Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement increases feasibility of colorectal surgery in cirrhotic patients with severe portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal resection in cirrhotic patients is associated with high mortality and morbidity related to portal hypertension and liver insufficiency. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated the clinical outcomes of cirrhotic patients who underwent transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPS) placement before colorectal resection for cancer. Main outcomes measures were postoperative morbidity and mortality rates. RESULTS: TIPS placement was successful in all eight patients and significantly decreased the mean hepatic venous pressure gradient from 15.5 ± 2.9 to 7.5 ± 1.9 mmHg (p = 0.02). Surgical procedures included right colectomy (n = 3), left colectomy (n = 2), and proctectomy with total mesorectal excision (n=3). Post-operatively, two patients (25%) died of multiple organ failure. The overall postoperative morbidity rate was 75%, and major complications were seen in 25%. CONCLUSION: Portal decompression via TIPS placement may enable selected cirrhotic patients with severe portal hypertension to undergo colorectal resection for cancer.

Successful use of extracorporeal life support after double traumatic tracheobronchial injury in a patient with severe acute asthma.

We report the case of an asthmatic patient with blunt trachea and left main bronchus injuries who developed acute severe asthma after surgical repair. Despite medical treatment and ventilatory support, asthma persisted with high airway pressures and severe respiratory acidosis. We proposed venovenous extracorporeal life support for CO(2) removal which allowed arterial blood gas normalization and airway pressures decrease. Extracorporeal life support was removed on day five after medical treatment of acute severe asthma. So we report the successful use of extracorporeal life support for operated double blunt tracheobronchial injury with acute severe asthma.