Publications by authors named "Garrett F Mortensen"

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of death in North America and Western Europe with rising rates in the developing world. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with FNA (fine needle aspiration) is a critical component in the evaluation and diagnosis of pancreatic lesions with a high sensitivity and specificity. In this paper, we report patients at our center who eventually developed pancreatic cancer despite an early negative EUS, and identifying factors that may result in a missed diagnosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for patients experiencing biliary colic after gallbladder removal, specifically those with minimal bile duct dilation and no stones or malignancy.
  • A review of patients treated at the University of Louisville showed that most required multiple ERCP procedures, with some undergoing sphincterotomy, stent placement, or balloon dilation.
  • Despite some experiencing complications like pancreatitis, the results suggest that ERCP can provide long-term symptom relief for these select patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Patients undergoing irreversible electroporation (IRE) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) may experience biliary obstruction owing to inflammation generated by tumor ablation. This study assessed the safety, efficacy, and technical details of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for biliary decompression after IRE.

Methods: A single-institution database of patients undergoing IRE for LAPC between 2012 and 2017 was queried for patients requiring post-IRE ERCP.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A case of a 39-year-old woman diagnosed with superior mesenteric artery syndrome after a 25-year history of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that began as a teenager and the absence of any significant weight loss illustrates the diagnostic complexity of this entity, particularly among teenagers and young adults who present with these symptoms. The patient underwent multiple upper endoscopies and serologic evaluations before a contrasted CT demonstrated an acutely angled SMA and duodenal compression, prompting the diagnosis of SMA syndrome. This case underscores the importance of including congenital SMA syndrome on the differential in young people without an obvious cause of persistent nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF