Author Archives: gutsandgrowth

Unknown's avatar

About gutsandgrowth

I am a pediatric gastroenterologist at GI Care for Kids (previously called CCDHC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The goal of my blog is to share some of my reading in my field more broadly. In addition, I wanted to provide my voice to a wide range of topics that often have inaccurate or incomplete information. Before starting this blog in 2011, I would tear out articles from journals and/or keep notes in a palm pilot. This blog helps provide an updated source of information that is easy to access and search, along with links to useful multimedia sources. I was born and raised in Chattanooga. After graduating from the University of Virginia, I attended Baylor College of Medicine. I completed residency and fellowship training at the University of Cincinnati at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center. I received funding from the National Institutes of Health for molecular biology research of the gastrointestinal tract. During my fellowship, I had the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing pediatric gastroenterologists and mentors. Some of these individuals included Mitchell Cohen, William Balistreri, James Heubi, Jorge Bezerra, Colin Rudolph, John Bucuvalas, and Michael Farrell. I am grateful for their teaching and their friendship. During my training with their help, I received a nationwide award for the best research by a GI fellow. I have authored numerous publications/presentations including original research, case reports, review articles, and textbook chapters on various pediatric gastrointestinal problems. In addition, I have been recognized by Atlanta Magazine as a "Top Doctor" in my field multiple times. Currently, I am the vice chair of the section of nutrition for the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition, I am an adjunct Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. Other society memberships have included the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN), American Academy of Pediatrics, the Food Allergy Network, the American Gastroenterology Association, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. As part of a national pediatric GI organization called NASPGHAN (and its affiliated website GIKids), I have helped develop educational materials on a wide-range of gastrointestinal and liver diseases which are used across the country. Also, I have been an invited speaker for national campaigns to improve the evaluation and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, celiac disease, eosinophilic esophagitis, hepatitis C, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Some information on these topics has been posted at my work website, www.gicareforkids.com, which has links to multiple other useful resources. I am fortunate to work at GI Care For Kids. Our group has 17 terrific physicians with a wide range of subspecialization, including liver diseases, feeding disorders, eosinophilic diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis, DiGeorge/22q, celiac disease, and motility disorders. Many of our physicians are recognized nationally for their achievements. Our group of physicians have worked closely together for many years. None of the physicians in our group have ever left to join other groups. I have also worked with the same nurse (Bernadette) since I moved to Atlanta in 1997. For many families, more practical matters about our office include the following: – 14 office/satellite locations – physicians who speak Spanish – cutting edge research – on-site nutritionists – on-site psychology support for abdominal pain and feeding disorders – participation in ImproveCareNow to better the outcomes for children with inflammatory bowel disease – office endoscopy suite (lower costs and easier scheduling) – office infusion center (lower costs and easier for families) – easy access to nursing advice (each physician has at least one nurse) I am married and have two sons (both adults). I like to read, walk/hike, bike, swim, and play tennis with my free time. I do not have any financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies or other financial relationships to disclose. I have helped enroll patients in industry-sponsored research studies.

Gut-Brain Modulators for Functional GI Disorders: Irritable Bowel, Dyspepsia, Functional Heartburn, and Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome

Posted on by

A lengthy report (DA Drossman et al. Gastroenterol 2018; 154: 1140-71) thoroughly reviews the evidence for neuromodulators for functional GI disorders, including Irritable Bowel, Dyspepsia, Functional Heartburn, and Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.

“Some general recommendations include: (1) low to modest dosages of tricyclic antidepressants provide the most convincing evidence of benefit for treating chronic gastrointestinal pain and painful FGIDs and serotonin noradrenergic reuptake inhibitors can also be recommended, though further studies are needed; (2) augmentation, that is, adding a second treatment (adding quetiapine, aripiprazole, buspirone α2δ ligand agents) is recommended when a single medication is unsuccessful or produces side effects at higher dosages; (3) treatment should be continued for 6-12 months to potentially prevent relapse; and (4) implementation of successful treatment requires effective communication skills to improve patient acceptance and adherence, and to optimize the patient-provider relationship.”

The report makes specific recommendations for several functional conditions (Table 4).

  • For dyspepsia, the authors recommend categorizing as either postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) and epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) as per Rome IV criteria.
  • They state that “Buspirone…may be used for PDS where early satiety, fullness and nausea predominate.”
  • “Mirtazapine is a good treatment option for PDS when there is chronic nausea and vomiting, or weight loss, and it may also help coexisting abdominal pain.”
  • For EPS, “studies mainly support the use of TCAs, either initially or after an unsuccessful response to a proton pump inhibitor.”

Figure 5 outlines general treatment advice:

  • SSRIs -“when anxiety, depression and phobic features are prominent with FGIDs”
  • TCAs -“first-line treatment when pain is dominant in FGIDs”
  • Tetracyclic antidepressant (mirtazapine, mianserin, trazodone) -“treatment of early satiety, nausea/vomiting, weight loss and disturbed sleep”
  • SNRIs (duloxetiine, venlafaxine, desvenlafaxin, milnacipran) -“treatment when pain is dominant in FGIDs or when side effects from TCAs preclude treatment”
  • Augmentation therapies are subsequently delineated including atyipical antipsychotics, pyschological treatments (like cognitive behavioral therapy) and hypnosis

Related blog posts:

Disclaimer: These blog posts are for educational purposes only. Specific dosing of medications (along with potential adverse effects) should be confirmed by prescribing physician.  This content is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a condition.

 

NY Times: Financial Bill of Rights for Patients

Posted on by

NY Times: Nine Rights Every Patient Should Demand

This article addresses a fundamental problem in medicine: lack of price transparency, and the complexity of understanding health care expenses..

The right to an itemized bill in plain English.

  • Patients can’t detect and dispute improper charges if their bills involve dozens of pages of medical abbreviations. Studies have found that 30 percent to over 50 percent of hospital bills contain errors…

The right to never receive a surprise out-of-network bill.

The right to accurate information about the provider network in my insurance plan.

  • Doctors … must be in-network for all the procedures they normally perform and on all days of the week they practice. If a provider is listed as in-network but is not, the insurer should take care of the charge.

The right to a stable network.

  • I buy my insurance policy for a year. If my doctor or insurer stops participating in my network within that year or in the midst of treating me for an acute disease, I should still be billed as an in-network patient.

The right to be informed of conflicts of interest.

  • Patients should know if their doctors own a financial stake in a testing or procedure facility before a test or procedure is ordered or scheduled…

The right to be informed in advance about any facility fees.

  • A procedure can come with different price tags depending on where it is performed…

The right to see a price list for elective procedures.

The right to be informed of cheaper options.

  • Many doctors recommend the most expensive course of care and don’t tell patients that there are other options…

The right to know that a disputed bill will not be sent to a collection agency.

  • The threat of dealing with bill collectors and a damaged credit rating is used to intimidate patients into paying up without asking questions…

I know these rights might seem like a fantasy in our current system, with its overwhelming complexity and cost. But they are actually quite similar to the rights we expect in any other sector of our economy. 

My take: The way we pay for health care does not make sense.  Understanding costs for medical care should be like reading the nutrition label boxes.  Currently, even an expert in health care has difficulty understanding what costs to expect.

Algorithm for “Cursed” Dyspepsia

Posted on by

A recent review (P Koduru et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 16: 467-79) provides a good review of dyspepsia and in addition provides some literary perspective.

In their introduction, the authors quote James Joyce in Ulysses: “Tom Rochford split powder from a twisted paper into the water set before him –That cursed dyspepsia, he said before drinking. –Breadsoda is very good Davy.”

After reviewing the definition and the pathophysiology, the authors provide a suggested algorithm (Figure 2).

Initial options:

  • In areas with high H pylori, there is an option of “test and treat” and relying on endoscopy in those who fail to respond
  • Empiric PPI therapy which works best if reflux-type symptoms are present and relying on endoscopy in those who fail to respond
  • Endoscopy without empiric treatment

In those with a negative endoscopy –>functional dyspepsia treatment is driven by symptoms:

  • If pain, the first line option recommended is a tricyclic antidepressant (pain modulator)
  • If nausea, the first line option recommended is an antiemetic
  • If early satiety, the first line option recommended is buspirone

For those with resistant and disabling symptoms, “consider nonpharmacologic approaches, such as psychotherapy or acupuncture.”

Related posts:

Disclaimer: These blog posts are for educational purposes only. Specific dosing of medications/diets (along with potential adverse effects) should be confirmed by prescribing physician/nutritionist.  This content is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a condition.

HBV Reactivation Risk with HCV DAA Therapy and What to Do About It

Posted on by

A recent prospective study (C-J Liu et al. Gastroenterol 2018; 154: 989-97) provided some reassurance about the likelihood of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation during hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAA).

In this study with 111 patients with both HCV and HBV treated with ledpasvir/sofusbuvir, all (100%) of the patients had a sustained virologic response for their HCV infection. Other key findings:

  • Of the 37 patients with baseline HBV DNA < 20 IU.mL, 31 (84%) developed detectable HBV DNA levels through posttreatment week 12.
  • Of the 74 patients with baseline HBV DNA >20 IU/mL, 39 (53%) developed increases in HBV DNA >1 log10 IU/mL through posttreatment week 12.
  • 5 patients developed ALT >2 times ULN and 3 patients were started on HBV therapy.

The associated editorial (pgs 795-8) made the following recommendations:

  • “HBsAg-negative/HBcAb-positive patients should be monitored with ALT alone until SVR12 and should be tested with HBsAg +/- HBV DNA only if ALT increases or fails to normalize on therapy.”
  • “HBsAg-positive patients with undetectable baseline HBV DNA should be considered for preemptive anti-HBV treatment, or monitored with ALT and HBV DNA until SVR12”
  • “HBsAg-positive patients with positive baseline HBV DNA should be started on preemptive anti-HBV treatment until SVR12.”

Using the above management strategy will limit the number of HBV-infected patients who need to be treated.

My take: This study and the associated editorial provide useful information regarding DAA in coinfected HBV/HCV patients; this is important for patients and practitioners, especially given the black box warning on DAA medications.

Related blog posts:

Disclaimer: These blog posts are for educational purposes only. Specific dosing of medications/diets (along with potential adverse effects) should be confirmed by prescribing physician/nutritionist.  This content is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a condition.

Hemospray for GI Bleeding

Posted on by

From MD Mag: Gastrointestinal Bleeding Spray Gets FDA Marketing Go-Ahead

An excerpt:

 According to Wilson-Cook, Hemospray represents a different approach to treat GI bleeds by reaching hemostasis in patients without the precision or direct visualization required by competing treatments. This makes the device a treatment option for bleeding from damaged tissue where the bleeding source cannot be easily identified.

Hemospray is intended to treat most forms of upper or lower GI bleeding, and is backed by clinical evidence in more than 700 patients.

Its approval was supported by data from clinical studies that consisted of 228 patients with upper and lower GI bleeding, and real-world evidence from medical literature reports that featured another 522 similar patients. According to FDA review, the device stopped GI bleeding in 95% of patients with 5 minutes of its administration. Re-bleeding, as defined by a recurring event from 3-30 days after the use of Hemospray, occurred in 20% of all patients.

Pediatric Experience with Presumed Biliary Dyskinesia

Posted on by

A recent study (SR Matta et al. JPGN 2018; 66: 808-10) highlights the frequency of cholecystectomies for “presumed biliary dyskinesia” in the United States.

Using a nationwide inpatient database, the authors examined the indication for cholecystectomy in the pediatric population from 2002 to 2011.

Key findings:

  • During the study period, the authors identified 66,380 cholecystectomies in children.  The leading indications were calculus cholecystitis (73.6%), biliary dyskinesia (10.8%), and chronic cholecystitis without calculus.
  • The frequency of biliary dyskinesia as the indication for cholecystectomy jumped significantly during the study period, particularly the first few years: 6.6% (2002), 7.8% (2003), 9.8% (2004), 10.4% (2005 & 2006), 9.9% (2007), 11.8% (2008), 9.6% (2009), 11.9% (2010), and 10.6% (2011).
  • 75% of cases were children >12 years, and 77.5% were females.

The results from the study and the way that biliary dyskinesia is controversial are reviewed in the discussion.

  • A large proportion of biliary dyskinesia patients will develop symptoms suggestive of another functional GI disorder
  • Long-term resolution of symptoms with cholecystectomy is highly variable after surgery and “55-85% of  children with biliary dyskinesia will improve with medical management.”
  • Prospective studies are lacking, but some retrospective studies have recommended using lower cut off values for ejection fraction(eg. <15-% instead of <35%); whereas, other studies have shown no correlation between ejection fraction and outcomes.

My take: Sometimes a ‘quick fix’ is not a fix at all. As this study notes, it is difficult to rely on the diagnosis of biliary dyskinesia.  Many will improve without surgery and many develop divergent symptoms.

Related blog posts:

Big Creek Greenway, not far from McFarland

Esophageal Atresia and Barrett’s Esophagus

Posted on by

Briefly noted: FWT Vergouwe et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 16: 513-21.

In this prospective study of adult patients with esophageal atresia (EA) with 151 participants, 6.6% had Barrett’s Esophagus (BE); squamous cell cancer (SCC) was identified in 0.7% (youngest at 42 years).  The authors note that the prevalence of BE and SCC were ~4-fold and ~100-fold higher, respectively, compared to the general population.

Related blog posts:

Creek near Chattahoochee River

How Helicobacter pylori Survives in the Stomach

Posted on by

A recent basic science study (P Morey et al. Gastroenterol 2018; 154: 1391-1404) explains one of the mechanisms whereby Helicobacter pylori survives in the stomach.

The researchers used MKN45 gastric epithelial cells and human gastric cells obtained from patients undergoing gastric resections and exposed them to H pylori strains. They did additional studies in infected mice.

This report has a number of cool figures demonstrating that H pylori blocks the assembly of interferon and other cytokines.  Infected gastric cells were depleted of cholesterol which rendered them unable to respond properly to inflammatory signals from immune cells.  H pylori is able to decrease inflammation at sites of colonization while inducing inflammation in adjacent noninfected epithelium.  The authors note that patients with increased serum cholesterol (especially LDL) are at increased risk for severe H pylori gastritis.

Big Creek Greenway, Alpharetta