Robotic telesurgery for achalasia

The craft of surgery has always relied on the use of instruments. Innovations in surgery have paralleled innovations in instrumentation. Advances in surgical instrumentation continue today and have enabled huge strides in surgical procedures and outcomes during this generation. Computers and related technology are now changing the interface between the surgeon and the patient, and are poised to improve patient outcomes by enhancing the surgeon’s skills and training. The application of computer enhanced telemanipulators, or “robots”, may specifically enhance operations, for example Heller myotomy, that require good visualization and precise careful dissection of delicate structures. This review covers the pathophysiology of achalasia and its history of medical and surgical treatment, leading to modern robotic telesurgical approaches. Improvements in outcome from medical to standard surgical to robotic telesurgical approaches are discussed. Current operative technique for robotic telesurgical treatment of achalasia is described and the authors conclude with a glimpse of where, in the future, current research endeavors will lead us in the treatment of achalasia.     

Difficult myotomy is not determined by preoperative therapy and does not impact outcome.

OBJECTIVES: The impact of preoperative endoscopic therapy on the difficulty of laparoscopic Heller myotomy and the impact of the difficulty of the myotomy on long-term outcome has not been determined. This study was undertaken to determine whether preoperative therapy impacts the difficulty of laparoscopic Heller myotomy and whether preoperative therapy or difficulty of myotomy impacts long-term outcomes. METHODS: Since 1992, 305 patients, 56% male, median age 49 years, underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy and were prospectively followed. The difficulty of the laparoscopic Heller myotomy was scored by the operating surgeon for the most recent 170 consecutive patients on a scale of 1 (easiest) to 5 (most difficult). Patients scored their symptoms before and after myotomy using a Likert scale from 0 (never/not bothersome) to 10 (always/very bothersome). RESULTS: Before myotomy, 66% of patients underwent endoscopic therapy: 33% dilation, 11% Botox, and 22% both. Preoperative endoscopic therapy did not correlate with the difficulty of the myotomy (P=NS). Median follow-up was 25 months. Regardless of the difficulty of the myotomy, dysphagia improved with myotomy (P<0.0001). By regression analysis, the frequency and severity of post-myotomy dysphagia correlated with neither preoperative endoscopic therapy nor the difficulty of the myotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic Heller myotomy improves the frequency and severity of dysphagia. The difficulty of laparoscopic Heller myotomy is not impacted by preoperative therapy, and neither preoperative therapy nor difficulty of the myotomy impact long-term outcome.     

贲门失弛缓症的超声诊断价值

目的:探讨超声在贲门失弛缓症诊断中的应用价值。方法:对临床拟诊为贲门失弛缓症病人首先采用超声检查,诊断贲门失弛缓症38例,同时进行了X线钡剂食管及胃肠造影,并与40例正常人进行了对照。结果:超声对贲门失弛缓症的诊断符合率为100%,失弛缓症的食管管径明显大于正常对照组(P<0.01),管壁厚度亦大于正常对照组(P<0.01)食管蠕动明显减弱,甚者消失,扩张的食管腔内见有潴留的内容物。结论:超声对贲门失弛缓症诊断具有重要的临床应用价值,可取代传统的X线钡剂造影检查。     

内镜下气囊扩张治疗贲门失驰缓症临床应用研究

目的 :探讨贲门失弛缓症患者食管动力学及气囊扩张的疗效。方法 :在内镜及X线监视下 ,用OTW气囊对 1 6例患者进行扩张 ,压力为 80～ 1 5 5kPa,维持 30s～1min ,反复 3～ 5次。对 7例患者在扩张前后使用瑞典产C—TD、PCPolyral压力测定仪作了下食管括约肌 (LES)压力、上食管括约肌 (UES)压力检测。结果 :1 6例患者临床症状显著改善 ,可进半流食和普食。 7例患者治疗前LES压力 (7 4± 1 4)kPa,扩张治疗LES压力 (3 4± 0 5 2 )kPa ,扩张治疗后LES压力较治疗前明显下降 (P <0 0 1 )。结论 :贲门失弛缓症存在明显食管动力障碍 ,气囊扩张疗效显著 ,采用渐进式气囊扩张方法 ,可避免食管穿孔的发生。     

The “4A” syndrome: Adrenocortical insufficiency associated with achalasia,alacrima, autonomic and other neurological abnormalities

The triad of adrenocortical insufficiency with alacrima and achalasia is an unusual disease entity in paediatrics. The association of autonomic and peripheral neuropathies has more commonly been reported in older individuals. We describe four children (two siblings) with this disorder, aged between 3 and 6 years at diagnosis, all of whom had clinical neurological abnormalities when examined between 6 and 8 years of age. In addition, we performed cardiovascular autonomic testing in three subjects: heart rate variation during deep breathing was abnormal in all three; Valsalva ratio was abnormal in two; and postural systolic blood pressure response was abnormal in one. Pupillary reflexes were abnormal in the only subject in which they could be measured. These results indicate that subtle neurological and, in particular, autonomic abnormalities can be detected at an early age. We propose that autonomic neuropathy be considered as an integral feature of this rare condition and suggest the term 4A syndrome as a useful mnemonic for the association ofadrenocortical insufficiency,achalasia andalacrima withautonomic and other neurological abnormalities.     

X线和内镜在贲门失弛缓症诊断中的价值

目的 :比较X线和内镜在贲门失弛缓症诊断中的价值及二者应用优选问题。方法 :对28例贲门失弛缓症患者作X线和内镜检查 ,对照分析。结果 :X线诊断符合率为92 9 % ,而内镜为64 3% ,x2=4.9,P<0 05。结论 :X线和内镜均适用贲门失弛缓症的诊断 ,X线较内镜符合率更高     

Esophageal manometric studies in children with achalasia before and after operative treatment

This study manometrically assessed and compared esophageal function in 16 children with achalasia before and after surgical treatment (anterior esophagomyotomy with antireflux partial fundoplication). Manometric examinations were done in 10 children preoperatively and in 12, 3 months to 8 years postoperatively. Both pre- and postoperative examinations were done in 6 patients. The following parameters were measured: lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and length, spontaneous motility of the esophageal body, and motility provoked by swallowing of fluids. Preoperative examinations confirmed disturbances typical for achalasia: increased LES pressure (mean 39.4 mmHg), lack of relaxation upon swallowing, and various types of anomalous esophageal motility (lack of propulsive waves, segmental waves, breaks in propagation of contractions, tonic contractions, etc.). Postoperative examinations showed normalization of LES pressure; however, relaxation did not appear in any patient. Esophageal motility improved after surgery in most patients and was already noticeable 3-6 months postoperatively, but motility never returned to normal. Clinically, all but 1 patient with reflux esophagitis were doing well despite persistent motility disturbances. Our study confirms that achalasia is a complex motor disorder of the entire esophagus. The improvement of esophageal contractility after esophagomyotomy suggests both primary and significant secondary damage to motility of the esophageal body in most patients. It appears that secondary disturbances are reversible to some extent in children after surgical treatment.     

贲门失弛缓症介入治疗进展

贲门失弛缓症是一种原发性食管运动障碍疾病,由下食管括约肌(LES)张力增高及松弛不良造成,主要表现为吞咽障碍,其发病机制目前尚不明确。各种治疗方法的目的均为降低LES的紧张性和阻滞性以缓解症状。目前治疗贲门失弛缓症的方法有药物治疗、肉毒毒素治疗、外科肌松解术、球囊导管成形术和贲门支架成形术。暂时性贲门支架成形术,是近年来使用的新介入治疗法,具有较好的优势和疗效,将成为治疗贲门失弛缓症的首选微创疗法。     

乙酰胆碱酯酶基因治疗猫贲门失弛缓症模型的实验研究

目的　研究乙酰胆碱酯酶基因转导对贲门失弛缓症模型的治疗作用。方法　将 36只家猫均分为 4组 ,第 1组为正常对照组 ;其他 3组采用胃镜下食管下端括约肌 (LES)处环形注射氯苄烷铵(BAC)的方法建立猫贲门失弛缓症模型 ,在注射BAC 8周后胃镜下LES处分别注射生理盐水 (模型对照组 )、空载病毒AdGFP(AdGFP组 )和表达乙酰胆碱酯酶 (AChE)的腺病毒AdAChET(AdAChET 组 )。1 0d后通过RT PCR和免疫组化方法检测AChE在LES中的表达 ,并观察食管压力 (LESP)的变化。结果　RT PCR证实AdAChET 组可扩增出针对目的基因的AChET 片段 ,免疫组化显示AdAChET 组在平滑肌组织中有AChE阳性表达 ,AdGFP组和模型对照组无AChE阳性表达。AdAChET 组平滑肌组织的AChE活力较模型对照组和AdGFP组高 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 1 )。食管测压显示治疗后AdAChET组LESP下降较AdGFP组和模型对照组明显 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 1 )。结论　编码AChET 基因腺病毒AdAChET 能松弛LES ,降低LESP ,说明AChE减少在贲门失弛缓症发生中起重要作用     

海博刀与三角刀在经口内镜下肌切开术中疗效的回顾性队列研究

目的 比较海博刀与三角刀在经口内镜下肌切开术(POEM)中的临床疗效。方法 采用回顾性队列研究设计,纳入2012年6月至2014年7月因贲门失弛缓症在南方医科大学南方医院接受POEM治疗的患者,术中使用海博刀者为海博刀组,使用注射针和三角刀者为三角刀组,比较两组手术相关参数、术后症状缓解及并发症发生率。结果 共纳入57例患者,其中海博刀组25例,三角刀组32例。两组患者基线特征比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。海博刀组平均手术时间短于三角刀组[(55.3±17.7)min比(69.5±9.4)min,P=0.038)];术中平均器械交换次数少于三角刀组[(4.5±1.5)次比(10.7±1.7)次,P=0.000]。所有患者无严重不良事件发生。在1年的随访中,海博刀组治疗成功率92.0%(23/25),三角刀组96.9%(31/32),差异无统计学意义（P=0.576)。结论 海博刀能显著缩短POEM手术时间,并且获得与三角刀相似的治疗成功率。