Consecutive versus separate sessions of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for symptomatic choledocholithiasis.

Background: Common bile duct (CBD) stones are a potentially life-threatening medical condition. Patients with proven CBD stones should undergo stone extraction. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether performing endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for symptomatic CBD stones in a single session reduces complications related to postponing treatment due to separate EUS and ERCP sessions, and to assess the safety in both options.

[Thiopurine-induced hyperammonaemic encephalopathy in a patient with Crohn's disease].

Thiopurine drugs, azathioprine (Imuran) and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), are immunomodulators that have been shown to be effective at inducing and maintaining remission in inflammatory bowel disease. Although usually well-tolerated, the occurrence of side effects, typically myelotoxicity and hepatotoxicity, is a major drawback. The side effects can be classified as dose-dependent and independent.

Nonspecific esophageal motility disorders may be an early stage of a specific disorder, particularly achalasia.

The clinical significance of nonspecific esophageal motility disorder (NEMD) is unclear. Our aim was to investigate the natural history of NEMD. All manometries performed at Meir Hospital from 1997 to 2004 and diagnosed as NEMD were reviewed.

[ERCP for benign disease in the elderly: a good prognosis].

Background: biliary disease in the elderly (over 80) are common and can be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

Methods: medical records of patients age 80 and older who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for benign biliary disease from January 2000 to April 2005 were studied retrospectively.

Results: 100 patients of whom data was obtainable underwent 133 procedures.