Published papers

A 41-year-old woman became ill with acute hepatitis B after gynecological surgery performed by a surgeon who was hepatitis B surface antigen positive. The surgeon was positive for hepatitis B e antigen, and HBV DNA concentrations in the serum, saliva, and sweat of the surgeon were very high. HBV genotype and partial HBV DNA sequences from the HBV-infected surgeon were identical to those in the HBV-infected patient. Extensive research by the committee including infection control and prevention specialists judged the source of infection to be a surgeon infected with HBV. Transmission of HBV from a healthcare worker to patients who are not immune to HBV can actually happen. This case report illustrates the importance of a stringent policy of a nationwide HBV universal vaccination program. © 2012 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases.

Background and Aim Although intestinal obstruction as a result of sigmoid volvulus (SV) may be successfully resolved using endoscopic detorsion, surgical treatment remains the main therapeutic strategy. We evaluated the endoscopic detorsion procedure using unsedated water-immersion colonoscopy for the treatment of SV. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted on the clinical background and prognosis of 21 SV patients who underwent 71 endoscopic detorsion procedures using unsedated, water-immersion colonoscopy. Results In all, 14 (67%) male and seven (33%) female patients, with a mean age of 73 years (range, 54-95 years) were enrolled; 86% were >70 years of age. Among these patients, 90% had a background of key predisposing factors. In the 21 patients, endoscopic detorsion was successfully done using unsedated water-immersion colonoscopy. SV recurred in 10 patients at a median of 180 days. Endoscopic detorsion for recurrent SV was successfully achieved in all cases, and none of the secondary cases became severe. Only male patients were observed to experience three or more recurrent episodes of SV. Conclusions SV occurred most commonly in elderly patients with a surgical risk. Our experience suggests that conservative endoscopic treatment using unsedated water-immersion colonoscopy is a safe, reasonable, conservative endoscopic approach for elderly patients in the absence of necrotic findings. We currently use this procedure in most of our cases. © 2014 The Authors. Digestive Endoscopy © 2014 Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.