Cerebral oxygenation monitoring during resuscitation by emergency medical technicians: a prospective multicenter observational study.

AIM: To assess the feasibility and predictive ability of regional cerebral oxygen saturation monitoring during cardiopulmonary resuscitation by emergency medical technicians. METHODS: This prospective observational study included 33 cardiac arrest patients who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a prehospital setting. Patients were connected to a near-infrared spectrometer through two disposable probes immediately after entering the ambulance. The monitor, which showed regional cerebral oxygen saturation readings, was obscured by covering it with a sheet of paper. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation was measured continuously until hospital arrival. Outcome variables included the prehospital return of spontaneous circulation, survival to hospital admission, and survival at 90 days. RESULTS: For patients who survived >90 days after hospital admission (n = 2), the mean regional cerebral oxygen saturation values upon ambulance and hospital arrival were 24% and 60%, respectively; for patients who did not survive (n = 31), the mean regional cerebral oxygen saturation values were 15% and 17%, respectively. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation values increased to a greater extent between ambulance arrival and hospital arrival in patients who survived >90 days (median, 36%; interquartile range, 32-40%) than in those who did not survive (0; 0-6%; P = 0.07). Additionally, regional cerebral oxygen saturation values were not related to the prehospital return of spontaneous circulation or survival to hospital admission. CONCLUSION: Regional cerebral oxygen saturation could be monitored during resuscitation by emergency medical technicians, and it can be used during physiological monitor-guided cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Transient severe distributive shock due to early dumping syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Early dumping syndrome characterized by palpitation, dizziness, cold sweat, feebleness, and abdominal symptoms, occurs within 30 minutes after meals in patients who have undergone gastrectomy. This case report describes the case of a patient who presented with severe distributive shock due to early dumping syndrome; he recovered within a few hours after massive fluid infusion and vasopressor administration. CASE PRESENTATION: Our patient was a 68-year-old Japanese man who underwent total gastrectomy for gastric cancer and was diagnosed as having late dumping syndrome. On admission, he developed severe shock and was treated with massive fluid administration. Based on the history of the present illness, past medical history, normal findings of blood chemistry test, transient course, and Sigtad score, which helps diagnose dumping syndrome, early dumping syndrome was considered the cause of severe distributive shock. CONCLUSIONS: Early dumping syndrome can cause severe shock requiring massive fluid infusion and vasopressor administration. It should be considered a cause of severe distributive shock in patients who have undergone gastrectomy.

Tracheal injury detected immediately after median sternotomy by inexperienced surgeons: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Although median sternotomy is standard during cardiac surgery, the procedure is associated with a risk of injury to mediastinal organs. Here, we discuss two cases of tracheal injury following median sternotomy during cardiac surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: Ventilation failure occurred in a 78-year-old Japanese man and a 71-year-old Japanese man after median sternotomy, and tracheal injury was identified. The sites of injury were directly repaired and covered with mediastinal fat tissue, following which ventilation was successful. The burn-like deposits observed at the site of tracheal injury and on the removed endotracheal tube support the notion that the injuries in our patients were caused by electrocautery prior to median sternotomy. In one case, short sternotracheal distance may have contributed to tracheal injury during post-sternal manipulation. In both cases, the relative inexperience of both surgeons also supports the suspected cause of injury. CONCLUSIONS: Tracheal injury represents a potential complication following median sternotomy, especially when performed by inexperienced surgeons or in cases of short sternotracheal distance. Anesthesiologists should consider this rare yet potentially lethal complication.

Successful non-operative management of traumatic extrahepatic portal venous injury without intraperitoneal hemorrhage: a case report.

Case: A 52-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with hypotension after falling from the fifth floor of an apartment building. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed liver injury with extravasation of contrast material from the hepatic artery, and extrahepatic portal venous injury with extravasation and pseudoaneurysm. Intra-abdominal hemorrhage was not observed, and bleeding was confined to the retroperitoneal space. Hepatic arteriography showed extravasation, while portal venography showed pseudoaneurysm but no extravasation. After transarterial embolization, the patient's vital signs improved. Non-operative management was selected for the portal venous injury. Outcome: Computed tomography on the 58th hospital day revealed disappearance of the portal venous pseudoaneurysm. The patient was discharged on the 90th hospital day without any complications. Conclusion: This case shows that non-operative management can be selected for portal venous injury when there is no retroperitoneal injury and bleeding is confined to the retroperitoneal space.

Repetitive postoperative extubation failure and cardiac arrest due to laryngomalacia after general anesthesia in an elderly patient: a case report.

The authors report a case involving an elderly patient who experienced repetitive perioperative cardiac arrest caused by laryngomalacia. The patient underwent surgery under general anesthesia; however, 2 h after initial extubation, he experienced cardiopulmonary arrest. Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved by immediate resuscitation. Four hours later, a second extubation was performed without any neurological complications. However, 2 h later, he experienced cardiopulmonary arrest again. Immediately after the third extubation, 12 h after the second cardiopulmonary arrest, fiberoptic laryngoscopy revealed laryngomalacia. His respiratory condition stabilized after emergent tracheostomy. Laryngomalacia should be considered even in adult cases when signs of upper airway obstruction manifest after extubation.

Infected iliac artery aneurysm with aortocaval fistula.

Case: We report a case of an infected iliac artery aneurysm complicated by an aortocaval fistula. Outcome: A 74-year-old-man was admitted with fever, chills, general fatigue, and appetite loss. The patient was diagnosed with an infected iliac artery aneurysm, which was controlled with antibiotics preoperatively. During hospitalization, deep vein thrombosis developed with a pulmonary embolism resulting from an aortocaval fistula. The patient was successfully operated on with in situ autologous vein graft reconstruction. Conclusion: An infected iliac artery aneurysm with aortocaval shunt has rarely been reported. We successfully treated the patient with a combination of appropriate i.v. antibiotics and surgical resection.

Impact of left atrial volume reduction concomitant with atrial fibrillation surgery on left atrial geometry and mechanical function.

OBJECTIVE: Left atrial geometry and mechanical functions exert a profound effect on left ventricular filling and overall cardiovascular performance. We sought to investigate the perioperative factors that influence left atrial geometry and mechanical functions after the Maze procedure in patients with refractory atrial fibrillation and left atrial enlargement. METHODS: Seventy-four patients with atrial fibrillation and left atrial enlargement (diameter > or = 60 mm) underwent the Maze procedure in association with mitral valve surgery. The maximum left atrial volume and left atrial mechanical functions (booster pump, reservoir, and conduit function [%]) were calculated from the left atrial volume-cardiac cycle curves obtained by magnetic resonance imaging. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the independent variables that influenced the postoperative left atrial geometry and function. RESULTS: The multivariate analysis showed that left atrial reduction surgery concomitant with the Maze procedure and the postoperative maintenance of sinus rhythm were predominant independent variables for postoperative left atrial geometry and mechanical functions. Among the 58 patients who recovered sinus rhythm, the postoperative left atrial geometry and function were compared between patients with (VR group) and without (control group) left atrial volume reduction. At a mean follow-up period of 13.8 months, sinus rhythm recovery rate was better (85% vs 68%, P < .05) in the VR group and maximum left atrial volume was less (116 +/- 25 mL vs 287 +/- 73 mL, P < .001) than in the control group. The maximum left atrial volume reduced with time only in the VR group (reverse remodeling). Postoperative booster pump and reservoir function in the VR group were better than in the control group (25% +/- 6% vs 11% +/- 4% and 34% +/- 7% vs 16% +/- 4%, respectively, P < .001), whereas the conduit function in the VR group was lower than in the control group, indicating that the improvement of the booster pump and reservoir function compensated for the conduit function to left ventricular filling. CONCLUSION: Left atrial reduction concomitant with the Maze procedure helped restore both contraction (booster pump) and compliance (reservoir) of the left atrium and facilitated left atrial reverse remolding. Left atrial volume reduction and postoperative maintenance of sinus rhythm may be desirable in patients with refractory AF and left atrial enlargement.

Aortic valve replacement for aortic regurgitation in a patient with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

Cardiac manifestations of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APLS) comprise a major complication. Herein we report our surgical treatment of aortic regurgitation in a patient with APLS. A 61-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with symptoms of congestive heart failure. Systemic lupus erythematosus had been diagnosed at the age of 36, and immunosuppressive therapy has been continuously performed. APLS was also diagnosed at the age of 55, after which cardiomegaly was noted on chest radiographs and aortic regurgitation was evident on echocardiography. Although immunosuppressive therapy had been continued, cardiac symptoms began to develop. With a presumed diagnosis of valvular disease associated with autoimmune disease, the aortic valve was replaced with a bioprosthesis. Noninfective endocarditis was confirmed in the excised specimen and was likely involved in APLS. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 26 without complications.

A novel approach to restore atrial function after the maze procedure in patients with an enlarged left atrium.

OBJECTIVE: Left atrial (LA) volume reduction surgery concomitant with the maze procedure has been reported to facilitate sinus rhythm recovery even in patients with refractory atrial fibrillation (AF) with an enlarged LA. However, it is unknown whether the procedures can also restore effective atrial function of the enlarged LA with over-stretched myocardium. METHODS: The maze procedures in association with mitral valve surgery were performed to 57 AF patients with an enlarged LA (LA diameter >or=60mm). Among them, 32 patients had concomitant LA volume reduction surgery (VR group). Another 25 patients did not have the volume reduction (control group). RESULTS: Three months postoperatively LA end-diastolic volume (LAEDV, ml) assessed by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was larger in the VR group than that in the control group (291+/-117 vs 223+/-81 ml, p<0.05). Postoperatively, sinus rhythm recovery rate was better (84 vs 68%, p<0.05) and LAEDV was drastically smaller (118+/-48 vs 203+/-76 ml, p<0.001) in the VR group than those in the control group. Among the patients with sinus rhythm recovery in both groups, LA contraction ejection fraction (%) improved in the VR group but not in the control group (22.3+/-7.8 vs 10.3+/-4.7%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The LA volume reduction surgery concomitant with the maze procedure restored contraction of the enlarged LA; however, the maze procedure alone did not restore LA contraction in spite of successful sinus rhythm recovery. LA volume reduction surgery may be desirable to the patients with refractory AF with over-stretched LA.

[Calcified amorphous tumors with excision in hemodialysis patients: report of 2 cases].

We report 2 cases of calcified amorphous tumor (CAT) in hemodialysis patients. Case 1 is a 68-year-old man who had received hemodialysis for 11 years due to diabetic nephropathy with renal failure. He was admitted because of shortness of breath. After appropriate diagnostic testing, we found a 7 mm movable tumor on the side of the left atrium causing stenosis at the base of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). We suspected this to be a myxoma. We performed a myxomectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The tumor had a stalk and hemogenesis on the surface. Case 2 is a 63-year-old man who had received continuous ambulatory peritoneal hemodialysis for 18 months due to diabetic nephropathy with renal failure. He was admitted because of subjective complaints of chest compression and shortness of breath. Ultrasound cardiography revealed 16 mm tumor on the posterior mitral valve leaflet with mild mitral regurgitation. We removed the tumor and placed a mitral valve prosthesis. Grossly the tumor was encapsulated with endocardium. On pathological examination, both tumors were CATs. CAT is a lesion characterized by calcified fibrin deposits. Preoperative diagnosis of these tumors is difficult. While many surgeons elect to conservatively watch these tumors among dialysis patients, when they are movable, there is a risk of embolism and we should remove the tumor early.

Saphenous vein graft rupture eighteen years after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Delayed saphenous vein graft (SVG) rupture following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is an unusual but potentially fatal complication. Herein we report a case of SVG rupture 18 years after CABG. A 75-year-old man had undergone a CABG with SVG in 1987 at another institution. In 2004 the patient developed angina and underwent re-CABG with arterial conduits in our hospital. On the preoperative cineangiogram, the SVG to the right coronary artery (RCA) was irregularly dilated, yet still providing flow to the distal RCA. In 2005 he was readmitted to our hospital for abdominal pain. Chest computed tomography revealed a huge round mass adjacent to the heart. Cineangiogram showed leakage of the contrast in the midportion of the SVG. At operation, graft rupture was evident and repaired under cardiopulmonary bypass. Although cardiac function was well maintained, after the surgery he developed ischemic colitis and died of multiple organ failure on the 17th postoperative day.

Dissecting aortic aneurysm in a renal transplant recipient.

There have been few reports of surgical repair of acute aortic dissection in renal transplant recipients. The incidence, operative risk, or perioperative management of aortic dissection with functioning allografts remains unknown. Herein we report our experience in successful treatment of type I dissecting aortic aneurysm in a renal transplant patient. A 35-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of severe chest pain. He had undergone a living renal transplant from his mother for chronic renal failure caused by immunoglobulin A nephropathy 11 years prior to admission. An immunosuppressive regimen had been maintained continuously. Preoperative chest computed tomography demonstrated a thoracic dissecting aortic aneurysm (DeBakey classification type I). An emergent graft replacement for the ascending aorta was placed under circulatory arrest. Although continuous hemodiafiltration was required postoperatively because of deteriorated renal function, he recovered uneventfully and his renal function returned to preoperative values. He was discharged on postoperative day 26 without any complications.