Endoscopic Deployment of Cardiac Septal Occluder Device to Close an Enterovaginal Fistula.

Enterovaginal fistulas (EF) are a rare, pathologic connection between the small bowel and vagina. EF commonly present with abnormal passage of stool, flatus, and purulence through the vaginal orifice, leading to increased risk of severe infections, and cause extreme discomfort for patients. A 70-year-old woman with a history of urothelial carcinoma was treated surgically, resulting in a persistent symptomatic EF.

Weight Loss Success With Repeat Intragastric Balloon Placement After Hyperinflation and Removal of the Index Balloon.

Intragastric balloons are an increasingly common endoscopic alternative to bariatric surgery for the treatment of obesity. Hyperinflation is a rare complication that presents as acute-onset epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, early satiety, abdominal distention or bloating, and rapid weight loss. Hyperinflation requires prompt diagnosis and removal of the balloon to prevent complications including gastric outlet obstruction or gastric perforation.

Multifocal Pyloric Gland Adenoma of the Esophagus Treated by Circumferential Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection.

Pyloric gland adenoma is a rare neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract typically observed in the stomach with a substantial malignant potential warranting its resection. While isolated esophageal pyloric gland adenoma has been reported, there is no literature on the encounter of diffuse, multifocal esophageal pyloric gland adenoma or its management. We present a unique case of multifocal pyloric gland adenoma of the esophagus treated by circumferential endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Development of an automated ERCP Quality Report Card using structured data fields.

Background And Aims: Measuring adherence to ERCP quality indicators (QIs) is confounded by variability in indications, maneuvers, and documentation styles. We hypothesized that incorporation of mandatory, structured data fields within reporting software would permit accurate measurement of QI adherence rates and facilitate generation of a provider ERCP report card.

Methods: At two referral centers, endoscopy documentation software was modified to generate provider alerts prior to finalizing the note.

Characterization of the main phase transition in 1,2-dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine luvs by 1H NMR.

The main phase transition (Tm) of 100 nm large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) of 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) was investigated using 1H NMR (proton magnetic resonance) in deuterium oxide, and both DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and IR (infrared) spectroscopy in water and deuterium oxide. The ability of 1H NMR to determine Tm was demonstrated and the values obtained were in general agreement with those observed with DSC and IR. However, the temperature range of the transition observed by NMR was significantly broader than that observed with either DSC or IR.

Physical and thermal properties of blood storage bags: implications for shipping frozen components on dry ice.

Background: Frozen blood components are shipped on dry ice. The lower temperature (-70 degrees C in contrast to usual storage at -30 degrees C) and shipping conditions may cause a rent in the storage bag, breaking sterility and rendering the unit useless. The rate of loss can reach 50 to 80 percent.