SUCCESSFUL ENDOSCOPIC CLOSURES OF COLONIC PERFORATIONS REQUIRING ABDOMINAL DECOMPRESSION AFTER ENDOSCOPIC MUCOSAL RESECTION AND ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION FOR EARLY COLON CANCER

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for colorectal cancer is not widely accepted because of its technical difficulty and the risk of perforation. In addition, the risk of peritonitis cannot be completely eliminated even if a perforation is closed successfully. Reported here are two cases of early colon cancer in which the patients sustained iatrogenic perforations of the ascending colon during conventional endoscopic mucosal resection and of the sigmoid colon during ESD, respectively, requiring abdominal decompression with an 18 G Medicut needle. Both of these perforations were successfully treated by endoscopic clipping. In conclusion, conservative medical management may be possible in patients who have undergone successful closure of colonic perforations using endoscopic clipping. In order to perform immediate endoscopic closure, abdominal decompression has been useful to decrease patient discomfort and colonic lumen collapse. Now, CO₂ insufflation is being used effectively for the prevention of pneumoperitoneum.     

TECHNIQUES AND PITFALLS OF ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION FOR COLORECTAL TUMORS

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for colorectal tumors is steadily being developed. Safety and standardization of ESD for colorectal tumors have not been yet established because of the technical difficulties and the unsuitable anatomical characteristics of the colon and rectum. The authors mainly use a Flex knife for mucosal incision and a Hook knife for submucosal dissection to perform ESD safely. Skillful colonoscopic control, selection of scope, distal attachment tip hood, adequate high‐frequency generator and correct approach strategy should all be considered for safe performance of ESD. However, the incidence of indicative lesions is rare because the majority of colorectal tumors are adenomatous large laterally spreading tumors, which can be cured by intentional endoscopic piecemeal resection. At present, ESD for colorectal tumors should be performed only at central facilities that have expert colonoscopists. With the development of new devices and associated techniques, technical standardization of ESD for colorectal tumors is expected in the near future.     

腹腔镜胆囊切除术前超声内镜检查胆总管必要性的探讨

目的 探讨腹腔镜胆囊切除（laparoscopic cholecystectomy,LC）术前超声内镜（endoscopic ultrasonography,EUS）检查胆总管的临床价值。方法 对25例术前经腹超声检查诊断胆囊结石,胆总管内径〉0.7 cm可疑胆总管梗阻的患者进行EUS检查,并与手术结果或内镜十二指肠乳头切开术（endoscopic sphincterotomy,EST）取石结果进行比较。结果 EUS对于胆总管病变诊断的敏感性、准确性和阴性预测值[100%（17/17）、92%（23/25）、100%（6/6）]均优于经腹超声[35%（6/17）、56%（14/25）、42%（8/19）]（P=0.000,0.008,0.020）。结论EUS对胆总管病变诊断优于经腹超声检查,可作为术前常规检查,特别是当胆总管内径〉1.0 cm时,EUS应作为术前必检项目。     

Voice prosthesis insertion after endoscopic balloon-catheter dilatation in case of a stenotic hypopharyngo-oesophageal junction

Stenosis of the hypopharyngo-oesophageal junction can be a rare complication of laryngectomy and/or partial pharyngectomy and makes the insertion of voice prosthesis extremely difficult. This study describes the authors’ experiences gained by endoscopic balloon-catheter dilatation of hypopharyngo-oesophageal stenoses prior to implantation of voice prostheses in four cases. In two patients a single balloon-catheter dilatation resulted in wide enough pharyngo-oesophageal lumen on the long run. The average prosthesis wearing-times were 6.8 months in case 1 and 4.6 months in case 2, corresponding to the published literature data. In case 3, repeated dilatation of the pharyngo-oesophageal transition had proved to be unsuccessful despite taking every effort with the endoscopic balloon-catheter method. Having excised the stenotic segment, reconstruction with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMF) was indicated. Eighteen months later, a repeated restenosis was observed and a free jejunal flap needed to be performed as a final solution. In case 4, the insertion was carried out into a previously dilated jejunal free flap, which became gradually ischemic and stenotic since the major head-and neck procedure was carried out that resulted in prosthesis rejection after just 1 week. The authors emphasize that correct indication of pedicled and free flaps in head and neck reconstruction is a prerequisite from the aspect of prevention of pharyngo-oesophageal strictures. Endoscopic balloon-catheter dilatation is a safe and established method for dilatating hypopharyngo-oesophageal stenoses of different origin. The procedure provides maximum patient benefit with minimal trauma and morbidity; moreover, facilitates insertion of voice prostheses. However, a single balloon-catheter dilatation cannot always result in wide enough oesophageal lumen on the long run (case 3). Insertion of a voice prosthesis into a previously dilated ischemic jejunal segment is challenging and avoidable due to risks of complications.     

Extended total arch replacement for type B aortic dissection with ascending aneurysm following healed aortic dissection

We describe a case of type B aortic dissection with large ascending aortic aneurysm occurring 12.8 years after aortic root replacement (Cabrol procedure) in a non-Marfan patient with cystic medial necrosis of the aorta. We have successfully performed an extended total aortic arch replacement using a four-branched graft through the “L-indsion” approach (a combination of a left anterior thoracotomy and upper half median sternotomy). Of note, a histological specimen from the aneurysmal ascending aortic wall revealed “healed aortic dissection” with fibrous tissue replacing the media and intima in addition to multiple foci of cystic medial necrosis.     

偏心圆剥离法在隆乳术中的应用

以往以乳头为圆心的同心圆剥离法常形成假体的移位，使假体的体表轮廓与前方的自然乳房分离，产生“双重乳房”现象。在研究了女性不同体位下不同的乳房形态及总结了以前的经验后，提出了偏心圆剥离的概念。偏心圆手术设计方法：以乳头为圆心，按其内侧、下侧为直径３／５的比例，以外侧、上侧为直径２／５的比例，形成一偏心圆的剥离范围。偏心圆的直径因考虑到假体的不同形态、大小及底面直径，以经中心假体纵截面的周长的１／２再放大２ｃｍ，作为剥离范围的直径。自１９９１年１０月以来已应用了１７６例，无一术后移位现象，也没有固较多地剥离胸大肌内、下侧止点纤维而影响上肢活动。自然乳房并不是静态的圆锥形或半球形，它具有伸缩的组织学特点，又有随体位变动而变化的特点。用偏心圆法剥离，可使置入的假体与前方的自然乳房融为一体，消除“双重乳房”现象，而成为“真实”的乳房。同时也应积极寻找一种与身体组织相容性好的，弹性、比重与女性乳腺较为一致的，假体容量相对恒定的生物性材料。这样隆乳术才可以更广泛地开展。     

Left internal carotid artery dissection presenting with headache, Collet-Sicard syndrome and sustained hypertension

The baroreflex maintains blood pressure through the glossopharyngeal (IX) cranial nerve. We report a 54-year-old man who developed a left sided headache, hoarseness, dysarthria, dysphagia, and sustained hypertension from a left internal carotid artery dissection. We hypothesise that interruption of the left IX nerve caused hypertension in this patient.     

Laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy and endoscopic biliary stent placement for palliation of incurable gastric outlet obstruction with cholestasis

Background: For patients with incurable malignant gastric outlet obstruction and cholestasis, laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy combined with endoscopic biliary stent placement seems to offer a minimally invasive palliation. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 16 patients submitted to laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy. Laparoscopic gastroenterostomy was performed as an antecolic, side-to-side gastrojejunostomy with enteroenterostomy. In 12 patients cholestasis was relieved preoperatively by stent placement via endoscopy (n= 6, 37.5%), percutaneous access (n= 5, 31%) or bilioenteric anastomosis (n= 1, 6.25%). One patient needed a percutaneous Yamakawa prosthesis postoperatively. Results: Mean operative time was 126 min. There were no intraoperative complications. In one patient conversion to open surgery became necessary because of extensive adhesions. The only postoperative complication was bleeding from a trocar site requiring reintervention; there was no mortality. Median postoperative hospital stay was 7 days. Delayed gastric emptying was observed in 3 (18.7%) patients. Median survival was 87 days after the operation. All patients died from their primary disease but could maintain oral intake during the remaining survival time. Conclusions: We conclude that laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy and endoscopic or percutaneous biliary stenting provide a good functional result while impairing the quality of life only to a minimal extent. Received: 7 May 1996/Accepted: 12 December 1996     

Endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy for idiopathic upper limb hyperhidrosis

A 5-Year experience of 51 endoscopic transthoracic dorsal sympathectomies for idiopathic palmar hyperhidrosis in 26 patients is presented. Fifty-two percent complained of excessive sweating over their hands, 28% of axillary sweating and 20% over both areas, with a mean duration of 10 years. The second, third and fourth thoracic ganglia and their interconnecting fibres on the affected side were ablated using diathermy cautery. Over a mean follow up time of 26 months, this procedure was successful in curing or improving intractable sweating in 92%. However, axillary sweating was less well controlled than in the palms with 20% of patients describing residual wetness in the axilla. Compensatory sweating (75%) and gustatory sweating (48%) were the commonest side effects; despite this, most patients were satisfied with the functional and cosmetic outcome. Other complications included a temporary Horner's syndrome in one patient, a pneumothorax in the immediate post-operative period in another and a unilateral non-infective reactionary pleural effusion in a third. Two patients developed recurrence of palmar hyperhidrosis within 6 months of surgery. One has been successfully treated by re-operation on the affected side. All patients complained of mild to moderate interscapular chest pain which was easily controlled by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and resolved within 7–10 days post-operatively. The technique of endoscope transthoracic sympathectomy is effective, relatively simple to perform and usually requires only an overnight stay. It is recommended as the surgical treatment of choice for upper limb hyperhidrosis unresponsive to conservative measures.