OBJECTIVES This study assesses the safety and effectiveness of balloon catheters used as instruments in sinus surgery in a "real-world" multicenter registry of 1,036 patients across 27 US otolaryngology practices. METHODS Data were collected by standardized chart review with centralized database administration for all consecutive functional endoscopic sinus surgeries that included the use of ...

BACKGROUND Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has typically been performed using air insufflation. Recently, however, insufflation of CO2 has been increasingly used to avoid complications. This prospective study was designed to compare the CO2 concentration, intestinal volume, and acid-base balance using the duodenal balloon procedure. METHODS From June 2010 to February 2011, we enrolled ...

To investigate the reason why, during a mass contraction, the stool moving from the colon to the sigmoid colon stops short of the rectosigmoid junction (RSJ) instead of passing directly to the rectum, and whether the sigmoid colon and RSJ share in the anorectal continent mechanism, 12 mongrel dogs were studied. Under anesthesia, the anorectum was excised, sigmoid colon and RSJ were mobilized an...

In patients presenting with ST-elevation MI, prompt primary coronary intervention is the preferred treatment modality. Several studies have described improved outcomes in door-to-balloon (D2B) and symptom onset-to-balloon (OTB) times of less than 2 hours, but specific implications coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on D2B OTB are not well-known. This review aims to evaluate impact COV...

Massive hematochezia caused by a small bowel lesion is a rare entity. Currently, video capsule endoscopy and balloon-assisted enteroscopy are effective in identifying the source of small intestine bleeding. Herein, we report a case of small bowel bleeding caused by a nonmucinous appendiceal adenocarcinoma with ileal invasion which was detected by video capsule endoscopy and single-balloon endos...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of static balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) with the double balloon technique for infants. TMP PED balloon catheter, newly designed for static BAS in small children, was used in 3 infants. The balloon catheter has a low profile, short and round shoulder, and smooth deflation without slippage. METHODSANDRESULTS Three infants (tr...

Abstract: A hybrid snake algorithm is presented in this paper. The procedure is based on combining a dynamic balloon force, a GVF force and a traditional gradient force. The balloon force is modified in order to increase the capture range and convergence speed of active contour in a dynamic way. Our interest is to give the balloon force a bigger preponderance at the early of procedure and a sma...

A 46-year-old woman presented with small-bowel obstruction (SBO) 2 months after placement of two Obalon gastric balloons (Obalon Therapeutics, California, USA) for weight loss [1]. A computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed SBO caused by a partially deflated balloon that had migrated into the ileum; the other balloon remained inflated and in situ within the stomach (●" Fig.1 and ●" Fig.2). After...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Fear of distal embolization and stroke has aroused concern regarding carotid stenting. Devices to protect the cerebral circulation may make carotid stenting safer. METHODS A multidisciplinary study group tested a balloon occlusion-aspiration emboli entrapment device in conjunction with carotid stenting. The device consists of an elastomeric balloon on a steerable wire w...

BACKGROUND Percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (PBPV) is the preferred therapy for pulmonary valve stenosis (PVS). This study retrospectively reviewed recent PBPV outcomes in infants with PVS. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with immediate therapeutic outcomes and restenosis during medium-term follow-up. METHODS The study included 158 infants with PVS who und...