Fifteen infants with tetralogy of Fallot, who would otherwise have required a palliative operation, underwent balloon dilatation of the right ventricular outflow tract. The mean period of palliation was 8.5 months (range 0-26 months). The procedure was performed without serious complications on 88% of occasions. This preliminary study suggests that balloon dilatation may be useful in the manage...

OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of balloon catheter dacryocystoplasty in treating stenoses of the common canaliculus. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between 1997 and 2004, elective balloon catheter dilatation was performed under local anesthesia in 36 patients with epiphora and dacryocystography (DCG)-proven high-grade stenosis of the common canaliculus. Eight of the 36 patients had additional ste...

OBJECTIVE In this study, we compared our experience using balloon and amplatz dilatation in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). We also evaluated peri- and postoperative variables, including success rates. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two hundred renal stone patients (123 men/77 women) underwent PCNL at the Urology Clinic of İzmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital from September 2005 to May 201...

The proportion of obese individuals continues to increase worldwide. Bariatric surgery remains the only evidence-based treatment strategy to produce marked weight loss. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is an effective and common bariatric surgical procedure offered to obese patients. However, a small percentage of individuals can develop narrowing or stricture formation of the gastrojejunal anastomosis...

Balloon dilatation is a widely accepted technique in the management of esophageal and other types of gastrointestinal strictures, but it is rarely used for the treatment of pharyngeal dysphagia. Therefore, the aim of our prospective study was to evaluate the use of videofluoroscopy-guided balloon dilatation (VGBD) for the treatment of severe pharyngeal dysphagia. The study included 32 stroke pa...

Twenty two children (age range 4 months-20 years) with pulmonary valve stenosis and ten children (age range 1 month-11 years) with coarctation of the aorta underwent balloon dilatation in the 29 month period between October 1983 and February 1986. Number 5-9 French catheters with 5-20 mm balloons were used according to the size of the angiographically measured pulmonary valve annulus or coarcte...

Restenosis after balloon dilatation of stenosed coronary arteries is a major clinical problem. Because T lymphocytes occur in neointima and because cyclosporine inhibits T-lymphocyte proliferation, we tested the hypothesis that cyclosporine would attenuate neointimal proliferation after balloon dilation injury. Rabbits with a balloon-injured aorta, randomized to cyclosporine in the human therap...

BACKGROUND Balloon dilatation of the pulmonary valve remains controversial as a palliative procedure in tetralogy of Fallot. AIMS To determine the clinical outcome, growth of the pulmonary vascular tree and findings at surgery of balloon dilatation of the pulmonary valve performed as a palliation in infants with tetralogy of Fallot. METHODS AND RESULTS Thirty-three severely cyanosed infants...