developed on two occasions while receiving intravenous hydrocortisone.

Alcohol consumption and the gastrointestinal tract.

Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused drugs, with a per capita consumption of approximately 10 L pure ethanol per year in the United States and even higher in Spain and France. In terms of mortality, the effect of alcohol on the liver and the pancreas is probably more significant than on the tubular gastrointestinal tract. However, alcohol is a very important cause of morbidity in the tubular gastrointestinal tract.