[en] An esophagorespiratory fistula (ERF) is an often fatal consequence of esophageal or bronchogenic carcinomas. The preferred treatment is placement of esophageal and/or airway stents. Stent placement must be performed as quickly as possible since patients with ERFs are at a high risk for aspiration pneumonia. In this review, choice of stents and stenting area, fistula reopening and its management, and the long-term outcome in the interventional management of malignant ERFs are considered. Lastly, a review of esophagopulmonary fistulas will also be provided

[en] The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of beta-radiation therapy with a rhenium-188-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (^I88Re-MAG₃) filled balloon to prevent tissue hyperplasia secondary to stent placement in a rabbit esophageal model. Fifteen rabbits were divided into the three study groups. The ten rabbits having the radioactive balloon dilation performed immediately after stent placement were scheduled to be sacrificed at six weeks; the 20 Gy (Group I, n = 5) or 40 Gy (Group II, n 5) at 1 mm away from the balloon surface were also sacrificed at six weeks. The remaining five rabbits that had conventional balloon dilation done immediately after stent placement were scheduled to be sacrificed six weeks later; this was the control group (Group III). At follow-up, we obtained esophagography and the histologic findings (epitheIial layer thickness, degree of destruction of the muscularis propria, and degree of submucosal inflammatory cell infiltration) at both the normal area and the mid-stent area for each esophageal specimen after sacrificing each rabbit. The differences among the three groups were statistically assessed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. There were no complications such as migration after stent placement. Nine of the rabbits died 1-3 weeks after stent placement and the stents were partially obstructed with a lot of residue, so it was impossible to compare the esophagographic findings among the three groups. Esophageal perforation (n = 6) and mucosal reddish changes (n = 5) of the esophagus adjacent to the stent were observed only for rabbits of group I or II. The esophageal mucosa displayed smoothness in group I and II, and the esophageal mucosa displayed nodularity in group III. The degree of destruction of the muscularis propria was significantly higher in group I or II when compared to group III (p<0.05). Beta-irradiation using a ^l88Re-MAG₃-filled balloon dilation has the potential for preventing tissue hyperplasia secondary to stent placement in a rabbit esophageal model

[en] We constructed an expandable endovascular metallic stent in the same way as Giamturco did. Experiments were made to test the ability of these stents to be used in the vessels. A total of 20 stents were passed through a 8.5 French teflon sheath into the normal abdominal aorta. IVC, and iliac artery of four adult dogs for 4 weeks to 12 weeks; 8 stents (10 mm in diameter fully expanded and 20 mm in length) in the abnormal aorta, 7 stents (12 mm/20 mm) in the IVC, and 5 stents (8 mm/20 mm) in the iliac artery. All but two stents showed no migration, and one complete occlusion occurred in right iliac artery of a dog. Histologically, stents wires were covered by neo-intimal proliferation. The side branches of the main vessels remained patent, even stent wires across their orifices. These metallic stents may be used as an endovascular graft material in the nonsurgical treatment of several forms of vascular disease

[en] To determine the histopathologic changes occurring in normal pig organs after percutaneous injection of hot saline. Under sonographic guidance, the livers, the gallbladders, kidneys, stomachs, and lungs of ten pigs weighing 15-20kg were punctured with a fine needle, Physiologic saline mixed with contrast medium and lipiodol was heated to 100 deg C and injected under fluoroscopic guidance. One to four weeks after injection, the animals were sacrificed and histophathologic examination was performed to investigate acute and chronic tissue responses. In all organs, coagulation necroses developed during the acute phase. Histopathologic changes observed four weeks after injection were as follows: in the liver, most damage was restored, though central necrosis persisted; in the kidney, parenchymal and uroepithelial damage fully recovered, and in the gallbladder and stomach, superficially located damage also fully recovered. In the lung, however, extensive pneumonic infiltration developed during the chronic phase. Fluoroscopic examination revealed that saline in the liver or kidneys tended to leak easily into blood vessels, the bile duct, or ureter, and corresponding regions showed mild to moderate damage during the acute phase which fully recovered in the chronic phase. In normal pigs, significant chronic damage after the injection of hot saline mixture occurred only in the lungs. (author)

[en] Time-varying axial magnetic field of approximately 10-15 G is added to an inductively coupled plasma. High aspect ratio deep-sub-micron contact holes in borophosphosilicate glass have been etched by C₄F₈/Ar plasma. In order to correlate etched profile with etching conditions, deposition of polymeric precursors in the etching process is monitored. By means of the appearance mass spectroscopy, the distributions of CF_x⁺ ions and CF_x radicals are measured as a function of the frequency of axial magnetic field. The axial magnetic field is found to influence the densities of fluorocarbon ions (CF_x⁺; x=1-3), F and CF_x radicals. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that fluorocarbon polymer on oxide surface strongly varies with the frequency of axial magnetic field. 0.2 μm diameter contact holes with aspect ratio of 10 are successfully fabricated in this system

[en] Diverticulum is considered as a common lesion involving any gastrointestinal tract from the pharynx to the rectum. We reviewed 5,806 cases of upper G-I series and 801 cases of double contrast barium enema during the period from Jan.1978 to Dec. 1981 in the Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Jeonbug National University Hospital to analyze diverticula of the entire gastrointestinal tract. The results were as follows: 1. Roentgen examination of 5,806 esophagus, stomachs, duodenums and small bowels, and 801 colons during the past four years: diverticula of the esophagus, 60 cases (1.0%); diverticula of the stomach, 42 cases (0.7%); diverticula of the duodenum, 358 cases (6.2%); diverticula of the small bowel, 20 cases (0.3%); diverticula of the colon, 26 cases (3.2%). The location of diverticula in order of frequency was duodenum, colon, esophagus, stomach and small bowel. 2. The most common site of diverticula of each gastrointestinal tract was as follows: diverticula of the esophagus, middle portion (84.7%); diverticula of the stomach, the cardia (59.5%); diverticula of the duodenum, the second portion (81.3%); diverticula of the small bowel, the jejunum (96.4%)-especially the larger percentage were observed at the upper jejunum near the ligament of Treitz; diverticula of the colon, the right sided colon (80.8%)-the cecum and ascending colon (57.1%). 3. Diverticula may occur at any age. The majority of diverticula of the entire gastrointestinal tract were observed over 40 years of age. Especially in diverticula of the duodenum and colon, their frequency increase with age. 4. Duodenal diverticula were observed more frequently in woman than in man but in diverticula of the esophagus, stomach, small bowel and colon, male was more frequently affected. 5. The size of diverticula of the entire gastrointestinal tract was variable. The majority of diverticula of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum and small bowel were intermediate in size (10-49 mm). Diverticula of the colon were usually smaller than 10 mm. 6. Multiplicity of diverticula of the entire gastrointestinal tract was 16.2% of 506 cases. In diverticula of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum and small bowel, single lesion was more frequently found. On the other hand, the majority of diverticula of the colon were found as multiple lesion(69.2%)

[en] We recently encountered a case of posttraumatic SMAVF(superior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula), which has treated by coil embolization. He had history of stab wound and emergent operation. Operative diagnosis was gastric perforation and mesenteric laceration which was simply repaired. After history of abdominal stab woung and operation, he developed palpitation and thrill in left upper abdomen. Recently he have experienced syncope twice. On superior mesenteric arteriogram, early visualization of superior mesenteric vein and portal vein was noted. We embolized the SMAVF by using coils. Since coil embolization, palpitation and thrill disappeared

[en] To evaluate the usefulness of a hook developed for pulling out the guide wire in nasolacrimal balloon dilatation and stent placement. The head was made of stainless steel wire in a shape of a question mark, and the body was made of four stainless steel pipes. The head was attached to the body in three different ways:A) the head was anterior to the body, B) the head was posterior to the body, and C) the head was angled of 30 degrees forward from the direction of the body. 90 epiphora patients took part in a test to compare and evalvate the usefulness of different types of hook. Average number of trials, success rate and average time of the procedure were recorded. The average trial number for different attachment methods A, B, and C was 4.5, 6.4, and 2.5, respectively, and the success rate 83, 70, and 97%, respectively. The average time of the procedure was 31 minutes. The C type hook was the most effective, and the new technique using the hook was more convenient and time-saving than the old technique using a nasal endoscopy

[en] Benign strictures of the esophagus and gastric outlet are difficult to manage conservatively and they usually require intervention to relieve dysphagia or to treat the stricture-related complications. In this article, authors review the non-surgical options that are used to treat benign strictures of the esophagus and gastric outlet, including balloon dilation, temporary stent placement, intralesional steroid injection and incisional therapy

[en] 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