Mirtazapine for symptom control in refractory gastroparesis.

Introduction: Gastroparesis symptoms can be severe and debilitating. Many patients do not respond to currently available treatments. Mirtazapine has been shown in case reports to reduce symptoms in gastroparesis.

Massive Esophageal Variceal Bleeding as a Rare Complication of Sickle Cell Anemia.

A 24-year-old man with sickle cell anemia presented with fatigue, dark stool, and coffee ground emesis. He was found to have large esophageal varices and experienced massive variceal hemorrhage in the hospital. The varices were caused by diffuse splanchnic venous thrombosis, and his only risk factor for hypercoagulability was sickle cell anemia.

Current advances in treatment of gastroparesis.

Introduction: Gastroparesis is a syndrome defined by delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Gastroparesis has significant symptomatology and negative impacts on the patient's quality of life.

Areas Covered: This article reviews current treatment options for gastroparesis, recent advances in treatment and future directions that treatment may head.

Vancomycin Enemas as Adjunctive Therapy for Clostridium difficile Infection.

Background: For severe, complicated Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), concomitant treatment with IV metronidazole and oral vancomycin is usually prescribed. Sometimes vancomycin per rectum (VPR) is added to increase colonic drug delivery. Our purpose was to examine clinical outcomes of patients with CDI treated with VPR and compare results to a matched control group.