Endovascular Treatment of Arteriovenous Fistula with Pseudoaneurysm at Popliteal Fossa Using a PTFE Stent-graft: A Case Report

We report the successful treatment of a postoperative pseudoaneurysm of a popliteal artery, which was associated with an arteriovenous fistula to the popliteal vein using an endovascular placement of a PTFE-covered stent graft. After a one-month follow-up, there was an in-stent stenosis, which was managed by balloon angioplasty. The patient was well with mild leg discomfort after a 3-month follow-up.

A Comparison of Safety between the Operative and Nonoperative Management of Traumatic Liver Injury

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of the nonoperative management of traumatic liver injuries. METHODS: The medical records of 67 patients, with traumatic liver injury, between January 1998 and December 2001, were reviewed retrospectively, with respect to the cause of injury, combined injury, hemodynamic stability, amount of transfusion, liver injury grade, length of hospital stay and complications. RESULTS: Of the 67 patients, 30 were treated operatively (Group A), and 37 nonoperatively (Group B). The initial systolic blood pressure in Group A was significantly lower than that in Group B (81.33+/-23.00 vs 108.10+/-20.66 mmHg, P<0.001). The amount of transfusion for hemodynamic stability were 2.83 and 0.89 units (P<0.01), and the mean total transfusion requirement and injury grade were 10.30 and 1.29 units (P<0.001). 3.63+/-0.99 and 2.48+/-1.12 (P<0.001) for Groups A and B. The duration of intensive care unit stay in Group A was significantly shorter than that of Group B (6.70+/-6.12 vs. 3.13+/-4.00 days, P<0.01), but there was no difference in total length of hospital stay. The complication rates in Groups A and B were 63.3 and 21.8%, respectively (P<0.01), and the most common complications were respiratory problems, such as pleural effusion, pneumonia, atelectasis and pulmonary edema. Five patients in Group A died, 2 from hypovolemic shock, and one each from disseminated intravascular coagulation, multiple organ failure, and respiratory failure, but no patients in Group B died. CONCLUSION: Nonoperative management is safe for hemodynamically stable patients with traumatic liver injury, regardless of the injury severity, but close observation and frequent physical examinations must be adhered to.

Comparison of the Early Postoperative Results after a Billroth I and a Billroth II Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: The proper reconstructive technique after a partial gastrectomy for an adenocarcinoma of the stomach is often debated, but few data exist to clarify the issue. The aim of this study was to compare retrospectively the early postoperative results and complications after different anastomoses used during a partial gastrectomy for a gastric adenocarcinoma. MATENRIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the hospital records of 218 patients who had undergone a subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer at Chosun University Hospital between January 1997 and July 2000. Of the 218 subtotal gastrectomies performed with curative intent, 127 reconstructions were Billroth I gastrectomies and 91 were Billroth II gastrectomies. The following data were analyzed: age, sex, tumor size, gastric resection margin, timing of removal of the nasogastric tube, first bowel movement, resumption of oral feeding, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The timing of removal of the nasogastric tube was significantly earlier in the Billroth Igroup than in the Billroth II group (27.9+/-13.9 hours and 69.7+/-68 hours, respectively)(P<0.05). Resumption of oral feeding was possible on day 4.6+/-1.5 in the Billroth I group and on dsy 5.2+/-1.5 in the Billroth II group (P<0.05). There were no anastomotic leakage, postoperative bleeding, and postoperative mortality among the patients in either group. CONCLUSION: the Billroth Igastrectomy should be considered for patients undergoing a partial gastric resection for gastric cancer due to its physiological benefits and acceptable rate of complication.

The Necessity of Pyloroplasty after Esophagectomy and Esophagogastrostomy in the Gastric Replacement of the Esophagus

PURPOSE: In treating carcinoma of the esophagus, a gastric drainage procedure seems to be necessary with esophago gastrostomies because of the inevitable incidental bilateral truncal vagotomy which occurs during the esophagectomy. There are potential hazards with a pyloroplasty such as jeopardizing the blood supply to the mobilized stmach, shortening its length for substitution, leakage, dumping syndrome, and bile reflux gastritis. The aims of the study are to compare the postoperative outcome of patients with and without pyloroplasty after an esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, and to evaluate the necessity of pyloroplasty in the vagotomized intrathoracic stomach after esophageal surgery. METHODS: During the years 1996 to 2001, 23 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus underwent an esophagectomy followed by esophagogastrostomy with or without pyloroplasty. The medical records of the patients were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: There were no statiscally significant differences between the pyloroplasty group and the no-pyloroplasty group with regards to the average hospital stay, resumption of oral feeding, removal of the nasogastric tube, and the daily gastric drainage. CONCLUSION: Postoperative symptomatic evaluation of patients who had esophageal cancer and underwent an esoph-agectomy and an esophagogastrostomy, with or without pyloroplasty supports the concept that the drainage procedure is unnecessary in the gastric replacement of the esophagus.

The Usefulness of Three-Dimensional Gadolinium-Enhanced MR Venography for the Evaluation of Varices in Lower Extremities

PURPOSE: To assess the performance of contrast-enhanced three-dimensional(3-D) magnetic resonance venography (MRV) of the pelvis and lower extremities in patients with varicose veins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ascending and MR venography were performed in seven legs of seven patients, and duplex Doppler sonography and MR venography in 15 legs of 12 patients, all referred for evaluation of varicose veins. For analysis, the venous system as revealed by ascending and MR venographic images was divided into 13 segments. For detection of reflux to the great saphenous vein, duplex Doppler sonography and MRV were performed. RESULTS: In ascending venography and MRV, 91 venous segments were potentially visible; both modalities depicted 78 of these, but failed to detect four. Ascending venography and MRV detected 17 and 19 varices, respectively. When two tourniquets were placed around the ankle and knee using the Valsalva maneuver, MRV and duplex Doppler sonography detected reflux in 8 of 11 and 13 of 15 legs, respectively. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced 3-D MRV comprehensively displays the venous system of the lower extremities and permits assessment of varicose veins. MRV using the Valsalva maneuver allows assessment of reflux to the great saphenous vein.

Ambulatory Hemorrhoidectomy under Local Anesthesia

PURPOSE: Hemorrhoidectomy can be associated with severe pain in the immediate postoperative period. The aim of this study was to evaluate the advantages and feasibility of hemorrhoidectomy under local anesthesia (pudendal nerve block). METHODS: From september 1998 to August 2000 we performed 77 hemorrhoidectomy with local anesthesia in our Colorectal unit under the ambulatory surgery regimen. 0.5% lidocaine and 0.25% bupivacaine mixed by 1:1 ratio were used for pudendal nerve block and local anesthesia. RESULTS: Using pudendal nerve block, ambulatory hemorrhoidectomy with or without band ligation were done in 77 patients. Male to female ratio was 46:31, mean age was 35.2 years. 3 major piles plus 1 minor pile were present in 40 patients (51.9%). We injected mixed lidocaine and bupivacaine solution through external sphincter and puborectalis muscle. All patients were successfully operated without conversion to general anesthesia or even intravenous anesthetic injection. Postoperative pain of them were compared the patients who were operated hemorrhoidectomy under general (spinal or caudal) anesthesia during the same time. The pain were assessed using verbal rating pain scale at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours (1-10, where 1 presented no pain and 10 represented the worst pain imaginable) by phone call examination. Mean pain scores for pudendal anesthesia group at 24, 48, 72 hours were 5.32, 3.07 and 2.21, respectively, compared with other anesthesia group with 6.47, 4.52 and 3.24. These differences were statistically significant (P value<0.05). Post operative pain was successfully controlled with home care and oral medications. CONCLUSIONS: Under local anesthesia with pudendal nerve block, ambulatory hemorrhoidectomy were able to decrease pain and urinary retension in comparison to spinal or caudal anesthesia group. Ambulatory hemorrhoidectomy is useful, low cost and feasible.

A Clinical Significancy of Evoked Thrill Test in the Arteriovenous Fistula

PURPOSE: Arteriovenous fistula at the wrist has remained the procedure of choice for long-term chronic hemod ialysis since its development by Brecia and Cimino in 1966. Thrombosis is the most common cause of early failure after arteriovenous fistula procedure, should be reconized preoperatively or intraoperatively, but no consensus exits regarding the ideal preoperative or intraoperative screening method for access surgery. We describe a simple intraoperative maneuver that can be used to detect proximal stenotic vein segments. METHODS: From September 1998 to September 1999, a total of 117 arteriovenous fistulas were performed for permanent hemodialysis in patients with chronic renal failure. Of them, a intraoperative evoked thrill test was performed in 61 patients (A group), in 56 patients (B group or control group) was not. RESULTS: Early failure rate (<30 days) was 12.5% in A group, 9.8% in B group or control group. In this study, the specificity and positive predictive value of the evoked thrill test was 100%, indicating that this maneuver is highly accurate in predicting early failure. CONCLUSION: Evoked thrill test is a simple and useful intraoperative method for improving the patency rate of autologous arteroiovenous fistula.

The Expression of Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein (MRP) and the Chemosensitivity in Gastric Cancer Cell Lines

PURPOSE: Gastric cancer cells may show resistance to various chemotherapeutic agents. The ability of cancer cells to become drug resistant is thought to be a cause of chemotherapy failure. Recent studies showed that multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) might confer resistance to a wide spectrum of natural product drugs. However, the clinical relevance of MRP-mediated multidrug resistance in human gastric cancer remains unknown. To determine the significance of MRP expression in gastric cancer, we investigated the relationship between MRP expression and chemosensitivity in gastric cancer cell lines. METHODS: In 8 gastric cancer cell lines (SNU-1, 5, 16, 484, 601, 620, 638 and 668), the expression of MRP and MRP mRNA was detected by using Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses, respectively. Sensitivity to the anticancer agents (cisplatin, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, camptothecin, epirubicin, and vincristine) was examined using a dimethylthiazole- diphenyltetrazolium-bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS: All 8 cell lines expressed MRP and MRP mRNA in various degrees. There was no significant correlation between the expression of MRP and MRP mRNA. Sensitivity to anticancer agents had no significant correlation with the level of MRP expression. CONCLUSION: There was no general correlation between the expression of MRP and chemosensitivity in the various gastric cancer cell lines used in this study. In addition to MRP, another mechanism might be involved in the chemosensitivity of gastric cancer cell lines.

Anal Endosonographic Findings of Internal Anal Sphincter in Normal Adult Korean

PURPOSE: To describe the appearance and average thickness of the internal anal sphincter with anal endosonography in healthy Korean adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 184 subjects(male: 96, female: 88) with no history of anorectal disease or surgery were studied with anal endosonography. The average thickness of internal sphincter was meas ured at the mid-anal canal. For the internal sphincter, which is often asymmetric, the thickness of each 4 part(12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock direction) were measured in left lateral decubitus position. RESULTS: The anal wall was well visualized in 5 layers(mucosa, submucosa, internal anal sphincter, intersphincteric plane, external anal sphincter) with anal endosonography. The anal endosonogram showed the internal anal sphincter as a homogenous, well-defined, hypoechoic, circular band, and slightly asymmetric. The average thickness of the internal anal sphincter in the area of mid-anal portion was 2.0 0.3 mm(range: 1~3 mm). There was no sexual difference; however, a significant positive correlation with age was found in average thickness of the internal anal sphincter. The correlation with lean body mass was not found. CONCLUSION: The internal anal sphincter is well-visualized, best defined structure by anal endosonography. Average thickeness of the sphincter in Korean appeared to be the same as in the Western.