Modified percutaneous transhepatic papillary balloon dilation for patients with refractory hepatolithiasis.

BACKGROUND: Some patients with hepatolithiasis cannot tolerate surgery due to severe cardiac or pulmonary comorbidities, or cannot be endoscopically treated because of altered gastrointestinal anatomies. AIM: To propose a modified percutaneous transhepatic papillary balloon dilation procedure, and evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of this modality. METHODS: Data from 21 consecutive patients who underwent modified percutaneous transhepatic papillary balloon dilation with hepatolithiasis were retrospectively analyzed. Using auxiliary devices, intrahepatic bile duct stones were pushed into the common bile duct and expelled into the duodenum with an inflated balloon catheter. The outcomes recorded included success rate, procedure time, hospital stay, causes of failure, and procedure-related complications. Patients with possible long-term complications were followed up for 2 years. RESULTS: Intrahepatic bile duct stones were successfully removed in 20 (95.23%) patients. Mean procedure time was 65.8 ± 5.3 min. Mean hospital stay was 10.7 ± 1.5 d. No pancreatitis, gastrointestinal, or biliary duct perforation was observed. All patients were followed up for 2 years, and there was no evidence of reflux cholangitis or calculi recurrence. CONCLUSION: Modified percutaneous transhepatic papillary balloon dilation was feasible and safe with a small number of patients with hepatolithiasis, and may be a treatment option in patients with severe comorbidities or in patients in whom endoscopic procedure was not successful.

Salvage treatment of NSCLC recurrence after first-line chemotherapy failure: Iodine-125 seed brachytherapy or microwave ablation?

BACKGROUND: Salvage treatments for recurrent NSCLC after first-line chemotherapy remain challenging. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical value of microwave ablation (MWA) and iodine-125 brachytherapy, including overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), local control, hospital stay, and health economics. METHODS: The data of 51 and 32 patients who were treated with MWA and brachytherapy was retrospectively analyzed. The number of lesions was limited up to two, with a diameter <4 cm and patients diagnosed with unilateral lung disease. Peripheral tumors were treated with MWA, while lesions close to the hilum were treated with brachytherapy. Contrast-enhanced CT, blood cell count, coagulation function, liver & kidney function and tumor markers were performed for two years, with complications calculated. OS, DFS, local control rate, toxicity, hospital stay and expense were recorded. RESULTS: The one and two-year OS rates were 96.08% and 92.16% versus 96.88% and 90.62% in the MWA and brachytherapy groups, respectively. The one and two-year DFS rates were 92.16% and 76.47% versus 93.75% and 78.13%, respectively. No significant differences were observed in log-rank analysis between the groups. Local control rates at six and 12 months were 100% and 96.08% versus 100% and 96.88%, while incidences of pleural effusion were 3.92% and 3.13%, respectively (P < 0.05). Medical cost was 3356.73 ± 206.87 and 6714.28 ± 35.43 U.S. dollars (P = 0.014). CONCLUSION: MWA and brachytherapy are effective and safe options for the treatment of NSCLC recurrence after first-line chemotherapy. Which modality should be considered is dependent upon tumor location, tumor size and experience of specialists.

Percutaneous transhepatic extraction and balloon dilation for simultaneous gallbladder stones and common bile duct stones: A novel technique.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of an innovative percutaneous transhepatic extraction and balloon dilation (PTEBD) technique for clearance of gallbladder stones in patients with concomitant stones in the common bile duct (CBD). METHODS: The data from 17 consecutive patients who underwent PTEBD for clearance of gallbladder stones were retrospectively analyzed. After removal of the CBD stones by percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilation (PTBD), the gallbladder stones were extracted to the CBD and pushed into the duodenum with a balloon after dilation of the sphincter of Oddi. Large stones were fragmented using a metallic basket. The patients were monitored for immediate adverse events including hemorrhage, perforation, pancreatitis, and cholangitis. During the two-year follow-up, they were monitored for stone recurrence, reflux cholangitis, and other long-term adverse events. RESULTS: Gallbladder stones were successfully removed in 16 (94.1%) patients. PTEBD was repeated in one patient. The mean hospitalization duration was 15.9 ± 2.2 d. Biliary duct infection and hemorrhage occurred in one (5.9%) patient. No severe adverse events, including pancreatitis or perforation of the gastrointestinal or biliary tract occurred. Neither gallbladder stone recurrence nor refluxing cholangitis had occurred two years after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Sequential PTBD and PTEBD are safe and effective for patients with simultaneous gallbladder and CBD stones. These techniques provide a new therapeutic approach for certain subgroups of patients in whom endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography/endoscopic sphincterotomy or surgery is not appropriate.

125 Iodine brachytherapy via a trans-superior vena cava approach in patients with metastases in middle mediastinal lymph nodes: a novel approach.

AIM: Certain metastasis-containing middle mediastinal lymph nodes cannot be approached by standard CT-guided brachytherapy. We here describe a novel trans-superior vena cava approach for such nodes. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the safety and clinical value of 125 iodine (I) brachytherapy via a trans-superior vena cava approach in patients with metastases in middle mediastinal lymph nodes. METHODS: From February 2008 to October 2011, 32 patients with 43 pathologically confirmed metastasis-containing mediastinal middle lymph nodes underwent CT-guided percutaneous 125 I brachytherapy via a trans-superior vena cava approach. Their complications and treatment responses were analyzed. Variations in blood pressure, heart rate, hemoglobin concentration and oxyhemoglobin saturation before, during and after the procedure were recorded, as were complications, including hemorrhage, pneumothorax and development of Breuer's reflex. Treatment response was assessed according to the response evaluation criteria for solid tumors Version 1.1. RESULTS: According to follow-up CT examination after 6 months, 22 patients (68.75%) achieved complete responses and four (12. 5%) partial responses. One patient died of myocardial infarction. Overall response rate was 81.25%, with a local control rate of 87.5%. The median survival was 25.7 months, with progression-free survival of 19.74 ± 0.81 months. The 1-year and 3-year overall survival rates were 53.13% and 28.13%. There were minimal immediate or delayed complications; no complications were severe. CONCLUSION: We consider this novel approach a safe means of treating certain mediastinal middle lymph node metastases.

Experimental computed tomography-guided vena cava puncture in pigs for percutaneous brachytherapy of middle mediastinal lymph node metastases.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous brachytherapy is a valuable method for the treatment of lung cancer and mediastinal lymph nodes metastasis. However, in some of the metastatic lymph nodes in the middle mediastinum, the percutaneous approach cannot be used safely due to possible damage to surrounding anatomical structures. We established an animal model (group of 12 pigs) to assess the safety and feasibility of computed tomography (CT)-guided vena cava puncture. METHODS: Under CT guidance, an 18G needle was used to puncture the anterior wall of the anterior vena cava (AVC) in 12 pigs. The 18G needle was chosen as it is similar in size to the needles employed for clinical application in brachytherapy. The incidence of complications and vital signs was monitored during the procedure. Thoracotomy was performed to remove AVC specimens, which were analyzed for histological evidence of vessel wall damage and repair. RESULTS: Following postoperative enhanced CT, two animals were found to have a small pneumothorax (one being hemopneumothorax). The intraoperative oxygen saturation of both animals was not significantly decreased and was maintained at 93-100%. No animals developed mediastinal hematoma. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative changes in blood pressure, heart rate, hemoglobin, and blood oxygen saturation were not significant. Histological evaluation of AVC specimens showed that by 7 days following the procedure, the endothelial layer was smooth with notable scar repair in the muscularis layer. CONCLUSIONS: CT performed after the procedure and histological preparations confirmed the safety of the procedure. This indicates that percutaneous brachytherapy for metastatic middle mediastinal lymph nodes can be carried out via the superior vena cava.

Comparison of treatment safety and patient survival in elderly versus nonelderly patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma receiving sorafenib combined with transarterial chemoembolization: a propensity score matching study.

AIMS: This retrospective study was carried out to compare the outcomes between elderly (≥70 years of age) and nonelderly patients (<70 years of age) with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who received sorafenib combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). METHODS: 88 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of advanced HCC were enrolled in this study. Of these, 24 elderly patients were matched with 48 nonelderly patients at a 1:2 ratio using propensity score matching to minimize selection bias. The related adverse events and survival benefits were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Sorafenib combined with TACE was equally well tolerated in both age groups, and grade 3 or 4 adverse events were similarly observed in 54.2% of elderly and 50.0% of nonelderly patients (P = 0.739). There were no significant differences in survival time between the elderly and nonelderly patients (P = 0.876). Significant prognostic factors for overall survival as identified by multivariate analysis were the Child-Pugh score and portal vein invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Sorafenib combined with TACE may be well tolerated and effective in elderly patients with advanced HCC. Age alone is not a parameter for the treatment of advanced HCC patients.

Sorafenib combined with transarterial chemoembolization versus transarterial chemoembolization alone for advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score matching study.

AIMS: The purpose of the present study was to compare the efficacies of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with sorafenib versus TACE monotherapy for treating patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We enrolled 321 patients and selected 280 with advanced HCC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C) who underwent TACE therapy between February 2009 and February 2013. TACE alone (monotherapy group) was administered to 198 patients (70.7%), and the remaining 82 (29.3%) underwent repeat combined TACE and sorafenib therapy (combined group). To minimize selection bias, these latter 82 patients were matched using propensity-score matching at a 1∶2 ratio with 164 patients who received TACE monotherapy. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and related subgroup analysis. The secondary endpoints were time to progression (TTP) and treatment-related adverse events. RESULTS: Of the respective patients in the combined and monotherapy groups, 64.6% and 49.2% had vascular invasion, 87.8% and 91.1% had extrahepatic metastasis, and 54.3% and 47.1% had both. In the propensity-score-matched cohort, the OS survival of the combined group was significantly higher compared with the monotherapy group (7.0 months vs. 4.9 months, respectively, P = 0.003). The TTP was significantly longer in the combined group (2.6 months vs. 1.9 months, respectively, P = 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that the outcomes of patients with advanced HCC without main portal vein invasion who were treated with combined therapy were significantly better compared with those who received monotherapy (P<0.05). Univariate and subsequent multivariate analyses revealed that the addition of sorafenib was an independent predictor of favorable OS and TTP (adjusted hazard ratios, 0.63 and 0.62, respectively; P<0.05 for both). CONCLUSION: Sorafenib plus TACE was more effective than TACE monotherapy for treating patients with advanced HCC without main portal vein invasion. Future trials with larger samples are required to validate these preliminary findings.

Sonographically guided hydrostatic reduction of intussusception in children.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of sonographically guided hydrostatic enema in therapeutic reduction of intussusception in children and to determine whether certain factors may predict the outcome of this technique. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and sonographic examinations of 83 consecutive children sonographically diagnosed with 101 cases of intussusception over a 40-month period. In 99 cases, sonographically guided hydrostatic reduction was attempted. The presence of free peritoneal fluid, the presence of fluid inside the intussusception, and the initial location of the intussusception, as confirmed by sonography, along with the level of experience of the radiologist who performed the reduction were statistically analyzed to determine their effect on outcome. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: In 88 (89%) of the 99 cases, hydrostatic reduction was successful. No complications during or after hydrostatic enema were noted. The success rate was significantly lower among patients whose intussusception was located in the left side of the abdomen (p < 0.01) or contained entrapped fluid (p < 0.02) or those in whom hydrostatic reduction was not performed by an experienced sonologist (p < 0.01). The presence of free peritoneal fluid was not a predictor of outcome (p > 0.1). No complications during or after hydrostatic enema were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Sonographically guided hydrostatic reduction of intussusception is safe and effective. We recommend that this method be attempted before surgery is considered, even in cases in which the intussusception contains entrapped fluid or is located in the left side of the abdomen. The level of experience of the radiologist who performs the reduction significantly affects the results of this procedure and should be carefully considered, particularly in cases in which initial sonography reveals the presence of risk factors.