Background/aims: Mini-laparoscopy has, since its first description in 1998, proven to be a valuable diagnostic method in liver diseases. We re-evaluated the significance of mini-laparoscopy for diagnosis and staging of liver disease and primary liver and bile duct cancer.
Patients And Methods: 1,788 consecutive patients who received a diagnostic mini-laparoscopy between 10/1998 and 06/2011 were included in this retrospective cohort study.
Background & Aims: Fractionated plasma separation and adsorption (FPSA) is an extracorporeal procedure that supports liver function by removing endogenous toxins that cause complications from acute-on-chronic liver failure (AOCLF). We performed a randomized trial to investigate survival of patients with AOCLF treated with FPSA.
Methods: Patients with AOCLF were randomly assigned to groups given a combination of FPSA and standard medical therapy (SMT) (FPSA group, n = 77) or only SMT (SMT group, n = 68).
Case Report: The authors report on a 55-year-old female patient after R1 resection of a malignant thymoma with spindle type epithelial cells (WHO type A, Masaoka stage III) referred for further therapy of an ulcerative colitis. At that time, both adjuvant radiation and cytostatic therapy were not applicable due to severe activity of the ulcerative colitis. Under immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine and steroids, the patient developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) enteritis which was triggered by therapy-induced leukopenia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: We report on our experience with the temporary use of a self-expanding plastic stent (SEPS) in the treatment of non-malignant esophageal leaks.
Material And Methods: Between November 2001 and May 2005 ten patients with iatrogenic esophageal perforations (n = 4), post-surgical leaks (n = 5) and esophago-mediastinal fistulas after caustic injury (n = 1) were treated by temporary SEPS placement. In eight out of ten patients SEPS placement was done without fluoroscopy due to the emergency setting.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) commonly is associated with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (CIBD) and usually is considered to be stable and benign. However, NAFLD -- and in particular its subset, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) -- may lead to progressive liver disease. Moreover, NAFLD sensitizes the liver to injury and increases the risk of developing acute-on-chronic liver failure following a "third hit".
View Article and Find Full Text PDF