Resection of benign esophageal stricture through a minimally invasive endoscopic and transgastric approach.

Recurrent benign esophageal strictures that are refractory to dilation can be difficult to manage. We report a novel technique for treatment of a recurrent esophageal stricture using a minimally invasive endoscopic and transgastric approach. The patient is a 40-year-old women who developed a recurrent distal esophageal stricture after repair of an esophageal perforation. Multiple prior dilations had been unsuccessful in achieving sustained esophageal patency, and the patient presented with a complete distal obstruction demonstrated on barium esophagram. Two flexible endoscopes were used: one placed through the mouth and another through a gastrostomy. While the transilluminated lesion was visualized from below the obstruction was traversed with an endoscopic aspiration needle from above. A guidewire was placed through the needle and pulled out the gastrostomy. Both the esophageal lesion and the gastrostomy tract were then serially dilated over the wire. After dilation the residual stricture was resected using a circular stapler placed through the dilated gastrostomy tract. After this procedure the patient maintained esophageal patency with a diminished need for dilation. Details of our technique are described and the literature is reviewed.

Anhydrous ammonia burns: case presentation and literature review.

Anhydrous ammonia, a caustic compound commonly used in industry, can cause severe burns, even with brief contact. As with other alkali burns, early irrigation to remove the ammonia from burned areas is crucial to limit tissue damage. Two cases of identical exposure to industrial strength ammonia are presented. Each patient was exposed to ammonia liquid and vapors simultaneously when a tank containing this compound exploded. One patient showered at the scene immediately after exposure, whereas the other deferred irrigation until he arrived at the hospital. The first patient suffered minor burns with a 2-day, uncomplicated hospital stay. The second patient suffered 14% total body surface area burns and a significant inhalation injury. He required intubation, mechanical ventilation, and skin grafting during his 13-day hospitalization. Although much is written about the management of chemical burns, few articles address ammonia burns. Aggressive initial management significantly reduces morbidity of ammonia burns.

Intraoperative hetastarch infusion impairs hemostasis after cardiac operations.

BACKGROUND: An outbreak of excessive bleeding after cardiac operations occurred at our institution when 5% albumin was in short supply and hetastarch became the preferred intraoperative colloid. As hetastarch may impair coagulation, we investigated the effects of its intraoperative administration on post-cardiac surgical hemostasis. METHODS: Indices of postoperative hemostasis were analyzed in 189 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Three groups were compared: one group (n = 68) received a mean of 796 mL of hetastarch only in the operating room (a few minutes after cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass), another group (n = 59) received a mean of 856 mL postoperatively only, and a third group (n = 62) received no hetastarch. RESULTS: Compared with the other two groups, those patients administered hetastarch intraoperatively exhibited significant reductions in hematocrit and platelet count, a significant prolongation in the prothrombin time, and significant increases in both blood loss and hemostatic drug requirement. Also identified were obvious trends toward a greater transfusion requirement and reexploration rate for bleeding in the latter group. CONCLUSIONS: Hetastarch infusion just after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass produces a clinically important impairment in post-cardiac surgical hemostasis. Intraoperative use of this agent during heart operations should be avoided until the safe timing of its administration is clarified.