Serial changes of computed tomographic peritoneogram in patients with symptomatic ultrafiltration failure complicating continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Introduction: It is well-known that continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is associated with complications. And some of these complications are well-demonstrated as abnormalities on computed tomographic peritoneogram (CTP). The objective of our study is to document the serial changes of these complications.

Survival analysis of transarterial radioembolization with yttrium-90 for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with HBV infection.

Introduction: For patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatectomy remains one of the best treatment options to provide long-term survival. However, more than 50% of the patients have unresectable disease upon diagnosis even though there are no distant metastases. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a well-established treatment option that offers a palliative survival benefit for this group of patients.

Pilot study of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation as a bridging therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma patients wait-listed for liver transplantation.

The objective of this study was to investigate the outcomes of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation as a bridging therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who had been wait-listed for deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT). Adult patients with unresectable and unablatable HCCs within the University of California San Francisco criteria who had been wait-listed for DDLT were screened for their suitability for HIFU ablation as a bridging therapy if they were not suitable for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Treatment outcomes for patients receiving HIFU ablation, TACE, and best medical treatment (BMT) were compared.

Survival analysis of high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy vs. transarterial chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas.

Background & Aims: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation is a non-invasive treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), but long-term survival analysis is lacking. This study was to analyse its outcome compared to that of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods: From October 2003 to September 2010, 113 patients received HIFU ablation as a treatment of HCCs at our hospital.

High-intensity focused ultrasound ablation: an effective bridging therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Aim: To analyze whether high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation is an effective bridging therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: From January 2007 to December 2010, 49 consecutive HCC patients were listed for liver transplantation (UCSF criteria). The median waiting time for transplantation was 9.

Survival analysis of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation is a non-invasive treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). At present, data on the treatment's long-term outcome are limited. This study analysed the survival outcome of HIFU ablation for HCCs smaller than 3 cm.

Tolerance of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation is a relatively new, noninvasive way of ablation for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Emerging evidence has shown that it is effective for the treatment of HCC, even in patients with poor liver function. There is currently no data on the safety limit of HIFU ablation in patients with cirrhosis.

Results of percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy for high surgical risk patients with acute cholecystitis.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy (PTC) in treatment for acute cholecystitis in high surgical risk patients.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review was carried out from January 1999 to June 2007 on 23 patients, 11 males and 12 females, who underwent PTC for the management of acute cholecystitis at the Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China. The mean age of the patients was 83.

CT angiography versus conventional digital angiography in preoperative assessment for Chinese living kidney donors.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) angiography is used for preoperative evaluation of living kidney donors, but its correlation with intraoperative findings during the transplant operation remains unknown.

Methods: Between April 1997 and October 2008, 34 consecutive pairs of living kidney transplants were carried out. Conventional digital angiography was employed for the preoperative assessment in the first 19 pairs, and CT angiography in the subsequent 15 pairs.

High prevalence of asymptomatic vertebral fractures in Chinese women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of vertebral fractures and to identify risk factors associated with vertebral fractures in Chinese women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: One hundred fifty-two consecutive patients with SLE were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Bone mineral density (BMD) measurements of the hip and spine were performed using the same dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

Retroperitoneal leakage as a cause of ultrafiltration failure.

We report 3 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) who developed reversible ultrafiltration failure secondary to retroperitoneal leakage. The patients presented with pulmonary edema and fluid overload following a sudden onset of ultrafiltration failure on maintenance CAPD. There was no localized edema, suggesting peritoneal leakage in the abdominal wall or the perineum.