The choice of the graft conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has significant implications both in the short-and long-term. The patency of a coronary conduit is closely associated with an uneventful postoperative course, better long-term patient survival and superior freedom from re-intervention. The internal mammary artery is regarded as the primary conduit for CABG patients, given its association with long-term patency and survival. However, long saphenous vein (LSV) continues to be utilized universally as patients presenting for CABG often have multiple coronary territories requiring revascularization. Traditionally, the LSV has been harvested by creating incisions from the ankle up to the groin termed open vein harvesting (OVH). However, such harvesting methods are associated with incisional pain and leg wound infections. In addition, patients find such large incisions to be cosmetically unappealing. These concerns regarding wound morbidity and patient satisfaction led to the emergence of endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH). Published experience comparing OVH with EVH suggests decreased wound related complications, improved patient satisfaction, shorter hospital stay, and reduced postoperative pain at the harvest site following EVH. Despite these reported advantages concerns regarding risk of injury at the time of harvest with its potential detrimental effect on vein graft patency and clinical outcomes have prevented universal adoption of EVH. This review article provides a detailed insight into the technical aspects, outcomes, concerns, and controversies associated with EVH.
Objective To evaluate the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography(ERCP)in diagnosis of anomalous converge of the cystic duct and prevention of bile duct injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC). Methods From July, 1992 to June, 1999, LCs were performed in 4 500 patients with gallbladder stone or cholecystitis at our center. Preoperative ERCPs were performed in 780 of all patients (14.50%). Anomalous junctions of the cystic duct with common hepatic duct were investigated and the length and caliber of these cystic duct were measured and compared with 100 control cases. Results An overall anomalous converges of the cystic duct were found in 125(16.03%) of the 780 patients undergoing ERCP. Of 780 patients undergoing LC, 35 cases were converted to open cholecystectomy(4.5%), and various complications occurred in 6 cases (0.77%), but no death and biliary duct injuries occurred. Conclusion Various types of anomalous junctions of the cystic duct could be diagnosed precisely by ERCP before LC and the preoperative examination of ERCP may be helpful in prevention of bile duct injuries and other biliary complications in the laparoscopic time.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of endoscopic radical mastectomy for breast cancer combined with total pectoral muscle reconstruction with breast implants. Methods The clinical data of 138 female patients with breast cancer who met the selection criteria between April 2019 and December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 43.8 years (range, 27-61 years). The maximum diameter of the tumors ranged from 1.00 to 7.10 cm, with an average of 2.70 cm. Pathological examination showed that 108 cases were positive for both estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor, and 40 cases were positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. All patients underwent endoscopic radical mastectomy for breast cancer combined with total pectoral muscle reconstruction with breast implants. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, prosthesis size, and occurences of nipple-areola complex (NAC) ischemia, flap ischemia, infection, and capsular contracture were recorded. The Breast-Q2.0 score was used to evaluate breast aesthetics, patient satisfaction, and quality of life (including the social mental health score, breast satisfaction score, and chest pain score). Patients were divided into two groups based on the time of operation after the technique was implemented: group A (within 1 year, 25 cases) and group B (after 1 year, 113 cases). The above outcome indicators were compared between the two groups. Furthermore, based on the postoperative follow-up duration, patients were classified into a short-term group (follow-up time was less than 1 year) and a long-term group (follow-up time was more than 1 year). The baseline data and postoperative Breast-Q2.0 scores were compared between the two groups. ResultsThe average operation time was 120.76 minutes, the average intraoperative blood loss was 23.77 mL, and the average prosthesis size was 218.37 mL. Postoperative NAC ischemia occurred in 21 cases (15.22%), flap ischemia in 30 cases (21.74%), infection in 23 cases (16.67%), capsular contracture in 33 cases (23.91%), and prosthesis removal in 2 cases (1.45%). The operation time of group A was significantly longer than that of group B (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss, prosthesis size, and related complications between the two groups (P>0.05). All patients were followed up 3-48 months (mean, 20 months). There were 33 cases in the short-term group and 105 cases in the long-term group. There was no significant difference in baseline data such as age, body mass index, number of menopause cases, number of neoadjuvant chemotherapy cases, number of axillary lymph node dissection cases, breast cup size, degree of breast ptosis, and postoperative radiotherapy constituent ratio between the two groups (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the breast satisfaction score in the patients’ Breast-Q2.0 score ranged from 33 to 100, with an average of 60.9; the social mental health score ranged from 38 to 100, with an average of 71.3; the chest pain score ranged from 20 to 80, with an average of 47.3. The social mental health score of the long-term group was significantly higher than that of the short-term group (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in breast satisfaction scores and chest pain scores between the two groups (P>0.05). No patient died during the follow-up, and 2 patients relapsed at 649 days and 689 days postoperatively, respectively. The recurrence-free survival rate was 98.62%. Conclusion Endoscopic radical mastectomy for breast cancer combined with total pectoral muscle reconstruction with breast implants has fewer complications and less damage, and the aesthetic effect of reconstructed breast is better.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficiency of the spot-welding electrocoagulation with needle-knife to prevent bleeding after endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). MethodsThe clinical data of 187 patients underwent EST from August 2009 to October 2009 were retrospectively analyzed, study group （n=102) were treated with spotwelding electrocoagulation with needleknife and 110 000 noradrenaline washing, control group (n=85) were treated with 110 000 noradrenaline washing alone. The bleeding and complications after EST were observed. ResultsThe differences of gender, age, primary diseases, cormorbidities, nutritional status, and immune function were not significant between two groups (Pgt;0.05). The bleeding after EST happened 4 cases (4.70%) in the control group and none in the study group. The bleeding rate of the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group (Plt;0.05). The bleeding cases in the control group were controlled successfully by spotwelding electrocoagulation with needleknife under endoscopy. Cholangitis occurred in 5 cases altogether, 1 case in each group deteriorated promptly and died of multiple organ failure syndrome, another 3 cases, 2 in the study group, 1 in the control group, were cured by PTCD and antibiotics. Biliary tract hemorrhage occurred one case in each group, which one died in the study group. Pancreatitis occurred 1 case in the study group and 2 cases in the control group, all of which were salvaged by conservative therapy. The incidences of complications were not significantly different between two groups (Pgt;0.05). ConclusionsThe spotwelding electrocoagulation with needleknife can significantly reduce the bleeding rate after EST. It is an effective, safe, and easy technique, especially to rural areas.
Radiation proctopathy, which can be categorized as acute and chronic, is defined as the radiation damage to the rectum caused by radiation therapy in patients with pelvic malignancies. Chronic radiation proctopathy can cause complications such as rectal bleeding, which severely affects patients’ quality of life. At present, endoscopic therapy has become the primary method for diagnosis and treatment of bleeding from chronic radiation proctopathy. In October 2019, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) published "ASGE guideline on the role of endoscopy for bleeding from chronic radiation". The guideline described the effectiveness and safety of different endoscopic therapies such as argon plasma coagulation, bipolar electrocoagulation, heater probe, radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, etc. in the treatment of bleeding from chronic radiation. This paper interprets it to provide references for clinicians in the treatment of bleeding from chronic radiation.
Objective To discuss the value of biliary stent in treatment of malignant biliary obstruction with different pathways of bile duct stent insertion. Methods Fourty-two cases of malignant biliary obstruction whose biliary stent insertions were through operation (n=18), PTCD (n=17) and ERCP (n=7) respectively were reviewed retrospectively. Results The bile duct stents were successfully inserted in all patients through the malignant obstruction and achieved internal biliary drainage. Compared with the level of the bilirubin before operation, it decreased about 100 μmol/L one week after the stent insertion in all patients. Compared with the levels of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and glutamyltranspeptidase before operation, they decreased 1 week after the stent insertion （Plt;0.05). The median survival time was 22 weeks. The average survival time was (32.89±33.87) weeks. Two patients died in hospital after PTCD, and the mortality was 4.76%. Complications included 8 cases of cholangitis, 3 cases of bile duct hemorrhage and 2 cases of hepatic failure. Conclusion The bile duct stent insertions through operation, PTCD and ERCP are all effective in relieving the bile duct construction with malignant biliary obstruction. Each method should be chosed according to the systemic and local condition for every patient so as to improve the safety and efficiency, and to decrease the occurrence of complications.
Objective To study the clinical diagnosis and treatment of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula with biliary deseases.Methods Eighteen duodenal diverticulum treated in our department in recent 5 years were retrospectivly analyzed, especially investigated the postcholecystectomy cases whose symptoms were continuing existence after operatoins. Articles about the surgical treatment were reviewed. Results The total of 18 duodenal diverticulum with 17 cases of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum were included in this study. The ages of 12 cases were over 50 years old. Sixteen cases(88.89%) presented biliary stones. Seven cases once had performed cholecystectomy or cholecystectomy plus choledochotomy,but symptoms persisted after operations. The duodenal diverticulum were found by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and hypotonic duodenography. Sixteen patients underwent surgical treatment with good effect. Conclusion The juxtapapillary duodenal diveticula has the close relationship with biliary stones. ERCP and hypotonic duodenogrphy are the most reliable methods to get the correct diagnosis. In case of recurrent common bile duct stones after operations or persisting billiary symptoms after cholecystectomy, the coexistence of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum should be ruled out. The surgical treatment is only considered for the duodenal diverticulum with complication.
ObjectiveTo summary the standard treatment for early gastric cancer. MethodsThe current early gastric cancer treatment guidelines around the world were analyzed and the standardized treatment patterns for early gastric cancer were concluded. ResultsThe accurate preoperative evaluation for early gastric cancer is the basis of standardized treatment which can be divided into staging evaluation and histological evaluation.The staging evaluation is focused on the gastric wall invasion and lymph node involvement of the tumor while the histologic evaluation emphasize the histological type and grading of the tumor.According to the precise evaluation for early gastric cancer, endoscopic surgery, laparoscopic surgery, open surgery, and multimodal therapy can be applied individually to the patients.Different treatment methods have their indications, but the indications of the therapies in different guidelines are suggested with slight differences. ConclusionIn clinical practice, the choice of treatment should be made with comprehensive consideration of diagnosis and individual characteristics of patients to achieve the most benefit on prognosis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of different temperatures of distilled water on the general sensation of patients during endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) examination. MethodsSixty patients who received EUS examination were randomly assigned to trial group and control group. The trial group used (40±1) ℃ distilled water, while the control group accepted 26-28℃ distilled water. The operating time and the grade of discomfort symptoms such as general discomfort, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and terror were observed. ResultsSignificant differences in general discomfort, nausea, vomiting and terror were found between the two groups (P ＜ 0.001) . Abdominal pain was not found in either group. The examination time in each group did not show any significant difference (P ＞ 0.05) . ConclusionDifferent distilled water temperatures significantly influence the sensation of patients during the EUS examination, and distilled water with a temperature of (40±1) ℃ is able to relieve the discomfort of patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical significance of lengthened Trocars in endoscopic thyroidectomy. MethodsThere were 102 cases of endoscopic thyroidectomy via the areola approach, which were divided into two groups:33 patients via lengthened Trocar, and 69 patients via normal Trocar. The operative time, blood loss, wound drainage, hospital stay, and postoperative complications in two groups were comparatively analyzed. ResultsCompared with the normal Trocar group, the operative time was shorter, subcutaneous separation area was smaller, blood loss was less, and postoperative drainage was less in the lengthened Trocar group(P < 0.05). The postoperative complications of lengthened Trocar group was less than normal Trocar group(P < 0.05). ConclusionsApplication of lengthened Trocars in endoscopic thyroidectomy brings benefits of less subcutaneous damage, shorte operative time, and better operation experience. This procedure is worth popularizing in clinical use.