Elective laparoscopic colectomy in a patient 3 weeks after coronavirus disease 2019 infection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: According to previous reports, surgery is not recommended until at least 4 weeks after the symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 resolve. However, strong evidence has not been established regarding the optimal timing and preoperative examination for elective laparoscopic colectomy for colorectal cancer in individuals with a previous coronavirus disease 2019 infection. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63-year-old Asian man underwent elective laparoscopic colectomy for sigmoid colon cancer 3 weeks after asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019. The postoperative course was good, and none of the surgical staff was infected with coronavirus disease 2019. CONCLUSION: In this patient infected with coronavirus disease 2019 within 4 weeks of surgery, preoperative venous ultrasound of the lower extremities and a chest computed tomography scan were useful examinations for ensuring a safe surgical procedure for the patient and the staff. Surgery within 4 weeks may be possible with careful selection of cases based on thorough preoperative examination. This report may contribute to the development of a consensus on performing safe elective colectomy for colon cancer in persons previously infected with coronavirus disease 2019.

[Three Cases of No. 16 Lymph Node Metastasis-Positive Gastric Cancer Successfully Treated with Chemotherapy and Para-Aortic Lymph Node Dissection].

Chemotherapy is standard treatment for Stage Ⅳ advanced gastric cancer(AGC)positive for No. 16 lymph node(LN) metastasis, but the significance of conversion surgery remains unclear. S-1 plus CDDP(SP), primary lesion resection+ para-aortic LN dissection(PAND), and postoperative recurrence-free survival are reported. Case 1: A 70-year-old woman had AGC with para-aortic LN metastases(tub1, HER2 score 3+, cT3N2M1, cStage Ⅳ). Four courses of SP plus trastuzumab were administered, which shrank the primary tumor and metastatic LNs. She underwent distal gastrectomy with D2+PAND (No. 16a2 int-b1 int). Histopathology showed metastasis to No. 16 LN, with Grade 2 histological effect. She underwent adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 and 4-year recurrence-free follow-up. Case 2: An 80-year-old man with AGC rand para- aortic LN metastases(por, cT3N2M1, cStage Ⅳ)underwent 4 courses of SP, which shrank the primary tumor and metastatic LNs. He underwent total gastrectomy with D2+PAND(No. 16a2 lat)dissection. Histopathology showed no residual tumor cells in LNs. Follow-up for 3 years has shown no recurrence without chemotherapy. Case 3: A 50-year-old woman with epigastric pain and anemia had AGC with para-aortic LN metastases(tub2, cT3N3M1, cStage Ⅳ). She underwent distal gastrectomy with D2+PAND(No. 16a2 int-b1 lat). After 1-year chemotherapy with SP, follow-up for 5 years showed no recurrence. In AGC with para-aortic LN metastases, long-term survival can be expected by combining selective PAND with SP therapy.

Previously undiagnosed hereditary spherocytosis in a patient with jaundice and pyelonephritis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary spherocytosis is autosomal dominant inherited extravascular hemolytic disorder and is the commonest cause of inherited hemolysis in northern Europe and the United States. The classical clinical features of hereditary spherocytosis are anemia, jaundice, and splenomegaly. However, all of these classical features are not always revealed in the case of mild hemolysis or when hemolysis is well compensated. Patients with hereditary spherocytosis may remain undiagnosed for years if their hemolysis is mild. CASE PRESENTATION: A 42-year-old Asian woman presented to our clinic with a sudden onset of high fever with shaking chills and jaundice, suggesting septicemia; however, following detailed investigation, the patient was diagnosed with pyelonephritis and accelerated hemolysis of hereditary spherocytosis due to infection. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to note that transient anemia or jaundice can sometimes be the only initial presenting symptoms in cases of undiagnosed latent hereditary spherocytosis. This case also highlights the fact that physicians should consider concomitant hemolytic disease in patients in whom jaundice and infections that rarely cause jaundice coexist.

Cut endotracheal tube for endoscopic removal of an ingested push-through pack.

A 52-year-old female presented to our clinic after accidentally ingesting a push-through pack (PTP). After determining that the PTP was present in the stomach, we successfully and safely removed it endoscopically by using a handmade endoscopic hood fashioned from a cut endotracheal tube. Foreign body ingestion is a common clinical problem, and most ingested foreign bodies pass spontaneously. However, the ingestion of sharp objects, such as PTPs, increases the risk of complications, and urgent endoscopy is recommended to remove such objects. Previous studies have reported the use of other devices, both commercial and handmade, for the safe endoscopic removal of foreign bodies. The novel design of our handmade hood for the removal of the PTP, which was fashioned from a cut endotracheal tube, was beneficial in terms of maintaining a wide visual field, patient safety and tolerance, and easy preparation compared to previously reported commercial and handmade devices. It may be a viable and safe device for the retrieval of PTPs and other sharp foreign bodies.

Clinical pathways can improve the quality of pain management in home palliative care in remote locations: retrospective study on Kozu Island, Japan.

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies show that a clinical pathway (CP) optimizes pain management in palliative care; however, studies on CPs in home palliative care, especially in remote locations, are scarce. Physicians performing palliative care in remote areas frequently face characteristic difficulties. The CP is an effective tool to overcome these difficulties. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the CP in home palliative care on a remote island. METHODS: This study reviewed 24 patients (17 in a pre-CP group and seven in a post-CP group) who received home palliative care on Kozu Island in south-eastern Japan from April 2006 to December 2011. To evaluate CP effectiveness, the authors compared patients in whom a rescue opioid was set, and nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antiemetics, and laxatives drug were used with opioids in the post-CP group compared with those in the pre-CP group. To assess pain management quality, authors compared Pain Management Index (PMI) scores on day 1 (baseline); day 8 following CP initiation; and within 3 days before death. RESULTS: The proportion of patients in whom a rescue dose was set was 100% in the post-CP group versus 46% in the pre-CP group (p=0.04). The proportion of patients in whom NSAIDs were used with opioids was 100% in the post-CP group versus 18% in the pre-CP group (p=0.002). The proportion of patients in whom antiemetics and laxatives were used with opioids was 100% in the post-CP group versus 27% in the pre-CP group (p=0.009). Baseline PMI scores were not significantly different between groups (-1 in post-CP group versus 0 in pre-CP group, p=0.1); however, PMI scores at day 8 and within 3 days before death were significantly higher in the post-CP group (1.9 and 2.9) than in the pre-CP group (0.2 and -0.4) (p=0.007 and p=0.0005, respectively). CONCLUSION: Implementation of a CP for pain management in home palliative care in remote locations could improve compliance with the WHO pain management guidelines and the quality of pain management.