Improved biliary stenting using a balloon catheter and the combined technique for difficult stenoses.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to N Vakil.
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Endoscopic measurement of lesions is of great importance in the design and performance of clinical trials, as, for example, in studies of ulcer disease. Endoscopes are constructed with wide-angle lenses that significantly distort the image by creating a relative compression of points in its periphery. We have recently developed a computer program to correct the distortion of the wide-angle lens. We sought to determine the accuracy of the currently used open-biopsy forceps measurement technique and compare it to that of an image-processing technique designed to correct image distortion. The overall error of the open-biopsy forceps technique using an in vitro ulcer model was under-estimation of lesion size by 41.8% +/- 23.3%. When image processing was used to correct distortion, error was significantly decreased to 1.8% +/- 2.2% (p < 0.05). In vivo measurements were made using an inserted object of known size (coated chewing gum). The mean error of the forceps technique in vivo was 26.5% +/- 5.7% (under-estimation of size), which improved significantly to an error of 2.8% +/- 3.2% (p < 0.05) with the image-processing technique. We conclude that image processing significantly enhances the accuracy of measurement at endoscopy.
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Despite the wide dissemination of information on Helicobacter pylori, there is still a great deal of variation in how general practitioners treat the infection and in which circumstances they prescribe eradication therapy for H. pylori. Specialty societies have developed consensus guidelines that recommend a strategy to test and treat dyspeptic patients for H. pylori infection although the data to support these recommendations are weak at the present time. As a result, there is still confusion about the indications for treatment and the treatment regimens that are likely to be effective in routine clinical practice.