Endoscopic Management of Pancreatic Fluid Collection in Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is an acute clinical condition where it can be manifested as mild disease or serious and life-threatening condition. There are several factors that may be responsible for this condition, such as genetic, gallstone disease, alcohol consumption, pancreatic trauma, medication, hypertriglyceridemia, autoimmune disease, and surgery. The most common manifestation of pancreatic parenchymal injury is pancreatic pseudocyst (PPC) formation, where peripancreatic fluid collection (PFCs) usually precedes this condition. Even though most of the pseudocyst can be managed conservatively, however in conditions such as infected pseudocyst or possible wall of necrosis (WON), there should be an early intervention management. Clinical evaluation and imaging studies have to be done in the beginning. Computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the main imaging techniques used to evaluate the characteristic of the cyst, the size, surrounding vascularity, and to assess the pancreatic duct itself with possible of fistula formation. Clinical conditions that are usually considered for early intervention management are symptomatic pseudocyst, large size of pseudocyst, presence of gastric outlet obstruction, or biliary obstruction. PFC should be evaluated as it has been classified based on type of pancreatitis, time frame, well-defined wall, and debris contained inside the cyst. Endoscopic management has replaced percutaneous and surgical approach in most of PFC cases. Nowadays, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has been widely used as the first-line tool for PFC drainage procedure. Pancreatic pseudocyst stenting is the most common procedure in most of the centers in the world. However, the cost, availability, and expertise are needed to be considered in clinical practice

The Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound in Acute Cholecystitis

Acute cholecystitis (AC) is one of challenging clinical conditions in biliary disorders as it can carry high morbidity and mortality. Gallstone disease is still the main cause of AC in clinical practice. Transabdominal ultrasound, abdominal CT scan and abdominal MRI are the standard diagnostic tools in AC, however, some obstacles can be found which are associated to the patient’s factor, anatomy or anomaly of biliary system, the disease severity, and the operator. Cholecystectomy is still the primary choice management in AC condition, however, several issues need to be encountered, such as critically ill condition, sepsis, and patient’s comorbidity. Percutaneous approach has become an alternative as it is considered as a simple procedure to be performed in clinical practice. Catheter dislodgement, the risk of bile leakage, and uncooperative patients have raised major concerns for this procedure. Another method, such as endoscopic approach has been studied as well and it seemed to have more advantage when compared to the percutaneous approach. Recently, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has been used as a combined diagnostic as well as therapeutic tools in managing biliary disorders. Recent evidences about the role of EUS approach for gallbladder drainage (EUS GBD) in patients who unsuitable for surgery have emerged in the past one decade. However, comprehensive evaluation before which approach is the best option is needed as expertise, cost, and patient’s outcome prediction are the most important factors to be considered in the real clinical practice

An Observational Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Telbivudine in Adults with Chronic Hepatitis B

Aim: to assess the safety and efficacy of telbivudine therapy in adult patients with CHB in Indonesia. Methods: the study design was prospective cohort study. Multicenter study of adult CHB patients requiring oral antiviral therapy in daily practice setting. All patients received 600 mg of telbivudine daily for one year. Recruitment and decision to start telbivudine therapy was based on clinical indication as assessed by the participating physicians. The primary end-point was patient safety (adverse event or serious adverse events); while the secondary end-points were HBeAg seroconversion, changes of serum HBV DNA levels and serum ALT normalization. Patients were assessed at week-24 and week-52 of treatment. Results: a total of 176 cases were eligible for analysis, comprising 104 (59.8%) HBeAg-positive and 70 (40.2%) HBeAg-negative patients. Adverse events were reported in 7 (4.0%) patients, most of them were mild. HBeAg loss and seroconversion rate was 28.8% and 14.14% at week-52 respectively. Undetectable HBV DNA (PCR negativity) was 51.8% at week-24 and 62.7% at week-52. Median HBV DNA levels were significantly reduced from baseline to week-24 and week-52 treatment (both p<0.001; Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test). Normalization of serum ALT activity occurred in 85 (73.28%) patients at week-52. Conclusion: Telbivudine therapy is generally safe and well tolerated among adult Indonesian patients with chronic hepatitis B. Treatment efficacy in terms of HBeAg loss and seroconversion, changes of HBV DNA levels and serum ALT normalization were similar to previous reported studies. Key words: Alanine aminotransferase, chronic hepatitis B, HBV DNA, oral antiviral treatment, telbivudine therapy

The Prevalence of Reflux Esophagitis in the Elderly and Its Associated Risk Factors

Background: Reflux esophagitis is a common problem in the elderly. Compare to the Western Countries, esophageal cancer where reflux esophagitis is the most predominant risk factor is considered rare in Asia. Many other risk factors have not been well studied especially in most Asian countries. The objective of this study is to evaluate the presence of reflux esophagitis in elderly patients and its associated risk factors.Method: This was a cross-sectional study in elderly patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Patients who received long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, suffered from gastrointestinal malignancies, recently receiving chemotherapy agents, diagnosed with cerebrovascular disease or Helicobacter pylori infection were excluded. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software version 17.00 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA).Results: A total of 238 elderly patients were enrolled. Patients’ mean age was 69.8 ± 6.8 years old. Reflux esophagitis was found in 22 (9.2%) patients. Several comorbidities were found in these patients, such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and liver cirrhosis. The only factor that associated with reflux esophagitis was the presence of hiatus hernia esophagus (p = 0.038). However, reflux esophagitis seemed to be more found in the elderly patients who have history of reflux inducing drugs consumption without any proton pump inhibitor (PPI) protection.Conclusion: Reflux esophagitis is still a major problem in the elderly. The presence of hiatus hernia might give an important consideration of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy screening. However, it would be a debate matter with regards to the cost burden and the low risk of esophageal cancer in Asian countries.

The Prevalence of Reflux Esophagitis in the Elderly and Its Associated Risk Factors

Background: Reflux esophagitis is a common problem in the elderly. Compare to the Western Countries, esophageal cancer where reflux esophagitis is the most predominant risk factor is considered rare in Asia. Many other risk factors have not been well studied especially in most Asian countries. The objective of this study is to evaluate the presence of reflux esophagitis in elderly patients and its associated risk factors.Method: This was a cross-sectional study in elderly patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Patients who received long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, suffered from gastrointestinal Malignancies, recently receiving chemotherapy agents, diagnosed with cerebrovascular disease or Helicobacter pylori infection were excluded. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software version 17.00 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA).Results: A total of 238 elderly patients were enrolled. Patients\u27 mean age was 69.8 ± 6.8 years old. Reflux esophagitis was found in 22 (9.2%) patients. Several comorbidities were found in these patients, such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and liver cirrhosis. The only factor that associated with reflux esophagitis was the presence of hiatus hernia esophagus (p = 0.038). However, reflux esophagitis seemed to be more found in the elderly patients who have history of reflux inducing drugs consumption without any proton pump inhibitor (PPI) protection.Conclusion: Reflux esophagitis is still a major problem in the elderly. The presence of hiatus hernia might give an important consideration of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy screening. However, it would be a debate matter with regards to the cost burden and the low risk of esophageal cancer in Asian countries

Obstructive Jaundice Due to Bile Duct Tumor

We reported here a rare case of a 62 year old male patient with obstructive jaundice due to bile duct tumor. The main clinical features were yellowish eye and skin, followed by pruritus and clay-colored stool. Ultrasonography showed common bile duct dilatation and without evidence of stones. Computed Tomography Scan of upper abdomen showed a mass which were thought of head of pancreas origin. Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatograph revealed tight narrowing of the distal bile duct to a Malignant tumor. A stent was inserted to allow biliary drainage. A surgical plan for billio digestive anastomosis was rejected by the patient and family

Prolonged QTc-Interval in Liver Cirrhotic Patient: Prevalence and Its Relationship with Severity of Liver Dysfunction

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of prolonged QTc -interval and it\u27s relationship with the severity of liver dysfunction in liver cirrhotic patient in the outpatient clinic of Hepatology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General National Hospital Methods: cross sectional study. Eighty one subjects was recruited and being followed as a consecutive non random sampling. The patient was divided according to the modified Child-Pugh classification and undergo to the ECG examination (with minimal 2 leads have measured QT-interval; one of these is II, aVL, V2 or V3 lead). Result: The prolonged QTc-interval prevalence in liver cirrhotic patient was found in 55 subjects (67,9%) with the mean 448.6 msec (SD = 28,9; 95% CI = 442.2 - 454.8). Using the Forward Stepwise Method in multivariate analysis to the independent variables (p &lt; 0.05) was found only the modified Child-Pugh classification had strongly correlation with the prolonged QTc-interval (OR = 11.2; 95% CI = 3.57-35.47; p = 0.000) Conclusion: The prolonged QTc-interval prevalence in liver cirrhotic patient is 67.9%. The prolonged QTc-interval were strongly associated with the severity of liver dysfunction

Normal Histological Appearances of the Duodenum Jejunum and Terminal Ileum in Indonesian People

Background: There is no literature specifically on the normal appearance of small bowel mucosa amongst Indonesians. Diseases of the small bowel can cause chronic diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea is common in Indonesia. Methods: Thirty seven patients with normal stomach and small bowel on endoscopic and histopathologic examination were included in this study. Biopsies were taken from the duodenal bulb, descending part of duodenum, jejunum and terminal ileum. The scoring Method for the inflammatory cells (lymphocytes, plasma cells and eosinophil cells) was carried out using the symbols 0 (negative), +, ++, and +++. Results: The mean height of the villi of the duodenal bulb was 265.00 ± 81.89 mm, the mean height of the crypts of the duodenal bulb was 196.67 ± 56.01 mm, the mean width of the villi were 59.14 ± 74.14 mm. The mean height of the villi of the duodenum pars descendens was 317.27 ± 99.66 mm and the mean height of the crypts was 218.79 ± 84.66 mm. The mean height of the villi of the jejunum was 341.76 ± 76.06 mm and the mean height of the crypts was 189.41 ± 58.15 mm. The mean height of the villi of the terminal ileum was 235.41 ± 73.32 mm, and the mean height of the crypts was 186.22 ± 64.09 mm. Conclusion: Histologically, the mean height of the villi of the normal small bowel was between 235.41 ± 73.32 to 341.76 ± 76.06 mm and the mean height of the crypts of the normal small bowel was between 186.22 ± 64.09 to 218.79 ± 84.66 mm