Haematemesis: a new syndrome?

Prevalence and clinical picture of gastroesophageal prolapse in gastroesophageal reflux disease

The prevalence of gastroesophageal (GE) mucosal prolapse in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was investigated as well as the clinical profile and treatment outcome of these patients. Of the patients who were referred to our service between 1980 and 2008, those patients who received a complete diagnostic work-up, and were successively treated and followed up at our center with interviews, radiology studies, endoscopy, and, when indicated, esophageal manometry and pH recording were selected. The prevalence of GE prolapse in GERD patients was 13.5% (70/516) (40 males and 30 females with a median age of 48, interquartile range 38-57). All patients had dysphagia and reflux symptoms, and 98% (69/70) had epigastric or retrosternal pain. Belching decreased the intensity or resolved the pain in 70% (49/70) of the cases, gross esophagitis was documented in 90% (63/70) of the cases, and hiatus hernias were observed in 62% (43/70) of the cases. GE prolapse in GERD patients was accompanied by more severe pain (P < 0.05) usually associated with belching, more severe esophagitis, and dysphagia (P < 0.05). A fundoplication was offered to 100% of the patients and was accepted by 56% (39/70) (median follow up 60 months, interquartile range 54-72), which included two Collis-Nissen techniques for true short esophagus. Patients who did not accept surgery were medically treated (median follow up 60 months, interquartile range 21-72). Persistent pain was reported in 98% (30/31) of medical cases, belching was reported in 45% (14/31), and GERD symptoms and esophagitis were reported in 81% (25/31). After surgery, pain was resolved in 98% (38/39) of the operative cases, and 79% (31/39) of them were free of GERD symptoms and esophagitis. GE prolapse has a relatively low prevalence in GERD patients. It is characterized by epigastric or retrosternal pain, and the need to belch to attenuate or resolve the pain. The pain is allegedly a result of the mechanical consequences of prolapse of the gastric mucosa into the esophagus.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in children: an 11-year retrospective endoscopic investigation

BACKGROUND

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) may present as hematemesis, coffee-ground emesis, or melena requiring esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for diagnosis and/or therapy. Worldwide, differences exist for the etiology of UGIB reflecting geographical differences in common disease states. In the past 25 years, there have been improvements in endoscopic optics. This study was undertaken to determine: 1) if identifying a bleeding source in UGIB have improved with better endoscopic optics, 2) geographic differences in causes of UGIB, 3) differences in severity of UGIB based on clinical factors, and 4) the likelihood of finding a bleeding source based on symptom duration and time to endoscopy.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was made on children having EGD for evaluation of UGIB. Data collected included type, etiology, and degree of bleeding.

RESULTS

Of 2569 diagnostic procedures, 167 (6.5%) were performed for UGIB. The most common presentation was hematemesis (73.4%). Melena was associated with lower hemoglobin levels and higher transfusion rates. A source of UGIB was found in 57.0%, no cause in 11.4% and a questionable cause in 29.7%. A source was found less commonly in children with a history of UGIB less than one month and in those undergoing endoscopy over 48 hours after a bleeding episode.

CONCLUSIONS

Improved endoscopic optics has not changed diagnostic ability for UGIB. Etiologic differences for UGIB in children from varying geographic areas are related to indication for endoscopy, patient selection, and co-morbid conditions. Duration of bleeding and time to endoscopy after a bleeding episode may help predict when endoscopy should be performed to determine a bleeding source.

Prolapse gastropathy syndrome may be a predictor of pathologic acid reflux

AIM: To assess the occurrence of gastric acid reflux into the esophagus in endoscopically confirmed prolapse gastropathy syndrome (PGS).

METHODS: Using ambulatory esophageal pH measurement (BRAVO^TM wireless esophageal pH monitoring system), twenty-six patients with PGS were compared with twenty-one patients with erosive esophagitis (EE) as controls. We assessed several reflux parameters, including the percentage of total time at pH < 4, and the DeMeester score.

RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between the PGS group and the EE group as to mean age, sex ratio and pH recording time. The EE group showed more severe reflux than the PGS group, as evaluated in terms of the longest duration of reflux, the number of reflux episodes, the number of reflux episodes lasting > 5 min, the total time with pH < 4 during acid reflux episodes, and the DeMeester score, but none of these parameters showed statistically significant difference. Although 53.8% (14/26) of the PGS group and 76.2% (16/21) of the EE group demonstrated pathologic acid reflux (DeMeester score > 14.72), there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of pathologic acid reflux (P = 0.11).

CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference in pathologic acid reflux between the PGS and EE group. These data suggest that endoscopically diagnosed PGS might be a predictor of pathologic acid reflux.

Mechanical gastritis as cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Mechanical gastritis is confirmed as one of the causes of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, which is created directly by retching and vomiting in a patient with an esophageal hiatal hernia. Five cases of mechanical gastritis are reported in this paper. The clinical presentation of mechanical gastritis and the Mallory-Weiss syndrome may mimic each other. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed the gastric mucosa to be propelled into the esophagus during nausea. This mucosa showed erosions and superficial ulcerations. The mucosa appeared 'congested' at and just below the cardia. It is suggested that the friction and compression of the gastric mucosa prolapsing through a constriction ring of the diaphragm into the hiatal hernia during retching and vomiting may cause mechanical trauma to the gastric mucosa, resulting in gastritis, erosions, and hemorrhage.

Subepithelial hemorrhages and erosions of human stomach

Subepithelial hemorrhages and erosions of the stomach are being studied extensively in experimental animal models but have not been well-characterized in humans. The definitions of these hemorrhagic and erosive lesions are not uniform and are often further confused by being labeled with the blanket term "gastritis." We define these lesions from an endoscopic perspective, describe the clinical settings in which they occur, and provide endoscopic-histologic correlations, where available.

Recurrent retching with gastric mucosal prolapse. A proposed prolapse gastropathy syndrome

A clinical syndrome is described in 22 patients who present with epigastric pain alone or with hematemesis which is associated with a precedent history of recurrent early morning retching or postprandial retching. The characteristic endoscopic finding is a knuckle of inflamed and sometimes bleeding gastric mucosa which repeatedly prolapses into the esophageal lumen during retching. Other upper gastrointestinal lesions are not found. Retching is thought to cause the forceful prolapse and subsequent traumatization of gastric mucosa. The episodes of vigorous retching and resultant gastric trauma are now considered to be the cause of the abdominal pain and hematemesis, and it is proposed that this combination of clinical features illustrates a distinct syndrome which we have called prolapse gastropathy. This condition is a significant cause of hematemesis and abdominal pain in a group of nonalcoholic patients who demonstrate an unusual sensitivity to gag and retch.

Stigmata of recent haemorrhage in diagnosis and prognosis of upper gastrointestinal bleeding

In 277 consecutive episodes of suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding, lesions bearing stigmata of recent haemorrhage (stigmata) were found by endoscopy in 110 (47%) out of 233 patients who were judged to have bled; 78 (33%) had lesions without stigmata, and in 45 (19%) no lesion was seen. Results in 176 entirely unselected admissions for upper gastrointestinal bleeding were similar.Forty-eight chronic duodenal and 41 chronic gastric ulcers were identified by endoscopy. Stigmata were found in 27 (56%) and 33 (80%) of these cases respectively. Sixteen patients had multiple lesions, and in 12 (75%) the presence of stigmata permitted diagnosis of the source of the haemorrhage. Stigmata were more likely to be seen in cases of duodenal ulcer, Mallory-Weiss lesions, and oesophageal varices when endoscopy was performed within 12 hours of bleeding, but were as common in cases of gastric ulcer after longer intervals.In the absence of stigmata one out of 21 patients with duodenal ulcer had further haemorrhage and one other needed emergency surgery; no patient with gastric ulcer had further haemorrhage or needed emergency surgery. In contrast, when stigmata were present 15 of the 27 patients with duodenal ulcer (56%) had further haemorrhage and 17 (63%) needed emergency surgery; of the 33 patients with gastric ulcer, 10 (30%) had further haemorrhage and 15 (45%) required emergency surgery. Superficial mucosal lesions may have been the source of haemorrhage when an ulcer unmarked by stigmata was seen at endoscopy. Stigmata were superior to any other single factor or combination of factors in predicting rebleeding and the need for emergency surgery.

Retrograde gastric mucosal prolapse as a cause of haematemesis

Three cases of haematemesis associated with alcohol abuse are described. Early fibreoptic endoscopical examination in each showed a focal, well demarcated area of gastric mucosal haemorrhage, close to the oesophagogastric junction. Two patients showed prolapse of the lesion into the lower part of the oesophagus, and the third had coexistent Mallory-Weiss tears. Our observations suggest that forceful vomiting is responsible for this lesion, by causing abrupt retrograde gastrooesophageal prolapse. The prognosis of the lesion appears good.