SummaryBackgroundEsophageal cancer is the seventh-most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths and it is usually diagnosed at an inoperable stage. In palliative treatment, endoscopic and non-endoscopic methods are applied to reduce dysphagia in patients with neoplastic esophageal obstruction. Because of severe complications, non-endoscopic treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, brachytherapy and chemotherapy) is applied rarely. Within the endoscopic methods, only the use of endoprostheses yields long-term effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of implantation of self-expandable esophageal stents in palliative treatment of dysphagia related to esophageal cancer.Material/MethodsA total number of 46 patients (41 males and 5 females) were qualified to palliative implantation of coated self-expandable stent. The mean age of the patients was 67 years (from 51 to 78 years). In all patients, Evolution-type coated self-expandable stents were used. In all cases, 24 hours after the implantation, radiological examination was performed to assess the stent location.ResultsSevere, possibly life-threatening, complications constituted 28% of all the complications and occurred in 9% of the patients. Less severe complications occurred in 17% of the observed patients and were not life-threatening.ConclusionsIn patients with neoplastic esophageal stenosis, stenting with coated, self-expandable nitinol prostheses is a safe, effective and fast method of palliative dysphagia treatment.

SummaryBackgroundThe aim of the study was to estimate the association between anthropometric obesity parameters, serum concentrations of ghrelin, resistin, leptin, adiponectin and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) in obese non-diabetic insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant patients.Material/MethodsStudy subjects included 37 obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2) out-clinic patients aged 25 to 66 years. Insulin resistance was evaluated by HOMA-IR. Serum fasting concentrations of glucose, insulin, ghrelin, adiponectin, resistin and leptin were measured by using the ELISA method. Body weight, waist and hip circumferences were measured to calculate BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) values for all the patients. According to HOMA-IR, patients were divided into two groups: A, insulin sensitive (n=19); and B, insulin resistant (n=18).ResultsPatients with insulin resistance have greater mean waist circumference (WC) higher mean serum insulin level and leptin concentration, but lower concentrations of adiponectin and ghrelin. In the insulin-sensitive patient group we observed positive correlations between BMI and HOMA-IR, WC and HOMA-IR, and adiponectin and leptin, and negative correlations between ghrelin and HOMA-IR, WC and adiponectin, and WHR and adiponectin. In the insulin-resistant group, there was a positive correlation between resistin and ghrelin and a negative correlation between WHR and leptin.ConclusionsWaist circumference, adiponectin, leptin and ghrelin are associated with insulin resistance and may be predictors of this pathology.

SummaryBackgroundMonitoring of biochemical markers of inflammation in acute mediastinitis (AM) can be useful in the modification of treatment. This study was a retrospective evaluation of selected biochemical parameters with negative impact on the prognosis in surgically treated patients.Material/MethodsThere were 44 consecutive patients treated surgically due to AM of differentiated etiology. Selected biochemical markers (WBC, RBC, HGB, HCT, PLT, CRP, PCT, ionogram, protein and albumins) were assessed before surgery and on the 3rd day after surgery. ANOVA was applied to find factors influencing observations. Numerical data [laboratory parameters] were compared by means of medians.ResultsThe overall hospital mortality rate was 31.82%. In the group of dead patients, there were observed statistically significant lower mean preoperative values of RBC [p=0.0090], HGB [p=0.0286], HCT [p=0.0354], protein [p= 0.0037], albumins [p=0.0003] and sodium [p<0.0001] and elevated values of CRP [P=0.0107] and PCT p<0.0001]. High level of inflammatory markers on day 3 after surgery was found to increase the risk of death – for WBC (by 67%), for CRP (by 88%) and for PCT (by 100%).ConclusionsPoor prognosis was more frequent in patients with preoperative high levels of CRP, PCT, anemia, hypoproteinemia and hyponatremia. The risk of death increases significantly if in the immediate postoperative period no distinct decrease in WBC count and of the CRP and PCT level is observed. In such a situation the patients should be qualified earlier for broadened diagnostic workup and for reoperation.

StreszczenieWstęp: Wykorzystanie promieniowania rentgenowskiego (rtg.) w gastroenterologii stanowi jeden z licznych podobszarów radiologii interwencyjnej. W gastroenterologii fluoroskopia rtg. jest używana w procedurach terapeutycznych, z których częsta jest endoskopowa cholangiopankreatografia wsteczna (ECPW). Procedura ECPW pokazuje radiologiczny obraz dróg żółciowych i przewodu trzustkowego. Materiał i metody: W ramach niniejszej pracy przeprowadzono ocenę narażenia na promieniowanie rtg. gastroenterologa wykonującego zabiegi ECPW pod kontrolą fluoroskopii. Badania przeprowadzono w Pracowni ECPW Uniwersyteckiego Szpitala Klinicznego im. Wojskowej Akademii Medycznej -Centralnego Szpitala Weteranów w Łodzi, gdzie gastroenterolog wykonuje je samodzielnie. Realizując cel pracy, wykonano 2 serie pomiarów -pierwsza składała się z zabiegów wykonanych w trybie fluoroskopii ciągłej, druga -z zabiegów, które wykonano w trybie fluoroskopii impulsowej (o częstotliwo-ści 3 pulsy/s). Podczas każdej procedury rejestrowano parametry ekspozycji, dane anatomiczne pacjenta, a także otrzymywane przez gastroenterologa równoważniki dawek dla soczewek oczu i skóry dłoni oraz dawkę efektywną dla całego ciała. Wyniki: Zebrano dane dotyczące ogółem 70 zabiegów ECPW, w tym 40 zabiegów wykonanych w trybie fluoroskopii ciągłej i 30 -w trybie fluoroskopii impulsowej. Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników stwierdzono, że gastroenterolog wykonujący procedury ECPW w trybie fluoroskopii impulsowej otrzymuje dawki promieniowania niższe o 45-60% niż podczas pracy w trybie fluoroskopii ciągłej. Wnioski: Procedury ECPW mogą być źródłem narażenia na promieniowanie rtg. dla wykonującego je gastroenterologa. Używanie trybu fluoroskopii ciągłej może pozwolić na osiągnięcie obniżonej wartości rocznego limitu dawki równoważnej dla soczewek oczu (tj. 20 mSv), rekomendowanej przez Międzynarodową Komisję Ochrony Radiologicznej (International Commission on Radiological Protection -ICRP). Med. Pr. 2017;68(6):735-741 Słowa kluczowe: ekspozycja zawodowa, promieniowanie rtg., dawki, fluoroskopia, ECPW, gastroenterolog Abstract Background: One of the numerous sub-areas of interventional radiology is the use of X-rays in gastroenterology. X-ray fluoroscopy is applied in therapeutic procedures, including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) that is frequently performed. The ERCP procedure is aimed at imaging the pancreatic duct and biliary tracts. Material and Methods: In this paper radiation risk to the gastrenterologist performing ERCP procedures was investigated. The procedures were performed by a single gastroenterologist in the ERCP Laboratory, University Clinical Hospital Military Memorial Medical Academy -Central Veterans' Hospital in Łódź, Poland. The study comprised 2 series of measurements, one taken during the procedures with continuous fluoroscopy mode, the other during procedures with fluoroscopy in pulsed mode at a frequency of 3 pulses/s. Exposure parameters, anatomical data of patient and dose equivalents for the eyes, skin of the hand ...

IntroductionIn every case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding suspicion, an endoscopic examination ought to be performed as a matter of urgency. Finding active bleeding, a visible non-bleeding vessel or a lesion with an adherent clot should be followed by application of an available method of endoscopic therapy. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of various endoscopic treatment techniques such as epinephrine injections, coagulation methods and mechanical methods in the treatment of non-varicose upper gastrointestinal bleeding.Material and methodsSixty cases of non-varicose upper gastrointestinal bleeding were analysed in terms of the effectiveness of the above-mentioned procedures used in monotherapy or in combination therapy comprising epinephrine injections and clips application. The choice of the applied procedure depended on morphological features and location of the bleeding source, the patient's general condition, as well as technical equipment and manual skills of the endoscopy staff.ResultsThe study confirmed the effectiveness of endoscopic treatment of non-varicose upper gastrointestinal bleeding applying the above-mentioned methods. In most patients, this treatment enabled traumatic surgical intervention to be avoided; it was required in only 3 (5%) out of 60 patients with confirmed upper gastrointestinal bleeding. With the first endoscopy, haemostasis was achieved in 47 cases (78.3%) and the second endoscopy, performed due to bleeding recurrence, was successful in the remaining 10 cases (16.7%).ConclusionsIn non-varicose upper gastrointestinal bleeding, urgent diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy should be the first-line management. If the lesion that is the source of bleeding is possible to localize, the endoscopic techniques should be applied. Among the endoscopic procedures used in monotherapy, clips appeared to be the most effective, their effectiveness being comparable to combination therapy. In bleeding from extensive lesions, coagulation methods are considered to be the most efficacious.