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Biomedical subjects

C Ell

Publications and source records attributed to C Ell.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Endoscopic therapy of biliary pancreatitis].

Gallstones are the most important causes of acute pancreatitis. Endoscopic-retrograde cholangiography (ERC) is indicated in all situations of acute pancreatitis where the cholestatic enzymes are elevated, the common bile duct is dilated or stones or sludge are detected in the gallbladder sonographically. Additional indications are cholecystectomized patients and where there is no evidence of heavy alcohol ingestion. If common bile duct stones are detected by ERC, endoscopic sphincterotomy is the treatment of choice. In severe cases of biliary pancreatitis in particular, endoscopic therapy improves the final outcome and reduces morbidity and mortality rates. The more severe the clinical situation, the earlier endoscopic therapy should be performed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

New bougie applicator system for intraluminal "high dose rate" afterloading radiotherapy of esophageal carcinoma.

Applicators used to date in endoluminal "high dose rate" (HDR) afterloading (AL) radiotherapy of esophageal carcinoma consist of hollow plastic probes with an average thickness of 4 mm (1.8-5.0 mm), the diameter of which, however, often strongly deviates from that of the lumen of the tumor stenosis. Consequently, the probe can occupy an eccentric position in the esophagus. Exact dosimetry in the tumor region thus becomes virtually impossible, since the dose of the iridium emitter drops significantly with increasing distance (> 60% at a distance of 5 mm from the surface of the 4 mm probe). The bougie-type afterloading applicators developed by our group, however, offer a number of distinct advantages in comparison to conventional applicator probes: 1. Precise positioning of the applicator in the stenosis with simultaneous bougie effect. 2. Exact centering of the radiation source in the lumen of the esophagus. 3. Individual adaptation of the applicator size to the diameter of the residual lumen resulting from the tumor. 4. Upon patient-specific adaptation of the radiation exposure period, a distinct reduction of the surface (mucosa) dose is achieved together with simultaneous enhancement of the depth effect of radiotherapy treatment. Using these new afterloading bougies in over 150 treatment sessions involving 55 patients, no complications were thus far observed.

Brachytherapy↗
PubMed1993

Piezoelectric shockwave lithotripters: differences in fragmentation efficiency in vitro.

In a comparative assessment of the stone fragmentation efficacy of different piezoelectric lithotripters 72 human gallstones consisting of 24 sets of 3 stones each were disintegrated in vitro using the Piezolith 2300, the EDAP LT.01, and the Therasonic. On the basis of the maximum diameter the calculi were divided into group A (6-15 mm; n = 3 x 16) and group B (16-25 mm; n = 3 x 8) and were treated by using the maximum energy setting of each lithotripter (Piezolith 2300: setting 4, high power; EDAP LT.01: 95%; Therasonic: setting 7). Shockwave application was terminated when the residual fragments measured < or = 4 mm or after a total number of 6000 pulses. With the Piezolith 2300 all calculi could be disintegrated into fragments < or = 4 mm. In contrast, fragmentation was not successful, even after 6000 applied pulses, in the case of 2 and 6 stones when using EDAP LT.01 and the Therasonic lithotripters, respectively. With the remaining concrements of group A (n = 3 x 11) the fragmentation end point was achieved after a lower number of pulses when the Piezolith 2300 (median, 250 pulses; range, 50-500 pulses) was used than with the EDAP LT.01 (1000; 150-2500; p < 0.01) and the Therasonic lithotripters (2750; 750-5500; p < 0.01). Similar results were obtained for group B (n = 3 x 6): the Piezolith 2300 required fewer pulses (200; 100-1250) than the EDAP LT.01 (1000; 500-1000; p < 0.05) and the Therasonic (2000, 500-4000; p < 0.05) units.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cholelithiasis↗
PubMed1993

Parameters influencing piezoelectric shock wave lithotripsy of biliary calculi.

A total of 225 human gallbladder stones were divided into sets of two, three, or four identical calculi (with maximum diameters of 6-26 mm) and submitted to piezoelectric shock wave lithotripsy in vitro in order to investigate the influence of the following parameters on stone disintegration: shock wave intensity, pulse frequency, and various physicochemical parameters such as the volume and viscosity of the fluid surrounding the stone, the hardness of the calculus, and its chemical composition. The fragmentation efficacy increased with enhanced shock wave energy (P less than 0.01). If the volume of the fluid (30 mL) surrounding the calculus was small, the disintegration end-point (defined by maximum fragment diameters less than or equal to 4 mm) was achieved after a lower number of pulses (median: 250 pulses) than in the case of a large fluid volume (80 mL) (500 pulses; P less than 0.01). On the other hand, however, factors such as the shock wave pulse rate (0.9 Hz vs 1.6 Hz), variations in viscosity of a water-jelly mixture surrounding the stone, the chemical composition of the stones as determined by X-ray diffractometry, and stone hardness were found to have no significant influence on the fragmentation efficacy.

Cholelithiasis↗
PubMed1993

[Laser-induced intracorporeal lithotripsy of bile duct calculi].

About 5-10% of all bile-duct stones cannot be removed by endoscopic papillotomy and mechanic lithotripsy. Intracorporal laser lithotropsy has meanwhile become a safe technique which can be used in an endoscopic retrograde way or percutaneously transhepatically. The greatest clinical experience exists in connection with pulsed dye laser systems. More recent developments are the solid-state laser (Alexandrit laser) and dye laser, which include an integrated stone-tissue differentiation system. With the latter system purely radiologically controlled intracorporal lithotripsy is possible in selected cases. This paper reports clinical experience with this lithotripsy system in 17 patients.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1993

Intracorporeal retrograde choledocholithotripsy or ESWL as a therapy for choledocholithiasis.

More than 90% of all common bile duct stones can be removed endoscopically following endoscopic sphincterotomy aided by the use of baskets, balloon catheters and mechanical lithotripsy. Oversized, very hard or impacted stones, however, often resist conventional endoscopic therapy. Promising new or improved approaches to the treatment of these stones are intracorporeal or extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. Shockwave lithotriptors for ESWL are currently available worldwide. However, to treat with the water-bath first generation devices general anaesthesia is required, since shockwaves are painful. Furthermore, an X-ray localization system is essential to visualize the stones after opacification of the bile duct via a nasobiliary catheter. On average, two shockwave treatments with a further one to four endoscopic sessions are required. Intracorporeal lithotripsy promises more comfort and less effort for the patient. Shockwaves are generated either by means of the spark gap principle (electrohydraulic probes) or by laser-induced plasma generation. Laser-induced shockwave lithotripsy appears to be the safer procedure, since with solid state lasers (Q-switched Nd: YAG, alexandrite) athermal, well controlled shockwaves can be generated without the risks of duct perforation (as described for the electrohydraulic system). Furthermore, a recently developed stone-tissue detection system integrated in a new dye laser system (Lithognost) enhances the safety of laser-induced lithotripsy. In consequence, laser lithotripsy without direct endoscopic control appears possible in selected cases.

Endoscopy, Digestive System↗
PubMed1993

[Laser lithotripsy in the treatment of bile duct calculi].

Currently more than 90% of all common bile duct stones can be removed non-surgically by means of endoscopic sphincterotomy, stone extraction and mechanical lithotripsy. For impacted, very large or very hard concrements intracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy by means of pulsed lasers represents a clinically newly established treatment procedure. Most clinical experience exists using the pulsed dye laser applied cholangioscopically via the endoscopic-retrograde or percutaneous-transhepatic route. The development of commercially available fine-caliber-endoscopes allows a relatively easy access to the stone compared to conventional mother-baby-scope-systems. A new stone-tissue-detection-system (STDS) in combination with a rhodamine-6G dye laser is promising for "blind" laser-lithotripsy using standard ERCP- or balloon catheters or a special lithotriptor basket. After successful conclusion of our in vitro and animal studies concerning the STD system we report on 18 patients with giant common bile duct stones using STDS in combination with a Rhodamin-6G dye laser.

Bile Ducts↗
PubMed1993

Recurrent gallstone formation after successful extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy.

Gallstone recurrence was evaluated in 184 patients exhibiting complete stone disappearance after successful extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and concomitant oral bile acid therapy. Follow-up examinations conducted 6-43 months after termination of adjuvant bile acid therapy revealed recurrent calculi in 40/184 (21.7%) patients (27 females, 13 males, p < 0.01; 13 patients with solitary, 27 patients with multiple stones) after a median stone-free period of 11 months (range 1-33 months; mean +/- SD, 13 +/- 8 months). Therefore, an overall probability of stone recurrence of 11.8% was observed 12 months after complete stone disappearance had been confirmed sonographically and bile salt therapy terminated, and a probability of 25.5% after 24 months. Gallstone reformation occurred in 30/146 (20.5%) patients with initially solitary and 10/38 (26.3%) patients with multiple calculi [not significant (NS)]. Only 3/40 (8%) patients with recurrent calculi reported biliary colic. Sonographic gallbladder contractility values acquired at the time recurrent stones were detected did not show any significant differences, compared with the data obtained in the pretreatment examinations; neither were any differences noted between the patients with gallstone reformation and those who remained stone-free. In 20/33 (61%) patients with recurrent stones who opted for further conservative retreatment (ESWL and/or oral litholysis), complete stone disappearance was achieved a second time. The recurrence rates achieved within the first 3 yr after successful shock-wave lithotripsy of biliary calculi cover a range similar to the rates noted after dissolution therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Ergotamine-induced rectal stenosis in a patient with long-term migraine].

A 36 year old woman was admitted to our hospital for treatment of a high-grade rectal stenosis of unknown origin. She had a history of migraine going back 10 years. On intensive questioning she admitted using up to 5 ergotamine-containing suppositories a day. On the basis of history and clinical investigations the rectal stenosis must be connected with the abuse of ergotamine-containing suppositories. This case demonstrates that patients with an unexplained rectal syndrome should be asked for analgetics-containing suppositories specifically. Only discontinuation of treatment in time can preserve the patient from development of a rectal stenosis. In case of a rectal stenosis surgical treatment can be avoided by means of endoscopic controlled dilatation.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A clinical comparison of an electrohydraulic and a piezoelectric shockwave lithotripter in gallstone therapy.

The aim of this prospective, randomized study was to compare two second-generation lithotripters based on different physical principles in patients with gallbladder stones at a single lithotripsy center under the same clinical conditions. Sixty patients with one to three symptomatic gallbladder stones were selected for lithotripsy, either with an electrohydraulic or a piezoelectric device. With both lithotripters, treatment was performed under standard conditions (prone position, sonographic monitoring, sedoanalgesia if necessary, up to 3000 pulses/session, retreatments (maximum, two) if fragments > 4 mm, concomitant oral chemolitholysis). If no fragmentation could be obtained in the first session, the other lithotripter was used for the following treatments. The two groups did not differ significantly with regard to the anthropometric data or number and size of stones. In contrast to piezoelectric lithotripsy (0%), with the electrohydraulic lithotripter, iv analgesics and sedatives were necessary in all treatments (100%); however, in 11/53 treatments (21%), patients did not tolerate the full session despite maximum medication. The treatment time was nearly twice as long with electrohydraulic (56 +/- 22 min) than with piezoelectric lithotripsy (31 +/- 8 min) (p < 0.001). With the electrohydraulic lithotripter, used in 20% of the patients, no fragmentation was seen after the first session, and therapeutically adequate fragmentation (< or = 4 mm) occurred in only 33%. In contrast, with the piezoelectric lithotripter, the stones were disintegrated in all patients (p < 0.05); in 50% a maximum fragment size < or = 4 mm was measured after the first treatment. Whereas in the first months after lithotripsy, stone-free rates were higher with piezoelectric lithotripsy (43% vs. 25% after 1 month; 47% vs. 38% after 2 months; 60% vs. 48% after 4 months; NS), rates of complete stone disappearance were equally high in both groups after 12 months (82%).

Adult↗