Imaging of thoracic aortic dissection

Acute thoracic aortic dissection has a high mortality if untreated, so the diagnosis must be rapidly made if mortality is to be lowered significantly. Multiple imaging techniques are often used. This retrospective study from 1988 to 1993 assesses the usefulness in diagnosis of chest X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scanning, aortography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), trans-thoracic (TTE) and trans-oesophageal (TOE) echocardiography. Forty-two patients with a final clinical diagnosis of dissection were studied. The diagnosis was confirmed in 16 (13 at surgery and three at autopsy). Three died with dissection given as the only cause for death. Chest X-ray abnormalities were seen in all 19 patients with surgery or death from dissection, with a widened mediastinum and/or dilated aorta being present in 17. In the group of 16 patients with surgery or autopsy proof, CT scans found dissections in 9 of 12 patients studied and correctly classified the type in only five. Aortography was performed in five, with accurate depiction of dissection and type in all. TTE found dissections in three of eight patients imaged by this method. MRI and TOE were performed each on two patients, with accurate depiction of dissection and type in each. Because of the relatively low sensitivity of CT scanning in defining aortic dissections Westmead Hospital is currently assessing the use of TOE as the prime imaging modality prior to surgical intervention.     

内镜治疗老年总胆管结石30例体会

目的：探讨内窥镜治疗老年总胆管结石的安全性和有效性。方法：对我院普外科收治的30例70岁以上的老年总胆管结石患者进行回顾性分析，所有患者均经B超或螺旋CT明确诊断并接受内镜治疗，治疗方法包括逆行胰胆管造影（endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography,ERCP)，鼻胆管引流（endoscopic nasobiliary drainage,ENBD)，乳头括肌切开（endoscopic shincterotomy,est)和取石术，碎石术，测定患者内镜治疗前后的生化指标变化。结果：30例老年总胆管结石患者行ERCP检查，成功率100％，28例行EST，总胆管结石直径＜1.0cm者成功率100％，结石直径1.0-1.5cm者成功率86％，结石直径≥1.5cm者需进行机械碎石取石，成功率75％；另有2例患者植入塑料支架作长期引流。1例患者发生与内镜有关的并发症，死亡例，30例患者治疗后各项生化指标较治疗前均有明显改善（P＜0．001）。结论：内镜治疗老年总胆管结石成功率增高，避免了手术创新，安全性好，缩短住院时间，是当前治疗老年总胆管结石的首选方法。     

血管内覆膜支架置入治疗降主动脉夹层动脉瘤

目的 :介绍血管内覆膜支架置入治疗降主动脉夹层动脉瘤的初步经验。材料与方法 :本组 6例 Debakey 型的慢性降主动脉夹层动脉瘤患者行血管内覆膜支架置入治疗。经股动脉将 Talent覆膜支架置于夹层动脉瘤裂口处 ,支架张开使覆膜支架固定于裂口附近的主动脉壁上将裂口封闭并阻断血流。结果 :6例病人均获得成功 ,手术和临床成功率 10 0 %。 1例患者术中出现内漏 ,置入第二枚支架后漏口封闭。平均随访 7个月 ,所有患者内膜裂口全部完全封闭 ,假腔内血栓形成无内漏 ,假腔均明显缩小。结论 :血管内覆膜支架置入治疗主动脉夹层动脉瘤具有安全可靠 ,患者术后恢复快的优点     

Papillary thyroid cancer and its surgical management.

The surgical management in papillary thyroid cancer has been highly controversial. In the Department of Surgery (II), Kanazawa University Hospital, the surgical management especially for cervical lymph node metastases has changed since 1973 from a conservative approach to an aggressive one. In order to determine whether an aggressive approach is warranted, a retrospective multivariate analysis was carried out on 106 cases of papillary thyroid cancer. The patients have been followed for 10-28 years. Multivariate analysis was conducted following Cox's model. By this analysis, aggressive management appeared to have no impact on survival or relapse-free survival. However, age, sex, tumor size, and cervical lymphadenopathy were confirmed to be important prognostic factors in survival and/or relapse-free survival.     

ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION FOR RECURRENT GASTRIC TUMORS

Endoscopic resection has been accepted as the standard treatment for intramucosal gastric tumors of differentiated type. However, the indication was limited to small tumors to achieve en bloc resection and prevent local recurrence in cases of conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) such as the strip biopsy and the cap technique. To avoid multi‐fragmental resection, we have developed endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) as a new endoscopic resection technique. ESD is a remarkable technique, because we make it possible to remove the lesions en bloc regardless of size, shape, coexisting ulcer, and location. However, it is difficult or impossible to resect recurrent tumors en bloc in conventional EMR owing to hard fibrosis, and some patients need laparotomy. Using ESD, we can dissect the submucosal layer as we directly look at the submucosa, and remove the lesion safely and reliably even in cases of hard fibrosis. The key to treatment of recurrent tumors in ESD are as follows: (i) using enough submucosal injection solution (we use a mixture of Glyceol and 1% 1900 kDa hyaluronic acid preparation); (ii) incising the mucosa without fibrosis; (iii) understanding characteristics of various cutting devices, and changing other devices in difficult situations. In these ways we can remove the majority of the recurrent tumors en bloc. Hence, we consider that ESD is a very effective treatment which achieves excellent en bloc and complete resection rates and enables patients with intramucosal gastric tumors to a recurrent‐free survival even in recurrent tumors.     

INTRAOPERATIVE BLEEDING IN ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION IN THE STOMACH AND STRATEGY FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

To control intraoperative bleeding is an important key to successful endoscopic submucosal dissection. The distribution of submucosal vessels encountered during the procedure differ in places in the stomach and are roughly categorized into three groups: those located in the antrum, those in the lesser curvature, and those on the anteroposterior corpus wall which consists of oblique muscle layers. Therefore, knowledge of a suitable setting of diathermy and adjusted depth of dissection in the submucosal layer for each site is imperative. The combination of utilizing the distal attachment forced or swift coagulation (trimming with coagulation mode) have enable the treatment with an insulation tipped knife safer.     

Carcinoma of the papilla of vater: Are endoscopic appearance and endoscopic biopsy discordant?

Carcinoma of the papilla of Vater is classified as periampullary cancer representing 5% of all gastrointestinal tract malignancies. Early and accurate diagnosis is important for those patients with a tumor of the papilla, as the prognosis is more favorable than in other periampullary neoplasms. Endoscopically obtained biopsies from suspicious papillae can detect an early tumor, although even for skilled pathologists it is often difficult to differentiate carcinomas from noninvasive lesions on the basis of forceps biopsies. The purpose of this study was to assess the preoperative diagnostic accuracy of duodenoscopy appearance and biopsy in all cases with suspicion of tumor. Thirty patients with suspicion of carcinoma of the papilla of Vater and with final diagnosis established by pancreatoduodenectomy were included in this retrospective study. In each case, a comparison was made between endoscopic biopsy and duodenoscopic appearance. Duodenoscopic appearance sensitivity and accuracy for malignancy were 86% and 83%, respectively, whereas endoscopic biopsy sensitivity and accuracy were 65% and 67%, respectively. Although preoperative diagnosis of carcinoma of the papilla of Vater is useful for making therapeutic decisions, the diagnostic value of the endoscopic appearance was superior to endoscopic biopsy in this series. Presented at the 2003 American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Congress, Miami, Florida, February 27-March 3, 2003. Supported by FADA-CAPES/PROP 200J (M.L.D.).     

MANAGEMENT TO PREVENT BLEEDING DURING ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION USING THE FLUSH KNIFE FOR GASTRIC TUMORS

The gastric vasculature responsible for intraoperative bleeding in endosocpic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the ramified vascular network occupying the middle of the submucosal layer and large vessels penetrating the muscle layer. Appropriate management for these vessels must be addressed. The trimming of the ramified vascular network can be safely performed with coagulation mode following shallow mucosal cutting. A large penetrating vessel usually requires precoagulation prior to dissection. These procedures are effectively performed with the water jet short needle knife (Flush knife).     

ENDOSCOPIC MUCOSAL RESECTION AND SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION METHOD FOR LARGE COLORECTAL TUMORS

The goal of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is to allow the endoscopist to obtain tissue or resect lesions not previously amenable to standard biopsy or excisional techniques and to remove malignant lesions without open surgery. In this article, we describe the results of conventional EMR and EMR using an insulation‐tipped (IT) electrosurgical knife (submucosal dissection method) for large colorectal mucosal neoplasms and discuss the problems and future prospects of these procedures. At present, conventional EMR is much more feasible than EMR using IT‐knife from the perspectives of time, money, complication, and organ preservation. However, larger lesions tend to be resected in a piecemeal fashion; and it is difficult to confirm whether EMR has been complete. For accurate histopathological assessment of the resected specimen en bloc EMR is desirable although further experience is needed to establish its safety and efficacy. Further improvements of in EMR with special knife techniques are required to simply and safely remove large colorectal neoplasms.     

解剖因素致单纯鼻源性头痛的鼻内镜手术

目的 :探讨鼻内镜手术治疗解剖因素致单纯鼻源性头痛的方法和疗效。方法 :鼻内镜下切除或矫正鼻腔鼻窦区异常解剖结构。结果 :单一因素中鼻丘气房肥大 ,泡性中、上鼻甲及中隔偏曲分别为 7例、10例、12例 ,术后治愈率达 71.4 3%、6 0 .0 0 %、6 6 .6 7% ,合计治愈率达 6 5 .5 2 %。多因素者 4 4例 ,术后治愈率达38.6 4% ,与单一因素差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 2 5 )。患者治疗有效率达 10 0 %。结论 :鼻内镜手术是治疗解剖因素致单纯鼻源性头痛的有效方法之一 ,单一因素者疗效更佳。