Guidance for clinical practice using emergency and point-of-care ultrasonography.

Owing to the miniaturization of diagnostic ultrasound scanners and their spread of their bedside use, ultrasonography has been actively utilized in emergency situations. Ultrasonography performed by medical personnel with focused approaches at the bedside for clinical decision-making and improving the quality of invasive procedures is now called point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS). The concept of POCUS has spread worldwide; however, in Japan, formal clinical guidance concerning POCUS is lacking, except for the application of focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) and ultrasound-guided central venous cannulation. The Committee for the Promotion of POCUS in the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine (JAAM) has often discussed improving the quality of acute care using POCUS, and the "Clinical Guidance for Emergency and Point-of-Care Ultrasonography" was finally established with the endorsement of JAAM. The background, targets for acute care physicians, rationale based on published articles, and integrated application were mentioned in this guidance. The core points include the fundamental principles of ultrasound, airway, chest, cardiac, abdominal, and deep venous ultrasound, ultrasound-guided procedures, and the usage of ultrasound based on symptoms. Additional points, which are currently being considered as potential core points in the future, have also been widely mentioned. This guidance describes the overview and future direction of ultrasonography for acute care physicians and can be utilized for emergency ultrasound education. We hope this guidance will contribute to the effective use of ultrasonography in acute care settings in Japan.

Delayed stomach necrosis in a patient with injured celiac artery branches after penetrating abdominal trauma.

Injuries of the celiac artery and its branches are rare, but potentially lethal. Ligation of these arteries is performed to control significant hemorrhage. However, few reports have described the adverse effects of ligating these arteries. A 69-year-old woman with a self-inflicted stab wound was brought to our hospital. Her blood pressure could not be measured, therefore aortic cross-clamping was performed, and epinephrine was administered for resuscitation, an emergency laparotomy was performed, and the roots of splenic artery and common hepatic artery were ligated. The left gastric artery which was anomalous and arose directly from the aorta, was also injured and had to be ligated. Norepinephrine was required after the surgery. Enhanced computed tomography performed on hospital day 4 revealed a disrupted celiac artery. The patient developed gastric necrosis on hospital day 23 and, hence, underwent total gastrectomy was performed. The possibility of delayed stomach necrosis should be considered during the postoperative management of patients who undergo ligation of all of the celiac artery branches and experience global hypoperfusion after the surgery.

Use of a Compact, Lightweight X-ray Unit to Reduce the Risk of Five Invasive Procedures in the Emergency Room.

BACKGROUND: Many invasive procedures performed in the emergency room (ER) have potential risks and complications. Because of their limitations, in particular size, portable X-ray devices are generally not used during such procedures. However, miniaturized units enable physicians to obtain X-ray images without assistance. METHODS: We developed a safe, compact, and lightweight X-ray unit that was used during five invasive procedures in the ER. In all procedures, a chest X-ray image was obtained, to confirm the utility of the unit. RESULTS: Case 1 (central venous catheter placement): After needle and guidewire insertion and catheter placement, the location of the catheter could be confirmed. Case 2 (chest tube insertion): During insertion of a chest tube into the pleural space, the tip of the thoracic tube was confirmed to be at the correct location. Case 3 (percutaneous tracheostomy or cricothyroidotomy): After needle and guidewire insertion, the guidewire was visualized in the right main bronchus and was inserted into the trachea. Case 4 (resuscitative endovascular aortic balloon of the aorta): The captured image revealed that the catheter was located in zone I before balloon inflation. Case 5 (Sengstaken-Blakemore tube): The image revealed that the balloon was located in the stomach. CONCLUSIONS: The portable X-ray unit improved medical safety during invasive procedures frequently performed in the ER.

Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia associated with a hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state: Hepatic portal venous gas as an indicator of mesenteric ischemia.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is always challenging in critically ill patients. Herein, we aimed to report a case of NOMI associated with a hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS). A small amount of hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) triggered the diagnosis of NOMI. CASE PRESENTATION: A 77-year-old man was transferred due to shock and disorder of consciousness. He was diagnosed with an HHS. We suspected intestinal ischemia due to a small amount of HPVG revealed by computed tomography (CT). Peritoneal signs were revealed after treatment for the HHS. Computed tomography was carried out again 5 h after admission, which showed a large amount of HPVG, remarkable bowel dilatation, and pneumatosis intestinalis. We performed an emergency laparotomy and resected the small bowel necrosis resulting from NOMI. CONCLUSION: An HHS can cause NOMI, and the presence of HPVG on CT is an important finding that suggests mesenteric ischemia, even in small amounts.

Portal Venous Gas in Adults: Clinical Significance, Management, and Outcomes of 25 Consecutive Patients.

BACKGROUND: Portal venous gas (PVG) is a rare finding and has a grave prognosis. The most common and critical underlying pathology of PVG is bowel necrosis. However, bowel necrosis is sometimes difficult to accurately diagnose. We retrospectively analyzed data from patients that contributed to the decision to perform emergency surgery and bowel resection. METHODS: Between 2009 and 2019, 25 consecutive adult patients with PVG were identified retrospectively and divided into the Operation and Non-operation groups. The Operation group was further subdivided into the Bowel resection and Non-resection groups. Clinical, laboratory, and radiographic variables were analyzed. RESULTS: Conservative management was successful for 32% (8/25) of patients (Non-operation group: mortality 0%); 68% (17/25) were treated surgically (Operation group: mortality 35.3%). In the Operation group, 52.9% (9/17) underwent bowel resection (Bowel resection group: mortality 55.6%); however, bowel resection was unnecessary in 47.1% (8/17) of cases (Non-resection group: mortality 12.5%). Univariate analysis revealed significant differences between the Operation and Non-operation groups in GCS, APACHE II, abdominal distention, CRP, lactate, and CT findings of bowel dilatation, pneumatosis intestinalis, and attenuation of contrast effects of the bowel wall. However, with the exception of GCS, there was no significant difference between the Bowel resection and Non-resection groups. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of clinical, laboratory, and radiographic variables can inform decisions on conservative management. However, 47.1% of the present patients who underwent surgery for suspected bowel necrosis did not require bowel resection, suggesting that this approach alone may not be sufficient to avoid non-therapeutic laparotomy. A new approach should be developed to improve this situation.

Diagnosis and prediction of prognosis for Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis using auditory brainstem response: a case report.

BACKGROUND: It is difficult to diagnose Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis (BBE) in the acute phase, and emergency physicians could diagnose BBE as an unknown cause of consciousness disturbance. CASE PRESENTATION: A 75-year-old woman presented with dizziness and weakness in both arms 1 week after an upper respiratory infection. She experienced gradual worsening of consciousness, had dilated pupils and no light reflex. She was suspected of brainstem dysfunction at the upper part of the brainstem; however, there were not significant findings on magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid, or electroencephalography. The auditory brainstem response demonstrated a low voltage, but there was no prolonged latency. At a later date, she was diagnosed with BBE based on serum immunoglobulin G anti-GQ1b antibody. She was discharged home without any neurological sequelae. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to analyze serum immunoglobulin G anti-GQ1b antibodies to diagnose BBE. Auditory brainstem response would be helpful in detecting lesions and predicting functional recovery.

Delayed development of portal vein thrombosis in a patient initially detected with portal venous gas and pneumatosis intestinalis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Portal venous gas (PVG) and pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) are rare pathologic findings, and a delayed appearance of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in such patients is extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old man complaining of epigastric pain was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography (CT) at admission revealed massive PVG and extensive PI, but no PVT. Emergency laparotomy was carried out, but bowel resection was unnecessary. On follow-up CT on postoperative day 5, thrombosis was noted in the portal venous system, and anticoagulant was started immediately. This patient was discharged and continued to take the anticoagulant. Seven months after discharge, PVT had disappeared on CT without any thromboembolic complications. CONCLUSION: If acute PVT is detected, anticoagulant is needed to prevent bowel ischemia and/or portal hypertension due to the growth of the thrombus. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for such a complication, and make their best efforts to exclude this entity using CT or sonography.

The long-term outcomes of early abdominal wall reconstruction by bilateral anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flap method in critically ill patients requiring open abdomen.

Background: In a previous study, we reported the usefulness of early abdominal wall reconstruction using bilateral anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flap method (turnover flap method) in open abdomen (OA) patients in whom early primary fascial closure was difficult to achieve. However, the long-term outcomes have not been elucidated. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the procedure, particularly in terms of ventral hernia, pain, and daily activities. Methods: Between 2001 and 2013, 15 consecutive patients requiring OA after emergency laparotomy and in whom turnover flap method was applied were retrospectively identified. The long-term outcomes were evaluated based on medical records, physical examinations, CT imaging, and a ventral hernia pain questionnaire (VHPQ). Results: The turnover flap method was applied in 2 trauma and 13 non-trauma patients.In most of cases, primary fascial closure could not be achieved due to massive visceral edema. The turnover flap method was performed for abdominal wall reconstruction at the end of OA. The median duration of OA was 6 (range 1-42) days. One of the 15 patients died of multiple organ failure during initial hospitalization after the performance of the turnover flap method. Fourteen patients survived, and although wound infection was observed in 3 patients, none showed enteric fistula, abdominal abscess, graft infection, or ventral hernia during hospitalization. However, it was found that 1 patient developed ventral hernia during follow-up at an outpatient visit. Nine of 14 patients were alive and able to be evaluated with a VHPQ (follow-up period: median 10 years; range 3-15 years). Seven out of nine patients were satisfied with this procedure, and none complained of pain or were limited in their daily activities. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, early abdominal reconstruction using the turnover flap method can be considered to be safe and effective as an alternative technique for OA patients in whom primary fascial closure is considered difficult to achieve.

A novel technique for managing open abdomen with the combined use of mesh-mediated traction and the bilateral anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flap method: how to do it.

Proper management of abdominal compartment syndrome and open abdomen is important for improving the survival of critically ill patients. However, in cases requiring a prolonged period of open abdomen, it is frequently difficult to perform definitive fascial closure due to lateralization of the abdominal musculature. We herein present a novel combined technique for managing open abdomen. A 74-year-old male with diffuse peritonitis was transferred to our department, after which a long period of open abdomen made it difficult to achieve fascial closure. Polypropylene mesh was sutured to the fascial edges to reduce the gap, which was then serially tightened under negative pressure wound therapy. However, since it was not possible to accomplish definitive fascial closure, abdominal closure was performed using the bilateral anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flap method after removing the mesh, without any complications. This combined technique may be an effective alternative in patients requiring open abdomen with subsequent difficulty in achieving definitive fascial closure.