Ten-year retrospective study of treatment of malignant colonic obstructions with self-expandable stents.

Purpose: To describe the use of self-expandable metallic stents to manage malignant colorectal obstructions and to compare the radiation dose between fluoroscopic guidance of stent placement and combined endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance.

Materials And Methods: From January 1998 to December 2007, 467 oncology patients undergoing colorectal stent placement in a single center were included in the study. Informed consent was obtained in all cases.

Laparoscopic blood-saving liver resection using a new radiofrequency-assisted device: preliminary report of an in vivo study with pig liver.

Background: The aim of any device designed for liver resection is to allow blood saving and quick resections. This may be optimized using a minimally invasive approach. A radiofrequency-assisted device is described that combines a cooled blunt-tip electrode with a sharp blade on one side in an in vivo preliminary study using hand-assisted laparoscopy to perform partial hepatectomies.

Small ablation zones created previous to saline infusion result in enlargement of the coagulated area during perfusion RF ablation: an ex vivo experimental study.

One of the strategies for enlarging coagulation zone dimensions during RF ablation of liver tumours is to infuse saline solutions into the tissue during ablation. The aim of this study was to evaluate experimentally whether the creation of a small coagulation adjacent to a bipolar RF applicator and prior to perfused RF ablation would allow enlargement of the coagulation zone. Thirty bipolar RF ablations (group A, n = 15; group B, n = 15) were performed in excised bovine livers.

RF tumor ablation with internally cooled electrodes and saline infusion: what is the optimal location of the saline infusion?

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of tumors by means of internally cooled electrodes (ICE) combined with interstitial infusion of saline may improve clinical results. To date, infusion has been conducted through outlets placed on the surface of the cooled electrode. However, the effect of infusion at a distance from the electrode surface is unknown.

Improved perfusion system for bipolar radiofrequency ablation of liver: preliminary findings from a computer modeling study.

Current systems for radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors are unable to consistently treat tumors larger than 3 cm in diameter with a single electrode in a single application. One of the strategies for enlarging coagulation zone dimensions is to infuse saline solutions into the tissue through the active electrodes. Nevertheless, the uncontrolled and undirected diffusion of boiling saline into the tissue has been associated with irregular coagulation zones and severe complications, mainly due to reflux of saline along the electrode path.

Colon stenting: a review.

Up to 85% of patients who present with colonic obstruction have a colorectal cancer. Between 7% and 29% of these patients present with total or partial intestinal obstruction. Only 20% of these patients presenting with acute colonic obstruction due to malignancy survive 5 years.

Use of an introducer sheath for colonic stent placement.

We describe a technical modification of Wallstent implantation for the treatment of malignant rectosigmoid and descending colonic obstructions. The modification is the routine placement of an introducer sheath via the rectum before stent implantation in order to straighten the rectosigmoid region. This device facilitates catheter and guide wire manipulations and obtaining specimen biopsies for histopathological studies.

Musculoskeletal hydatid disease: a report of 13 cases.

This is a retrospective study of 13 patients with muscular hydatidosis--i.e., 4% of the 309 cases of hydatid disease treated in our department during 1983-1999.