Prospect of Endoscopic Mucosal Resection for Early Gastric Cancer: Our Devices in Insulated‐Tip Electrosurgical Knife Method

In Kobe University Hospital, a new method for endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) using insulated‐tip electrosurgical knife (IT‐EMR) for early gastric cancer (EGC) was introduced from November 2001. To achieve an effective and safe IT‐EMR procedure, we use a high‐frequency surgical unit for cutting and coagulation (ERBOTOM ICC 200) with automatically controlled cutting mode (ENDOCUT). In this study, we show not only our results of IT‐EMR for EGC in comparison with those of the conventional strip biopsy method, but also the optimal conditions for the apparatus of a high‐frequency surgical unit to prevent complications such as bleeding and perforation.     

成人腰椎峡部裂型滑脱症的微创治疗

Objective To investigate the clinical experiences and technical skills of adult isthmic spondylolisthesis. Methods Twenty-one patients with adult isthmic spondylolisthesis underwent minimally invasive surgery. There were 12 men and 9 women, with the mean age of 51.7 years. Isthmic spondylolisthe-sis occurred at the L4.5 in 7 patients, and at the L5S1 in 14 patients. According to Meyerding classification, 13 cases were of Grade Ⅰ, 7 of Grade Ⅱ, 1 of Grade Ⅲ. Under general anesthesia, guiding by fluoroscopy, the surgeries performed minimally invasive microendoscopic(METRx) techniques for posterior decompression, interbody cage fusion and novel Sextant-R percutaneous pedicle screw techniques for deformity reduction and fixation. Results Seventeen cases were followed up 1 year postoperatively. The average low back pain VAS reduced from preoperative 6.0±2.6 to postoperative 2.9±2.5. The average leg pain VAS decreased from preoperative 6.7±3.3 to postoperative 2.8±1.6. The average ODI decreased from preoperative 44.3% to post-operative 27.1%. The Nakai good and excellent rate was 90%. The mean operative time 170 min, blood loss 160 ml, and postoperative stay in bed 7.5 d. The sagittal spondylolisthesis rate significantly decreased from preoperative 35.5%±2.5% to postoperative 8.3%±7.5%. The lordotic angle from preoperative 11.5°±1.7° in-creased to postoperative 16.8°±9.5°; the intervertebral disc height from preoperative (5.4±2.5) mm increased to postoperative (9.1±3.0) mm. According to Lenke judgement for fusion, complete fusion rate was 76%, in-complete fusion rate was 12%, nonfusion rate was 12%. Conclusion The minimally invasive microendo-scopic (METRx) assisted with a novel Sextant-R percutaneous pedicle screw systems for deformity reduction and fixation to treat adult isthmic spondylolisthesis, is not only a minimally invasive and safe surgical tech-nique, also an effective treatment for deformity reduction and fixation.     

NEW DEVICE TO PERFORM COAGULATION AND IRRIGATION SIMULTANEOUSLY DURING ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION USING AN INSULATION‐TIPPED ELECTROSURGICAL KNIFE

Background: Although bleeding is an unavoidable complication of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), endoscopic hemostasis using an insulation‐tipped electrosurgical knife (IT) knife is impossible because an insulator is mounted at the tip of the knife. We have developed a new type of hood which could perform both coagulation and irrigation simultaneously. Methods: Our new device was fabricated by drilling a side hole in the cap portion of a conventional transparent hood followed by attaching a machined papillotomy knife to the exterior surface of the hole. Results: Our new hood was useful for hemorrhage during ESD using IT knife. Conclusions: With this method, endoscopic hemostasis using IT knife is easy, as hemostatic procedure can be performed under irrigation and coagulation using conventional endoscopy.     

宫颈环形电切术对阴道镜活检诊断为宫颈上皮内瘤变的再评估

目的通过宫颈环形电切术(LEEP)对阴道镜活检诊断为宫颈上皮内瘤变(C IN)的准确性和全面性进行评估。方法对118例阴道镜活检诊断为C IN的患者行LEEP,对比术前术后的病理结果。结果32例阴道镜活检病理为C INⅠ级病例中有11例与LEEP术病理相符,6例LEEP术后病理级别上升,15例LEEP术后病理级别下降;26例阴道镜活检病理C INⅡ级病例中有17例LEEP术后病理示相符,5例LEEP术后病理级别上升,4例LEEP术后病理级别下降;60例阴道镜活检病理为C INⅢ级病例中有44例LEEP术后病理示相符,11例LEEP术后病理级别上升,5例术后病理级别下降。结论LEEP术是明确诊断和治疗C IN的有效而理想的方法,阴道镜活检有一定局限性。     

Statistical analysis of gait patterns of persons with cerebral palsy

Patients at Boston's Children's Hospital diagnosed as having cerebral palsy were filmed walking. These films were digitized and translated into measurements associated with leg motion. In this paper we use the gait measurements of 128 such patients to illustrate that the kth nearest neighbour clustering procedure results in a gait typology for patients with cerebral palsy. The procedure identifies four subpopulations from the sample data; the membership of a patient within this typology is mostly determined by the patient's motor control. The developed typology differs from the present diagnostic system which classifies a cerebral palsy patient as either quadriplegic, diaplegic or hemiplegic.     

Quality of life after total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer

BACKGROUND: After total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer, many surgeons try to avoid an abdominoperineal resection (APR) by performing a transanally double stapled low colo-rectal anastomosis (LRA), frequently without a pouch. This policy is mainly based on the assumption that the quality of life after such LRA is higher than after APR. It has been suggested that a better functional outcome and therefore a higher quality of life might be achieved by a colo-anal J-pouch anastomosis (CPA). The aim of this study was to assess quality of life among disease-free survivors after APR, LRA and CPA. METHODS: The charts of 301 consecutive patients who had undergone surgery for cancer in the middle or lower third of the rectum were analysed. Two hundred four patients were eligible for inclusion. The quality of life among these patients was assessed using one generic (EQ-5D) and two disease-specific questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-CR38). RESULTS: The response rate was 82%. The median follow-up was 31 months. Overall, quality of life was good but CPA patients had better quality of life scores than APR and LRA patients. This difference was not only due to the better functional outcome but also to the lower incidence of disturbed micturition and sexual problems in the CPA group. CONCLUSION: The quality of life after colo-anal J-pouch anastomosis is better than after abdominoperineal resection (APR) and low colo-rectal anastomosis (LRA). The quality of life after APR is similar to that after LRA.     

MRI evaluation of bulky tumor masses in the mesentery and bladder involvement in peritoneal carcinomatosis

AIM: Peritonectomy procedures with intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia are an effective but costly treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). Consequently a proper selection of patients is necessary. We evaluated the benefit of MRI prior to surgery, in the detection of two of the main surgery contraindications: bulky mesenteric tumors and bladder implants. METHODS: Three experts retrospectively reviewed abdominal and pelvic MRI from 19 cases of surgically proved PC (ovary: 7; colorectal: 7; gastric: 2; pseudomyxoma peritonei: 2; appendix: 1). RESULTS: Mesenteric tumors were always identified as hypersignal masses on axial and coronal fat suppression gadolinium-enhanced T1 images (n=3). Three out of five bladder implants were detected. The two cases of bladder implants that were not detected on MRI were missed because the bladder was not filled. The best sequence for the detection of bladder involvement was axial T2-weighted images with bladder filling. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluating the preoperative resectability of PC is crucial for patient management. MRI seems to reliably detect bulky mesenteric tumors and bladder implants on condition the bladder is filled and appropriate sequences are used.     

同种异体骨支撑架微创治疗股骨头坏死的临床研究

目的应用改良髓芯减压术结合同种异体骨支撑架加自体骨和脱钙骨基质（decalcified bone matrix，DBM）治疗早期股骨头坏死，探索早期股骨头坏死的微创治疗方法。方法2004年1月～2005年4月，23例24个髋关节采用经大转子下通过股骨颈钻隧道至股骨头骨坏死区，将装有自体松质骨和DBM的同种异体骨支撑架经隧道拧入骨坏死区直至软骨下骨约5mm处，隧道远端用自体髂骨填塞。观察手术前后Harris评分变化、x线影像学表现及是否需进一步治疗。结果本组所有患者均获得随访，平均随访19（12—27）个月，以最后一次随访资料作为最终评价依据。Harris评分，术前优良率为43．5％（10／23）。术后优良率为91．3％（21／23）。22侧髋关节影像学表现保持稳定，无明显并发症发生。结论同种异体骨支撑架植入结合自体松质骨和DBM治疗成人股骨头坏死，增加了股骨头负重区软骨下骨的机械支撑，成骨作用强，有利于股骨头坏死的修复与重建，同时，不破坏患者股骨头本身的血液供应，创伤小，操作简单，值得临床推广使用。