Endoscopic Balloon Therapy.

Intragastric balloon therapy is an endoluminal treatment of obesity that is indicated for patients with moderate obesity (body mass index, 30-35 kg/m2) who have failed to lose weight with lifestyle and medical management. Treatment duration ranges from 4 to 12 months, and percent total body weight loss ranges from 6% to 15% at the time of balloon removal. Adverse events, such as bowel obstruction or gastric perforation, are rare, and early balloon removal because of intolerance is the most common complication. Long-term data are lacking, although weight regain after balloon removal seems to be common.

Endoscopic mucosal incision and muscle interruption (MIMI) for the treatment of Zenker's diverticulum.

BACKGROUND: In peroral endoscopic myotomy for Zenker's diverticulum (Z-POEM), the cricopharyngeus muscle is divided within a submucosal tunnel started in the hypopharynx. We aimed to evaluate the safety and preliminary outcomes in patients who underwent a modified version of the Z-POEM where the tunnel is made directly overlying the cricopharyngeus, the mucosal incision and muscular interruption (MIMI) approach, and to compare these with patients who underwent a non-tunneled flexible endoscopic approach. METHODS: All patients with ZD who were treated by flexible endoscopy at our institution between January 2015 and February 2020 were identified by a retrospective chart review. Dysphagia symptoms were assessed using a validated scoring system. RESULTS: Nineteen patients with ZD underwent MIMI (mean age 76.1 years, 68.1% male) and seven patients underwent non-tunneled flexible endoscopic approach (mean age 64.4 years, 85.7% male) during the study period. Mean ZD size was 2.8 cm in the MIMI group and 1.9 cm in the non-tunneled group (p = 0.03). Clinical success was achieved in 17/19(89.5%) MIMI patients and 7/7(100%) of non-tunneled flexible endoscopic patients (p = 0.101). Dysphagia scores improved in both groups, although this difference was only significant in the MIMI group (p ≤ 0.001). Recurrence occurred in 2/17(11.7%) MIMI patients and 3/7(42.9%) non-tunneled flexible endoscopic patients (p = 0.096). There were 4 complications, including one pharyngeal perforation requiring open surgical repair in a patient with a small ZD with an associated cricopharyngeal bar in the MIMI group. Median length of follow-up was 290 [142; 465] days in the MIMI group and 1056 [258; 1206] days in the non-tunneled group (p = 0.094). CONCLUSIONS: MIMI is a technically feasible and effective treatment for ZD. Care should be taken in patients with a cricopharyngeal bar and small ZD, as this may increase the risk of perforation. Larger studies with long-term follow-up are needed to determine if MIMI reduces the risk of symptom recurrence when compared to non-tunneled flexible endoscopic approaches.

Assessment of volume preservation performed before or after partial nephrectomy accurately predicts postoperative renal function: Results from a prospective multicenter study.

PURPOSE: Partial nephrectomy (PN) is standard for small renal masses, improving renal function by preserving renal parenchyma compared with radical nephrectomy. Recent work demonstrated that postoperative surgeon assessment of volume preservation (SAVP) and 3D imaging measurements agree and correlate with postoperative function. We hypothesize preoperative assessment of volume preservation (PAVP) with PN based on preoperative imaging will reliably indicate postoperative renal function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected from 336 patients undergoing PN for suspected renal cancer by 40 surgeons at 12 centers in Europe and the United States within the Surface-Intermediate-Base International Consortium. Surgeons recorded PAVP and SAVP for individual patients; pre- and postoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated by Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equations. Correlations between PAVP, SAVP, and postoperative GFR were assessed with linear regression models. Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess agreement between PAVP and SAVP with a significant cutoff of 5%. RESULTS: Median PAVP was 90% (interquartile range [IQR] 85%-100%) and SAVP was 90% (IQR: 80%-94%). PAVP and SAVP were moderately correlated (R2 = 0.67, P < 0.0001) and deemed "interchangeable" by Bland-Altman analysis at a 5% acceptable rate of difference (95% CI: -5.4, -3.1). Median postoperative GFR was 77.3 (IQR: 56.2, 92.0). Both PAVP (R2 = 0.82, P < 0.0001) and SAVP (R2 = 0.83, P < 0.0001) were correlated with postoperative GFR. Multivariable models utilizing volume-adjusted GFR based on PAVP or SAVP significantly and similarly predicted postoperative GFR (R2 = 0.72 for each). CONCLUSION: Renal function is closely linked to the amount of parenchymal volume preservation, whether estimated prior to surgery (PAVP) or afterward (SAVP). PAVP provides reasonably accurate information for decision-making in patients considering PN.

Evidence for rhombomeric organization of multiple respiratory oscillators in the bullfrog brainstem.

The anuran brainstem is segmentally organized into rhombomeres (r) and this segmental organization is uniquely preserved throughout development. We hypothesized that rhombomeres associated with cranial nerves (CN) also contain oscillators that are capable of producing rhythmic motor output (bursts) in isolation. We used in vitro brainstem preparations from pre- and post-metamorphic bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) to determine if rhombomeric organization of oscillators is present throughout development. Brainstems were transected into segments containing one or more rhombomeres and motor output was measured with suction electrodes attached to CN V, X and XII. Rhythmic motor output was observed in 85% of tadpoles and 91% of frogs in an anterior segment (r0-r5), 27% of tadpoles and 18% of frogs in the middle segment (r6-r7), and 77% of tadpoles and 55% of frogs in the caudal segment (r8). There were significant reductions in burst frequency and whole nerve amplitude following transections. These data support the hypothesis that brainstem oscillators associated with specific groups of rhombomeres are present throughout development in anurans.