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Anthony Venbrux

Publications and source records attributed to Anthony Venbrux.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

TIPS for management of refractory ascites: response and survival are both unpredictable.

Refractory ascites is a serious complication of advanced cirrhosis with a 1-year transplant-free survival of 20-50%. The aim of our study was to investigate the short- and long-term effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in the management of refractory ascites. In all 65 patients (39 M, 26 F; Child B 55%, Child C 45%, mean MELD score 14.8 +/- 6.6) with liver disease (alcoholic 40%, cryptogenic 20%, HCV 14%, others 26%) and refractory ascites were included in this study. Forty-eight (74%) patients had no signs of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), 16 (24%) had mild and 1 (2%) had moderate HE before TIPS; 28 (43%) had mild (> 1.2 and < 2.4 mg/dl) and 6 patients (9%) had moderate (> 2.4 mg/dl) renal dysfunction. Mean follow-up was 55.5 +/- 70.2 weeks. Treatment success, defined as complete response, partial response, and no response, and survival was determined at 3 weeks, and 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after TIPS. TIPS was successful in all patients. Mean portal venous pressure gradient improved significantly after TIPS (24 +/- 8 to 10 +/- 4). During follow-up, 40 (58%) patients died and 17 (27%) patients had liver transplantation (OLT); 20 (31%) patients had 38 shunt revisions due to lack of initial response or recurrence of ascites. The response was assessed in patients who were alive, without OLT, at each time point. Complete response was seen in 10%, 23%, 17%, 11%, 22% and 33%; partial response was seen in 46%, 46%, 40%, 44%, 28%, and 8%; and no response was seen in 44%, 31%, 43%, 41 %, 39%, and 50% at 3 weeks, and 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months respectively. There were no pre-TIPS variables that could predict the response at 3 weeks, 3 months, or 6 months. Mild HE was seen in 8 (12%) patients and severe HE was seen in 16 (25%) immediately after TIPS. The mortality at 3 weeks, and 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months was 26%, 38%, 46%, 51%, 57%, and 58%, respectively. Three-week (P = 0.01) and 3-month (P = 0.04) mortality was higher in Child C patients compared to Child B. However, there were no independent predictors of survival on multivariate analysis at 3 or 6 months. Child-Pugh score 3 weeks after TIPS was a strong predictor of mortality. In conclusion, in patients with refractory ascites, TIPS was associated with a high mortality and morbidity. The response and the mortality were both unpredictable on the basis of pretransplant variables.

Ascites↗
PubMed2002

Control of alkaline reflux esophagitis after total gastrectomy by a percutaneous jejunostomy tube.

Postoperative alkaline reflux esophagitis is a potentially devastating complication after total gastrectomy. The advent of the Roux-en-Y reconstruction has significantly decreased the incidence of this complication. However, when reflux esophagitis occurs, it is often refractory to medical treatment. Even though surgical revision of the Roux-en-Y anastomosis is the management option of choice, affected patients (especially those with advanced metastatic cancers) are often poor surgical candidates. We describe a novel treatment of refractory alkaline reflux esophagitis in a patient after radical total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction for advanced gastric carcinoma. Radiologic placement of a percutaneous jejunostomy tube into the proximal jejunal limb resulted in significant symptomatic relief by external diversion of the pancreaticobiliary drainage, and the procedure was associated with minimal discomfort. Nonsurgical pancreaticobiliary diversion should be considered in those patients with refractory alkaline reflux esophagitis that occurs after total gastrectomy.

Esophagitis, Peptic↗
PubMed2002

Training and pretreatment planning of interventional neuroradiology procedures--initial clinical validation.

A PC based system for simulating image-guided interventional neuroradiological procedures for physician training and patient specific pretreatment planning is described. The system allows physicians to manipulate and interface interventional devices such as catheters, guidewires, stents and coils within 2-D and hybrid surface and volume rendered 3-D patient vascular images in real time. A finite element method is employed to model the interaction of the catheters and guidewires with the vascular system. Fluoroscopic, roadmapping and volume rendered 3-D presentations of the vasculature are provided. System software libraries allow for the use of commonly employed catheters, guidewires, stents and occluding coils of various shapes and sizes. The results of an initial clinical validation suggest that the experience gained from our simulator is comparable with that of using a vascular phantom. We are conducting further validation with the aim of providing patient specific pretreatment planning.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗