Objective:To investigate the safety and feasibility of endoscopic cholecystolithotomy after endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) implantation in animals.Methods:Six miniature pigs of 30-35 kg were selected to laparotomy under intravenous anesthesia. Two to four sterile human stones with diameter of 0.8-2.0 cm were implanted in their gallbladder. After successful modeling, LAMS was implanted between the stomach and gallbladder under the guidance of EUS. Ultrafine endoscope was used to search and remove stones after passing the gastric stent into the gallbladder. Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) and endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) was performed to prevent bile leakage. And then ordinary endoscope was used to remove LAMS and close the wound. The success rate, operation time, and incidence of complications were analyzed.Results:Five pigs were successfully implanted with LAMS, and the ultrafine endoscope entered the gallbladder smoothly. Small stones were removed from the stone basket, and large stones were completely removed after laser lithotripsy. The total operation time was 87-128 min. No postoperative complications such as bleeding, perforation, infection, or biliary fistula were observed. Failure in 1 pig was due to the first EST plus ERBD, resulting in rapid reduction of gallbladder volume and away from the gastric cavity leading to puncture difficulties.Conclusion:Endoscopic cholecystolithotomy after EUS-guided LAMS implantation is safe and feasible, and may provide animal experimental evidence for potential therapeutic approach for patients with difficulty in cholecystectomy.

Objective:To introduce the application of highly selective arterial indocyanine green angiography (hereinafter referred to as highly selective arterial angiography) in the design of anterolateral thigh free flap.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. From November 2023 to April 2024, 29 patients with wounds in extremities which were repaired by anterolateral thigh free flaps designed under the assistance of highly selective arterial angiography and met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Hand Surgery and Department of Wound Repair Surgery of Suzhou Ruihua Orthopedic Hospital, including 26 males and 3 females, aged 16 to 71 years. The wound area after debridement ranged from 8.0 cm×4.5 cm to 27.0 cm×16.0 cm. During the surgery, highly selective arterial angiography was used to assist in flap design. The fluorescence development range of the source arteries or perforators of flaps was observed. The blood supply range of the source arteries or perforators of flaps was determined based on the fluorescence development of the skin, and the excision position of the flap was adjusted. The flap incision area ranged from 9.0 cm×6.0 cm to 29.0 cm×16.0 cm. During the surgery, the number of highly selective arterial angiography, the type of source artery of perforators for puncture, and changes in the excision position of flaps were observed and recorded. After surgery, the blood supply and survival of flaps, the healing of wounds and the survival of skin grafts in the flap donor sites, and the angiography-related complications were observed.Results:All the 32 flaps of 29 patients were successfully excised. The highly selective arterial angiography was performed 37 times, including 13 cases of puncture of the oblique branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, 6 cases of puncture of the descending branch, 8 cases of double puncture of the oblique and descending branches, and 2 cases of puncture of arteries from other branches. During the surgery, the excision position of 28 flaps did not change, the excision position of 3 flaps moved towards proximal extremity of the thigh, and the excision position of 1 flap moved towards distal extremity of the thigh. All the flaps survived successfully after the surgery, and there was no partial necrosis of the flaps at the proximal or distal ends. The wounds in the flap donor sites healed, and all skin grafts survived. No angiography-related complications occurred.Conclusions:Highly selective arterial angiography can be used to determine the blood supply range of the source artery and perforators of the anterolateral thigh free flaps during the surgery. It can evaluate the blood supply of flaps more intuitively and objectively. Its application in assisting flap design can avoid partial flap necrosis caused by unreasonable preoperative design to a certain extent, and it is safe and reliable.