OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical application of artificial blood vessel graft for arteriovenous fistulization. METHODS From October 1995 to August 1998, 23 cases with renal failure received PTEF artificial vessels grafting for arteriovenous fistulization in the forearm. The PTFE artificial vessel was 6 mm in diameter, and 40 cm in length. Artificial vessel "U"-shaped loop was formed from elbow incision to wrist incision, and perfused by 20 ml heparin saline. The two ends of artificial vessel were end-to-side anastomosed with superficial cubital vein and cubital artery respectively. RESULTS All of arteriovenous fistulas were successfully formed, and could be performed hemodialysis periodically. The artificial vessels could be punctured repeatedly, and had sufficient volume of blood flow. It had no rejection, no formation of false aneurysm, and no ischemia in arm or exacerbated reflux to heart. CONCLUSION The artificial vessel grafting for arteriovenous fistulization is a safe and convenient technique in clinical practice, especially when there is no autogenous vessels for arteriovenous fistula.
Objective To evaluate the feasibility, safety, radicality, and short-term and mid-term clinical outcomes of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) in comparison with open procedure for the middle-lower rectal cancer. Methods From October 2005 to October 2008, 52 patients with middle-lower rectal cancer received laparoscopic TME (Dixon’operation) without preventive stoma, while 46 patients underwent conventional open TME (Dixon’operation) without preventive stoma. The operative procedures, clinicopathological data, and short-term and mid-term outcomes were collected and compared between the two groups. Results The other patients were successful in both groups in addition to 2 (3.8%) patients were converted to open procedure in laparoscopic TME group. There was no perioperative death in both groups. The intraoperative blood loss, the time for bowel movement retrieval (first flatus), and the incision healing in laparoscopic TME group were better than that in open TME group (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed between two groups in anastomotic leakage and pulmonary infection (P>0.05). Comparison of specimen, no significant differences were observed between two groups in negative distal margin and circumferential resection margin, number of lymph nodes resected, distance of distal resection margin to the tumor (P>0.05). No significant differences were observed between two groups in cancer-related death, local recurrence, distant metastasis, and 3-year survival rate (P>0.05). Conclusions Laparoscopic TME for middle-low rectal cancer is a safe, feasible, and minimally invasive technique, and can achieve satisfactory oncological outcome, which provides similar short-term and mid-term outcome compared with the traditional open procedure.