Since the introduction of small bowel capsule endoscopy, and more recently of esophageal capsule endoscopy, these diagnostic tools have become available for the evaluation of the consequences of ...portal hypertension in the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. The main advantage of the esophageal and the small bowel capsule is the relatively less invasiveness that could potentially increase patients' adherence to endoscopic screening/surveillance programs. When esophageal capsule endoscopy was compared with traditional gastroscopy, it showed good sensitivity and specificity in recognizing the presence and the size of esophageal varices. However, the results are not consistent among studies, and more data are needed.
The most relevant studies concerning the diagnosis of esophageal varices, primary and secondary prophylaxis and treatment of variceal bleeding published in the last year are reported.
The specific ...areas reviewed are those that refer to studies on the noninvasive or minimally invasive diagnosis of the presence of esophageal varices, the prevention of the formation and of the progression of varices from small to large, the prevention of the first variceal haemorrhage, the treatment of the acute bleeding episode, and the prevention of rebleeding.
Relevant studies are reviewed regarding the validation of noninvasive indices for the presence of varices, the use of the esophageal videocapsule to diagnose varices, the comparison of methods to prevent the first variceal haemorrhage, the use of the hepatic vein pressure measurement to monitor the haemodynamic response to beta-blockers, the long-term protection from bleeding by beta-blockers, the use of a double dose of somatostatin to control bleeding, the evaluation of the best endoscopic method to treat variceal bleeding in addition to vasoactive drugs, and the identification of prognostic factors for early and late mortality after a variceal bleed.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent chronic abdominal pain and impaired bowel habits, which affects daily activity and work ...productivity, and is associated with a significant healthcare economic burden as well as an impaired quality of life and psycho-affective profile. Management of patients is a great challenge for physicians; at the present, the therapeutic strategy aimed to treat the different symptoms, and no medical therapy is proven to modify the natural history of the disease. GELSECTANR (xyloglucan, pea protein and tannins, xylo-oligosaccharides) is a medical device with both protective and prebiotic actions on the intestinal mucosa, able to restore intestinal permeability and to improve gastrointestinal symptoms, controlling diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating in adult patients with irritable bowel syndrome. We report and discuss four cases of different patients with irritable bowel syndrome successfully managed with Gelsectan in the real clinical practice. Literature data, as well as these case reports, show that this device is effective and safe in improving symptoms and bowel habits associated to irritable bowel syndrome; its efficacy and safety were confirmed for the long-term use too. Agents with film-forming protective properties, such as Gelsectan, represent a new alternative therapeutic option for the management of patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Keywords: irritable bowel syndrome, GELSECTANR, xyloglucan, tannins, xylo-oligosaccharides
Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent chronic abdominal pain and impaired bowel habits, which affects daily activity and work ...productivity, and is associated with a significant healthcare economic burden as well as an impaired quality of life and psycho-affective profile. Management of patients is a great challenge for physicians; at the present, the therapeutic strategy aimed to treat the different symptoms, and no medical therapy is proven to modify the natural history of the disease. GELSECTANR (xyloglucan, pea protein and tannins, xylo-oligosaccharides) is a medical device with both protective and prebiotic actions on the intestinal mucosa, able to restore intestinal permeability and to improve gastrointestinal symptoms, controlling diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating in adult patients with irritable bowel syndrome. We report and discuss four cases of different patients with irritable bowel syndrome successfully managed with Gelsectan in the real clinical practice. Literature data, as well as these case reports, show that this device is effective and safe in improving symptoms and bowel habits associated to irritable bowel syndrome; its efficacy and safety were confirmed for the long-term use too. Agents with film-forming protective properties, such as Gelsectan, represent a new alternative therapeutic option for the management of patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Keywords: irritable bowel syndrome, GELSECTANR, xyloglucan, tannins, xylo-oligosaccharides
![Use of GELSECTAN[R] in Pati...](http://api.summon.serialssolutions.com/2.0.0/image/issn/XR4PS5YY4K/1177-889X/small "Use of GELSECTAN[R] in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome")
PDF
