0000000000919355
AUTHOR
Stefan Kanzler
Mini-Laparoscopically Guided Percutaneous Gastrostomy and Jejunostomy
Abstract Background: Percutaneous endoscopic tube placement can be problematic under certain circumstances: absence of transillumination of the abdominal wall, percutaneous jejunostomy in patients with a PEG tube and recurrent aspiration, enteral feeding access after gastrectomy, and obstruction of the upper GI tract. As an alternative in these problematic situations, a technique was developed for placing feeding tubes under visual control by using mini-laparoscopy. Methods: Placement of a feeding tube with mini-laparoscopy with the patient under conscious sedation was considered for 17 patients in whom standard PEG placement was impossible. Techniques used were the following: combined mini…
Efficacy of an escalating dose regimen of pegylated interferon ?-2a plus ribavirin in the early phase of HCV reinfection after liver transplantation
We evaluated the safety and efficacy of an escalating dose regimen of pegylated interferon alpha-2a (PEG-IFN(alpha-2a)) and ribavirin in the early phase of recurrent hepatitis C after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). In this prospective study, 26 patients transplanted for hepatitis C virus cirrhosis with recurrent hepatitis C were treated 3.4 +/- 3.6 months after OLT and compared with an untreated historical control. PEG-IFN(alpha-2a) was initiated as monotherapy, following stepwise dose escalation up to 180 mug/week and the addition of ribavirin up to 1200 mg/day or maximally tolerated doses for 48 weeks. In the intent-to-treat analysis, 38% showed an early virological response (EVR…
Gemcitabine plus sorafenib versus gemcitabine alone in advanced biliary tract cancer: a double-blind placebo-controlled multicentre phase II AIO study with biomarker and serum programme.
Background: Since sorafenib has shown activity in different tumour types and gemcitabine regimens improved the outcome for biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients, we evaluated first-line gemcitabine plus sorafenib in a double-blind phase II study. Patients and methods: 102 unresectable or metastatic BTC patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma of gallbladder or intrahepatic bile ducts, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0–2 were randomised to gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2 once weekly, first 7-weeks + 1-week rest followed by once 3-weeks + 1-week rest) plus sorafenib (400 mg twice daily) or placebo. Treatment continued until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Tumour samples were p…
Prospective Randomized Comparison of Minilaparoscopy and Percutaneous Liver Biopsy
Liver cirrhosis represents an advanced stage of hepatic fibrosis characterized by distortion of organ architecture and formation of regenerative nodules. Retrospective series reported percutaneous liver biopsy to miss cirrhosis in about 30%. The aim of this study was to prospectively compare diagnostic sensitivity regarding the detection of cirrhosis and the complication rates of percutaneous versus minilaparoscopic liver biopsy in chronic liver disease.Eight hundred fifty-seven patients were randomized to percutaneous (415) or to minilaparoscopic liver biopsy (442). Macroscopic liver evaluation was documented as normal, fibrosis, or cirrhosis. Liver specimens were assessed blindly accordin…