Mycotic aneurysms of the pulmonary arteries in intravenous drug addicts. Report of three cases and review of the literature.

During the postmortem study of pulmonary lesions in intravenous drug addicts, three patients were found to have bilateral multiple mycotic aneurysms of the peripheral pulmonary arteries in association with embolic pneumonia. Two of these patients had infective tricuspid endocarditis, and one had hemoptysis. This report draws attention to the occurrence of mycotic aneurysms in this unusual location and suggests that these pulmonary lesions may be more common than currently believed.

Influence of bronchial circulation and corticosteroid therapy on bronchial anastomotic healing.

In order to assess the effect of revascularization on the healing of bronchial anastomoses in a canine model, we developed a microsurgical technique that permits the immediate reperfusion of the distal bronchial segment by a direct anastomosis of the bronchial artery to an intercostal artery. This technique was applied to dogs that underwent hilar stripping and bronchial transection and reanastomosis, and it prevented the development of ischemic bronchial damage. In addition, several groups of dogs that had undergone bronchial transection and reanastomosis and, in some cases, reestablishment of bronchial arterial circulation, were treated with 40 mg of prednisone daily for periods of 7 and 21 days. The animals treated with corticosteroids demonstrated a lesser degree of inflammatory damage to the bronchial anastomotic site than similar groups of untreated animals. These findings support the hypothesis that restoration of bronchial arterial blood flow at the time of lung transplantation can reduce anastomotic damage to the distal or donor bronchial component. Our results further suggest that corticosteroid therapy alone does not increase bronchial anastomotic damage, and, in fact, may reduce inflammation at the bronchial anastomotic site.

Carcinosarcoma of the lung with spindle-cell epithelial component: report of a case.

A case of primary endobronchial carcinosarcoma with predominant spindle cell squamous carcinoma is described. The spindle cell component has not been previously reported as occurring in pulmonary carcinosarcomas. We suggest that this variety of carcinosarcoma closely resembles sarcoma of the lung histologically and emphasize that a distinction between the two neoplasms is important in view of the generally good prognosis of endobronchial carcinosarcomas.

Hepatic copper overload and features of Indian childhood cirrhosis in an American sibship.

We studied the clinical histories of four white American siblings who died at 41/2 to six years of age of an unknown form of cirrhosis, in an effort to identify the etiologic factors in this familial syndrome. The family history disclosed no Indian heritage or parental consanguinity. The children were born and raised in New Jersey. Each had been well until progressive lethargy, abdominal swelling, jaundice, and fever developed four to seven months before death. The liver histopathology in each case closely resembled that of Indian childhood cirrhosis and included severe panlobular liver-cell swelling with Mallory body formation, prominent pericellular fibrosis, "micro-micronodular" cirrhosis, and marked deposits of copper and copper-binding protein. Hepatic copper levels were as high as 2083 microgram per gram of tissue (normal, less than 50 microgram). A number of features distinguish this syndrome from Wilson's disease and familial cholestatic disorders of childhood. A genetically determined disturbance in copper metabolism appears to be the most likely cause.

Intrafamilial lung xenografts from fox to dog.

The technical feasibility and rejection characteristics of intrafamilial fox-to-dog xenografts were studied. The results indicate that (1) both lungs of a smaller donor can be successfully transplanted into a single hemithorax of a larger recipient, (2) fox-to-dog lung xenografts are capable of providing total pulmonary function at tolerable right ventricular pressures, and (3) the rejection process of unmodified intrafamilial lung xenografts, was similar to and not more vigorous or more rapid than that of canine lung allografts in untreated recipients.

Cell content in repetitive canine bronchoalveolar lavage.

To determine the effects and effectiveness of small volume (50 ml) bronchoalveolar lavage, lavages were performed on healthy mongrel dogs under a number of protocols. The differential and total cell counts in small volume bronchoalveolar lavages were determined. These factors were compared to those obtained by large volume (500 to 600 ml) lavage of the same segment in a second experimental group. Small volume lavage yielded a greater total cell count per milliliter and a greater concentration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) than large volume lavage, in which there was a somewhat higher concentration of bronchial cells. We compared the cell populations from lobes lavaged at 48-hour intervals. No significant changes in these populations or in pulmonary histology were noted. Our results suggest that small volume bronchoalveolar lavage provides a representative sample of the total free cell yield from the lower respiratory tract. Furthermore, small volume bronchoalveolar lavage performed at 48-hour intervals does not influence the distribution of these cells or significantly damage the pulmonary parenchyma.

Long-term fate of lung autografts charged with providing total pulmonary function. I. Light and electron microscopic studies.

Two groups of dogs underwent light and electron microscopic examination of both lungs up to five years after left lung autotransplantation. In one group of four dogs that had undergone ligation of the right pulmonary artery at the time of left lung autotransplantation, no generalized or consistent lesions were present in the transplant except for slight distension of net capillaries and slight capillary basement membrane thickening. Aside from theseminor changes which were probably of no functional significance, most areas of lung examined up to five years after transplantation were normal. In the second group of four dogs that did not have contralateral pulmonary artery ligation at the time of left lung autotransplantation, no consistent abnormality was present in either the transplanted left or nontransplanted right lung. In three animals in this group, widespread normal areas were present bilaterally up to five years after transplantation. One animal in this group had focal changes consistent with chronic pulmonary disease in both of its lungs. Thus, transplanted lungs do not necessarily develop significant late pathologic lesions.

Effect of donor bronchial length on healing: a canine model to evaluate bronchial anastomotic problems in lung transplantation.

Bronchial anastomotic complications in lung transplantation in man remain a major cause of failure. To study this problem in a canine model, we varied the length of the distal bronchial component in three groups of dogs that underwent hilar stripping, bronchial transection, and reanastomosis, The distal bronchial component was thus analogous to the donor in a transplanted lung. Anastomoses were performed, respectively, at the level of the main carina (long single anastomosis), at the midpoint between the main carina and the bifurcation of the left main-stem bronchus (short single anastomosis), and just distal to the bifurcation of the left main-stem bronchus (lobar anastomosis). Bronchial anastomotic damage and necrosis were evaluated by periodic examination with a fiberoptic bronchoscope and by gross and microscopic examination at sacrifice on the seventh postoperative day. The long single anastomoses demonstrated the most necrosis, and the labor anastomoses showed the least. The short single anastomoses showed an intermediate degree of damage. These findings support the hypothesis that shortening the distal or donor bronchial component reduces anastomotic damage, probably because of better pulmonary-to-bronchial collateral blood supply. This study provides a canine model by which to examine bronchial anastomotic complicatons and demonstrates the feasibility of performing labor anastomoses as a means for decreasing bronchial anastomotic problems in lung transplantation.

Restoration of bronchial artery circulation after canine lung allotransplantation.

To evaluate the re-establishment of the bronchial circulation in lung transplantation, we studied 10 immunosuppressed dogs up to 14 weeks after left lung allografting. Selective in vivo bronchial arteriograms were performed repetitively via the transfemoral route. In the early postoperative period, no fillinf og vessels distal of the bronchial anastomosis could be shown. After 12 days, however, continuity of the bronchial arteries across the anastomosis was present, and dye-filled ramifications of these vessels were visualized on the secondary and tertiary bronchi. Reconstitution of the bronchial circulation was also confirmed by postmortem studies after injecting the isolated descending thorasis aorta with colored radiopaque material (microfil). The bronchial mucosa at autopsy was examined microscopically. There was no correlation between its viability and bronchial artery regeneration. Although early ischemia of the transplant bronchus may be after a factor in the bronchial complcations that follow lung transplantation, the present study indicates that this ischemia is not due to failure of bronchial artery regeneration.

131I-fibrinogen in the detection of pulmonary allograft rejection.

The uptake of 131I-fibrinogen in canine pulmonary allografts was compared to that in lung autografts or lungs with papain-induced unilateral hemorrhagic pneumonia. In addition to serial lung scans and the postmortem measurement of tissue radioactivity, all dogs had serial chest roentgenograms and histologic study of their lungs. All four animals in the allografted group had increased radioactive uptake on the side of the allograft lung at the same time as or slightly before radiographic abnormalities were evident. However, increases in lung radioactivity also occurred in animals with pneumonia or autografts at the time infiltrates were present. Thus the presence of increased lung scan activity, which occurs in rejecting lung allografts after the injection of 131I-fibrinogen, is not a specific index of pulmonary rejection.

Transbronchial biopsy for the diagnosis of lung transplant rejection. Comparison with needle and open-lung biopsy techniques in canine lung allografts.

The accurate diagnosis of lung transplant rejection requires histologic examination of the grafted lung. Because transbronchial lung biopsy has been advocated as an effective diagnostic procedure for a variety of lung diseases, it was elected to assess this technique in rejecting transplanted lungs. Twenty-two dogs received allografts and underwent simultaneous lung biopsy by 3 techniques when signs of rejection occurred. Open lung biopsy was diagnostic of rejection in all instances. Transthoracic needle biopsy correlated with the open biopsy in 59 per cent of the cases. No specimen obtained by transbronchial lung biopsy provided sufficient material to permit fulfillment of the strict histologic criteria needed to diagnose allograft rejection. Although transbronchial lung biopsy is successful in many pulmonary infiltrative processes, it appears to be inadequate for the diagnosis of lung allograft rejection.

Effective preservation and transportation of lung transplants.

To evaluate a system for preserving and transporting lungs before transplantation, we removed the left lungs of 37 dogs, flushed them with a hypertonic solution having an electrolyte composition resembling intracellular fluid, and immersed them at 4 degrees C. for 7 to 24 hours. Some lungs were maintained at exactly 4 degrees C. during transport by means of a mixture of solid and liquid l-hexadecene. The lungs were allografted into immunosuppressed dogs whose right pulmonary artery was immediately ligated. Twelve recipients (32 per cent) survived 5 days or more solely on the function of the preserved lung. Four survived 10, 19, 40, and 40 days with lungs that had been preserved for 7 to 21 hours. Survival of recipients of preserved lungs (5 +/- 2 days) was equivalent to that of 75 comparably immunosuppressed recipients of nonpreserved allografts (6 +/- 1 days). One group of 10 dogs receiving lungs flushed against outflow resistance survived 12 +/- 5 days. In recipients of preserved allografts, arterial oxygen tensions remained in the normal range up to 5 weeks after transplantation, and radiographic infiltrates in the transplant were no greater than those present in recipients of nonpreserved transplants. Thus lungs transported and preserved up to 21 hours can provide total pulmonary function after transplantation and can function at least as well as nonpreserved transplants. The effectiveness and simplicity of this method are such that it might be considered for use in man.

Pathologic pulmonary changes in hemorrhagic shock.

Fifty-seven dogs were subjected to hemorrhagic hypotension by a variety of protocols. Histologic pulmonary changes were studied using the light microscope. Of these 57 dogs, 21 had no demonstrable lesions, 8 had minimal changes, and 28 had moderate or severe lesions, all of a focal nature. No correlation was found between the presence of lesions and mean systemic arterial pressure during shock, the udration of the hemorrhagic period, the fate of the animal, preoperative hematocrits and blood volumes, mean postreinfusion arterial pressure, whether the animals were mongrels or purebred beagles, whether they were awake or sedated, whether they breathed spontaneously or were artifically ventilated, whether they had undergone previous splenectomy or not, whether hilar stripping was performed or not, and finally, whether blood was reinfused after hemorrhage or not. Thus we conclude that multiple factors may exert a harmful effect on the lung in hemorrhagic shock, and that shock probably makes the lungs more vulnerable to other injurious agents rather than there being one single pathogenetic mechanism for the pulmonary damage. The term "adult respiratory distress syndrome" rather than "shock lung" is best used for the human clinical entity since it implies a complex ettiology rather than a discrete pulmonary lesion produced by a single pathogenetic mechanism.

Alveolar lavage cytology in transplanted lungs. I. Staining methods and findings in dogs with autografts and allografts without immunosuppression.

Alveolar lavages were performed repetitively on the normal and transplanted lungs of dogs that had recieved autografts or allografts without immunosuppression. One half of the lavage returns was fixed as a cytologic smear; the other half was subjected to semi-thin section or electron microscopic examination. Of the staining methods was used, the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Giemsa techniques were best for differentiating and counting cells. The Ladewig technique was best for evaluating the presence and location of fibrin. After autotransplantation, the proportion of so-called alveolar marcophages increased, reached a peak in 4 to 7 days, and then returned to normal. Phagocytized fibrin increased for the first postoperative week, but not extracellular fibrin was ever observed. After allotransplantation, a progressive decrease in the proportion, size, and vacuolization of so-called alveolar macrophages was noted along with an increase in extracellular fibrin. Intracellular fibrin could be detected only up to the third day. These findings define adequate methods for preparing and staining material obtained from diagnostic alveolar lavages, and they suggest that the procedure may serve as an index of lung allograft rejection.

Corticosteroids in clinical and experimental lung transplantation.

Lung allograft rejection can usually be diagnosed by the appearance of infiltrates on plain chest roentgenograms when these are interpreted in the light of other clinical and bacteriologic information. Large pulsed intravenous doses of methylprednisolone were usually effective in reversing lung allograft rejection that occurred in immunosuppressed dogs. In 10 of 15 animals the presence of moderate to severe rejection and its effective reversal with treatment were documented with roentgenograms and histologic sections. This ability to reverse the manifestations of lung allograft rejection, when they occur, has helped in the management of human lung allograft recipients.

Ectopic endometrium in omentum. Uterine perforation by Lippes loop.

A case of ectopic endometrium in the omentum following perforation of the uterus by a Lippes Looptm is reported. Evidence is presented substantiating Sampson's theory of endometrial implantation.

PIP: This is a case report of a patient who had an IUD inserted the year following a spontaneous abortion. The next year she became pregnant and delivered a full-term infant. Another IUD was then inserted. After 2 years lower abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding of 2 months duration caused her to ask to have the IUD removed. The thread broke during the removal attempt so the patient was admitted to the hospital where a hysterogram revealed a Majzlin spring partially embedded in the uterine wall and a Lippes loop outside the uterine cavity. The Majzlin spring was removed through the vagina and curettage done. At laparotomy to remove the other IUD the Lippes loop was found embedded in a large mass of omentum. The loop and adherent omentum were removed. Histologic study revealed an area of well-preserved endometrium, an area of hemorrh agic endometrium with leukocytic infiltration, and dense fibrous tissue surrounding the endometriotic foci. These findings support the theory of endometrial transplantation rather than the theory of metaplasia.