ObjectiveTo explore the safety, effectiveness, and cosmetic advantage of endoscopic thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer in the cT1N0 stage. MethodsThe clinical data of 148 patients underwent thyroidectomy for the cT1N0 differentiated thyroid cancer in the First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital and the PLA General Hospital from September 2010 to September 2013 were analyzed retrospectively, including 36 patients by total endoscopic thyroidectomy (TET group), 41 patients by endoscopic-assisted thyroidectomy (EAT group), and 71 patients by open thyroidectomy (OT group). The intraoperative status, early complications, late complications, and cosmetic result were compared among these three groups. ResultsAll the procedures were accomplished successfully.①In the intraoperative status: The operation time of the TET group was significantly longer than that of the EAT group(P < 0.05)or OT group (P < 0.05), drainage on the first day after operation in the TET group was significantly more than that in the EAT(P < 0.05)or OT group (P < 0.05), the intraoperative bleeding of the TET group or EAT group was significantly less than that of the OT group (P < 0.05), there were no statistical significances in the total number of lymph nodes dissection and number of positive lymph nodes among three groups (P > 0.05).②In the early complications: The postoperative pain score of the TET group was significantly lower than that of the EAT group (P < 0.05)or OT group (P < 0.05), there were no statistical significances in the postoperative bleeding, seroma, infection, transient recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, or transient hypoparathyroidism among three groups (P > 0.05).③In the late complications: there was no statistical significance in the perpetual recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, perpetual hypoparathyroidism, or thyroid cancer relapse among three groups (P > 0.05).④The best cosmetic result was obtained by the patients underwent TET as compared with the patients underwent EAT(P < 0.05)or OT (P < 0.05). ConclusionsEndoscopic procedure has the same effectiveness and safety with open procedure for differentiated thyroid cancer in the cT1N0 stage, but endoscopic procedure has a better cosmetic result than that open procedure. Compared with EAT, TET has more advantages in the cosmetic result.
Objective To compare vein graft patency after endoscopic great saphenous vein harvesting (EVH) and conventional open saphenous veinharvesting (OVH) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to identify risk factors for vein graft stenosis. Methods The great saphenous vein was harvested using an EVH method in 60 patients, 34 males and 26 females, who underwent CABG in the General Hospital of PLA between May 2006 and May 2009. The mean patient age was 66.6±9.2 years in the EVH group.The OVH group had 60 patients (40 males and 20 females with a mean age of 65.7±10.6 years), chosen to match the clinical characteristics of the EVH group. 64multislice computed tomography (64MSCT) was used to evaluate vein graft patency at six months and two years postoperatively. We also collected and analyzeddata on possible risk factors for vein graft stenosis. Results The harvesting time was longer in the EVH group than in the OVH group (52.5±13.3 minutes vs. 36.1±18.0 minutes, t=2.13, P＜0.05). The EVH group requireda greater number of repairs to veins than did the OVH group (2.2±13 vs. 0.9±0.6,t=2.60, P＜0.05). There were no statistically significant differences invein length, number of vein grafts, or vein graft flow between the two groups. There was also no significant difference in vein graft patency between the EVH and OVH groups at six months postoperatively (96.2% vs. 94.5%) or at two years postoperatively (90.2% vs. 91.5%). The average of vein graft blood flow was a riskfactor for vein graft stenosis(t=2.61, P=001). Conclusion The EVH vein graft had a good patency rate at six months and two years after the surgery.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of subfascial endoscopic perforator vein surgery (SEPS) in treatment of varicose of the lower limb. METHODS: From 1999. 11 to 2000. 12, 108 patients with varicose of the lower limb underwent venous surgery and 34 of them were treated by SEPS. There were 16 males and 18 females aged 20-79(averaged 51.4 years). Thirty limbs (26 cases) had open ulcers and the diameter of ulcer was 1.5-12.0 cm. Eleven limbs (8 cases) had severe pigmentation and the skin changes had been presented for 1 month to 15 years. According to the severity of illness, flush saphenofemoral ligation, great saphenous vein stripping, percutaneous continuous venous circum suture, external femoral vein valve repair and SEPS were performed separately or simultaneously. RESULTS: Active ulcers healed in 19 limbs after 1 month, in 7 limbs after 3 months, and in the other 4 ulcers after skin transplantation. There was no ulcer recurrence during follow-up (ranged 9-22 months). CONCLUSION: SEPS can accelerate the healing of venous ulcers, and it is one of important methods in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency.
Confocal laser endomicroscopy technology can obtain cell-level images in real time and in situ, which can assist doctors in real-time intraoperative diagnosis, but its non-invasiveness makes it difficult to relocate the optical biopsy site. The confocal probe localization algorithm can automatically calculate the coordinates of the probe tip, that is, the coordinates of the optical biopsy site. In this paper, a confocal probe localization algorithm based on region growing and endoscope size prior was proposed. The algorithm detected the probe region by region growing on the probe edge image, then searched for tip points based on a given probe axis, and iteratively optimized it. Finally, based on the single-degree-of-freedom motion characteristics of the probe, the three-dimensional coordinates of the tip of the probe were calculated by using the prior information of the size of the endoscope, which solved the scale uncertainty problem of the monocular camera. The confocal probe localization algorithm was tested on the dataset collected in this paper. The results showed that our algorithm no longer relied on the color information of the probe, avoided the influence of uneven illumination on the gray value of the probe pixels, and had a more robust location accuracy and running speed. Within the length of the probe extending out of the endoscope from 0 to 5 cm, the pixel error could be as low as 11.76 pixels, and the average relative position error could be as low as 1.66 mm, which can achieve the real-time and accurate localization of the confocal probe.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) after Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS). Methods The following databases and periodicals such as PubMed (Jan. 1980 to Jan. 2009), MEDLINE (1980 to 2009), EBSCOhost (Jan. 1975 to Jan. 2009), CALIS (1984 to 2009), CNKI (1979 to 2007), VIP (1989 to 2009), CBM (1978 to 2009); Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (1990 to 2008), Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (1988 to 2008), Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (1990 to 2008), and Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine (1996 to 2008) were searched by computer and handwork for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about TCM to treat CRS after ESS. The trial screening, quality assessment, and the data extraction of the included trials were conducted before performing statistical analyses by using RevMan 4.2.10 software. Results A total of 32 RCTs in three sub-groups in Chinese literatures were identified with meta-analyses in comparisons of the cure rate (OR=1.99, 95%CI 1.78 to 2.23), total effective rate (OR=2.66, 95%CI 2.20 to 3.22), degree I postoperative improvement rate (OR=2.22, 95%CI 1.60 to 3.06), total postoperative improvement rate (OR=8.77, 95%CI 1.09 to 70.64), postoperative clean time (OR=2.54, 95%CI 1.70 to 3.79), postoperative epithelization time (OR= –29.46, 95%CI –37.73 to –21.18), and mucociliary transport rate (OR=1.14, 95%CI 0.22 to 2.06). A total of 4 RCTs were meta-analyzed to evaluate the safety in comparisons of gastrointestinal reaction (OR=0.25, 95%CI 0.00 to 33.78) and local reaction (OR=0.03, 95%CI 0.01 to 0.12). Conclusion The current evidence shows TCM in treating CRS after ESS tends to improve the clinical efficacy and reduce the cure time without obvious adverse reaction. Due to the low methodological quality of included trials, more RCTs with high quality and large scale are required.
Objective To invest igate the ef fect iveness and signi f icance of percutaneous endoscopic discectomy followed by interbody fusion using B-Twin expandable spinal spacer for degenerative lumbosacral disc disease. Methods Between January 2007 and August 2008, 21 patients with degenerative lumbosacral disc disease were treated with endoscopic discectomy followed by interbody fusion using B-Twin expandable spinal spacer. Among them, there were 13 males and 8 females with an average age of 52 years (range, 28-79 years). And the disease duration ranged from 3 months to 40 years (median, 9 months). The affected segments included T11, 12, T12-L1, L1, 2, and L2, 3 in 1 case respectively, L4, 5 in 4 cases, and L5, S1 in 13 cases. All patients had intractable low back pain or lower extremity radicular symptoms. The placement methods of B-Twin expandable spinal spacer were double sides in 15 cases and single side in 6 cases. Oswestry Disabil ity Index (ODI) and Macnab grading were used to determine the function recovery after operation. And Suk’s standard was used to determine the fusion effects by X-ray. Results All 21 patients were followed up 18 months to 3 years (mean, 23.8 months). Sciatica symptoms disappeared after operation in 19 cases, no significant improvement occurred in 2 cases of thoracic disease. The ODI scores were 79% ± 16% at preoperation, 30% ± 9% at 1 month, 26% ± 10% at 3 months, 21% ± 12% at 6 months, and 20% ± 10% at 18 months after operation, showing significant differences between pre- and postoperation (P lt; 0.05). According to Macnab grading at 6 months postoperatively, the results were excellent in 14 cases, good in 5 cases, and fair in 2 cases with an excellent and good rate of 90.5%. According to Suk et al. standard, the results were excellent in 1 case, good in 19 cases, and poor in 1 case with an excellent and good rate of 95.2%. The muscle strength of the lower extremities had no improvement in 1 case of T11, 12 disc protrusion; pedicle screws fixation and decompression laminectomy were given after 6 months, but no improvement was achieved during follow-up. Protrusion recurred after 4 months in 1 case of L4, 5 disc protrusion, then was cured by laminectomy discectomy. The remaining patients achieved postoperative rel ief. Conclusion Endoscope combined with interbody fusion is a good combination to solve lumbar instabil ity. B-Twin expandable spinal spacer is a minimally invasive fusion choice of L4, 5 and L5, S1.
Objective To study the effect of surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) by endoscope through a transparent combined with dilation conductor to cut the transverse carpal l igament. Methods Between April 2003 and April 2008, 56 patients with CTS were treated with endoscopic carpal tunnel release through a transparent combined with dilation conductor. There were 8 males and 48 females with an average age of 50 years (range, 38-65 years). CTS was caused bywrist injury in 5 cases, by forearm fracture in 12 cases, and by wrist strain in 39 cases. The locations were left hand in 14 cases and right hand in 42 cases with a disease duration range of 2-7 years (4 years on average). According to Hamada classification of CTS, 38 cases were classified as stage I, 12 cases as stage II, and 6 cases as stage III. Results All cases achieved the primary heal ing of incision. All patients were followed up 14-68 months (40 months on average). According to Kelly’ s evaluation, the results were excellent in 25 cases, good in 22 cases, fair in 4 cases, and poor in 5 cases with an excellent and good rate of 83.93%. The distal motor latency of median nerve was (4.48 ± 0.50) ms at 1 months, (4.06 ± 0.35) ms at 3 months, (3.79 ± 0.25) ms at 6 months, and (3.42 ± 0.24) ms at 12 months after operation, showing significant differences when compared with the preoperative one [(5.09 ± 0.61) ms, P lt; 0.05]. There were significant differences among different time points after operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The method of endoscope through a transparent combined with dilation conductor to cut the transverse carpal l igament is a simple and effective surgical procedure for treament of CTS, which can precisely cut the transverse carpal l igament and completely release the pressure of carpal tunnel.
ObjectiveTo compare the curative effects and complications between endoscope-assisted treatment and scalp coronal incision for zygomatic complex fractures. MethodFifty zygomatic complex fracture patients treated between January 2008 to May 2014 were randomly divided into trial group (n=30) treated through endoscope-assisted procedure and control group (n=20) treated through scalp coronal incision. In the trial group, functional reduction and fixation of the fractures under endoscope were performed, and the control group was treated with coronal incision and internal fixation of the fractures. After the operation, all the patients were evaluated on the effects and complications through physical examination and CT review. ResultsThe number of grade-Ⅰ, -Ⅱ and-Ⅲ curative effects were respectively 24 (80.0%), 5 (16.7%), and 1 (3.3%) in the trial group, while those numbers in the control group were respectively 16 (80.0%), 3 (15.0%), and 1 (5.0%). There was no significant difference in the curative effects between the two groups (P>0.05). There were no cases of complications in the trial group, but there were 4 cases (20.0%) of facial nerve injury, 5 cases (25.0%) of hair loss, 4 cases (20.0%) of temporal sag, and 5 cases (25.0%) of scalp hematoma in the control group. The complication rate in the control group was significantly higher than that in the trial group (P<0.05). ConclusionsWhile the curative effects between endoscope-assisted treatment and scalp coronal incision for zygomatic complex fractures are not significantly different, endoscope-assisted technology can reduce the complications of the operation, which is a minimally invasive surgery and can promote good aesthetic appearance.
Objective To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of spinal pedicle screw internal fixation through endoscope-assisted posterior approach for the treatment of traumatic atlantoaxial instability. Methods Between September 2008 and September 2010, 44 patients with traumatic atlantoaxial instability received spinal pedicle screw internal fixation through endoscope-assisted posterior operation (micro-invasive surgical therapy group, n=22) or traditional surgical therapy (control group, n=22). There was no significant difference in gender, age, type of injury, disease duration, and preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The blood loss, operation time, length of the incision, improvement rate of JOA, and graft fusion rates were compared between 2 groups to assess the clinical outcomes. Results The blood loss, operation time, and length of the incision in the micro-invasive surgical therapy group were better than those in control group (P lt; 0.05). All incisions were primary healing. Of 88 pedicle screws, 7 pedicle screws penetrated into the interior walls of cervical transverse foramen in the micro-invasive surgical therapy group and 8 in the control group, but there was no syndrome of vertebral artery injury. All patients of the 2 groups were followed up 12 to 37 months (mean, 26 months). Bony fusion was achieved in all cases within 3 to 12 months (mean, 5.3 months). No loosening or breakage of screw occurred. At 6 months to 1 year after operation, the internal fixator was removed in 6 cases and the function of head and neck rotary movement were almost renewed. The JOA score was significantly improved at last follow-up when compared with preoperative score (P lt; 0.05), and no significant difference in JOA score and improvement rate between the 2 groups at last follow-up (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion The micro-invasive surgical therapy can acquire the same effectiveness to the traditional surgical therapy in immediate recovery of stability, high graft fusion rate, and less complication. Moreover, it can significantly reduce the operation time, blood loss, and soft tissue injury, so this approach may be an ideal way of internal fixation to treat traumatic atlantoaxial instability.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic techniques for diagnosis and treatment of breast diseases. MethodsRelated literatures of recent years were reviewed. ResultsA minimally invasive endoscopic technique can be performed through small incisions. This can contribute greatly to reducing postoperative pain, shortening recovery time, and achieving a good cosmetic outcome. Under endoscopy, meticulous dissection and hemostasis can be achieved. Endoscopeassisted subcutaneous mastectomy, immediate mammary reconstruction, sentinel lymph node biopsy and axillary lymph node dissection, for breast cancer can be performed safely. Endoscopic surgery can also be applied for the diagnosis and treatment of benign breast tumor and transaxillary removal of glandular tissue in gynecomastia. In addition, fiberoptic ductoscopy can be used to diagnose patients with nipple discharge. Endoscopic surgery for patients with breast diseases can offer an excellent cosmetic outcome and maintain normal physiologic functions without a noticeable scar. It helps to give the patients confidence and improve the quality of life. ConclusionBreast surgery is a good candidate for endoscopic techniques.