ENDOSCOPIC PANCREATIC STENTING IN CHRONIC PANCREATITIS WITH DUCTAL DILATION PROXIMAL TO A STRICTURE: A SAFE and EFFECTIVE PROTOCOL

After removal of intraductal stones, a 10‐Fr or 7‐Fr pancreatic stent was placed in 16 patients with upstream ductal dilation proximal to a stricture of the main pancreatic duct. Stents were removed after a mean duration of 52.5 days. Nine patients underwent repeated stenting. About one year after removal of the initial stent, when the remaining upstream ductal dilation was found on follow‐up pancreatograms, the next stent was replaced. Repeated stenting improved outflow of pancreatic juice more effectively than one‐time stenting. Correlation between long‐term pain relief without recurrence of intraductal stones and reduction of duct diameter was also shown. Stent occlusion was observed in 14 of 30 stents. Stent occlusion was frequently associated with recurrence of pancreatitis and intraductal stones, and was also associated with morphologic changes in the pancreatic ductal system. Although there were no significant differences between stent patency of the initial stents and that of the next stents, stent patency of 10‐Fr stents was superior to that of 7‐Fr stents. 10‐Fr stents should be removed within 8 weeks and 7‐Fr stents should be removed within 4 weeks for the prevention of stent occlusion. Repeated stenting with short‐term stenting is therefore considered a safe and effective protocol of endoscopic pancreatic stenting.     

Detection of microemboli in the subclavian vein of patients undergoing haemodialysis and haemodiafiltration using pulsed Doppler ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology leading to pulmonary side effects during haemodialysis and haemodiafiltration is not yet fully understood. Chronic microembolization, which can be demonstrated by pulsed Doppler ultrasound, may be one cause. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 24 long-term dialysis patients undergoing haemodialysis (n=21) and online-haemodiafiltration (n=3), respectively. The subclavian vein downstream to the venous access was investigated during different phases of the procedure using a 2-MHz pulsed ultrasound device. RESULTS: In all periods investigated (connection, dialysis, disconnection), numerous microembolic signals (MES) were found in the subclavian vein. The numbers of MES detected during haemodiafiltration (314-709 MES per 10 min) were higher than during haemodialysis (0-81 MES per 10 min). CONCLUSIONS: The composition (gaseous or solid) and origin (pump, tubing system or shunt) of the microemboli detected remains unclear. Chronic microembolization may be one cause of pulmonary complications of haemodialysis and haemodiafiltration. The detection method described in this article will help us to better understand this process and to determine what role microemboli might play in pulmonary and central nervous system disorders. It may also help to optimize the devices and techniques used.     

睾丸微石症2例报告及文献复习

目的:认识睾丸微石症(TM)的临床意义和诊断方法。方法:回顾性报告2例TM病例的临床资料,结合文献进行讨论。结果:2例分别因左精索静脉曲张和附睾炎就诊的患者行阴囊超声检查时发现睾丸内散在多发点状强回声,如针尖样,1～2mm,后无声影。分别诊断为局部TM、左精索静脉曲张和TM,左附睾炎。甲胎蛋白、人绒毛膜促性腺激素、乳酸脱氢酶和睾酮等检查均正常。对睾丸微石症未做特殊处置,随访6～8个月,体检和睾丸瘤标未见异常,阴囊超声睾丸图像无特征性改变。结论:TM是一种少见、无明显临床症状、相对稳定的疾病。多因阴囊其他疾病行超声检查时偶然发现,其是否属于癌前病变尚有争议,但是定期随访和阴囊超声检查是必要的。     

CASE OF FASCIOLIASIS: EXTRACTION WITH ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOGRAPHY

Fascioliasis is a worldwide zoonotic infection with fasciola hepatica and fasciola gigantica. The zoonoses are particularly endemic in sheep‐raising countries and are also endemic in Turkey. Clinical features of fascioliasis relate to the stage and intensity of infection. Fasciola hepatica infection comprises two stages: hepatic and biliary, with different signs and symptoms. Cholestatic symptoms may be sudden, but, in some cases, they may be preceded by a long period of fever, eosinophilia and vague gastrointestinal symptoms. We reported a case with fever and upper‐quadrant abdominal pain since 3 months that comes from an area endemic for fasciola hepatica, with suspected imaging about fasciola hepatica in common bile duct on ultrasonography. After that, fasciola hepatica was extracted with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.     

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.     

CURRENT STATUS OF DOUBLE BALLOON ENDOSCOPY

Yamamoto and colleagues have developed a novel insertion method of the endoscope, the ‘double balloon method’ for enteroscopy and, recently, a specialized system for the ‘double balloon method’ has been commercialized by Fujinon. The double balloon endoscopy enables visualization of the entire small bowel and also allows for interventional therapy in the small intestine. This method could be used either from the oral or anal approach. Observation of an affected area with controlled movement of the endoscope enables interventions, including biopsies, hemostasis, balloon dilatation, stent placement, polypectomy, and endoscopic mucosal resection. The procedure is safe and useful, and it provides high diagnostic yields and therapeutic capabilities.     

胆道癌ERCP诊断(附49例分析)

本文报道用ERCP诊断胆管癌24例、胆囊癌6例、壶腹癌19例、共49例,都经手术或病理证实,诊断符合率为85.7％。 文章描述了胆道癌ERCP的X线表现。依造影所见把胆管癌分为阻塞型、狭窄型和息肉型。狭窄型又分闭塞型、环型及弥漫型三个亚型。胆管癌以阻塞型和闭塞型狭窄多见。胆囊癌表现为胆囊内基底宽广固定不变的充盈缺损。壶腹癌为壶腹部边缘不整的占位病变,可阻塞胆管或胰管或同时阻塞胰胆管。肝内胆管的软藤状改变是胆道恶性肿瘤的特征性表现。     

达芬霖与肾上腺素在鼻内窥镜手术中应用的比较

目的探讨达芬霖与肾上腺素在鼻内窥镜手术中的应用价值。方法观察达芬霖、肾上腺素分别在鼻内窥镜手术应用中对患者血压、心率的影响,观察出现反跳性鼻腔黏膜充血肿胀的时间和例数,并进行对比讨论。结果在达芬霖应用前后,30例患者的血压、心率变化差异无显著性,在肾上腺素应用前后,30例患者的血压、心率变化差异也无显著性,60例手术均在1￣3h内完成,达芬霖组无1例出现反跳性鼻腔黏膜充血肿胀,肾上腺素组有6例出现轻微的反跳性鼻腔黏膜充血肿胀,达芬霖组平均出血量248mL,肾上腺素组平均出血量120mL,P<0.05。结论达芬霖、肾上腺素作为鼻黏膜血管减充血剂和麻醉辅助药,常规用于鼻内窥镜手术是安全、有效的,用肾上腺素优于用达芬霖。