Post-operative esophageal leak treated with removable silicone-covered polyester stent

Self-expanding removable covered stents are increasingly being used for the treatment of benign esophageal diseases such as leaks or perforations and stenosis. They are easy to place and remove and good outcomes have been reported. We report a case of a postoperative esophageal leak successfully managed with a removable silicone-covered polyester stent.     

A prospective evaluation of changes in neuropsychological and liver function tests following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt

Background/Aims: This study was designed to assess changes in: (a) neuropsychological tests, measures of memory, quality of life and scores for anxiety and depression; (b) liver function tests; and (c) the relationship between these following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt.Methods: Twenty-nine patients undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt for recurrent variceal haemorrhage, 12 matched patients with cirrhosis and variceal haemorrhage manage with variceal band ligation and 16 normal controls were studied. Patients in any of the groups who were clinically encephalopathic were excluded from the study. Serial changes in the conventional liver function tests and Indocyanine green clearance, and psychometric function (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test, Quality of Life and the memory and reaction sub-tests of the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Assessment Battery) were measured prior to and 1, 3, 9 and 15 months following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt.Results: Over a mean follow up of 9.1 months in the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt group (range 3–28), one patient (3%) developed clinically detectable encephalopathy. Sixty-seven percent of patients with cirrhosis showed evidence of subclinical encephalopathy as compared with the control population. Significant deterioration occurred in the reaction sub-tests of the Cambridge Automated neuropsychological Test Assessment Battery in patients, both in the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt group and the controls with cirrhosis, during follow up. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt was followed by significant deterioration in levels of anxiety and psychological component of the quality of life. The Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test and the memory sub-test of the Cambridge Automated Neurpsychological Test Assessment Battery did, however, improve significantly at 1 and 15 months after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt, respectively. Serum alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin and indocyanine green clearance deteriorated significantly following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.0001, respectively). Significant correlation was observed between changes in the indocyanine green clearance and changes in the complex and simple reaction time subtests of the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Assessment Battery (r=0.6 and r=0.66, respectively).Conclusions: The results of this study showed that about 67% of patients with cirrhosis were subclinically encephalopathic and that temporary deterioration occurred in the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Assessment Battery during follow up, both in patients having transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt and in the controls with cirrhosis. These parallel the changes in the liver function tests and indocyanine green clearance. Temporary deterioration was also observed in the Quality of Life and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale in the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt group, although the measures of memory improved. Further studies should address the biochemical mechanisms of these changes and the role of prophylactic measures.     

The Use of Stent Grafts for the Treatment of Aneurysms and Dissections of the Thoracic Aorta: A Single Centre Experience

OBJECTIVE: To review the results of stent graft treatment for diseases of the thoracic aorta. DESIGN: A retrospective study of the results of thoracic stent graft procedures in a single centre. METHODS: The results of 30 procedures performed in 24 patients were analysed. Eleven patients had aneurysmal dilatation of the descending thoracic aorta (>5.5 cm), nine patients had complicated type B dissection, three had penetrating ulcers and one had a traumatic pseudoaneurysm. Imaging follow-up consisted of CT scans performed at one, three, six and 12 months following the procedure and annually thereafter. RESULTS: One technical failure occurred due to a ruptured external iliac artery. There were no other immediate failures. The primary technical success rate was 83%. The 30-day procedural and patient mortality rates were 7 and 8%, respectively. No neurological complications occurred. Seven patients had the subclavian artery covered without complications. Secondary intervention was required in 21%. During the follow-up period (mean 11 months, range 1-48 months.) there were five deaths, two of which were related to stent graft infection. CONCLUSION: Thoracic stent grafts offer a realistic alternative to surgery.     

恶性梗阻性黄疸的外科姑息治疗

不能切除肿瘤的恶性梗阻性黄疸的外科姑息治疗方法繁多，本文介绍自1989年以来，采取开腹经不同途径的带支撑导管胆肠内引流的方法治疗30例，减黄确切，尚对7例高位胆管癌在解除胆道梗阻的基础上行术后(192)Ir和(60)Co联合放疗，提高了病人生存质量及延长了生命。     

Evaluation of an aortic stent graft for use in surgery on esophageal cancer involving the thoracic aorta

Objective: The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate whether aortic stent grafting can be applied to the treatment of an esophageal cancer involving the thoracic aorta. Methods: The canine thoracic aorta was partially resected without aorta being clamped after emplacement of an endovascular stent graft. Study I; The aortic whole layer of 1 cm in length and 1/4 of the circumference was resected and was covered by a free fascia patch of the abdominal rectal muscle immediately after stent graft placement. Study II; The aortic adventitia and the outer half of the media of the same size was resected on day 3, 7,14, 21, and on day 28, after the stent graft placement. The resected portion was covered by the free fascia patch in half experimental dogs, and was uncovered in the others. Study III; The aortic adventitia and the outer half of the media of 1 cm in length and 1/2 of the circumference was resected and was uncovered on day 7 after stent graft placement. Histological examinations were performed on day 28 and at one year after aortic resection. Results: The aortic wall could be resected in all cases with no complication, except in resection of 1/2 the circumference where the aorta had become narrow. There was no difference in healing of the resected portion of the aorta between with and without fascia covering. Conclusion: An aortic endovascular stent graft could be applied to surgery for an esophageal cancer involving the aorta.     

大动脉炎颈动脉狭窄球囊扩张和内支架的治疗

目的：探讨应用球囊扩张和血管内支架治疗大支脉炎、颈动脉狭窄、材料和方法：３例大动脉炎性颈动脉狭窄的患者，狭窄段均超过８ｃｍ，１例单纯球囊扩张；２例球囊扩张后植入Ｗａｌｌｓｔｅｎｔ支架。结果：术后狭窄率均为０，达到了良好的治疗效果，单纯球囊扩张的动脉一年后动脉完全闭塞、西入血管内支架的２例，分别是在４．５个月和４个月检查，一例血管内支架的近端出现了再狭窄，另一例未出现再狭窄。结论：对于大动脉炎性长段     

老年冠心病慢性闭塞病变的介入治疗探讨

目的探讨老年冠心病患者采用经皮冠状动脉介入(PCI)治疗的中短期疗效。方法对102例住院老年患者采用股动脉穿刺后,行球囊扩张,造影显示扩张满意后植入合适支架。术后随访6-32个月。结果102例患者术后临床症状均完全或基本完全缓解。本组患者有19例多支病变患者至少有一支慢性完全闭塞血管经努力而未能开通,无法植入支架。102例患者通过随访6-32个月,其中32例患者接受了冠脉造影复查,有17例患者分别于术后6个月至16个月又出现胸痛、胸闷症状。超声心动图检查射血分数(EF),心功能术后较术前明显改善,P<0.05。结论对冠状动脉慢性完全闭塞的老年患者,无论核素或超声检查是否存在存活心肌,均应尽量进行闭塞病变的介入治疗,以期改善患者的远期预后。