Endoscopic sphincterotomy in the treatment of cholangiopancreatic diseases

AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effect of endoscopicsphincterotomy (EST) in the treatment of choledocholithiasis and stenosing papillitis.METHODS: A total of 1 026 patients undergoing EST during July 1983 to May 2003 at the institute were retrospectively analyzed. Chronic pancreatitis was diagnosed in 63 (6.1%),cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis in 549 (53.5%),stones in residual biliary duct in 249 (24.3%), stenosing papillitis in 228 (22.2%). In patients with simple stenosing papillitis, most incisions were within 0.5-1 cm in length. As for patients with chronic pancreatitis simultaneously, selective pancreatic sphincterotomy was performed, and incision was within 0.5-0.8 cm in length. For stones less than 1 cm, incision was from 1 to 1.5 cm, and for those larger than 1 cm, incision ranged from 1.5 to 3 cm. For stones more than 2 cm in diameter, detritus basket rather than simple incision was chosen. RESULTS: Of the 798 patients with choledocholithiasis, 764 (93.5%) had successful stone clearance, 215 (94.3%)out of 228 cases of stenosing papillitis were cured totally, while 63 had chronic pancreatitis developed from stenosing papillitis, 57 (90.1%) had sound remission of symptoms, though membranous stenosis emerged in 13 of 57 which was treated with balloon dilatation. After the operation, only 21 cases (2.1%) had complications such as severe pancreatitis and incision bleeding. None of the patients died.CONCLUSION: EST is an ideal surgical management with mini-invasion in the treatment of choledocholithiasis and stenosing papillitis.

Colonic J-pouch anal anastomosis after ultralow anterior resection with upper sphincter excision for low-lying rectal cancer

AIM:There is some evidence of functional superiority of colonic J-pouch over straight coloanal anastomosis (CM) in ultralow anterior resection (ULAR) or intersphincteric resection. On the assumption that colonic J-pouch anal anastomosis is superior to straight CM in ULAR with upper sphincter excision (USE: excision of the upper part of the internal sphincter) for low-lying rectal cancer, we compare functional outcome of colonic J-pouch vsthe straight CM. METHODS: Fifty patients of one hundred and thirty-three rectal cancer patients in whom lower margin of the tumors were located between 3 and 5 cm from the anal verge received ULAR including USE from September 1998 to January 2002. Patients were randomized for reconstruction using either a straight (n = 26) or a colonic J-pouch anastomosis (n = 24) with a temporary diverting-loop ileostomy. All patients were followed-up prospectively by a standardized questionnaire [Fecal Inco-ntinence Severity Index (FISI) scores and Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life (FIQL) scales]. RESULTS: We found that, compared to straight anastomosis patients, the frequency of defecation was significantly lower in J-pouch anastomosis patients for 10 mo after ileostomy takedown. The FISI scores and FIQL scales were significantly better in J-pouch patients than in straight patients at both 3 and 12 mo after ileostomy takedown. Furthermore, we found that FISI scores highly correlated with FIQL scales. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that colonic J-pouch anal anastomosis decreases the severity of fecal incontinence and improves the quality of life for 10 mo after ileostomy takedown in patients undergoing ULAR with USE for low-lying rectal cancer.

Comparison of treatment outcomes between biliary plastic stent placements with and without endoscopic sphincterotomy for inoperable malignant common bile duct obstruction

AIM:Considerable controversy surrounds the adoption of endoscopic sphincterotomy(ES)to facilitate the placement of 10F plastic stents(PS)and to reduce the risk of pancreatitis The aim of the study was to assess the possible advantages of ES before PS placement. METHODS:From 3/1996 to 6/2001,172 consecutive patients, who underwent placement of a single 10F-polyethylene stent for inoperable malignant strictures of the common bile duct,were randomly assigned to 2 groups.In group A(96 patients),a ES was performed before PS placement In Group B,96 patients had PS directly.Early complications(within 30 d)and late effects(from 30 d to stent replacement)were assessed.Patency interval was defined as the period between PS placement and obstruction or death.The success of stent replacement in the 2 groups was evaluated. RESULTS:Stent insertion was successful in 95.8%(92/96) of the pts in group A and in 93.7%(90/96)of the patients in group B(P>0.05).Early complications were more frequent in patients who underwent ES(6.5% vs4.4%)but the data were not significant(P>0.05).In group A pancreatitis developed in two patients and bleeding in three;whereas pancreatitis occurred in 2 patients in group B.Complications were managed conservatively.No procedure related mortality occurred.All late complications were acute cholangitis due to stent occlusion.We performed a stent replacement in 87 patients that was successful in 84 cases without differences between groups. CONCLUSION:Sphincterotomy does not seem to be necessary for placement of 10F-PS in patients with malignant common bile duct obstruction.

Does the bile duct angulation affect recurrence of choledocholithiasis?

AIM:To investigate whether bile duct angulation and T-tube choledochostomy influence the recurrence of choledocholithiasis.METHODS:We conducted a retrospective study including 259 patients who underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy and cholecystectomy for choledocholithiasis between 2000 and 2007.The imaginary line was drawn along the center of the bile duct and each internal angle was measured at the two angulation sites ofthe bile duct respectively.The values of both angles were added together.We then tested our hypothesis by examining whether T-tube choledochostomy was performed and stone recurrence occurred by reviewing each subject's medical records.RESULTS:The overall recurrence rate was 9.3% (24 of 259 patients).The mean value of sums of angles in the recurrence group was 268.3°± 29.6°,while that in the non-recurrence group was 314.8°± 19.9° (P < 0.05).Recurrence rate of the T-tube group was 15.9% (17 of 107),while that of the non T-tube group was 4.6% (7 of 152) (P < 0.05).Mean value of sums of angles after T-tube drainage was 262.5°± 24.6° and that before T-tube drainage was 298.0°± 23.9° in 22 patients (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION:The bile duct angulation and T-tube choledochostomy may be risk factors of recurrence of bile duct stones.

Sphincter-preserving R0 total mesorectal excision with resection of internal genitalia combined with pre-or postoperative chemoradiation for T4 rectal cancer in females

AIM: To evaluate the impact of chemoradiation admi- nistered pre- or postoperatively on prognosis in females following R0 extended resection with sphincter- preserving total mesorectal excision (TME) for locally advanced rectal cancer and to assess the association between chemoradiation and intra- and postoperative variables. METHODS: Twenty-one females were treated for locally advanced but preoperatively assessed as primarily resectable rectal cancer involving reproductive organs. Anterior resection with TME and excision of internal genitalia was combined with neo- or adjuvant chemoradiation. Two-year disease-free survival analysis was performed with the Kaplan-Meier method and log- rank test. The association between chemoradiation and other variables was evaluated with the Fisher’s exact test and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Survival rate decreased in anaemic females (51.5% vs 57.4%), in patients older than 60 years (41.8% vs 66.7%) with poorly differentiated cancers (50.0% vs 55.6%) and tumors located ≤ 7 cm from the anal verge (42.9% vs 68.1%) but with the lack of importance. Patients with negative lymph nodes and women chemoradiated preoperatively had significantly favourable prognosis (85.7% vs 35.7%; P= 0.03 and 80.0% vs 27.3%; P = 0.01, respectively). Preoperative chemoradiation compared to adjuvant radiochemotherapy was not significantly associated with the duration of surgery, incidence of intraoperative bowel perforation and blood loss ≥ 1 L, rate of postoperative bladder and anorectal dysfunction, and minimal distal resection margin. It significantly influenced minimal radial margin (mean 4.2 mm vs 1.1 mm; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Despite involving internal genitalia, long-term disease-free survival and sphincter preservation may be achieved with combined-modality therapy for females with T4 locally advanced rectal carcinoma. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation does not compromise functional results and may significantly improve oncological outcomes probably due to enhanced radial clearance.

论20世纪前期中美跨国英文书写的审美中心主义倾向

面向英美普通读者的中国书写,始于19世纪美国新教来华传教士,但兴盛并成就卓然于20世纪前半叶,以赛珍珠、诺拉·沃恩、何巴特、项美丽、蒲爱德等女性作家为主,林语堂等为数不多的中国知识精英也以本土信息提供者身份进入这一跨国写作共同体中。书写主题集中于被诗化的田园图景、被雅化的旧贵族风尚和被哲学化的东方韵味。将前现代的田园美景、艺术技艺和美学风格等,从残破现实中"括除"出来,以"括除"后取得的怀旧物指代正在消失中的旧中国。这种对中国的"括除"式审美,实际上反映的是书写者在一战后西方的失序状态下,对西方现代性负面影响的拒绝与反抗,试图从中国文化中寻求某种解药,但对旧中国的唯美化潜在地否定了中国现代化道路的必要性和可能性。