Sclerotherapy basics

Efficient Initial Eradication of Large Esophageal Varices by Balloon-compression Endoscopic Injection Sclerotherapy

BACKGROUND

The management of large esophageal varices (EVs) remains challenging because of the difficulty of endoscopic variceal ligation and fatal post-endoscopic variceal ligation bleeding ulcers. The current study evaluated the efficacy and safety of balloon-compression endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (bc-EIS) in the treatment of large EVs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 105 patients with cirrhosis exhibiting large EVs (64 in the bc-EIS group and 41 in the EIS group). Primary outcomes included the initial rate of variceal eradication and intraoperative bleeding signs. Secondary outcomes included incidences of rebleeding, mortality, complications, and optimal time of balloon-compression (bc).

RESULTS

The initial rate of variceal eradication in the bc-EIS group was significantly higher than that in the EIS group (46.9 vs. 24.4%; P=0.021). The incidence of intraoperative bleeding, which was represented as oozing and spurting, in the bc-EIS group was markedly lower than that in the EIS group (43.8 vs. 61.0% and 9.4 vs. 39.0%, respectively; P=0.043). Patients in the bc-EIS group showed a significantly lower incidence of rebleeding (0.0 vs. 17.1%; P=0.001). However, no significant difference in mortality rate was observed between different groups. Chest pain or discomfort tended to be more common in the EIS group than in the bc-EIS group (58.5 vs. 17.2%; P=0.001). The cut-off value of 11.5-minutes appeared to have a maximum combined sensitivity and specificity of 80.0% and 58.8%, respectively. The area under the curve was 0.708 (95% confidence interval =0.576-0.839; P=0.004).

CONCLUSION

bc-EIS could achieve a higher variceal eradication rate and milder intraoperative bleeding signs in large EVs. Furthermore, 11.5-minutes appeared to be the optimal compression time in bc-EIS.

Single Blind, Randomised Study Regarding the Treatment of the Telangiectasia of the Lower Limbs (C1EAP) Using Polidocanol 0,5%, 1%, and Nd:YAG Laser

The treatment of leg telangiectasias could be done with liquid sclerotherapy or Nd:YAG laser. We evaluated randomly, in a simple blind, the efficacy of the treatment with 0,5% polidocanol (POL-0,5), 1% polidocanol (POL-1) and Nd:YAG laser (LAS) on 132 patient (264 limbs) with telangiectasia of the lower limbs with less than 2mm diameter (C1EAP). The main objective was to evaluate the efficacy of the sclerotherapy (chemical compared with Nd:YAG-LAS). Secondary objectives were: possible major complications (deep thrombosis, severe burns, ischemic complications, etc.), the percentage of the local complications, the cosmetic aspect-evaluated by both the patient and the doctor and the grade of discomfort of the patient during and after the procedure. Comparing the treatment with Nd:YAG laser (LAS), polidecanol-0.5% (POL-0.5), polidecanol 1% (POL-1), it was noticed that telangiectasias smaller than 1mm led to good and very good results in all the cases treated with Nd:YAG laser and the same outcome was obtained in one third of the subjects treated with POL-0.5, vs. 47.81% of patients treated with POL-1. When telangiectasias were larger than 1mm diameter, good and very good results occurred in 86.36% of patients treated with LAS and 100% of the cases treated with POL-0.5 and POL-1. In conclusion, we consider that leg telangiectasias can be treated with good results using Nd:YAG laser or sclerotherapy with polidocanol, Nd:YAG laser being reccomended for telangiectasia under than 1 mm diameter while sclerotherapy in larger vessels.

Evaluation of Retro Mandibular Approach to Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Condylar Fractures: A Cross-sectional Study

PURPOSE

The present study was carried out to evaluate the usefulness of mini retromandibular approach on accessibility, scarring and stability in open reduction and internal fixation of sub condylar fractures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifteen patients underwent open reduction and rigid fixation of middle and low subcondylar fractures, with mini-retro mandibular approach.

RESULTS

No signs of infection were observed in any patient postoperatively. Surgical scar was imperceptible and esthetically acceptable in all the cases. Out of 15 patients, only one patient had discrepancy in occlusion and after 2 months satisfactory centric occlusion was achieved. Salivary fistula (parotid fistula) was observed in 3 cases within 1 week postoperatively, which was treated spontaneously with the use of hypertonic saline. Transient facial nerve weakness was observed in 2 patients, in one patient it resolved in 4 weeks postoperatively and in second patient 3 months postoperatively. Mouth opening increased in all the patients with time. Average mouth opening at 1 week interval was 19.6 mm, at 2 months interval 28.2 mm, and after 6 months 38.33 mm suggesting that mouth opening gradually increased with time. At the end of 2 months postoperatively none of the patients had any restriction in lateral movements. At 2 months postoperatively 4 patients had deviation but none of the patients had any deviation 6 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

It is evident from the results of our study that open reduction and internal fixation using mini-retromandibular approach is good treatment option in management of mandibular condylar fractures.

Management of chronic parotid fistula with sodium tetradecyl sulfate

A parotid fistula is a rare, extremely unpleasant disease. It may be due to chronic pathologies of the facial soft tissues, trauma (tangential injury to face), infection or congenital. Various treatment modalities including surgical and conservative management are present to treat this disease. Conservative management plays a vital role in patients who are systemically compromised and unfit for surgery. In the present case report an alternative conservative technique of parotid fistula management has been described in a 28-year-old girl who was severe anemic with parotid fistula since last 25 yrs.

Low flow vascular malformation of the buccal mucosa treated conservatively by sclerotherapy (3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate)

Vascular anomalies constitute some of the most difficult diagnostic and therapeutic enigmas in the head and neck region. It is of paramount importance that a modern classification system is established to differentiate vascular lesions from vascular malformations. Vascular malformations are usually congenital and venous anomalies usually expand because of hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, or secondary to trauma. Here, we report a case which was diagnosed as low flow vascular malformation of buccal mucosa involving the lower lip and subsequently treated with 3% sodium tetra decyl sulfate. This paper provides overall understanding regarding the presentation and management of small vascular lesions in the orofacial region. Percutaneous sodium tetradecyl sulfate when used either alone or as adjunct to surgery is a safe, effective, and inexpensive agent in the treatment of venous malformations. However, proper case selection, evaluation, and careful planning are necessary to reduce the unwarranted risks and complications.

Management of parotid fistula using hypertonic saline

Parotid fistula is a very rare, unpleasant and painful complication following surgery in the maxillofacial region. Although there is consensus in the literature that acute parotid injury must be explored primarily and all injured structures be repaired accurately, the treatment of the chronic injury is controversial. Numerous methods of treatment, conservative as well as aggressive, have been described with varying success and morbidity. This paper presents a simple but effective and conservative method of treating this complication with the use of hot hypertonic saline.

Use of hypertonic saline in the management of parotid fistulae and sialocele: a report of 2 cases

Parotid fistula is a well known complication of parotidectomy or penetrating injury of the parotid gland. Fistulae may be internal or external, but simple internal fistulae are of no surgical interest. In cases of external fistulae, the principles of management aim at the return of normal parotid function in both acute and chronic parotid injury, but sometimes the alternative is to depress parotid secretions to allow natural healing process to seal the injury.The paper highlights the indications, techniques, advantages and disadvantages of using osmotic sclerosant for the management of parotid fistulae. We used warm hypertonic saline injections within the glandular substance to cause rapid fibrosis of the gland in 2 patients of chronic parotid fistulae.This technique is a simple and effective method of dealing with salivary leak. Its ease of performance, effectiveness; minimal surgical risk and minor cost are the advantages over other available options.