Massive postpartum haemorrhage after Cesarean section for placenta previa is a common occurrence. The bleeding is usually from the placental bed at the lower uterine segment. Uterine tamponade has a role in the management of such patients especially when fertility is desired. We describe here a case of massive postpartum haemorrhage, which was managed, with the use of a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube. This allowed us to avoid a hysterectomy for a young primiparous patient.
Balloon Dilatation/*instrumentation ; Cesarean Section/adverse effects ; Postpartum Hemorrhage/etiology ; Postpartum Hemorrhage/*therapy

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EBD) for choledocholithiasis is known to be comparable to endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) especially in cases of small stones. With larger stones, EBD with conventional balloon, which have a diameter of 6-8 mm, was reported as less effective for extraction of stones. We evaluated the efficacy and complications of EBD with large balloons (10-15 mm) after limited EST for retrieval of choledocholithiasis. From February 2005, we have performed EBD with limited EST for retrieval of common bile duct (CBD) stones. The patients who admitted with hyperamylasemia and gallstone pancreatitis were excluded. In cases without CBD dilation, EPBD with 12 mm for 40 seconds was performed. And in cases with CBD dilation, we dilated the sphincters with 15 mm sized balloon for 40 seconds. Total 22 patients (11 of male) were performed EBD with limited EST for retrieval of CBD stones. The median diameter of the stones was 10 mm (5-25 mm). Ten cases had multiple stones and 6 cases periampullary diverticuli. Successful stone removal in the initial session of ERCP with EBD was accomplished in 16 patients (72.7%). And complete retrieval of bile duct stones was achieved in all patients with repeated ERCP. In the aspect of complications, any episodes of perforation, bleeding was not developed. Only one case of mild grade of post-procedural pancreatitis was noted. However, post-procedural hyperamylasemia was developed in 16 cases (68.2%). EBD with larger balloon seems to be a feasible and safe alternative technique for conventional EST in CBD stone extraction.
Treatment Outcome ; *Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic/adverse effects ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Choledocholithiasis/surgery/*therapy ; *Balloon Dilatation/adverse effects ; Aged

A benign anastomotic stricture is a common complication of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) surgery and is difficult to manage conservatively. Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation has a number of advantages and is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of various benign anastomotic strictures in the UGI tract.
*Anastomosis, Surgical ; Balloon Dilatation/adverse effects/*methods ; Constriction, Pathologic/etiology/therapy ; Esophagus/*surgery ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Stomach/*surgery

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the long-term treatment of esophageal strictures in children with corrosive esophagitis and to determine the effect of self-bougienage on recurrent strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of nine children that were treated for corrosive esophageal strictures from May 2000 to May 2008. Six males and three females were included and their average age was 30 months. Six patients had ingested acids, two patents had ingested alkali, and one ingested an unknown agent. RESULTS: The interval between caustic ingestion and esophageal stricture ranged from one to eight weeks. The average length of the esophageal strictures was 3.8 cm (range, 1 to 9.2 cm). Four patients had a long segment stricture (longer than 5 cm) and one patient had multiple strictures. The most common site of involvement was the upper third followed by the mid third of the esophagus. Eight patients received repeated dilatation using a balloon catheter or bougie dilator. Among the eight patients, two patients had complete resolution of symptoms and six patients required surgery. Among five patients that developed restenosis of the esophageal anastomosis site, three patients had improved symptoms after self-bougienage and two patients had improved symptoms with repeated balloon dilatation or endoscopic bougienage. There were no complications in these patients. CONCLUSION: Although a small number of patients were studied, self-bougienage was safe, less invasive, and effective for the management of esophageal restenosis in patients who required frequent dilation after surgery.
Adult ; Aged ; Balloon Dilatation/adverse effects ; Esophageal Stenosis/*therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Self Care/*instrumentation ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the percutaneous balloon dilatation and large profile catheter maintenance method for the management of patients with anastomotic biliary strictures following liver transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 1999 to June 2003, 12 patients with symptomatic benign biliary stricture complicated by liver transplantation were treated with the percutaneous balloon dilatation and large profile catheter maintenance method (1-6 months). The patients were eight males and four females, and their ages ranged from 20 to 62 years (mean age: 44 years). Ten patients underwent living donor liver transplantation and two underwent cadaveric liver transplantation. Postoperative biliary strictures occurred from two to 21 months (mean age: 18 months) after liver transplantation. RESULTS: The initial technical success rate was 92%. Patency of the bile duct was preserved for eight to 40 months (mean period: 19 months) in 10 of 12 (84%) patients. When reviewing two patients (17%), secondary balloon dilatations were needed for treating the delayed recurrence of biliary stricture. In one patient, no recurrent stenosis was seen during the further 10 months follow-up after secondary balloon dilatation. Another patient did not response to secondary balloon dilatation, and he was treated by surgery. Eleven of 12 patients (92%) showed good biliary patency for 8-40 months (mean period: 19 months) of follow-up. CONCLUSION: The percutaneous balloon dilatation and large profile catheter maintenance method is an effective therapeutic alternative for the treatment of most biliary strictures that complicate liver transplantation. It has a high success rate and it should be considered before surgery.
Treatment Outcome ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Liver Transplantation/*adverse effects ; Humans ; Hepatic Artery/ultrasonography ; Female ; Constriction, Pathologic/etiology/therapy ; Cholangiography ; Bile Duct Diseases/etiology/*therapy ; Balloon Dilatation/*methods ; Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) is a safe and effective method for the treatment of choledocholithiasis, but previous studies have rarely reported the appropriate ballooning time (BT). We prospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of EPBD according to BT in patients undergoing bile duct stone removal. METHODS: Seventy consecutive patients with bile duct stones were randomly assigned to receive EPBD with either conventional (n = 35, 60 seconds) or short (n = 35, 20 seconds) BT. RESULTS: EPBD alone achieved complete bile duct clearance in 67 patients (long BT, n = 33, 94.3%; short BT, n = 34, 97.1%; p = 0.808). We also found no significant difference in the rate of complete duct clearance, including procedures that used mechanical lithotripsy, between the long and short BT groups (97.1% vs. 100%; p = 0.811). Mild pancreatitis was noted in four (11.4%) patients in the long BT group and two (5.7%) patients in the short BT group, but this incidence was not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that EPBD using both 20-sec and 60-sec BTs is safe and effective for the treatment of bile duct stones. Short and long BTs produced comparable outcomes.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Balloon Dilatation/adverse effects/*methods ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledocholithiasis/radiography/*therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to present the results of percutaneous management of ureteral injuries that were diagnosed late after cesarean sections (CS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two cases with 24 ureteral injuries that were diagnosed late after CS underwent percutaneous nephrostomy (PN), antegrade double J (DJ) catheter placement and balloon dilatation or a combination of these. The time for making the diagnosis was 21 +/- 50.1 days. The injury site was the distal ureter in all cases (the left ureter: 13, the right ureter: 7 and bilateral: 2). Fifteen complete ureteral obstructions were detected in 13 cases. Ureteral leakage due to partial (n = 4) or complete (n = 3) rupture was noted in seven cases. Two cases had ureterovaginal fistula. All the cases were initially confirmed with antegrade pyelography and afterwards they underwent percutaneous nephrostomy. Balloon dilatation was needed in three cases. Antegrade DJ stents were placed in 10 cases, including the three cases with balloon dilatation. Repetititon of percutaneous nephrostomy with balloon dilatation and DJ stent placement was needed in one case with complete obstruction. All the cases were followed-up with US in their first week and then monthly thereafter for up to two years. RESULTS: Eighteen ureters (75%) were managed by percutaneous procedures alone. A total of six ureter injuries had to undergo surgery (25%). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous management is a good alternative for the treatment of post-CS ureteral injuries that are diagnosed late after CS. Percutaneous management is at least preparatory for a quarter of the cases where surgery is unavoidable.
Adult ; Balloon Dilatation ; Cesarean Section/*adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Pregnancy ; Rupture ; Stents ; Time Factors ; Ureter/*injuries/surgery ; Ureteral Obstruction/diagnosis/etiology

PURPOSE: We report herein major determinants and long- term outcomes of balloon dilatation (BD) for 27 pediatric patients with isolated native valvular pulmonary stenosis (VPS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 1997 to May 2003, 27 pediatric patients with VPS (pressure gradients> or =40mmHg) were enrolled in this retrospective study. Single-balloon maneuver was applied in 26 patients, and double- balloon maneuver in 1. After BD, the pressure gradients were documented simultaneously by pullback maneuver by cardiac catheterization and echocardiography within 24 hours, at 1- month, 3-month, 1-year, and 4-to-10-year follow-ups. RESULTS: Before BD, the echocardiographic gradients ranged from 40 to 101mmHg (61+/-19, 55), and from 40 to 144mmHg (69+/-32, 60) by pressure recordings. After BD, the gradients ranged from 12 to 70mmHg (29+/-13, 27) by pressure recording (p<0.001), and from 11 to 64mmHg (27+/-12, 26) by echocardiography within 24 hrs (p<0.001). The ratios of the systolic pressure of the right ventricle to those of the left ventricle were 55 to 157% (89+/-28, 79%) before BD, and 30 to 79% (47+/-13, 42%) after BD p<0.001). Follow-up (7.7+/-5.7, 4.5 years) echocardiographic gradients ranged from 11 to 61mmHg (25+/-11, 24). Two patients did not have immediate success owing to infundibular spasm. Improved right ventricular compliance could be accounted for the ultimate success in these 2 patients. The ultimate successful rate was 100%. CONCLUSION: BD can achieve excellent long-term outcomes in the pediatric patients with isolated native VPS.
Adolescent ; Balloon Dilatation/adverse effects/*methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis/pathology/physiopathology/*therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Retinoic acids may inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, but may promote endothelial cell proliferation in cell culture. However, little data are available about the effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on endothelial regeneration and functional recovery in an experimental model of vascular injury. Accordingly, we investigated whether ATRA may attenuate neointima formation and accelerate endothelial regeneration with functional recovery in balloon-injured rat aorta. Twelve-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent endothelial denudation of the thoracic aorta by balloon injury. Fourteen rats were fed a standard rat pellet diet. Another 14 rats were fed ATRA (1.5 mg/day) for 2 weeks. The animals were killed on day 14 for organ chamber study and morphometric analysis. Rats in the ATRA group had a significantly improved acetylcholine-induced relaxation response than those in control group. However, endothelial independent response was not significantly different between the two groups. The extent of reendothelialization was markedly superior in the ATRA group compared with control group (p>0.05). Furthermore, neointima area and the ratio of neointima to medial area were significantly less in ATRA group than in control group (p>0.05). In conclusion, ATRA may accelerate endothelial regeneration with functional recovery, and attenuate neointima formation in balloon-injured rat aorta.
Acetylcholine/pharmacology ; Animal ; Aorta, Thoracic/physiology ; Aorta, Thoracic/injuries ; Aorta, Thoracic/drug effects* ; Balloon Dilatation/adverse effects ; Endothelium, Vascular/physiology ; Endothelium, Vascular/drug effects ; Male ; Muscle Relaxation/physiology ; Muscle Relaxation/drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/physiology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration/physiology ; Regeneration/drug effects ; Tretinoin/pharmacology* ; Tunica Intima/physiology ; Tunica Intima/pathology* ; Tunica Intima/drug effects* ; Vasodilator Agents/pharmacology

Intimal hyperplasia is defined as the abnormal migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) with deposition of extracellular matrix. However, the cell cycle regulatory mechanisms of injury-induced VSMC proliferation are largely unknown. To examine the expression kinetics of cell cycle regulatory factors which is known to be worked positively or negatively, we used rat balloon injury model. Marked induction of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), G1/S cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk2), and its regulatory subunit (cyclin E) occurred between 1 and 3 days after balloon arterial injury, and this was sustained for up to 7 days and then declined. However, the induction of the negative regulators, p21 and p27, occurred between 3 and 5 days of injury, peaked after 7 and 14 days and was then sustained. VSMC proliferation after balloon catheter injury of the rat iliac artery is associated with coordinated expression of positive (cdk2, cyclin E and PCNA) and negative (p21, p27) regulators. Cell cycle regulators such as cdk2, cyclin E, p21, p27 may be suitable targets for the control of intimal hyperplasia.
Animals ; Arteries/*pathology ; Balloon Dilatation/*adverse effects ; Blotting, Western ; CDC2-CDC28 Kinases/biosynthesis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Proteins/biosynthesis ; Cell Division ; Cyclin E/biosynthesis ; Cyclins/biosynthesis ; Endothelium, Vascular/pathology ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism ; Hyperplasia/pathology ; Iliac Artery/pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/*cytology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Time Factors ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/biosynthesis