Barrett’s esophagus: Review of natural history and comparative efficacy of endoscopic and surgical therapies

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Progression to cancer typically occurs in a stepwise fashion through worsening dysplasia and ultimately, invasive neoplasia. Established EAC with deep involvement of the esophageal wall and/or metastatic disease is invariably associated with poor long-term survival rates. This guides the rationale of surveillance of Barrett’s in an attempt to treat lesions at an earlier, and potentially curative stage. The last two decades have seen a paradigm shift in management of Barrett’s with rapid expansion in the role of endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) for management of dysplastic and early neoplastic BE, and there have been substantial changes to international consensus guidelines for management of early BE based on evolving evidence. This review aims to assist the physician in the therapeutic decision-making process with patients by comprehensive review and summary of literature surrounding natural history of Barrett’s by histological stage, and the effectiveness of interventions in attenuating the risk posed by its natural history. Key findings were as follows. Non-dysplastic Barrett’s is associated with extremely low risk of progression, and interventions cannot be justified. The annual risk of cancer progression in low grade dysplasia is between 1%-3%; EET can be offered though evidence for its benefit remains confined to highly select settings. High-grade dysplasia progresses to cancer in 5%-10% per year; EET is similarly effective to and less morbid than surgery and should be routinely performed for this indication. Risk of nodal metastases in intramucosal cancer is 2%-4%, which is comparable to operative mortality rate, so EET is usually preferred. Submucosal cancer is associated with nodal metastases in 14%-41% hence surgery remains standard of care, except for select situations.     

Validation of the Modena bleeding score in endoscopic sinus surgery

IntroductionThe Modena bleeding score is a categorical rating scale that allows the assessment of the surgical field in relation to bleeding during endoscopic surgery. It has recently been presented and validated in the field of endoscopic ear surgery by the present authors. The Modena bleeding score provides five grades for rating the surgical field during endoscopic procedures (from grade 1 ? no bleeding to grade 5 ? bleeding that prevents every surgical procedure except those dedicated to bleeding control).ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to validate the Modena bleeding score in the setting of endoscopic sinus surgery.MethodsFifteen three-minute videos of endoscopic sinus surgery procedures (each containing three bleeding situations) were evaluated by 15 specialists, using the Modena bleeding score. Intra and inter-rater reliability were assessed, and the clinical validity of the Modena bleeding score was calculated using a referent standard.ResultsThe data analysis showed an intra-rater reliability ranging from 0.6336 to 0.861. The inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.676 to 0.844. The clinical validity was α = 0.70; confidence limits: 0.64 ? 0.75, corresponding to substantial agreement.ConclusionThe Modena bleeding score is an effective method to score bleeding during endoscopic sinus surgery. Its application in future research could facilitate the performance and efficacy assessment of surgical techniques, materials or devices aimed to bleeding control during endoscopic sinus surgery.     

The usefulness of abscess tonsillectomy followed by intraoral drainage for parapharyngeal abscess concomitant with peritonsillar abscess in the elderly

Parapharyngeal abscess (PPA) may cause life-threatening complications and peritonsillar abscess (PTA) and tonsillitis frequently precede PPA. The optimal management of PPA caused by PTA has been the subject of debate with respect to the surgical approach. We present three cases of PPA concomitant with PTA in elderly patients. In two cases, the abscesses in parapharyngeal space were drained by abscess tonsillectomy followed by intraoral incision of the tonsillar bed. On the other hand, the third case did not undergo abscess tonsillectomy because of his refusal of surgery and needed extraoral drainage after the aggravation of PPA. Based on the experience of those three cases, it was suggested that abscess tonsillectomy followed by intraoral incision of the tonsillar bed might be a useful surgical approach for the drainage of PPA concomitant with PTA, especially in elderly patients.     

硬膜下积液治疗经验总结（附27例临床分析）

目的总结不同类型硬膜下积液治疗经验。 方法对解放军总医院第六医学中心神经外科自2009年1月至2014年10月手术治疗并完整随访的27例硬膜下积液患者进行回顾性分析。根据术前影像学特征鉴别积液是否为血性，将患者分为血性硬膜下积液患者（9例）和非血性硬膜下积液患者（18例）。根据积液是否为血性选择个性化治疗方案，观察其疗法。 结果9例血性硬膜下积液患者接受钻孔外引流手术，8例积液消退，另外1例无效，之后接受硬膜下腹腔分流后治愈。非血性硬膜下积液患者中14例接受硬膜下腹腔分流，12例有效，2例术后出现脑积水，经脑室-腹腔分流术治愈；2例术前合并脑积水接受脑室-腹腔分流术，均有效；另外2例最初接受积液外引流，无效，之后行硬膜下腹腔分流后积液消退。 结论对于硬膜下积液患者，术前需仔细评估积液是否为血性，是否合并脑积水。血性积液采取钻孔外引流，非血性积液采取硬膜下腹腔分流，合并脑积水的积液采取脑室-腹腔分流手术方式，给予个体化治疗，可获得满意疗效。