Lower Dose of 5 mL of 1% Lidocaine is More Suitable than the Conventional 10 mL for Caudal Block in Transrectal Prostate Biopsy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: In Japan, caudal block with 1% lidocaine is commonly used for transrectal prostate biopsy. Although 10 mL of 1% lidocaine is commonly used, the appropriate dosage of 1% lidocaine has not been studied. Our hospital routinely uses two different doses (5 or 10 mL) of 1% lidocaine for caudal block for transrectal prostate biopsy. Herein, we retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of both doses of 1% lidocaine. Methods: This retrospective study included 869 patients who underwent transrectal prostate biopsy with caudal block at our hospital. The amount of 1% lidocaine was determined by the day of the week on which the biopsy was performed, and the patient voluntarily chose the day of the biopsy, unaware of the dose of 1% lidocaine used on that day. Pain, anal sphincter tonus, cancer diagnosis rate, and early complications were compared. Results: In total, 466 and 403 patients received 5 and 10 mL of 1% lidocaine for a caudal block, respectively. After propensity-score matching for patient characteristics, each group contained 395 patients. The pain score, anal sphincter tonus score, or prostate cancer diagnosis rate were not significantly different between the two groups. However, rectal bleeding was significantly more frequent and severe in the 10-mL than the 5-mL group (p=0.018 and p=0.0036, respectively). The incidence of other complications was not significantly different between the groups. Conclusions: Our results suggest that 5 mL of 1% lidocaine may be more suitable than 10 mL for caudal block during transrectal prostate biopsy.

Clinical effect of rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin for chronic active antibody-mediated rejection after kidney transplantation.

Chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (CAAMR) is a frequent cause of late graft loss. However, effective treatment for CAAMR after kidney transplantation has not yet been established. Here, we present the case of a kidney transplant recipient who recovered from CAAMR after administration of rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin. A 61-year-old man underwent ABO-compatible living-donor kidney transplantation for end-stage kidney disease; the kidney was donated by his wife. Five years after the transplant, the patient's serum creatinine level and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio increased. He was subsequently diagnosed with CAAMR based on the kidney allograft biopsy and the presence of donor-specific human leukocyte antigen antibodies. Rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin treatment was administered following steroid pulse therapy. Subsequently, his serum creatinine levels and urine protein to creatinine ratio improved. There was also an improvement in the pathological findings seen on biopsy and the mean fluorescence intensity of donor-specific antibodies. In conclusion, this report describes the case of a kidney transplant recipient who developed CAAMR, treated using rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin. This strategy might be a viable treatment option for CAAMR after a kidney transplant.

[A Case of Adrenal Anastomosing Hemangioma].

An 83-year-old man with left lower back pain was found to have a 5 cm mass in contact with the right adrenal gland and a 12 mm left ureteral stone by abdominal plain computed tomography. An abdominal plain magnetic resonance imaging T2-weighted image revealed a heterogeneous high signal mass in the right adrenal gland. Pheochromocytoma, adrenal carcinoma, and retroperitoneal neurogenic tumor were suspected. Tumor markers and endocrine examinations were within standard values. Laparoscopic right adrenalectomy was performed. A 4×3.6 cm, 62 g solid tumor was found in contact with right adrenal gland. Histopathologically, hobnail-like vascular endothelial cells were found in the tumor, but no malignant findings such as multi-layered vascular endothelial cells and nuclear atypia were observed. This tumorwas diagnosed to be an anastomosing hemangioma.

[A Case of Spermatic Cord Liposarcoma Difficult to Distinguish from Inguinal Hernia].

A 53-year-old man visited a doctor due to left inguinal enlargement. He was diagnosed with left inguinal hernia with omentum as the content by a computed tomography (CT)scan. He underwent open inguinal hernia repair ; however, an inguinal tumor was diagnosed intraoperatively and was resected as much as possible. Although the tumor resection was macroscopically incomplete, he was followed up without any treatment because the tumor was histologically diagnosed as lipoma. Sixteen months after surgery, a 15 cm inguinal mass and a 7 cm left intrascrotal mass were detected by follow-up CT, and he was referred to our hospital. He underwent open surgery for wide excision of the tumor with a diagnosis of spermatic cord liposarcoma and left hydrocele of testis. The spermatic cord tumor was histologically diagnosed as well differentiated liposarcoma. He has been alive without recurrence for more than 10 months after surgery. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish a spermatic cord liposarcoma from inguinal hernia by imaging examinations.