Active clinical trials for "Dilatation, Pathologic"

Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a relative "new" type of ectopic pregnancy where the fertilized egg is implanted in the muscle or fibrous tissue of the scar after a previous cesarean section. A recent review amounts almost 31 different treatment modalities for CSP. A broad spectrum of options represents a real challenge for the health care provider. The choice may be made among expectant management, medical treatment, local treatment and surgical approach, also combined together. There is insufficient evidence to recommend any one specific intervention over another for caesarean scar pregnancy. Future studies are needed to define the optimal management of pregnancy for caesarean section scars. Thus, we aim to compare the success rate of two different treatment of CSP: the medical management by using two-dose of Methotrexate (MTX) followed by dilation and evacuation (D&E) compared to single dose of two-dose of Methotrexate followed by hysperoscopic approach.

Urethral dilatation is a commonly undertaken intervention for a variety of urinary complaints including overactive bladder symptoms. There is however very little evidence for its efficacy, and no randomized trial evidence. The aim of this study is to ascertain the effect of urethral dilatation on overactive bladder symptoms and on voiding parameters. The null hypothesis is that there will be no difference in symptoms or voiding parameters between the urethral dilatation and sham groups. Eligible women will be assessed initially with a history and examination, a King's Health Questionnaire and Bristol Female Urinary Tract Symptoms (BFLUTS) questionnaire and pressure flow studies. They will be randomized to undergo either cystoscopy alone or cystoscopy and urethral dilatation. Patients will be blinded to the procedure undertaken and randomized using a series of opaque envelopes. Follow up will be at 6 weeks with repeat questionnaires and pressure flow studies. Subjective and objective outcomes will be compared between the two groups.

Intra-operative colonoscopy (inserting a flexible endoscope with a camera at its tip through the anus and up into the rectum and colon) is most often indicated to locate or verify the location of small cancer, polyp, bleeding site, or simply to inspect the bowel after the two ends have been rejoined together. Usually colonoscopy utilizes ambient air to expand and inflate the colon and, as a result, leaves the colon bloated or distended until the gas is either expelled or absorbed. This endoscopy related bowel distension is problematic in the setting of both traditional open (big incision) colorectal surgery and after minimally invasive (laparoscopic assisted) procedures. In the case of the former, it may prove difficult to close a traditional laparotomy incision if the bowel is distended and may hinder respiration with the abdomen closed. In the setting of a laparoscopic procedure, the bowel distension limits the working space available to the surgeon. Since the laparoscopic domain is limited, a distended colon following intra-operative colonoscopy can prevent the minimally invasive completion of a case (meaning that a conversion to traditional "open" methods would be necessary) that otherwise was going well with good prospects of laparoscopic completion. Colonic distension also causes abdominal pain and lengthens the recovery time from the procedure. The investigators believe that the use of CO2 during intra-operative colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy (exam of only the last 2 to 2 ½ feet of the colon) will not cause long lasting bloating or distension of the colon as opposed to air. Carbon dioxide is absorbed 250 times faster than ambient air and may decrease after procedure colonic distension. This prospective, randomized study will compare the two gases in terms of colonic distension. Patients undergoing open or minimally invasive colorectal resection will be randomized to undergo intra-operative colonoscopy using one of the two gases. Direct measurements of colon diameter will be taken at specific time intervals after the colonoscopy.

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation is as effective as sphincterotomy in treating bile duct stone. However, a need to switch to sphincterotomy is noted in about 20% of cases receiving dilation for lithotripsy. It is hypothesized that a longer dilation duration (5 min. vs. 1 min.) can decrease the need of switching to sphincterotomy.

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is the diffuse dilatation of coronary artery. It is defined as a dilatation with a diameter of 1.5 times the adjacent normal coronary artery . Its prevalence ranges from 1.2%-4.9% with male to female ratio of 3:1 . Coronary ectasia likely represents an exaggerated form of expansive vascular remodelling (i.e. excessive expansive remodelling) in response to atherosclerotic plaque growth . CAE is more common in males. Hypertension is a risk Factor. Interestingly, patients with DM have low incidence of CAE. This may be due to down regulation of MMP with negative remodelling in response to atherosclerosis . Smoking appears to be more common in patients with CAE than in those with coronary artery disease (CAD). The angiographic classification for CAE (described by Markis et al.) categorizes the severity based on the extent of coronary arterial involvement: Type 1: Diffuse ectasia of 2-3 arteries; Type 2: Diffuse ectasia in one artery and localized in another; Type 3: Diffuse single arterial ectasia; Type 4: Localized or segmental ectasia . Stable angina is the most common presentation in patients with CAE . Patients with CAE without stenosis had positive results during treadmill exercise tests. ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) , non-ST elevation MI can occur from altered blood flow by distal embolization or occlusion of ectatic segment with thrombus. Medical management for CAE is a controversial area as there is lack of evidence based medicine, especially the role of antiplatelet versus anticoagulant agents. Aspirin was suggested in all patients because of coexistence of CAE with obstructive coronary lesions in the great majority of patients and the observed incidence of myocardial infarction, even in patients with isolated coronary ectasia .The role of dual anti platelet therapy has not been evaluated in prospective randomized studies. Based on the significant flow disturbances within the ectatic segments, chronic anticoagulation with warfarin as main therapy was suggested

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is defined as recurrent, crampy pain occurring with menses in the absence of identifiable pelvic pathology. Standard initial management of PD includes NSAIDs as a first-line treatment and oral contraceptives for the relief of pain and improved daily activity. In patients who have persistent dysmenorrhea despite medical therapy of NSAIDs and/or oral contraceptives, further investigation including pelvic ultrasound, hysteroscopy or laparoscopy may be needed to rule out other underlying pathologies. Historically, It is an old clinical observation that primary dysmenorrhea is often completely or partially relieved by childbearing. Similarly, the investigators have observed that the diagnostic/operative hysteroscopy led to relive of pain in most of the cases in our practice. Therefore, the investigators hypothesized that the process of cervical dilatation can have a role in reducing pain of patients with dysmenorrhea. In this randomized, controlled study, it was aimed to assess the effect of operational cervical dilatation on the pain in patients with primary dysmenorrhea.

Functional abdominal bloating/distension (FAB/D) is a common functional bowel disorder that lacks effective treatment options. Transcutaneous electroacupuncture (TEA) as a new therapeutic method has great effect on functional gastrointestinal diseases such as functional dyspepsia and functional constipation. Research on TEA for FAB/D has not yet been explored.

Balloon dilatation Eustachian tuboplasty has recently become a promising procedure for the treatment of refractory dilatory dysfunction of the Eustachian tube. Eustachian tube (ET) comprises an osseous intratemporal portion and a cartilaginous nasopharyngeal portion. It functions in pressure equalization, middle ear protection and clearance. Eustachian tube function can be adversely affected by viral and bacterial infections, adenoid disease, craniofacial anomalies, neoplasm, genetic predisposition, sinonasal disease and gastroesophageal reflux, leading to Eustachian tube dysfunction. Eustachian tuboplasty by balloon dilation involves the recanalization of the cartilaginous portion of the ET via the nasopharynx with a balloon catheter. This catheter is inflated to multiple atmospheres of pressure for a short amount of time and then removed. The surgical technique, the optimal balloon diameter, pressure or duration of inflation are variable in the literature. Even though the current data shows promising results and a potential benefit of this procedure, further evaluation is still needed in order to establish a higher level of evidence of efficacy and safety.

This study will determine the efficacy of collagen cross linking for progressive keratoconus and ectasia after lasik. It will try and determine which is a more effective treatment: collagen cross linking alone or collagen cross linking combined with Intacs, a treatment which has already been proven to be effective in decreasing corneal curvature in patients with keratoconus.

This is a hospital-based interventional prospective study. Patients with clinical keratoconus or LASIK keratectasia presenting to the Singapore National Eye Centre who meet the eligibility criteria are recruited for this study. The aim of the study is to assess the safety and efficacy of riboflavin-UVA induced cross-linking treatment for corneal ectasia