Plexiglas (polymethylmethacrylate) implantation: technique, pre-clinical and clinical experience.

Over the past few decades, a great scientific effort has been made to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This reflects a trend in modem medicine toward optimizing quality of life, reducing health-related lost working hours, and minimizing costs of chronic treatments. It also reflects a revived interest in diseases that can be studied using novel equipment and that can be cured using minimally invasive techniques.

Implantation of microballoons in the management of fecal incontinence.

Purpose: The implantation of expandable microballoons has proved successful for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. This led us to test its effectiveness in the treatment of severe fecal incontinence.

Methods: Six patients (four male), of average age of 43 (range, 29-60) years, with severe fecal incontinence, underwent implantation of expandable microballoons in the submucosa of the anal canal.

Endoscopic implantation of Plexiglas (PMMA) microspheres for the treatment of GERD.

Background: A gelatinous implant containing polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads is successfully used to augment the diminished thickness of the chorium in patients with skin defects and wrinkles. The aim of the present study was to determine whether submucosal injection of PMMA microspheres into the lower esophageal folds decreases the severity of symptoms and acid reflux in patients with GERD.

Methods: Endoscopic submucosal implantation of PMMA was carried out in 10 patients with GERD who were either refractory to or dependent on proton pump inhibitors.

Pelvic floor study in patients with obstructive defecation: influence of biofeedback.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathophysiologic abnormalities in patients with obstructive defecation or dyssynergia and to assess the role of biofeedback treatment. Three groups were studied. Group A had 24 patients with obstructive defecation; B, 25 patients with constipation; and C, 22 healthy volunteers.

The use of ERCP in the study of patients with hepatic echinococcosis before and after surgical intervention.

Background: Biliary tree involvement is the most common complication of hydatid liver disease, which is difficult to detect and manage.

Methods: During the last 7 years, we examined by ERCP 26 cases with echinococcal liver involvement. Indications in the preoperative group included cholangitis in 6 cases, right-sided hypochondralgia involving 4, preoperative assessment in 4, and icterus in 1 case.