Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is a rare clinical disorder, characterized by hypersecretion of gastric acid and multiple ulcers distal to the duodenal bulb. This occurs via the release of gastrin by neuroendocrine tumors known as gastrinomas. Patients with ZES present with nonspecific GI symptoms, which often leads to a delay in diagnosis. Our patient is a 55-year-old female with chronic abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea. She underwent EGD, EUS, MRCP, CT scans, and cholecystectomy, which did not reveal the cause of her symptoms. Repeat EGD showed a cratered ulcer in the second portion of the duodenum, suspicious for ZES. Serum gastrin was initially only moderately elevated while on PPI therapy, but chromogranin A was also elevated. Repeat gastrin level after stopping PPI therapy was 1639 pg/mL. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy was obtained, which showed two small lesions in the gastrinoma triangle. She subsequently underwent a Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy and pathology was positive for four microscopic foci of a neuroendocrine tumor. She reported improvement in her symptoms after surgery. This case highlights the need for increased awareness of ZES in patients with unexplained GI complaints and emphasizes the use of multiple modalities in the diagnosis of ZES.

We report an unusual case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to isolated gastric variceal bleeding in a patient with splenomegaly who was subsequently diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The patient is a 47-year-old male with a history of polymyositis who presented to the emergency room with complaints of lightheadedness and melena for 2 days. On initial presentation, the patient had positive orthostatic vital signs. He was found to be anemic with presenting hemoglobin of 5.8 g/dl (compared with 13.4 g/dl 4 months prior to presentation). The patient was aggressively resuscitated with intravenous fluid and blood transfusions. An emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed which showed isolated gastric varices in the fundus of the stomach, with no active bleeding or high-risk stigmata. Abdominal computed tomography revealed focal splenic vein thrombosis and splenomegaly with ill-defined hypodensities. Portal and superior mesenteric veins were patent. Mild edema was seen surrounding the spleen and non-specific abdominal lymphadenopathy was also reported. A surgical consultation recommended an urgent splenectomy. Pathology of the removed spleen revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography revealed lymphomatous disease in the thorax, abdomen, pelvis and bone marrow. The patient was subsequently started on chemotherapy.

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Aims: This study aimed to test the efficacy of SGPGI protocol to minimise bowel distension and optimise working space for laparoscopic pyeloplasty in infants. Methodology: All infants who underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty for unilateral pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction (PUJO) between January 2017 and March 2020 were included in the study. The patient cohort was divided into two groups: Group A and B. Group A included patients who underwent routine pre-operative preparation. Group B included patients wherein the SGPGI protocol was used. The key features of the protocol were fasting for 8 h, enemas, inserting a nasogastric tube in the pre-operative period and decompressing the colon on the operation table. Demographic features, pre-operative, intraoperative and post-operative parameters were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 26 infants with unilateral PUJO underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty during the study period. Group A included 12 patients and Group B included 14 patients. Both the groups were similar in age, weight and sex distribution. The median surgeon's rating score for suturing conditions was 2 for Group A and 5 for Group B patients ( P > 0.05). The operating time was significantly longer in Group A (196 ± 21 min) as compared to Group B (114 ± 18 min) ( P < 0.05). In Group A, intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) varied between 9 and 14 mmHg (median 12 mmHg), while in Group B, IAP varied between 6 and 9 mmHg (median 8 mmHg) ( P < 0.05). In Group A, in 2/12 cases (16.7%), conversion to an open procedure was necessary because of inadequate working space owing to gross intestinal distension. Two patients in Group A also had intraoperative injuries to adjacent structures due to poor working space. Conclusions: Optimal working space is critical to the performance of advanced laparoscopic surgery like pyeloplasty in infants. SGPGI protocol significantly improves working space, which permits a faster and safer surgery with a lower intra-abdominal working pressure. This protocol is simple, safe and easy to replicate at most centres in our country.