Patients, methods, and results Over two years 30 patients were referred to this unit for the management of variceal bleeding with a balloon in position. Technical factors that we considered important for controlling bleeding were for the gastric balloon to be positioned close to the gastro-oesophageal junction and for it to be adequately inflated (in excess of 100 ml). Factors that we believed ...

A 57-year-old man had a past history of diabetes mellitus controlled by oral hypoglycaemic agents. He was brought into the emergency department one day by paramedics after ingesting over 200 ml of synthetic pyrethroid insecticide (alpha-cypermethrin). The patient was vomiting and agitated; therefore, a nasogastric tube was immediately inserted in order to perform gastric lavage. Routine chest X...

OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the effect of vacuum sealed drainage on the recovery of gastrointestinal function in gastric patients after radical gastrectomy. METHODS One hundred and twenty patients who received radical for gastric cancer were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the control group received continuous gastrointestinal decompression to drain the gastric juices a...

OBJECTIVES Ivor Lewis minimally invasive oesophagectomy (ILMIE) is a complex surgery aiming to remove an oesophageal tumour and to create a new gastric tube in the abdomen. The objective was to assess the technical and early outcomes of ILMIE for gastric tube construction in the thoracic cavity. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted in 25 middle or lower oesophageal cancer patients t...

Background Temporary or long-term nutritional support through gastrojejunal (GJ) feeding tubes is a safe and common means of enteral feeding in adults and children. It is indicated in patients with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric outlet obstruction, or severe gastric dysfunction or gastroparesis. Several techniques for GJ feeding tube placement have been reported. The most techn...

These two cases illustrate eight instances of aspiration of fine bore enteral feed. On three occasions the tube remained correctly placed and on five occasions the tube was noted to be in the oropharynx. Fine bore enteral feeding is popular in intensive care units because ofthe high patient acceptability and ease ofmanagement in conjunction with continuous feeding pumps. Severely ill patients, ...

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is performed with increasing frequency for the management of morbid obesity. Although LAGB is less invasive than other bariatric surgical procedures, it is associated with various complications that may lead to nonspecific abdominal symptoms several months or years after the procedure. Because complications of LAGB may be encountered incidentally a...

BACKGROUND The RightLevelpH indicator is a new device designed to measure the pH of gastric aspirate obtained via a nasogastric tube while minimizing exposure of the operator. OBJECTIVE To validate the RightLevelpH indicator in vivo and in vitro. METHODS With general anesthesia, 20 patients had placement of a nasogastric tube and a gastric pH electrode catheter after endotracheal intubation...

T he ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) (Laryngeal Mask Company, Henley-on-Thames, UK) is a new airway device with a large double cuff that forms a better seal than the standard laryngeal mask airway; it also has a drainage tube designed to protect against regurgitation, facilitate passage of a gastric tube, reduce the risk of gastric insufflation, and facilitate the detection of malposition ...

Background: The RightLevelpHTM indicator is a new device designed to measure pH of gastric aspirate obtained via nasogastric tube while minimizing exposure of the operator. Study Objectives: In vivo and in vitro validation of the RightLevelpHTM indicator. Methods: Patients (23) undergoing general anesthesia had placement of a nasogastric tube and gastric pH electrode catheter following endotrac...