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Background and Study Aim: Previous studies have shown that both scheduled second-look endoscopy and high-dose continuous omeprazole infusion are effective in preventing peptic ulcer rebleeding. The aim of this noninferiority trial was to compare the efficacy of these two strategies for the prevention of rebleeding following primary endoscopic hemostasis.Patients and Methods: Consecutive patients who received endoscopic treatment for bleeding peptic ulcers (actively bleeding, with nonbleeding visible vessels) were randomized to two treatment groups following hemostasis. One group (second-look endoscopy group) received the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) omeprazole as an intravenous bolus every 12 hours for 72 hours and a second endoscopy within 16 - 24 hours with retreatment for persistent stigmata of bleeding. The other group (PPI infusion group) received continuous high-dose omeprazole infusion for 72 hours. Patients who developed rebleeding underwent surgery if repeat endoscopic therapy failed. The primary outcome was the rebleeding rate within 30 days after initial hemostasis. The margin for noninferiority was set at 5 %.Results: A total of 153 patients were randomized to the PPI infusion group and 152 to the second-look endoscopy group. Rebleeding occurred within 30 days in 10 patients (6.5 %) in the PPI infusion group and in 12 patients (7.9 %) in the second-look endoscopy group (P = 0.646). Surgery was required for rebleeding in six patients from the PPI infusion group and three patients in the second-look endoscopy group (P = 0.32). Intensive care unit stay, transfusion requirements, and mortality were not different between the groups. Patients in the second-look endoscopy group were discharged 1 day earlier than those in the PPI infusion group (P < 0.001).Conclusions: After endoscopic hemostasis, high-dose PPI infusion was not inferior to second-look endoscopy with bolus PPI in preventing peptic ulcer rebleeding.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT: 00164931). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Because of the smaller breast size of Chinese women, postmastectomy reconstruction without prosthesis by extended latissimus dorsi (LD) flap is potentially more applicable in the Chinese population. Methods: Patients who had undergone immediate postmastectomy breast reconstruction by extended latissimus dorsi flap without prosthesis were retrospectively studied. Surgical complications, aesthetic result and patient satisfaction were evaluated. Results: Ten Asian patients (nine Chinese and one Filipino) underwent extended LD flap for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. There was no total or partial flap failure. Operative complications included seroma in one patient and minor wound edge slough at back wounds in two patients. Simultaneous seroma and minor donor wound slough occurred in another patient. Aesthetic outcome was excellent ( n = 5), good ( n = 4) and poor ( n = 1). Patient satisfaction with the procedure was very satisfied in four, satisfied in four and dissatisfied in two, respectively. All but two patients would recommend the same procedure to their friends or relatives. Conclusion: Extended LD flap can reliably achieve pleasing results with low morbidity. It has more potential to become a competitive alternative to transverse abdominis myocutaneous flap in most Chinese women for postmastectomy reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Study Aim: Previous studies have shown that both scheduled second-look endoscopy and high-dose continuous omeprazole infusion are effective in preventing peptic ulcer rebleeding. The aim of this noninferiority trial was to compare the efficacy of these two strategies for the prevention of rebleeding following primary endoscopic hemostasis., Patients and Methods: Consecutive patients who received endoscopic treatment for bleeding peptic ulcers (actively bleeding, with nonbleeding visible vessels) were randomized to two treatment groups following hemostasis. One group (second-look endoscopy group) received the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) omeprazole as an intravenous bolus every 12 hours for 72 hours and a second endoscopy within 16 - 24 hours with retreatment for persistent stigmata of bleeding. The other group (PPI infusion group) received continuous high-dose omeprazole infusion for 72 hours. Patients who developed rebleeding underwent surgery if repeat endoscopic therapy failed. The primary outcome was the rebleeding rate within 30 days after initial hemostasis. The margin for noninferiority was set at 5 %., Results: A total of 153 patients were randomized to the PPI infusion group and 152 to the second-look endoscopy group. Rebleeding occurred within 30 days in 10 patients (6.5 %) in the PPI infusion group and in 12 patients (7.9 %) in the second-look endoscopy group (P = 0.646). Surgery was required for rebleeding in six patients from the PPI infusion group and three patients in the second-look endoscopy group (P = 0.32). Intensive care unit stay, transfusion requirements, and mortality were not different between the groups. Patients in the second-look endoscopy group were discharged 1 day earlier than those in the PPI infusion group (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: After endoscopic hemostasis, high-dose PPI infusion was not inferior to second-look endoscopy with bolus PPI in preventing peptic ulcer rebleeding., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT: 00164931)., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of concomitant esophageal lesions detected by esophagoscopy in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the head and neck (HNSCC) and to identify the risk factors., Design: Retrospective medical record analysis., Setting: Regional hospital., Patients: From March 2000 to March 2006, 118 patients with HNSCC had undergone esophagoscopy as part of the disease workup. Three patients had double head and neck primary tumors. Sixty-five patients also underwent chromoendoscopy with Lugol's iodine solution., Main Outcome Measures: The incidence of simultaneous esophageal cancer diagnosed on esophagoscopy. Additional esophageal lesions of clinical significance discovered during chromoendoscopy were also evaluated., Results: Clinically important esophageal lesions were found in 12 patients (10%)-9 carcinomas and 3 dysplastic lesions. Chromoendoscopy was useful in 5 of these 12 cases, detecting 3 dysplastic lesions not visualized by ordinary esophagogastroduodenoscopy and additional lesions in 2 patients with esophageal carcinoma. Of the patients in whom isolated oral cavity SCC was considered, the incidence of synchronous esophageal lesions was only 1.5%. Sex (P = .02), younger age (P = .04), alcohol drinking (P = .047), and tumor sites (P = .002) were significant predictors of synchronous esophageal lesions on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, only tumor site remained a significant risk factor (P = .009)., Conclusions: Clinically important esophageal lesions rarely coexists with oral cavity SCC, for which the benefit of routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy is questionable. Chromoendoscopy enhances the identification of early but clinically important esophageal abnormalities if esophagoscopy is performed for SCC in the larynx, hypopharynx, and oropharynx.

Background: Information about diagnostic features of tuberculosis (TB) peritonitis among patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF), compared with those without ESRF, is limited. Here, we review our experience with TB peritonitis in patients with and without ESRF over a period of 11 years, with special reference to the clinical features of and diagnostic tools for TB peritonitis., Methods: The records of all patients with TB peritonitis who were seen at United Christian Hospital (Hong Kong) from 1996 through 2006 were reviewed. The diagnosis of TB peritonitis was based on (1) detection of mycobacteria on smear and/or Mycobacterium tuberculosis on culture of ascitic fluid and/or peritoneal biopsy specimens and/or (2) demonstration of caseating granulomata on histological assessment of peritoneal biopsy specimens., Results: During the study period, 52 patients (19 without ESRF and 33 with ESRF) had TB peritonitis. Patients with ESRF tended to have more-acute onset of symptoms and neutrophil-predominant peritoneal fluid, which mimicked bacterial peritonitis. Diagnosis was made earlier among patients without ESRF than among those with ESRF. Laparotomy or laparoscopy was the initial diagnostic tool for 12 patients (63%) without ESRF, whereas mycobacterial culture was the diagnostic method for 18 patients (55%) with ESRF., Conclusions: TB peritonitis has nonspecific and protean manifestations. It should be considered in the context of culture-negative peritonitis and in the context of culture-positive peritonitis that fails to respond to appropriate antibiotics. Laparoscopy with biopsy should be considered at an early stage when TB peritonitis is suspected.