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Introduction: Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) is a rare medical disorder, which is characterized by a diffuse black esophageal mucosal during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy which is a highly recommended diagnostic tool. Its high mortality rate requires to be quickly evocated and an early management., Case Report: We report a case of a 93-year-old patient with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The upper endoscopy shows a grade D AEN according to the Los Angeles classification. Treatment consists of a parenteral nutritional support and an intravenous proton pump inhibitors treatment, which increase chances of a favorable outcome on endoscopic controls at 2 and 6 weeks., Conclusion: AEN has to be quickly evocated in a polyvascular and old patient with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Our experience confirms that optimal and early management allow a esophageal complete healing at 6weeks., (Copyright © 2021 Société Nationale Française de Médecine Interne (SNFMI). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Helical radiation intensity modulated by tomotherapy improves dose distribution to complex and large volumes. The aim of the study was to assess acute toxicity of this technique during breast cancer irradiation after conserving surgery or mastectomy., Patients and Methods: Cutaneous toxicities, lung and oesophageal side effects, and breast lymphedema were retrospectively collected according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.0 (CTCAE v4.0) in 292 patients treated for a breast cancer by tomotherapy between May 2010 and December 2014. After conservative surgery, the dose administered to breast volume and the tumour bed was respectively 52.2Gy and 63.8Gy in 29 fractions. After mastectomy, the dose was 50Gy in 25 fractions. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to highlight risk factors for dermatitis and breast oedema., Results: The rate of dermatitis grade 2 and 3 were 22.9% and 1.7% respectively. In univariate analysis, factors associated with acute radiation dermatitis were breast volume (P=0.002), body mass index (BMI) (P<0.0001), the use of chest compression mask (net) (P=0.005) and the localization of the irradiation (P <0.0001). In multivariate analysis, BMI greater than 25kg/m 2 (odds ratio [OR]: 3.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.93-6.74], P<0.0001), the use of a chest mask (OR 2.01, 95% CI [1.06-3.79] P=0.0328) and irradiation after conservative treatment increase the risk of acute radiation dermatitis (mastectomy: OR 0.64, 95% CI [0.04-0.43]; mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with prosthesis: OR 0.13 95% CI [0.10-0.38] P=0.0003). The incidence of breast oedema grade 2 or above was 19.5%, in univariate analysis, there was a correlation with BMI (P=0.003) and smoking (P=0.009). In multivariate analysis, smoking and BMI greater than 25kg/m 2  increased the risk of breast oedema (OR 2.47, respectively [95% CI 1.22-5.01] P=0.012 and OR 2.37 [95% CI 1.22-4.59] P=0.01). The rate of radiation pneumonitis of grade 2 or above was 1.4%. Among the patients, 19.9% had esophagitis grade 1 or 2., Conclusion: The helical irradiation intensity modulation tomotherapy is a well-tolerated treatment for breast cancer that reduces the high radiation doses to organs at risk., (Copyright © 2017 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Bradykinin-mediated angioedema (AE) is a rare disease characterized by recurrent cutaneous or mucosal angioedema. This hereditary or acquired disease is of rapid installation, non-pruritic, usually painless and can affect the face, lips, larynx, gastrointestinal tract or extremities. When the affected area involves the upper respiratory tract, laryngeal angioedema can lead to imminent death by asphyxia. This is the reason for the high mortality rate (30 %) in undiagnosed or improperly managed patients. High-risk situations in oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures should be identified preoperatively. Short-term prophylaxis must be carried-out prior to any procedure that may trigger an attack. A multi-site reference center (CREAK) has been created to help clinicians to manage this disease. This article reviews the pathophysiologic mechanisms, the clinical presentations, the possible treatments, the acute strategies for attacks and different prophylactic possibilities in oral and maxillofacial surgery., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is a technique of ventilator support to avoid endotracheal intubation and its potential complications. However, it has some complications that are usually harmless to type of erythema and/or cutaneous ulcerations, mouth or nose dryness, conjunctival irritation and rarely lesions of barotrauma, volotrauma or gastric insufflation with nausea and vomiting. We report the case of a patient who had an unusual complication of NIV: sub mucosa gastro-esophageal pneumatosis associated with subcutaneous emphysema occurring on the second day after one hepatectomy which was settled but complicated with a postoperative pulmonary aspiration syndrome., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Gastric heterotopia is a rare congenital lesion, described everywhere in the body, but involves predominantly the digestive tract. Diagnosis is based on histologic examination and requires the presence of gastric mucosa, especially fundic. This diagnosis is usually easy, but sometimes it can be misinterpreted as gastric metapalsia . This latter is an acquired and frequent lesion of the gastrointestinal tract., Aims: To determine the relationship between this affection and the other digestive malformations, to describe the clinical characteristics and the evolution of this lesion and to discuss the differential diagnosis particularly the gastric metaplasia., Methods: Twelve cases of gastric heterotopia were diagnosed over a 12-year period at Habib Thameur Hospital. Clinical data was obtained and all the slides were reviewed., Results: Nine cases were found in Meckel's diverticulum (75%), one case in intestinal duplication, one case in the esophagus and another in the gallbladder. The mean age of patients at diagnosis was 16 years with a peak of incidence at the first decade of life. Intestinal obstruction and digestive bleeding were the most presenting features. Heterotopic gastric mucosa complicates other congenital anomalies such as common mesentery, vestigial polyp of the liver, appendiceal agenesis and heterotopic pancreas. Differential diagnosis consists in gastric metaplasia was found extensively in a patient with Crohn's disease associated with Meckel's diverticulum., Conclusion: Gastric heterotopia is frequently associated with congenital anomalies especially with Meckel's diverticulum and digestive duplication. Diagnosis relies on histology, mainly on finding heterotopic fundic glands in normal organizational structure. Sometimes, differentiating between gastric heterotopia and gastric metaplasia requires clinical confrontation.

The esophagus is a musculo-membranous tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. Due to its anatomical location, it can be exposed to ionizing radiation in many external radiotherapy indications. Radiation-induced esophageal mucositis is clinically revealed by dysphagia and odynophagia, and usually begins 3 to 4 weeks after the start of radiation treatment. With the rise of multimodality treatments (e.g., concurrent chemoradiotherapy, dose escalation and accelerated fractionation schemes), esophageal toxicity has become a significant dose-limiting issue. Understanding the predictive factors of esophageal injury may improve the optimal delivery of treatment plans. It may help to minimize the risks, hence increasing the therapeutic ratio. Based on a large literature review, our study describes both early and late radiation-induced esophageal injuries and highlights some of the predictive factors for cervical and thoracic esophagus toxicity. These clinical and dosimetric parameters are numerous but none is consensual. The large number of dosimetric parameters strengthens the need of an overall analysis of the dose/volume histograms. The data provided is insufficient to recommend their routine use to prevent radiation-induced esophagitis. Defining guidelines for the tolerance of the esophagus to ionizing radiation remains essential for a safe and efficient treatment., (Copyright (c) 2010. Published by Elsevier SAS.)

Background: Association of scleroderma with hemiatrophy is rare. The case we describe is unusual because of the combination in the same patient of several sub-types of scleroderma with oesophageal involvement and facial and extra-facial hemiatrophy., Case Report: A 38-year-old women suffering from plaque-type morphea presented oesophageal dysfunction during the course of her disease with positive anti-Scl70-antibodies and progressive right-sided hemiatrophy of the face, sternocleidomastoid, thumb and thenar eminence. Linear hyperpigmentation of the right arm and a "coup de sabre" appearance on the face were also noted., Discussion: Facial and extra-facial hemiatrophies are usually associated with or originate secondary to linear scleroderma. Only two cases with systemic involvement have been reported but hemiatrophy was localised to the face. The present case is unusual because of its onset as morphea in plaque form, because of the oesophageal involvement and the additional association of morphea in a linear form and facial and extra facial hemiatrophy. The relationship between sclerodermic facial hemiatrophy and Romberg facial hemiatrophy is also discussed., Conclusion: The combination of several sub-types of scleroderma and facial and extra-facial hemiatrophy in the same patient may indicate that these entities actually represent different spectra of the same disease.

Gastrointestinal involvement is frequent in systemic sclerosis (SSc), occurring in 75 to 90% of patients with diffuse or limited cutaneous SSc. Although all regions of the gut may be affected, the esophagus is the most common gastrointestinal localization of this disease. If not diagnosed at an early stage, resulting complications may include esophagitis (leading to stenosis, strictures, and Barrett's esophagus) and increased risk of interstitial lung disease. Esophageal manometry is the most sensitive test for accurate diagnosis of motor dysfunction. Antisecretory agents (mainly proton-pump inhibitors) are effective for treating esophageal manifestations. Gastrointestinal involvement is reported in 50-88% of patients with SSc. It remains associated with a poor prognosis and leads to death in 6 to 12% of cases. Gastrointestinal impairment may lead to life-threatening complications, including severe dyspepsia, hemorrhage related to watermelon stomach (gastric antral vascular ectasia), malabsorption syndrome (related to bacterial overgrowth), and intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Treatment for the latter two remains difficult, although octreotide has proven to be effective in SSc patients. Small bowel manometry is useful for careful selection of SSc patients who will benefit from this treatment. Anorectal involvement is frequent in SSc patients (50-70%) and causes fecal incontinence and rectal prolapse. Other digestive manifestations, including liver impairment, are less common in SSc.

Unlabelled: Systemic mastocytosis is rare in children and is characterized by an abnormal proliferation and infiltration of mast cells in different tissues., Case Report: We report a case of systemic mastocytosis presenting cutaneous symptoms during the neonatal period. Later evolution was characterized by systemic manifestations consisting of recurrent respiratory infections with wheezing and a digestive involvement that included abdominal pain, hepatosplenomegaly and a nodular, hemorrhagic infiltrate in a low esophagus. The diagnosis was confirmed by histology and biology, notably increased histamine concentrations in blood and urines. Improvement of the respiratory and digestive symptoms was obtained with treatment by histamine H1 and H2 receptors antagonists., Conclusion: Respiratory manifestations and nodular infiltration of the digestive tract are rare in systemic mastocytosis. The prognosis is conditioned by complications such as malignancy and the persistence of the disease till the adult age.

Introduction: Patients are frequently referred for chronic cough. The causes are various., Case Report: We report two cases of chronic cough that occurred after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for treatment of morbid obesity. In both cases, the computed tomography scan showed an important oesophageal dilatation. The cough disappeared after the band deflation., Conclusion: Oesophageal dilatation after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is a new cause to be included in the aetiology of chronic cough.

Introduction: To evaluate the prevalence, risk factors and morbidity associated with gastrointestinal (GI) complications after cardiac surgery, with and without cardiopulmonary bypass, we carried out a retrospective cohort study at a university teaching hospital., Methods: We divided the 11,405 eligible adult patients into 2 groups: group A (operated on between January 1992 and June 1996) (4657 patients) and group B (operated on between July 1996 and December 2000) (6748 patients)., Results: We found 147 GI complications in 134 (1.2%) patients. The incidence of GI morbidity was similar for the 2 groups of patients (group A, n = 59/4657 [1.2%]; group B, n = 75/6748 [1.1%]. Patients from group B were older, obese, diabetic and presented with more peripheral and cerebrovascular disease. Bleeding, gastritis and ulcer with perforation, the most common of these GI events, were associated with the esophagus and stomach (67/147 [45.5%]). Other events that we documented included cholecystitis 10 (6.8%), pancreatitis 13 (8.8%), episodes of small and large bowel ischemia 17 (11.6%), pseudomembranous colitis 12 (8.3%) and diverticulitis 5 (3.4%). Mesenteric ischemia was responsible for 11 (37.9%) of the 29 deaths. Two hundred and ninety-three patients were revascularized without extracorporeal circulation during this study. In this group, we were able to pinpoint 5 (1.7%) GI complications with 3 cases of mesenteric ischemia. Multivariate analysis identified renal insufficiency, prolonged intubation and sepsis as significant, predictive variables of GI complications for the 2 groups of patients whereas the Parsonnet score and stroke were predictive for the second group., Conclusions: Although cardiac surgery is now being performed on older patients with significant comorbidity, we could not demonstrate a significant increase of GI complications after cardiac surgery. Off-pump coronary artery bypass does not seem to protect patients from these complications.

Two cases of esophageal mucocele in pediatric patients are reported: two children of 5 and 9 years respectively underwent surgical isolation of the esophagus and esophagocoloplasty for caustic stenosis related to accidental ingestion of caustic soda. Clinical pattern of mediastinal compression was proved with cervical fistulous tract in one case. In both cases, thoracic computed tomography was a sensitive imaging method to demonstrate the mucocele and its extension. Esophageal mucocele is rarely described in children, especially following esophageal corrosive stricture.

We report two cases of oesophageal bezoar in patients given enteral nutrition by nasogastric tubing in an intensive care unit. These two complications occurred during the year following the replacement of our standard enteral feed by a new preparation enriched in proteins. In both patients, the bezoar could be endoscopically removed. The enteral feeding solution is likely to be responsible for the development of this complication because no other factor known to favour this complication such as concomitant administration of sulfacrate or anti-acid agents was given to the patients; and the bezoar developed shortly after the new enteral feeding solution was used, a hypothesis supported by several similar case reports in the medical literature.

Introduction: Esophageal involvement in Hodgkin's disease, commonly known as a belated localization of the advanced forms, has been seldom reported (3 to 5% in post-mortem series and 0.7% in clinical series)., Exegesis: We report the case of a 61-year-old man who had an esophagus localization revealing Hodgkin's disease stage IV EBb of Ann Arbor classification. The originality of this case was represented by: the revelation mode of the esophageal involvement such as dysphagia and upper gastrointestinal bleeding; the localization at the distal third of the esophagus with contiguous involvement of the gastric fundus; the absence of mediastinal nodes showing the primitive character of the esophageal injury., Conclusion: This observation incites us to consider Hodgkin's disease in the list of differential diagnoses of tumoral dysphagia, even if there was no ganglionic and/or visceral localization of the disease.

Endosonography fine needle guided aspiration (EUS-FNA) biopsy is an interesting technique for the diagnosis of suspected gastrointestinal lesions, and is rarely complicated by infection. We report one case of severe infection after EUS-FNA of benign oesophageal leiomyoma, leading to an oesophagectomy. Recent studies about this technique described only infectious complications after biopsy of cystic lesions. They also show that EUS-FNA may misdiagnose leiomyosarcoma. Our report confirms these data, and relates a hitherto non-reported complication, i.e. the infection of a non-cystic lesion.

A 20-year-old man was admitted after a traffic accident for a closed chest trauma. Initial evaluation showed a sternal fracture with a minor pneumomediastinum. Twenty-four hours later be experienced an acute respiratory failure, due to total left pulmonary atelectasis from indirect compression of the left main stem bronchus. Mediastinal widening at the postero-superior level was visualized by CT scan. The aortogram was normal. Thoracotomy showed a moderate left haemothorax, associated with an intramural haematoma of the low thoracic oesophagus which was respected. The time course was uneventful, except repetitive atelectases treated by fibrescopic aspiration. Oesophageal haematoma secondary to chest trauma is a rare injury, with around 10 cases reported in the literature. Compression of tracheobronchial axis is exceptional. Because of the delayed occurrence of such a complication after chest trauma, with sternal fracture, close clinical surveillance and CT scans are essential.

Esophageal involvement is a common situation found in 50 to 80% of patients with scleroderma, but Boerhaave's syndrome is rare in this context. The authors report the first case of spontaneous esophageal rupture occurring in a chronic renal failure patient treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. In this observation, sclerodermal esophageal dyskinesia, chronic renal failure which is a classical cause of vomiting and the peritoneal dialysis which play an increasing role in the intraabdominal pressure are potential contributing factors to Boerhave's syndrome. In such patients presenting risk factors, even if they are asymptomatic, it seems reasonable to propose esophageal explorations with manometry or/and endoscopy looking for dyskinesia or other complications of gastro-esophageal reflux.

Radiation-induced late effects of oesophagus are observed after treatment for various cancers. Acute reactions, mainly oesophagitis, are well known and accurately described; late effects share, for most of these, a common consequence: alteration of the main oesophageal function, namely to conduct the food bolus; clinically they are impaired in terms of mobility and stenosis. More rarely, ulcerations and pseudodiverticulae can be observed. Chemotherapy further increases the risk of late effects, especially in case of concomitant chemo-radiotherapy. All numbers and statistical data on oesophagus late effects should be regarded with caution due to recent changes in the therapeutic attitudes (more and more combined chemotherapy-radiotherapy) and some progress in given cancer locations. A common scale like the LENT-SOMA should enable the clinician to better know these late effects on oesophagus which is required to initiate effective prevention measures and adapted treatments.

We report the case of a 72-year-old woman hospitalized for dysphagia and odynophagia due to an ulcer of the esophagus. Thoracic CT-scan and esophageal endosonography revealed a tumour of the mediastinum which invaded the esophagus. Per-operative biopsies concluded to a probable malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

Objectives: To identify the determinants and results on conservative management of oesophageal perforations and ruptures., Methods: Retrospective clinical review of 34 consecutive patients (mean age: 62 years) treated for cervical (n = 10) or thoracic (n = 24) oesophageal disruption between 1985 and 1996. Causes were: spontaneous rupture (n = 10), instrumental perforation (n = 16), alimentary foreign body (n = 6), and blunt (n = 1) or penetrating trauma (n = 1). The diagnostic delay exceeded 24 hours in 15 cases., Results: A nonoperative management was achieved in 8 patients with no mortality. A conservative surgical treatment was attempted in 23 patients, primary repair in 21 and open drainage in 2, with a 17.4% mortality. Resection (n = 2) or exclusion (n = 1) was performed in 3 patients with no early mortality, but one of them died as result of the subsequent reconstructive operation to restore oesophageal continuity. Overall morbidity was linked to the spontaneous cause of the perforation. Outcome of patients undergoing primary repair was not influenced by the diagnostic delay nor the surrounding sepsis., Conclusion: Conservative management should be advocated for the treatment of oesophageal perforations and ruptures, even in case of delayed diagnostiqiagnosis, regardless of the surrounding sepsis and cause of disruption.

A case of obstructive intramural hematoma of the esophagus post variceal sclerotherapy is reported in a 44-year-old man who presented retrosternal pain and complete dysphagia. Endoscopy showed a bluish submucosal mass occupying the esophageal lumen. Diagnosis was confirmed by Computed Tomography. A favorable outcome was observed with symptomatic treatment.

Portal vein thrombosis complicating a trauma is rare. We report a case of portal vein thrombosis associated with esophageal rupture after a blast injury due to the explosion of a pressurized nitrogen bottle. Portal vein thrombosis was discovered during oesophageal reconstruction, 70 days after the initial injury. A favorable outcome was observed.

A rare manifestation of digestive tract distension involving all the cavities was observed in a patient who had journeyed at high altitude. There was no organic obstruction suggesting that the increase in organ volume was related to decreased atmospheric pressure according to Maiotte's law. Distension may have been favoured by the diminished abdominal muscle tone, resulting in a lack of adaptation. Dilatation was predominant in the large organs, particularly the stomach and the colon.

We report a case of acute respiratory distress which occurred three days after orthopaedic surgery and which led to the diagnosis of spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus (Boerhaave syndrome). The unusual nature of the signs delayed diagnosis.

Diabetic autonomic neuropathy is rarely symptomatic but very frequent at a subclinical stage. Symptoms may be gastrointestinal, urinary, genital or cardiac. Sudoral, vasomotor or pupillary symptoms may also occur. Standardized cardiovascular tests are used to investigate parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous control. Because of their easy feasibility and good reproducibility they might be performed in the largest part of the diabetic population. These tests also strongly suggest that cardiac autonomic neuropathy is of poor prognosis, even when it is subclinical. Most treatments are symptomatic, but optimized diabetes control and administration of aldose reductase inhibitors are rational therapeutic measures, although their long-term effectiveness remains to be demonstrated.

Seventeen preoperative variables were collected in order to assess their prognostic value on survival in 82 cirrhotic patients who underwent a portosystemic shunt for ruptured esophageal varices. Univariate analysis showed that the presence of encephalopathy, bad nutritional status, elevated serum bilirubin, low serum albumin, the presence of ascites and Child-Turcotte's or Child-Pugh's C class were significantly associated with a reduction of long-term survival. Multivariate analysis according to the Cox model showed that only encephalopathy and nutritional status were independently associated with survival. Six survival curves were proposed to estimate the survival probability with these 2 preoperative data; encephalopathy had a predominant effect on survival during the first 5 years after surgery.

A pulsion diverticulum of the mid-thoracic oesophagus was resected because of severe dysphagia. A subdiverticular myotomy was associated for the treatment of non-propagated oesophageal contractions, without oesophageal low-sphincter abnormalities. Three months post-operatively, the dysphagia was still present and manometry showed the absence of lower sphincter relaxation after 45 percent of deglutitions; a lower oesophageal sphincter myotomy was performed, resulting in correction of the dysphagia and of the sphincter relaxation abnormalities. The deficit of the inhibitory nervous mechanism, responsible for abnormalities of lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation, was present in the entire intramural oesophageal plexus, but, was not symptomatic at the level of the IOS prior to resection of the diverticulum.

A pulsion diverticulum of the mid-thoracic oesophagus was resected because of severe dysphagia. A subdiverticular myotomy was associated for the treatment of non-propagated oesophageal contractions, without oesophageal low-sphincter abnormalities. Three months post-operatively, the dysphagia was still present and manometry showed the absence of lower sphincter relaxation after 45 percent of deglutitions; a lower oesophageal sphincter myotomy was performed, resulting in correction of the dysphagia and of the sphincter relaxation abnormalities. The deficit of the inhibitory nervous mechanism, responsible for abnormalities of lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation, was present in the entire intramural oesophageal plexus, but, was not symptomatic at the level of the IOS prior to resection of the diverticulum.