Gastrointestinal foreign bodies (FB) are comprised of food bolus impaction and intentionally or unintentionally ingested or inserted true FB. Food bolus impaction and true FB ingestion represent a recurrent problem and a true challenge in gastrointestinal endoscopy. More than 80–90% of the ingested true FB will pass spontaneously through the gastrointestinal tract without complications. However, in 10–20% of the cases an endoscopic intervention is deemed necessary. True FB ingestion has its greatest incidence in children, psychiatric patients and prisoners. On the other hand, food bolus impaction typically occurs in the elderly population with an underlying esophageal pathology. The most serious situations, with higher rates of complications, are associated with prolonged esophageal impaction, ingestion of sharp and long objects, button batteries and magnets. Physicians should recognize early alarm symptoms, such as complete dysphagia, distressed patients not able to manage secretions, or clinical signs of perforation. Although many papers are yearly published regarding this subject, our knowledge is mainly based on case-reports and retrospective series. Herein, the authors summarize the existing evidence and propose an algorithm for the best approach to FB ingestion.

Background and Aims: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. The colon is the most commonly affected site, and the literature is scarce regarding CMV disease of the upper GI tract. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the clinical and endoscopic features of upper GI CMV disease. Methods: This 10-year retrospective study included all patients with a histopathological diagnosis of upper GI CMV infection. Patients' clinical, endoscopic, therapy, and follow-up data were collected from medical records. Results: Twelve patients with histopathologically proven upper GI CMV disease were identified (age 61 ± 18 years, 50% men). Most of the patients were immunocompromised (75%) due to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), malignancy, and/or immunosuppressive therapy. In the remainder (25%), the disease occurred in the absence of immunodeficiency and immunosuppression. Three patients (all with AIDS) presented with disseminated CMV infection. In the majority of the cases (83%), upper GI CMV disease was symptomatic, and the most common clinical presentations were odynophagia/dysphagia (25%) and nausea/vomiting (25%). Endoscopically, there were 5 cases of esophagitis (42%) and 7 cases of gastritis (58%). The lower esophagus (33%) and the gastric antrum (42%) were the most frequently affected GI sites. Regardless of the location, mucosal ulceration was the most common endoscopic finding (75%) and was associated with very deep ulceration resembling cavitation in 2 cases. Other endoscopic features were mucosal edema, hyperemia, and nodularity (25%). Eleven patients (92%) received antiviral treatment (duration 26 ± 12 days). The 1-month and 1-year mortality rates were 16.7 and 25%, respectively. Conclusions: Upper GI CMV disease can occur in the absence of immunodeficiency and immunosuppression. It is usually symptomatic, and mucosal ulceration is often evident at endoscopy. It is associated with significant mortality; therefore, early diagnosis and adequate antiviral treatment are essential.

Background: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is an angioproliferative tumor caused by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement by KS is a rare endoscopic finding, scarcely characterized in the literature. Objective: To characterize clinical and endoscopic features of patients with GI KS. Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study of GI KS cases confirmed by immunohistochemistry in the last decade (2006-2015). The following variables were analyzed: demographic data; clinical data (extraintestinal involvement, symptoms, presence and stage of HIV infection, immunosuppressive therapy); endoscopic data; stage-stratified therapeutic approach; and mortality (at 3 and 6 months). Results: Thirteen patients with GI KS were identified: 77% were men, the mean age was 55 years, and 62% of them were Native Africans. In most cases (n = 10, 77%), KS was associated with HIV. A total of 90% of the HIV patients had a CD4+ count of <200/μL (C3, CDC classification), and 80% of them had KS as the initial manifestation of HIV infection. Thirty percent of the cases had other AIDS-defining illnesses, and only 20% received antiretroviral therapy. In the remaining 3 patients (23%), KS was associated with immunosuppressive therapy. Most patients (85%) had cutaneous lesions and 15% lung involvement. In most cases (85%), the lesions were diagnosed in the upper digestive tract in asymptomatic patients (7 stomach; 2 stomach and duodenum; 2 esophagus). Colonic involvement occurred in 2 patients presenting with hematochezia. Nearly half of the patients had more than 3 endoscopic lesions and the most frequent morphologic type was polypoid/nodular (62%). Treatment was based on antiretroviral therapy or reduction of immunosuppression and in 39% of the patients on administration of doxorubicin. Survival at 3 and 6 months was 46 and 39%, respectively. Conclusion: GI KS is mostly found in nontreated, stage 3, HIV patients, and particularly in men from areas where HHV-8 is endemic. Involvement of the upper digestive tract is often asymptomatic. The endoscopic appearance is variable and these patients have a poor prognosis.

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IntroductionEndoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a minimally invasive organ-sparing endoscopic technique which allows en bloc resection of premalignant and early malignant lesions of the gastrointestinal tract regardless of size. In spite of the promising results, mainly from Japanese series, ESD is still not being widely used in western countries. This study aims to report the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of ESD technique for treating premalignant and early malignant gastrointestinal (GI) lesions (esophagus, gastric and rectum) in a Portuguese center.Patient and MethodsFrom December 2011 to November 2014, 34 GI lesions were treated by ESD. The location, en bloc and pathological complete resection (R0) rates, procedure time, complications and local recurrence were retrospectively evaluated.ResultsFrom 34 resected lesions, 18 were gastric (GL), 15 were rectal (RL) and one esophageal (EL). En bloc resection for each location was 17/18 (94%), 11/15 (73%) and 1/1 respectively. R0 was achieved in 16/18 (89%) GL, 9/15 (60%) RL and 1/1 EL. Mean resection time was 67 min for GL, 142 min for RL and 40 min for EL. Complications included immediate (6%) and delayed (3%) minor bleeding but no perforation. One local residual lesion from a RL was reported in the follow-up, effectively treated with an endoscopic technique. Disease-specific survival was 100% over a mean follow-up period of 14 months.ConclusionESD has shown to be a safe and feasible resection method, achieving high R0, low recurrence and complication rates. Our results are similar to those reported in other international series.

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Split-dose PEG regimen for SBCE preparation improved the small-bowel cleanliness, did not interfere with transit times and was equally well tolerated by the patients. No differences were observed regarding DY. ClinicalTrial.gov registration: NCT02396017.