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Emad M Abu-Hamda

Publications and source records attributed to Emad M Abu-Hamda.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

A retrospective comparison of outcomes using three different precut needle knife techniques for biliary cannulation.

GOALS: To assess the outcome differences following different precut biliary sphincterotomy needle-knife techniques. BACKGROUND: Precut biliary needle-knife sphincterotomy (NKS) allows biliary access when standard cannulation techniques fail. Little comparative data exist on the outcome of precut NKS. STUDY: Retrospective comparison of outcome differences of three NKS techniques performed by three pancreaticobiliary endoscopists at a tertiary referral center. RESULTS: A total of 139 consecutive biliary NKS were performed. In 44 cases (technique A), NKS was performed using a precut fistulotomy technique avoiding the papillary orifice, with pure cutting current, and occasional pancreatic duct (PD) stenting (6 of 44). In 47 cases (technique B), NKS was performed starting from the papillary orifice cutting upward with blended current, and no PD stenting. In 48 cases (technique C), NKS was performed as B but using pure cutting current and frequent PD stenting (15 of 48). NKS was successful in 95.5%, 95.7%, and 89.6% at initial endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and 100%, 97.8%, and 95.6% after a second endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Total complications were not significantly different between the three groups; however, a lower incidence of pancreatitis occurred using technique A compared with techniques B and C (not significant). CONCLUSIONS: NKS techniques result in a high success rate of biliary cannulation with a similar overall complication rate. Avoiding cutting at the papillary orifice may reduce the risk of pancreatitis. When cutting at the papillary orifice, pancreatic duct stenting, pure cutting current, or both may reduce the incidence of pancreatitis.

Biliary Tract Diseases↗

Endoscopic management of cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an uncommon malignant tumor arising from the biliary epithelium. The incidence increases with age and usually affects individuals in their 6th or 7th decade of life. Those patients with underlying risk factors such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and choledochal cysts generally present 2 decades earlier. Most patients clinically present with painless jaundice; however, other common symptoms include pruritus, weight loss, and abdominal pain. Although surgical resection offers the only hope for cure, most patients are found to have unresectable disease on initial presentation and have an extremely grim prognosis. This has led to an emphasis on the role of palliative care, with relief of biliary obstruction, in the management of these patients. Surgical bypass was once the primary means of palliation of jaundice in patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma but in the last 2 decades has been superseded by less invasive and less morbid nonsurgical procedures such as endoscopic and percutaneous biliary stent placement. Newer modalities of palliation such as endoscopic delivery of photodynamic therapy and high-intensity ultrasound therapy are emerging nonsurgical modalities that may result in improved survival and may play a future role as an adjunctive therapy to surgical resection.

Bile Duct Neoplasms↗

Small bowel tumors.

Primary tumors of the small bowel are rare, and their clinical presentation is nonspecific. Consequently, preoperative diagnosis remains the exception rather than the rule. Although the small intestine makes up 75% of the length and 90% of the surface area of the gastrointestinal tract, small bowel tumors make up approximately 3% of all malignant gastrointestinal neoplasms. Primary neoplasms of the small intestine are notorious for their insidious presentation and vague symptoms, including abdominal pain, anorexia, and weight loss. These nonspecific symptoms, coupled with the lack of physical findings, often cause a significant delay in reaching a diagnosis. Because the small bowel has been a relatively inaccessible area to standard endoscopic techniques, contrast radiography has been regarded historically as the gold standard diagnostic modality. The management of primary malignant small bowel tumors is invariably surgical. However, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be warranted, depending on the type of tumor.

Diagnosis, Differential↗