Second-generation laryngeal mask airway as an alternative to endotracheal tube in prolonged laparoscopic abdominal surgery: a comparative analysis of intraoperative gas exchanges

INTRODUCTION@#Laryngeal mask airway (LMA), which is used in difficult airway maintenance conditions during emergencies, is rarely used in prolonged surgery despite its advantages over endotracheal tube (ETT). In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of intraoperative gas exchanges between second-generation LMA and ETT during prolonged laparoscopic abdominal surgery.@*METHODS@#Prolonged surgery was defined as a surgery lasting more than 2 h. In total, 394 patients who underwent laparoscopic liver resection via either second-generation LMA or ETT were retrospectively analysed. The following parameters were compared between the two groups of patients: end-tidal pressure of carbon dioxide (ETCO2), tidal volume (TV), respiratory rate (RR), peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), pH and ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fractional inspired oxygen (PFR) during surgery. In addition, the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), including pulmonary aspiration, was compared.@*RESULTS@#The values of ETCO2, TV, RR and PIP during pneumoperitoneum were comparable between the two groups. Although PaCO2 at 2 h after induction was higher in patients in the LMA group (40.5 vs. 38.5 mmHg, P < 0.001), the pH and PFR values of the two groups were comparable. The incidence of PPC was similar.@*CONCLUSION@#During prolonged laparoscopic abdominal surgery, second-generation LMA facilitates adequate intraoperative gas exchange and may serve as an alternative to ETT.

Incidence and risk factors for herpes zoster after adult liver transplantation

PURPOSE: Herpes zoster (HZ) is caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, which occurs frequently in liver transplant recipients with impaired cellular immunity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for HZ after adult liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: In our institution, 993 patients underwent adult LT from January 1997 to December 2013. We retrospectively analyzed the incidence rate of HZ and risk factors for HZ after LT. RESULTS: Of 993 LT recipients, 101 (10.2%) were diagnosed with HZ. The incidence of HZ at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years was 6.6%, 9.1%, 10.0%, and 11.9%, respectively. Therefore, we observed that the incidence of HZ after LT was 16.3 per 1,000 person-years. Older age (≥50 years) at LT and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) exposure were independent risk factors of HZ infection after adult LT. CONCLUSION: Patients older than 50 years or with MMF exposure are considered to be at high risk for HZ. Therefore, adult liver recipients with such factors should not be given strong immunosuppression treatments.

Long-term outcomes after stent insertion in patients with early and late hepatic vein outflow obstruction after living donor liver transplantation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the long-term effects of stenting in patients with hepatic venous outflow obstruction (HVOO), who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2009, 622 adult patients underwent LDLT at our hospital, and of these patients, 21 (3.3%) were diagnosed with HVOO; among these patients, 17 underwent stenting. The patients were divided into early or late groups according to the time of their HVOO diagnoses (cutoff: 60 days after liver transplantation). RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 54.2 months (range, 0.5–192.4 months). Stent insertion was successful in 8 of 10 patients in the early group and 6 of 7 in the late group. The 5-year primary patency rates were 46% and 20%, respectively. In both groups, patients with recurrent HVOO at the beginning showed kinking confirmed by venography. Patients who carried their stents for more than 3 years maintained long-term patency. There was no significant difference in spleen size between groups; however, when the groups were compared according to whether they maintained patency, spleens tended to be smaller in the patency-maintained group. CONCLUSION: Unlike stenosis, if kinking is confirmed on venography, stenting is not feasible in the long term for patients with LDLT.

Correction of Tilted Cartilaginous Nasal Dorsum with Clocking Suture Single Technique / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Deviated nose is a commonly encountered deformity, and the correction of deviated nose is the most difficult part of septorhinoplasty. Generally, additional cartilaginous graft is required for straightening the deviated segment. However, there are many cases where sufficient cartilage grafts are not available due to revision surgery or cases with small cartilage. In such cases, tilted cartilaginous dorsum should be corrected without grafting. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of clocking suture single technique for cartilaginous deviation by analyzing the surgical results of cases who underwent corrective rhinoplasty without any cartilaginous graft. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From June 2009 to June 2016, 43 patients with tilted cartilaginous dorsum were corrected with clocking suture single technique. Cases underwent additional graft for straightening dorsum were excluded. The patients' medical records and facial photographs were analyzed to assess surgical outcomes and complications. Surgical outcomes were graded as excellent, fair and poor according to patients' satisfaction and evaluation by two physicians. RESULTS: Mean follow up period was 15.4 (5-39) months. There were 39 patients (90.7%) with excellent result, 3 patients (7.0%) with fair results, and 1 patient (2.3%) with poor result. Augmentation was performed with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene or septal cartilage in 26 patients (60.5%) and dorsal hump was removed in 22 patients (51.2%). Concomitant augmentation didn't affect surgical results. No postoperative complication such as infection or inflammation were found. CONCLUSION: The clocking suture single technique is an effective surgical method for the correction of dorsal cartilaginous deviation.