The American journal of gastroenterology
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Jul 1997
Review Case ReportsSplenic rupture: an unusual complication of colonoscopy.
Splenic rupture is an uncommon complication of colonoscopy. A high index of suspicion is a crucial factor in the prompt diagnosis of this rare but potentially fatal complication. We report a case of splenic rupture diagnosed 3 days after a colonoscopy and requiring splenectomy. ⋯ The factors mandating further evaluation of persistent abdominal pain after colonoscopy are hemodynamic instability, clinical features of acute abdomen, leukocytosis, and/or acute anemia. The onset of abdominal pain associated with one or more of these critical factors is usually within 24 h after colonoscopy. An emergent CT scan of the abdomen is the modality of choice to further evaluate these clinical features, but intestinal perforation and external bleeding must first be excluded.
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · Jul 1997
Case ReportsUse of octreotide in the treatment of mesenteric angina.
The case of a 57-yr-old man with a medical history of generalized atherosclerotic disease and newly diagnosed intestinal ischemia is presented. Because the patient was a poor surgical and anesthetic risk, medical treatment in the form of octreotide was administered with remarkable symptomatic relief. This is the first published report of the use of octreotide in treating mesenteric angina.
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The Budd-Chiari syndrome is characterized by venous outflow obstruction of the liver, usually occurring as a consequence of thrombosis of the hepatic veins. Vasculitis is a major component of Behçet's syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of hepatic vein thrombosis in patients with Behçet's disease and to estimate the effect of this entity upon the clinical features and course of Behçet's syndrome. ⋯ Based upon this experience, it appears as if Budd-Chiari syndrome is a relatively frequent complication of Behçet's disease. When individuals with Behçet's syndrome have BCS, concurrent thrombosis of the portal vein and inferior vena cava are often found, if the patency of these vessels is assessed. The clinical course of patients with Behçet's syndrome complicated by Budd-Chiari syndrome is poor. The extent of the vascular thrombosis within the inferior vena cava rather than the presence of the hepatic vein thrombosis per se is the major determinant of survival.
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · May 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialCO2 provocation of panic: symptomatic and manometric evaluation in patients with noncardiac chest pain.
Occult panic disorder (PD) may underlie 10-43% of chest pain syndromes in patients with normal coronary arteries. A variety of agents, such as intravenous lactate, oral caffeine, and inhaled CO2, has been identified that may provoke panic attacks in susceptible patients. The aims of this study were (1) to better define the relationship between noncardiac chest pain syndromes and panic disorder; and (2) to assess the diagnostic utility of PD provocative testing with inhaled CO2 in eliciting chest pain and/or esophageal manometric disturbances. ⋯ CO2 inhalation is as effective as Tensilon in provoking chest pain in patients with noncardiac chest pain. The high prevalence of PD in such patients suggests that CO2 inhalation, a known panicogen, may be useful in evaluating such patients. The mechanism of CO2 induced chest pain remains unknown, but does not appear to be attributable to demonstrable esophageal motility abnormalities.
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Am. J. Gastroenterol. · May 1997
Correlation between patterns of antral contractility and gastric emptying of radiopaque markers.
Gastric clearance of radiopaque markers (ROMs) has been proposed as an easy and noninvasive technique for assessment of gastric emptying. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of antral obliterating contractions in gastric emptying of ROMs in healthy volunteers. ⋯ There was a considerable intersubject variation in the time of first antral obliterating contraction after the test meal. In the healthy volunteers, all ROMs were passed when there was a postprandial antral obliterating contraction. However, some of the ROMs still passed from the stomach in the absence of antral obliterating contractions.