Bowel function following insertion of self-expanding metallic stents for palliation of colorectal cancer.

Objective: Self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) are an important addition to the treatment of large bowel obstruction. The aim of this study was firstly to assess bowel function following SEMS placement and secondly to identify any potential factors which might aid in the prediction of technical failure of stent insertion.

Methods: A review of all patients undergoing attempted SEMS placement for palliation of malignant left-sided colorectal obstruction over a four-year period (1st May 2000-30th April 2004) was performed.

Short-term results of femoropopliteal subintimal angioplasty.

Background: Subintimal angioplasty may be more successful than conventional (intraluminal) angioplasty for treatment of long femoropopliteal occlusions. This study assessed the clinical and haemodynamic outcome of subintimal angioplasty.

Methods: All patients with femoropopliteal occlusions treated by subintimal angioplasty over a 3-year period at two centres were reviewed.

Limitations of chest radiography in discriminating between aortic dissection and myocardial infarction: implications for thrombolysis.

It has been stated that chest radiographic features of aortic dissection are a contraindication to intravenous thrombolysis in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction. Excluding aortic dissection could significantly delay such treatment in patients who would benefit from thrombolysis. Initial chest radiographs of 18 patients with acute aortic dissection and 25 patients with acute myocardial infarction were evaluated.

Diagnosis of acute thoracic aortic dissection using combined echocardiography and computed tomography.

Acute dissection of the thoracic aorta is a life-threatening emergency requiring a diagnosis which is rapid, accurate and safe, and which will distinguish between dissections involving the ascending and descending aorta. In the absence of any general agreement on the best method of making this diagnosis we studied the use of combined echocardiography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) to diagnose acute aortic dissection. Over a 3 year period 23 patients were investigated in this way.

Effects of sleeping with the bed-head raised and of ranitidine in patients with severe peptic oesophagitis.

Sleeping with the bed-head raised is commonly recommended as treatment for patients with troublesome oesophagitis, but its effect has not been objectively tested. Ranitidine therapy is useful in oesophagitis, but it does not often produce complete relief of symptoms. The effects of each of these treatments alone and in combination have been studied in 71 patients with severe (grade III) peptic oesophagitis.