Biomedical subjects

L Lundell

Publications and source records attributed to L Lundell.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

An antireflux stent versus conventional stents for palliation of distal esophageal or cardia cancer: a randomized clinical study.

BACKGROUND: Self-expandable metal stents placed across the esophagogastric junction for palliative treatment of malignant strictures may lead to gastroesophageal reflux and pulmonary aspiration. This study compared the effects of a Dua antireflux stent with those of a conventional stent. METHODS: Patients with incurable cancer of the distal esophagus or gastric cardia were randomly assigned to receive an antireflux stent (n = 19) or a standard stent (n = 22) at nine Swedish hospitals during the period September 1, 2003 to July 31, 2005. Complications were recorded at clinical follow-up visits. Survival rates were assessed through linkage to the Population Register. Dysphagia, reflux symptoms, esophageal pain, dyspnea, and global quality of life were assessed as changes in mean scores between baseline and 1 month after stent insertion through validated questionnaires. RESULTS: No technical problems occurred during stent placement in the 41 enrolled patients. Fewer patients with complications were observed in the antireflux stent group (n = 3) than in the standard group (n = 8), but no statistically significant difference was shown (p = 0.14). The survival rates were similar in the two groups (p = 0.99; hazard ratio, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-2.0). The groups did not differ significantly in terms of studied esophageal or respiratory symptoms or quality of life. Clinically relevant improvement in dysphagia occurred in both groups. Dyspnea decreased after antireflux stent insertion (mean score change, -11), and increased after insertion of standard stent (mean score change, +21). CONCLUSIONS: Antireflux stents may be used without increased risk of complications, mortality, esophageal symptoms, or reduced global quality of life. These results should encourage large-scale randomized trials that can establish potentially beneficial effects of antireflux stents.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Systematic review: proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for the healing of reflux oesophagitis - a comparison of esomeprazole with other PPIs.

BACKGROUND: No randomized controlled trial has compared all the licensed standard dose proton pump inhibitors in the healing of reflux oesophagitis. AIM: To compare the effectiveness of esomeprazole with licensed standard dose proton pump inhibitors for healing of reflux oesophagitis (i.e. lansoprazole 30 mg, omeprazole 20 mg, pantoprazole 40 mg and rabeprazole 20 mg). METHODS: Systematic review of CENTRAL, BIOSIS, EMBASE and MEDLINE for randomized controlled trials in patients with reflux oesophagitis. Searching was completed in February 2005. Data on endoscopic healing rates at 4 and 8 weeks were extracted and re-analysed if not analysed by intention-to-treat. Meta-analysis was conducted using a fixed effects model. RESULTS: Of 133 papers identified in the literature search, six were of sufficient quality to be included in the analysis. No studies were identified comparing rabeprazole with esomeprazole. A meta-analysis of healing rates of esomeprazole 40 mg compared with standard dose proton pump inhibitors gave the following results: at 4 weeks [relative risk (RR) 0.92; 95% CI: 0.90, 0.94; P < 0.00001], and 8 weeks (RR 0.95; 95% CI: 0.94, 0.97; P < 0.00001). Publication bias did not have a significant impact on the results. The results were robust to changes in the inclusion/exclusion criteria and using a random effects model. CONCLUSION: Esomeprazole consistently demonstrates higher healing rates when compared with standard dose proton pump inhibitors.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

PubMed2006

Changes of gastric mucosal architecture during long-term omeprazole therapy: results of a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The impact of long-term acid suppression on the gastric mucosa remains controversial. AIM: To report further observations on an established cohort of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, after 7 years of follow-up. METHODS: Of the original cohort randomized to either antireflux surgery or omeprazole, 117 and 98 patients remained in the medical and surgical arms, respectively. Gastric biopsies were taken at baseline and throughout the study. RESULTS: Fifty-three antireflux surgery and 39 omeprazole-treated patients had Helicobacter pylori infection at randomization. Eighty-three omeprazole-treated and 60 antireflux surgery patients remained H. pylori negative over the 7 years, and no change was observed in mucosal morphology except for a change in endocrine cell population (linear and diffuse hyperplasia, P = 0.03). During the 7-year study many patients, who were initially H. pylori infected, had the infection eradicated leaving only 13 omeprazole and 12 antireflux surgery patients still infected. In these patients, omeprazole induced a deterioration of the mucosal inflammation scores (P = 0.01) with a numerical increase of glandular atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term omeprazole therapy does not alter the exocrine oxyntic mucosal morphology in H. pylori-negative patients, but mucosal endocrine cells appear to be under proliferative stimulation; in H. pylori-positive patients there are changes in mucosal inflammation and atrophy.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Randomized clinical trial of day-care versus overnight-stay laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been performed as a day-care procedure for many years. Few studies have been conducted with primary focus on patient acceptance and preferences in terms of quality of life for this practice compared with overnight stay. METHODS: Data from 100 patients with symptomatic gallstones randomized to laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed either as a day-care procedure or with overnight stay were analysed. Complications, admissions and readmissions, quality of life and health economic aspects were assessed. Two instruments were used to assess quality of life, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWB). RESULTS: Forty-eight (92 per cent) of 52 patients in day-care group were discharged 4-8 h after the operation. Forty-two (88 per cent) of 48 in the overnight group went home on the first day after surgery. The overall conversion rate was 2 per cent. Two patients had complications after surgery, both in the day-care group. No patient in either group was readmitted. There was no significant difference in total quality of life score between the two groups. The mean direct medical cost per patient in the day-care group (3085 Euros) was lower than that in the overnight group (3394 Euros). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed as a day-case procedure with a low rate of complications and admissions/readmissions. Patient acceptance in terms of quality of life variables is similar to that for cholecystectomy with an overnight stay. The day-care strategy is associated with a reduction in cost.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Randomized clinical trial of open versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the treatment of acute cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective trial was to determine whether surgical approach (open versus laparoscopic) had an impact on morbidity and postoperative recovery after cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. METHODS: Seventy patients who met the criteria for acute cholecystitis were randomized to open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The type of operation was unknown to the patient and all hospital staff involved in the postoperative care. RESULTS: The two groups were similar with respect to demographic and clinical characteristics. There were no significant differences in rate of postoperative complications, pain score at discharge and sick leave. In eight patients a laparoscopic procedure was converted to open cholecystectomy. Median operating time was 90 (range 30-155) and 80 (range 50-170) min in the laparoscopic and open groups respectively (P = 0.040). The direct medical costs were equivalent in the two groups. Although median postoperative hospital stay was 2 days in each group, it was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic group (P = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis can be performed by either laparoscopic or open techniques without any major clinically relevant differences in postoperative outcome. Both techniques offer low morbidity and rapid postoperative recovery.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

A nationwide study of the use of self-expanding stents in patients with esophageal cancer in Sweden.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic insertion of self-expanding metal stents is used for palliative treatment of esophageal and cardia cancer, but the safety profiles, and the influence of age, sex, and hospital volume have not previously been evaluated in a population-based setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective population-based study was conducted, including all patients treated with esophageal stenting for malignant disease recorded in Swedish national registries in the period 1997 - 2000. Patients with esophageal or cardia cancer were identified in the cancer registry, and those treated with esophageal stenting were selected from the in-patient registry. Survival and emigration were assessed using the registries for causes of death and emigration, respectively. Procedure-related complications were assessed by reviewing medical records. RESULTS: Among 1052 registered patients with esophageal or cardia cancer, 402 patients (38 %), with a median age of 74 years, were treated with esophageal stenting. After treatment, the median in-hospital stay was 7 days, and the median survival was 100 days. Survival times were similar between age groups and sexes. Stenting was conducted at 38 Swedish hospitals, with a range of 1-59 procedures at each hospital. Among 152 (38 %) patients who were evaluated for complications, 41 (27 %) had complications of some type, while 20 (13 %) experienced direct procedure-related complications. No differences in complication frequencies were found between high-volume and low-volume centers. There were only two procedure-related deaths (1 %), both due to esophageal perforation. No reduction in the median survival time was found in patients with complications. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with self-expanding metal stents is a widely used and reasonably safe procedure among patients with malignant dysphagia, independent of sex, age, or hospital volume in Sweden.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

MRI combined with MR cholangiopancreatography versus helical CT in the evaluation of patients with suspected periampullary tumors: a prospective comparative study.

PURPOSE: To establish the diagnostic accuracy of MRI including MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) compared with helical CT in the differentiation of malignant and benign lesions in the periampullary region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients (27 M, 24 F, mean age 66 years, range 39-86 years) with obstructive jaundice and sonographic evidence of intra- and extrahepatic bile duct dilatation (n=31) or suspicion of periampullary tumor, based on previously performed ultrasound and/or CT examination (n=20), were studied. MRI with MRCP and helical CT were reviewed blindly under standardized conditions. Lesion status (differentiation of malignant versus benign) was rated on a 5-point diagnostic confidence scale. Reference standards for comparison were findings at surgery or laparoscopy and/ or the clinical outcome. The predictive value of imaging findings was determined with multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.96 for MRI with MRCP and 0.81 for CT (P <0.05). Multivariate analysis of eight imaging variables at MRI indicated that a stricture with malignant characteristics at MRCP was the best predictor of malignancy. CONCLUSION: MRI with MRCP was significantly more accurate than CT in differentiating between malignant and benign lesions in patients with suspected periampullary tumors, mainly due to the information obtained on the MRCP images of the biliary and pancreatic duct anatomy.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Epithelial barrier integrity and intraluminal nitric oxide production in response to acid perfusion of the ferret oesophagus.

AIM: To evaluate the source and role of acid-induced intraluminal nitric oxide (NO) production in the oesophagus by studying how the exposure of the oesophagus to acid affects NO release, via the NO-producing enzyme NO synthase and its relation to changes in epithelial barrier integrity. METHODS: Ferrets were anaesthetized and their oesophagi were divided at both ends. The test subjects were pre-treated with the intravenous NO synthase inhibitors N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 mg kg(-1)) and 1400W (12 mg kg(-1)). Untreated and N(G)-nitro-D-arginine-methyl ester pre-treated (D-NAME, 100 mg kg(-1)) animals served as controls. The oesophagus was then perfused with either HCl (0.1 m) or physiological saline for 20 min. The intraluminal NO concentration was determined before and after the acid/saline infusion while the transmucosal potential difference (PD) was monitored continuously. Oesophageal biopsies were examined for expression of inducible NO synthase using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The intraluminal NO concentration increased after acid exposure. This was blocked by L-NAME and 1400W, but not by D-NAME. The peak PD response was not affected by agents affecting NO synthesis, while the plateau response was attenuated by L-NAME, D-NAME and 1400W. Immunohistochemistry revealed inducible NO synthase expression in the epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: Exposing the ferret oesophageal mucosa to acid elicited an increase in juxtamucosal NO formation through the activation of inducible NO synthase. The corresponding electrophysiological observations suggested an association between mucosal NO production and epithelial integrity.

Amidines↗

PubMed2005

Manometric characteristics of the gastroesophageal junction after anterior versus posterior partial fundoplication.

How best to surgically treat GERD is an unresolved issue. To increase our insights into the fundoplication procedures, functional consequences for the gastroesophageal junction of an anterior or a posterior partial fundoplication were studied by manometry. Patients were randomly selected from a larger study in a randomised comparison between posterior and anterior partial fundoplications. The manometric studies were done 12 months after respective procedures in 24 patients. The motor characteristics of the esophagus and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function were determined by use of sleeve catheter manometry. The manometric characteristics of the esophageal body were similar in the study groups except for the ramp pressure. This was significantly higher in patients with posterior partial fundoplications. The posterior group had significantly longer total length (P < 0.02) as well as longer intra-abdominal portions (P = 0.07) of the LES while the basal tone, albeit numerically higher, did not reach statistical significance. Water-swallow induced LES relaxations reached lower nadir values in the anterior group (1.7 vs 2.7 mmHg). Gas distension triggered few transient LES relaxations in both study groups while common cavities were more frequently observed in those having an anterior partial wrap (P < 0.01). A posterior partial fundoplication is followed by manometric characteristics suggesting a well functioning antireflux barrier with some obstruction to bolus passage as well as restricted venting of air from the stomach. The manometric mechanisms behind the inferior reflux control achieved by a Watson type of anterior partial wrap has now been further elucidated.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Timed barium esophagogram in the assessment of patients with achalasia: reproducibility and observer variation.

SUMMARY. The timed barium esophagogram (TBE) is a further development of the barium swallow, introducing functional and dynamic dimensions to the assessment. The purpose of our study was to assess the day to day variability of TBE parameters when scored in healthy subjects, in untreated and in previously treated patients with confirmed diagnoses of achalasia and to assess the intra- and interobserver agreement. After fasting, the subjects drank 250 mL of low-density barium sulfate suspension. Radiographs of the esophagus were exposed at 1, 2 and 5 min after the start of the barium ingestion. The heights and widths of the barium column and changes in these parameters over time (esophageal emptying) were assessed. Each subject was re-tested after a median time interval of 8 days. Healthy individuals emptied their esophagi effectively and promptly with no significant amount of contrast remaining in the lumen after 2 min. In the achalasia patients all TBE variables differed profoundly compared to the controls. There was an excellent intra- and interobserver agreement for all measured variables. The reproducibility of the static TBE variables from day-to-day was good, but not so for the functional assessment of esophageal emptying, having a correlation coefficient of only 0.50. The usefulness of TBE as a clinical and research tool in achalasia patients requires further evaluation.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Stent insertion or endoluminal brachytherapy as palliation of patients with advanced cancer of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction. Results of a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

SUMMARY: Esophageal cancer often presents as advanced stage disease with a dismal prognosis, with only 10-15% of patients surviving 5 years. Therefore, in a large proportion of patients, palliative treatment is the only option available. The aim of this study was to prospectively compare the palliative effect of self-expandable stent placement with that of endoluminal brachytherapy regarding the effect on quality of life and on specific symptoms. Sixty-five patients with advanced cancer of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction were randomized to treatment with either an Ultraflex expandable stent or high-dose-rate endoluminal brachytherapy with 7 Gy x 3 given in 2-4 weeks. Clinical assessment and health-related quality of life (HRQL) were measured at inclusion and 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months later. The HRQL was measured with standardized questionnaires (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Oesophageal Module and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Twenty-eight patients completed the stent treatment and 24 patients the brachytherapy. The group of patients treated with stent reported significantly better HRQL scores for dysphagia (P < 0.05) at the 1-month follow-up, but most other HRQL scores, including functioning and symptom scales, deteriorated. Among brachytherapy-treated patients, improvement was found for the dysphagia-related scores at the 3-months follow-up, whereas other significant changes of scores were few. The median survival time was comparable in the two groups (around 120 days). In conclusion, insertion of self-expandable metal stents offered a more instant relief of dysphagia compared to endoluminal brachytherapy, but HRQL was more stable in the brachytherapy group.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Sealing of esophageal perforation or ruptures with expandable metallic stents: a prospective controlled study on treatment efficacy and limitations.

Esophageal perforations are surgical emergencies with high mortality rates. A variety of treatment strategies have been advocated. No single strategy has however, been fully applicable to deal with most situations. The aim of this study was to investigate if treatment with covered expandable metallic stents could offer a feasible option for the management of a leaking esophagus regardless of cause. Twenty-two consecutive patients with perforation or leakage from the intrathoracic esophagus were endoscopically treated with placement of a covered expandable metallic stent. Nine patients had esophageal cancer and 13 had benign underlying disease of whom two had a leakage from a surgical anastomosis. The leakage could be sealed in all but one patient. This patient died after an open esophageal diversion procedure. Twelve patients had an uneventful recovery, whereas three patients needed percutaneous drainage of abscesses and one drainage of the pleural cavity through a small thoracotomy. One patient required a conventional thoracotomy to drain the mediastinum. In total five (23%) patients died from the perforation within 30 days. Two of the deaths were unrelated and three (14%) related to the perforation. In patients with benign disease stents were removed or replaced after 3 weeks. In total 17 stents were successfully removed. Leakage from a damage esophagus can be effectively covered by expandable metallic stents seemingly regardless of the underlying cause and is likely to offer a good chance of survival even in severely ill patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Complications after anti-reflux surgery.

Anti-reflux operations are frequently performed in a variety of different hospital categories. Surgical repair of the reflux-preventing mechanisms is very effective in preventing a relapse of the reflux, but the side effects of surgery sometimes mar an otherwise excellent postsurgical result. The side effects of anti-reflux surgery are mainly due to an overcorrection of the anti-reflux mechanisms in the gastro-oesophageal junction area. A restrained passage of swallowed food through the gastro-oesophageal junction is a fairly regular phenomenon postoperatively, although it causes astonishingly few symptoms except during the early postoperative period. No patient should be able to vomit after a well-functioning anti-reflux procedure, although the ability to belch is usually reported to be maintained despite objective evidence to suggest significant deficiencies, which may cause bloating and rectal flatulence. A variety of factors have been suggested to counteract some of the side effects of anti-reflux surgery. The best-documented preventive strategy presented so far is to carry out a posterior partial fundoplication and to ensure that the patient is operated on in a high-volume, specialised centre.

Deglutition Disorders↗

PubMed2004

Radial distribution of dilated intercellular spaces of the esophageal squamous epithelium in patients with reflux disease exhibiting discrete endoscopic lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Dilatation of intercellular spaces of the esophageal squamous epithelium has been suggested as a marker of early acid reflux-induced damage. This change is a potentially useful addition to histomorphological changes that represent so called minimal endoscopic lesions. We have assessed dilatation of intercellular spaces with regard to: (1) interobserver variability, and (2) whether the incidence of this varies between 'red streaks' and the adjacent normal looking squamous epithelium. METHODS: Esophageal biopsies from 44 patients with chronic gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD) were evaluated. At endoscopy, these patients had one or more red streaks on the tops of the mucosal folds in the distal esophagus. Biopsies were taken from the red streaks and from the normal-appearing mucosa 1 cm lateral to the red streaks. Biopsies were assessed in a blinded fashion by two independent pathologists (MV & RF). Criteria for assessing intercellular space dilatation were evaluated and agreed on prior to the study. RESULTS: Good interobserver agreement was recorded (kappa = 0.82 at the streaks and 0.77 for the control tissues) for absence/presence of intercellular space dilatation. Red streak and control biopsies differed significantly (p = 0.0001), with respect to presence of dilated intercellular spaces, with 90.5 % of the former demonstrating this as present compared to 56.1% in the controls. CONCLUSION: This study supports the concept that esophageal mucosal minimal changes due to reflux is localised and that dilatation of intercellular spaces is an early sign of reflux-induced epithelial damage. The low interobserver variability in the assessment of intercellular space dilatation suggests that this may be a useful variable for assessment of early signs of acid-reflux induced damage to the squamous epithelium of the esophagus by use of light microscopy.

Biopsy↗

PubMed2004