A Pseudoaneurysm of Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery Caused by Esophageal Stent Placement Because of Esophageal Stricture After Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection

TGF-β1 inhibitor P144 protects against benign restenosis after esophageal stenting through TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway inhibition

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Esophageal restenosis is a serious complication after esophageal stent placement, which influences the clinical prognosis of stent implantation and the patient's quality of life. TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway plays an important role in the development of the eosinophilic esophagitis and scar repair after skin trauma. However, the role of TGF-β1/Smads in the development of esophageal restenosis after esophageal stent placement remains unknown. Our study aimed to investigate whether TGF-β1/Smads plays an important role in the development of esophageal restenosis after esophageal stent, and whether the exogenous TGF-β1 inhibitor supplement could ameliorate the esophageal restenosis after esophageal stent.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We established the model of esophageal restenosis after esophageal stenting in rats, and determined the expression levels of TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway and the relevant markers of fibroblast activation by immunochemistry (IHC), Western Blot and real time qPCR. Those all the indicators were also determined in esophageal fibroblast when exposed to rhTGF-β1 with or without TGF-β1 inhibitor P144.

RESULTS

The serum level of IL-1β and TNFα were significantly increased in stent implantation group compared to blank control group, and obviously ameliorated when treated with P144. The TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway and the relevant markers of fibroblast activation were significantly increased in stent implantation group compared to blank control group, and obviously ameliorated when treated with P144. Those all the indicators were significantly increased when exposed to rhTGF-β1, and obviously decreased when treated with P144.

CONCLUSIONS

TGF-β1 Inhibitor P144 could protect against benign restenosis after esophageal stenting by down-regulating the expression levels of relevant markers of fibroblast activation through TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway inhibition, and may be used as a novel therapy for benign restenosis after esophageal stenting.

Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding From Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery-Esophageal Fistula

Background: The most common aortic arch abnormality is an aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA). ARSA-esophageal fistula is a rare sequela that can present with a life-threatening upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleed. Case Report: We report the case of an 88-year-old male who presented with signs of upper GI bleeding. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated extrinsic compression of the upper third of the esophagus with ulceration. Imaging studies revealed ARSA posterior to the esophagus with pseudoaneurysm formation. These findings confirmed an upper GI bleed secondary to ARSA-esophageal fistula. The patient underwent prompt embolization of the ARSA pseudoaneurysm, followed a few days later by coil embolization of the ARSA pseudoaneurysm. Despite these interventions, the patient continued to have bleeding with anemia. He and his family opted to avoid any further interventions and instead pursued comfort care. The patient was discharged to hospice and died 3 months later. Conclusion: ARSA-esophageal fistula is a rare but potentially lethal cause of upper GI bleeding. Initial signs and symptoms can be subtle, but the presence of a GI bleed requires immediate stabilization. Surgical interventions have been shown to have longer-lasting success, but endovascular repair may be an option for patients who are deemed unfit for surgery but still require prompt stabilization. Regardless of the intervention, mortality rates for ARSA-esophageal fistula are high.

Aberrant Left Subclavian Artery-Esophageal Fistula in a Patient with a Prolonged Use of Nasogastric Tube: A Case Report and Literature Review

Arterial-esophageal fistula is a rare but potentially fatal complication. Right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery is a rare congenital vascular anomaly that can cause esophageal compression, particularly when the proximal portion of the aberrant subclavian artery forms a Kommerell's diverticulum. Prolonged use of a nasogastric tube can cause pressure necrosis of the esophagus. We report a patient with massive gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to aberrant left subclavian artery-esophageal fistula after a prolonged use of nasogastric tube. A high index of suspicion is essential for better prognosis when a patient with congenital aortic arch anomaly shows upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Esophageal regenerative therapy using cell sheet technology

We have been conducting research on esophageal regenerative therapy using cell sheet technology. In particular, in the endoscopic field, we have pushed forward clinical research on endoscopic transplantation of cultured autologous oral mucosal epithelial cell sheets to esophageal ulcer after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). We started research in this direction using animal models in 2004 and performed clinical research in 2012 in collaboration with Nagasaki University and Karolinska Institute. Although in full-circumferential cases it was difficult to prevent esophageal stricture after ESD, there were no complications and stricture could be suppressed. The cell sheet technology is still in its infancy. However, we are convinced that it has a high potential for application in various areas of gastrointestinal science. In this review, we focus on the pre-clinical and clinical trial results obtained and on the theoretical aspects of (1) stricture prevention, (2) esophageal tissue engineering research, and (3) endoscopic transplantation, and review the esophageal regenerative therapy by cell sheet technology.