Endoscopic photographic comparison of drug delivery by ear-drops and by aerosol spray

The Otomize (Stafford-Miller Ltd) aerosol spray is a new device for delivering topical ear medication in otitis externa. Both the manufacturers and a recent study have claimed that the spray produces better coverage of the external ear canal than do traditional ear-drops. We performed an endoscopic photographic comparison study to investigate this claim. The area of tympanic membrane and ear canal covered with medication was greater in those ears treated with the aerosol (P < 0.001, paired t-test). The ability of the aerosol to deliver drug to the level of the tympanic membrane suggests a possible role for this device in the treatment of chronic otitis media. The technique of endoscopic photography provides an objective and reproducible means of investigating drug delivery systems for otological conditions.     

经内镜胆管引流术在肝门部恶性胆管梗阻中的应用及其评价

肝门部恶性肿瘤手术切除率极低，临床处理十分棘手。作者采用内镜胆管引流术治疗此类肿瘤２８８例次（肝门部胆管癌１８４例、胆囊癌２３例、肝细胞癌侵犯肝门部胆管４７例、其他转移性肿瘤３４例），其中行内镜鼻胆管引流１６２例次、塑料内置管引流８０例次、放置可膨式金属胆道支架４６例、４例患者接受同期双内置管引流。引流总有效率为６７．０％，其中效果满意者４３．１％；４０例患者术后１个月内发生胆管炎，发生率为１３．８％，３例死亡；长期随访病例的平均存活期５．３个月。我们观察到治疗的效果与Ｂｉｓｍｕｔｈ分型有密切关系，如果全肝４０％以上的胆系得到引流，黄疸有望消退；左、右两侧胆管同时引流可扩大引流范围，提高疗效；应合理选择三种内镜胆管引流方法并适时灵活转换才能获得满意的疗效。结论：对于肝门部肿瘤，内镜胆管引流术是一种安全有效的治疗手段，可作为首选的姑息性治疗。     

Endoscopic sphincterotomy for common bile duct stones: Impact of recent technical advances

Technical improvements, such as mechanical lithotripsy, stenting or nasobiliary drainage, and wire-guided cannulation, have reduced the risk of complications in endoscopic sphincterotomy. To determine the extent of this reduction in risk, we assessed the medical records of 1352 patients with common bile duct stones in whom the procedure was conducted. Complications examined were: acute cholangitis and pancreatitis. Stone clearance was achieved in 1256 patients (92.8%), with an overall morbidity rate of 7.7% and a mortality rate of 0.15%. One hundred and forty-two patients had stones with a diameter greater than 20mm; 97 of these patients did not undergo lithotripsy. Cholangitis occurred in 10 of these 97 patients (10.3%), whereas, in the 45 patients who underwent lithotripsy, there were no cases of cholangitis (P=0.02). Stone removal was not immediately accomplished or attempted in 396 patients. In 82 of these patients in whom a stent or a nasobiliary drain was placed in the common bile duct, the incidence of cholangitis was 1.2%, significantly less (P=0.045) than the incidence of 6.4% in the other 314 patients given no stenting or nasobiliary drain. To overcome difficult cannulation, precut sphincterotomy was conducted in 134 patients and wireguided sphincterotomy, a recently introduced procedure, was conducted in 55 patients. When the precutting technique was used, the incidence of acute pancreatitis was significantly higher (8/134; 6.0%) than that in the patients in whom the standard procedure was conducted, i.e., neither the precut technique nor wire-guided ES was used (23/1218; 1.9%) (P=0.008). There were no cases of pancreatitis in the 55 patients in whom wire-guided sphincterotomy was performed, although the difference was not statistically significant because of the small number of patients (P=0.06). Based on these findings, we conclude that improved technologies have led to a significant reduction of complications in endoscopic sphincterotomy.     

ANOMALOUS AZYGOS VEIN: A POTENTIAL DANGER DURING ENDOSCOPIC THORACIC SYMPATHECTOMY

A report of a patient with an azygos lobe and an associated anomalous azygos vein covering the upper thoracic sympathetic chain. This anomaly poses a significant risk during the procedure of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. A chest X-ray is useful in detecting this anomaly and alerting the surgeon to potential problems.     

十二指肠乳头括约肌切开胆总管取石术前静注咪唑安定对麻醉及手术效果的影响

目的　探讨在十二指肠乳头括约肌切开 (EST)胆总管取石术前静注咪唑安定的可行性及价值。方法　将 71例拟行 EST胆总管取石患者随机分为咪唑安定组 (试验组 ) 5 1例和对照组 (2 0例 ) ,两组术前均给予 6 5 4 -2 (10 mg)静脉注射 ,试验组同时静脉注射咪唑安定 (3～ 5 mg)。观察两组患者的进镜时间、麻醉程度 ,患者的反应与配合程度、自身感受程度 ,同时监测患者的血压、心率、血氧饱和度。结果　试验组进镜时间缩短、镇静程度适中、患者自身感受好 ,与对照组比较 ,差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 1) ;患者心血管及呼吸参数无明显变化。结论　EST胆总管取石术前静脉注射咪唑安定可提高麻醉效果 ,有利于提高患者配合的依从性 ,对血压、心率、血氧饱和度无明显影响     

应用经皮内镜下胃造口术(PEG)实施肠内营养

目的 介绍应用经皮内镜下胃造口术(PEG)实施肠内营养支持。方法 在内镜引导下行胃造口术．7例病人均予以肠内营养。结果 7例病人置管8次，成功率100％，6例经治疗后恢复情况好，无严重并发症。结论在肠内营养输注途径中PEG具有创伤小、时间短、经济，安全等特点。易于护理和长期使用。     

USEFULNESS OF EUS IN PORTAL HYPERTENSION WITH ESOPHAGEAL VARICES

We investigated the relationship between esophageal varices and the collaterals by endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound (20 MHz ultrasonic miniprobe; UMP). Moreover, we investigated the correlation between the collaterals around the esophagus and recurrence of esophageal varices in patients with portal hypertension who had undergone EIS. The collaterals were divided into two groups: peri‐esophageal collateral veins (peri‐ECVs) and para‐esophageal collateral veins (para‐ECVs). These were scored as mild or severe according to the stage of development. According to endoscopy, the varix form was significantly larger in severe the peri‐ECVs group than in mild the peri‐ECVs group. The prevalence of perforating veins increased according to the varix form. With regard to variceal recurrence, in patients with variceal recurrences, UMP findings included a significantly higher incidence of severe peri‐ECVs, a significantly larger diameter of perforating veins compared with patients without recurrence. In conclusion, the presence of severe peri‐ECVs and large perforating veins in the esophageal wall strongly correlates with occurrence and recurrence of esophageal varices in patients with portal hypertension. An understanding of these UMP abnormalities on the basis of hemodynamics around the esophagus is thought to be important for management of esophageal varices in patients with portal hypertension.     

ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND GUIDED TRUCUT BIOPSY

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is sensitive for staging gastrointestinal malignancies and pancreatic lesions. EUS‐fine‐needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) offers a diagnostic accuracy of about 60–90% for pancreatic tumors and > 90% for lymph nodes. There are several limitations of EUS‐FNA including the need for on‐site cytopathology review. In addition, accuracy of cytologic review is hampered by the presence of blood, benign epithelial cells, desmoplasia, and well‐differentiated tumors. Furthermore, the small biopsy sample and destruction of tissue architecture limits the diagnostic sensitivity for GISTs and lymphomas. Many of these problems can be overcome with use of EUS trucut biopsy (TCB) needles. These large caliber, cutting needles acquire larger tissue samples allowing preservation of tissue architecture and histologic examination. Our recently described experience with EUS‐TCB initially in swine and later humans demonstrated the safety for acquiring histologic tissue representative of the target organs sampled enabling accurate diagnosis. These studies suggested greater diagnostic accuracy of EUS‐TCB for submucosal mass lesions and lymphoma and potentially the need for fewer needle passes for solid pancreatic neoplasms. In this paper we will review the current TCB literature, device design and technique, help troubleshoot potential problems, and offer opinion as to the utility and role of this new device.     

INDICATIONS FOR ENDOSCOPIC MUCOSAL RESECTION FOR EARLY COLORECTAL CANCER: SHOULD THEY BE STRICT OR SHOULD THEY BE EXPANDED?

Endoscopic technologies have been developed greatly. As for early gastric cancer, the indications for endoscopic mucosal resection for early colorectal cancer have been widened recently. Technological advances can support wider and deeper resections using endoscopy but the remaining problem for the endoscopic management of cancer is lymph node metastasis. I discuss here the indication for endoscopic mucosal resection for early colorectal cancer to bring into focus the risk factors for metastasis to lymph nodes.