Effect of Double-Balloon Enteroscopy on Diagnosis and Treatment of Small-Bowel Diseases / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>The diagnosis and treatment of small-bowel diseases is clinically difficult. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic value of double-balloon enteroscopy in small-bowel diseases.</p><p><b>Methods</b>The history and outcomes of 2806 patients who underwent double-balloon enteroscopy from July 2004 to April 2017 were reviewed, which included 562 patients with obscure digestive tract bleeding, 457 patients with obscure diarrhea, 930 patients with obscure abdominal pain, 795 patients with obscure weight loss, and 62 patients with obscure intestinal obstruction. Examinations were performed through the mouth and/or anus according to the clinical symptoms and abdominal images. If a lesion was not detected through one direction, examination through the other direction was performed as necessary. Eighty-four patients with small-bowel polyps, 26 with intestinal obstruction caused by enterolith, and 18 with bleeding from Dieulafoy's lesions in the small intestine were treated endoscopically.</p><p><b>Results</b>A total of 2806 patients underwent double-balloon enteroscopy, and no serious complications occurred. An endoscopic approach through both the mouth and anus was used in 212 patients. Lesions were detected in 1696 patients, with a detection rate of 60.4%; the rates for obscure digestive tract bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and intestinal obstruction were 85.9% (483/562), 73.5% (336/457), 48.2% (448/930), 49.1% (390/795), and 62.9% (39/62), respectively. For patients with small-bowel polyps who underwent endoscopic therapy, no complications such as digestive tract bleeding and perforation occurred. Intestinal obstruction with enteroliths was relieved with endoscopic lithotripsy. Among the 18 patients with bleeding from small-bowel Dieulafoy's lesions, 14 patients were controlled with endoscopic hemostasis.</p><p><b>Conclusion</b>Double-balloon enteroscopy is useful for diagnosing and treating some small-bowel disease.</p>

Clinical Control Study of Endoscopic Full-thickness Resection and Laparoscopic Surgery in the Treatment of Gastric Tumors Arising from the Muscularis Propria / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Gastric stromal tumors arising from the muscularis propria are located in deeper layers. Endoscopic resection may be contraindicated due to the possibility of perforation. These tumors are therefore usually removed by surgical or laparoscopic procedures. This study evaluated the curative effects, safety and feasibility of endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFR) of gastric stromal tumors originating from the muscularis propria.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study enrolled 92 patients with gastric stromal tumors >2.5 cm originating from the muscularis propria. Fifty patients underwent EFR, and 42 underwent laparoscopic intragastric surgery. Operation time, complete resection rate, length of hospital stay, incidence of complications, and recurrence rates were compared in these two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>EFR resulted in complete resection of all 50 gastric stromal tumors, with a mean procedure time of 85 ± 20 min, a mean hospitalization time of 7.0 ± 1.5 days and no complications. Laparoscopic intragastric surgery also resulted in a 100% complete resection rate, with a mean operation time of 88 ± 12 min and a mean hospitalization period of 7.5 ± 1.6 days. The two groups did not differ significantly in operation time, complete resection rates, hospital stay or incidence of complications (P > 0.05). No patient in either group experienced tumor recurrence.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>EFR technique is effective and safe for the resection of gastric stromal tumors arising from the muscularis propria.</p>

Endoscopic full-thickness resection of gastric stromal tumor arising from the muscularis propria / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Gastric stromal tumors are the most common type of tumor originating from mesenchymal tissue. The traditional method for the treatment of gastric stromal tumor is surgical operation or therapeutic laparoscopy. More recently, endoscopic micro-traumatic surgery has become possible for gastric stromal tumors, with any perforation caused by endoscopic therapy mended endoscopically. We assessed the effectiveness of endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFR) in the treatment of gastric stromal tumors arising from the muscularis propria.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Of the 42 gastric stromal tumors, each > 2.0 cm in diameter, arising from the muscularis propria, 22 were removed by EFR and 20 by laparoscopic surgery. Tumor expression of CD34, CD117, Dog-1, S-100, and smooth muscle actin (SMA) was assessed immunohistochemically. Operating time, complete resection rate, length of hospital stay, incidence of complications, and recurrence rates were compared between the two groups. Continuous data were compared by using independent samples t-tests and categorical data by using χ(2) tests.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Comparisons of the 22 gastric stromal tumors treated with EFR and the 20 treated with laparoscopic surgery showed similar operation times (60 - 155 minutes (mean, (90 ± 17) minutes) vs. 50 - 210 minutes (mean, (95 ± 21) minutes), P > 0.05), complete resection rates (100% vs. 95%, P > 0.05), and length of hospital stay (4 - 10 days (mean, (6.0 - 1.8) days) vs. 4 - 12 days (mean, (7.3 - 1.7) days), P > 0.05). None of the patients treated with EFR experienced complications, whereas one patient treated with laparoscopy required a conversion to laparotomy and one experienced postoperative gastroparesis. No recurrences were observed in either group. Immunohistochemical staining showed that of the 42 gastric stromal tumors diagnosed by gastroscopy and endoscopic ultrasound, six were leiomyomas (SMA-positive) and the remaining 36 were stromal tumors.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Gastric stromal tumors arising from the muscularis propria can be completely removed by EFR. EFR may replace surgical or laparoscopic procedures for the removal of gastric stromal tumors.</p>

Narrow-band imaging in the diagnosis of early esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>In the recent years, the incidence of esophageal cancer in China has increased. The key point for raising the survival rate is the diagnosis and treatment at an early stage. Narrow-band imaging (NBI) can enhance the contrast of the mucous membrane of the esophagus without staining. This study aimed to explore the value of NBI in the diagnosis of early esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The esophagus was examined with ordinary endoscopy and NBI endoscopy. Pit patterns and blood capillary forms were examined with routine magnifying endoscopy and NBI endoscopy. Finally, a 1.2% Lugoul's iodine solution was used to stain the esophageal mucosal surface and a biopsy was taken at all the sites where NBI or iodine staining was positive. NBI and iodine staining scales were compared with pathologic diagnosis, which was considered as the gold standard.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 90 cases (138 lesions in total) were diagnosed as early esophageal cancer or precancerous lesions; 104 lesions (75.4%) were detected with ordinary endoscopy, 120 lesions (87.0%) were detected with NBI endoscopy, and 138 lesions (100%) were detected with iodine staining. The lesion detection rate of NBI was significantly lower than that of iodine staining (chi(2) = 17.176, P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between NBI and iodine staining for the diagnosis of high grade intraepithelial neoplasia (chi(2) = 1.362, P > 0.05), while the detection rate of NBI was significantly lower than that of iodine staining for the diagnosis of low grade intraepithelial neoplasia (chi(2) = 13.388, P < 0.01). The pit pattern and blood capillary form of early esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions could be demonstrated clearer with NBI than with ordinary endoscopy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NBI can enhance the contrast of the mucous membrane of the esophagus without staining. The combination of NBI and iodine staining can raise the diagnostic rate of early esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions.</p>

Application of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in biliary-pancreatic diseases / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been used increasingly for the treatment of choledocholithiasis, gallstone pancreatitis, and benign or malignant bile duct or pancreatic duct stenosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate ERCP for the diagnosis and therapy of biliary-pancreatic diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 2075 patients who underwent diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP from June 2001 to March 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. Achievement and complication rates were calculated, and the therapeutic effect was observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In all the 64 cases who underwent diagnostic ERCP, the procedure was successful, in 2011 cases therapeutic ERCP was performed, and the success rate was 94.6%. In the therapeutic ERCP cases, 1434 (93.0%) were successful among the 1542 cases of choledocholithiasis, and 422 (90.0%) of the 469 cases with benign or malignant bile duct or pancreatic duct stenosis, or acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis with stent placement or endoscopic nasobiliary drainage were successful. Fifty-nine (90.8%) cases of the 65 who underwent a pre-cut for pancreatic sphincterotomy were successful. Complication rate was 5.1% and the most frequent complication was acute pancreatitis (4.4%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ERCP is one of the major diagnostic and therapeutic methods for biliary-pancreatic disease. Therapeutic ERCP is a minimally invasive, safe and effective treatment method for various biliary-pancreatic diseases.</p>

Fuji Intelligent Chromo Endoscopy and staining technique for the diagnosis of colon tumor / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Colon cancer is a common malignant tumor in the clinic with an incidence rate that is increasing in recent years. The key point for improving the survival rate is the diagnosis and treatment at an early stage. The purpose of this study was to compare the difference of the Fuji Intelligent Chromo Endoscopy (FICE) and staining technique for the diagnosis of colon tumors and non-tumor lesions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March to November 2007, 654 patients were examined with ordinary colonoscopy. Among them 223 patients with colon neoplasm or polypoid lesion were included. The patients were examined with a magnifying ordinary colonoscopy, a magnifying FICE technique and magnifying staining technique. The pit pattern and blood capillary form of the lesion were examined, an endoscopic diagnosis was made and it was compared with the pathologic diagnosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four hundred and fifty-one neoplasms were detected in the 223 patients, among those 91.1% (411/451) were detected with the magnifying ordinary endoscopy while 99.1% (447/451) were detected with the FICE technique; there was a significant difference between the two methods. FICE could clearly show the structure and form of mucosal blood capillaries (P < 0.01) but there was no significant difference between the two methods for showing the pit pattern. The coincident rate of FICE for the diagnosis of tumor and non-tumor lesions was 91.6% (413/451), that of the magnifying staining technique was 82.0% (370/451) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Magnifying FICE could show the mucosal microstructure and blood capillary form and it had a superiority of high coincident rate, high sensitivity and specificity when compared with ordinary magnifying colonoscopy and magnifying staining endoscopy. In addition, it was easy to operate and a biopsy could be taken from the target, so it has a satisfactory clinical practical value.</p>

Embolization combined with endoscopic variceal ligation for the treatment of esophagogastric variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Esophagogastric variceal bleeding caused by cirrhosis is a kind of emergent condition in the clinic. This study was conducted to explore the therapeutic effect and superiority of embolization of gastric fundus varices combined with endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) of esophageal varices for the treatment of patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding caused by cirrhosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 172 patients were diagnosed by endoscopic examination within 24 hours of hospitalization with active gastric fundus variceal bleeding and grade II above esophageal varices caused by cirrhosis. Other causes leading to upper digestive tract bleeding were excluded. Patients were randomly divided into a control group (n = 82) and a therapy group (n = 90) following a random number table method. For the former, embolization for gastric fundus varices was performed, then an EVL for esophageal varices was performed 2 months later. For the therapy group, embolization for gastric fundus varices and EVL for esophageal varices were performed at the same time.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rate of emergency hemostasis in the therapy group was 100.0%, higher than that in the control group (87.8%, P < 0.05). The rate of early rebleeding in the therapy group was 6.7% while the rate in the control group was 23.6% (P < 0.05). No complications related to treatment occurred in both groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Embolization for gastric fundus varices combined with EVL for esophageal varices is a safe and effective method for the treatment of patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding caused by cirrhosis.</p>

Application of double-balloon enteroscopy in the diagnosis and therapy of small intestinal diseases / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>X-ray of the digestive tract and radionuclide examination could not accurately detect diseases of the small intestine. Double-balloon enteroscopy has been used to increase the detection rate of these diseases in addition to endoscopic biopsy and therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine the value of double-balloon enteroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the small intestine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 258 double-balloon enteroscopies via the mouth and/or anus were performed in 208 patients. If no lesion was detected on one side (mouth or anus), examination on the other side (anus or mouth) was made. If active small intestinal bleeding was detected, endoscopic hemostasis was done to treat the bleeding.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 208 patients, 50 were subjected to double-balloon enteroscopy via both mouth and anus. Lesions were detected in 151 patients, giving a rate of 72.6% (151/208). The detection rates for obscure digestive tract bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal pain and weight loss were 90.2% (92/102), 64.9% (24/37), 48.5% (16/33) and 43.3% (13/30), respectively. Lesions of the 151 patients were confirmed by endoscopic biopsy, surgery, clinical studies, and follow-up. In the 102 patients with bleeding of the digestive tract, active bleeding was detected in 27 patients. Endoscopic hemostasis was successful in 25 of them (92.6%, 25/27). No serious complications occurred in all the patients, the average time for the procedure was 100 minutes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Double-balloon enteroscopy is safe, effective in the diagnosis of diseases of the small intestine in addition to endoscopic therapy.</p>