Long-term outcome of palliative treatment with self-expanding metal stents for malignant obstructions of the GI tract.

Background: Self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) are commonly used in the palliative treatment of malignant gastrointestinal (GI) obstructions with favorable short-term outcome. Data on long-term outcome are scarce, however.

Aim: To evaluate long-term outcome after palliative stent treatment of malignant GI obstruction.

Patient-reported outcomes in palliative gastrointestinal stenting: a Norwegian multicenter study.

Background: The clinical effect of stent treatment has been evaluated by mainly physicians; only a limited number of prospective studies have used patient-reported outcomes for this purpose. The aim of this work was to study the clinical effect of self-expanding metal stents in treatment of malignant gastrointestinal obstructions, as evaluated by patient-reported outcomes, and compare the rating of the treatment effect by patients and physicians.

Methods: Between November 2006 and April 2008, 273 patients treated with SEMS for malignant GI and biliary obstructions were recruited from nine Norwegian hospitals.

[Profylactiv cholesystectomy after bile duct stones?].

Background: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EPT) is well established as a treatment of bile duct stones, often performed to reduce the frequency of complications. We wanted to evaluate the complication rates after preventive cholecystectomy compared with expectative follow up.

Material And Methods: In this retrospective study we have registered the outcome for 63 patients treated with cholecystectomy and 298 patients followed up expectatively.

The effect of Helicobacter pylori retreatment with ranitidine bismuth citrate, clarithromycin, and metronidazole depends on the first-line therapy.

Background: Helicobacter pylori eradication rates seem to decrease. This study evaluates the effect of retreatment with ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC) 400 mg B.I.