VALUE OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FOR EVALUATING THE INJECTION SITE IN ENDOSONOGRAPHY‐GUIDED CELIAC PLEXUS NEUROLYSIS

Endosonography‐guided celiac plexus neurolysis (EUS‐CPN) safely and effectively relieves pain associated with intra‐abdominal malignancies when the neurolytic is accurately injected. We applied contrast medium to evaluate the ethanol injection sites in patients who received EUS‐CPN due to abdominal pain caused by malignancies. We injected, under the guidance of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), ethanol containing 10% contrast medium into the celiac plexus of patients with intra‐abdominal pain due to malignancies. Immediately after the endoscopic therapy, patients underwent computed tomography (CT) to confirm the injection site. Images of distribution of injected solutions were classified into three groups. Injected solution dispersed in unilateral and bilateral anterocrural space was defined as ‘unilateral injection’ or ‘bilateral injection’, respectively. Injected solution located out of the anterocrural space was defined as ‘inappropriate injection’. Pre‐ and postprocedure pain was assessed using a standard analog scale. Before and 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after the procedure, pain scores were evaluated. From April 2003 to May 2005, 13 patients were enrolled in this study. Improvement of pain score in the ‘bilateral injection’ and ‘unilateral injection’ groups was significantly superior to the change in the ‘inappropriate injection’ group. Although EUS‐CPN was effective in eight of 13 patients (61.5%), additional EUS‐CPN to the ‘inappropriate injection group’ increased the response rate to 84.6%. Injection of ethanol to the anterocrural space by EUS‐CPN produced adequate pain relief. Immediate examination by CT for confirmation of injection sites after EUS‐CPN would increase the likelihood of induction of pain relief.     

心腔内导管超声在腹膜后脏器显像中应用研究

目的通过动物实验评价心腔内导管超声探头对部分腹膜后脏器结构的显像效果，以及其用于腹膜后脏器显像的可行性。方法静脉鞘管引导心腔内导管超声探头进入下腔静脉，通过对8只实验犬部分腹膜后脏器的近距离超声成像，记录成像过程动物生理参数，观察其二维图像及彩色血流显像效果，并与常规经腹超声检查效果比较。结果实验前与腔内显像过程中犬的心率、动脉压、呼吸频率差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；心腔内导管超声可清晰显示肾脏、肾上腺、大血管旁淋巴结等腹膜后脏器的二维细微结构及彩色血流分布，成像质量明显优于经腹切面的显示效果。结论采用心腔内导管超声观察腹膜后部分脏器的结构是安全可行的，成像质量明显优于经腹切面的显示效果，对肾上腺及其血供的显像尤为清晰。心腔内导管超声在腹膜后脏器显像方面有重要应用价值，为腹膜后脏器的超声检查提供了一种新方法。     

胆管内超声用于胆总管结石内镜下取石

目的观察胆管内超声(IDUS)用于胆总管结石内镜下取石中的价值。方法回顾性分析148例接受内镜逆行胰胆管造影(ERCP)联合内镜下括约肌切开术(EST)的胆总管结石患者,对取石后胆总管造影显示结石完全清除者行IDUS,观察有无胆总管残石;对存在较大残石(≥3 mm)者重复行ERCP联合EST取石。术后随访,观察胆总管结石复发情况及其影响因素。结果 148例经ERCP联合EST取石后,胆总管造影均确认胆总管结石完全清除。IDUS发现其中61例仍存在残石,且21例残石≥3 mm;对该21例重复取石,直至结石完全清除。术中及术后均未见严重不良反应。术后随访3～24个月,IDUS显示108例结石完全清除者与40例存在残石者结石复发率分别为8.33%(9/108)、62.50%(25/40),差异有统计学意义(P0.01);术后24个月累积无复发率差异有统计学意义(88.40%、14.40%,P0.01)。多因素分析结果显示,IDUS所示胆总管残石、胆总管直径及角度均为结石复发的独立危险因素(P均0.05)。结论 IDUS能发现胆总管造影难以显示的胆总管残石、尤其细小结石(3 mm),用于辅助ERCP联合EST取石有助于减少术后结石复发。     

Laparoscopic rectopexy for complete rectal prolapse

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of laparoscopic rectopexy and its effect on anorectal function investigations. Methods: Twelve patients with complete rectal prolapse without constipation underwent laparoscopic rectopexy. Pre- and postoperative evaluation included scoring of incontinence, anorectal manometry, and anal endosonography. Results: No recurrences of rectal prolapse were seen (median follow-up 19 months). Continence improved in eight of nine preoperatively incontinent patients. Two patients had mild constipation after surgery. Median maximum basal pressure measured by anorectal manometry increased from 20 to 25 mmHg (p=0.005) and the rectoanal inhibitory reflex improved in seven patients (p=0.03). Rectal sensitivity did not change significantly. Endosonography showed asymmetry and thickening of the internal anal sphincter and submucosa preoperatively. After surgery the maximum internal anal sphincter thickness decreased from 3.0 mm to 2.6 mm (p=0.02). Conclusions: Laparoscopic rectopexy improved continence in our patients. Anorectal function tests show a partial recovery of the internal anal sphincter. Laparoscopic rectopexy combines the low morbidity of minimal invasive surgery with the good outcome of abdominal rectopexy.Presented at the annual meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Orlando, Florida, USA, 11–14 March 1995     

Endosonographic features in patients with non-alcoholic early chronic pancreatitis improved with treatment at one year follow up

Since the prevention of early chronic pancreatitis (ECP) into chronic pancreatitis might be critical for the reduction of pancreatic cancer, we tried to clarify the pathophysiology of ECP patients, focusing on ECP patients without alcoholic chronic pancreatitis. 27 ECP patients without alcoholic chronic pancreatitis and 33 patients with functional dyspepsia with pancreatic enzyme abnormalities (FD-P) were enrolled in this study. Diagnosis of ECP was made when imaging findings showed the presence of more than 2 out of 7 endoscopic ultrasound features. Duodenal degranulated eosinophils and glucagon-like peptide 1 producing cells were estimated by immunostaining. There were no significant differences in characteristics and psychogenic factors between ECP and FD-P patients. Interestingly, endoscopic ultrasound score in ECP patients significantly improved, albeit clinical symptoms in ECP patients showed no improvement at one year follow up. The extent of migration of duodenal degranulated eosinophils in FD-P patients was significantly higher compared to that in ECP patients. The levels of elastase-1 and trypsin in ECP patients with improved endoscopic ultrasound features were significantly reduced by the treatment. Further studies will be needed to clarify whether clinical symptoms and endoscopic ultrasound features in ECP patients without alcoholic chronic pancreatitis were improved in longer follow up study.     

多普勒微血管探头在三脑室底造瘘术中的应用

目的:探讨在治疗脑积水的内镜三脑室底造瘘术(endoscopic third ventriculostomy, ETV)中,应用多普勒微血管探头作超声检查的意义。方法:单纯神经内镜下完成梗阻性脑积水三脑室底造瘘术34例,其中21例应用多普勒微血管探头经内镜通道抵达三脑室底部进行超声探测,监测基底动脉(BA)的走向、血流速度,进行术中实时定位,造瘘前后记录血管的多普勒超声图像。结果:术后21例(61.76%)影像学证实扩大的脑室术后有回缩;半年后症状缓解29例(85.29%),无效5例(14.71%),2例做脑室-腹腔分流术。无手术死亡或残疾。使用探头组造瘘术前后BA的管径、血流速度无变化,无血管损伤并发症。结论:多普勒微血管探头在神经内镜三脑室底造瘘术中应用,可减少血管损伤类并发症的发生,使得内镜插入定位精确、安全。     

Recent advances in endoscopic ultrasonography

Endoscopic ultrasonography is recognized as an important tool in the diagnosis and staging of esophageal, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, and biliary tumors. It also is a reliable method for the evaluation of submucosal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, the differentiation between benign and malignant giant gastric folds, the evaluation of gastric ulcer healing, and the detection of common bile duct stones. The recent introduction of endoscopic ultrasonographic fine-needle aspiration provides for the cytologic and histologic diagnosis of gastrointestinal submucosal and extraluminal tumors and regional lymph nodes. This new technique may also be used for the intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin in the treatment of achalasia, for the steroid injection treatment of refractory esophageal strictures, for celiac nerve block, for pseudocyst drainage, and for drug delivery into pancreatic tumors. High-frequency thin ultrasonic probes can be used to make a more accurate diagnosis of superficial carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract and for intraductal ultrasonography of the extrahepatic bile duct and pancreatic duct. In the future, three-dimensional imaging of gastrointestinal tumors will provide more accurate information regarding cancer extent. Endoscopic ultrasonography is a powerful tool which can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of gastrointestinal diseases. Received: December 6, 1999 / Accepted: January 28, 2000     

胰腺癌:超声内镜检查

EUS is the most sensitive imaging procedure for the detection of small solid pancreatic masses and is accurate in determining vascular invasion of the portal venous system. Even compared to the new CT-techniques EUS provides excellent results in preoperative staging of solid pancreatic tumors. Compared to helical CT-techniques EUS is less accurate in detecting tumor involvement of superior mesenteric artery. EUS staging and EUS-guided FNA can be performed in a single-step procedure, to establish the diagnosis of cancer. There is no known negative impact of tumor cell seeding due to EUS-FNA.Without FNA EUS and additional methods are not able to reliably distinguish between inflammatory and malignant masses.     

TRANSGASTRIC TRANSHEPATIC ENDOSONOGRAPHY‐GUIDED BILIARY DRAINAGE: HISTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF ITS SINUS TRACT IN AN AUTOPSY CASE

Endosonography‐guided biliary drainage (ESBD) is gaining attention as a promising drainage technique for obstructive jaundice. However, histological changes resulting from ESBD have not been well understood. We had an opportunity to histologically investigate the influence of ESBD, established between the left hepatic duct and the stomach, on the relevant organs in an autopsy case with bile duct cancer extending from the pancreatic head to the hepatic hilum with duodenal invasion. Localized fibrous connective tissues were present around and along the sinus tract, including the connection between the surfaces of the left lobe of the liver and the gastric serosa, without hemorrhage, inflammatory changes, or cancer invasion. The inside of the ESBD stent was slightly stenotic at the intramural portion of the stomach due to proliferation of granulation tissue. No bile stasis or abscess was observed in the left lobe. These results are quite suggestive of the high safety and efficacy of ESBD with adequate performance.     

腔内超声在输尿管中下段结石的诊断价值探讨

目的探讨腔内超声（经直肠或阴道超声）在输尿管中下段结合的诊断价值。方法对临床疑诊为尿路结石的患者，按常规搜查肾脏和输尿管中上段，当发现肾盂扩张并排队了输尿管中上段落石后，改为腔内超声检查，确定是否有输尿管中下段结石，并对结果进行比较分析。结果经腔内超声对输尿管中下段结石的显示率较高。结论应用腔内超声诊断输尿管中下段结石快捷、方便、准确率高，具有较高的临床应用价值及鉴别诊断意义，价值推广。