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Biomedical subjects

P Fonio

Publications and source records attributed to P Fonio.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma. Our experience.

BACKGROUND: The results of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in comparison to other treatments are investigated. METHODS: 121 patients were treated in 186 sessions in our Institute from January 1991 to January 1996. RESULTS: The mean survival rates at 1 year were 41.5 and 24.4% at 2 years. The patient's survival period was significantly longer in Child A-B patients, and in those on whom multiple sessions were performed. Personal experience in chemoembolization on HCC are better when compared to the natural history of those untreated patients but worse when compared to the data reported in literature about surgery and PEI (Percutaneous Ethanol Injection). It must be made clear though the all surgery case reports do not included class C Child patients whereas PEI is not carried out on those lesions with a diameter greater than 5 cm and plurifocal ones. Our case reports, on the other hand, as most other case reports found in the literature on chemoembolization having results similar to ours, include those patients normally not included in surgical or PEI case reports; this obviously causes the worsening of the results on global patient survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our hypothesis is that in the future the first choice in non-surgical treatment will be an association of TACE and other treatments (PEI and radiofrequency) on Child A and B patients having capsulated lesions >3 cm.

Journal Article↗

[Intraluminal ultrasonography of the biliary ducts].

We report our 4 years' experience with intraluminal US of the biliary ducts performed on 24 patients via a biliary transhepatic-duodenal drainage catheter or a surgically inserted T tube (2 cases). The final diagnosis was a malignant disease in 16 patients and a benign disease in 8 patients. We used an Intra Vascular Ultra Sound (Diasonics) unit with a 20 MHz transducer inserted into a 9 F catheter with closed tip, which in turn was pushed through the biliary ducts in a 12 F sheathed introducer which provides a safety metal guide wire in the duodenum. US examinations lasted only a few minutes and caused no additional patient discomfort; no complications followed. Intraluminal US confirmed the results of other clinical and instrumental tests in 18/24 patients and improved the diagnostic yield in assessing lesion nature and operability in 6 cases (25%). Its cost is high, but the Intra Vascular Ultra Sound includes a 3.5 MHz and a 7 MHz probes and can therefore be used for all the other US examinations needed in interventional radiology rooms and in the study of the biliary ducts. To decrease the cost, we used the Intra Vascular Ultra Sound in less than 10% of the patients treated for biliary obstruction in the same period of time, namely those with questionable diagnosis and operability. We conclude that intraluminal US of the biliary ducts is a useful tool in the centers using interventional radiology to treat many obstructive jaundice patients by a transhepatic approach.

Adult↗

[The percutaneous treatment of the urological complications following kidney transplantation].

Renal transplantation is considered the treatment of choice in most cases of renal failure; the urologic complication rate ranges 1 to 10% in different surveys. This work was aimed at evaluating the application and results of interventional radiology in these cases. Since 1983, 24 patients (20 males and 4 females) whose age ranged from 18 to 63 years (mean age: 42 years) have been submitted to percutaneous maneuvers in our department. Thirty-four complications were treated: 14 stenoses, 11 fistulas, 7 urinomas and 2 transient obstructions. Complete success was obtained in 15/24 patients (62.5%), while 7/24 patients (29.16%) underwent reoperation and in 2/24 cases (8.34%) a definitive pyelostomy catheter was inserted. In 7 stenosis cases ureteroplasty was successfully performed and a double-J endoprosthesis inserted; the follow-up results (5-21 months) were satisfying in all cases. The only complication was one case of endoperitoneal hematoma. Considering the good results obtained, the low morbidity and mortality and the low cost, percutaneous maneuvers must be considered the treatment of choice in the urologic complications of renal transplants. When the percutaneous treatment of the main lesion fails, pyelostomy does nonetheless allow the drainage of urinary collections, the maintenance of renal function and the improvement of local and general conditions, which makes it easier to reoperate under elective conditions.

Adolescent↗

[Tubal catheterization with selective salpingography in the diagnosis and therapy of fallopian tube obstruction].

Fallopian tube catheterization with selective ostial [correction of osteal] salpingography is a new technique for the diagnosis of tubal factors of infertility and also for the treatment of proximal tubal occlusion (PTO). In this study, 246 women were considered, 20-42 years old, with primary or secondary infertility, who presented a unilateral or bilateral PTO at hysterosalpingography (HSG). Catheterization and selective salpingography have been successful in 93.9% of the cases. Failures (5.6%) have been ascribed to obstructive organic diseases, where it was impossible to overcome the stenosis with the catheter or the guide-wire. Twenty-six spontaneous pregnancies were obtained (15 full-term deliveries) and 17 patients became pregnant after GIFT (13 full-term deliveries). At follow-up, after 12 months 4 of 10 patients had normal tubes, while 6 patients presented a new unilateral or bilateral PTO. No major complications occurred; nevertheless, ectopic pregnancy is a possible event, because of the mechanically re-established patency in a nonfunctioning tube.

Adult↗

[Percutaneous treatment of bile duct lithiasis. Personal experience in the first 150 cases].

Since 1983 we have percutaneously treated 150 cases of bile duct lithiasis in which previous endoscopic maneuvers had been incomplete or unfeasible. Complete resolution of lithiasis was obtained in 139 of 150 patients. In 6 cases only partial success was obtained but symptoms subsided. In 2 cases the treatment failed and the patients underwent surgery. Minor complications were observed in 12.6% of patients and resolved either spontaneously or by percutaneous maneuvers. Mortality rate was 2%. After a follow-up period of 6-12 months, 9 patients had a recurrence, completely resolved with further percutaneous treatment. These cases never required surgery. We obtained the best results in patients with stones residual after cholecystectomy or a iatrogenic stricture of the biliary tree. We obtained good results in massive lithiasis with combined endoscopic, surgical and radiological procedures. Morbidity and mortality rates were lower than in surgical series and similar to the endoscopic ones. The short hospitalization, the low cost and the possibility of treatment on an outpatient basis should promote the spreading of percutaneous techniques in the treatment of bile duct lithiasis.

Adolescent↗

[Percutaneous transhepatic bilioplasty: long-term results].

We report the results of a long-term follow-up of 40/101 patients with benign biliary strictures treated with percutaneous balloon dilatation (PBD) at the Radiology Department of the University of Turin, from March 1983 to March 1990. We excluded all the patients who were not followed or treated after June 1988, being their follow-up shorter than 18 months. All patients underwent accurate clinical, biological (AST, ALT, gammaGT, alcaline phosphatase) and US controls. Mean follow-up was 33.5 months. Mean success rate was 75% in strictures of bilioenteric anastomosis, 86% in iatrogenic strictures of the common bile duct, 65% in sclerosing cholangitis, 80% in papillary strictures in which endoscopic treatment had not been possible for anatomical reasons. Our results, compared to the most important radiological and surgical series, show PBD to have lower morbidity than surgery and no mortality during the so-called peroperative period (30 days). Moreover, in case of recurrences, PBD can be repeated without further complications and does not affect eventual surgery.

Adult↗

[Percutaneous transhepatic sphincterotomy].

The authors describe the technique employed for percutaneous transhepatic sphincterotomy as performed on 3 patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones. In all patients, previous endoscopic attempt had failed for anatomical reasons (Billroth II gastric resection or partial gastric resection with Brown anastomosis), and the ampulla could not be correctly incannulated with the sphincterotome. In all patients endoscopy was useful to check the position of the diathermic loop inserted percutaneously. Complete and immediate success was obtained in all 3 cases. No major complications occurred during transhepatic treatment. To date, 1 recurrence has been observed, and the patient has been retreated with bilioplasty. All patients were followed after 5-6 months with US, plain X-rays of the abdomen and blood tests (gamma Gt, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubinemia). The authors suggest that percutaneous transhepatic sphincterotomy be employed electively in patients with biliary tree diseases in case the endoscopic approach failes.

Aged↗

[Multicenter study on the distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains in Italy].

Pneumococcal serotyping by quellung reaction has been performed in five Italian areas on 267 strains, isolated from throat swab, sputum, blood, liquor, etc. 37 serotypes have been identified. The most frequent types resulted 19, 6, 3, 20, 9, 4 (in 50% of total samples), with no difference from those detected in other European countries. The proportion of type 19 was the highest among all age group, in four out of five different areas and in bacteremic pneumonia and meningitis. 36 strains were isolated from infection sites among which type 19 resulted more frequent than in isolates from throat swab and sputum (27.7% versus 16.1%). Pneumococcal serotyping should be routinely done in the light of forthcoming use of polysaccharide vaccine.

Adult↗

[Interventional radiology in the treatment of the complications from interventions on the lower urinary excretory tract].

Ureteral diversions may be complicated by strictures, hydronephrosis, pyelonephritis, lithiasis, fistulas, etc. In the last 10 years, 103 patients with 133 urological postoperative complications underwent percutaneous treatment. Most of the patients had been treated by percutaneous antegrade drainage; afterwards, stricture dilatation, ureteral stenting and stone extraction were performed. In one case a Strecker metallic stent was employed. We have successfully treated 101 of 133 complications (75.9%), with only 27 failures (20.3%). Five cases (3.8%) of lithiasis did not require percutaneous treatment. The good results obtained, the absence of major complications, the low cost and the little discomfort for the patients confirm the leading role of percutaneous treatment in complicated ureteral diversions.

Adolescent↗