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Background: Abdominal aorta-duodenal fistulas are rare abnormal communications between the abdominal aorta and duodenum. Secondary abdominal aorta-duodenal fistulas often result from endovascular surgery for aneurysms and can present as severe late complications., Case Presentation: A 50-year-old male patient underwent endovascular reconstruction for an infrarenal abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm. Prior to the operation, he was diagnosed with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Syphilis. Two years later, he was readmitted with lower extremity pain and fever. Blood cultures grew Enterococcus faecium, Salmonella, and Streptococcus anginosus. Sepsis was successfully treated with comprehensive anti-infective therapy. He was readmitted 6 months later, with blood cultures growing Enterococcus faecium and Escherichia coli. Although computed tomography did not show contrast agent leakage, we suspected an abdominal aorta-duodenal fistula. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy confirmed this suspicion. The patient underwent in situ abdominal aortic repair and received long-term antibiotic therapy. He remained symptom-free during a year and a half of follow-up., Conclusions: This case suggests that recurrent infections with non-typhoidal Salmonella and gut bacteria may be an initial clue to secondary abdominal aorta-duodenal fistula., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are widely used as primate experimental models in biomedical research. Duodenal dilation with chronic vomiting in captive common marmosets is a recently described life-threatening syndrome that is problematic for health control. However, the pathogenesis and cause of death are not fully understood., Case Presentation: We report two novel necropsy cases in which captive common marmosets were histopathologically diagnosed with gastric emphysema (GE) and pneumatosis intestinalis (PI). Marmoset duodenal dilation syndrome was confirmed in each case by clinical observation of chronic vomiting and by gross necropsy findings showing a dilated, gas-filled and fluid-filled descending duodenum that adhered to the ascending colon. A diagnosis of GE and PI was made on the basis of the bubble-like morphology of the gastric and intestinal mucosa, with histological examination revealing numerous vacuoles diffused throughout the lamina propria mucosae and submucosa. Immunostaining for prospero homeobox 1 and CD31 distinguished gas cysts from blood and lymph vessels. The presence of hepatic portal venous gas in case 1 and possible secondary bacteremia-related septic shock in case 2 were suggested to be acute life-threatening abdominal processes resulting from gastric emphysema and pneumatosis intestinalis., Conclusions: In both cases, the gross and histopathological findings of gas cysts in the GI tract walls matched the features of human GE and PI. These findings contribute to clarifying the cause of death in captive marmosets that have died of gastrointestinal diseases., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Primary aortoduodenal fistula is a rare condition caused mainly by a bulging infra-renal aortic aneurysm with subsequent erosion of the duodenum and formation of a fistula. We present a patient who suffered from a herald upper gastrointestinal bleeding followed by circulo-respiratory collapse only hours after, due to bleeding from the fistula. The mortality is reported to be 100 %, requiring emergency EVAR or open aortic graft repair to control any further bleeding.

Background: We report a one-stage surgery to the case of secondary aortoenteric fistula (sAEF) after prosthetic reconstruction of abdominal aortic aneurysm, by multifaceted approach., Case Presentation: A 63-year-old male was admitted to our unit under diagnosed of sAEF after prosthetic reconstruction of abdominal aortic aneurysm, and a pseudoaneurysm of thoracoabdominal aorta due to infection. The patient underwent emergency operation. Firstly, we placed the patient in a modified right lateral decubitus position and performed thoracoabdominal aortic replacement with retroperitoneal approach by thoracoretroperitoneal incision which combined thoracotomy and pararectal incision, and secondly, we changed to a supine position and performed closure of the duodenal fistula and omental flap transposition by midline abdominal incision. The patient was doing well without complications., Conclusions: A one-stage, multifaceted surgical approach covering both prosthetic reconstruction of thoracoabdominal aorta and closure of sAEF with omentopexy is reasonable and useful strategy., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Paraduodenal Hernia (PDH) is an extremely rare cause of bowel obstruction. The true incidence of pediatric PDH is unknown since there are very few published cases of this phenomenon. PDH carries a high morbidity and mortality rate if unidentified. Proper diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention are extremely important. Our case is of a healthy 3-year-old male who presented with six days of generalized abdominal pain associated with constipation, anorexia, insomnia, and non-bloody, non-bilious emesis. Abdominal ultrasound (US) was negative for intussusception and failed to visualize the appendix. Abdominal x-ray (AXR) showed nonspecific distention of several loops of bowel with air-fluid levels. Computerized tomography (CT) scan was concerning for an internal hernia versus possible transverse colonic volvulus. The patient's abdominal pain and distension worsened after nasogastric (NG) tube placement. With the combination of physical and imaging findings, the patient underwent diagnostic laparoscopy. Intraoperatively, severely dilated bowel was encountered, which was decompressed via the appendix. After which, we discovered a PDH on the left side of the ligament of Treitz which was successfully reduced. The patient had no complications and continues tolerating a regular diet with return of normal bowel function. Our case describes successful laparoscopic surgical reduction of a pediatric left paraduodenal hernia.

Diverticular disease is a major cause of hospitalizations, especially in the elderly. Although diverticulosis and its complications predominately affect the colon, the formation of diverticula in the small intestine, most commonly in the duodenum, is well characterized in the literature. Although small bowel diverticula are typically asymptomatic, and diagnosed incidentally, a complication of periampullary duodenal diverticulum is Lemmel syndrome. Lemmel syndrome is an extremely rare condition whereby periampullary duodenal diverticula, most commonly without diverticulitis, leads to obstruction of the common bile duct due to mass effect and associated complications including acute cholangitis and pancreatitis. Here, we present the first case, to our knowledge, of periampullary duodenal diverticulitis complicated by Lemmel syndrome with concomitant colonic diverticulitis with colovesical fistula. Our case and literature review emphasizes that Lemmel syndrome can present with or without suggestions of obstructive jaundice and can most often be managed conservatively if caught early, except in the setting of emergent complications., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Duodenal web is complete or incomplete obstruction of the duodenum due to a membranous web or intraluminal diverticulum. This abnormality is one of the main causes of intestinal obstruction in children. The symptoms of this disease may rarely appear in older age and cause gastric outlet obstruction in adults. In the present paper, we report a 69-year-old male patient with heartburn, abdominal discomfort, frequent non-bilious, non-bloody vomiting for the past 6 months. Furthermore, the patient had experienced a weight loss of 12 kg during this period. He had been taking aspirin daily for years due to his ischemic heart disease. After performing contrast-enhanced CT imaging, esophagogastroduodenoscopy and barium meal examination, the patient was diagnosed to suffer from duodenal web. Since surgery is currently the mainstay of treatment in the management of this disease, the patient finally underwent a gastrojejunostomy., (© 2023 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.)

Introduction: A common feature of external duodenal fistulae is the devastating effect of the duodenal content rich in bile and pancreatic juice on nearby tissues with therapy-resistant local and systemic complications. This study analyzes the results of different management options with emphasis on successful fistula closure rates., Methods: A retrospective single academic center study of adult patients treated for complex duodenal fistulas over a 17-year period with descriptive and univariate analyses was performed., Results: Fifty patients were identified. First line treatment was surgical in 38 (76%) cases and consisted of resuture or resection with anastomosis combined with duodenal decompression and periduodenal drainage in 36 cases, rectus muscle patch, and surgical decompression with T-tube in one each. Fistula closure rate was 29/38 (76%). In 12 cases, the initial management was nonoperative with or without percutaneous drainage. The fistula was closed without surgery in 5/6 patients (1 patient died with persistent fistula). Among the remaining 6 patients eventually operated, fistula closure was achieved in 4 cases. There was no difference in successful fistula closure rates among initially operatively versus nonoperatively managed patients (29/38 vs. 9/12, p = 1.000). However, when considering eventually failed nonoperative management in 7/12 patients, there was a significant difference in the fistula closure rate (29/38 vs. 5/12, p = 0.036). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 20/50 (40%)., Conclusions: Surgical closure combined with duodenal decompression in complex duodenal leaks offers the best chance of successful outcome. In selected cases, nonoperative management can be tried, accepting that some patients may require surgery later., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Duodenal varices are detected infrequently, and their rupture is very rare. We encountered an 87-year-old man who developed duodenal varices rupture during chemotherapy with atezolizumab and bevacizumab (ATZ/BV) for hepatocellular carcinoma. We identified massive bleeding of a ruptured varix in the horizontal portion of the duodenum with emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Successful hemostasis was achieved by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy with Histoacryl. Although ATZ/BV can cause esophageal varices rupture, there have been no cases of duodenal varices rupture. We should take care to check the duodenal varices as well as esophagogastric varices before ATZ/BV treatment.

Background: Periampullary duodenal diverticula are rare and pancreaticobiliary complications infrequent, however, when they are diagnosed and associated with symptoms, they warrant urgent intervention. The aim of this article is to present a clinical case of severe cholangitis secondary to the presence of a periampullary diverticulum successfully treated endoscopically., Clinical Case: A 68-year-old man with a history of diabetes and hypertension, was admitted to the emergency room with symptoms of abdominal pain, fever, and tachycardia. With acute kidney injury and alterations in liver function tests, ultrasound with dilated common bile duct and gallstones. Magnetic resonance cholangiography is performed, showing duodenal diverticulum and choledocholithiasis. Antibiotic management is given, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is decided, finding a duodenal diverticulum with stones and pus inside, sphincterotomy, transpapillary dilation and multiple sweeps are performed. Cholecystectomy was performed 7 days later, and the patient was discharged without complications., Conclusions: In patients with signs of severe cholangitis, it is important not to delay endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, even when infrequent associated pathologies are evidenced, such as a periampullary duodenal diverticulum, since this represents the diagnostic and therapeutic method of choice with high rates of resolution in the case of an obstructive pathology of the bile duct., (© 2023 Revista Médica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.)

Mesenteric hematoma is an uncommon condition caused by focal bleeding in the mesenteric vessels. Hematomas are related to trauma, pancreatitis, arteriopathy, and the use of antithrombotic agents. Although hematomas cause intestinal stenosis by compressing the adjacent small bowel, duodenal stenosis due to hematoma is rare. Therefore, the treatment indications for cases of hematoma with stenosis have not been established. We herein report a case with a large mesenteric hematoma that caused duodenal stenosis by compressing the third portion of the duodenum. Stenosis was successfully ameliorated after long-term use of a double elementary diet tube.

Intramural duodenal hematoma (IDH) is a rare entity and is generally associated with trauma. Spontaneous (nontraumatic) intramural duodenal hematoma is associated with bleeding disorders, anticoagulation therapy, alcoholism, pancreatitis, tumours  and duodenal ulcers. We report two cases of spontaneous intramural duodenal hematoma in middle-aged men who subsequently developed pancreatitis. The underlying pathophysiology is still unclear. In the cases described, it is not clear whether the intramural duodenal hematoma contributed to the development of pancreatitis or pancreatitis has contributed to the development of IDH.

In pediatric age, duodenal hematoma is rare and generally occurs following a closed abdominal trauma due to the crushing of the duodenum against the rigid plane of the spine; it rarely follows anticoagulant therapy, pancreatitis, bleeding disorders, vasculitis, tumors or upper digestive endoscopy. Duodenal hematoma is a rare cause of obstruction of the upper gastrointestinal tract and acute pancreatitis, and the diagnosis is sometimes difficult and late. On the other hand, the identification of the pathology in its initial stages allows the young patients to be subjected to a conservative treatment that resolves the issue most of the time, thus avoiding surgery. In this article we describe an unusual case of duodenal hematoma, following esophagus-gastro-duodenoscopy, in a 12-year-old boy with Di George syndrome., (© 2020. Società Italiana di Ultrasonologia in Medicina e Biologia (SIUMB).)

Lemmel's syndrome is an uncommon entity that causes obstructive jaundice due to a periampullary duodenal diverticulum in the absence of choledolithiasis or neoplasia. To date, there are few published cases and the etiopathogenesis remains unclear.

A 30-year-old man presented with colicky abdominal pain for 2 months, associated with occasional episodes of bilious vomiting. He had a history of similar complaints at the age of 16 and 26 years. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography abdomen was consistent with a diagnosis of left paraduodenal hernia. On laparoscopy a 3 × 3 cm hernial defect was identified in the left paraduodenal fossa (fossa of Landzert). Contents were jejunal, and proximal ileal loops which were dilated and edematous. Anterior border of the sac was formed by the inferior mesenteric vein and left branch of the left colic artery. Initial reduction of contents was easy. However, complete reduction proved to be difficult due to adhesions with the sac opening, the hernial sac instead laid open by dividing the Inferior Mesentric Vein (IMV) (anterior border of defect) using a vascular stapler. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 3 in a stable condition. On follow-up the patient is doing well., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Endoscopic negative pressure therapy is a novel and successful treatment method for a variety of gastrointestinal leaks. This therapy mode has been frequently described for rectal and esophageal leakages. Duodenal diverticular perforations are rare but life-threatening events. The early diagnosis of duodenal diverticular perforation is often complicated by inconclusive symptoms. This is the first report about endoscopic negative pressure therapy in patients with perforated duodenal diverticula., Case Presentation: We present two cases of duodenal diverticula perforations treated with endoscopic negative pressure therapy as stand-alone treatment. Start of symptoms varied from one to three days before hospital admission. Early sectional imaging led to the diagnosis of duodenal diverticular perforation. Both patients were treated with endoluminal endoscopic negative pressure therapy with simultaneous feeding option. Three respective changes of the suction device were performed. Both patients were treated with antibiotics and antimycotics during their hospital stay and be discharged from hospital after 20 days., Conclusions: This is the first description of successful stand-alone treatment by endoscopic negative pressure therapy in two patients with perforated duodenal diverticulum. We thus strongly recommend to attempt interventional therapy with endoluminal endoscopic negative pressure therapy in patients with duodenal diverticular perforations upfront to surgery., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

A 75-year-old man presented with a 3-week history of melaena and right upper quadrant pain. This was on a background of significant alcohol intake and a complex medical history. He was haemodynamically unstable with investigations indicating a new iron-deficiency anaemia. After resuscitation, urgent intervention was required under general anaesthesia. This involved a triple phase abdominal CT, followed by emergency oesophagogastroduodenoscopy. This revealed deep ulceration with extension to the pancreatic head and common bile duct. There was also evidence of pneumobilia on CT, secondary to a choledochoduodenal fistula. Treatment encompassed an invasive and medical approach. Following treatment, the patient was stable, with follow-up endoscopy exhibiting good duodenal mucosal healing., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Lemmel's syndrome consists of obstructive jaundice due to compression of a periampular duodenal diverticulum (DDP), in the absence of choledocholithiasis or tumor. DDP are pseudodiverticula without a muscle layer within a radius of 2-3 centimeters from the ampulla of Vater. They rarely cause obstructive jaundice, although the prevalence is estimated at up to 22 % according to the sensitivity of the diagnostic test. They are usually incidental findings, but up to 1-5 % can be complicated with diverticulitis, bleeding, perforation, obstructive jaundice (Lemmel syndrome), choledocholithiasis, pancreatitis or cholangitis.

The duodenum is the second most common location of intestinal diverticula. Periampullary duodenal diverticulum rarely causes obstructive jaundice and this condition was first described by German surgeon Gerhard Lemmel in 1934. Lemmel's syndrome is defined as obstructive jaundice due to a periampullary duodenal diverticulum in the absence of choledocholithiasis or a neoplasm.

A 57-year-old woman presented with a 5-day history of worsening right upper quadrant pain, bilious emesis and approximately 20 pounds of weight loss. The patient was afebrile, without jaundice and had mild tenderness in her right upper quadrant. She noted an incidental finding of asymptomatic cholelithiasis on imaging 4 years earlier. An abdominal radiograph revealed pneumobilia and a large ectopic calculus. An abdominal CT scan confirmed pneumobilia, a large concretion completely obstructing the third portion of the duodenum and a soft tissue communication between the gallbladder and proximal duodenum. She was brought to the operating room for definitive treatment and had the obstructing gallstone removed via a transverse duodenotomy. Bouveret syndrome is a rare cause of small bowel obstruction that requires a high index of suspicion for diagnosis. It should be considered in older patients with clinical evidence of gastric or duodenal obstruction, particularly with a history of cholelithiasis., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Acute upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding is one of the most frequent presentations to a surgical emergency. Most of them respond to initial resuscitation, and a definite diagnosis is established as soon as possible, thereby helping the clinician in management. We present the diagnostic challenges that we faced with a 70-year-old man who presented with UGI bleed. He initially responded to resuscitation, but later deteriorated and became haemodynamically unstable. The source of the UGI bleed on evaluation was found to be pseudoaneurysm of the gastroduodenal artery (PsGDA) and treated successfully by coil embolisation. The cause of the PsGDA was diverticulum arising from the first part of duodenum with changes of diverticulitis. Diverticulum originating from the first part of the duodenum is seldom reported. Moreover, diverticulitis involving this part and causing PsGDA has not been reported so far., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Right paraduodenal internal hernia, which has an embryonic origin, can be a rare cause of bowel obstruction, generally in young adults. We report the case of a young man who sought emergency care for acute abdominal pain with obstruction., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

We present the case of a 80 years-old male patient who underwent a CT angiogram due to hematemesis and hypovolemic shock. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a large clot that closed the antrum and abundant red blood in the pyloric-antrum region. Sclerosis was performed blindly and the bleeding origin was not identified and the success of the sclerosis could not be evaluated. A primary aorta-duodenal fistula was observed by CT angiography, which was treated with an endograft and femoro-femoral bypass. The patient was discharged 14 days after admission.

A 34-year-old man presented with acute severe left-sided abdominal and flank pain with associated postprandial nausea and vomiting. CT imaging revealed findings suspicious for a closed loop small bowel obstruction. Intraoperative findings were that of a left paraduodenal hernia (of Landzert) secondary to a mesenteric defect immediately posterior to the ascending branch of the left colic artery. The defect was closed via minilaparotomy. Unfortunately, his postoperative course was complicated by small bowel obstruction which required further laparotomy and adhesiolysis. The patient eventually made a good recovery. Here, we present a rare case of intestinal obstruction and discuss the aetiologies and management of this unusual phenomenon., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

We describe the case a 92-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital with choledocholithiasis and periampullary diverticulum (PAD). Due to PAD, clear visualization of the ampulla of Vater could not be obtained. Although selective bile duct cannulation was difficult, a 7-Fr plastic stent was placed during the first session. Fifteen days later, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was retried using traction devices, and the papilla became visible. Endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone extraction were performed without any complications. The application of traction devices in endoscopic submucosal dissection may be a promising technique in cases in which endoscopic biliary intervention is difficult due to PAD.

Background: the relationship between small bowel transit time (SBTT) of the capsule endoscopy (CE) and the diagnosis of small bowel bleeding (SBB) is controversial., Objective: to evaluate the relationship between SBTT and CE and the identification of SBB., Material and Methods: CE was divided according to SBTT into < 4 hours and ≥ 4 hours., Results: CE with SBTT ≥ 4 hours identified more angioectasias (p = 0.023), single lesions (p = 0.029) and jejunal lesions (p = 0.001) with an OR of 3.13 (95% CI, 1.61-6.10, p = 0.001) to identify the cause of SBB., Conclusions: CE SBTT of ≥ 4 hours increases the diagnosis of SBB.

Duodenal perforation is a rare and severe acute surgical condition which commonly follows the complications of endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures. Small degree of damage in this mechanism and an early diagnosis allow for an effective primary management. The most difficult surgical challenge is an effective management of retroperitoneal duodenal perforation together with coexisting pathological changes of its wall. In this work we present a case of duodenal necrosis with excessive necrosis of a fragment of its wall due to perinephric abscess, with an effective method of management of a defect in an isolated free small intestinal loop in association with gastroduodenal passage exclusion.

A biliary fistula which may occur spontaneously or after surgery, is an abnormal communication from the biliary system to an organ, cavity or free surface. Spontaneous biliary-enteric fistula is a rare complication of gallbladder pathology, with over 90% of them secondary to cholelithiasis. Approximately 6% are due to perforating peptic ulcers. Symptoms of biliary-enteric fistula varies widely and usually non-specific, mimicking any chronic biliary disease. Cholecystoduodenal fistula causing severe upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleed is very rare. Bleeding cholecystoduodenal fistula commonly requires surgical resection of the fistula and repair of the duodenal perforation. We describe the case of a previously healthy older patient who initially presented with symptoms suggestive of UGI bleeding. Bleeding could not be controlled endoscopically. When a laparotomy was performed, a cholecystoduodenal fistula was discovered and bleeding was noted to originate from the superficial branch of cystic artery., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

We describe the case of an 82-year-old Caucasian woman who presented to our institution as a transfer from an outside hospital with nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain with CT imaging concerning for a duodenal mass or abscess in the juxtapapillary region of the second part of the duodenum. Upper endoscopy showed a non-bleeding duodenal diverticulum with purulent discharge consistent with diverticulitis. She underwent endoscopic disimpaction with irrigation and received a 14 day course of antibiotics, after which she presented for follow-up 1 month after discharge without complications. This case highlights the rarity of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulitis, its nonspecific clinical presentation and imaging findings and the importance of early diagnosis and management to prevent severe complications including perforation., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Intramural small bowel haematoma is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in children. Coagulation disorders or anticoagulant therapy are the most common cause followed by blunt trauma. A one and half-year-old boy, with known case of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease had undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy. Four days later, he presented to us with clinical features of small bowel obstruction. CT of the abdomen showed features suggestive of haemorrhagic duplication cyst. Explorative laparotomy revealed 15-20 cm of bowel from the third part of the duodenum to proximal jejunum filled with clotted blood and thinned out serosa. There was no evidence of intraluminal blood in the distal bowel loops. Resection of the involved bowel with primary anastomoses was done. Histopathological examination of bowel revealed intramural haematoma associated with prolapse of the mucosa. There was no evidence of duplication cyst or vascular malformations. Postoperative period was uneventful., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

An 89-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a 1-month history of upper right quadrant pain, worsened in the last 3 days and accompanied by fever and chills. On physical examination, he had scleral icterus and right upper quadrant tenderness. Laboratory findings showed hyperbilirubinemia, elevated liver enzymes and C reactive protein. The patient was admitted, suspecting of an acute cholangitis and started on antibiotics. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed the presence of a juxtapapillary diverticulum in the second portion of the duodenum, which was confirmed by a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, along with upstream biliary tract ectasia. The imaging findings allowed us to diagnose a Lemmel's syndrome. Due to potential surgical risk, we decided for a conservative approach. The patient had a favourable course and was discharged home., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Bleedings such as melaena are related to diseases in the upper gastrointestinal tract. In 0.06% - 5% of cases these incidents are due to the presence of diverticula of the small intestine, which are asymptomatic and unrecognized in most patients and are only fully diagnosed in cases when complications occur., Case Report: An 88-year old male patient presented with severe anaemia, asthenia and melaena in the previous days. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) was performed with evidence of stenosis in the second part of the duodenum and a blood clot in the posterior wall without signs of active bleeding. A complete CT scan was carried out of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis using a contrast medium, which revealed a dilation of the stomach and of the first part of the duodenum with a diverticulum of the second. On the fourth day following admission the patient suffered a haemorrhagic shock and underwent an emergency surgical procedure with a bleeding diverticulum on the posterior wall of the duodenum tightly adhering to the pancreas being found. Therefore an atypical duodenal-jejunal resection was performed using a gastrojejunal Roux-en-Y bypass and the closure of the duodenal stump., Conclusion: Diverticulosis of the duodenum and small intestine is considered a rare disease. According to the literature, treatment should be conservative, and surgical options considered only in those very rare cases of complicated and life-threatening diverticulosis.

Internal hernias are defined as the protrusion of abdominal viscera through an aperture in the intraperitoneal recesses, they are considered as a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. The paraduodenal hernias are the most common type of congenital hernia especially the left-sided ones. We report a case of a 46 year-old man presenting a left paraduodenal hernia with acute small bowel obstruction, which was firstly (preoperatively) assigned to a tumoral cause., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Background: Portal hypertension is a serious complication of liver cirrhosis., Objective: To identify relevant endoscopic findings in patients with advanced cirrhosis and consecutive portal hypertension., Methods: This was a retrospective study of liver transplant candidates who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between April 2011 and November 2015., Results: A total of 1,045 upper endoscopies were analyzed. Portal hypertensive gastric and duodenal polyps were frequently observed and were associated with thrombocytopenia (p = 0.040; OR: 2.4, 95% CI 1.04-5.50), Child-Pugh score > 6 (p = 0.033; OR: 2.3, 95% CI 1.07-4.92), Model for End Stage Liver Disease score > 16 (p = 0.030; OR: 4.1, 95% CI 1.14-15.00), and previous rubber band ligation (p < 0.001; OR = 5.2, 95% CI 2.5-10.7). These polyps often recurred after polypectomy; however, no malignant transformation occurred during the observational time until October 2017. The most common endoscopic finding was esophageal varices, observed in more than 90% of patients., Conclusion: Portal hypertensive polyposis is common in patients with advanced cirrhosis. Our data suggest that these polyps have benign characteristics.

We present the case of an 82-year-old man with a history of heart failure, mitral regurgitation, type 2 DM, hypertension, dilated cardiomyopathy and a paroxysmal atrial flutter. The patient was under treatment with Sintrom. The patient presented to the emergency department due to melenic depositions of a one day evolution and dietary vomiting. There was no rectal bleeding and the patient was admitted three months previously due to self-limited melena with a normal gastroscopy. Anemia of 8 g and an overdose of Sintrom was diagnosed. A gastroscopy was performed and a large duodenal diverticulum with a fresh clot was found that was washed. A Dieulafoy lesion was subsequently found underneath with jet bleeding, which was sclerotic with adrenaline and a hemoclip. There was a favorable evolution after correcting the coagulopathy.

Aim: To report a case of Brunner's gland hamartoma (BGH) in patient treated with surgical resection., Case Report: A 73 years old male patient that was admitted with melena. The preoperative investigations suggested a suspected duodenal large polypoidal mass. A local resection was performed. Surgical resection is actually considered the best treatment for this lesion., Discussion: Brunner's glands were first described by Brunner in 1688. Hamartoma designates an excessive focal overgrowth of mature normal cells and tissues, composed of identical cellular elements. Most patients with Brunner's gland hamartoma are asymptomatic or have nonspecific complaints., Conclusion: BHG is a rare tumor arising from the Brunner's gland of the duodenum, considered entirely benign, although there have been occasionally reports of malignant foci inside.

In relation to the article published in this journal by Valdivielso Cortázar et al., we have recently diagnosed a massive digestive hemorrhage secondary to a Dieulafoy's lesion inside a duodenal diverticulum. This was successfully treated with endoscopy.

The pancreatitis, panniculitis and polyarthritis (PPP) syndrome is a rare condition caused by pancreatic diseases, such as acute or chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic carcinoma. We report the first case of PPP syndrome caused by metastatic acinar cell carcinoma from an ectopic pancreas. The symptoms were successfully managed by the treatment of the metastatic carcinoma. Pancreatic cytosteatonecrosis should be always considered in a patient who is showing symptoms of panniculitis and polyarthritis., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)