Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
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J. Gastrointest. Surg. · Nov 2008
Comparative StudyManagement of preoperatively suspected choledocholithiasis: a decision analysis.
The management of symptomatic or incidentally discovered common bile duct (CBD) stones is still controversial. Of patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis, 5-15% will also harbor CBD stones, and those with symptoms suggestive of choledocholithiasis will have an even higher incidence. Options for treatment include preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with sphincterotomy (ERCP/ES) followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy with intraoperative cholangiogram (LC/IOC), followed by either laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) or placement of a common bile duct double-lumen catheter with postoperative management. The purpose of this analysis was to determine the optimal management of such patients. ⋯ LCBDE has lower morbidity and mortality rates compared to preoperative ERCP/ES in the management of patients with suspected CBD stones even if the chance of CBD stones reaches 100%. Using a common duct double-lumen catheter may be considered if LCBDE is not feasible and the chance of CBD stone is less than 65%.
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J. Gastrointest. Surg. · Oct 2008
Perioperative treatment with infliximab in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis is not associated with an increased rate of postoperative complications.
The impact of infliximab (IFX) on postoperative complications in surgical patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) is unclear. We examined a large patient cohort to clarify whether a relationship exists between IFX and postoperative complications. ⋯ Preoperative IFX was not associated with an increased rate of cumulative postoperative complications.
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J. Gastrointest. Surg. · Oct 2008
Comparative StudySurgical management of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: resection or transplantation?
The surgical management of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with well-compensated cirrhosis is controversial. The purpose of the current study was to compare the outcome of patients with well-compensated cirrhosis and early stage hepatocellular carcinoma treated with initial hepatic resection versus transplantation. ⋯ In well-compensated cirrhotic patients with early stage hepatocellular carcinoma, transplantation was associated with longer disease-free and overall survival. Patients undergoing resection did, however, have tumors with more advanced pathologic features. Patients best suited for initial resection as the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma were those with a MELD score = 8 without evidence of hepatitis.
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J. Gastrointest. Surg. · Oct 2008
Use of infliximab within 3 months of ileocolonic resection is associated with adverse postoperative outcomes in Crohn's patients.
Few studies have evaluated preoperative infliximab use and postoperative outcomes in Crohn's patients. Our aim was to evaluate 30-day postoperative outcomes for Crohn's patients treated with infliximab within 3 months prior to ileocolonic resection. ⋯ Infliximab use within 3 months before surgery is associated with increased postoperative sepsis, abscess, and readmissions in Crohn's patients. Diverting stoma may protect against these complications.
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J. Gastrointest. Surg. · Oct 2008
Clinical TrialQuality of life and symptomatic response to gastric neurostimulation for gastroparesis.
Gastroparesis can be a difficult problem with patients suffering from nausea, vomiting, bloating, and pain intractable to medical management. Gastric neurostimulation has been developed as an adjunctive treatment for patients with diabetic and idiopathic gastroparesis unresponsive to pharmacologic and dietary treatment. The purpose of this study is to report symptomatic and quality-of-life response to gastric neurostimulation. ⋯ Three quarters of gastroparesis patients responded to gastric neurostimulation to variable degrees. Gastrointestinal-specific symptoms are improved in responders. Patients felt that there health and social functioning (SF) improved, although there was no significant difference in the other domains. These results are encouraging considering that these patients had intractable symptoms with no other effective treatments available.