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D De Looze

Publications and source records attributed to D De Looze.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Video capsule endoscopy in small-bowel malignancy: a multicenter Belgian study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Early diagnosis of small-bowel tumors is crucial for therapy. Video capsule endoscopy has improved the diagnosis of small-bowel diseases, but data concerning the role of this technique in detecting small-bowel malignancy are scarce. The aim of this paper was to review all capsule endoscopy findings at Belgian hospitals, in order to evaluate the diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy in the field of small-bowel malignancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: For this retrospective study, the seven Belgian academic hospitals where the device was being used were asked to review the findings obtained by means of video capsule endoscopy, and to collect information about the cases of small-bowel malignancy. RESULTS: In total, 443 capsule endoscopies were performed up to November 2004, and 11 malignant small-bowel processes were detected (2.5%). The most frequent indications for performing capsule endoscopy in those 11 cases were intestinal bleeding of undefined origin or iron-deficiency anemia. The mean number of diagnostic procedures performed before capsule endoscopy was 3.6. The capsule endoscopy results had a diagnostic yield of 1.6% after classical work-up. In 55% of these cases, capsule endoscopy findings had an influence on therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Tumors of the small bowel remain a rare condition. Video capsule endoscopy is able to detect tumors undiagnosed by classical procedures in about 1.6% of cases and has an impact on the therapy in 55% of the tumor cases.

Aged↗

The pain cycle: implications for the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic pain syndromes.

The aim of the study was to report our results of sacral nerve stimulation in patients with pelvic pain after failed conservative treatment. From 1992 to August 1998 we treated 111 patients (40 males, 71 females, ages 46 +/- 16 years) with chronic pelvic pain. All patients with causal treatment were excluded from this study. Pelvic floor training, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and intrarectal or intravaginal electrostimulation were applied and sacral nerve stimulation was used for therapy-resistant pain. The outcome of conservative treatment and sacral nerve stimulation (VAS <3/10; >50% pain relief) was related to symptoms of voiding dysfunction and dyschezia, and urodynamic proof of dysfunctional voiding, not to the pain localization or treatment modality. Outcome was inversely related to neuropathic pain. When conservative treatment failed, a test stimulation of the S3 root was effective in 16/26 patients, and 11 patients were implanted successfully with a follow-up of 36 +/- 8 months. So far no late failures have been seen. A longer test stimulation is needed in patients with pelvic pain because of a higher incidence of initial false positive tests. Our conclusion is that sacral nerve stimulation is effective in the treatment of therapy-resistant pelvic pain syndromes linked to pelvic floor dysfunction.

Adult↗

Constipation and other chronic gastrointestinal problems in spinal cord injury patients.

From a questionnaire sent to 90 spinal cord injury (SCI) patients it is concluded that 58% of patients with a complete SCI above L2 suffer from constipation, defined as two or fewer bowel movements per week, or the use of aids such as laxatives, manual evacuation or enemas. Tetraplegic patients had the highest prevalence of constipation, while patients with low paraplegia were less prone to constipation. The use of anticholinergic drugs was found to predispose to constipation. Preserved rectal sensation did not influence the presence of constipation. Faecal incontinence was rare. Regular abdominal pain was present in one third of SCI patients and might be caused by an irritable bowel syndrome in 62% of these.

Abdominal Pain↗

Endoscopic follow-up of Barrett's esophagus: protocol and implications.

The purpose of endoscopic surveillance in Barrett's esophagus is to detect dysplasia and to diagnose carcinoma in an early, treatable stage. Prospective trials that study the efficacy of a surveillance program in reducing mortality from esophageal adenocarcinoma are lacking. Retrospective studies have shown a significantly better outcome in patients with esophageal cancer that is detected during a surveillance program. Obviously, surveillance is only indicated for those patients fit enough to undergo esophagectomy if high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or malignancy is detected. There is no consensus upon what to do with HGD: some recommend esophagectomy when HGD is diagnosed, because an important proportion of these patients host an adenocarcinoma; others feel that histological proof of malignancy should be established before esophagectomy is proposed. Dysplasia is not a uniform process, causing sampling problems. Using a strict biopsy protocol is helpful to differentiate HGD from carcinoma, but contradictory results about this type of rigorous biopsy protocol have been published. Most groups propose four biopsy specimens, in a circular fashion, from every 2 cm of the Barrett-epithelium, with additional biopsies from any mucosal abnormality. Patients with long-segment Barrett's esophagus need endoscopic surveillance, even if they underwent antireflux surgery. At this moment there are not enough data to support a systematic surveillance of patients with short-segment's Barrett's esophagus. The following endoscopic strategy can be proposed. No dysplasia: surveillance every 2 years. Low-grade dysplasia: surveillance every year; in these cases it is recommended to repeat four-quadrant biopsies at 1 cm interval if numerous biopsies reveal dysplasia to detect foci of HGD/cancer. High-grade dysplasia: repeat immediately four-quadrant biopsies at 1 cm interval; if HGD is confirmed esophagectomy is advised to a patient with acceptable operative risk. Ablation therapy remains experimental.

Adenocarcinoma↗