Ruptured pancreaticoduodenal pseudoaneurysm causing arterioportal fistula: combined transarterial and transportal embolization.

BACKGROUND: Arterioportal fistulas are rare vascular disorders of the abdominal viscera. They are arteriovenous communications between the splanchnic arteries and the portal vein or its tributaries. We herein report a case of an extrahepatic arterioportal fistula that was caused by rupture of a pseudoaneurysm of the pancreaticoduodenal artery and successfully treated with embolization using a combination of the arterial and percutaneous transhepatic portal venous approaches. CASE PRESENTATION: A 79-year-old man was transferred to our hospital because of the sudden appearance of a hematoma containing a large pseudoaneurysm in the mesentery of the duodenum. Emergency abdominal angiography revealed that a pseudoaneurysm of the anterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal arterial branch had perforated into the portal system (arterioportal fistula). We performed coil embolization via the inflow artery and portal vein using a percutaneous transhepatic approach. The patient recovered without complications and was discharged. CONCLUSION: This rare vascular disorder was successfully treated with an unplanned combination therapy. We believe that flexible strategy changes led to the successful treatment in this case.

[A case of liver abscess caused by hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae with septic pulmonary embolism].

A 69-year-old man consulted a local doctor because of a chief complaint of fever and anorexia. CT showed a giant liver mass of the right hepatic lobe and multiple pulmonary nodules. The patient was admitted to our hospital. We punctured the liver mass, obtaining pus, and as gram-negative bacilli were detected from both blood and pus cultures, a liver abscess with septic pulmonary embolism was diagnosed. Following a positive string test, we identified the pathogenic bacteria as hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae, which is highly invasive to the tissues. The patient showed improvement following the administration of an antimicrobial agent (Meropenem) and multiple abscess drainage procedures.

Jejunal varices after choledochojejunostomy treated with laparotomic transcatheter variceal embolization.

Portal hypertension induces collateral shunt formation between the portal and systemic circulation, decompressing the elevated portal pressure. Ectopic varices outside of the gastroesophageal region, such as jejunal varices, are rare conditions. This report describes the successful embolization of ruptured jejunal varices resulting from an extrahepatic portal obstruction. A 62-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with recurrent massive gastrointestinal bleeding. Fourteen months earlier, he had undergone a choledochojejunostomy and pancreatic cystojejunostomy for bile duct stenosis with an enlarged pancreatic pseudocyst due to severe chronic pancreatitis. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed jejunal intramural dilated vessels close to the choledochojejunal anastomosis, but extravasation was not observed. Due to the lack of a rapid definitive diagnosis, the patient required massive blood transfusions. Hemorrhagic scintigraphy using 99mTc-HSAD finally identified the site of the hemorrhage. Angiography and double-balloon endoscopy revealed the anastomotic jejunal varices to be the result of an extrahepatic portal obstruction. Laparotomic transcatheter variceal embolization with microcoils was successful in halting the refractory gastrointestinal bleeding. This surgery preserved hepatopetal portal venous flow by another route, and no complications were observed. At present, 4 years post-surgery, there has been no recurrence of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The development of jejunal varices is often associated with postoperative adhesions. Some patients with a history of hepatico- or choledochojejunostomy may experience portal hypertension resulting from extrahepatic portal obstruction, leading to the formation of jejunal varices as hepatopetal portal collaterals. The choice of therapy in each patient should be based on the individual hemodynamics of the ectopic varices.

Simultaneous combined balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration and partial splenic embolization for gastric fundal varices.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported the techniques and usefulness of simultaneous combined balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) and partial splenic embolization (PSE), based on the hypothesis that concomitant PSE can diminish the increase in portal venous pressure after B-RTO. OBJECTIVE: After experiencing more cases and performing longer-term follow-up, we re-evaluated the efficacy of simultaneous combined B-RTO and PSE for gastric fundal varices (GVs). METHODS: We performed B-RTO in 36 consecutive patients treated for GVs from 2005 to 2013. Twenty-three patients underwent simultaneous combined B-RTO and PSE (Group 1) and 13 underwent B-RTO monotherapy (Group 2). The outcomes were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups except that the splenic volumes were larger in Group 1 than 2. B-RTO was technically successful in 21 of 23 patients (91.3%) in Group 1 and in 12 of 13 patients (92.3%) in Group 2. In all patients with ruptured GVs (six in Group 1 and five in Group 2), complete hemostasis was obtained by B-RTO. Exacerbation of esophageal varices was significantly less frequent in Group 1 than 2 (p = 0.0017). CONCLUSION: Concomitant PSE with B-RTO may contribute to prevention of the exacerbation of esophageal varices after B-RTO.

[A case of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma successfully treated with systemic chemothrapy].

A 64-year-old man with a 2-month history of abdominal distension was admitted for transient cerebral ischemic attack. A CT scan revealed massive ascites. Laparoscopy showed multiple whitish nodules on the visceral peritoneum and the omentum. Peritoneal biopsy revealed tumor cells consistent with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPeM). Pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin was administered because it has been reported to be active in patients with MPeM. However his disease progressed. As second-line therapy paclitaxel was tried which yielded a complete response (CR). Eighteen months later he developed abdominal pain of the right upper region where a CT scan showed a mass with surrounding inflammation. As third-line therapy, gemcitabine was administered and again resulted in a CR. He is alive at 3 years from first presenting. Searches for case studies published in medical journals on MPeM were carried out, and 59 cases were analyzed in comparison with this case.

Simultaneous combined balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration and partial splenic embolization for portosystemic shunts.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of simultaneous combined balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) and partial splenic embolization (PSE) for gastric varices and/or hepatic encephalopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: B-RTO was performed in 19 consecutive patients with gastric varices and/or hepatic encephalopathy, of whom 10 received simultaneous combined B-RTO and PSE (group 1) and nine received B-RTO monotherapy (group 2). To evaluate the safety of these techniques, we analyzed 20 patients who received PSE monotherapy during the same period as a control group (group 3). Outcomes were retrospectively assessed. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in baseline characteristics among the three groups except for significantly lower platelet counts and larger spleen volumes in group 3. In all cases in groups 1 and 2, gastric varices disappeared and hepatic encephalopathy improved after treatment. Procedure times were not significantly different between groups 1 and 2 (P = .7435). In group 1, the volume of sclerosing agent required for B-RTO was significantly lower (P = .0355) and exacerbation of esophageal varices was significantly less frequent (P = .0146) than in group 2. Few serious complications occurred in patients who received combined therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that concomitant PSE may help diminish the increase in portal venous pressure after B-RTO for portosystemic shunts, and may allow a reduction in the volume of hazardous sclerosing agent used. It is worth evaluating the efficacy of simultaneous B-RTO and PSE in a prospective study.

[Gemcitabine treatment in patients with stage IV pancreatic cancer and prognostic factors for survival of patients with stage IVb(a retrospective survey at 15 hospitals in Niigata Prefecture)].

We performed a retrospective survey at 15 hospitals in Niigata Prefecture to assess the effectiveness of gemcitabine in patients with stage IV pancreatic cancer and to analyze prognostic factors impacting survival in patients with stage IVb. The subjects were 244 unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer patients(IVa 68, IVb 176)who were treated with gemcitabine as first-line therapy. The overall response rate was 6.1% and the median survival time(MST)was 194 days. The MST of stage IVa(312 days)was double that of stage IVb(167 days). Prognostic factors for survival of patients with stage IVb were analyzed(performance status, response rate, liver metastasis, peritonitis carcinomatosa, paraaortic lymph node metastasis)with the Cox proportional hazards model. Performance status, response rate, and liver metastasis were significant factors influencing survival. When we compare an effect of other chemotherapy with GEM, we should treat stage IVa and stage IVb separately, and subdivision is necessary for stage IVb.

Liver injury induced by a Japanese herbal medicine, sairei-to (TJ-114, Bupleurum and Hoelen Combination, Chai-Ling-Tang) R1.

The case is reported of a man who showed acute hepatitis with jaundice after he was given a Japanese herbal medicine, sairei-to (TJ-114, Bupleurum and Hoelen Combination, Chai-Ling-Tang). Unusually, the component thought to be responsible for the observed drug-induced liver injury was able to be identified. Lymphocyte migration inhibition testing indicated that the tuber of the perennial herbage Pinellia ternate was the causative agent.

[A case of gastric cancer with abdominal wall invasion treated by weekly low-dose paclitaxel therapy].

Here we report a case of gastric cancer with diffuse abdominal wall invasion treated with weekly low-dose paclitaxel therapy. A 62-year-old male visited our hospital because of abdominal distention, prepubic tumor,and testicular hydrocele. Computed tomography revealed diffuse swelling of the abdominal wall and hydronephrosis of the right kidney. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy demonstrated type 3' advanced gastric cancer. Pathological diagnosis of both gastric tumor and abdominal wall biopsy specimens was poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma containing signet ring cell carcinoma. Low-dose paclitaxel (90 mg/body) was given once a week for 3 weeks. Abdominal wall swelling like cuirass disappeared after 2 courses of low-dose paclitaxel therapy. Nine repeated courses of this regimen have been given until now; the relapse of the abdominal wall invasion has not become apparent, and primary gastric lesion has been a stable disease. Diffuse abdominal wall invasion of gastric cancer like cuirass without ascites is a rare condition, and low-dose paclitaxel was very effective for this condition.

Blockade of CXCL10 protects mice from acute colitis and enhances crypt cell survival.

Crypt cell renewal is essential for normal intestinal homeostasis as well as mucosal regeneration following injury. However, the factors regulating crypt cell growth in pathological conditions are not fully understood. We report here that the endogenously produced chemokine CXCL10 regulates crypt cell proliferation. CXCL10 was constitutively expressed by basal crypts in mouse colon, but the expression of CXCL10 as well as CXCR3 was enhanced in the epithelium in the proliferative zone after oral administration of dextran sulfate sodium. Neutralization of CXCL10 protected mice from epithelial ulceration by promoting crypt cell survival without evidence of altered immune cell infiltration. Furthermore, recombinant CXCL10 administration into mice inhibited intestinal epithelial cell proliferation. These findings suggest that CXCL10 regulates crypt cell growth to maintain intestinal homeostasis in an autocrine or paracrine fashion. Thus, CXCL10 can be a new therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel disease by controlling the dynamics of epithelial homeostasis.