achalasia is a well- defined esophageal motor disorder. graded pneumatic dilation using rigiflex ballon is one of the therapeutic modalities that had not been evaluated in a large long-term study. we aimed at evaluating long-term efficacy of graded rigiflex pneumatic dilation in the treatment of achalasia. symptomatic patients with achalasia who had been referred to our center were consecutivel...

BACKGROUND Both surgical resection and endoscopic balloon dilatation are treatment options for ileocolonic anastomotic stricture caused by recurrent Crohn's disease unresponsive to medications. Perioperative outcomes of salvage surgery owing to failed endoscopic balloon dilatation in comparison with performing surgery first for the same indication are unclear. METHODS An analysis of a prospec...

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether balloon dilatation of the aortic valve induces long-term macroscopic or histological changes or both to explain the restenosis process. DESIGN Prospective study of 39 consecutive patients. Sixteen later (mean (SD) 12 (10) months) required operation. This non-randomised subgroup was compared with 10 patients who had aortic valve replacement without prior dilata...

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS Congenital duodenal web (CDW) is an uncommon cause of duodenal obstruction and endoscopic balloon dilatation has been reported in just eight pediatric cases to date. Here we are reporting three cases of CDW managed successfully with balloon dilatation. CASES AND METHODS In 2014 we diagnosed three cases of CDW on the basis of typical radiological and endoscopic findin...

OBJECTIVES To compare the use of cylindrical balloons and the Inoue balloon for percutaneous mitral valvotomy in patients in the United Kingdom. DESIGN Comparison of the haemodynamic results, complications, and symptomatic outcome of balloon dilatation for mitral stenosis in consecutive patients treated by cylindrical balloons and a second consecutive series of patients treated by the Inoue b...

Primary balloon dilatation of coarctation of the aorta was attempted in 10 consecutive neonates (age range 2-23 days). The coarctation site was crossed and the balloon inflated in all but one patient. In two patients with associated severe isthmal hypoplasia there was no change in the gradient after dilatation. In the remainder, the residual gradients were trivial and angiography showed complet...

opting out would negate much of the enterprise. The public must be told repeatedly about the likely consequences of the proposals, and the BMA council has launched this exercise. And negotiation must take place-and on equal terms, with flexibility and without the duress of a short timetable which owes more to political expediency than to the issues at stake. In the negotiations the BMA and the ...

Triple A (Allgrove) syndrome, an autosomal recessive disease is characterized by achalasia, alacrimia and ACTH-resistant adrenal failure with progressive neurological syndrome including central, peripheral and autonomic nervous system impairment, and mild mental retardation. The triple A syndrome gene, designated AAAS, localized on chromosome 12q 13 encodes for a 546 amino acid protein called A...