A nonoperative technique for establishment of a gastrostomy in the dog.

Gastrostomies have been performed nonoperatively under local anaesthesia using a simultaneous percutaneous and endoscopic approach. This technique has been modified to be done under fluoroscopy without the need for endoscopy. The technique and results in five dogs are described.

Fluorescence of experimental atheromatous plaques with hematoporphyrin derivative.

Fluorescence of hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) has been used clinically to localize malignant neoplasms because of its selective accumulation in these tissues. We tested the hypothesis that HPD may also be selectively concentrated within atheromatous plaques. 48 h after HPD injection in a variety of species, selective fluorescence of atheromatous plaques of the aorta was seen in each animal (rabbits and Patas monkey) exhibiting such lesions. No fluorescence could be demonstrated in aortic segments free of atheromatous involvement. Since the efficacy of photodynamic destruction of malignant tumors with HPD has been demonstrated in clinical studies, the observations of the present study may have therapeutic implications in atheromatosis.