A Rare Case of Post-orchidectomy Arterial Injury With Rapidly Enlarging Scrotal Hematoma Treated With Coil Embolization.

Testicular cancer is the most common solid tumor in young adult males. Radical inguinal orchidectomy is the gold standard for the diagnosis and treatment of testicular cancer, which is confined to the scrotum and is generally well tolerated. An uncommon, but known, complication of radical orchidectomy is scrotal hematoma. Scrotal hematoma from radical orchidectomy is commonly self-limited and typically self-resolving. We present a rare case of metastatic testicular malignancy diagnosed with radical inguinal orchidectomy complicated by a rapidly enlarging scrotal hematoma, successfully treated with surgical evacuation and image-guided arterial embolization.

Small bowel obstruction secondary to phytobezoar in a patient with myotonic dystrophy.

A male patient in his 30s, with myotonic dystrophy (DM), presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and vomiting. CT imaging revealed a soft tissue lesion in the terminal ileum causing small bowel obstruction (SBO). The patient underwent diagnostic laparoscopy which allowed identification and removal of the obstructing lesion. This was in the form of an intact, undigested potato, a phytobezoar. Bezoars are collections of undigested material found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, a phytobezoar is composed of plant material and is the most common form of bezoar. DM is a multisystem disorder characterised by skeletal muscle weakness, however it often presents with GI symptoms and the muscles of mastication are often affected. DM is a known risk factor for bezoar formation and should be considered as an important differential in DM patients presenting with SBO.

Case report: Basivertebral nerve block during vertebral augmentation: an alternative approach to intraprocedural pain management.

Osteoporotic compression fractures can be treated with vertebral augmentation. Since intraprocedural pain is common during vertebral body endplate manipulation, these procedures are often performed with conscious sedation or general anesthesia. Research has shown that vertebral endplates are innervated by the basivertebral nerve (BVN), which has been successfully targeted via radiofrequency ablation to treat chronic vertebrogenic lower back pain. With this physiology in mind, we evaluated if temporary BVN block would provide sufficient analgesia so that patients could forego sedation during percutaneous vertebral augmentation. Ten patients with single-level vertebral compression fractures were selected. Prior to balloon augmentation, temporary intraosseous BVN block was achieved using 2% lidocaine injection. All ten patients successfully completed their procedure without intraprocedural sedative or narcotic medications, and without significant deviation from baseline vital signs. Temporary BVN block can be used as intraprocedural anesthesia in select patients who may be poor candidates for general anesthesia or conscious sedation.

Dynamic Study of Oesophageal Function during Phonation: Simple but Effective.

Secondary aphonia significantly affects the quality of life of the laryngectomy patient despite the excellent success of the operation. Vocal rehabilitation often does not achieve the desired results, given the innumerable prognostic variables. Tracheo-oesophageal speech is considered the standard gold method of voice restoration, but a possible spasm of pharyngo-oesophageal segment is the prominent cause of rehabilitation failure. However, the phenomenon is difficult to identify and underestimated, and diagnostic methods are inquisitive or expensive. To propose a phonatory and swallowing evaluation essay of pharynx-oesophageal segment disorders, we conducted a retrospective study from 2012 to 2017 by selecting 6 patients who underwent total laryngectomy and voice prosthesis implantation that suffered from aphonia after surgery. All patients underwent dynamic phonation videofluoroscopy and plexus bath control test with lidocaine hydrochloride. All patients were then referred for treatment with neurotoxin blocker. In all cases, the analysed patients presented an air-trapping phenomenon with the formation of a spasmodic block upstream of an interrupted aerial column. The control test with lidocaine hydrochloride resulted in a transient improvement in speech performance. The neurotoxin block therapy subsequently performed ultimately led to an improvement in the patient's rehabilitation process with a recovery of the phonatory performance. We describe the new use of a barium bolus as a diagnostic tool for identifying neopharynx disorders. Appropriately selected patients with pharynx-oesophageal segment disorders could benefit from a neurotoxin-blocking treatment to improve oesophageal speech.

Voice-Related Quality of Life in Post-Laryngectomy Rehabilitation: Tracheoesophageal Fistula's Wellness.

(1) Introduction: Laryngeal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer affecting the upper aerodigestive tract. Despite ensuring good oncological outcome in many locoregionally advanced cases, total laryngectomy is associated with relevant physical and psychological sequelae. Treatment through tracheo-esophageal speech, if promising, can lead to very variable outcomes. Not all laryngectomee patients with vocal prosthesis benefit from the same level of rehabilitation mainly due to the development of prosthetic or fistula related problems. The relating sequelae in some cases are even more decisive in the patient quality of life, having a higher impact than communicational or verbal skills. (2) Material and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 63 patients initially enrolled with a history of total laryngectomy and voice rehabilitation, treated at the University Hospital of Catania from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2018. Quality of life (QoL) evaluation through validated self-administrated questionnaires was performed. (3) Results: The Voice-Related Quality of Life questionnaire revealed significantly better outcomes in both socio-emotional and functional domains of the tracheoesophageal patient group compared to the esophageal group (p = 0.01; p = 0.01, respectively), whereas in the Voice Handicap Index assessment, statistically significant scores were not achieved (p = 0.33). (4) Discussion: The significant differences reported through the V-RQOL and Voice Handicap Index scales in the presence of fistula related problems and device lifetime reduction when compared to the oesophageal speech group have demonstrated, as supported by the literature, a crucial role in the rehabilitative prognosis. (5) Conclusions: The criteria of low resistance to airflow, optimal tracheoesophageal retention, prolonged device life, simple patient maintenance, and comfortable outpatient surgery are the reference standard for obtaining good QoL results, especially over time. Furthermore, the correct phenotyping of the patient based on the main outcomes achieved at clinical follow-up guarantees the primary objective of the identification of a better quality of life.

Local Versus General Anesthesia in Nonemergency Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the perioperative clinical outcomes in using local/regional anesthesia (LA/RA) or general anesthesia (GA) in patients undergoing endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. A comprehensive electronic literature search was undertaken from inception to September 2018, identifying all randomized and nonrandomized studies comparing LA/RA versus GA in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm who underwent endovascular repair. A total of 12,024 patients (n = 1,664 LA/RA, n = 10,360 GA) were analyzed from 12 observational studies included in this analysis. No difference in mean age between LA/RA and GA group was noted (73.8 ± 7.8 y v 72.4 ± 7.6 y, 95% confidence interval 0.85 [-0.08 to 1.79]; p = 0.07). No differences in preoperative rate of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and American Society of Anesthesiologists grades were noted between the 2 groups (p = 0.21, p = 0.85, p = 0.46, and p = 0.67, respectively). Shorter total surgical time in LA/RA patients was reported (135 ± 40 min v 164 ± 43 min; p < 0.00001). Shorter hospital stay was observed in LA/RA patients (3.6 ± 3.3 d v 4.6 ± 5 d; p = 0.002). No difference in cardiac or renal complications was noted between the LA/RA and GA groups postoperatively (2.7% v 2.5%; p = 0.46 and 1.2% v 1.6%; p = 0.13). Similarly, no difference in vascular complications was noted in LA/RA versus GA patients (8.4% v 7.7%; p = 0.44). Thirty-day morality was not different between the 2 cohorts (2% v 1.7%; p = 0.97). Use of LA/RA in selective endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair procedures provides satisfactory and comparable perioperative outcomes with those of GA, with the advantage of a shorter hospital stay. A large randomized controlled trial or multicenter study is required to confirm the present study's findings.

The surgical treatment of cerebrospinal fistula: Qualitative and quantitative analysis of indications and results.

Cerebrospinal fistula might occur in different ways. CSF closure techniques have undergone significant evolution that has led to the consolidation of the transnasal endoscopic approach. Despite the existence of multiple publications, meaningful information is still lacking in clinical practice and the literature about the ideal method, material, and timing for repair of CSF. The purpose of this review was to summarize the success rate of endoscopic CSF leak repair as well as whether specific techniques or materials influence the primary success rate through a review of the latest advancements in endoscopic CSF management published in the past 10 years. The principles of multilayer reconstructions and the routine use of vascularized flaps in expanded endonasal surgery have reduced postoperative CSF leaks' failure rates between 5% and 10% (4% in this meta-analysis). Effective endoscopic anterior skull base (ASB) closure may be achieved by multiple reconstructive techniques, which should be tailored case by case according to the patient and defect conditions.

Myotomy of sternocleidomastoid muscle as a secondary procedure in laryngectomized patients.

BACKGROUND: The application of specific devices to seal the tracheal stoma in laryngectomized patients is critical for optimal pulmonary and phonatory rehabilitation. Indeed, an excessive stomal depth is one of the main causes of rehabilitation failure. In this context, division of the sternal heads of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) is a common technique, usually performed during the laryngectomy. METHODS: We perform a myotomy of the sternal head of the SCM in deep and narrow tracheal stoma as a secondary procedure under local anesthesia, and here we describe the surgical steps of this procedure. RESULTS: The medium depth of the stoma is reduced, and no procedure-specific complications have been observed. Postoperative morphological features show a flattening of the peristomal area, and all patients have begun regular use of appropriate patches and filters. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary section of SCM is a safe, simple, and effective procedure in total laryngectomies with deep and narrow stoma.

Is contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) superior to computed tomography angiography (CTA) in detection of endoleaks in post-EVAR patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) compared to computed tomography angiography (CTA) for the detection of endoleaks within endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) surveillance at time of follow up. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was undertaken among the four major databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Ovid) to identify all articles assessing diagnostic specificity and accuracy with comparative modality (CEUS vs CTA) for endoleaks in adult patients at time of follow-up following EVAR. Databases where evaluated and assessed to October 2018. RESULTS: A total of 1773 patients were analysed from across 18 included studies in the quantitative analysis of the parameters of interest. There was no significant difference in detection rate of endoleak type I with detection rate 4.3% for both groups OR 1.09, 95% CI [0.78, 1.53], p = 0.62; type II endoleak detection rate was 22% in the CEUS group vs 23% in the CTA group OR 1.16, 95% CI [0.75-1.79], p = 0.50; while type III detection rate was 1.8% in CEUS group vs 2% in CTA group OR 0.85, 95% CI [0.43, 1.68], p = 0.64. However, the sensitivity rate for endoleak detection was higher in CEUS (p = 0.001) while no difference in specificity rate was noted (p = 0.28). There was higher rate of missed endoleaks in CTA groups (n = 12 vs n = 20). CONCLUSION: Evidences from this study suggest that contrast-enhanced ultrasound scan post-EVAR can be utilised as safe and effective method in screening for endoleaks during post-EVAR surveillance without exposing the patient for additional risk of radiation and contrast. CEUS conveys no inferiority to CTA in detecting endoleaks.

Prophylactic absorbable gelatin sponge embolization for angiographically occult splenic hemorrhage.

Nonoperative management of traumatic splenic hemorrhage includes the targeted administration of embolic agents. In certain instances where computed tomography angiography cannot exclude a bleed, prophylactic embolization with absorbable gelatin sponge has been used. In this retrospective case series review, we characterized the demographic data and clinical outcomes associated with 4 patients who underwent prophylactic transarterial splenic artery embolization after blunt abdominal trauma. Embolization was employed in cases where computed tomography angiography findings suggested at least a moderate splenic injury, and simultaneously where hemorrhage was not apparent during fluoroscopic angiography. Periprocedural hemodynamic status, technical success, and postoperative complications are discussed. The goal of this report was to discuss the safety and efficacy of prophylactic gelatin sponge embolization for occult splenic hemorrhage. In cases where a hemorrhagic site might be occult, this approach has the potential to minimize bleeding complications and the need for further intervention.

Giant isolated intracardiac thrombus presenting as acute heart failure secondary to right ventricular outflow tract obstruction in a patient with renal carcinoma.

Right-sided intracardiac thrombi are potential causes of right ventricular (RV) failure, particularly when tricuspid or pulmonary obstruction occurs. In most cases, RV thrombus develops in patients with RV dysfunction and concomitant thrombosis in the systemic veins. However, RV thrombosis can rarely present as an isolated mass and despite preserved RV function, particularly in patients with thrombophilic states. In this report, we describe an unusual case of giant isolated RV thrombus presenting with acute RV failure secondary to dynamic RV outflow tract obstruction in a patient with renal carcinoma. Bedside echocardiography allowed a rapid assessment of the hemodynamic effects of the mass. The possibility of a thrombotic RV outflow obstruction should be considered in patients with acute RV failure, even in those with no evidence of thrombosis in the venous district. This may be particularly important in patients with prothrombotic states, where the effectiveness of routine thromboembolic prophylaxis could be reduced.

Clinical impact of recovery room on post-operative walking performance in elderly patients submitted to hip surgery: a real-world analysis.

BACKGROUND: Strategies aimed at favouring functional recovery after surgery for hip fracture may be of clinical importance. AIMS: To test the clinical utility of a recovery room (RR) in terms of postoperative walking performance in an elderly population submitted to hip fracture surgery. METHODS: Postoperative walking performance at rollator was assessed in 242 consecutive orthogeriatric patients able to follow the institutional physiotherapy protocol starting on day 1 after hip surgery. Group 1 (n = 186, age 86.0 ± 9.3 years, 24.7% male) was admitted to the RR for postoperative monitoring, whereas Group 2 (n = 56, age 85.2 ± 5.7 years, 23.2% male) was directly admitted to the ward. The best performance observed during the first three postoperative days was considered. RESULTS: Group 1 showed a better walking performance than Group 2, with a 50% lower probability of walking < 5 m (relative risk 0.51, p = 0.0005) and a two-fold higher probability of walking > 10 m (relative risk 2.10, p = 0.0005). Multivariable analysis confirmed a favourable independent effect of the RR stay on walking performance (ß = 0.205, p = 0.005). DISCUSSION: Admission to the RR in elderly patients submitted to hip fracture surgery could have an independent beneficial effect on postoperative walking functional recovery. This beneficial effect could probably depend on the possibility of ensuring a more rapid management of postoperative issues CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the clinical utility of a RR implementation in facilities where hip surgery in elderly subjects is routinely performed.

Prognostic comparison between creatinine-based glomerular filtration rate formulas for the prediction of 10-year outcome in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome treated by percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND:: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is a predictor of outcome among patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS), but which estimation formula provides the best long-term risk stratification in this setting is still unclear. We compared the prognostic performance of four creatinine-based formulas for the prediction of 10-year outcome in a NSTE-ACS population treated by percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS:: In 222 NSTE-ACS patients submitted to percutaneous coronary intervention, eGFR was calculated using four formulas: Cockcroft-Gault, re-expressed modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD), chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration (CKD-Epi), and Mayo-quadratic. Predefined endpoints were all-cause death and a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal reinfarction, clinically driven repeat revascularisation, and heart failure hospitalisation. RESULTS:: The different eGFR values showed poor agreement, with prevalences of renal dysfunction ranging from 14% to 35%. Over a median follow-up of 10.2 years, eGFR calculated by the CKD-Epi and Mayo-quadratic formulas independently predicted outcome, with an increase in the risk of death and events by up to 17% and 11%, respectively, for each decrement of 10 ml/min/1.73 m2. The Cockcroft-Gault and MDRD equations showed a borderline association with mortality and did not predict events. When compared in terms of goodness of fit, discrimination and calibration, the Mayo-quadratic outperformed the other formulas for the prediction of death and the CKD-Epi showed the best performance for the prediction of events (net reclassification improvement values 0.33-0.35). CONCLUSIONS:: eGFR is an independent predictor of long-term outcome in patients with NSTE-ACS treated by percutaneous coronary intervention. The Mayo-quadratic and CKD-Epi equations might be superior to classic eGFR formulas for risk stratification in these patients.

Imaging Sex Differences in Regional Brain Metabolism during Acute Opioid Withdrawal.

The rate of opioid overdose continues to rise, necessitating improved treatment options. Current therapeutic approaches rely on administration of either a blocking agent, such as naloxone, or chronic treatment with replacement drugs, including methadone and/or buprenorphine. Recent findings suggest that males and females respond to these treatments uniquely. In an effort to better understand this sex-specific variation in treatment efficacy, we investigated the effects of acute opioid withdrawal in male and female rats using 18FDG and microPET. These data demonstrate that acute opioid withdrawal produces metabolic alterations in brain regions associated with reward and drug dependence, namely corpus striatum, thalamic nuclei, septum, and frontal cortex. Furthermore, certain changes are unique to males. Specifically, males demonstrated increased metabolism in the anterior cingulate cortex and the ventral hippocampus (CA3) following acute opioid withdrawal. If males and females exhibit sex-specific changes in regional brain metabolism following acute opioid withdrawal, then perhaps it is not surprising that they respond to treatment differently.

Sex Differences in Regional Brain Glucose Metabolism Following Opioid Withdrawal and Replacement.

Methadone and buprenorphine are currently the most common pharmacological treatments for opioid dependence. Interestingly, the clinical response to these drugs appears to be sex specific. That is, females exhibit superior therapeutic efficacy, defined as extended periods of abstinence and longer time to relapse, compared with males. However, the underlying metabolic effects of opioid withdrawal and replacement have not been examined. Therefore, using 18FDG and microPET, we measured differences in regional brain glucose metabolism in males and females following morphine withdrawal and subsequent methadone or buprenorphine replacement. In both males and females, spontaneous opioid withdrawal altered glucose metabolism in regions associated with reward and drug dependence. Specifically, metabolic increases in the thalamus, as well as metabolic decreases in insular cortex and the periaqueductal gray, were noted. However, compared with males, females exhibited increased metabolism in the preoptic area, primary motor cortex, and the amygdala, and decreased metabolism in the caudate/putamen and medial geniculate nucleus. Methadone and buprenorphine initially abolished these changes uniformly, but subsequently produced their own regional metabolic alterations that varied by treatment and sex. Compared with sex-matched control animals undergoing spontaneous opioid withdrawal, male animals treated with methadone exhibited increased caudate/putamen metabolism, whereas buprenorphine produced increased ventral striatum and motor cortex metabolism in females, and increased ventral striatum and somatosensory cortex metabolism in males. Notably, when treatment effects were compared between sexes, methadone-treated females showed increased cingulate cortex metabolism, whereas buprenorphine-treated females showed decreased metabolism in cingulate cortex and increased metabolism in the globus pallidus. Perhaps the initial similarities in males and females underlie early therapeutic efficacy, whereas these posttreatment sex differences contribute to clinical treatment failure more commonly experienced by the former.

Determinants of discrepancies between two-dimensional echocardiographic methods for assessment of maximal left atrial volume.

AIMS: The determinants of discrepancies among two-dimensional echocardiographic (2D-E) methods for left atrial volume (LAV) assessment are poorly investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Maximal LAV was measured in 613 individuals (282 healthy subjects,180 athletes, and 151 hypertensives; age 45 ± 20 years, 62% male) using the ellipsoid model (LAVEllips), the area-length method (LAVAL), and the Simpson's rule (LAVSimps). On the basis of a mathematical model, two left atrial (LA) geometry indexes were tested as predictors of discrepancies between methods: the ratio between LA medial-lateral diameter (MLD) and LA anteroposterior diameter (APD); and the ratio between LA area in the four-chamber view and that of an ellipse with the same diameters [deviation from ellipse (DE)-coefficient]. Discrepancies among methods were consistently present in the overall population and across all study groups. MLD/APD and the DE-coefficient together predicted 76 and 68% of differences between biplane LAVAL and LAVEllips, and between biplane LAVSimps and LAVEllips, respectively. The DE-coefficient was the only determinant of LAVAL/LAVSimps difference (ß = 0.167, P < 0.0001). Body mass index was the strongest predictor of discrepancies between single-plane and biplane approaches of LAVAL (ß = 0.427, P < 0.0001) and LAVSimps (ß = 0.424, P < 0.0001). In additional analyses, biplane LAVAL showed the best agreement with LAV obtained by three-dimensional echocardiography and the best reproducibility and repeatability. CONCLUSION: LA geometry is the main determinant of inconsistencies between 2D-E methods for measuring maximal LAV. Body mass index is the strongest determinant of differences between single-plane and biplane approaches. Different 2D-E methods cannot be used interchangeably for diagnosis and follow-up. The biplane area-length method should be preferred, particularly in overweight-obese subjects.

A Novel Strategy for Attenuating Opioid Withdrawal in Neonates.

The rate of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) has drastically increased over the past decade. The average hospital expense per NAS patient has tripled, while the number of babies born to opioid-dependent mothers has increased to 5 in 1000 births. Current treatment options are limited to opioid replacement and tapering. Consequently, we examined the efficacy of prenatal, low-dose and short-term vigabatrin (γ-vinyl GABA, GVG) exposure for attenuating these symptoms as well as the metabolic changes observed in the brains of these animals upon reaching adolescence. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated in one of four ways: 1) saline; 2) morphine alone; 3) morphine+GVG at 25 mg/kg; 4) morphine+GVG at 50 mg/kg. Morphine was administered throughout gestation, while GVG administration occurred only during the last 5 days of gestation. On post-natal day 1, naloxone-induced withdrawal behaviours were recorded in order to obtain a gross behaviour score. Approximately 28 days following birth, 18FDG microPET scans were obtained on these same animals (Groups 1, 2, and 4). Morphine-treated neonates demonstrated significantly higher withdrawal scores than saline controls. However, GVG at 50 but not 25 mg/kg/day significantly attenuated them. Upon reaching adolescence, morphine treated animals showed regionally specific changes in 18FDG uptake. Again, prenatal GVG exposure blocked them. These data demonstrate that low-dose, short-term prenatal GVG administration blocks naloxone-induced withdrawal in neonates. Taken together, these preliminary findings suggest that GVG may provide an alternative and long-lasting pharmacologic approach for the management of neonatal and adolescent symptoms associated with NAS.

Left Atrial Mass Invasion from Pulmonary Neoplasm Extension via the Right Upper Pulmonary Vein Presenting as Ipsilateral Stroke.

Left atrial invasion by lung cancer via haematogenous pathways is a relatively uncommon but potentially life-threatening event. While several cardiac complications of cardiac involvement have been previously described, the evolution towards cerebral stroke has been rarely reported. In this case report, we describe an atypical case of haematogenous metastatic invasion of the left atrium from pulmonary neoplasm extension presenting as an ipsilateral stroke whose ASCO classification changed during the clinical management.