Bleeding Duodenal Ulcer Research Articles

Comparison of Weekly Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis with Alendronate Versus Risedronate Over Two Years

Alendronate and risedronate are bisphosphonate drugs that are widely used to lower the risk of bone fractures in postmenopausal women who have osteoporosis. Both these agents-but particularly alendronate-significantly increased bone mineral density (BMD) and lowered markers of bone turnover in the FACT (Fosamax Actonel Comparison Trial), a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study enrolling 1053 women, postmenopausal for at least 6 months, who initially had low values of BMD and were followed up after 12 months of treatment. Once-weekly doses of alendronate and risedronate were 70 and 35 mg, respectively. A one-year extension of the FACT now has been completed in 833 of the original participants. Changes in BMD were assessed at the trochanter, total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine. Similar proportions of women in the two treatment groups took part in the extended study, and their demographic characteristics were similar. BMD increased significantly more at all sites in alendronate-treated women, and the differences increased over time. In addition, significantly more women treated with alendronate maintained or gained BMD at each measurement site, and fewer of them had lower BMD values after 2 years. Both drugs significantly reduced bone resorption as reflected by decreases in urinary N-telopeptide of type 1 human collagen (corrected for creatinine) and serum C-telopeptide. Both drugs lowered serum levels of two markers of bone formation, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and N-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen. There were no significant group differences in rates of total clinical adverse events, serious events, or withdrawal because of side effects after 2 years of treatment. Levels of upper gastrointestinal side effects such as dyspepsia, nausea, and reflux that prompted withdrawal from the study were similarly frequent in the two treatment groups. One risedronate-treated patient developed a bleeding duodenal ulcer during the extension period and died. Patients in the two groups were at similar risk of clinical fractures.

The Papilla of Vater just below the Pylorus Presenting as Recurrent Duodenal Ulcer Bleeding

The papilla of Vater emptying into the duodenal bulb site is extremely rare and considered an aberrant condition. We report here a case with recurrent duodenal ulcer bleeding associated with this anomaly. A 42-year-old man was admitted to St. Mary Hospital because of tarry stool for three days. Despite no documented etiology to explain recurrent ulceration, the patient had about ten episodes of ulcer bleeding since 1995. On duodenoscopy, 1.0 x 0.6 cm sized active stage duodenal ulcer with oozing was observed at the posterior wall side below the pylorus. The papilla of Vater was bulging just below the pylorus. Bile juice was excreted from its opening. Pancreatic duct and common bile duct, which drained into the bulb site, were observed on ERCP. In this report, we show that recurrent duodenal ulcer can be associated with the papilla of Vater just below the pylorus.

Laparoscopic transgastric endoscopy after Roux-en- Y gastric bypass

Background Access and endoscopic evaluation of the bypassed stomach is difficult after laparoscopic Roux-en- Y gastric bypass. We propose a minimally invasive technique to access the bypassed stomach after Roux-en- Y gastric bypass for endoscopic diagnosis and treatment. Methods First, we established carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum to a pressure of 12–15 mm Hg. Next, 12-mm umbilical, 5-mm right upper quadrant, 5-mm left lower quadrant, and 15-mm left upper quadrant trocars were placed. A purse-string suture was placed on the anterior wall of the stomach. A gastrotomy was made using ultrasonic shears and the 15-mm trocar was placed into the stomach. The endoscope was then inserted through the 15-mm trocar, and the pneumoperitoneum was decreased to 10 mm Hg. Once the evaluation was complete, the gastrotomy was closed with a running suture or linear stapler. Results Ten patients at our institution have undergone laparoscopic transgastric endoscopy. Five patients had biliary pathologic findings. Four of these patients underwent successful endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and papillotomy; the procedure in the fifth patient was unsuccessful because stone impaction at the ampulla. Three patients were evaluated for gastrointestinal bleeding. One was diagnosed with a duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor, one with a bleeding duodenal ulcer, requiring surgical exploration; and the third had negative endoscopy findings. Two patients evaluated for chronic abdominal pain had negative endoscopy findings. No complications developed. Conclusions Laparoscopic transgastric endoscopy is a safe and minimally invasive approach for the evaluation of the gastric remnant, duodenum, and biliary tree in patients who have undergone Roux-en- Y gastric bypass.

Variations reported in surgical practice for bleeding duodenal ulcers

Background To determine the current surgical management of bleeding duodenal ulcers in our program, faculty (FAC) and residents (RES) were surveyed. Methods FAC (n = 33) and RES (n = 42) were surveyed regarding their surgery of choice between oversew (OS) or acid-reducing procedures (ARPs) in 4 scenarios. FAC who had recertified in general surgery (RECERT) were compared with young FAC who had not and RES (RES/young FAC). Two-group comparisons were performed. Results Seventy-three percent of FAC and 62% of RES responded. RES perform more ARPs on hemodynamic (HD), unstable, elderly patients than FAC ( P = .013). On the elderly patient, RES/young FAC perform more ARPs in a HD stable ( P = .07) and unstable condition ( P = .18). HD unstable patients would undergo OS more frequently than stable patients ( P = .016). Conclusions In this survey, the choice of optimal surgical procedure for an acute bleeding ulcer varies among surgeons based on years of surgical experience and individual patient factors.

Spironolactone and risk of upper gastrointestinal events: population based case-control study

Objective To confirm and quantify any association between spironolactone and upper gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers.Design Population based case-control study.Setting A primary care information database in the Netherlands.Participants All people on...

Validation of administrative data used for the diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal events following nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug prescription

To validate veterans affairs (VA) administrative data for the diagnosis of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-related upper gastrointestinal events (UGIE) and to develop a diagnostic algorithm. A retrospective study of veterans prescribed an NSAID as identified from the national pharmacy database merged with in-patient and out-patient data, followed by primary chart abstraction. Contingency tables were constructed to allow comparison with a random sample of patients prescribed an NSAID, but without UGIE. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to derive a predictive algorithm. Once derived, the algorithm was validated in a separate cohort of veterans. Of 906 patients, 606 had a diagnostic code for UGIE; 300 were a random subsample of 11 744 patients (control). Only 161 had a confirmed UGIE. The positive predictive value (PPV) of diagnostic codes was poor, but improved from 27% to 51% with the addition of endoscopic procedural codes. The strongest predictors of UGIE were an in-patient ICD-9 code for gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and haemorrhage combined with upper endoscopy. This algorithm had a PPV of 73% when limited to patients >or=65 years (c-statistic 0.79). Validation of the algorithm revealed a PPV of 80% among patients with an overlapping NSAID prescription. NSAID-related UGIE can be assessed using VA administrative data. The optimal algorithm includes an in-patient ICD-9 code for gastric or duodenal ulcer and gastrointestinal bleeding combined with a procedural code for upper endoscopy.

Recent trends in hospital admissions and mortality rates for peptic ulcer in Scotland 1982–2002

While overall hospital admission rates for peptic ulcer declined in England in the 1990 s, they increased among the elderly, especially for complicated ulcer. However, peptic ulcer admissions fell for all age groups in the United States. To examine time trends in the incidence of hospital admissions, mortality and operations because of peptic ulcer in Scotland from 1982 to 2002, and the use of various drugs relevant to the aetiology and treatment of peptic ulcer from 1992 to 2002. There was a general decrease in admission rates, especially for younger individuals. For individuals aged above 74 years, admission rates actually increased for gastric ulcer with haemorrhage among men, and for duodenal ulcer haemorrhage between both sexes. The number of operations fell dramatically, especially for younger patients. Mortality rates generally declined. Case fatality rates were greater for women than men, and declined over the study period for gastric ulcer, but increased for duodenal ulcer. The use of low-dose aspirin, oral anticoagulants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and proton-pump inhibitors increased while those of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and histamine-2 antagonists declined. Admission rates for peptic ulcer generally fell for younger individuals, but increased for older people with haemorrhage.

Naresh Gandhi

![Figure][1] Dr Naresh Gandhi died from a bleeding duodenal ulcer on 14 August 2005. He was just 43. Dr Gandhi graduated in Bombay in 1984 and obtained his MD in 1989. He was an outstanding student and, in addition to showing excellence in all areas of the medical curriculum, his

Pancreatic Cancer Presenting with Hematemesis from Directly Invading the Duodenum: Report of an Unusual Manifestation and Review

Pancreatic cancer is a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding, and it is extremely rare for hematemesis to be the initial manifestation of invasive pancreatic cancer. We report the case of a 67-year-old man with hematemesis who was found to have invasive pancreatic cancer with a bleeding duodenal ulcer. The patient was not icteric, but repeated sudden hematemesis. An urgent pancreatoduodenectomy was performed with a favorable outcome. Microscopic examination revealed that an adenocarcinoma originating from the pancreatic head extended to the muscularis propria of the duodenum. Furthermore, an exposed vessel and narrow fistula were found. The diagnosis, pathological findings, preoperative events, and postoperative outcome in this unusual case are reviewed.

Transcatheter arterial embolization in patients with bleeding duodenal ulcer: an alternative to surgery

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in patients with bleeding/rebleeding duodenal ulcers. Over a 6-year-period, 40 consecutive patients with bleeding/ rebleeding after endoscopic therapy and/or surgery for duodenal ulcer were included in the study. Superselective angiographic catheterization and coil embolization were performed by the same interventional radiologist. Lasting hemostasis was achieved in 26 of 40 patients (65%). Transfusion requirement was reduced from median 14 (range 3-35) units of blood before TAE to 2 (range 0-53) units after TAE. Ten patients died, five because of continuous bleeding. No adverse effects as a result of TAE were seen. TAE is an effective and safe treatment in a significant proportion of patients with bleeding duodenal/rebleeding ulcers after therapeutic endoscopy and/or surgery.

Massive Dissecting Intramural Duodenal Haematoma Following Endoscopic Haemostasis of a Bleeding Duodenal Ulcer

Intramural duodenal haematoma is a rare injury of the duodenum. Most reported cases are secondary to blunt trauma to the abdomen. Such injury following endoscopic intervention is even rarer, and there are no definite guidelines for its management. We report a case where endoscopic haemostasis of a bleeding duodenal ulcer resulted in a massive dissecting intramural duodenal haematoma with gastric outlet obstruction and obstructive jaundice.

L’antre gastrique, localisation primitive exceptionnelle d’un gastrinome dans le cadre d’une néoplasie endocrine multiple de type I

We report the case of an 18-year-old man, with no previous medical history, presenting with recurrent hemorrhagic duodenal ulcers revealing a Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. The initial diagnosis of sporadic gastrinoma of the antrum associated with satellite lymph nodes led to surgical treatment. The evolution of clinical and secretory tests associated with the outbreak of a primary hyperparathyroïdism demonstrated that the patient had a type I multiple endocrine neoplasia. To our knowledge, this is the first described case of primitive gastrinoma of the antrum occurring in a type I multiple endocrine neoplasia.

Gastrointestinal Complications of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy

Case presentation: A 59-year-old man with a history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and smoking was hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome requiring emergency percutaneous coronary intervention with 4 drug-eluting stents. His discharge medications included dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin 325 mg/d and clopidogrel 75 mg/d. Three weeks after discharge, he returned to the Emergency Department with bloody stools and a hematocrit of 23% (previously 36%) and required 3 U of packed red blood cells. Endoscopy showed a bleeding duodenal ulcer with adherent clot (Figure). Endoscopic image of bleeding duodenal ulcer with clot on top. This image was taken in a patient with a history similar to that of our patient. Arrow points to the base of duodenal ulcer with active bleeding. Picture contributed by Sarathchandra Reddy, MD, and Edwin Chun Ouyang, MD, PhD, Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Mass. We prescribe dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel to prevent and treat cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral arterial disease. According to American Heart Association statistics, 700 000 patients had stroke, 13 million had coronary artery disease, and 8 to 12 million suffered from peripheral arterial disease in 2002. Each year, 1.2 million patients in the United States receive dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents. The number of patients in the United States who receive dual antiplatelet therapy for various vascular conditions such as coronary artery disease, transient ischemic attack, thrombotic stroke, and peripheral vascular disease probably exceeds several million. The use of aspirin compared with placebo reduces the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from vascular causes by ≈25%.1 In the Clopidogrel Versus Aspirin in Patients at Risk of Ischemic Events (CAPRIE) trial, administration of clopidogrel decreased the relative risk of vascular events by 8.7% compared with aspirin.2 The …

Phase I Trial Evaluating the Safety of Bevacizumab With Concurrent Radiotherapy and Capecitabine in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

To study the safety of bevacizumab with capecitabine-based chemoradiotherapy. Patients with inoperable pancreatic adenocarcinoma received bevacizumab 2 weeks before radiotherapy (50.4 Gy treating the primary tumor and gross adenopathy), every 2 weeks during radiotherapy (12 patients each at 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10 mg/kg), and after radiotherapy until disease progression. Capecitabine was administered on days 14 through 52 (650 mg/m2 orally twice daily for the first six patients; 825 mg/m2 for the remaining patients). Significant acute gastrointestinal (43% grade 2; 4% grade 3), hand and foot syndrome (21% grade 2), and transient hematologic (8% grade 3 or greater) events were uncommon with protocol mandated dose reductions of capecitabine grade 2 toxicity (43% of patients). Among the first 30 patients treated, three patients had tumor-associated bleeding duodenal ulcers, and one had a contained duodenal perforation. No additional bleeding events occurred among the final 18 patients after patients with duodenal involvement by tumor were excluded. Nine (20%) of 46 assessable patients had confirmed partial responses until distant progression for a median of 6.2 months. Four patients have undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy without perioperative complication. The median survival was 11.6 months (95% CI, 9.6 to 13.6), from the start of protocol therapy. Concurrent bevacizumab did not significantly increase the acute toxicity of a relatively well-tolerated chemoradiotherapy regimen. However, ulceration and bleeding in the radiation field possibly related to bevacizumab occurred when tumor involved the duodenal mucosa. The encouraging efficacy end points suggest that the further study of bevacizumab with chemoradiotherapy is warranted.

Bleeding duodenal ulcer: Reduction in mortality with a planned approach

In a 6-year prospective study from 1972 to 1978 266 patients were admitted to a haematemesis and melaena unit with bleeding duodenal ulcer. There were 13 deaths, a mortality of 5 per cent. A comparison between the three consecutive 2-year periods of study showed an initial mortality of 6 per cent for the first 4 years falling to 2 per cent for the 93 admissions during the final 2 years of experience. Of the 120 patients treated surgically, 10 died in hospital, giving an operative mortality of 8 per cent. The trend in operative mortality was from 13 per cent for the initial 2-year period to 8 per cent for the second period and to 3 per cent for the final 2 years. The operative rate was consecutively 45, 50 and 34 per cent. There was 1 death in conservatively treated patients during each 2-year period of study. Three types of operation were performed: vagotomy, pyloroplasty and oversewing of the ulcer; Polya gastrectomy; and vagotomy and antrectomy. There was no difference in morbidity and mortality between these operations. At a mean follow-up of 3.1 years, 90 per cent of the patients had a good result from their operation. It is concluded that a prospective system of management with an active policy of early endoscopy, surgery and regular audit reduces the mortality from bleeding duodenal ulcer.

The Boerhaave syndrome (spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus).

Abstract Two cases of spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus are presented. Thoracotomy and surgical closure of the perforations resulted in satisfactory outcome in both instances. It is believed that the second case is the only recorded case in which haematemesis from a bleeding duodenal ulcer was the precipitating factor, and also it is believed that he is the oldest survivor to be reported. The literature, aetiology, and treatment of this interesting disease are discussed.

The management of upper gastro-intestinal tract haemorrhage

Abstract Two hundred successive patients with upper gastro-intestinal tract haemorrhage were admitted to a surgical unit for management. One hundred and thirty-five patients (67.5 per cent) had a chronic peptic ulcer, 33 patients (16.5 per cent) had acute lesions (either an erosive gastritis or an acute gastric ulcer), and 32 patients (16 per cent) were a mixture of other diagnoses, of which 13 (6.5 per cent) were simple conditions but 19 (9.5 per cent) were conditions with a bad prognosis, e.g., carcinoma of the stomach, oesophageal varices, aortic aneurysm. Surgery was undertaken for massive, continuing, or recurrent bleeding and was as ‘conservative’ as thought possible. In duodenal ulcer this consisted of suture of the ulcer with vagotomy and pyloroplasty, and suture of the ulcer with vagotomy where possible in cases of anastomotic ulcer. In gastric ulcer only those less than 2 cm. in diameter were treated by suture with vagotomy and pyloroplasty. Ulcers greater than 2 cm. in size requiring surgery were treated by gastrectomy. In the 181 patients whose underlying condition had a good prognosis there were 7 deaths (4 per cent). In this group 81 operations were carried out; 61 were ‘conservative’ operations for peptic ulcer, 2 were for repair of a hiatus hernia, and there were 18 gastrectomies, usually for a large gastric ulcer. There were 2 deaths among the operated patients; 1 after gastrectomy and 1 after a ‘conservative’ operation. There were 5 deaths among the 100 patients in the group which was treated non-operatively. There were 8 deaths among the 19 patients with underlying conditions of grave prognosis. The case for the admission of patients with upper gastro-intestinal tract bleeding to a surgical unit is fully discussed and it is advocated together with a selective policy for operation. Where operation is necessary this should be as conservative as possible for bleeding duodenal ulcer, chronic gastric ulcer less than 2 cm. in size (ulcers of larger size may well respond but the method was not assessed for such ulcers), solitary acute gastric ulcer, and anastomotic ulcer. Gastric resection should be retained for the few patients with diffuse erosive gastritis requiring surgery and possibly for patients with a very large chronic peptic ulcer.

Choice of emergency operative procedure for bleeding duodenal ulcer

In a consecutive series of 201 emergency operations in patients with bleeding duodenal ulcer the size of the ulcer was the only factor that showed a significant correlation with the procedure chosen. Vagotomy, pyloroplasty and underrunning of the bleeding point was performed in 101 cases with ten deaths (10 per cent), partial (Billroth II) gastrectomy in 81 cases with ten deaths (12 per cent), and vagotomy and antrectomy in 16 cases with one death (6 per cent). A patient was more likely to be treated by partial gastrectomy if a giant ulcer with an internal diameter of greater than or equal to 2 cm was found. The results suggest that while vagotomy and pyloroplasty, combined with a direct attack on the bleeding point or excision of an anterior ulcer is an acceptable standard emergency operation for bleeding duodenal ulcer, gastric resection proved to be a satisfactory alternative procedure and should be considered in the technically difficult case with a very large ulcer. A giant ulcer was present in 37 per cent of cases coming to surgery.

The Feasibility of High-Dose Dexamethasone (HD-DEX) in Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) in Adults; a Multi-Center Study in Korea.

Short term use of HD-DEX has shown less adverse effects (AEs) than PDS maintenance but its success rates reported differently by several studies. The objective of this study was to determine HD-DEX effectiveness in adult ITP with newly diagnosed (group 1) and relapsed after other treatments(Tx) (group 2). 71 (median age; 45, 20~82) with ITP with a platelet counts (PC) 20,000/uL or less than 50,000/uL and clinically significant bleeding were enrolled. DEX a dose of 40 mg/day for 4 consecutive days was tried. A response was defined as an increase in the PC of at least 30,000/uL, PC of more than 50,000/uL by day 10 (D10) after DEX. A maintenance was defined as a PC of more than 50,000/uL 6 ms after Tx. The number of group 1 and 2 were 54, 17, retrospectively. In group 2, previous regimens included;oral PDS and/or IVIG (16)and splenectomy (4). Median PC before Tx were 8,500(1,000~45,000/uL) and 9,000(100~33,000/uL) in group 1 and 2, retrospectively (p=0.80). 27(50%) and 6(35.3%) in group 1, 2 showed good initial response to 1st course of DEX, retrospectively (p=0.40). After 1st course of DEX, 11(20.3%) in group 1 and 1(5.9%) in group 2 could maintain response for 3 ms (p=0.27). By 6 ms, 8 (14.8%) in group 1 and 1 (5.9%) in group 2 kept first response (p=0.68). Among 33 patients bearing initial response, 12 (44.4%)and 2 (33.3%) in group 1, 2 relapsed (p=1.0). Good correlation revealed between PC (D10) and response rate (RR) (p<0.05). Of 21 with PC (D10) above 100,000/uL, 6(28.6%) experienced relapse. On the other hand, nine of 11 patients (81.8%) in whom PC (D10) were less than 100,000/uL relapsed after all. There was no significant difference in relapse-free survival (RFS) after 1st DEX between 2 groups (p=0.9). 13 of 14 relapsed received 2nd DEX and then maintained PDS without interruption. After several weeks of maintenance, PDS tapered according to the PC. 9(75.0%) in group 1 and 2(100%) in group 2 showed response in 2nd DEX. Of these 11 patients, 2 in group 1 relapsed 10 ms after receiving 2nd DEX. After 1st DEX, 12 (16.9%), 5(7%) and 6 (8.5%) temporarily suffered from vague generalized sx., facial edema, and mild liver function abnormality, retrospectively. During the 2nd DEX and consecutive oral PDS, 4(30.7%), 3(23.1%) and 1(7.7%) experienced same AEs, retrospectively. Additionally, of these 13, overt DM requiring hypoglycemic agents appeared in 2(15.4%) and 1(7.7%) experienced duodenal ulcer bleeding. In conclusion, 1 course of HD-DEX revealed good initial response in group 1 but in group 2, the RR was lower than in historical results of oral PDS. However, it has an advantage for the patients to have a good compliance to the Tx because of few AEs and no need to maintain long-term daily medication. Furthermore, although the 2nd DEX and PDS maintenance showed good response, it revealed no benefit compared as a previously established oral PDS regimen because of frequently occurrence of AEs and poor compliance. Therefore, the proper DEX schedule remained to be determined according to the early achieved platelet counts (eg. D10) with 1st course DEX or to the presence of previous Tx.

A 63-year-old male with hypercapnic respiratory failure and haemoptysis

A 63-year-old male was admitted to the emergency department with cough, purulent sputum, dyspnoea, fatigue, haematemesis and melaena. The patient immediately underwent gastroscopy, and endoscopic sclerotherapy was performed on an actively bleeding duodenal ulcer.