Surgeon at work: hand-assisted laparoscopic construction of gastric conduit for thoracic esophageal cancer.

A method for hand-assisted laparoscopic construction of gastric conduit for thoracic esophageal cancer was developed. Since this endoscopic surgical procedure is less invasive than open surgery, it contributes to improvement of post-operative respiratory functions and reduces respiratory complications. What distinguishes our surgical procedure is that unlike methods described in previous reports, it begins with treatment of the left gastroepiploic vessels at the height of the inferior edge of the spleen, followed by dissection from the esophageal hiatus to the lesser curvature and then dissection and excision of left gastric arteries and veins.

Analysis of the Cost-effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy in Early Stage Lung Cancer.

Methods A cost-effectiveness analysis was carried out for photodynamic therapy (PDT) performed in early stage lung cancer cases, which by definition have no lymph node metastasis. The alternative treatment method was lobectomy, which conventionally would have been the first choice of treatment. Costs (C) and effectiveness (E) both of the PDT group and operation group were compared.

Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy and Nd-YAG Laser Treatment for Obstructed Tracheobronchial Malignancies.

Since 1980, advanced lung carcinomas were treated with palliative laser therapy for the purpose of opening the endobronchial stenosis and obstruction by either photodynamic therapy (PDT) or Nd-YAG laser treatment at Tokyo Medical University. A total of 258 lesions were treated, 81 by PDT and 177 by Nd-YAG laser treatment. PDT achieved effective results in 61 (75%) of 81 lesions.

Lung cancers treated with photodynamic therapy and surgery.

Laser endoscopic surgery, especially the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using Photofrin as a photosensitizer, has now achieved a status as effective treatment modality for lung cancer. Twenty-six lung cancer patients received the preoperative PDT for the purpose of either reducing the extent of resection or increasing operability. Bronchoscopical PDT is performed with topical anesthesia approximately 48 h after the intravenous injection of 2.

Early Detection of Bronchial Lesions Using System of Autofluorescence Endoscopy (SAFE) 1000.

Recently several endoscopic fluorescence detection systems have been developed. In some of them, laser light was used for the excitation of autofluorescence, and sophisticated techniques were also necessary to amplify the fluorescence signal as well.The result of fluorescence diagnosis using a simple system with a conventional Xenon lamp excitation and an image intensifier is reported.

Early detection of bronchial lesions using lung imaging fluorescence endoscope.

The performance of the Lung Imaging Fluorescence Endoscope (LIFE) system was compared with conventional bronchoscopy in 158 patients: 68 patients with invasive cancer, 42 patients with abnormal sputum cytology findings (12 early cancer and 26 dysplasia), 17 cases with resected lung cancer and 31 smokers with symptoms. The respective results of conventional bronchoscopy and LIFE for detection of dysplasia were; sensitivity 52% and 90% (biopsy basis), 62% and 92% (patient basis). Fluorescence bronchoscopy may be an important adjunct to conventional bronchoscopy to improve the localization of subtle lesions of bronchus.