Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome in 41 adults: the illness, the patients, and problems of management

BACKGROUND: Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) is a disorder characterized by recurrent, stereotypic episodes of incapacitating nausea, vomiting and other symptoms, separated by intervals of comparative wellness. This report describes the clinical features, co-morbidities and problems encountered in management of 41 adult patients who met the diagnostic criteria for CVS. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of adults with CVS seen between 1994 and 2003. Follow-up data were obtained by mailed questionnaires. RESULTS: Age of onset ranged from 2 to 49 years. The duration of CVS at the time of consultation ranged from less than 1 year to 49 years. CVS episodes were stereotypic in respect of their hours of onset, symptomatology and length. Ninety-three percent of patients had recognizable prodromes. Half of the patients experienced a constellation of symptoms consisting of CVS episodes, migraine diathesis, inter-episodic dyspeptic nausea and a history of panic attacks. Deterioration in the course of CVS is indicated by coalescence of episodes in time. The prognosis of CVS is favorable in the majority of patients. CONCLUSION: CVS is a disabling disorder affecting adults as well as children. Because its occurrence in adults is little known, patients experience delayed or mis-diagnosis and ineffectual, sometimes inappropriately invasive management

Anterior Mediastinal Tumors

The mediastinum is the most common site of chest masses in children. Mediastinal masses are placed in one of three mediastinal compartments (anterior, middle, posterior) on the basis of a lateral chest radiograph. They comprise a wide spectrum of disease, and around 40% occur in children aged <2 years of age

Recurrent Symptoms after Fundoplication with a Negative pH Study--Recurrent Reflux or Functional Heartburn?

© 2008 The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary TractIntroduction A small cohort of patients present after antireflux surgery complaining of recurrent heartburn. Over two thirds of these patients will have a negative 24-h pH study. The aim of our study is to determine whether these patients have an associated functional disorder or abnormal cytokine activity and to examine the reproducibility of pH testing. Methods A prospective analysis was carried out on a cohort of patients who had undergone a fundoplication and postoperative pH testing for recurrent heartburn: group A—patients with recurrent heartburn and a negative 24-h pH study and group B (control group)—patients with recurrent heartburn and a positive pH study. Questionnaires, a blood sample, and repeat pH testing were completed. Results Sixty-nine patients were identified. Group A’s depression score (8.6 ± 4.1) was significantly higher than group B’s (5.9 ± 4.2; P = 0.03). Cytokine levels were similar in both groups. Forty-seven of 49 (96%) patients who underwent repeat pH testing had a negative study. Symptom-reflux correlation was highly significant (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion Some patients with recurrent heartburn and a negative pH study have associated functional or psychiatric comorbidities such as depression. Reproducibility of 24-h pH testing in these patients is excellent.Sarah K. Thompson, Wang Cai, Glyn G. Jamieson, Alison Y. Zhang, Jennifer C. Myers, Zoe E. Parr, David I. Watson, Jenny Persson, Gerald Holtmann and Peter G. Devit