Objectives Non‐surgical methods have high success rates for treating benign biliary strictures (BBSs), but treatment of proximal strictures is difficult. Recent studies have reported that fully covered self‐expandable metal stents (FCSEMSs) are useful for treating refractory BBSs. We investigated the efficacy of a short and removable FCSEMS with an anti‐migration design for treatment of proximal BBSs. Methods Fully covered self‐expandable metal stents were inserted endoscopically in patients with BBSs after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Each FCSEMS was initially maintained for 3 months and subsequently exchanged every 3 months until the stricture resolved. Adverse events and stricture recurrence after FCSEMS removal were assessed during follow‐up. Results A total of 63 patients with a median age of 57 years were enrolled in this study; 50 were male. The most common underlying disease was hepatocellular carcinoma and the previous operation was LDLT. The mean duration from surgery to diagnosis of stricture was 8.5 months, and the mean stent indwelling time was 4.2 months. The technical success and stricture resolution rate were 100%. The recurrence rate was 23.8% and the adverse event rate was 12.7%. All stents were removable, and asymptomatic stent migration was observed in four patients (6.4%). Conclusions The newly designed FCSEMS is effective in the treatment of proximal BBSs after LDLT.

Background/AimsDuodenitis is not infrequent finding in patient undergoing endoscopy. However, hospitalized patients have a higher incidence of secondary duodenal mucosal lesions that might be related with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, tuberculosis, immunologic disorders, or other rare infections. We aimed to identify clinicopathologic features of duodenal mucosal lesions in hospitalized patients.MethodsAll hospitalized patients having duodenal mucosal lesions were identified by endoscopic registration data and pathologic data query from 2011 to 2014. The diagnostic index was designed to be sensitive; however, a detailed review of medical record and endoscopic findings was undertaken to improve specificity. Secondary duodenal lesion was defined as having specific reason to explain the duodenal lesion.ResultsAmong 6,334 hospitalized patients have undergone upper endoscopy, endoscopic duodenal mucosal lesions was detected in 475 patients. Secondary duodenal lesions was 21 patients (4.4%) and the most frequent secondary cause was IBD (n = 7). The mean age of secondary group was significantly lower than that in primary group (42.3 ± 18.9 years vs. 58.5 ± 16.8 years, p = 0.00), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were less frequently used in secondary group, but there was no differences of gender or presence of Helicobacter pylori. The involvement of distal part of duodenum including postbulbitis or panduodenitis was more frequently detected in secondary group than in primary group. By multivariate regression analysis, younger age of 29 years and the disease extent were significant predictors for the secondary mucosal lesions.ConclusionsSecondary duodenal mucosal lesions with different pathophysiology, such as IBD or CMV infection, are rare. Disease extent and age seems the most distinctive feature of secondary duodenal mucosal lesions.

BackgroundThe incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in Korea is relatively high compared to the other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, with a prevalence of 71 per 100,000 in 2012, although the incidence is declining. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been introduced for the rapid diagnosis of TB. Recently, its advantage lies in higher sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of TB. This study evaluated the clinical accuracy of real-time PCR using respiratory specimens in a clinical setting.MethodsReal-time PCR assays using sputum specimens and/or bronchoscopic aspirates from 2,877 subjects were reviewed retrospectively; 2,859 subjects were enrolled. The diagnosis of TB was determined by positive microbiology, pathological findings of TB in the lung and pleura, or clinical suspicion of active TB following anti-TB medication for more than 6 months with a favorable response.ResultsSensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 44%, 99%, and 86% from sputum, and 65%, 97%, and 87% from bronchoscopic aspirates, respectively. For overall respiratory specimens, sensitivity was 59%, specificity was 98%, and accuracy increased to 89%.ConclusionPositivity in real-time PCR using any respiratory specimens suggests the possibility of active TB in clinically suspected cases, guiding to start anti-TB medication. Real-time PCR from selective bronchoscopic aspirates enhances the diagnostic yield much more when added to sputum examination.

Objectives: Metabolic acidosis frequently develops in patients after neobladder reconstruction. However, the incidence of metabolic acidosis in patients with neobladder and the factors associated with the development of metabolic acidosis have not been well elucidated. We aimed to investigate the incidence and the potential predictors for the development of metabolic acidosis after neobladder reconstruction with intestinal segment. Methods: We included patients who underwent neobladder reconstruction using intestinal segment at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2014. A subgroup of patients according to the time of metabolic acidosis occurrence was further analyzed in order to characterize predictors for metabolic acidosis. Results: Metabolic acidosis was encountered in 79.4% of patients with neobladder during follow up period. When patients were divided into 2 groups according to anion gap (AG), total CO 2 (18.9±2.1 mEq/L vs. 20.0±1.3 mEq/L, P=0.001) and chloride (106.6±4.9 mE/L vs. 109.4±3.6 mEq/L, P<0.001) were significant different between groups with AG>12 and AG≤12. Furthermore, when patients were divided into 3 groups; patients with metabolic acidosis at postoperative day (POD) 1; from POD 2 to 14 days; after 14 days, there was significant difference among those subgroups. Conclusion: Our study showed the rate of metabolic acidosis in patients underwent neobladder reconstruction and the difference between patients with metabolic acidosis and those without metabolic acidosis for the first time in Korea. In the future, well designed prospective study will be needed to prevent metabolic acidosis after neobladder reconstruction. (Ewha Med J 2015;38(3):98-105)