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Biomedical subjects

Paul Fockens

Publications and source records attributed to Paul Fockens.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Conscious sedation for EUS of the esophagus and stomach: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial comparing midazolam with placebo.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing EUS usually receive intravenously administered sedative medication. A double-blind, prospective, randomized trial was conducted to compare midazolam with a placebo for EUS of the esophagus and stomach and to assess patient tolerance and endoscopic feasibility. METHODS: A total of 111 patients were randomized to receive midazolam or a placebo. Patients used a visual analogue scale to score pre-EUS anxiety and tolerance for the procedure. Endoscopists used a visual analogue scale to score ease of echoendoscope introduction and overall patient cooperation. Subsequent to EUS, patients were asked if they were willing to undergo the procedure under the same conditions. RESULTS: The patients' visual analogue scale scores indicated that tolerance for the introduction of the echoendoscope and the procedure overall were both significantly better in the midazolam group. Overall patient tolerance was predicted by sedation (p < 0.001) and pre-EUS anxiety (p = 0.024). Endoscopists' visual analogue scale scores showed that ease of echoendoscope introduction was significantly better in the midazolam group. There was no significant difference in overall patient cooperation during the procedure. There were no significant differences in introduction time, total procedure time, or patients' willingness to undergo the procedure under the same conditions. CONCLUSIONS: EUS of the esophagus and stomach without intravenous sedation is feasible for endoscopists and patients. Patients prefer intravenous administration of midazolam. Assessment of anxiety before EUS may indicate whether administration of midazolam can improve tolerance for the individual patient.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Gatekeeper Reflux Repair System: technique, pre-clinical, and clinical experience.

The Gatekeeper Reflux Repair System is a new, promising endoscopic anti-reflux therapy. It has now been shown that it is possible to implant hydrogel prosthesis in the submucosa of the esophagus of humans. The pilot study in humans showed that it is a safe technique and no prostheses migrated into the mediastinum. With the help of endoscopic ultrasonography, each prosthesis was followed during the 6-month pilot study. After finishing this pilot study, new multi-center studies have been initiated with implantation of more prostheses to increase efficacy. One of the definite advantages over the other endoscopic treatments currently being developed is its reversibility. Regarding endoscopic anti-reflux therapy in general, it is important to stress that at this time no data are available in the literature about the comparison to medical therapy. At the same time long-term results are also unknown. For these reasons these endoscopic procedures must be considered experimental and they should be performed in a clinical research setting. Within a few years the role of the Gatekeeper Reflux Repair System will be better understood for those PPI-dependent GERD-patients who wish to stop their medication.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed2003

Pseudoachalasia caused by pancreatic carcinoma.

Secondary achalasia or pseudoachalasia is mostly caused by gastric or oesophageal carcinoma. Here we report a case of pseudoachalasia caused by a pancreatic tumour invading the cardiac region. A 66-year-old man with a 2-month history of dysphagia and weight loss showed no abnormalities on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and computed tomography scan, but had no swallow-induced relaxation on oesophageal manometry. Based on the patient's history and oesophageal manometry findings, further investigation was performed to exclude pseudoachalasia. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed abnormalities in the cardiac region, but large endoscopic biopsies showed no malignancy. A laparotomy was performed, which revealed a large, irresectable tumour originating from the pancreatic corpus region and expanding into the gastric cardia region. This case illustrates that a pancreatic tumour invading the cardiac region may present as pseudoachalasia.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2002

Extended transthoracic resection compared with limited transhiatal resection for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists about the best surgical treatment for esophageal carcinoma. METHODS: We randomly assigned 220 patients with adenocarcinoma of the mid-to-distal esophagus or adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia involving the distal esophagus either to transhiatal esophagectomy or to transthoracic esophagectomy with extended en bloc lymphadenectomy. Principal end points were overall survival and disease-free survival. Early morbidity and mortality, the number of quality-adjusted life-years gained, and cost effectiveness were also determined. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients were assigned to undergo transhiatal esophagectomy, and 114 to undergo transthoracic esophagectomy. Demographic characteristics and characteristics of the tumor were similar in the two groups. Perioperative morbidity was higher after transthoracic esophagectomy, but there was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality (P=0.45). After a median follow-up of 4.7 years, 142 patients had died--74 (70 percent) after transhiatal resection and 68 (60 percent) after transthoracic resection (P=0.12). Although the difference in survival was not statistically significant, there was a trend toward a survival benefit with the extended approach at five years: disease-free survival was 27 percent in the transhiatal-esophagectomy group, as compared with 39 percent in the transthoracic-esophagectomy group (95 percent confidence interval for the difference, -1 to 24 percent [the negative value indicates better survival with transhiatal resection]), whereas overall survival was 29 percent as compared with 39 percent (95 percent confidence interval for the difference, -3 to 23 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Transhiatal esophagectomy was associated with lower morbidity than transthoracic esophagectomy with extended en bloc lymphadenectomy. Although median overall, disease-free, and quality-adjusted survival did not differ statistically between the groups, there was a trend toward improved long-term survival at five years with the extended transthoracic approach.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2002

Future developments in endoscopic imaging.

Flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy was introduced more than 30 years ago; this chapter will try to look into its future. Developments are expected in five different categories. We will see better with the use of high-resolution magnification endoscopy as well as by using other light-tissue interactions (such as spectroscopy). We will also be able to look just below the surface with laser-scanning microscopy and optical coherence tomography with a resolution of 1 microm (in vivo histology). Computers will assist with the interpretation of what we see, and the availability of broadband networks all around the world will allow real-time consultation globally. Invisible areas of the gastrointestinal tract will be seen with the help of improved endoscopy capsules and virtual endoscopy. Finally, we will treat endoscopically, with the help of new instruments and accessories, more of the lesions that we see.

Endoscopes↗
PubMed2002

Comparative optical coherence tomography imaging of human esophagus: how accurate is localization of the muscularis mucosae?

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of esophageal cancer limited to the mucosa allows local endoscopic treatment and thereby improves prognosis. Optical coherence tomography images of normal human esophageal tissue obtained with 2 systems with light sources that provide different wavelengths (800 nm and 1275 nm) were compared with histology to determine which wavelength is best suited for detailed optical coherence tomography imaging of the esophageal wall, and to precisely localize the muscularis mucosae. METHODS: Within 1 hour of surgical resection, an esophageal specimen was cleaned of excess blood with saline solution and soaked in formalin for a minimum of 48 hours. After optical coherence tomography imaging, the specimen was prepared for routine histologic assessment. To precisely localize the different layers of the esophageal wall on an optical coherence tomography image, well-defined structures within the esophageal wall were sought. RESULTS: The 1275 nm system with 12 mm resolution was superior in terms of imaging depth. As compared with histology, the 4 microm resolution of the 800 nm system made fine detail more visible. With minimal experience, the muscularis mucosae could be recognized with either system as a hyporeflective layer with a diameter of around 180 microm. CONCLUSIONS: Based on appearance and location of morphologic landmarks, layers of normal esophageal wall, specifically, the location and extent of the muscularis mucosae, could be recognized by using both the 800 nm and 1275 nm optical coherence tomography system. Although different conditions may be operative in vivo, the present ex vivo study further verifies by precise interpretation that optical coherence tomography provides precise images of the esophageal wall.

Esophagus↗