Advanced endoscopic imaging in black esophagus

Gurvits syndrome: a case of acute esophageal necrosis associated with diabetic ketoacidosis

Background

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN), commonly referred to as Gurvits syndrome or “black esophagus”, is a rare clinical disease. We present a case of AEN associated with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

Case presentation

A 66-year-old male came to our hospital with coffee-ground emesis, dyspnea, and general malaise. He was treated for type 2 diabetes mellitus using insulin and had not been taking his medication, including insulin, for several days. Laboratory analysis revealed severe hyperglycemia (730 mg/dL), normocytic anemia (hemoglobin level, 7.7 g/dL; mean corpuscular volume, 100.4 fL), high serum potassium (7.6 mEq/L), and a high level of blood urea (98.7 mg/dL). Ketones and glucose were detected in the urine, and serum β-hydroxybutyrate was elevated (2132 µmol/L). Arterial blood gas analysis confirmed metabolic acidosis (pH, 7.29; HCO₃, 10.5 mmol/L). Collectively, the patient was diagnosed with DKA and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient’s condition improved with intravenous fluids, and he received intravenous insulin to treat DKA. According to these findings, the patient was diagnosed with DKA and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) which revealed a circumferential necrosis of the middle and distal esophagus, immediately proximal to the gastroesophageal junction. The patient was then treated with an intravenous proton pump inhibitor. The patient continued to improve with conservative treatment and was subsequently discharged in a stable condition. An EGD repeated 14 days after discharge showed complete healing of the necrotic-like mucosal change without stricture formation of the esophagus.

Conclusions

AEN is rare but potentially life-threatening case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Therefore, a clinician should be aware of AEN as a potential cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in elderly patients with poorly controlled diabetes and significant comorbidities.

Clinical and endoscopic characteristics of acute esophageal necrosis and severe reflux esophagitis

The similarities and differences between acute esophageal necrosis and severe reflux esophagitis have not been elucidated. We compared Los Angeles classification Grade C reflux esophagitis, Grade D reflux esophagitis, and acute esophageal necrosis to consider the similarities and differences between acute esophageal necrosis and severe reflux esophagitis.We retrospectively reviewed records of patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy at a tertiary referral center from January 2012 to December 2019. Data on patients diagnosed as Grade C reflux, Grade D reflux, or acute esophageal necrosis for the first time were extracted for analysis.A total of 213 patients were enrolled in the study, composed of 130 Grade C reflux, 74 Grade D reflux, and 9 acute esophageal necrosis patients. Compared to Grade C reflux patients, Grade D reflux and acute esophageal necrosis patients were more likely to be transfused (P = .013 and P = .011, respectively), to have duodenal ulcers (P = .025 and P = .049, respectively), and to have psychiatric illnesses (P = .022 and P = .018, respectively). Compared to both Grade C and D reflux, acute esophageal necrosis patients were more likely to present with shock (P = .003 and P < .001, respectively), have type 1 diabetes (P = .030 and P = .004, respectively), and present in winter (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). Significant step-wise differences (Grade C < Grade D < acute esophageal necrosis) were observed in the need for admission (P < .001 and P = .009), coffee ground emesis (P < .001 and P = .022), and stigmata of hemorrhage on endoscopy (P = .002 and P < .001). Admission (P = .003) and coffee ground emesis (P = .003) independently predicted either Grade D reflux or acute esophageal necrosis over Grade C reflux on multivariate analysis.Shock, type 1 diabetes, and winter may predict acute esophageal necrosis, while the need for admission and coffee ground emesis may predict Grade D reflux or acute esophageal necrosis.

Acute esophageal necrosis: A systematic review and pooled analysis

BACKGROUND

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) is a rare entity with multifactorial etiology, usually presenting with signs of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

AIM

To systematically review all available data on demographics, clinical features, outcomes and management of this medical condition.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed with respect to the PRISMA statement (end-of-search date: October 24, 2018). Data on the study design, interventions, participants and outcomes were extracted by two independent reviewers.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine studies were included in this review. Overall, 114 patients with AEN were identified, of whom 83 were males and 31 females. Mean patient age was 62.1 ± 16.1. The most common presenting symptoms were melena, hematemesis or other manifestations of gastric bleeding (85%). The lower esophagus was most commonly involved (92.9%). The most widely implemented treatment modality was conservative treatment (75.4%), while surgical or endoscopic intervention was required in 24.6% of the cases. Mean overall follow-up was 66.2 ± 101.8 d. Overall 29.9% of patients died either during the initial hospital stay or during the follow-up period. Gastrointestinal symptoms on presentation [Odds ratio 3.50 (1.09-11.30), P = 0.03] and need for surgical or endoscopic treatment [surgical: Odds ratio 1.25 (1.03-1.51), P = 0.02; endoscopic: Odds ratio 1.4 (1.17-1.66), P < 0.01] were associated with increased odds of complications. A sub-analysis separating early versus late cases (after 2006) revealed a significantly increased frequency of surgical or endoscopic intervention (9.7 % vs 30.1% respectively, P = 0.04)

CONCLUSION

AEN is a rare condition with controversial pathogenesis and unclear optimal management. Although the frequency of surgical and endoscopic intervention has increased in recent years, outcomes have remained the same. Therefore, further research work is needed to better understand how to best treat this potentially lethal disease.

Diagnosis and management of acute esophageal necrosis

Acute esophageal necrosis is a rare syndrome classically characterized by a striking endoscopic image of diffuse and circumferential black mucosal discoloration of distal esophagus, with an abrupt transition at the gastroesophageal junction and variable proximal extension. The typical patient is an older male with general debilitation and multiple comorbidities presenting with hematemesis or melena. The pathophysiology usually involves a combination of esophageal ischemia, backflow injury from gastric chemical contents and impaired mucosal reparative mechanisms associated with debilitated physical states. It may arise in the setting of hemodynamic compromise, diabetic ketoacidosis, hypothermia, alcoholic intoxication, trauma, inflammatory diseases, esophageal local infection, solid organ transplantation, postoperative status, drugs or acute gastric outlet obstruction, usually in the background of a chronic debilitating process, where the concurrent presence of multiple risk factors, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, malnutrition, malignancy or alcohol abuse, places a patient at higher risk. The characteristic endoscopic appearance establishes the diagnosis. Biopsy is supportive but not required. Management is mainly supportive and consists of correcting coexisting conditions, fluid therapy, bowel rest, intravenous proton pump inhibitor therapy and red blood cell transfusion as needed. Although this is a serious life-threatening condition, appropriate treatment may result in a favorable outcome in the majority of patients.