Publications by authors named "Lisa Zanatta"
Background: Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery has a failure rate of 10-20%. We aimed to investigate whether a modification of Nissen fundoplication (MNF) may improve patients' outcome and reduce failure rate.
Materials & Methods: We prospectively compared 40 consecutive patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease who underwent anti-reflux surgery: 20 Nissen fundoplication (NF) and 20 the MNF approach.
Background: Limited data are available on eosinophilic oesophagitis in Italy.
Aim: To evaluate typical features of eosinophilic oesophagitis patients in a tertiary centre.
Methods: 973 consecutive patients with dysphagia and/or bolus impaction were prospectively enrolled and underwent upper endoscopy for eosinophilic oesophagitis (≥15 eosinophils in at least one high-power field [hpf] and no response to acid suppressants).
Background: Currently there are three main treatment options for Zenker's diverticulum (ZD): surgery, rigid endoscopy and flexible endoscopy. After primary success, recurrence can be as high as 19 % for surgery, 12.8 % for rigid endoscopy and 20 % for flexible endoscopy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aim: Flexible endoscopic septum division is becoming a prominent treatment option for Zenker's diverticulum (ZD). Over the years, various techniques have been developed and many cutting tools have been tested with varying results. We report our experience with a recently designed, monopolar, rotating, scissor-shaped device (SB Knife).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Laparoscopic Heller-Dor surgery is the current treatment of choice for patients with esophageal achalasia, but elderly patients are generally referred for less invasive treatments (pneumatic dilations or botulinum toxin injections).
Aim: To assess the effect of age on the surgical outcome of patients receiving laparoscopic Heller-Dor as primary treatment.
Methods: Demographic and clinical findings were prospectively collected on patients undergoing laparoscopic Heller-Dor from 1992 to 2012.
Epiphrenic diverticula (ED) are a rare clinical entity characterized by out-pouchings of the esophageal mucosa originating in the distal third of the esophagus, close to the diaphragm. The proportion of diverticula reported symptomatic enough to warrant surgery is extremely variable, ranging from 0% to 40%. The natural history of ED is still almost unknown and the most intriguing question concerns whether or not they all need surgical treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To establish the incidence and risk factors for progression to high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-IEN) or Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma (BAc) in a prospective cohort of patients with esophageal intestinal metaplasia [(BE)].
Background: BE is associated with an increased risk of BAc unless cases are detected early by surveillance. No consistent data are available on the prevalence of BE-related cancer, the ideal surveillance schedule, or the risk factors for cancer.
Background: Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) may be treated with a variety of endoscopic or open surgical techniques; the choice of treatment depends partly on the size of the diverticulum. The purpose of this study was to correlate ZD measurements obtained preoperatively and during surgery.
Methods: From March 2006 to November 2008, 20 consecutive patients (19 males; median age 64.
Background: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the most serious complication of GERD. In BE patients, this observational study compares the effects of antireflux surgery versus antisecretory medical therapy.
Methods: Overall, 89 BE patients (long BE = 45; short BE = 44) were considered: 45 patients underwent antireflux surgery and 44 underwent medical therapy.
Most patients with epiphrenic diverticula are asymptomatic. When dysphagia or regurgitation is limited and respiratory complaints are absent, these patients usually can live with the diverticulum left in place. Fewer than one-third of the diverticula produce symptoms severe enough to seek medical attention or to warrant surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A new manometric classification of esophageal achalasia has recently been proposed that also suggests a correlation with the final outcome of treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate this hypothesis in a large group of achalasia patients undergoing laparoscopic Heller-Dor myotomy.
Methods: We evaluated 246 consecutive achalasia patients who underwent surgery as their first treatment from 2001 to 2009.
Objective: Laparoscopic myotomy is the currently preferred treatment for achalasia. Our objectives were to assess the long-term outcome of this operation and preoperative factors influencing said outcome.
Methods: Demographic and clinical characteristics and data on long-term outcome were prospectively collected on patients undergoing laparoscopic myotomy for achalasia at our institution from 1992 to 2007.
Background: Zenker's diverticula (ZD) can be treated by transoral diverticulostomy or open surgery (upper esophageal sphincter myotomy and diverticulectomy or diverticulopexy). The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a minimally invasive (group A) versus a traditional open surgical approach (group B) in the treatment of ZD.
Material And Methods: Between 1993 and September 2007, 128 ZD patients underwent transoral diverticulostomy (n = 51) or cricopharyngeal myotomy and diverticulectomy or diverticulopexy (n = 77).