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Biomedical subjects

U Scheurer

Publications and source records attributed to U Scheurer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Dysphagia in Crohn's disease: a diagnostic challenge.

Dysphagia is a rare manifestation in a patient with Crohn's disease. We report on the case of a patient with long-standing Crohn's disease who developed progressive dysphagia over 3 years. Endoscopy showed minimal distal oesophagitis with non-specific histological findings. Further investigation with cinematography, barium swallow and manometry established an achalasia-like motility disorder. Biopsies obtained from the oesophagus were non-specific. Balloon dilatation was performed. Initial success was followed by recurrent dysphagia. At repeat endoscopy, an oesophageal fistula was detected. An attempt at conservative medical management failed and oesophagectomy was successfully performed. Pathology results of the resected specimen confirmed the suspected diagnosis of oesophageal Crohn's disease. Even if achalasia is suspected in a Crohn's patient, it should be taken into consideration that the motility disorder could be the result of a transmural inflammation with or without fibrosis caused by Crohn's disease.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Does intravenous ondansetron affect gastric emptying of a solid meal, gastric electrical activity or blood hormone levels in healthy volunteers?

BACKGROUND: In previous studies, tropisetron has been shown to accelerate gastric emptying of a solid meal. However, it is uncertain whether other specific 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonists, such as ondansetron, also have a gastroprokinetic effect in humans. AIM: To evaluate the effect of ondansetron on gastric half-emptying time (T1/2) of a solid meal, gastric myoelectrical activity and hormone levels in 14 healthy volunteers. METHODS: In a placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study, we investigated the effects of ondansetron (8 mg intravenously) on the gastric emptying of solids (by scintigraphy), gastric myoelectrical activity (by electrogastrography) and the post-prandial release of cholecystokinin, gastrin, human pancreatic polypeptide, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, motilin, substance P and galanin. RESULTS: The average T1/2 values were 86 min and 85.5 min without lag time (P=0.082) and 92 min and 93 min with lag time (P=0.158) for the placebo and ondansetron treatments, respectively. The average T1/2 of female volunteers was significantly longer than that of male volunteers. The dominant gastric electrical frequency and hormone plasma concentrations were not altered by ondansetron. CONCLUSIONS: Ondansetron did not affect the gastric emptying of solids, the dominant gastric electrical frequency or the plasma concentrations of the analysed gastrointestinal peptides.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Influence of naloxone on gastric emptying of solid meals, myoelectrical gastric activity and blood hormone levels in young healthy volunteers.

There is considerable evidence that opioid mechanisms are involved in the mediation of pyloric motor responses that in turn regulate gastric emptying. The purpose of this randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study was to investigate the effect of naloxone on gastric emptying of a solid meal, gastric myoelectrical activity and the postprandial release of gastrointestinal peptides and neuropeptides in 20 healthy volunteers. Naloxone was administered as an intravenous bolus, followed by continuous infusion according to an intravenous dosing nomogram. Gastric emptying time was evaluated by scintigraphy and gastric myoelectrical activity was evaluated by cutaneous electrogastrography. Naloxone did not significantly alter gastric half-emptying time and postprandial dominant gastric electrical frequency compared with placebo. It also did not significantly change the plasma levels of several peptide hormones with the exception of neuropeptide Y, which was significantly increased (P = 0.001). In conclusion, in doses that influence human intestinal motility, naloxone had no effect on gastric motility and release of several peptide hormones in healthy male volunteers. The importance of the isolated increased neuropeptide Y plasma level needs further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Acute pancreatitis--ERCP/endoscopic papillotomy (EPT) yes or no?

Until the mid eighties ERCP and EPT were considered to be contraindicated in acute pancreatitis, because of possible aggravation of active pancreatitis or induction of new attacks of pancreatitis. This attitude was revised with the new knowledge obtained from four prospective randomised studies, which compared the effects of endoscopic treatment with conservative management of acute pancreatitis. Although the four studies are not strictly comparable their results indicate that there is no advantage to ERCP +/- EPT over conservative treatment alone in mild biliary pancreatitis. In severe biliary pancreatitis, however, ERCP with EPT reduced the number of purulent cholangitis and incidence of morbidity and in one study mortality was also significantly reduced. There is evidence, that ERCP + EPT may be important in a deteriorating acute mild pancreatitis, in the smouldering type of pancreatitis and in pancreatitis with persistent cholostasis. To avoid recurrent severe pancreatitis in patients unfit for surgery without bile duct stones but with gallbladder stones, EPT is recommended. ERCP and EPT in acute severe biliary pancreatitis during the first trimester of pregnancy have been successfully performed in four patients. Sludge and microlithiasis may be the cause of recurrent "idiopathic" pancreatitis and ERCP + EPT is effective especially in cholecystectomised patients. Furthermore in patients with recurrent pancreatitis due to malformations, such as pancreas divisum, ERP and minor-papillotomy produced similar results to surgical treatment. Acute pancreatitis in patients with pancreatic duct stones or ductal leaks may be treated by ERP and EPT in selected patients. Alcoholic, metabolic and infectious pancreatitis remain within the domain of conservative treatment.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Impacted papilla minor stone in pancreas divisum causing severe acute pancreatitis: a case for early ERCP in acute pancreatitis of unknown origin.

This is the first description of severe acute pancreatitis in pancreas divisum caused by a solitary stone impacted in the minor papilla. Recovery was rapid after diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) and endoscopic stone removal. Since other etiological factors accounting for the acute pancreatitis were carefully excluded, it seems that obstruction of the minor papilla by a solitary pancreatic concrement was the most likely cause of acute pancreatitis. This case report demonstrates the diagnostic importance of early ERCP in cases of etiologically unexplained acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

[Idiopathic dilatation of the large intestine (Ogilvie syndrome--acute pseudo-obstruction)].

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome) is characterized by abdominal distention and massive colonic dilatation without any mechanical cause of obstruction. We have reviewed the records of 57 patients, 36 men and 21 women (median age 65.4 y), from 1/1992 to 12/1996, with a colonic pseudo-obstruction, defined as dilatation of at least 10 cm on plain abdominal x-ray. 38 cases (66.5%) followed surgery or trauma and 19 (33.5%) developed symptoms during severe medical illness. 36 cases (63.2%) got i.v. narcotics prior to development of Ogilvie's syndrome. 4 patients underwent conservative treatment alone, 53 patients (93%) had endoscopic decompression with a decompression tube placed in 49 (86%). Due to 2 failures and 2 complications of endoscopic treatment (one ischemic lesion, one perforation; complication rate 3.8%) 4/53 patients had to be operated (7.5%). Clinical success of endoscopic treatment was 88.6% at first attempt and 92.5% at second attempt. General complications tended to be severe, according to the concomitant diseases (morbidity 35%); overall hospital mortality was 21% (12/57). In conclusion, we believe that endoscopic decompression and tube placement is effective and safe for acute colonic pseudo-obstruction not responding to 24 hour conservative treatment.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

[Lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage: etiologic assessment and surgical concept].

Due to its occurence in patients at higher ages with comorbidities, lower gastrointestinal bleeding remains a challenge in terms of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In this series (1994-1997, n = 40) the source of bleeding was in the upper gastrointestinal tract in 38% and in the lower gastrointestinal tract in 62%. The source of bleeding could be localized in 58%. Bleeding stopped spontaneously in 40% of all patients but 60% required intervention (54% radiologic or endoscopic intervention, 46% surgery). Segmental resection was the procedure most frequently employed (8/11 patients), 3 patients underwent a subtotal colectomy. In-hospital mortality and surgical morbidity were 0/11 each. Following a staged diagnostic approach and segmental surgical resection, lower gastrointestinal bleeding can be treated with a low morbidity, mortality and a low rebleeding rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Comparison between esophageal Wallstent and Ultraflex stents in the treatment of malignant stenoses of the esophagus and cardia.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Several published studies have examined various self-expanding metal esophageal stents for use in the palliative treatment of esophageal or cardiac neoplasia, but few have compared different self-expanding metal stents. The aim of this study was to evaluate non-covered Wallstent and Ultraflex prostheses in the treatment of malignancies in the esophagus and the cardiac region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study, the effectiveness of non-covered Wallstents (46 patients) and Ultraflex stents (36 patients) was compared in the treatment of malignancies in the esophageal and cardiac regions. RESULTS: Reintervention procedures were necessary in 16 of the 46 Wallstent patients (six patients during an early phase) and in 22 of the 36 Ultraflex patients (13 during an early phase) (overall P = 0.022; early P = 0.018). The major complication in the Wallstent group was tumor ingrowth (12 of 35 complications), while in the Ultraflex group, it was incomplete deployment (18 of 49 complications). Incomplete stent deployment occurred more often in patients treated with Ultraflex (P = 0.01), and food impaction was more often observed in the Wallstent group (P = 0.001). In addition, in patients with Ultraflex stents, more complex reinterventions were necessary than those required with Wallstents (four vs. 13 complex reinterventions, P = 0.0046). Wallstents tended to improve dysphagia better than Ultraflex stents. CONCLUSION: Compared to Ultraflex stents, Wallstents have several significant short-term and long-term advantages in the palliative treatment of malignancy of the esophagus and cardia.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Self-expanding metal stents in malignant esophageal obstruction: a comparison between two stent types.

OBJECTIVES: Self-expanding metal stents are a promising alternative in the palliation of malignant esophageal obstruction, but the relative value of different stent types is not well established. METHODS: During a 3-year enrollment period in four different centers, 82 consecutive patients with malignant dysphagia without tumor recurrence after surgery or esophagorespiratory fistulas received either an uncovered Wallstent (44 patients) or a knitted nitinol stent (38 patients). RESULTS: Age (median: 79 yr), sex (F:M = 33:67), dysphagia score (median: 3), Karnofsky score (median: 53), body mass index (median: 19), type of pretreatment, tumor stage, stricture length (median: 5.4 cm), and stricture location were comparable in both stent groups. After stent placement, median dysphagia score improved markedly in both groups by two points. Procedure-related mortality (16 vs 0%; p < 0.01), early complication rate (32 vs 8%; p < 0.01), and severe persistent pain after stent placement (23 vs 0%; p < 0.002) were higher in the Wallstent compared with the knitted nitinol stent group. In contrast, stent dysfunction (7 vs 32%; p < 0.005), reintervention rate (9 vs 34%; p < 0.005), and costs were lower in the Wallstent compared with the nitinol stent group. CONCLUSIONS: In malignant esophageal obstruction, both stents markedly improved dysphagia. Uncovered Wallstents seem to cause more early severe complications than knitted nitinol stents. In contrast, stent dysfunction, reintervention rate, and costs appear to be higher in the nitinol stent group.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[15 years of endoscopic therapy in choledocholithiasis].

INTRODUCTION: The relevance of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the diagnosis and treatment of common bile duct stones has increased since the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1989-1990. METHODS: The number, indications, success and complication rate of ERCP were analyzed retrospectively in 1121 consecutive patients with bile duct stones treated at Berne University Hospital between 1980 and 1994. RESULTS: The number of patients undergoing endoscopic stone extraction increased slowly from 1980 to 1990, but has shown a 4-fold increase in the last 5 years parallel to the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Failure to diagnose and remove bile duct stones decreased 5-fold from 23% (14 of 60 patients) in 1986 to 4.4% (10 of 225 patients) in 1994. Major complications occurred in 3.2% (30 of 617 patients) and consisted of acute pancreatitis (1.6%), hemorrhage of the papilla (1%), and cholangitis (0.6%). The severity but not the number of complications has decreased in the last 15 years. CONCLUSION: Gallbladder stones with common bile duct stones are usually treated by endoscopic stone extraction combined with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Open operation with bile duct exploration is reserved for a small subgroup of patients with specific problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Wallstents versus plastic stents in malignant biliary obstruction: effects of stent patency of the first and second stent on patient compliance and survival.

OBJECTIVES: In prospective trials in patients with malignant biliary obstruction, it has been reported that Wallstents prolong stent patency, but this does not translate into a significant survival benefit. Compared with prospective trials, however, survival may be different in clinical practice because of differences in patient compliance. We report on a retrospective, long term analysis comparing Wallstents versus plastic stents. METHODS: Plastic endoprostheses (70 patients) and endoscopic Wallstents (95 patients) were placed in 165 consecutive patients with irresectable, malignant biliary obstruction in a first (1990-91) and second (1992-93) time period. Stent occlusion was treated by plastic stent placement. RESULTS: Patient characteristics were quite comparable in both stent groups. Initial placement of a Wallstent resulted in an increase of median stent patency of the first (10 vs 4 months, p < 0.001) and second (8 vs 3 months, p < 0.05) stent, a decrease of additional endoscopic procedures (20 vs 58%, p < 0.005), an increase of patient compliance reflected by a decrease of patients dying with untreated stent occlusion (9 vs 30%, p < 0.001), and an increase of survival time (6.5 vs 4 months, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Initial placement of a Wallstent results in an increase of stent patency of the first and second stent. Duration of stent patency appears to have a determinant effect on patient compliance. Increased stent patency and patient compliance seem to improve survival in clinical practice.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Pancreatic carcinoma: diagnosis].

Early detection, tumor diagnosis with histological proof and tumor-staging are the principle aims of diagnostic approaches in patients suffering from pancreatic cancer. Asymptomatic and small cancers are often missed since they produce no or no typical symptoms and no reliable screening methods are available. Symptomatic pancreatic cancers are often so advanced that only about 20-30% of patients qualify for curative treatment. The diagnosis of pancreatic cancer with histological characterization occurs by imaging techniques [sonography and CT-scan with guided fine needle punction, MRI, ERCP with biopsy or aspiration cytology, endoscopic sonography] and in some cases by laparoscopy or laparotomy. The combined use of tumor markers [CA 19-9, CEA, elastase-1] support the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The same methods used for diagnosis are also used for the preoperative tumor staging. Unfortunately the accuracy of these methods is smaller than 77%. The involvement of lymph nodes, encasement of large vessels and small liver metastases or a peritoneal spread of the tumor may be difficult to visualize and the real extent of the disease may only be observed during laparotomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Clinical manifestations of cholelithiasis and its complications].

Gallbladder stones remain asymptomatic over a long period. The biliary colic is the typical pain caused by these stones. Dyspeptic symptoms seem to be unrelated to the presence of gallstones. Acute cholecystitis, a serious complication of gallstone disease, spans a wide spectrum of clinical findings. The typical signs are right upper abdominal pain and tenderness, fever, leucocytosis and Murphy's sign. 35% of patients experience gallbladder empyema or perforation. Localized gallbladder perforation, characterized by high fever, severe right upper abdominal pain and tenderness and a palpable mass is often difficult to distinguish from acute cholecystitis. Free perforation into the abdominal cavity causes diffuse peritonitis. Gallbladder perforation into the lumen of an adjacent organ produces fistulas, mostly with minimal symptoms or a pain relief after decompression of the inflamed gallbladder. Air in the bile ducts and on some occasions bile-acid-induced diarrhea may result. Rarely, the perforation of large stones leads to an occlusion of the GI tract and results in a gallstone ileus. Common bile duct stones may be asymptomatic or cause bile duct obstruction with biliary colics and jaundice. Acute bacterial cholangitis characterized by Charcot's triad (pain, jaundice and fever) and the acute biliary pancreatitis with its typical symptoms are the serious complications of common bile duct stones, associated with a high mortality rate. The clinical manifestations of a gallstone disease and its complications reveal important diagnostic features, but the most important diagnostic features, modalities are the imaging procedures. They are decisive for an accurate therapy.

Cholangitis↗
PubMed1994

Substance P activates rat colonic motility via excitatory and inhibitory neural pathways and direct action on muscles.

We studied effects of nicotinic, muscarinic, serotoninergic, dopaminergic, adrenergic, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) antagonists, VIP, nitric oxide-synthase inhibitors and stimulators alone and in combination with tetrodotoxin on substance P (SP)-stimulated intraluminal tone of the isolated proximal, middle and distal rat colon. Tetrodotoxin significantly enhanced SP-stimulated intraluminal tonic pressure in the distal, but not in the middle and proximal colon. N omega-nitro-L-arginine methylester enhanced SP stimulation in all colonic segments, whereas L-arginine inhibited it partially and D-arginine did not affect it. Atropine and hexamethonium partially inhibited SP stimulation of the middle and distal colon. Tetrodotoxin completely abolished the effects of L-arginine, atropine and/or hexamethonium on SP stimulation. Propranolol, phentolamine, reserpine, telenzepine, naloxone, Mr 2266, a VIP antagonist (H9935) and ketanserin did not affect SP-induced colonic muscle stimulation. VIP strongly reduced SP-stimulated intraluminal pressure in all colonic segments. VIP(10-28), a putative VIP antagonist, produced similar inhibition of SP-stimulated intraluminal tonic pressure, but did not affect N omega-nitro-L-arginine methylester-induced enhancement of SP-stimulated intraluminal pressure in any segments. It is concluded that in the isolated rat colon SP-stimulated intraluminal pressure (mainly generated by circular muscles) by a direct action on colonic muscles over the whole colonic length and by simultaneous activation of neural cholinergic excitatory pathways in the middle and distal, of noncholinergic excitatory pathways in the proximal colonic segment, and by activation of nitric oxide-dependent inhibitory neural pathways. VIP seems not to be directly involved in this inhibitory pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[12 years of endoscopic stone removal].

All 583 attempts at endoscopic clearance of biliary calculi, performed in the Gastrointestinal Unit, Inselspital Bern, were retrospectively analyzed from 1980 until 1991. The average age of the patients was 70; 56% were female and 44% male. In 1980, 26 ERCPs for bile duct stone removal were performed, whereas in 1991 the number had increased to 90. The substantial increase in 1991 occurred after introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Over the total period of 12 years all stones were removed endoscopically after papillotomy in 82%, while the success rate in 1991 was 90%. Morbidity was 5.4% and lethality 0.2%. Total morbidity did not change markedly. However, the number of severe complications requiring surgical repair was reduced from 1.7% between 1980 and 1986 to 0% between 1987 and 1991. These results suggest that endoscopic removal of bile duct stones is increasingly performed with high success and low complication rates.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[Hematemesis. Extramural emergency].

Hematemesis is the cardinal sign of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. It is a sign related to numerous affections, with a prognosis depending on the underlying lesion, the degree of bleeding, the accompanying disease and other risk factors. Mortality rates are generally close to 10%, although if hematemesis is secondary to variceal bleeding, as high as 30%. 65% of hemorrhages subside spontaneously, but 25% bleed recurrently (after initial cessation) and in 10% bleeding persists. Three quarters of all renewed bleeding occurs within two days after the initial hemorrhage. If hematemesis occurs outside a hospital, rapid evaluation is required to assess the necessity of emergency transport and treatment. In the case of severe to moderate bleeding, life-support measures and rapid transport to the nearest hospital are of primary importance and all measures complicating diagnosis and treatment in the hospital should be avoided. Patients with mild hematemesis, stable cardiovascular parameters and no risk factors can be investigated and, if appropriate, treated, on an out-patient basis. If the cause of hematemesis cannot be found, aggressive, inpatient investigations are required at the first sign of second bleed. Endoscopy is the primary investigative procedure for hematemesis. The success rate is highest if endoscopy is performed within the first 36 hours of the onset of bleeding. There are indications that aggressive diagnosis and therapy, including endoscopic hemostatic interventions, can reduce hematemesis mortality.

Adult↗