BACKGROUND: Cryosurgery was recently introduced as a treatment for varicose veins in the lower extremities. Cryosurgery with freezing probes can be used to remove the great saphenous vein (GSV) via an inguinal incision alone. The aim of this study was to assess early outcomes and the feasibility of cryosurgery for varicose veins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients were enrolled in the present study from March 2009 to July 2010. All patients underwent careful physical examinations, and their GSV reflux was demonstrated by duplex ultrasonography. Clinical severity was measured according to the clinical-etiology-anatomy-pathophysiology (CEAP) classification. The impaired GSVs were removed with rigid cryoprobes after freezing. Patients had follow-up appointments at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery. Sclerotherapy was performed during follow-up on an outpatient basis as needed. RESULTS: A total of 19 men and 21 women were enrolled. The mean follow-up duration was 3.4 months (range, 1 to 12 months). The clinical severity ranged from CEAP 2 to CEAP 6a. Thirty-eight patients underwent concomitant phlebectomy during surgery. No recurrences were reported during follow-up. There were three cases of minor complications. Two patients had paresthesia, and one had thrombophlebitis. CONCLUSION: Using cryosurgery techniques to treat varicose veins, the complication rates were minimal and outcomes were comparable to those of previous reports. This procedure is a safe and feasible treatment modality for varicose veins.
Appointments and Schedules ; Cryosurgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Freezing ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Outpatients ; Paresthesia ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence ; Saphenous Vein ; Sclerotherapy ; Varicose Veins

Pulmonary hamartoma is one of the most common benign lung tumors. Well-known conventional methods of treatment for lung hamartomas include VATS enucleation or wedge resection, bronchoplasty, and others. Here we present a case of endobronchial hamartoma that was successfully treated with cryosurgery by flexible bronchoscopy.
Bronchoscopy ; Cryosurgery ; Hamartoma ; Lung ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

Pulmonary hamartoma is one of the most common benign lung tumors. Well-known conventional methods of treatment for lung hamartomas include VATS enucleation or wedge resection, bronchoplasty, and others. Here we present a case of endobronchial hamartoma that was successfully treated with cryosurgery by flexible bronchoscopy.
Bronchoscopy ; Cryosurgery ; Hamartoma ; Lung ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

Extra-anatomic graft bypass is frequently performed instead of standard infrarenal aorto-iliac reconstruction in patients with Leriche syndrome in whom the thrombus extends to the level of the renal arteries. However, many different surgical options are still being attempted due to the unsatisfying long-term graft patency. We performed a descending thoracic aorto-bifemoral bypass graft with 14 and 14-7-7 mm artificial vessels through a posterolateral thoracotomy, a median laparotomy, and a longitudinal inguinal incision in a 48-year-old male who suffered from claudication with Leriche syndrome. After surgery, the patient recovered well and was discharged. The patient walked well without any symptoms during the 6 month follow-up period in the outpatient department. We have concluded that descending thoracic aorto-bifemoral bypass grafting could be considered as an alternative method for patients with Leriche syndrome in whom standard infrarenal aorto-iliac reconstruction is unsuitable.
Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; Arteries ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Leriche Syndrome ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Outpatients ; Renal Artery ; Thoracotomy ; Thrombosis ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Cryosurgery has been used to treat primary malignant pulmonary tumors at our institute since November 2004. In this study we analyzed our treatment results and complication rates. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study using medical charts and imaging data was conducted involving 17 patients with a total of 17 malignant pulmonary tumors who were treated between November 2004 and March 2007. Fourteen patients were males and 3 were females. The median age of the patients was 64 years (range, 54~77 years). The average size of the tumors was 48.8 mm (range, 36~111 mm) in diameter. The patients were followed with chest CT scans 7 days, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. PET scans were obtained between 6 and 9 months postoperatively. The treatment response was analyzed according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria. RESULT: Six months after treatment, 6 tumors (35.3%) showed a complete response, 4 (23.5%) had a partial response, 3 (17.6%) had stable disease, and 4 (23.5%) showed disease progression. In tumors <4 cm in diameter, a complete response was reported in 50% of the tumors. A chi-square-test showed that in tumors <4 cm in diameter, the p-value for results better than a partial response was 0.034. With respect to procedural complications, there was 1 case of blood-tinged sputum which resolved spontaneously within 1 or 2 days, a spontaneously relieved case of subcutaneous emphysema, and 1 patient with a fever. There were no mortalities and the average hospital stay was 6.3 days. CONCLUSION: The effects of cryosurgery on primary lung cancer is greatest in patients with small tumors. Considering the facts that cryosurgery is minimally invasive, has a low complication rate, and can be performed repetitively, we believe that it may play an important role in the treatment of high risk lung cancer patients.
Cryosurgery ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Thorax

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, pharmacokinetics, and recommended phase II dose of an oral drug composed of paclitaxel and HM30181A, which is an inhibitor of P-glycoprotein, in patients with advanced cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced solid tumors received standard therapy were given the study drug at escalating doses, using a 3+3 design. The study drug was orally administered on days 1, 8, and 15, with a 28-day cycle of administration. The dose of paclitaxel was escalated from 60 to 420 mg/m2, and the dose of HM30181A was escalated from 30-210 mg/m2. RESULTS: A total of twenty-four patients were enrolled. Only one patient experienced a dose-limiting toxicity-a grade 3 neutropenia that persisted for more than 2 weeks, at 240 mg/m2 of paclitaxel. MTD was not reached. The maximum plasma concentration was obtained at a dose level of 300 mg/m2 and the area under the curve of plasma concentration-time from 0 to the most recent plasma concentration measurement of paclitaxel was reached at a dose level of 420 mg/m2. The absorption of paclitaxel tends to be limited at doses that exceed 300 mg/m2. The effective plasma concentration of paclitaxel was achieved at a dose of 120 mg/m2. Responses of 23 patients were evaluated; 8 (34.8%) had stable disease and 15 (65.2%) had progressive disease. CONCLUSION: The study drug appears to be well tolerated, and the effective plasma concentration of paclitaxel was achieved. The recommended phase II dose for oral paclitaxel is 300 mg/m2.
Absorption ; Humans ; Maximum Tolerated Dose ; Neutropenia ; P-Glycoprotein* ; Paclitaxel* ; Pharmacokinetics ; Plasma