Approaches to Cholecystitis: Surgical, Endoscopic, and Percutaneous Management.

Acute cholecystitis (AC) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Minimally invasive laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains the gold standard of treatment. Therapeutic endoscopy for management of AC continues to emerge as a favorable alternative to percutaneous gallbladder drainage in patients with prohibitive operative risk.

Pyloric Stenosis: A Rare Manifestation of Crohn's Disease.

We are presenting a rare case of pyloric stenosis due to Crohn's disease. A 53-year-old woman with prior history of colonic Crohn's disease was admitted to the hospital with gastric outlet obstruction. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated pyloric stenosis and biopsy was consistent with Crohn's disease.

COVID-19-Associated Ischemic Colitis: A Rare Manifestation of COVID-19 Infection-Case Report and Review.

Following the first report of COVID-19 infection in December 2019 as a respiratory illness, it has proven to be a multisystem disease. There are few reported cases of ischemic colitis with COVID-19 infection in the medical literature to date and we have limited understanding of its pathophysiology. We report 2 cases of ischemic colitis as the only manifestation of COVID-19.

An Exceedingly Rare Case of Liraglutide-Induced Liver Injury.

Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We are reporting the second case of liraglutide-induced liver injury, with complete resolution of liver injury after discontinuation of the drug.

Metastatic Gastric Cancer to the Colon.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers worldwide, especially amongst older males. Current data suggest gastric cancer is the fifth most common neoplasm and the third most deadly cancer, with an estimated 783,000 deaths in 2018. Risk factors associated with the development of gastric cancer include obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disease, infection, and low socioeconomic status.

The Impact of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): A Retrospective Nationwide Study.

Background: The "remission theory" is an emerging concept that suggests the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) results in decreased disease severity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. This theory is based upon evidence that implicates CD4 T-lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. This study sought to elucidate the legitimacy of this theory.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with worse outcomes in ischemic colitis: a nationwide retrospective study.

Background: Ischemic colitis (IC) occurs when the blood supply of the large intestine becomes compromised. Several cardiovascular conditions, such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and atrial fibrillation, are well-established risk factors for the development of IC. The effects of pulmonary conditions, namely chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), on IC have not been well studied.

Esophagitis Dissecans Superficialis (EDS) Secondary to Hair Dye Ingestion: Case Report and Literature Review.

Esophagitis dissecans superficialis (EDS) is a rare and underdiagnosed esophageal lesion characterized by sloughing of the esophageal mucosa that has been associated with medications, various autoimmune disorders, and exposure to some chemical irritants. Anatomically, EDS is most commonly seen in the middle and distal thirds of the esophagus. When present, EDS is best treated by discontinuing the offending agent and initiating pharmacologic therapy with proton pump inhibitors.

In-hospital mortality in gastroparesis population and its predictors: A United States-based population study.

Background And Aim: To determine the United States-based in-hospital gastroparesis mortality rate and independent predictors associated with it.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using the deidentified National Inpatient Sample and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project database between the years 2012 and 2014. The in-hospital gastroparesis mortality rate was calculated.

Cirrhosis Is Associated With Worse Outcomes in Ischemic Colitis: A Nationwide Retrospective Study.

Background: Ischemic colitis (IC) occurs when the blood supply of the large intestine becomes compromised. Cirrhosis is a disease entity in which there is a delicate balance between pro-coagulant and anti-coagulant states. Our aim was to examine the impact cirrhosis has on outcomes in patients with ischemic colitis.

Epidemiology of esophageal cancer: update in global trends, etiology and risk factors.

Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common type of cancer worldwide and constitutes the sixth leading cause of cancer deaths. It is characterized by its high mortality rate, poor prognosis at time of diagnosis and variability based on geographic location. Present day, the prevalence of esophageal cancer is in transition.

End-stage renal disease and lower gastrointestinal bleeding-A propensity-matched analysis of nationwide inpatient sample.

Aims: We aim to determine the influence of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) on mortality, morbidity, length of hospital stay and resource utilisation in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients.

Material And Methods: The National Inpatient Sample database (2016 &2017) was used for data analysis using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes to identify the patients with the principal diagnosis of ESRD and LGIB. We assessed the all-cause in-hospital mortality, morbidity, predictors of mortality, length of hospital stay (LOS) and total costs between propensity-matched groups of ESRD patients with LGIB versus ESRD patients.

Implementing visual cues to improve the efficacy of screening colonoscopy: exploiting the Hawthorne effect.

Background: Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colon cancer screening. Adenoma detection rate and a withdrawal time of 6 min are quality metrics to measure the efficacy of colonoscopy in colon cancer screening. The aim of our study was to exploit the Hawthorne effect in an effort to ensure adherence to a minimum 6-min withdrawal time and subsequently increase adenoma detection rate.

Esophageal Cancer: An Updated Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Database Analysis.

Background: Esophageal cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the eighth most common cancer worldwide with a 5-year survival rate of less than 25%. Here we report the incidence, risk factors and treatment options that are available currently, and moving into the future.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database made available by the National Cancer Institute in the USA.

National Trends and Hospitalizations Related to Pancreatic Cancer in Acute Pancreatitis Patients: A Nationwide Inpatient Sample Study.

Background Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the common cancers in the United States (U.S.) and is associated with high mortality and morbidity.

Spontaneous Gastrojejunal Fistulization after Roux-en-Y Bypass Surgery: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Fistula development is an uncommon but well-recognized complication following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The broad spectrum of clinical presentation represents a challenge at the time of diagnosis. We present the case of a patient who developed gastrojejunal fistulization after gastric bypass surgery.

Bilateral Basal Ganglia Infarction After Intranasal Use of Cocaine: A Case Report.

We present a case of a young man who developed bilateral basal ganglia infarct after intranasal use of cocaine. Cerebral ischemic infarcts are a known complication of cocaine use. This complication is rare and has been reported in the past with cocaine and concomitant use of other drugs such as heroin and amphetamines.

Elevated International Normalized Ratio: A Risk Factor for Portal Vein Thrombosis in Cirrhotic Patients.

Background: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a complication that is commonly seen in patients with cirrhosis and an entity that leads to increased mortality in patients who undergo liver transplantation. This study aims to establish a link between an elevated international normalized ratio (INR) and the presence of PVT in a cohort of cirrhotic patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of all patients diagnosed with cirrhosis in SBH Health System from 2013 to 2018.

An unexpected surprise: Delayed gastric outlet obstruction from coin ingestion.

Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is characterized by postprandial vomiting due to mechanical obstruction. Rarely it can occur due to ingestion of a foreign body. Most cases of foreign body ingestion are benign, with passage of the ingested object into the stool with no clinical sequelae.

Herpes Simplex Virus Hepatitis: A Brief Review of an Oft-overlooked Pathology.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a rarely reported cause of viral hepatitis. Aggressive in nature, most cases of HSV hepatitis rapidly progress to fulminant hepatic failure. Present day, its pathogenesis is yet to be elucidated, but its complications and associated high mortality rate are clear.

Rectal Dieulafoy's Lesion: A Rare Etiology of Lower Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage.

A Dieulafoy's lesion is defined as a dilated submucosal vessel that erodes the overlying epithelium without evidence of a primary ulcer or erosion. It is a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding that is difficult to identify and subsequently manage. Most commonly, they occur in the upper gastrointestinal tract, namely the stomach.

Idiopathic Retroperitoneal Fibrosis Presenting as Low Back Pain.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare condition characterized by the presence of fibrous inflammatory tissue in the retroperitoneal structures, such as the infrarenal great vessels and ureters. We are reporting an atypical case of an alcoholic who presented with chronic back pain and abnormal liver function tests. Abdominal imaging revealed an incidental, ill-defined, abnormal soft tissue mass in the left pelvis and mild to moderate left hydroureteronephrosis.