Single-stage surgical repair of benign laryngotracheal stenosis in adults.

Background: Benign laryngotracheal stenosis causes considerable morbidity. In a retrospective study, we describe the results of our surgical treatment.

Methods: Between June 1999 and June 2002, 14 adults with laryngotracheal stenosis were referred to our hospital.

Monitoring in situ dosimetry and protoporphyrin IX fluorescence photobleaching in the normal rat esophagus during 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy.

Experimental therapies for Barrett's esophagus, such as 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-based photodynamic therapy (PDT), aim to ablate the premalignant Barrett's epithelium. However, the reproducibility of the effects should be improved to optimize treatment. Accurate irradiation with light of a proper wavelength (633 nm), fluence and fluence rate has shown to be critical for successful ALA-PDT.

[The necrology meeting as an instrument for quality of care improvement; experiences at the Ikazia Hospital, 1990-2000].

The death of a patient highlights the demand for quality of care. Publication of hospital mortality figures risks incorrect interpretation and does not lead to an improvement in care. However, an above-average hospital mortality rate can be a sign of poor quality in a particular aspect of care.

Fractionated illumination for oesophageal ALA-PDT: effect on blood flow and PpIX formation.

The effect of fractionating the 633 nm illumination of 5-aminolaevulinic (ALA)-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) of the normal rat oesophagus was studied. Fractionation of the illumination could enhance the PDT effect in two ways: (a) delay of the vascular shutdown or relaxation of the vasoconstriction induced by ALA-PDT and (b) use of newly formed protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), produced during the dark interval. Forty rats were randomly allocated to two groups of 20 animals each.