Acute Upper Limb Ischemia Suspected to Have Originated from Staphylococcus Epidermidis Native Valve Endocarditis / 대한내과학회지

We report a case of acute upper limb ischemia suspected to have originated from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis native valve endocarditis in a 57-year-old man who had complained of sudden-onset fever and pain in the right hand. 3D computed tomography of the right upper extremity detected a thrombus occluding the brachial artery. Echocardiography showed a large vegetation on the aortic valve. Thus, we suspected, clinically, brachial artery occlusion by septic emboli originating from a large vegetation of the aortic valve. The patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics for the suspected methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis-native valve endocarditis with a combination of percutaneous aspiration thromboembolectomy and selective intra-arterial thrombolysis for acute thromboembolic occlusion in the right upper limb. The large vegetation of the aortic valve resolved without surgery and aortic regurgitation improved. The patient recovered uneventfully with no complications, including septic embolism, over the following 11 months.

A Study of Complications Related to Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a widely used method for providing nutritional support for patients who require prolonged tubal feeding. As survival times of PEG inserted patients increase, PEG related complications are also increasing. For this reason, we decided to review complications related to PEG. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was conducted for patients who received PEG placement between January 2004 and March 2013 in our hospital. Of the total 331 cases of PEG placement, 131 cases of PEG exchanges were excluded and a total of 200 cases were included in our review. We reviewed the baseline characteristics of all PEG inserted patients and complications related to PEG insertion. RESULTS: Complications related to PEG developed in 45 of 200 patients (22.5%). Peristomal infection occurred in 22 patients (11.0%) and buried bumper syndrome occurred in 10 patients (5.0%). Other complications that occurred in 13 patients were hemorrhage (3.0%), leakage (1.0%), aspiration pneumonia (1.0%), ileus (0.5%), necrotizing fasciitis (0.5%) and gastro-colo-cutaneous fistula (0.5%). The characteristics according to age, gender, procedure place and underlying disease were not different between the complication group and non complication group. The onset time to complication was significantly different between the buried bumper syndrome group and the other complication groups (P=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Peristomal infection was the most common complication of PEG in our hospital. Late peristomal infection and buried bumper syndrome occurred more often than previous studies. Buried bumper syndrome was more likely to occur in later time compared with the other complications.

Negative Pressure Pulmonary Edema Together with Pneumopericardium after General Anesthesia / 대한내과학회지

Negative pressure pulmonary edema is an uncommon complication related to general anesthesia. Its main pathophysiology is excessive negative intrathoracic pressure that is caused by an acute upper airway obstruction. Pneumopericardium, the presence of air within the pericardial sac, is another rare condition. The common pathophysiology of pneumopericardium, except for that caused by blunt or penetrating trauma, is barotrauma-induced alveolar rupture caused by positive intrathoracic pressure. Here, we report the case of a 61-year old female patient with negative pulmonary edema and pneumopericardium after general anesthesia. She recovered after conservative management.