Treatment and outcome in 52 consecutive cases of ampullary carcinoma

The results of treatment and outcome in 52 consecutive patients presenting to Leicester from 1972 to 1984 are presented. The number of patients diagnosed increased from two per year before the introduction of duodenoscopy to nearly five per year afterwards. Endoscopic drainage (ED) was attempted in 21 patients with a success rate of 81 per cent. In eight cases ED was used pre-operatively and in the remainder as definitive treatment. Twenty-four patients had a Whipple's resection (12.5 per cent mortality), four patients had a local resection (no deaths), ten patients had surgical bypass (60 per cent mortality) and thirteen patients had ED alone (23 per cent mortality). The major risk factor score was significantly greater in patients undergoing surgical bypass compared with Whipple's resection. Age and risk factor scores were significantly greater in patients who had ED drainage alone than in surgical patients. The 5 year survival rate for resection was 56 per cent versus 13 per cent for drainage procedures (P less than 0.001). Survival in resection cases was directly related to the degree of tumour differentiation and a new staging system. It is proposed that all patients with ampullary tumours should have endoscopic biopsy followed by ED; Whipple's resection remains the surgical treatment of choice.

Study of common bile duct exploration and endoscopic sphincterotomy in a consecutive series of 438 patients

The outcome of 438 consecutive patients who had exploration of the common bile duct and/or endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) in a 5-year period was reviewed. Patients were analysed according to four groups: 59 patients had planned ES followed by surgery resulting in 14 major complications (23.7 per cent) including 3 deaths (5.1 per cent) (group 1); 248 patients had surgery alone with 21 major complications (8.5 per cent) including 10 deaths (4.0 per cent) (group 2); 114 patients with gallbladder in situ underwent ES alone with 22 major complications (19.3 per cent) including 9 deaths (7.9 per cent) (group 3); 17 patients with remote cholecystectomy also had ES alone with 3 major complications (17.6 per cent) including 3 deaths (17.6 per cent) (group 4). There was no difference in mortality between the groups. Compared with group 2, major complications were significantly higher in group 1 (chi 2 = 11.0, d.f. = 1, P less than 0.001) and in group 3 (chi 2 = 8.6, d.f. = 1, P less than 0.003). Patients in group 3, however, were significantly older than those in groups 1 and 2, and the former also had higher medical and total risk factor scores than the latter (all P less than 0.001). The results indicate that routine pre-operative ES is of questionable value. ES alone is justified in elderly high risk patients; mortality in this group might be reduced by improved management of post-ES complications.

Hemobilia treated by nasobiliary catheterization

Hemobilia results in obstructive jaundice because blood clots may obstruct the bile duct. Decompression relieves jaundice, promotes clot lysis, and may encourage cessation of bleeding. We report a case of hemobilia that followed needle biopsy of the liver and was managed nonoperatively with an endoscopically placed nasobiliary catheter.

Bile peritonitis and hemobilia after percutaneous liver biopsy: endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography demonstration of bile leak

A 29-yr-old woman developed portal hypertension secondary to congenital intrahepatic multiple microhamartomata. Percutaneous liver biopsy was complicated by both bile peritonitis and hemobilia. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was used to demonstrate the bile leak. Abdominal paracentesis failed to control the leak, which was managed by surgery. Endoscopic drainage by nasobiliary intubation with suction might have avoided surgery.

Prospective randomised study of preoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy versus surgery alone for common bile duct stones

One hundred and twenty patients with known common bile duct stones were entered into a prospective randomised study of preoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone clearance (group 1) versus surgery alone (group 2). Five patients were incorrectly entered; the 55 patients randomised to group 1 and the 60 randomised to group 2 were well matched with respect to clinical features and biochemical and medical risk factors. In group 1 endoscopic stone clearance was successful in 50 patients (91%); five of these patients refused elective surgery, though this was subsequently necessary in one. In group 2 common bile duct stones were cleared surgically in 54 of 59 patients (91.5%); one patient was treated by endoscopic sphincterotomy alone because of a myocardial infarct. The overall major complication rate in group 1 was 16.4% and included two deaths; in group 2 this was 8.5% and included one death. The minor complication rate in group 1 was 16.4% and that in group 2 13.6%. These differences in outcome were not significant. Despite a significant reduction in total hospital stay of patients in group 1, these results do not support the routine use of preoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients having biliary surgery for stones in the common bile duct.

Management of acute cholangitis and the impact of endoscopic sphincterotomy

Ninety-four patients admitted to Leicester Hospitals with acute cholangitis since 1977 were reviewed to coincide with the availability of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES). Thirty-four were men and sixty were women, their mean age was 69.7 years and the median hospital stay was 20 days. There were 15 deaths (16 per cent) by 30 days in patients with significantly lower initial serum albumin levels (P less than 0.005) and significantly higher serum urea levels (P less than 0.05) than survivors. Eighty-two patients had common bile duct (CBD) calculi of whom 71 underwent early decompression of the biliary tree either surgically (28) or by ES(43). Early surgical decompression was associated with a significantly higher 30 day mortality (6/28) than early ES (2/43) (P less than 0.02) despite the fact that patients undergoing early ES were significantly older (P less than 0.02) and had significantly more medical risk factors (P less than 0.05). Of the 43 patients undergoing early ES 7 had had a previous cholecystectomy, 13 underwent subsequent elective cholecystectomy with no mortality and the remaining 23 had the gallbladder left in situ because of advanced age (mean age 79 years) and frailty. Only 2 of the 23 have since required cholecystectomy. We suggest that patients with acute cholangitis who do not rapidly respond to conservative treatment should undergo early ES with early surgery reserved for those who do not improve following ES. Elective cholecystectomy following successful ES can often be avoided in the elderly and frail.

The role of clinical and biochemical criteria and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the urgent diagnosis of common bile duct stones in acute pancreatitis

The role of clinical and biochemical criteria in predicting common bile duct (CBD) stones was analyzed in 76 patients with acute pancreatitis undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) during the same hospital admission. Forty patients had ERCP within 72 hours; cholangiography was successful in 92%. Fifty patients had biliary pancreatitis; 25 patients had CBD stones and all were successfully removed by endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES). Twenty-six patients had nonbiliary pancreatitis. Two patients had complications from ERCP and/or ES; two patients died (no CBD stones) but ERCP was noncontributory. Significant differences were found between the biliary and nonbiliary disease groups with respect to age, and bilirubin. gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, and amylase levels. The first four factors also discriminated between those patients with and without CBD stones. Logistic discriminant functions were estimated providing probabilities for the presence of CBD stones for each patient but were too cumbersome for clinical use. A simple scoring system was devised on the basis of cut-off levels: bilirubin greater than or equal to 40 mumol/L, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase greater than or equal to 250 IU/L, alkaline phosphatase greater than or equal to 225 IU/L, and age greater than or equal to 70 years, indicating CBD stones. Bilirubin alone had a sensitivity and specificity of 80%; the specificity increased to 93% with all four factors. These results suggest that clinical and biochemical criteria and ERCP and/or ES may have important roles in the management of patients with suspected biliary pancreatitis.

Tumours and pseudotumours of the region of the ampulla of Vater: an endoscopic, clinical and pathological study

From a large series of patients referred for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography to one endoscopist, 49 patients had the duodenoscopic appearance of a periampullary tumour. Thirty eight of these lesions were neoplastic, but the remaining 11 patients had inflammatory non-neoplastic lesions (pseudotumours). These could not be distinguished from the neoplasms on endoscopic appearances. The cholangiopancreatograms were similar except that the diameter of the pancreatic duct tended to be higher in the tumour group and gall stones were present significantly more often in the patients with pseudotumour. Endoscopic biopsy correctly diagnosed 28 of 34 ampullary carcinomas. Two of the 11 pseudotumour patients were subjected to surgical excision biopsy because of suspicious histological features of endoscopic biopsy. In the neoplastic group 19 patients underwent Whipple's procedure, seven surgical bypass, seven endoscopic sphincterotomy only and five died without successful biliary drainage. The overall one year survival was 44.7%. By contrast, the patients with pseudotumours were clinically well at a median follow up 24 months (range 12-41 months), after endoscopic sphincterotomy except for one 89 year old patient who died 22 months later from unrelated causes.

A prospective study of ERCP and endoscopic sphincterotomy in the diagnosis and treatment of gallstone acute pancreatitis. A rational and safe approach to management

From a consecutive series of 112 patients with acute pancreatitis, 70 patients with suspected gallstones were randomized to urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (less than 72 hours) and endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) if choledochal stones were present (n = 35), or to conventional treatment (n = 35). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, successful in 89% of cases, indicated choledochal stones in 11 patients, all of whom underwent successful stone retrieval by ES. Later during hospital admission, ERCP was performed in 13 more patients and choledochal calculi were extracted from two patients by ES. No complications were attributable to ERCP or ES. Two patients died of biliary pancreatitis; both had been conventionally treated and may have benefited from urgent ERCP/ES. Our experience, which extends to another 24 patients with ERCP and ten with ES during acute pancreatitis, indicates that these are safe techniques and deserve wider consideration in the management of acute pancreatitis.

Endoscopic sphincterotomy for retained common bile duct stones in patients with T-tube in situ in the early postoperative period

We report on thirty-nine patients who underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) and stone extraction for retained common bile duct calculi with a T-tube in situ. Sixteen of the patients had undergone unsuccessful attempts at removal by flushing or dissolution by cholesterol solvents. A total of 76 stones were present: 53 distal to the T-tube and 23 proximal to the T-tube. ES and clearance of the common bile duct was achieved in 37 patients (95 per cent) and complications occurred in three patients (7.7 per cent). This method is an effective and relatively safe method in the early postoperative period allowing rapid treatment during the same admission as for the original operation and early hospital discharge.

Effects of exogenous secretin on pancreatic and biliary ductal and sphincteric pressures in man demonstrated by endoscopic manometry and correlation with plasma secretin levels

An endoscopic manometric technique was used to investigate the effects of exogenous secretin on pancreatic duct, common bile duct, pancreatic duct sphincter, and bile duct sphincter pressures in 20 healthy volunteers. Synthetic secretin was infused intravenously at rates of 8.05, 16.1, 32.2, 64.4, 129, 258, and 516 ng/kg/hr, and plasma secretin concentrations were measured by a radioimmunoassay. Secretin produced a significant fall in peak and trough pancreatic duct sphincter pressures from basal values of 48.2 +/- 7.9 mm Hg (mean +/- SD) and 16.9 +/- 7.7 mm Hg, respectively, to 34.4 +/- 6.8 mm Hg and 11.2 +/- 5.8 mm Hg (P less 0.005), respectively, at a mean plasma secretin concentration of 16 pg/ml (during an infusion rate of 32.2 ng/kg/hr). Higher infusion rates had no additional effect. Pancreatic duct pressure became significantly elevated above basal (11.5 +/- 4.0 mm Hg) at the two highest secretin rates. Secretin had no effect on common bile duct or bile duct sphincter pressures. Plasma secretin concentrations were within the postprandial range during the lowest four secretin infusion rates. We conclude that secretin produces selective physiological relaxation of the pancreatic duct sphincter.

Sump syndrome following choledochoduodenostomy and its endoscopic treatment

The clinical features of eight patients with 'sump syndrome' following side-to-side choledochoduodenostomy are reported. The syndrome is defined and its aetiology discussed with special reference to debris in the common bile duct, bacterial overgrowth and the clinical picture of acute cholangitis, which does not appear to be necessary for the diagnosis to be made. Five patients were successfully treated by endoscopic sphincterotomy and a sixth by endoscopic removal of food debris from the sump. The other two patients had further surgery.

Effects of sphincteroplasty and endoscopic sphincterotomy on the bacteriologic characteristics of the common bile duct

Forty-five patients with sphincter of Oddi stenosis had specimens of common bile duct cultured during ERCP before either sphincteroplasty or endoscopic sphincterotomy. All had sterile bile before sphincter ablation. Bile was recultured 6 to 36 months later during endoscopy at which time 70 percent of the sphincterotomy and 76 percent of the sphincteroplasty patients had bile colonized principally by enteric organisms. Growth was heavy to moderate in most of the patients and contained few nasopharyngeal organisms. Despite bactobilia, no patient had symptomatic cholangitis, presumably due to excellent drainage of bile. The most likely source of the bactobilia is from direct extension of duodenal organisms into the common bile duct.

Successes, failures, early complications and their management following endoscopic sphincterotomy: results in 394 consecutive patients from a single centre

The indications and results of 394 endoscopic sphincterotomies (ES) performed over a 6 year period from a single centre are described. The indications for ES were common bile duct (CBD) calculi (81 per cent), papillary stenosis (9 per cent), periampullary tumours, insertion of endoprostheses, sump syndrome and biliary dilatation for benign strictures. ES was achieved in 98 per cent of patients. In the calculus group the CBD was cleared of stones in 93.3 per cent following a successful ES (92 per cent overall success rate for CBD clearance). Early complications (less than or equal to 1 month) occurred in 41 patients (10.4 per cent) of which haemorrhage accounted for nearly half. Emergency surgery following ES was undertaken in 15 patients (3.8 per cent). There were 13 deaths within one month of ES (3.3 per cent) of which three were directly attributable to ES (0.8 per cent). The diagnosis and management of complications following ES is important with increasing numbers of patients being treated from outside the referral centre.

Detection of gall stones after acute pancreatitis

Four methods of gall stone diagnosis after an attack of acute pancreatitis are analysed. Of 128 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis, 99 patients were discharged from hospital without a definite aetiology. These patients had biochemical tests performed on admission and ultrasonography and oral cholecystography performed six weeks later. The sensitivity for ultrasonography was 87% and the specificity was 93%; the respective figures for oral cholecystography were 83% and 90%. The predictive value of positive ultrasonography was 100% and of negative ultrasonography 75%; the respective values for oral cholecystography were 95% and 68%. A combination of ultrasonography and oral cholecystography failed to detect nine of 70 patients with gall stones (13%). Of 35 patients with normal ultrasonography and oral cholecystography, 33 patients had an endoscopic retrograde cholangiogram (ERCP) which showed gall stones in a further seven patients. All three methods failed to reveal gall stones in two patients, confirmed by laparotomy. The sensitivity of admission biochemical analysis was 73% and the specificity was 94%; the predictive value of a positive result was 97% and of a negative result was 57%. Biochemical analysis predicted gall stones in six of the seven patients shown by ERCP. Only 9% of patients were finally considered to be idiopathic. In conclusion ultrasonography is the investigation of choice and ERCP should be undertaken in all patients who have normal ultrasonography and/or oral cholecystography but have biochemical criteria indicative of gall stones.

Endoscopic pancreatic and biliary manometry in pancreatic, biliary, and papillary disease, and after endoscopic sphincterotomy and surgical sphincteroplasty

Endoscopic manometry was used to measure pancreatic duct, common bile duct, pancreatic duct sphincter and bile duct sphincter pressures in 43 healthy volunteers and 162 patients with a variety of papillary, pancreatic and biliary disorders. Common bile duct pressure was significantly raised after cholecystectomy, with common bile duct stones and papillary stenosis but pancreatic duct pressure only in papillary stenosis. After endoscopic sphincterotomy mean common bile duct pressure fell from 11.2 to 1.1 mmHg and pancreatic duct pressure from 18.0 to 11.2 mmHg. Distinct pancreatic duct sphincter and bile duct sphincter zones were identified as phasic pressures of 3-12 waves/minute on pull-through from pancreatic duct and common bile duct to duodenum. Pancreatic duct sphincter pressures were higher with common bile duct stones and stenosis whereas bile duct sphincter pressures were higher in pancreatitis and stenosis. Bile duct sphincter activity was present in 60% of patients after surgical sphincteroplasty but 21% of patients after endoscopic sphincterotomy. Endoscopic manometry facilitated the diagnosis of papillary stenosis, has allowed study of papillary pathophysiology and has shown a functional inter-relationship between the two sphincteric zones.

Cimetidine therapy does not prevent rebleeding from peptic ulceration

One-hundred and five patients admitted to hospital with symptoms of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage shown at endoscopy to be due to peptic ulceration were entered into a prospective double-blind controlled trial of cimetidine versus placebo therapy. The trial therapy was commenced within 12 hr of admission and continued for 7 days. Cimetidine therapy made no difference to the transfusion requirements, rebleeding rate or number of operations performed in patients with either gastric or duodenal ulcers, nor was it of benefit in patients aged over 65 years of age.

The urgent diagnosis of gallstones in acute pancreatitis: a prospective study of three methods

Ultrasonography (US), radionuclide biliary scanning (RBS), and biochemical tests were performed within 72 h of admission in 83 patients with acute pancreatitis in an attempt to define those with gallstones as an aetiological factor. US was 92 per cent accurate in the 80 per cent of patients in whom the gallbladder was demonstrated. There were no false positives. Sixty-seven per cent of patients with gallstones were diagnosed although this improved to 78 per cent when US was repeated following the patients' clinical improvement. The pattern of RBS was completely normal in 46.5 per cent of patients with biliary pancreatitis and 64 per cent of patients with non-biliary pancreatitis. Biochemical tests completely separated 47 per cent of patients with gallstones from those without. Used in combination with US these two methods accurately identified 81 per cent of patients in the biliary group. In conclusion US was found to be a rapid and accurate method of gallstone detection but used alone it has limited usefulness. RBS can be time consuming and was found to be of doubtful value. Biochemical tests were helpful in indicating a proportion of patients who had gallstones which were not detected by US, and therefore have a practical application. Current methods of gallstone detection in patients with acute pancreatitis are far from ideal and further studies are indicated.

The management of common bile duct calculi by endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with gallbladders in situ

Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) is widely used in the treatment of patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones following cholecystectomy. The technique has now been extended to patients with gallbladders still present and the results of ES in 100 such patients is reported. Fifty-nine were considered unsuitable for surgery (Group A), in 38 ES was performed as a preliminary to cholecystectomy (Group B) and in 3 ES was performed following emergency cholecystostomy (Group C). ES was achieved in 98 patients and stones completely extracted in 91 patients. In Group A 5 patients required surgery, in 3 because of technical failure and in 2 because of empyema of the gallbladder. One patient who presented in extremis died following failure to extract a large CBD stone. On follow-up (4-50 months), 16 patients have died but in only one from gallbladder sepsis, and one has had a cholecystectomy for pain. In Group B choledochotomy was avoided in 29 of the 37 patients who agreed to cholecystectomy. In Group C no further surgery was required and all patients in Groups B and C remain well. These results indicate that ES is an effective technique for treating patients with CBD stones with the gallbladder in situ, either alone in patients considered unsuitable for surgery or as an adjunct to surgery.

Radiological demonstration of colonic aphthoid ulcers in a patient with intestinal tuberculosis

The case is described of a young Asian woman with massive rectal haemorrhage during and after pregnancy. Barium radiology showed aphthoid ulcers in the colon and changes in the ileum suggesting tuberculosis. Colonoscopy revealed hyperplastic ulceration in the terminal ileum and culture of biopsies from this area grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient made a full and rapid recovery on anti-tuberculous therapy. Colonic aphthoid ulceration has not previously been recorded, radiologically, in intestinal tuberculosis.

Effects of exogenous glucagon on pancreatic and biliary ductal and sphincteric pressures in man demonstrated by endoscopic manometry and correlation with plasma glucagon

An endoscopic manometric technique was used to investigate the effects of glucagon on pancreatic duct, common bile duct, pancreatic duct sphincter, and bile duct sphincter pressures in 20 healthy volunteers. Glucagon was given by intravenous infusion at rates of 0.016, 0.0625, 0.25, 1.0, 4.0, and 16.0 micrograms/kg/hr and also as an intravenous bolus of 1 mg. Plasma glucagon was measured by radioimmunoassay. Glucagon significantly reduced peak bile duct sphincter pressure from 49.1 +/- 3.7 mm Hg (mean +/- SD) to 37.8 +/- 2.9 mm Hg (P less than 0.01) at a rate of 0.016 microgram/kg/hr, reaching a maximum effect at rates of 0.25 microgram/kg/hr and above. Reduction in pancreatic duct sphincter, pancreatic duct, and bile duct pressures; slowing of sphincter wave frequency; and shortening of wave duration occurred at infusion rates of 1.0 microgram/kg/hr or greater when plasma concentrations were supraphysiological. We conclude that glucagon has a physiological action on the bile duct sphincter but that all other effects on this area are pharmacological.

Broncho-oesophageal fistula: a late complication of endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy

A case is reported of delayed broncho-oesophageal fistula presenting several weeks after fibreoptic injection sclerotherapy for oesophageal varices in a patient with chronic active hepatitis who eventually died from bronchopneumonia. Such serious complications of injection sclerotherapy should be kept in mind with the increasing popularity of this method of early treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices.

Glandular fever-like illness associated with sulphasalazine

A patient with ulcerative colitis is described in whom a glandular fever-like illness was associated with the use of sulphasalazine which recurred in part on re-exposure to the drug. This complication has been previously described three times from the United States but not from the United Kingdom.

Sulfasalazine-induced lupus syndrome in a patient with Crohn's disease

The case is described of a young woman with Crohn's disease of the rectum and terminal ileum in whom systemic lupus erythematosus syndrome was diagnosed after 3 yr of symptoms and 4 yr treatment with sulfasalazine. Polyarthralgias and pleuritic chest pains resolved and leucopenia, anemia, and high titers of antinuclear and DNA antibodies returned to normal after withdrawal of the drug. No HLA antigen association was found but a slow acetylation phenotype was present. Consideration should be given to this complication of sulfasalazine therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in whom arthropathy or other features of lupus syndrome appear after treatment is instituted.

Massive bleeding from the ileum: a late complication of pelvic radiotherapy

Recurrent massive hemorrhage from the ileum as a late complication of radiotherapy has not previously been documented. We describe two patients with a history of pelvic radiotherapy 18 months and 11 yr before, in whom the source of melena was localized to the small bowel preoperatively. Characteristic serosal appearances of ileal radiation injury were present at laparotomy and resection of the terminal ileum controlled the hemorrhage. Pathological study revealed no ulceration but multiple telangiectatic vessels in the tips of mucosal villi. This cause should be considered in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding previously exposed to pelvic radiotherapy.

Importance of common bile duct stricture associated with chronic pancreatitis. Diagnosis by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Twenty-one patients with common bile duct strictures associated with chronic pancreatitis are described in whom ERCP was the principal diagnostic method used. In 5 of the 11 patients who had had previous pancreatic or biliary surgery, a common bile duct stricture was overlooked. Nine patients had one or more attacks of cholangitis which were severe in seven and caused death in one. Endoscopically aspirated bile cultures showed heavy gram-negative infection in four patients with previous cholangitis. Two patients developed stones above the strictures, and in one this led to obstruction of a previous cholecystjejunostomy. Although strictures may be discovered at an asymptomatic stage, there should be careful follow-up to detect the appearance of any symptoms or objective signs of stricture progression, when surgery should be offered without delay. Direct biliary-enteric anastomosis is the procedure of choice when possible to relieve symptoms and prevent the potentially life-threatening complications of cholangitis and septicemia.

Endoscopic manometry of pancreatic and biliary sphincter zones in man. Basal results in healthy volunteers

An endoscopic manometric technique was applied to the study of intraductal biliary and pancreatic pressures and sphincter activity in normal subjects. A perfused system using a modified endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography catheter was tested and found to provide reliable ductal and phasic recordings. Twenty-five healthy volunteers, aged 19-37, underwent endoscopic manometry under diazepam sedation. Distinct zones of high-pressure phasic activity were identified on pull-through from the pancreatic duct and common bile duct at mean distances of 4.5 and 5.0 mm, respectively, from the papillary orifice with frequencies of 7.0 +/- 1.8 (mean +/- SD) and 5.6 +/- 2.4 waves/min, respectively. These were considered to represent separate pancreatic duct and bile duct sphincters. Peak pancreatic duct sphincter pressure (47.6 +/- 8.2 mm Hg) and bile duct sphincter pressure (57.2 +/- 10.7 mm Hg) were similar. Pancreatic duct pressure was 11.4 +/- 3.0 mm Hg and common bile duct pressure was 3.0 +/- 2.5 mm Hg. Values were adjusted to duodenal pressure as zero reference. The ductal and sphincteric pressures reported in this study provide a basis for the assessment of physiological, pharmacological, pathophysiological, and surgical effects on this area.

Serum and pancreatic juice carcinoembryonic antigen in pancreatic and biliary disease

Serum and pancreatic juice carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) concentrations were studied in a group of 144 patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with a variety of benign and malignant pancreatic and biliary diseases. Serum CEA was found to be a poor diagnostic and discriminating marker for pancreatic disorders and was raised in obstructive jaundice from various causes correlating with serum alkaline phosphatase. A pancreatic juice CEA concentration of greater than 106 mcg/l was associated with pancreatic disease but did not distinguish benign from malignant lesions. Criteria derived from pancreatic juice volumes and bicarbonate responses provided additional diagnostic differentiation of normal from pancreatic disease but not cancer from pancreatitis. Pancreatic juice CEA may have a limited application where imaging techniques have failed or are not available and additional study of pancreatic juice biochemistry is required before adequate diagnostic criteria can be established.

The value of the new interpretation of the insulin test in predicting duodenal ulcer relapse after treatment with cimetidine

Twenty-one patients with duodenal ulcer were treated with cimetidine. After 2 weeks they were submitted to an insulin test and the results were compared with a range of secretion previously established in untreated duodenal ulcer patients (1). The secretion of 13 patients fell within this range and so they were predicted to have a high risk of relapse. The patients whose secretion was below the range had a predicted low risk of relapse. After 4 weeks' treatment repeat endoscopy showed that 4 ulcers had failed to heal. The secretion of 3 of the patients was within the range of the high risk group. The remaining 17 patients were followed up (range 20-23 months): 9 relapsed and 8 remained symptom-free. Eight of the 9 were in the high risk group and 6 of the 8 symptom-free patients were in the low risk group. In all, 11 out of 13 were correctly predicted in the high risk group and 6 out of 8 in the low risk group. The performance of the insulin test in predicting liability to relapse following cimetidine treatment was significant (P = 0.0225).

Pancreatic juice gamma-glutamyltransferase, alanine transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase in pancreatic disease

Pancreatic juice gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT, EC 2.3.2.2) has been proposed as a marker of pancreatic disease. We have collected pancreatic juice endoscopically from 24 control patients and 43 patients with a variety of hepatic, pancreatic, and biliary disorders. Pancreatic juice GGT, alanine transaminase (ALT, EC 2.6.1.2), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP, EC 3.1.3.1) were measured and found to be present in all samples. GGT was significantly higher in patients with pancreatic cancer (range 21-1175 IU/liter, P less than 0.005) compared with controls (range 2-52 IU/liter). Of 17 patients with pancreatic juice GGT concentrations greater than 52 IU/liter, eleven had definite pancreatic disease (seven pancreatic cancer, four chronic pancreatitis) and, in the remaining six, pancreatitis was possible although not proven. Pancreatic juice ALT and ALP provided no useful diagnostic criteria. GGT in pancreatic juice seems to be a nonspecific marker of pancreatic disease and merits further study.

Endoscopy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography findings in traumatic liver injury and hemobilia

A case of posttraumatic hemobilia is described in which endoscopy provided the initial diagnosis. Subsequent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) demonstrated an abnormality in the left hepatic duct considered to be due to a traumatic aneurysm or abscess cavity. Selective angiography confirmed the presence of an aneurysm of the right hepatic artery at the same site as shown on ERCP. Management was conservative despite massive and prolonged episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding in view of the severe initial liver injury sustained.

Gilbert's syndrome: evidence of morphological heterogeneity

Hepatic ultrastructure was examined by electron microscopy in 25 patients with Gilbert's syndrome and the changes in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum quantified by grid technique. Thirteen patients showed gross hypertrophy of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). These were designated Gilbert's EM Positive. The remaining 12, designated Gilbert's EM Negative, did not differ significantly from normal controls. The EM Positive group showed a significantly greater percentage response to caloric restriction (P less than 0.01) and an exaggerated response to nicotinic acid stimulation when compared with the EM Negative group and normal controls. These results suggest that SER hypertrophy is not, as previously suggested, a constant feature of Gilbert's syndrome but rather a characteristic of a distinct subpopulation.

Disinfection of upper gastrointestinal fibreoptic endoscopy equipment: an evaluation of a cetrimide chlorhexidine solution and glutaraldehyde

There is little information available on the bacteriological contamination of upper gastrointestinal fibreoptic endoscopes during routine use and the effects of 'disinfecting solutions'. A bacteriological evaluation was therefore made of cleaning an endoscope and its ancillary equipment with (1) water, (2) an aqueous solution of 1% cetrimide with 0.1% chlorhexidine, and (3) activated aqueous 2% glutaraldehyde. All equipment, but particularly the endoscope itself, was found to be heavily contaminated after use with a wide variety of organisms of which 53% were Gram positive. Cleaning the endoscope and ancillary equipment with water and the cetrimide/chlorhexidine solution alone or in combination was inadequate to produce disinfection but immersion in glutaraldehyde for two minutes consistently produced sterile cultures with our sampling technique. A rapid and simple method for disinfection of endoscopic equipment is therefore recommended and we think this is especially suitable for busy endoscopy units.

Neurological presentation of psittacosis during a small outbreak in Leicestershire

Images