Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt vs endoscopic therapy in preventing variceal rebleeding

AIM:To compare early use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS) with endoscopic treatment(ET) for the prophylaxis of recurrent variceal bleeding.METHODS:In-patient data were collected from 190 patients between January 2007 and June 2010 who suffured from variceal bleeding.Patients who were older than 75 years;previously received surgical treatment or endoscopic therapy for variceal bleeding;and complicated with hepatic encephalopathy or hepatic cancer,were excluded from this research.Thirty-five cases lost to follow-up were also excluded.Retrospective analysis was done in 126 eligible cases.Among them,64 patients received TIPS(TIPS group) while 62 patients received endoscopic therapy(ET group).The relevant data were collected by patient review or telephone calls.The occurrence of rebleeding,hepatic encephalopathy or other complications,survival rateand cost of treatment were compared between the two groups.RESULTS:During the follow-up period(median,20.7 and 18.7 mo in TIPS and ET groups,respectively),rebleeding from any source occurred in 11 patients in the TIPS group as compared with 31 patients in the ET group(Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test,P = 0.000).Rebleeding rates at any time point(6 wk,1 year and 2 year) in the TIPS group were lower than in the ET group(Bonferroni correction α' = α/3).Eight patients in the TIPS group and 16 in the ET group died with the cumulative survival rates of 80.6% and 64.9%(Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test c2 = 4.864,P = 0.02),respectively.There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to 6-wk survival rates(Bonferroni correction α' = α/3).However,significant differences were observed between the two groups in the 1-year survival rates(92% and 79%) and the 2-year survival rates(89% and 64.9%)(Bonferroni correction α' = α/3).No significant differences were observed between the two treatment groups in the occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy(12 patients in TIPS group and 5 in ET group,KaplanMeier analysis and log-rank test,c2 = 3.103,P = 0.08).The average total cost for the TIPS group was higher than for ET group(Wilcxon-Mann Whitney test,52 678 RMB vs 38 844 RMB,P < 0.05),but hospitalization frequency and hospital stay during follow-up period were lower(Wilcxon-Mann Whitney test,0.4 d vs 1.3 d,P = 0.01;5 d vs 19 d,P < 0.05).CONCLUSION:Early use of TIPS is more effective than endoscopic treatment in preventing variceal rebleeding and improving survival rate,and does not increase occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy.

Treatment of 60 Cases of Intractable Hiccups Following Craniocerebral Surgery by Acupuncture and Auricular Point Sticking

Hiccup is one of the common complications ofcraniocerebral surgery,and commonly called as 'DaGe(打嗝 )'.It is usually caused by ascendingcounterflow of stomach qi.The modem medicineholds that it is caused by hyperkinesia of diaphragm.Most hiccups are temporary; a mild condition

Treatment of 30 Cases of Delayed Healing of Abdominal Postoperative Incision by Acupuncture

采用艾灸结合温针结合治疗腹部术后刀口愈合延迟。30例患者经常规处理后,用点燃两根清艾条后置于刀口上方进行灸治,同时取双侧足三里穴,用长40 mm 毫针垂直剌入,得气后进行温针灸。34例患者采用外科常规处理。经2个疗程治疗后有效率分别为100%和70.6%。