Factors prolonging the operative time for transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted appendectomy in pediatric patients: a retrospective single-center study.

PURPOSE: Transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted appendectomy (TULAA) is one of the first endoscopic surgeries performed by trainee pediatric surgeons. While the operative time is generally shorter than for conventional laparoscopic appendectomy, the indications for this procedure are unclear and many unknown factors can prolong the operative time. We conducted this study to identify the factors that may prolong the operative time for TULAA. METHODS: This retrospective, single-center study was conducted between 2015 and 2023. We performed multivariate analysis to identify the factors associated with prolonged operative time by analyzing TULAA procedures performed by trainees. RESULTS: The study included 243 patients. The median operative time was 84 min (interquartile range, 69-114 min). Multivariate analysis revealed that an increased body mass index, elevated C-reactive protein level, a history of conservative treatment for acute appendicitis, and appendix perforation, for the patient; < 6 years' experience since graduation for the operating surgeon; and lack of board certification as a supervisor from the Japanese Society of Pediatric Surgeons for the attending surgeon were independent risk factors for prolonging the operative time. CONCLUSION: Having an attending surgeon with board certification as a supervisor by the Japanese Society of Pediatric Surgeons contributes to reducing the operative time required for TULAA.

Clinical features of pediatric patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis after isolated head trauma.

OBJECTIVE: An association between blunt head trauma and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) has been recognized, but its symptoms are nonspecific and the duration of symptoms remains unclear. Anticoagulation therapy is not considered necessary in most cases of traumatic CVST; however, this is controversial. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with CVST after isolated head trauma. METHODS: The records of pediatric patients with isolated head trauma admitted for observation at 3 medical centers between January 2018 and May 2023 were reviewed retrospectively. CVST was diagnosed on MR venography (MRV). Clinical presentation, therapeutic management, and outcomes were evaluated in patients who had follow-up MRV. RESULTS: Of 260 pediatric patients with head trauma admitted to the 3 hospitals, 26 patients underwent MRV and 8 (30.8%) were diagnosed with CVST. One patient was treated with heparin, while the others received conservative treatment. All patients were discharged home asymptomatic. MRV performed during follow-up displayed complete recanalization in all cases, except for 1 case with partial recanalization. The median hospital stay was longer in patients with CVST than in those without CVST (9.5 vs 3.0 days, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The length of stay of pediatric patients with traumatic CVST was prolonged compared with those without CVST, but most patients had good outcomes with spontaneous recanalization following conservative treatment.

Cholecystitis following the initiation of glucagon-like peptide-2 analogue for short bowel syndrome: A case report.

Patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) have a risk for cholelithiasis and cholecystitis, particularly those who have received long-term parenteral nutrition (PN). Teduglutide (Revestive), a glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) analogue, is the first effective therapy approved for treating patients with SBS via self-subcutaneous injection. It also pharmacologically inhibits gallbladder contraction, which may increase the risks for cholelithiasis and cholecystitis. Here, we report a case of cholecystitis occurring after the introduction of a GLP-2 analogue in a patient with SBS and cholelithiasis. A 16-year-old girl, with a residual intestinal anatomy of 5 cm jejunum and left colon, was referred to our hospital for further treatment of SBS. She underwent jejunocolic anastomosis 2 months later. After that, she received PN for 2.5 years. Teduglutide treatment was initiated to reduce PN dependence. Several asymptomatic gallbladder stones were found during a routine ultrasound examination before drug initiation. On day 31 of teduglutide treatment, right subcostal pain with fever occurred, and the patient was diagnosed with acute cholecystitis. GLP-2 analogue treatment was temporarily discontinued. The patient underwent gallbladder drainage followed by cholecystectomy 3 weeks later. Histopathological findings illustrated mucosal hyperplasia of the gallbladder. Her postoperative course was uneventful, and teduglutide was restarted 2 weeks postoperatively. GLP-2 analogues promote gallbladder refilling and epithelial hyperplasia, which may be a risk factor for cholecystitis in patients with cholelithiasis, as observed in our patient. Based on our experience, patients with SBS and established asymptomatic cholelithiasis may be considered for prophylactic cholecystectomy before the administration of GLP-2 analogues.

Iatrogenic Vertebral Arteriovenous Fistula Involving Brachiocephalic Vein Due to Central Venous Catheterization: A Case Report.

PURPOSE: To report a case of vertebral arteriovenous fistula (VAVF) caused by iatrogenic trauma of central venous catheterization (CVC) involving brachiocephalic vein (BCV). CASE REPORT: A 79-year-old female was referred for assessment of a vertebral artery (VA) aneurysm at the V1 segment. The patient had no signs other than a vascular murmur on the right neck and was diagnosed 20 years after undergoing CVC. Right vertebral angiography revealed a high-flow shunt from the V1 segment of the right VA and draining into the right BCV. The fistula had a single communication between a pseudoaneurysm and large varix. We diagnosed the patient with CVCinduced VAVF (CIVAVF) involving BCV and obliterated the shunt by selective transarterial and transvenous embolization of the pseudoaneurysm under flow control using a balloon catheter with no complications. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the point that CIVAVF involving BCV is rare but possible. In addition, there is a possibility that CIVAVF involving BCV does not demonstrate the findings of arterial steal or retrograde venous drainage and is undiagnosed for a long term due to lack of neurological manifestation and other subjective symptoms. We also showed that endovascular treatment can be feasible and useful for CIVAVF involving BCV.

Hybrid AI model for estimating the canopy photosynthesis of eggplants.

Modern models for estimating canopy photosynthetic rates (Ac) can be broadly classified into two categories, namely, process-based mechanistic models and artificial intelligence (AI) models, each category having unique strengths (i.e., process-based models have generalizability to a wide range of situations, and AI models can reproduce a complex process using data without prior knowledge about the underlying mechanism). To exploit the strengths of both categories of models, a novel "hybrid" canopy photosynthesis model that combines process-based models with an AI model was proposed. In the proposed hybrid model, process-based models for single-leaf photosynthesis and image analysis first transform raw inputs (environmental data and canopy images) into the single-leaf photosynthetic rate (AL) and effective leaf area index (Lc)), after which AL and Lc are fed into an artificial neural network (ANN) model to predict Ac. The hybrid model successfully predicted the diurnal cycles of Ac of an eggplant canopy even with a small training dataset and successfully reproduced a typical Ac response to changes in the CO2 concentration outside the range of the training data. The proposed hybrid AI model can provide an effective means to estimate Ac in actual crop fields, where obtaining a large amount of training data is difficult.

Radiological and clinical features of twig-like middle cerebral artery in comparison with moyamoya angiopathy: a multicenter retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Twig-like middle cerebral artery (T-MCA) is a rare congenital anomaly that is difficult to distinguish from moyamoya angiopathy (MMA), given the similarity of the angioarchitectures. The aim of this study was to gain insights into the radiological and clinical features of T-MCA and to distinguish this condition from MMA. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted in 29 patients with T-MCA and 57 patients with MMA. Demographic, radiological, and clinical data were compared between the patients with T-MCA and those with MMA. RESULTS: The T-MCA group tended to be older than the MMA group (mean age 47 ± 18 vs 39 ± 22 years). Twenty patients with T-MCA (69%) were initially diagnosed with MMA. All T-MCA cases had twig-like networks and steno-occlusive changes involving the MCA. The T-MCA group had a higher incidence of intracranial aneurysms (35% vs 11%) and coexisting arterial anomalies (48% vs 12%). T-MCA and MMA cases had significant differences in involvement of the internal carotid artery terminus (0% vs 100%) and posterior cerebral artery (0% vs 23%), and in transdural anastomosis (0% vs 51%). T-MCA cases were less likely to present with stroke (59% vs 86%) and more likely to be asymptomatic (28% vs 12%). Of the patients with stroke, those with T-MCA had more hemorrhagic strokes (41% vs 29%) and fewer ischemic strokes (59% vs 71%) compared to those with MMA. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that T-MCA is a different disease entity from MMA based on significant differences in the radiological and clinical features. Neurosurgeons should recognize this anomaly and understand the key features that differentiate T-MCA from MMA.

Early rebleeding of a foramen magnum dural arteriovenous fistula: A case report and review of the literature.

Foramen magnum dural arteriovenous fistula (FM-DAVF) is a subset of craniocervical junction arteriovenous fistulas. We report a rare case of FM-DAVF with early rebleeding and review the literature. A 50-year-old man experienced 3 episodes of intracranial bleeding from a vessel malformation in the acute stage. We identified an FM-DAVF, supplied by multiple feeding arteries (eg, left ascending pharyngeal artery) that drained into the straight sinus and left superior petrosal sinus. The draining vein had venous varices. We performed transarterial feeder embolization and surgical disconnection of the DAVF. Early rebleeding of FM-DAVF is rare. High-risk patients require risk assessment and appropriate treatment as soon as possible in the acute stage.

Single-incision laparoscopic full-thickness anterior abdominal wall repair of a Morgagni hernia using a suture-assisting needle in a child: A case report.

Single-incision laparoscopic repair of a congenital Morgagni diaphragmatic hernia using a suture-assisting needle was performed in a 1-year-old boy. Three ports were inserted through a single umbilical incision to repair the 2.5 × 2.3-cm defect. The full-thickness muscle layer of the anterior abdominal wall and the posterior rim of the defect were penetrated with the suture-assisting needle holding a thread, which was then released. The needle tip was pulled back over the muscle layer, shifted laterally, and again passed through the muscle layer and the posterior rim. The thread was then captured by the needle and pulled out through the anterior abdominal wall. Five mattress sutures were placed in this way and tied subcutaneously. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the cosmetic outcome was favorable. A suture-assisting needle is useful for completing full-thickness anterior abdominal wall repair, which is important for preventing the recurrence of a congenital Morgagni diaphragmatic hernia.

Congenital perianal lipoma: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The surgical strategy for congenital perineal lipoma varies depending on the size, location, and accompanying congenital anomalies, with the optimum approach remaining to be determined. We herein report a case of congenital perianal lipoma that was first detected by prenatal ultrasound and review the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: A female neonate was referred to us for the evaluation of a perianal mass. She had been considered to be male prenatally because fetal ultrasound showed a perineal mass similar to a scrotum and penis. A postnatal examination revealed an appropriate-for-age neonate with a soft round mass 1.5 cm in diameter just to the left of the anal verge. She passed urine and stool smoothly, and contrast enema confirmed no anorectal malformation. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the lesion had a signal intensity consistent with fat located close to the anal sphincter, and no spinal anomaly (e.g., spina bifida) was identified. We excised the lesion (pathologically confirmed to be lipoma) simply at 2 months old, taking care to avoid damaging the anal sphincter by using a muscle stimulator. She has been doing well with good bowel movement and satisfactory cosmetic results for a follow-up period of one and a half years. Our literature search revealed 49 cases of perineal lipoma reported in English in the last 25 years, and 74% of them-including ours-had other congenital anomalies, the breakdown of which was anorectal malformation in 40% of cases, labioscrotal fold or accessory scrotum in 28%, and urogenital malformation, congenital pulmonary airway malformation, and disorder of sex differentiation. The prenatal detection of the lesion, as in our case, was quite rare. CONCLUSION: A thorough physical examination after birth, magnetic resonance imaging and contrast enema to identify the nature of the perineal lipoma and accompanying anomalies are crucial for planning the surgical strategy. The lesion may be deeply interspersed between the sphincter muscle, especially when it accompanies anorectal anomaly. A muscle stimulator is useful for preserving and repairing the sphincter muscles during resection in order to ensure satisfactory bowel movement.

A single institution experience of Eppikajutsuto for the treatment of lymphatic malformations in children.

BACKGROUND: Eppikajutsuto (TJ-28) is an herbal medicine recently reported to be effective in treating lymphatic malformations (LMs). We report our experience concerning the clinical efficacy of TJ-28 for LMs. METHODS: Medical records of 10 LM cases treated with TJ-28 between 2016 and 2018 were reviewed. TJ-28 was given at 0.3 g/kg/day and then increased to 0.5 if no improvement was noted after the first three months of treatment. Their clinical data were collected, and LM volume indices (depth×width×height) were measured with the first (LMVI-F) and latest (LMVI-L) imaging studies. The response rates were calculated as 1-LMVI-L / LMVI-F (%). RESULTS: The median age at the diagnosis and treatment period was 1.5 years and 17.5 months, respectively. LMs were located in the neck (six), mesenterium or retroperitoneum (three), and inguinal region (one). The median response rate was 83%, including 100% in three cases and the apparent improvement of obstructive airway symptoms in one case. One case underwent surgery for insufficient improvement, and another that showed no effect is being considered for surgery. Most of the satisfactory outcomes were demonstrated in the first six months of treatment. CONCLUSION: TJ-28 seems to be effective in treating LMs in children, especially early in treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Aplastic or Twig-Like Middle Cerebral Artery Presenting with Intracerebral Hemorrhage During Pregnancy: Report of Two Cases.

BACKGROUND: An aplastic or twig-like middle cerebral artery (Ap/T-MCA) is a rare congenital anomaly that can present with both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The etiology of this pathology has remained unclear. Here, we report 2 cases of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) owing to an Ap/T-MCA in pregnant patients. CASE DESCRIPTION: In both patients, cerebral angiography revealed a steno-occlusive lesion and an abnormal arterial network on the unilateral middle cerebral artery. One patient was treated conservatively for a putaminal hemorrhage, and a cesarean section was performed uneventfully 6 months after onset of the ICH. The other patient underwent a craniotomy for evacuation of the lobar hemorrhage. Subsequently, a cesarean section was performed uneventfully. Both patients gradually recovered without significant disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: An Ap/T-MCA is a rare congenital anomaly and is a potential cause of ICH for pregnant patients. A cesarean section is a useful option for pregnant patients with this condition.

A patient with peripheral demyelinating neuropathy, central dysmyelinating leukodystrophy, Waardenburg syndrome, and severe hypoganglionosis associated with a novel SOX10 mutation.

In this report, we present the case of a female infant with peripheral demyelinating neuropathy, central dysmyelinating leukodystrophy, Waardenburg syndrome, and Hirschsprung disease (PCWH) associated with a novel frameshift mutation (c.842dupT) in exon 5, the last exon of SOX10. She had severe hypoganglionosis in the small intestine and entire colon, and suffered from frequent enterocolitis. The persistence of ganglion cells made both the diagnosis and treatment difficult in the neonatal period. She also showed hypopigmentation of the irises, hair and skin, bilateral sensorineural deafness with hypoplastic inner year, severe demyelinating neuropathy with hypotonia, and diffuse brain hypomyelination. The p.Ser282GlnfsTer12 mutation presumably escapes from nonsense-mediated decay and may generate a dominant-negative effect. We suggest that hypoganglionosis can be a variant intestinal manifestation associated with PCWH and that hypoganglionosis and aganglionosis may share the same pathoetiological mechanism mediated by SOX10 mutations.

Periprocedural Outcomes of Carotid Artery Stenting in Elderly Patients.

BACKGROUND: Carotid artery stenting has emerged as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy especially in patients with high risk of carotid endarterectomy. Older age (≥80 years old) was recognized as one of the high risk factors of carotid endarterectomy. However, the association between older age and increased risk of adverse events for carotid artery stenting has been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between age and periprocedural outcomes after carotid artery stenting. METHODS: A total of 126 symptomatic and asymptomatic cases of carotid artery stenosis were treated with tailored carotid artery stenting. The type of stents and embolic protection devices were chosen according to clinical and morphologic characteristics of the patients. Procedural, imaging, and clinical outcomes were retrospectively assessed and compared between the elderly patients group (≥80 years old) and the non-elderly patients group (<80 years old). RESULTS: Clinical and morphologic characteristics except for dyslipidemia were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Periprocedural neurologic complications were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = .095). Minor stroke occurred more frequently in the elderly patients group (P = .021). However, the frequency of major stroke was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = 1). Presence of new ischemic lesions on postprocedural examination was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = .84). Myocardial infarction and death did not occur in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Carotid artery stenting can be performed safely in elderly patients, comparable with non-elderly patients.

Complications and Predictors of Hypotension Requiring Vasopressor after Carotid Artery Stenting.

A significant controversy exists regarding the clinical impact of hemodynamic depression on major adverse events after carotid artery stenting (CAS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence, predictors, and clinical significance of hypotension after CAS. A total of 118 cases of carotid artery stenosis were treated with CAS. Hypotension was defined as sustained systolic blood pressure <80 mmHg and requiring intravenous administration of vasopressor to maintain adequate systolic blood pressure after the procedure. Baseline characteristics, procedural characteristics, and periprocedural major adverse events were retrospectively compared between postprocedural hypotension group and non-hypotension group. Morphological and procedural characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. Periprocedural major adverse events, presence of new ischemic lesions, and number of new ischemic lesions were not significantly different between the two groups (P = 1, P = 0.36, P = 0.68). Hypertension was an independent protective factor (P = 0.037), and use of proximal protection and the distance from carotid bifurcation to maximum stenotic lesion ≤ 10 mm were independent risk factors for developing hypotension after CAS (P = 0.034, P = 0.027). There was no significant relationship between hypotension after CAS and major adverse events in this study. Maintenance of periprocedural adequate cerebral perfusion is thought to be important to prevent ischemic complications due to hypotension after CAS, especially in these cases.

Factors for Achieving Safe and Complete Treatment for Unruptured Saccular Aneurysm Smaller Than 10 mm by Simple Clipping or Simple Coil Embolization.

OBJECTIVE: Reducing complications from unruptured aneurysms (UAs) treatment is important. We clarify the criteria for achieving safe and complete treatment for UAs ≤10 mm by clipping or coil embolization. METHODS: This study included 59 newly treated UAs in the past 2 years. We prospectively decided on criteria to recommend active treatment. UAs ≤10 mm and in ≤75 year-olds, located at in the internal carotid artery at the paraclinoid portion and the posterior circulation aneurysms except for a vertebral artery-inferior posterior cerebellar artery aneurysm were mainly treated by coil embolization, and those in the internal carotid artery except at the paraclinoid portion, in the anterior or middle cerebral artery, and in the vertebral artery-inferior posterior cerebellar artery were treated preferably by clipping. UAs with a height/neck ratio or a dome/neck ratio ≤1.4 were treated preferentially by clipping. Specific preoperative imaging and careful manipulation were adopted for clipping. RESULTS: Fifty-seven (96.6%) achieved modified Rankin scale (mRS) 0-1, 2 (3.4%) mRS 2-5, and 0 had mRS 6. Fifty-three UAs (89.8%) achieved complete occlusion (CO) and 7 (10.1%) had neck remnants (NR). Forty-one UAs (100%) within the criteria achieved mRS 0-1, 40 (98%) achieved CO, and 1 (2%) NR. The odds ratio of NR for those outside the criteria was 18.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.83-186.6) (P < 0.05). CO treated within the criteria was 39 and NR was 1. CO treated outside the criteria was 14 and NR was 5 (P < 0.05). The mRS 0-1 with age ≤75 years was 55 and the mRS 2-6 was 0. The mRS 0-1 with age ≥76 years was 2 and the mRS 2-6 was 2 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The treatment for UAs within the criteria, with the most recent points of concern, can lead to safe and complete results.

Signet ring cell carcinoma of the lower bile duct with rapid growth: report of a case.

Signet ring cell carcinoma occurring in the biliary tract is extremely rare. We herein report the case of a 78-year-old Japanese woman demonstrating signet ring cell carcinoma of the lower bile duct with a rapid growth. Computed tomography of the pancreas head pointed out a circular thickness in the lower bile ductal wall and stenosis of the common bile duct. Cholangiography revealed tapering stenosis at the lower bile duct. Biopsy specimens taken from these lesions and scratched specimens taken from stenotic portion of the lower bile duct were analyzed and demonstrated signet ring cell carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the lower bile duct reported in the English literature. Based on our experience, signet ring cell carcinoma of the lower bile duct is considered to demonstrate both transmural dispersion and an aggressive nature.