OBJECTIVE: We retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness of the esophageal balloon dilatation (EBD) in children with a corrosive esophageal stricture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study subjects included 14 patients (M:F = 8:6, age range: 17-85 months) who underwent an EBD due to a corrosive esophageal stricture. The causative agents for the condition were glacial acetic acid (n = 9) and lye (n = 5). RESULTS: A total of 52 EBD sessions were performed in 14 patients (range 1-8 sessions). During the mean 15-month follow-up period (range 1-79 months), 12 patients (86%) underwent additional EBD due to recurrent esophageal stricture. Dysphagia improved after each EBD session and oral feeding was possible between EBD sessions. Long-term success (defined as dysphagia relief for at least 12 months after the last EBD) was achieved in two patients (14%). Temporary success of EBD (defined as dysphagia relief for at least one month after the EBD session) was achieved in 17 out of 52 sessions (33%). A submucosal tear of the esophagus was observed in two (4%) sessions of EBD. CONCLUSION: Only a limited number of children with corrosive esophageal strictures were considered cured by EBD. However, the outcome of repeated EBD was sufficient to allow the children to eat per os prior to surgical management.
Acetic Acid/poisoning ; Balloon Dilatation/*methods ; Burns, Chemical/radiography/*therapy ; Caustics/poisoning ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Deglutition Disorders/etiology ; Esophageal Stenosis/chemically induced/*radiography/*therapy ; Esophagus/radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lye/poisoning ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

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

PURPOSE: Outcomes in 6 neonates with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PAIVS) undergoing radiofrequency pulmonary valvulotomy and valvuloplasty (RPVV) were reported to identify the factors favorable for RPVV as the treatment of choice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2000 to January 2008, 6 patients with PAIVS were included in this retrospective study. They were aged 1 day to 90 days old. Study modalities included review of recordings of presentations and profiles of chest radiography, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization with angiography. Hemodynamic profiles from the echocardiography and the cardiac catheterization were analyzed. RESULTS: Echocardiography showed severe tricuspid regurgitation, membranous atresia of the pulmonary valve, intact ventricular septum, patent ductus arteriosus, and hypoplastic right ventricle in 6 patients. The pulmonary valve annulus were 4.2 to 6.9 mm in diameters, and those of the tricuspid valve were 7.1 to 10.1 mm. Elevated serum level of cardiac enzymes were found in 1 patient with ventriculocoronary communication (VCC). At cardiac catheterization, the ratio of systolic pressure of the right ventricle to that of the left ventricle ranged from 1.43 to 2.33 before RPVV, and from 0.54 to 1.15 after RPVV (p=0.027). The pressure gradients ranged from 76 to 136 mmHg before RPVV, and from 15 to 39 mmHg after RPVV (p=0.028). The echocardiographic gradients ranged from 16 to 32 mmHg within 24 hours after RPVV, and from 15 to 50 mmHg at the follow-ups. CONCLUSION: RPVV can be a treatment of choice for neonates with PAIVS, if there is patent infundibulum, no right-ventricular dependent coronary circulation, and adequate tricuspid valve and pulmonary valve.
Balloon Dilatation/*methods ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Catheterization/*methods ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pulmonary Atresia/*surgery ; Pulmonary Valve/abnormalities/*surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; *Ventricular Septum

Despite the increasing use of the rectal balloon in prostate cancer radiotherapy, many issues still remain to be verified objectively including its positional reproducibility and relevance to treatment morbidity. We have developed a custom rectal balloon that has a scale indicating the depth of insertion and dilates symmetrically ensuring positional reproducibility. Fifty patients with prostate cancer treated by definitive 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) or intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with rectal balloon were analyzed. Each of first five patients undergone computed tomography (CT) three times with a rectal balloon. The positional reproducibility was tested by Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) from the CT-to-CT fusion images. Planning variables and clinical acute toxicities were compared between when or not applying balloon. An ICC of greater than 0.9 in all directions revealed an excellent reproducibility of the balloon. Rectal balloon improved considerably the mean dose and V(45Gy)-V(65Gy) in plan comparison, and especially in 3D-CRT the rectal volume exposed to more than 60 Gy dropped from 41.3% to 19.5%. Clinically, the balloon lowered acute toxicity, which was lowest when both the balloon and IMRT were applied simultaneously. The rectal balloon carries excellent reproducibility and reduces acute toxicity in 3D-CRT and IMRT for prostate cancer.
Balloon Dilatation/*methods ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prostatic Neoplasms/*radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; *Rectum ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

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

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

A model that provides reproducible, submaximal yet sufficient spinal cord injury is needed to allow experiments leading to development of therapeutic techniques and prediction of clinical outcome to be conducted. This study describes an experimental model for spinal cord injury that uses three different volumes of balloon inflation and durations of compression to create a controlled gradation outcome in adult dogs. Twenty-seven mongrel dogs were used for this study. A 3-french embolectomy catheter was inserted into the epidural space through a left hemilaminectomy hole at the L4 vertebral arch. Balloons were then inflated with 50, 100, or 150 microliter of a contrast agent at the L1 level for 6, 12, or 24 h and spinal canal occlusion (SCO) measured using computed tomography. Olby score was used to evaluate the extent of spinal cord injury and a histopathologic examination was conducted 1 week after surgery. The SCO of the 50, 100, and 150 microliter inflations was 22-46%, 51-70%, and 75-89%, respectively (p < 0.05). Olby scores were diminished significantly by a combination of the level of SCO and duration of inflation in all groups. Olby scores in the groups of 150 microliter-12 h, 150 microliter-24 h, and 100 microliter-24 h were 0.5, 0, and 1.7, respectively. Based on these results, a SCO > 50% for 24 h, and > 75% for 12 h induces paraplegia up to a week after spinal cord injury.
Animals ; Balloon Dilatation/*methods ; *Disease Models, Animal ; *Dogs ; Epidural Space/injuries ; Spinal Cord Compression/*etiology/pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

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

No abstract availble.
Adult ; *Balloon Dilatation ; Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal ; *Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/methods ; Humans ; Male ; Meckel Diverticulum/*diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: To describe the technical feasibility and usefulness of extrahepatic biliary stone removal by balloon sphincteroplasty and occlusion balloon pushing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with extrahepatic bile duct stones were included in this study. Endoscopic stone removal was not successful in 13 patients, and two patients refused the procedure due to endoscopy phobia. At first, all patients underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). A few days later, through the PTBD route, balloon assisted dilatation for common bile duct (CBD) sphincter was performed, and then the stones were pushed into the duodenum using an 11.5 mm occlusion balloon. Success rate, reason for failure, and complications associated with the procedure were evaluated. RESULTS: Eight patients had one stone, five patients had two stones, and two patients had more than five stones. The procedure was successful in 13 patients (13/15). In 12 of the patients, all stones were removed in the first trial. In one patient, residual stones were discovered on follow-up cholangiography, and were subsequently removed in the second trial. Technical failure occurred in two patients. Both of these patients had severely dilated CBD and multiple stones with various sizes. Ten patients complained of pain in the right upper quadrant and epigastrium of the abdomen immediately following the procedure, but there were no significant procedure-related complications such as bleeding or pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous extrahepatic biliary stone removal by balloon sphincteroplasty and subsequent stone pushing with occlusion balloon is an effective, safe, and technically feasible procedure which can be used as an alternative method in patients when endoscopic extrahepatic biliary stone removal was not successful.
Treatment Outcome ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Gallstones/*therapy ; Female ; Feasibility Studies ; Cholangiography ; *Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Balloon Occlusion/methods ; Balloon Dilatation/*methods ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged