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Visualization of diffusion of the drug solution during aluminum potassium tannic acid injection therapy: a pilot study

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Abstract

Sclerotherapy with aluminum potassium tannic acid (ALTA), which was approved in Japan for the treatment of internal hemorrhoids in July 2004 (Takano et al., Int J Colorectal Dis 21:44–51, 2006), has been widely accepted because of its effectiveness and low invasiveness. More than 200,000 patients have received ALTA injection therapy. ALTA is injected directly into 4 points of an internal hemorrhoid (4-step injection) to induce sclerosis and remission of the hemorrhoids, and consequently, resolution of symptoms such as prolapse and bleeding. The precision of the 4-step injection is considered to be a crucial determinant of the success of this therapy and the risk of complications. However, sufficient evidence has not yet been obtained concerning the diffusion and distribution of the injected drug. A pilot study visualized the real-time diffusion/distribution of the drug solution following the 4-step injection, using the ICG (indocyanine green) fluorescence technique, and an infrared camera (Photodynamic EYE; PDE, Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.).

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References

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Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Mr. Mitsuharu Miwa for his valuable help and support (HAMAMATSU Photonics K.K., Hamamatsu, Japan).

Conflict of interest

None of the authors have a conflict of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yamamoto Clinic, 2-8-28 Hikinocho kita, Hukuyama, Hiroshima, 721-0941, Japan

    Yutaka Yamamoto

  2. Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Hamamatsu, Japan

    Mitsuharu Miwa

Authors
  1. Yutaka Yamamoto
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  2. Mitsuharu Miwa
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Correspondence to Yutaka Yamamoto.

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Yamamoto, Y., Miwa, M. Visualization of diffusion of the drug solution during aluminum potassium tannic acid injection therapy: a pilot study. Surg Today 43, 698–701 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-012-0429-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-012-0429-9

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