Effectiveness of therapeutic standard concentration barium enema for colonic diverticular bleeding: Preliminary results.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a therapeutic barium enema as a treatment for colonic diverticulum bleeding, by using a standard concentration as a diagnostic examination. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 68 cases of the patients admitted to our hospital with colonic diverticular bleeding between October 2012 and September 2017. We evaluated the following items: (1) the presence/absence of a previous history of diverticular bleeding, (2) the use of medications (anticoagulants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antiplatelet drugs), (3) the location of bleeding, (4) the presence/absence of previous treatment and the result, (5) the time between bleeding and the beginning of the barium enema, (6) procedural success, (7) the clinical success of the initial hemostasis, (8) the clinical success of preventing recurrence, and (9) complications such as perforation and diverticulitis associated with this procedure. RESULTS: Four patients (three men and one woman; age range 60-85 years; median age 76 years) who underwent therapeutic barium enema with a concentration equivalent for diagnostic purpose (78 w/v%) were included. The follow-up period ranged from 11 to 12 months (median 12 months). All three patients who received a barium enema for initial hemostasis were successfully treated. All four patients remained free from recurrence during the follow-up period. There was no complication due to barium in this series. CONCLUSION: Although we had no statistical evidence, a therapeutic barium enema with a standard concentration as a diagnostic examination may be effective for both the initial hemostasis and preventing the recurrence of colonic diverticular bleeding without complications.

[Radiological imaging of small-bowel tumors].

While diagnosis of small-bowel tumors is clinically difficult, imaging examinations have a great role in it. Small-bowel enteroclysis allows viewing of the entire small-bowel for evaluating tumor location, size, and shape. CT gives information on both the intra- and extraluminal features of small-bowel tumors, mesenteric abnormalities, and distant organ spread. Multidetector- row computed tomography (MDCT) has improved image quality and reduced scan times. Furthermore, CT enteroclysis using MDCT with adequate visceral distension allows good visualization of small-bowel tumors. It is very important for clinicians to know the characteristic imaging findings of small-bowel tumors, although they are rare.

Spontaneous internal oblique hematoma successfully treated by transcatheter arterial embolization.

Abdominal wall hematoma is an uncommon cause of acute abdominal pain. We report a case of internal oblique hematoma caused by rupture of the subcostal artery in a 57-year-old woman. Ultrasonography (US) showed a hypoechoic mass in the right lateral abdominal wall. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a large soft tissue mass with extravasation of contrast medium located in the right internal oblique muscle. Angiography showed contrast extravasation from the subcostal artery, and transcatheter arterial embolization was performed successfully.

Self-expandable metallic stents as palliative treatment for malignant colorectal obstruction.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, stent placement for malignant colorectal obstruction has become an accepted alternative to surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) as palliative management for patients with unresectable malignant colorectal obstruction. METHODS: Twelve patients with unresectable malignant colorectal obstruction were treated with SEMS as palliative therapy. The sites of obstruction were located in the rectum (n = 9), the descending colon (n = 1), and the transverse colon (n = 2). All procedures were performed with combined endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance. We analyzed the technical and clinical success rates of stent placement and the complications associated with the procedure. RESULTS: The stents were successfully implanted and bowel obstruction was relieved in all cases; the technical and clinical success rates were 100%. Two complications occurred, including stent migration. There was no case requiring reintervention. All patients died of initial disease or another coexisting disease between 9 and 534 days (mean 133 +/- 148 days) after stent placement. None of the patients with stent in position at death had clinical or radiologic signs of bowel obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: SEMS placement in patients with malignant colorectal obstruction is technically feasible and safe, making it useful as a palliative treatment.

Double duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy for bifid pancreatic duct.

We report a pancreaticojejunostomy with double duct-to-mucosa anastomotic technique after pyloruspreserving pancreaticoduodenectomy for chronic pancreatitis with bifid pancreatic duct. A 49-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed preoperatively as having chronic pancreatitis with common bile duct stricture and pseudocyst of the pancreatic head. In a pancreaticoduodenectomy, the main pancreatic duct (7mm in diameter) and a secondary pancreatic duct (4mm in diameter) were identified intraoperatively at the transected surface. Pancreatography showed the main pancreatic duct as well as thesecondary pancreatic duct that drained the remaining dorsal pancreas, allowing us to diagnose bifid pancreatic duct. The pancreaticojejunostomy was performed in an end-to-side manner to create double duct-to-mucosa anastomoses and to approximate the pancreatic parenchyma and jejunal seromuscular layers. Although bifid pancreatic duct is a rare anatomical anomaly, it behooves every surgeon who performs pancreatic resections to be aware of this entity and the techniques for dealing with it.

[UFT plus cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy in unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer--its application to outpatient practice].

BACKGROUND: Combination chemotherapy with UFT and cisplatin is active and less toxic for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. This treatment is likely to be applied to concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, especially in the outpatient setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer received the UFT plus cisplatin treatment combined with concurrent radiotherapy. The chemotherapeutic regimen consisted of oral administration of UFT 400 mg/m2 daily and venous infusion of cisplatin 20-25 mg/m2 on days 8-10. The administration of cisplatin was repeated every 3-4 weeks. Thoracic radiation started on day 8, and was completed to a total dose of 60-70 Gy. RESULTS: Adverse events (grade 3 or 4) occurred in 2 patients (esophagitis 2, leukopenia/neutropenia 1) with no treatment-related death. There were 7 partial responses (response rate 70.0%; 95% C.I., 41.6-98.4%). The median survival time was 18.7 months with a 1-year survival rate of 77.8%. Two patients uneventfully received the treatment in an outpatient setting. CONCLUSION: With regard to the quality of life of patients, UFT plus cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy might be the treatment of choice for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer.