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E Ancona

Publications and source records attributed to E Ancona.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Heller laparoscopic cardiomyotomy with antireflux anterior fundoplication (Dor) in the treatment of esophageal achalasia.

The technique of Heller laparoscopic myotomy with associated Dor anterior fundoplication for the treatment of esophageal achalasia is described. This operation was performed on three patients with clinical, radiologic, and manometric diagnoses of achalasia. Complete relief of dysphagia and modifications of radiological and manometric patterns were achieved in all patients 1 month after surgery. Laparoscopic treatment of achalasia is technically feasible, reduces surgical trauma, and may be considered a valid alternative to open surgery.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Modified Sujura operation: long-term results.

From January 1980 to January 1986 a total of 93 patients with portal hypertension (59 males, 34 females; average age 51.5 years) underwent the modified Sujura's operation. All patients presented with esophageal varices during the preoperative endoscopic workup. Child's risk category was A in 6 patients and B in the remaining 87. Our technique consisted of: (1) devascularization of the upper half of the gastric corpus and fundus; (2) devascularization of the last 10 to 12 cm of the thoracic esophagus; (3) pyloric divulsion; (4) resection and anastomosis at the esophagogastric junction; and (5) antireflux fundoplication. In the presence of severe hypersplenism we added splenectomy. The surgical approach was through a xiphoumbilical laparotomy, extended to the left side when splenectomy was anticipated. We observed 19.8% early mortality (10% with elective procedures and 27.2% with emergency operations) and two cases of early rebleeding from acute mucosal lesions. Long-term follow-up of 82 patients revealed 30 cases of rebleeding (36.6%). Ruptured esophageal varices occurred in 12 patients (11 were treated with endoscopic sclerotherapy), whereas in 11 patients the cause of bleeding was a hemorrhagic gastritis. Of the remaining patients, two had rebleeding from a gastric ulcer, one from gastric varices, one from duodenal varices; in three patients the source of the hemorrhage remains unknown. The survival for elective procedure patients was 59.2% at 5 years and 40.7% at 10 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of esophageal achalasia with laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor partial anterior fundoplication: prospective evaluation of 100 consecutive patients.

In this article we report our experience in 100 consecutive achalasia patients who were treated with laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor antireflux fundoplication, with particular regard to the technical problems encountered, the learning curve, and the long-term follow-up. The operation was completed laparoscopically in 94 patients, with a median operative duration of 150 minutes, and a continuous steady reduction in the operating time from the first patients to the last. In six patients the operation was completed through "open" access. Postoperative complications were recorded in six cases. Follow-up was completed in all 100 patients, with a median follow-up of 24 months. Overall, actuarial life-table analysis showed a probability of 90% that patients would be symptom free over a 5-year period. Radiologic assessment showed a significant reduction in the esophageal diameter, and manometry showed a significant reduction in the lower esophageal sphincter resting pressure and residual pressure. Twenty-four-hour pH monitoring showed postoperative reflux in 6.9% of the patients. Persistent dysphagia or chest pain was reported by eight patients, which constituted treatment failures. Seven of these eight patients were eventually treated with multiple pneumatic dilatations, which were successful in six cases. It was concluded that laparoscopic Heller myotomy with Dor fundoplication is a feasible and effective treatment for achalasia, with an actuarial success rate of 90% at 5 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pancreatic cancer cells invasiveness is mainly affected by interleukin-1beta not by transforming growth factor-beta1.

BACKGROUND: We investigated in vitro whether IL-1beta and TGF-beta1 affect pancreatic cancer cell growth, adhesion to the extracellular matrix and Matrigel invasion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adhesion to fibronectin, laminin and type I collagen, and Matrigel invasion after stimulation with saline, IL-1beta and TGF-beta1 were evaluated using three primary and three metastatic pancreatic cancer cell lines. RESULTS: Extracellular matrix adhesion of control cells varied independently of the metastatic characteristics of the studied cell lines, whereas Matrigel invasion of control cells was partly correlated with the in vivo metastatic potential. IL-1beta did not influence extracellular matrix adhesion, whereas it significantly enhanced the invasiveness of three of the six cell lines. TGF-beta1 affected the adhesion of one cell line, and exerted contrasting effects on Matrigel invasion of different cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: IL-1beta enhances the invasive capacity of pancreatic cancer cells, whereas TGF-beta1 has paradoxical effects on pancreatic cancer cells; this makes it difficult to interfere with TGF-beta1 signaling in pancreatic cancer treatment.

Cell Adhesion↗
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The iridium/iridium oxide electrode for in vivo measurement of oesophageal and gastric pH.

An iridium-iridium oxide electrode for in vivo pH measurement of the distal oesophagus is described. It is small and flexible so it is well accepted by patients for long-term pH monitoring. The electrode also offers the possibility of including another electrode and/or a pressure sensor for simultaneous detection of two or more parameters--gastric pH or oesophageal pressure for example. A clinical study was performed on 15 healthy volunteers and the results were checked on a DGC Nova 4/S computer, showing less than 0.005% of tension in mV out of the established range in a period of 24 h pH monitoring. The volunteers' results were compared with the normal values obtained by DeMeester using a glass electrode on a similar, healthy group of American patients and no significant differences were observed. Owing to its small size, reliability, fast response to pH changes, durability and its easy storage, the Ir/IrO2 electrode is ideal for long-term pH monitoring of the upper gastro-intestinal tract.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[First-line chemo-radiotherapy neoadjuvant treatment in locally advanced (T4) epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus].

In the period 1993-1997 we performed two phase II pilot studies of first-line chemo-radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced (T4) SCC of the esophagus. The first protocol (3 cycles of DDP-VP16 + 45 Gy) was used in 37 patients: toxicity was not negligible; a clinical tumor downstaging was obtained in 54% of cases; an R0 resection surgery was performed in 40% of patients. The overall median survival of the whole group of 37 patients was 11 months, while it was > 36 months for patients undergoing R0 resection. The second protocol (4 cycles of DDP-5FU + 45 Gy) was used in 25 patients: a clinical tumor downstaging was obtained in 55% of cases, and R0 resection surgery was performed in 45% of patients. The overall median survival of the whole group was 11 months. To date, all patients but one (who died after 13 months) are alive with a median follow up of 13 months. The prognosis of both groups of patients was improved compared to patients with T4 SCC of the esophagus who did not undergo chemo and/or radiotherapy. The survival advantage was especially evident for those who were able to undergo an R0 resection. First line chemo-radiotherapy should be considered the standard treatment for locally advanced esophageal SCC.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Results of laparoscopic bilateral varicocelectomy].

Left varicocele (LV) is a common clinical condition that is present in approximately 15% of the general male population. Bilateral varicocele (BV) is an association of clinical LV and subclinical or ultrasound diagnosed right varicocele. Recent diagnostic technology suggests that BV is much more common than previously suspected varying from 15 to 57%. The laparoscopic technique offers the possibility of planning bilateral varix ligation but only a few reports are currently available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of contemporary bilateral correction of BV on spermatogenesis. From 1992 January to 1998 December a total of 207 patients with clinical left varicocele and a pathological sperm count were studied. Scrotal sonography was performed and in 96 patients (group A) subclinical right varicocele was diagnosed while 111 patients (group B) only had LV. 84 patients were married and had tried unsuccesfully for a pregnancy for at least one year before evaluation. All patients underwent laparoscopic varicocelectomy, performed under general anesthesia with a three trocar technique with application of clips to the spermatic vein and resection. Patients with right reflux received bilateral varix ligation. Operating time averaged 28 minutes for unilateral cases and 42 minutes for bilateral legatures. No significant differences were found in age distribution or preoperative seminal paramenters between the two groups. Postoperative hospital stay was 1.2 and 1.3 days respectively. 168 patients underwent sperm count four to six months after surgery. Both groups showed improvements in number (group A 41 millions, group b 27 millions), 2nd hour motility (group A 32%, group B 19%) and morphology (group A 52%, group B 51%). 95 patients achieved normalization of seminal parameters, 40 (63%) in group A and 37 (30%) in group B, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups. The pregnancy rate was calculated on married population after one year; it was 41% in total. The role of the subclinical right varicocele associated to clinical left varicocele is uncertain and there are few papers concerning this argument. In this serie normalization of seminal parameters and the pregnancy rate were significantly higher in patients with bilateral correction of reflux. In conclusion our data confirm that subclinical right reflux also has a detrimental effect on spermatogenesis and we suggest that it must be corrected contemporary when associated with clinical left varicocele.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The safety and feasibility of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

This study analyzes data from 100 consecutive patients with gallstone disease who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), a surgical technique rapidly emerging as the treatment of choice for this disease. LC has two major advantages: reduction of postoperative pain and a shortened hospital stay. LC was successfully completed in 88 patients, the main cause of conversion to open cholecystectomy being acute or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder. Analysis of risk factors showed that age, obesity, episodes of jaundice, pancreatitis, and acute or chronic cholecystitis are not absolute contraindications to LC. Mortality was absent and the intraoperative morbidity rate was 2%. No lesion of the main bile duct occurred. Seven minor post-operative complications that did not prolong hospital stay were also observed. These figures compare well with the mortality and morbidity of open cholecystectomy, and demonstrate that the significant benefits in terms of patient welfare and hospital costs of LC are not obtained at the expense of increased surgical risk.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Surgical central venous catheterization (SCVC) for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) via the basilic vein].

The central venous catheterization (CVC) by subclavian vein puncture for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has a high risk of complications in some situations such as neck or supraclavicular diseases, tracheostomies, costoclavicular deformities and coagulopathies. Surgical CVC approach to the basilic vein is indicated in these cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of this technique. Sixteen patients had TPN with this technique, utilizing a silicon catheter (Vygon Nutricath). The main time of TPN was 19 days (min 5-max 41). In 12 cases (75%), there were no complications. In two cases (12.5%) we observed an accidental catheter displacement. The incidence of thrombophlebitis was 12.5% (2 cases); in one of two cases (6.25%), it was correlated with the contamination of the catheter (Staphylococcus epidermidis); in the second case it was aseptic. Our results demonstrated the usefulness of this of these technique in cases in where the CVC by subclavian vein presents a high risk of complications.

Adult↗