Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage vs percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for malignant biliary obstruction after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography failure

In a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery,a meta-analysis investigated the safety and efficacy of electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stent(ECE-LAMS)implantation for managing malignant biliary obstruction following failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.This manusc-ript endeavors to offer a comprehensive look at the progression of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage(EUS-BD)technologies,weighing their merits and drawbacks against traditional percutaneous methods.Several meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials have compared the performance of EUS-BD and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage(PTCD).These studies revealed that the technical success rate,clinical success rate,and adverse events were similar between EUS-BD and PTCD.Nevertheless,given that most of these studies preda-te 2015,the safety and effectiveness of novel EUS-BD techniques,including ECE-LAMS,compared with those of percutaneous biliary drainage remain elusive.Further investigation is imperative to ascertain whether these novel EUS-BD techniques can safely and efficaciously replace conventional percutaneous thera-peutic approaches.

Liver resection in hepatitis B related-hepatocellular carcinoma: Clinical outcomes and safety in elderly patients

AIM: To compare the morbidity and mortality in young and elderly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing liver resection. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 1543 consecutive hepatitis B (HBV)-related HCC patients undergoing elective hepatic resection in our cohort, including 207 elderly patients (>= 65 years) and 1336 younger patients (< 65 years). Patient characteristics and clinical outcomes after liver resection were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Elderly patients had more preoperative comorbidities and lower alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels. Positive rates for hepatitis B surface antigen (P < 0.001), hepatitis B e antigen (P < 0.001) and HBV DNA (P = 0.017) were more common in younger patients. Overall complications and their severity classified using the Clavien system were similar in the two groups (33.3% vs 29.6%, P = 0.271). Elderly patients had a higher rate of postoperative cardiovascular complications (3.9% vs 0.6%, P = 0.001), neurological complications (2.9% vs 0.4%, P < 0.001) and mortality (3.4% vs 1.2%, P = 0.035), and had more hospital stay requirement (13 d vs 12 d, P < 0.001) and more intensive care unit stay (36.7% vs 27.8%, P = 0.008) compared with younger patients. However, postoperative hepatic insufficiency was more common in the younger group (7.7% vs 3.4%, P = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Hepatectomy can be safely performed in elderly patients. Age should not be regarded as a contraindication to liver resection with expected higher complication and mortality rates. (C) 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.

Technetium-99m-labeled macroaggregated albumin lung perfusion scan for diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome: A prospective study comparing brain uptake and whole-body uptake

BACKGROUND Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is an arterial oxygenation defect induced by intrapulmonary vascular dilatation (IPVD) in the setting of liver disease and/or portal hypertension.This syndrome occurs most often in cirrhotic patients(4%-32%) and has been shown to be detrimental to functional status,quality of life,and survival.The diagnosis of HPS in the setting of liver disease and/or portal hypertension requires the demonstration of IPVD (i.e.,diffuse or localized abnormally dilated pulmonary capillaries and pulmonary and pleural arteriovenous communications) and arterial oxygenation defects,preferably by contrast-enhanced echocardiography and measurement of the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient,respectively.AIM To compare brain and whole-body uptake of technetium for diagnosing HPS.METHODS Sixty-nine patients with chronic liver disease and/or portal hypertension were prospectively included.Brain uptake and whole-body uptake were calculated using the geometric mean of technetium counts in the brain and lungs and in the entire body and lungs,respectively.RESULTS Thirty-two (46%) patients had IPVD as detected by contrast-enhancedechocardiography.The demographics and clinical characteristics of the patients with and without IPVD were not significantly different with the exception of the creatinine level (0.71±0.18 mg/dL vs 0.83±0.23 mg/dL;P=0.041),alveolararterial oxygen gradient (23.2±13.3 mmHg vs 16.4±14.1 mmHg;P=0.043),and arterial partial pressure of oxygen (81.0±12.1 mmHg vs 90.1±12.8 mmHg;P=0.004).Whole-body uptake was significantly higher in patients with IPVD than in patients without IPVD (48.0%±6.1%vs 40.1%±8.1%;P=0.001).The area under the curve of whole-body uptake for detecting IPVD was significantly higher than that of brain uptake (0.75 vs 0.54;P=0.025).The optimal cut-off values of brain uptake and whole-body uptake for detecting IPVD were 5.7%and 42.5%,respectively,based on Youden’s index.The sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of brain uptake> 5.7%and whole-body uptake> 42.5%for detecting IPVD were23%,89%,and 59%and 100%,52%,and 74%,respectively.CONCLUSION Whole-body uptake is superior to brain uptake for diagnosing HPS.

Predictive value of initial procalcitonin level in perioperative period of critically ill cancer patients

The predictive value of the initial procalcitonin(PCT)level was explored in the perioperative peniod of citically ill cancer patients.Background:It is quite important to predict infections in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).Cancer surgery is characterized by large trauma,long duration,and wide operation scope;and there are many inflammatory factors in the tumor.Common manifestations of systermic inflammatory response syndrome(SIRS)。such as fever,elevated white blood cells,and elevated infammatory indicators,frequently occur in patients during the penioperative period as a result of the above factors.These factors are diverse and complex;additionally,advanced cancer and the trauma of major surgery are important factors that influence PCT blood levels.Because all of the aforementioned factors make it dificult to distinguish the postoperative inflammatory response fom the true infection in clinical practice,conventional methods cannot prediet disease sevenity or disease course.Methods:A total of 53 patients with endotracheal intubation admitted to the ICU of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2020 to May 2020,were retrospectively selected.According to the patient source,35 cases were assigned to ORIG(Operating Room to ICU Group),and 18 cases were assigned to General Ward to ICU group(GWO).At the ICU admission,the patient's age,sex,surgical site of tumor,reason for ICU and other data were recorded to form a database;PCT,B-type natiuretic peptide(BNP),high sensitivity toponin I(hsTni),serumn creatinine(Cr),serum cystatin C(Cys-c)and other laboratory indicators were detected;scores of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)and sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)were marked 24 h after ICU admission;Proportion of Antibiotics,Time Antibiotic Application,and Time Indicators(Ventilator support Time,Endotracheal Intubation Time,ICU Stay Time)were recorded during the period from ICU admission to ICU discharge.Results:APAHCE Ⅱ score and SOFA score increased significantly in the GWIG,compared with the ORIG,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.01);the GWIG had a significantly longer Time Antibiotic Application than the ORIG,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01);in tems of blood indicators,the PCT,BNP,and hsTNi levels were elevated in the GWIG compared with the ORIG,and the differences were statistically significant(p<0.01);no statistical differences were found in Cr and Cys-C levels(P>0.05).In terms of time indicators,the Ventilator support Time,Endotracheal Intubation Time,and ICU Stay Time were prolonged in the GWIG compared with the ORIG,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.01).The PCT level was statistically signifcant(P<0.01)when correlated with the Ventilator Supporting Time and Endotracheal Intubation Time;however,the PCT level was negatively correlated with the ICU Stay Time,with a small r(correlation cofficient)value and no statistical significance(P>0.05)when correlated with the ICU Stay Time.Conclusion:The initial PCT level can predict the disease severity in critically ill cancer patients treated with mechanical ventilation during the perioperative period.

Interventional Radiology in China： Current Status and Future Prospects

INTRODUCTION Interventional radiology （IR） is a clinical specialty providing minimally invasive image-guided diagnosis and treatment of diseases in various organ systems, Since Charles Dotter performed the first balloon angioplasty on patients with stenosis of the superficial femoral artery in 1964, IR has been applied in numerous aspects of modern medicine However, the development of IR also presents many problems such as the relationship with other disciplines and turf wars. These problems puzzle many interventionists, and no solution has been proven to be applicable to every country.