Effectiveness of Sodium Picosulfate/Magnesium Citrate (PICO) for Colonoscopy Preparation

PURPOSE: Bowel preparation with sodium phosphate was recently prohibited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is safe and effective; however, it is difficult to drink. To identify an easy bowel preparation method for colonoscopy, we evaluated three different bowel preparation regimens regarding their efficacy and patient satisfaction. METHODS: In this randomized, comparative study, 892 patients who visited a secondary referral hospital for a colonoscopy between November 2012 and February 2013 were enrolled. Three regimens were evaluated: three packets of sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate (PICO, group A), two packets of PICO with 1 L of PEG (PICO + PEG 1 L, group B), and two packets of PICO with 2 L of PEG (PICO + PEG 2 L, group C). A questionnaire survey regarding the patients' preference for the bowel preparation regimen and satisfaction was conducted before the colonoscopies. The quality of bowel cleansing was scored by the colonoscopists who used the Aronchick scoring scale and the Ottawa scale. RESULTS: The patients' satisfaction rate regarding the regimens were 72% in group A, 64% in group B, and 45.9% in group C. Nausea and abdominal bloating caused by the regimens were more frequent in group C than in group A or group B (P < 0.01). Group C showed the lowest preference rate compared to the other groups (P < 0.01). Group C showed better right colon cleansing efficacy than group A or group B. CONCLUSION: Group A exhibited a better result than group B or group C in patient satisfaction and preference. In the cleansing quality, no difference was noted between groups A and C.

Annual Change of Clinicopathologic Characteristics after Radical Gastrectomy due to Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: Recently, early gastric cancer has increased in Korea. Thus, endoscopic treatment and laparoscopic gastrectomy has increased in early gastric cancer patients. We studied periodic change and characteristics in gastric cancer patients. Thus, we analyzed annual change of clinicopathological characteristics and long-term survival results of gastric cancer patients after radical gastrectomy over 10 years. METHODS: From 1995 to 2004, 2,387 patients underwent radical gastrectomy due to gastric cancer. We analyzed annual characteristics, sex, age distribution, cancer location, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, UICC stage and 5-year survival rates, retrospectively from medical records. RESULTS: The number of gastric cancer patient has increased annually. The ratio of male to female was 2:1. Gastric cancer was most common and increased annually in the 60~79-year age group. Early gastric cancer increased annually. The 5-year survival rate was 93% in stage Ia, 89% in stage Ib, 72% in stage II, 51% in stage IIIA, 38% in stage IIIb and 22% in stage IV. Multivariate analysis revealed that UICC stage (or depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis) and cancer location were the main independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Prognosis is improved due to increase of early gastric cancer. So, we should attempt diagnosis early and treat early gastric cancer. Active treatment is recommended even for the elderly gastric cancer patients. And care should be taken with respect to morbidity and mortality.

The Results of Aspiration Thrombectomy for the Endovascular Treatment of Ileofemoral Deep Vein Thrombosis

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of aspiration thrombectomy for the treatment of ileofemoral deep vein thrombosis. METHODS: We reviewed the records of sixty-two patients who were treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) at our institution between November 2001 and October 2007. The patients were divided into two groups: those who were treated by CDT with aspiration thrombectomy (AT) (the aspiration group; 33 patients) or those who were treated with using CDT alone (the CDT alone group; 29 patients). The obtained data included the demographics, the procedural details, the periprocedural evaluation and the thrombus resolution. RESULTS: The treatment time with using CDT only was 40.93+/-15.59 hours compared with 23.18+/-8.22 hours with using AT (P<0.001). The mean dose of urokinase with using CDT only was 2.48+/-0.82 million IU as compared with 1.60+/-0.54 million IU with using AT (P<0.001). The use of AT did not improve the overall lytic success (P=0.084), but more patients had complete thrombus resolution (13 vs. 22 patients, respectively). There was no difference in symptom improvement or the long term patency rate between the two groups. There was no major morbidity or mortality. The prophylactic IVC filters were inserted in 31 patients and entrapped thrombi were founded in 3 patients of the aspiration group. Evidence of venous reflux was identified in the CDT only group (3 patients; 10.4%). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the use of AT offers more effective thrombus removal in less time and with using a lower dose of thrombolytic agents. When performing AT treatment, prophylactic IVC filter insertion should be considered for preventing floating thrombi.