Gastroenterology Commons^™

Suspected Thiamine Deficiency Secondary To Chronic Gastrointestinal Illness: A Case Report, Abigail L. Meckley, Natalie Lagattuta, Elise Gonzalez, Chamonix Kinimaka, Jessica El-Bahri

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Thiamine deficiency, also known as beriberi, is a nutritional disorder caused by a lack of thiamine (vitamin B₁) in the diet. It can occur in 2 forms: dry beriberi, which affects the nervous system, and wet beriberi, which affects the cardiovascular system. Gastrointestinal beriberi is a subtype that affects the digestive system and can lead to multisystem involvement. In the United States (US), thiamine deficiency often arises from chronic malnutrition secondary to alcoholism, known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.

Case Presentation

A 45-year-old female with no known past medical history or alcohol use disorder came to the emergency department …

Mpox-Induced Proctitis, Saif Ghias, Niyati Joshi, Dzenana Cabaravdic, Ramesh Nathan, Jasprit Takher

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a zoonotic virus in the genus Orthopoxvirus, which has a variable incubation period and an extensive array of symptoms. While those infected with Mpox have displayed generalized viral prodromal symptoms, atypical symptoms such as proctitis have also been seen. Proctitis associated with Mpox is a relatively infrequent initial presenting symptom with a reported incidence of 14-32.9% that has seen an uptick in prevalence since the 2022 global endemic.

Case Presentation

We present a confirmed case of Mpox in a 27-year-old male who presented with 3 days of intermittent anorectal bleeding and various forms …

Ischemic Colitis In A Middle-Aged Man With Covid-19: Case Report And Review Of Literature, Lara Appiah, Subhasis Misra, Stephen Jones

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was a pandemic that began in 2019 and continues to have morbid and deadly consequences throughout the world. During the beginning of the pandemic, many considered older adults and immunocompromised younger adults to be the only populations at risk for the severe consequences of COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, this was proven wrong with several case reports and studies showing that relatively younger adults can also suffer serious consequences from this perplexing virus.

Case Presentation

We report a rare case of ischemic colitis in a 42-year-old obese man who presented to the emergency department with quintessential …

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy: A Possible Trigger For Dieulafoy's Lesion, Ali Tariq Alvi, Elsa Tchouambou, Murali Shankar

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a medical condition commonly seen in clinical practice due to variable etiologies and a multitude of presentations. The patients can present with hematemesis, melena, or hematochezia in case of severe bleeding. The initial evaluation should involve assessing the hemodynamic status with adequate resuscitation followed by diagnostic tests to identify the source and potentially treat it. Dieulafoy's lesion, sometimes referred to as Dieulafoy's disease, is a rare cause of upper GI bleeding with no clear risk factors, which makes it a diagnostic conundrum. Here we describe an unusual case of Dieulafoy's lesion developing following percutaneous …

An Unusual Case Of Microcystic Serous Cystadenoma In A 19-Year-Old Male Patient, Jamie Lee Aldakkour, Alvin Boyd Newman-Caro, Ashley Henning

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Microcystic serous cystadenomas are uncommon, benign neoplasms rarely known to progress to malignancy. They are typically asymptomatic and inadvertently discovered during imaging for another unrelated condition. When discovered, they are commonly found in females over 60 years of age.

Case Presentation

In this case report, we examine a unique presentation of a serous cystadenoma discovered when a 19-year-old male presented with symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Conclusion

Previous studies on serous cystadenomas in a younger male demographic are rare. Therefore, this study will provide additional insight into the signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and management of cystadenomas in young …

A Case Report And A Review Of Pediatric Hepatoblastoma, Anthony D. Derenzi, Audrey Bowen

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Hepatoblastoma is a rare pediatric cancer. Approximately 100 cases of hepatoblastoma are reported per year. Due to the limited incidence of this disorder an internationally agreed- upon criteria was developed to classify patients as standard or high-risk. Studies involving chemotherapeutic agents, surgery, and liver transplants have been demonstrated to improve the disease-free survival rate. The combination of chemotherapeutic agents and surgery demonstrated the ability of these regimens to downgrade the initial diagnostic staging of tumors and transform previously unresectable tumors into resectable tumors.

Case Presentation

The following case of hepatoblastoma presents a 4-year-old male who presented to the emergency …

Proton Pump Inhibitor Use And Adverse Effects In South Atlantic Hospitals, Nicholas D'Angelo, Ramyar Sigarchy, Anthony Esswein, Sidra Asrar

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) have transformed the management of acid-related gastrointestinal disorders, becoming one of the top-selling medications in the United States. There is no doubt that PPIs have a significant therapeutic impact on patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and gastrointestinal bleeding. However, evidence is mounting that PPIs are overprescribed, leading to more patients possibly experiencing adverse effects. There is a great deal of ongoing debate surrounding the significance and impact of these adverse effects.

Methods

We conducted a study in 9 HCA hospitals in the southeastern United States to determine the number of patients who started on PPIs …

Acute Esophageal Necrosis And Duodenal Disease In The Setting Of Recently Initiated Chemotherapy, Kulveer Dabb, Ryan Jansen Van Rensburg, Heba Yusuf, Daniel Klein, Alexander D. Lake, Mohamed Kaif

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN), commonly referred to as “black esophagus” or Gurvits syndrome, is a rare condition characterized by diffuse black mucosa in the distal esophagus. Most often, the patient is an older male with multiple comorbidities, presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The exact pathogenesis is unclear, but it is often thought to be secondary to acute vascular hypo-perfusion or ischemia of the esophageal mucosa in critically ill patients with certain secondary comorbid conditions such as renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, malnourishment, alcohol abuse, or association with an underlying malignancy.

Case Presentation

We present a case …

Adenocarcinoma Of The Transverse Colon Presenting As Anterior Abdominal Wall Abscess, Jenn Klein, Nima Avin, Sunil Gandhi

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Locally invasive colon carcinoma comprises a small fraction of the incidence of colon carcinoma. Complications, such as perforation and obstruction, can occur in less than 0.5% of cases and often present differently based on location.

Case Presentation

We present a case of an 85-year-old woman who presented with an acute abdominal wall abscess which was caused by perforation of transverse colon carcinoma.

Conclusion

En-bloc resection increases 5-year survival, and adjuvant chemotherapy reduces the risk of recurrence in patients with stage II resectable colon carcinoma.

Acute Esophageal Necrosis Following Acetaminophen Overdose: An Unreported Cause Of Black Esophagus, Karolina N. Dziadkowiec, Renuka Reddy, Akiva J. Marcus

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN), also known as “black esophagus” or Gurvits syndrome, is an uncommon finding with an unclear etiology and pathogenesis. This condition often presents as an upper gastrointestinal bleed in older men with multiple comorbidities. AEN is characterized by circumferential black, necrotic mucosa in the esophagus. We present a case of AEN following acetaminophen overdose. The patient was ultimately discharged from the hospital with oral omeprazole twice daily, a clear liquid diet, and a recommendation for follow-up in the outpatient setting for repeat EGD in 4 to 6 weeks. Acetaminophen overdose, although a rare cause, must be considered …

Colonic Migration Of A Nephroureteral Stent Through A Colovesical Fistula, Nicholas Pigg, Kevin Carr, Julio Zayas, Eduardo Franca

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

We describe a case of a patient with a two-year history of prostate cancer who underwent placement of nephroureteral stents. He subsequently presented to the hospital with complications from prolonged retention of the stents, which ultimately lead to a secondary diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the rectum. A colonoscopy performed approximately two weeks after a bilateral nephroureteral tube exchange demonstrated what was believed to be locoregional metastatic disease and a fistulous connection with the distal nephroureteral stents. Radiographic features of this complication are discussed together with proper management and possible complications of distal nephroureteral stents. Both nephroureteral stents were explanted, and …

A Rare Presentation Of Bilateral Bochdaleck Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, A Case Study, Manuel Britto, Sean Michael, Sofia I. Cartaya, Bernard Alfredo Cartaya

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Congential diaphragmatic hernias (CDH) are a rare process that have a prevalence of 1–4 cases per 10,000 live births, and of these, bilateral Bochdalek congenital diaphragmatic hernias are even rarer entities that occur in about 1% of cases. This finding is rarely documented in literature. This paper offers a detailed methodical timeline documentation of the events that occurred after delivery and includes how to approach the diagnosis and management of such a rare and volatile condition.

Presentation

The neonate was born at 35 weeks and 6 days gestation. Unfortunately, despite intensive cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts, the neonate expired within less …

Hydrogen Peroxide Colitis: The Accidental Enema, Ramin Karimi, Ashish Sharma, Kevin Tran, Sebastian Montgomery

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Chemical colitis is defined as inflammation of the large intestine or colon as a result of exposure from a harsh chemical through an enema or other procedure. In this case, the chemical is hydrogen peroxide, which is commonly used as an antiseptic for minor abrasions. Hydrogen peroxide enemas were once popular for difficult to treat constipation. However, resultant colitis and proctitis limited its use. When administered rectally in a high enough concentration, intense abdominal pain and transient bloody diarrhea can occur, with the majority of affected patients making a full recovery with supportive management. Here we discuss a case of …

Trichobezoer: An Unusual Presentation With Congestive Heart Failure, Madeeha Malik, Fatima Javed, Bassam Helou, Furrukh Malik

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Trichobezoars are impactions of hair that accumulate in the gastrointestinal track and are most often located in the stomach. They are often associated with psychiatric illnesses like trichotillomania and trichophagia, which usually occurs in young and adolescent females. Gastric trichobezoars (GT) are the most common variety of bezoar found in the stomach. The most common complications that arise alongside GT include gastric erosion, ulceration or perforation of the small intestine. Gastric outlet obstruction, obstructive jaundice, pancreatitis and death have been reported, though these complications are rare. We report a 40-year-old female who presented to the hospital with dyspnea on exertion …

Case Of Enterococcus Cecorum Human Bacteremia, United States, Alexander D. Lake, Ryan Fields, Francia Guerrero, Yousef Almuzaini, Koravangala Sundaresh, Joseph Staffetti

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Enterococcus cecorum rarely serves as a human pathogen, and only 6 cases of this microbe inoculating humans have been documented. We present an elderly female with a marked vascular history presenting with epigastric pain and diarrhea, followed by shaking chills. Laboratory findings revealed leukocytosis, with imaging showing diffuse colonic thickening. She had a bout of bloody diarrhea, raising the likelihood of ischemic colitis with her vascular history. To our surprise, both sets of blood cultures drawn on admission grew Enterococcus cecorum. This case is unique as it is the first documented case of E. cecorum human infection in the …

Goblet Cell Carcinoma Of The Appendix: A Case Report On Goblet Cell Carcinoid, Sheliza Kabani, Aubtin Saedi, Austin Lehr, Lina O'Brien

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix is a rare neoplasm with histological features of both neuroendocrine and adenocarcinomas. The combination of its aggressive behavior, infrequent occurrence, and variable clinical presentation convolutes the management of this tumor. We report the case of a 75-year-old female presenting with acute appendicitis. A laparoscopic appendectomy was performed. The pathology report showed goblet cell carcinoid at the base of the appendix with involvement of the proximal surgical margins. At her postoperative visit, the patient’s pathology report and options for management were reviewed, and the patient agreed to proceed with a right hemicolectomy 8-10 weeks after …

Early Aggressive Hydration Is Associated With Decreased Opioid Use And Readmission In Mild Acute Pancreatitis, Shreyans Doshi, Hong Liang, Hale Z. Toklu, Selina Fritze, Sue-Wei Luu

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common causes of hospital admissions due to gastrointestinal disorders. No pharmacologic agents have been proven to impact the prognosis, and the treatment still remains supportive with intravenous fluids for hydration. Although early hydration has been recommended for the management of mild AP, there is no consensus on the type, rate, and amount of the fluid replacement.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the outcome of aggressive hydration in patients with AP.

Methods: Retrospective data from patients admitted to 12 hospitals (2015–2017) was used for analysis. Five hundred patients who …

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A General Overview, Julia Fashner

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) varies in presentation and the patient’s symptoms of regurgitation in the throat or epigastric pain do not necessarily correlate with the severity of their disease. This general overview of GERD will include information on guidelines and diagnostic testing; lifestyle, medical and surgical management; and GERD in special populations. The pathophysiology of GERD is multifactorial, and a step-wise approach will assist physicians in making the diagnosis as GERD has a significant financial burden to the U.S. healthcare system.

Neuroendocrine Tumor Of The Gallbladder, A Rare Incidental Finding, Alvaro Frometa, Yasna Chaudhary, Omar Ansari, Nigel Jagoo, Iqbal Kapadia

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background: Neuroendocrine tumors are a rare finding in the gallbladder. The incidence of this entity in the gallbladder is roughly 1.13 cases per 100,000 in the US, with a steady increase in the last decade. Gallbladder neuroendocrine tumors are generally asymptomatic; the majority of cases have been reported as incidental findings in specimens, resected due to secondary symptomatology, such as chronic cholecystitis. Treatment strategies are limited, in part due to the often advanced stage in which this disease presents. Furthermore, there is a restricted utility of diagnostic tools for early detection; these factors contribute to the poor prognosis of this …