Natural orifice transendoscopic surgery as a rescue for a dislodged lumen-apposing metal stent in the peritoneum after successful EUS-directed transgastric ERCP

Video 1Natural orifice transendoscopic surgery as a rescue for a dislodged lumen-apposing metal stent after EUS-directed transgastric ERCP.

Accelerated balloon-retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO): an effective tool in the Arsenal against isolated gastric varices (IGV)

Gastric and oesophageal variceal bleeding poses high morbidity and mortality in cirrhosis. Amongst all types, isolated gastric varices (IGV) carry the highest propensity to bleed. Successful outcomes combine endoscopic and interventional radiology approaches using ligation, coils, glue or sclerosants. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt success is only seen in a subset of patients, while balloon-retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) has demonstrated high efficacy in preventing rebleeding and morbidity in patients with a myriad of anatomies and shunts. The American Association for the Study of Liver disease guidelines do not favour any particular modality; however, recent trials and meta-analyses support BRTO as the first-line therapy. Despite promising results, BRTO adoption is limited by procedural time, patient length-of-stay and equipment compatibilities hindering scalability in academic and community settings. To address these concerns, we present a successfully treated case of IGV with a revised technique called accelerated BRTO.

Pseudohyponatraemia secondary to hyperlipidaemia in obstructive jaundice

A 44-year-old man with uncontrolled diabetes and chronic pancreatitis presented with abdominal pain, jaundice and unintentional weight loss. Laboratory investigations were significant for hyponatraemia, an obstructive pattern of liver enzymes. Imaging was consistent with intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary obstruction, and endoscopic evaluation revealed a long common bile duct stricture. Intravascular volume depletion, beer potomania and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (with concern for biliary or pancreatic malignancy) were considered in the work-up for the aetiology of the hyponatraemia. After 4 days of conventional treatment, hyponatraemia persisted. Lipid panel obtained revealed very high levels of total cholesterol. The patient underwent a successful biliary diversion and reconstruction surgery. Follow-up after 3 months showed a clinically stable patient with resolution of elevated liver enzymes, hyperlipidaemia and hyponatraemia. We illustrate this rare case of hyponatraemia secondary to hyperlipidaemia in obstructive biliary cholestasis. It is important for physicians to thoroughly investigate the aetiology of hyponatraemia at its onset.

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: All wheat attack is not celiac

Currently, 1% of the United States population holds a diagnosis for celiac disease (CD), however, a more recently recognized and possibly related condition, "non-celiac gluten sensitivity" (NCGS) has been suggested to affect up to 6% of the United States public. While reliable clinical tests for CD exist, diagnosing individuals affected by NCGS is still complicated by the lack of reliable biomarkers and reliance upon a broad set of intestinal and extra intestinal symptoms possibly provoked by gluten. NCGS has been proposed to exhibit an innate immune response activated by gluten and several other wheat proteins. At present, an enormous food industry has developed to supply gluten-free products (GFP) with GFP sales in 2014 approaching $1 billion, with estimations projecting sales to reach $2 billion in the year 2020. The enormous demand for GFP also reflects a popular misconception among consumers that gluten avoidance is part of a healthy lifestyle choice. Features of NCGS and other gluten related disorders (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome) call for a review of current distinctive diagnostic criteria that distinguish each, and identification of biomarkers selective or specific for NCGS. The aim of this paper is to review our current understanding of NCGS, highlighting the remaining challenges and questions which may improve its diagnosis and treatment.