The black esophagus.

A dark-pigmented (black) esophagus is a rare observation during the course of upper endoscopy. The differential diagnosis of a black esophagus includes acute necrotizing esophagitis, exogenous dye ingestion, lye ingestion, malignant melanoma, melanosis, and pseudomelanosis esophagi. Many of these conditions are suggested by the history and associated endoscopic findings.

Infrared video imaging of subsurface vessels: a feasibility study for the endoscopic management of gastrointestinal bleeding.

The feasibility of infrared video imaging of subsurface vessels in the stomach was investigated both experimentally and in more detail using computer simulations of light propagation. Infrared video imaging was first attempted in several experimental situations. Images of a human arm illuminated with infrared light (wavelength > 700 nm) revealed subcutaneous venous structures not revealed by visible light (wavelength of 500 to 600 nm).

Prospective multicenter evaluation of an initially placed button gastrostomy.

Eight-six patients were prospectively evaluated following placement of the One-Step gastric button. Placement problems, most commonly caused by the stoma measurement device, were noted in 17%. In an additional 30% of patients, peristomal infection, leakage, or migration developed within the first 90 days of placement.

Bleeding from the endoscopically-identified Dieulafoy lesion of the proximal small intestine and colon.

Objectives: Our goal was to assess the incidence of the endoscopically-identified small intestinal and colonic Dieulafoy-like lesions in our GI bleeding population and to characterize the clinical and endoscopic features and response to endoscopic therapy.

Methods: Patients with GI bleeding from Dieulafoy lesions were identified from our Bleeding Team and GI laser data bases from August 1984 to September 1993. Clinical and endoscopic information contained within the data bases and from each patient's medical record were retrospectively reviewed.

Impact of therapeutic endoscopy on the treatment of bleeding duodenal ulcers: 1980-1990.

Therapeutic endoscopy (TE) has provided a new means for treating peptic ulcer disease, prompting a reevaluation of surgery's role. The aim of this study was to determine if surgical therapy of bleeding duodenal ulcers has changed since the advent of TE. This retrospective review involved consecutive time periods during which TE was (1985-1990) and was not (1980-1984) widely available.

Does performance status influence the outcome of Nd:YAG laser therapy of proximal esophageal tumors?

The value of endoscopic palliative therapy for malignant obstruction in the proximal esophagus has been questioned. To assess the importance of pre-treatment performance status on treatment outcome, we reviewed the records of patients with tumors of the proximal esophagus undergoing endoscopic laser therapy between January 1986 and December 1988. As compared with 10 patients having a good performance status, eight patients with a poor performance status had a lower frequency of obtaining complete functional relief of dysphagia (14% versus 71%), an increased rate of complications (50% versus 0%), and a shorter median survival time (24 days versus 161 days).

Acute gastrointestinal bleeding from portal hypertensive gastropathy: prevalence and clinical features.

The clinical and endoscopic features of patients diagnosed with acute bleeding due to portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) were evaluated. Acute bleeding from PHG was diagnosed in 12 patients (0.8%) of 1496 patient admissions prospectively evaluated by our Gastrointestinal Bleeding Team over a 3-yr period, and accounted for 8% of nonvariceal bleeding diagnosed in patients with liver disease.

Endoscopic laser coagulation of radiation-induced mucosal vascular lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract and proximal colon.

Unlabelled: Endoscopic laser coagulation effectively controls bleeding from radiation-induced rectal vascular lesions.

Objective: To assess the outcome of endoscopic treatment of radiation-induced bleeding due to vascular lesions located proximal to the sigmoid colon.

Methods: We identified 15 consecutive patients with such proximal radiation enteropathy treated at our Institution with Nd:YAG laser between 1984 and 1991.

Endoscopic Nd:YAG laser coagulation of bleeding from radiation proctopathy.

Hematochezia from mucosal vascular lesions usually confined to the rectum represents an uncommon but problematic late complication of pelvic radiotherapy. We studied 47 patients with medically refractory hematochezia resulting from radiation-induced rectosigmoid mucosal vascular lesions. All lesions were endoscopically coagulated with Nd:YAG laser.