Background/AimsTo evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of endoscopic injection of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBC; Histoacryl) for treatment of bleeding gastric varices.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the records of 455 patients with gastric variceal hemorrhage (GVH) who were consecutively treated with NBC from January 2004 to July 2013, with a mean follow-up period of 582 days. The patients' endoscopic findings, initial hemostasis, complications, rebleeding rates, and bleeding-related death rates were reviewed.ResultsHemostasis was achieved initially in 96.9% (441/455) of patients; rebleeding occurred in 35.2% (160/455), and the bleeding-related death rate was 6.8% (31/455) during follow-up. Complications included fever (6.8%), abdominal pain (3.7%), diarrhea (1.3%), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (0.7%), bacteremia (0.4%), and embolism (0.2%). A red-color sign on concomitant esophageal varices (EVs) (p = 0.002) and previous history of variceal bleeding (p < 0.001) were significant risk factors for rebleeding within 1 year. The Child-Pugh score (p < 0.001), presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (p = 0.001), and failure of initial hemostasis (p < 0.001) were the risk factors most closely associated with bleeding-related death.ConclusionsThis study provides a comprehensive overview of the outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with GVH. The results may help in the selection of effective treatment strategies for patients with GVH.

Needle-knife fistulotomy can be performed effectively and safely in patients with periampullary diverticula and difficult bile duct cannulation.

Background/AimsEndoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is considered a high-risk procedure in patients with previous acute coronary syndrome (ACS); however, clinical studies are rare in the literature. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of ERCP in patients with previous ACS.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with previous ACS who underwent ERCP between January 2007 and August 2012. The clinical characteristics, ERCP diagnoses, treatment results, and complications were analyzed.ResultsFifty patients underwent ERCP an average of 41.6 months after ACS. The most common indication for ERCP was calculous cholangitis. After deep biliary cannulation, endoscopic sphincterotomy, biliary stone removal and endoscopic biliary drainage were successfully performed. Immediate postsphincterotomy bleeding occurred in seven patients, which was successfully controlled using endoscopic therapy. Elevation of cardiac troponin I levels were observed in three patients (6%) before ERCP, and all of these patients were diagnosed with pancreatobiliary disease combined with recurrent ACS, which was treated with coronary artery stent insertion (n=2) and balloon angioplasty (n=1).ConclusionsTherapeutic ERCP is effective and safe in patients with previous ACS. Cardiac troponin I elevation should be considered a warning sign for recurrent ACS in patients who undergo ERCP.