Endoscopic treatment of biliary complications after liver transplantation.

Background: biliary complications are an important cause of morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a therapeutic option, which is less invasive than surgical management.

Materials And Methods: the endoscopic management with ERCP of patients with biliary complications after liver transplantation in the Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña between 2012 and 2018 was reviewed.

How Do Hepatologists Gain Access to Liver Transplant Units?

Liver transplantation has evolved from an experimental treatment to be considered as the most effective therapy for end-stage liver disease and selected cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. Transplant hepatologists must have specific knowledge and abilities to treat those patients who receive a liver transplant. In Spain, approximately 1100 liver transplants are performed each year, and most centers assume both postoperative care and long-term follow-up, which has led to a significant work load in liver transplant units.

Everolimus-based immunosuppression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma at high risk of recurrence after liver transplantation: a case series.

Background: Liver transplantation offers the most effective treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, transplant patients outside the Milan criteria have a high risk of tumor recurrence, which has been linked to standard immunosuppression regimens. Everolimus is a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor that has been used for immunosuppression, but its effect on recurrence and survival in HCC patients with a high risk of tumor recurrence has not been examined.

Incidence of tumoral pathology according to study using capsule endoscopy for patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Background: Capsule endoscopy has involved a significant advance in techniques for imaging of the small bowel. Its most frequent indication is for studying patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). Small bowel tumors are infrequent, representing only 1% to 3% of all malignant gastrointestinal tumors.

Acetic acid allows effective selection of areas for obtaining biopsy samples in Barrett's esophagus.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether macroscopic changes resulting from acetic acid application on the surface of columnar-lined esophagus allow regular, nonmagnifying, endoscopic identification of areas presenting dysplasia and/or cancer in Barrett's esophagus.

Patients And Methods: A total of 100 patients (mean age, 53 years; range, 27-86 years) under surveillance because of short-segment (n=71) and long-segment (n=29) Barrett's esophagus, with no alterations of columnar-lined esophagus on standard endoscopy, were enrolled. After endoscopic examination, 3% acetic acid was sprayed on columnar-lined esophagus.

Self-expandable stents in malignant colonic obstruction: insertion assisted with a sphincterotome in technically difficult cases.

Background: Stent placement is effective in relieving malignant colonic obstruction. Nevertheless, the technique may offer difficulties in sharply angulated lesions.

Methods: Guidewire insertion assisted with a sphincterotome was performed in 4 patients with intestinal obstruction caused by malignant colonic strictures.

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: a complication of radiation enteritis diagnosed by wireless capsule endoscopy.

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is a common disorder and may account for as many as 5% of all gastrointestinal hemorrhages. It is often caused by lesions in the small intestine, which were very complicated to examine prior to the advent of wireless capsule endoscopy. Here we present the case of a 31-year-old woman with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding as a complication of radiation enteritis, which was diagnosed only after she underwent an examination with wireless capsule endoscopy.

Indication and results of endoscopic management of sigmoid volvulus.

Introductions: sigmoid volvulus is a relatively common cause of intestinal obstruction, particularly in the elderly and in patients with debilitating conditions. As the risks associated with surgical treatment of the sigmoid volvulus are in many cases too high, conservative (endoscopic) management is an option to be considered.

Material And Methods: all emergency lower gastrointestinal endoscopies performed between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2001 were review and, among these, the cases of diagnosis of sigmoid volvulus were selected.