Effects of Intraoperative Ventilation Strategy on Perioperative Atelectasis Assessed by Lung Ultrasonography in Patients Undergoing Open Abdominal Surgery: a Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

Background@#Protective mechanical ventilation using low tidal volume has been introduced to surgical patients to reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications. We investigated the effects of protective ventilation (PV) techniques on anesthesia-induced atelectasis identified via lung ultrasonography in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. @*Methods@#A total of 42 adult patients who were scheduled for open abdominal surgery with an expected duration > 2 hours were included in the study. Patients were randomized to receive either conventional ventilation (CV; tidal volume of 9–10 mL/kg predicted body weight [PBW] with no positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEP]) or PV (tidal volume of 6–8 mL/kg PBW and 5 cmH 2 O PEEP) via pressure-controlled ventilation with volume guaranteed.Lung ultrasonography was performed at four predefined time points to assess perioperative atelectasis by dividing each hemithorax into six quadrants based on a modified lung ultrasound (LUS) scoring system. @*Results@#The tidal volume delivered to patients was 9.65 ± 1.65 mL/kg PBW in the CV group and 6.31 ± 0.62 mL/kg PBW in the PV group. Ventilation using low tidal volume led to similar LUS scores in all lung areas and at all time points compared to ventilation using high tidal volume. There was no significant difference between the groups in the number of patients requiring recruitment maneuvers at the end of surgery. @*Conclusion@#Ventilation with low tidal volume combined with 5 cmH2O PEEP did not cause further loss of aeration compared to ventilation with high tidal volume. Low tidal volume ventilation can be used in patients without lung injury based on lung assessment by bedside lung ultrasonography.

Effect of Institutional Kidney Transplantation Case-Volume on Post-Transplant Graft Failure: a Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: The impact of institutional case volume to graft failure rate after adult kidney transplantation is relatively unclear compared to other solid organ transplantations. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 13,872 adult kidney transplantations in Korea was performed. Institutions were divided into low- ( 60 cases/year) volume centers depending on the annual case volume. One-year graft failure rate was defined as the proportion of patients who required dialysis or re-transplantation at one year after transplantation. Postoperative in-hospital mortality and long-term graft survival were also measured. RESULTS: After adjustment, one year graft failure was higher in low-volume centers significantly (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26–1.78; P < 0.001) and medium-volume centers (aOR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.57–2.23; P < 0.001) compared to high-volume centers. Low-volume centers had significantly higher mortality (aOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.15–2.66; P = 0.01) than that of high-volume centers after adjustment. Long-term graft survival of up to 9 years was superior in high-volume centers compared to low- and medium-volume centers (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Higher-case volume centers were associated with lower one-year graft failure rate, lower in-hospital mortality, and higher long-term graft survival after kidney transplantation.

Outcomes of patients treated with Sengstaken-Blakemore tube for uncontrolled variceal hemorrhage

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the mortality, bleeding control rate, and their associated predictors in patients treated with Sengstaken-Blakemore (SB) tube for uncontrolled variceal hemorrhage associated with hemodynamic instability or failure of endoscopic treatment. METHODS: The clinical data of 66 consecutive patients with uncontrolled variceal hemorrhage treated with SB tube at Gyeongsang National University Hospital from October 2010 to October 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The overall success rate of initial hemostasis with SB tube was 75.8%, and the independent factors associated with hemostasis were non-intubated state before SB tube (odds ratio, 8.50; p = 0.007) and Child-Pugh score < 11 (odds ratio, 15.65; p = 0.022). Rebleeding rate after successful initial hemostasis with SB tube was 22.0%, and esophageal rupture occurred in 6.1%. Mortality within 30 days was 42.4%, and the related independent factors with mortality were failure of initial hemostasis with SB tube (hazard ratio, 6.24; p < 0.001) and endotracheal intubation before SB tube (hazard ratio, 2.81; p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Since the era of endoscopic band ligation, SB tube might be a beneficial option as a temporary salvage treatment for uncontrolled variceal hemorrhage. However, rescue therapy had a high incidence of fatal complication and rebleeding.

A Case of Metachronous Development of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Patient with Esophageal Carcinosarcoma / 대한소화기학회지

Esophageal carcinosarcoma is a rare malignant esophageal neoplasm consisting of both carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements, with an incidence of 0.5%. There have been only a few case reports of carcinosarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma coexisting in the esophagus. However, all of these are cases of synchronous or metachronous development of carcinosarcoma after chemoradiotherapy in patients of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. A 53-year-old man underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy because of chest pain for several months. Endoscopic examination revealed a huge pedunculated esophageal polypoid mass. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was performed and histopathologic examination confirmed spindle cell carcinoma (carcinosarcoma). He refused additional esophagectomy. After 21 months, third follow-up endoscopy showed poorly-demarcated flat, faint discolored lesions at different location from the previous ESD site and endoscopic biopsies confirmed squamous cell carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of metachronous development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a patient with esophageal carcinosarcoma.

Three Cases of Spontaneous Muscle Hematoma in Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis / 대한내과학회지

Liver cirrhosis is commonly associated with bleeding complications due to portal hypertension or coagulopathy. Spontaneous muscle hematoma is a rare but potentially lethal complication of liver cirrhosis. Here we report three cases of spontaneous muscle hematoma diagnosed in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. All three patients died due to recurrent bleeding and liver failure although they had undergone repeated transcatheter arterial embolization of the actively bleeding vessels. We reviewed 14 cases of spontaneous muscle hematoma that were associated with liver cirrhosis, including our cases, and found that the mortality rate was 86%, despite early diagnosis and treatment. Cirrhosis-associated spontaneous muscle hematoma occurred more frequently in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, who accounted for -93% of cases. Thus, spontaneous muscle hematoma should be considered a life-threatening complication in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and abstinence from alcohol may help to prevent the occurrence of this deadly condition.

Predictive Factors of Subepithelial Tumor and Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor in the Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Subepithelial Lesions / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Differentiating subepithelial tumor (SET) from non-neoplastic gastrointestinal subepithelial lesion (SEL) and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) from leiomyoma are very important for proper management. This study was conducted to analyze factors that could predict the presence of SET and GIST in patients with upper gastrointestinal (UGI) SELs. METHODS: A total of 527 patients were diagnosed with UGI SELs endosonographically at Gyeongsang National University Hospital from January 2008 to June 2013. Among these patients, histologic diagnosis was made in 84 patients. Data were collected by retrospectively reviewing the medical records. Variables that could differentiate neoplastic from non-neoplastic SELs and GIST from leiomyoma were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 84 patients with SELs, 64 (76.2%) had SETs including GIST (42.9%) and leiomyoma (19.0%). The patients' mean age (p=0.047), peak age distribution (p=0.047), proportions of patient > or =50 years (p=0.015), and number of proper muscle-originated lesions (p=0.001) were higher in neoplastic than non-neoplastic group. There were no significant differences in gender (p=0.195), size (p=0.266) and echogenicity (p=0.051) of the lesions. Older age (57.7 vs. 47.0 years, p=0.049), age > or =50 years (p=0.016), location in gastric body (p or =50 years, size > or =30 mm, and proper muscle-origin of lesion were independent predictors of SET; however, there were no predictive factors that could differentiate GIST from leiomyoma. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with SEL, the possibility of having SET should be considered for patients > or =50 years with UGI SELs > or =30 mm that arise from the proper muscle. Thorough monitoring and aggressive management is warranted for those with gastric muscular SET since factors predictive of GIST are lacking.

A Case of Malignant Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor of the Retroperitoneum with Multiple Metastases / 대한소화기학회지

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are unusual mesenchymal neoplasms composed of histologically and immunohistochemically distinct perivascular epithelioid cells (PECs). Although PEComas have the potential to behave in a malignant fashion, malignant PEComas arising from the retroperitoneum are extremely rare. A 68-year-old woman presented with a painful palpable mass in her left upper abdomen. Computed tomography of the abdomen showed a 9 cm sized heterogeneous mass in left para-aortic space and multiple hypervascular nodules in the liver. 18F-fludeoxyglucose-PET/CT showed multifocal hypermetabolic lesions in retroperitoneum, liver, and skeletal bones. Percutaneous needle biopsies were done on the retroperitoneal and hepatic mass. Both specimens were positive for human melanoma black-45 (HMB-45) on histological and immunohistochemical staining which was compatible with PEComas. Herein, we report a rare case of retroperitoneal PEComa with multiple metastases involving liver and bone at initial diagnosis that exhibited aggressive behavior and resulted in a devastating prognosis.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome after Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report / 이화의대지

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has become an effective alternative treatment strategy for patients with inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although TACE is relatively safe, acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with pulmonary lipiodol embolism is a rare and potentially fatal complication. We report a rare case of acute respiratory distress syndrome after TACE for inoperable HCC. A 75-year-old man, with huge HCC in right lobe, was treated by TACE for the first time. Seven hours after uneventful TACE procedure, he felt dyspneic and his oxygen saturation recorded by pulse oximetry (SpO2) fell to 80% despite of applying non-rebreathing mask. He underwent mechanical ventilation with a protective ventilatory strategy. We experienced a case of acute respiratory distress syndrome after TACE for HCC.