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Anticoagulants are frequently used medications in diverse cardiovascular diseases. Their uses highly increase the risk of bleeding from upper and lower gastrointestinal sources, whether there is a classic vitamin K antagonist or a novel oral anticoagulant. Their interruption can promote procoagulation status with different thromboembolic accidents. Discontinuation of oral anticoagulants before the elective procedures is standardized but there are no guidelines for managing bleeding lesions of upper gastrointestinal tract concomitant with anticoagulation. Also, because some of the anticoagulants are new comers, there is no specific antidote, and so their anticoagulation effect cannot be antagonized fast in order to reduce the bleeding. Therefore, the endoscopic hemostasis must be definitive and efficient. This is a short review of the current management for the bleeding lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients taking oral anticoagulants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Fecal transplantation was shown to effectively reduce the reoccurrence in patients with refractory Clostridium difficile infection. New data suggest that fecal transplantation could also be efficient in other gastrointestinal diseases, for instance in inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, but, there are also some data that could imply the efficacy outside the gastrointestinal tract. Fecal transplantation should be considered a unique agent, capable of treating severe diseases, with essentially no adverse reactions, presenting a cure rate of over 90%. Materials and methods. This prospective study included 33 patients, of whom 28 patients with recurrent or resistant Clostridium difficile infection, who failed to be treated with conventional therapy, which presupposed vancomycin administration and 5 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, more precisely with ulcerative colitis, refractory on biologic agents (infliximab and adalimumab). In most of the cases, fecal transplant was realized with the infusion of stool through colonoscopy. Results. Most of the patients from both groups (Clostridium difficile infection and Ulcerative Colitis) responded (31 patients) with a total relief of the symptoms, after 1 FMT for Clostridium difficile group and after more than one for the ulcerative colitis group. The so- called primary cure rate was 96.42% for Clostridium group. For ulcerative colitis, group 3 of the patients needed 3 or 4 infusions for symptom relief. One patient was categorized as non-responsive (patient with UC) and needed surgery. Due to non-fecal transplant related causes, one death was reported. Conclusions. Fecal transplant is highly effective, safe, with practically no adverse effects, inexpensive, a procedure easy to be done that could be introduced in Clostridium difficile treatment protocols. As for ulcerative colitis treatment with FMT, future randomized controlled trials are needed to prove its efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the confrontation of the health system with the need to identify solutions for providing medical care to a very large number of patients. The main objective of our study was to describe the measures taken to provide optimal medical care to patients who presented themselves in one of the large emergency hospitals of Romania in the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational study on a group of 1417 patients. The statistical analysis was performed using R. Results: The average length of stay of patients in the emergency departments was approximately 2.6 h, increasing to up to 15 days in some more severe cases. For rapid antigen tests, the highest positivity rate for SARS-CoV-2 was identified in patients aged >75 years (53%). Among the identified risk factors associated with the need for mechanical ventilation were advanced age (α < 0.001) and lack of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 (α < 0.001). Discussion and conclusions: A method of saving the Romanian health system in full hospital bed occupancy conditions in the wards proved to be the provision of medical care in emergency departments.

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma is the most common malignancy of the bile ducts causing intrahepatic, hilar, or distal bile duct obstruction. Most jaundiced patients are diagnosed with unresectable tumors in need for palliative bile duct drainage and chemotherapy. Endobiliary radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an adjuvant technique that may be applied prior to biliary stenting. The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy of endobiliary RFA prior to stent insertion in patients with unresectable distal cholangiocarcinomas., Methods: Twenty-five patients (eight treated with RFA and stenting and 17 treated with stenting alone) were included in a case-controlled study. We prospectively assessed the impact of RFA on the survival rate, the patient performance status, and the preservation of eligibility for chemotherapy based on the patient laboratory profile., Results: Patients treated with RFA prior to stenting proved to have a significantly longer survival interval (19 vs. 16 months, p = 0.04, 95% CI) and significantly better performance status. Moreover, the laboratory profiles of patients treated with RFA has been proven superior in terms of total bilirubin, liver enzymes, and kidney function, thus making patients likely eligible for palliative chemotherapy. Post-ERCP adverse events were scarce in both the study group and the control group., Conclusion: Given the isolated adverse events and the impact on the patient survival, performance, and laboratory profile, RFA can be considered safe and efficient in the management of patients with unresectable distal cholangiocarcinomas.

Introduction and Aim: Sleep disorders are highly prevalent in patients with liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS), as well as its risk factors and possible predictors, in a cohort of patients with liver cirrhosis., Material and Methods: We performed a cross-sectional prospective study over a period of 14 months and enrolled 69 patients with liver cirrhosis, after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The cases of RLS were assessed according to the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) criteria and severity scale., Results: Out of the total number of patients, 55% fulfilled the criteria for RLS. Age, diabetes, severity of cirrhosis, serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and mean hemoglobin were associated with the presence of RLS. Moreover, there was a significantly higher prevalence of RLS among patients with decompensated cirrhosis. From all the risk factors introduced into the multivariate analysis, only the GFR could predict the presence of RLS., Conclusions: This research shows that patients with liver cirrhosis have a high risk of RLS. Even though there are multiple risk factors associated with RLS, only the GFR could predict its occurrence in our cohort.

Non-malignant esophageal fistulas have a wide spectrum of clinical and pathological features and it`s important to learn to detect and treat them, due to significant morbidity, mortality and costs. The need for minimally invasive, efficient and also quick procedures is imperative. Esophageal stenting using fully-covered expandable stents has become an increasingly preferred option and addresses to fistulas which arise from 2-3 cm beyond Killian's mouth and up to the gastroesophageal junction. The long-term purpose of the procedure is closure of the fistula and thus healing. A second goal would be avoiding the complications generated by long-term wearing of the stent, such as gastrointestinal perforation and stenosis., Objectives: This review focuses on the efficacy of fully-covered metallic stents in treating benign esophageal fistulas. To this effect, we performed a retrospective study on 21 patients admitted in our clinic between January 2014 and April 2017 for non-malignant esophageal fistulas. The selection criteria were the following: post-operative fistulas (gastric sleeve, fundoplication for transhiatal gastric hernia, even malignancies for which surgical tumor removal was performed), foreign body acquired fistulas, post-traumatic fistulas. Esophago-jejunal anastomotic fistulas were also included in the study (following complete gastrectomy). Results: The efficacy of esophageal stenting was proven in 76% of the cases, resulting in fistula closure. The rest of the patients either didn't achieve fistula closure or couldn't tolerate the stent, calling for early removal of the prosthesis. Reintervention procedures such as stent repositioning or stent replacement (with higher diameter) were carried out in 42% of the cases. A percentage of 19% of the patients who achieved fistula closure developed esophageal stricture on stent-induced ulcers and needed recalibration stenting or esophageal Savary dilation. 22% of the cases needed surgical drainage for infected collections developed simultaneously. We recorded 2 deaths, unrelated to the stenting procedure. Patients who didn't acquire fistula closure were referred to thoracic surgery in good physical condition. Conclusions: Fully-covered metallic esophageal stents can be successfully used to treat benign esophageal fistulas. Follow-up of the patient in order to see if stent repositioning or replacement is needed is crucial. Special design esophageal stents are highly recommended and must not lack. Close cooperation with thoracic surgery is indispensable., (Celsius.)