Laparoscopic gastrostomy.

Laparoscopic gastrostomy was performed successfully on six consecutive patients after the procedure was developed using a porcine model. These patients were unable to undergo percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies because of obstruction from cancer or anatomical blockage. Operative time averaged less than 18 min.

Endoscopic Nd-YAG laser treatment of colorectal neoplasms. A four-year longitudinal study.

In order to gain a longitudinal perspective of the benefits, complications, and role of the neodymium yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd-YAG) laser in the treatment of colorectal neoplasms, we performed a review of endoscopies using the laser during a 53-month period ending in January 1989. We reviewed the records of 100 patients for details of the endoscopic procedure and demographic data. Performance status and survival were critically assessed.

The laser: an alternative for palliative treatment of obstructing intraluminal lesions.

Twenty nine patients with carcinoma obstructing the colon, six obstructing the gastroesophageal junction, six obstructing the tracheobronchial tree, and one patient with recurrent transitional cell cancer of the bladder invading the rectum, not amenable to surgical resection, were treated by laser photocoagulation. Forty were treated with the Nd:YAG laser and two with the CO2 laser. There were 26 men and 16 women with an average age of 73.

Nd-YAG laser applications in surgical endoscopy: a single center comprehensive experience.

A retrospective review of endoscopic procedures using the Nd-YAG laser was carried out for patients treated between September 1984 and November 1986. Two hundred twenty two procedures were performed on 104 patients (58M:46W) during this 26 month period. The study encompasses a unique period of time in this center, as it includes the initial use of the endoscopic laser technique, the learning curves associated with its application, and finally, the time when its use became routine.

Partial gastric resection by surgical stapler.

This technique of gastric resection is easily applied and is useful for benign lesions or complicated lesions in poor risk patients. For lesions of the fundus, it may obviate an esophagogastric anastomosis. To our knowledge, the procedure has not been described in gastric resection.