Pain is a common symptom of pancreatic disease and is frequently difficult to manage. Pain relief provided by narcotics is often suboptimal and is associated with significant side effects. An alternative approach to p...Pain is a common symptom of pancreatic disease and is frequently difficult to manage. Pain relief provided by narcotics is often suboptimal and is associated with significant side effects. An alternative approach to pain management in pancreatic disease is the use of celiac plexus block (CPB) or neurolysis (CPN). Originally performed by anesthesiologists and radiologists via a posterior approach,recent advances in endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) have made this technique an attractive alternative. EUS guided celiac plexus block/ neurolysis is simple to perform and avoids serious complications such as paraplegia or pneumothorax that are associated with the posterior approach. EUS guided CPN should be considered first line therapy in patients with pain due to pancreatic cancer. It provides superior pain control compared to traditional management with narcotics. A trend for improved survival in pancreatic cancer patients treated with CPN has been reported,but larger studies are needed to confirm this finding. At this time,the use of EUS guided CPB cannot be recommended as routine therapy for pain in chronic pancreatitis since only one-half of the patients experience pain reduction and the beneficial effect tends to be short lived. EUS guided CPB and CPN should be used as part of a multidisciplinary team approach for pain management.展开更多
Pancreatic pseudocysts （PPs） are collections of pancreatic secretions that are lined by fibrous tissues and may contain necrotic debris or blood. The interventions including percutaneous, endoscopic or surgical appr...Pancreatic pseudocysts （PPs） are collections of pancreatic secretions that are lined by fibrous tissues and may contain necrotic debris or blood. The interventions including percutaneous, endoscopic or surgical approaches are based on the size, location, symptoms and complications of a pseudocyst. With the availability of advanced imaging systems and cameras, better hemostatic equipments and excellent laparoscopic techniques, most pseudocysts can be found and managed by laparoscopy. We describe a case of a 30-year-old male patient with a pancreatic pseudocyst amenable to laparoscopic cystogastrostomy. An incision was made through the anterior gastric wall to expose the posterior gastric wall in close contact with the pseudocyst using an ultrasonically activated scalpel. Then, another incision was made for cystogastrostomy to obtain complete and unobstructed drainage. The patient recovered well after operation and was symptom-free during a 6-mo follow-up, suggesting that laparoscopic cystogastrostomy is a safe and effective alternative to open cystogastrostomy for minimally invasive management of PPs.展开更多
Video capsule endoscopy is an attractive and patient- friendly tool that provides high quality images of the small bowel. Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is the primary and most evaluated indication to capsule endos...Video capsule endoscopy is an attractive and patient- friendly tool that provides high quality images of the small bowel. Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is the primary and most evaluated indication to capsule endoscopy;however,indications are expanding and a small number of preliminary reports have been presented concerning the role of video capsule endoscopy in the diagnosis of celiac disease. The purpose of this review is to update the current knowledge and to hypothesize on future perspectives of the use of video capsule endoscopy in patients with celiac disease.展开更多
AIM: The optimal treatment for bile duct stones (in terms of cost, complications and accuracy) is unclear. The aim of our study was to determine the predictive factors for preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiop...AIM: The optimal treatment for bile duct stones (in terms of cost, complications and accuracy) is unclear. The aim of our study was to determine the predictive factors for preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).METHODS: Patients undergoing preoperative ERCP (≤90 d before laparoscopic cholecystectomy) were evaluated in this retrospective study from the 1^st of January 1996 to the 31^st of December 2002. The indications for ERCP were elevated serum bilirubin, elevated liver function tests (LFT), dilated bile duct (≥8 mm) and/or stone at US examination, coexisting acute pancreatitis and/or acute pancreatitis or jaundice in patient's history. Suspected prognostic factors and the combination of factors were compared to the result of ERCRRESULTS: Two hundred and six preoperative ERCPs were performed during the observed period. The rate of successful cannulation for ERC was (97.1%). Bile duct stones were detected in 81 patients (39.3%), and successfully removed in 79 (97.5%). The number of prognostic factors correlated with the presence of bile duct stones. The positive predictive value for one prognostic factor was 1.2%, for two 43%,for three 72.5%, for four or more 91.4%.CONCLUSION: Based on our data preoperative ERCP is highly recommended in patients with three or more positive factors (high risk patients). In contrast, ERCP is not indicated in patients with zero or one factor (low risk patients).Preoperative ERCP should be offered to patients with two positive factors (moderate risk patients), however the practice should also be based on the local conditions (e.g.skill of the endoscopist, other diagnostic tools).展开更多
文摘Pain is a common symptom of pancreatic disease and is frequently difficult to manage. Pain relief provided by narcotics is often suboptimal and is associated with significant side effects. An alternative approach to pain management in pancreatic disease is the use of celiac plexus block (CPB) or neurolysis (CPN). Originally performed by anesthesiologists and radiologists via a posterior approach,recent advances in endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) have made this technique an attractive alternative. EUS guided celiac plexus block/ neurolysis is simple to perform and avoids serious complications such as paraplegia or pneumothorax that are associated with the posterior approach. EUS guided CPN should be considered first line therapy in patients with pain due to pancreatic cancer. It provides superior pain control compared to traditional management with narcotics. A trend for improved survival in pancreatic cancer patients treated with CPN has been reported,but larger studies are needed to confirm this finding. At this time,the use of EUS guided CPB cannot be recommended as routine therapy for pain in chronic pancreatitis since only one-half of the patients experience pain reduction and the beneficial effect tends to be short lived. EUS guided CPB and CPN should be used as part of a multidisciplinary team approach for pain management.
文摘Pancreatic pseudocysts （PPs） are collections of pancreatic secretions that are lined by fibrous tissues and may contain necrotic debris or blood. The interventions including percutaneous, endoscopic or surgical approaches are based on the size, location, symptoms and complications of a pseudocyst. With the availability of advanced imaging systems and cameras, better hemostatic equipments and excellent laparoscopic techniques, most pseudocysts can be found and managed by laparoscopy. We describe a case of a 30-year-old male patient with a pancreatic pseudocyst amenable to laparoscopic cystogastrostomy. An incision was made through the anterior gastric wall to expose the posterior gastric wall in close contact with the pseudocyst using an ultrasonically activated scalpel. Then, another incision was made for cystogastrostomy to obtain complete and unobstructed drainage. The patient recovered well after operation and was symptom-free during a 6-mo follow-up, suggesting that laparoscopic cystogastrostomy is a safe and effective alternative to open cystogastrostomy for minimally invasive management of PPs.
文摘Video capsule endoscopy is an attractive and patient- friendly tool that provides high quality images of the small bowel. Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is the primary and most evaluated indication to capsule endoscopy;however,indications are expanding and a small number of preliminary reports have been presented concerning the role of video capsule endoscopy in the diagnosis of celiac disease. The purpose of this review is to update the current knowledge and to hypothesize on future perspectives of the use of video capsule endoscopy in patients with celiac disease.
文摘AIM: The optimal treatment for bile duct stones (in terms of cost, complications and accuracy) is unclear. The aim of our study was to determine the predictive factors for preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).METHODS: Patients undergoing preoperative ERCP (≤90 d before laparoscopic cholecystectomy) were evaluated in this retrospective study from the 1^st of January 1996 to the 31^st of December 2002. The indications for ERCP were elevated serum bilirubin, elevated liver function tests (LFT), dilated bile duct (≥8 mm) and/or stone at US examination, coexisting acute pancreatitis and/or acute pancreatitis or jaundice in patient's history. Suspected prognostic factors and the combination of factors were compared to the result of ERCRRESULTS: Two hundred and six preoperative ERCPs were performed during the observed period. The rate of successful cannulation for ERC was (97.1%). Bile duct stones were detected in 81 patients (39.3%), and successfully removed in 79 (97.5%). The number of prognostic factors correlated with the presence of bile duct stones. The positive predictive value for one prognostic factor was 1.2%, for two 43%,for three 72.5%, for four or more 91.4%.CONCLUSION: Based on our data preoperative ERCP is highly recommended in patients with three or more positive factors (high risk patients). In contrast, ERCP is not indicated in patients with zero or one factor (low risk patients).Preoperative ERCP should be offered to patients with two positive factors (moderate risk patients), however the practice should also be based on the local conditions (e.g.skill of the endoscopist, other diagnostic tools).
