High-Dose Immunoglobulin Therapy for Multiple Thromboembolism in Persisting Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia.

This report presents a case of an 81-year-old male with acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to aspiration pneumonia who developed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). His platelet count remained persistently low despite discontinuing unfractionated heparin and initiating intravenous argatroban. Multiple thromboembolisms, including a new aortic mural thrombus in the descending aorta, were observed on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), resulting in a diagnosis of autoimmune HIT (aHIT). Subsequent high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy substantially improved the platelet count and resolved thromboembolisms. This case is notable owing to the improvement of aHIT complicated by multiple thromboembolisms, including an aortic mural thrombus, following high-dose IVIG therapy. In recent years, a growing number of reports have documented the effectiveness of high-dose IVIG therapy for aHIT. However, reports on whether high-dose IVIG therapy could improve an aortic mural thrombus complicating aHIT are lacking. The successful use of high-dose IVIG therapy in the current case highlights its potential efficacy in treating aHIT complicated by multiple thromboembolisms. Further studies are required to clarify the role of IVIG in the management of aHIT with thromboembolism.

Post-traumatic giant thrombosis of inferior vena cava induced right-sided blunt traumatic diaphragmatic injury: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Inferior vena cava thrombosis is a severe disease as it carries a higher risk of developing pulmonary embolism associated with a high mortality rate. The incidence of inferior vena cava thrombosis is extremely low and is commonly associated with outflow obstruction of the inferior vena cava. The frequency of traumatic diaphragmatic injuries is less than 1% of all traumatic injuries. In addition, it was not a typical cause of inferior vena cava obstruction. We report the case of the patient who presented with giant thrombosis of the inferior vena cava, which required surgical treatment-induced right-sided blunt traumatic diaphragmatic injury. CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old male presented to the emergency department with pelvic and lower leg pain. He was working on a dump truck with the bed raised position. Suddenly, the bed came down, and his body was crushed and injured. Primary CT showed a right lung contusion and elevation of the right diaphragm but no apparent liver injury. The right pleural effusion gradually worsened after admission, as the traumatic diaphragmatic injury was highly suspected. Repeat CT showed aggravation of elevation of the right-sided diaphragm, narrowing of the inferior hepatic vena cava due to left cephalic deviation of the liver, and formation of a giant thrombus in the inferior vena cava. No adverse hemodynamic effects were observed due to thrombus formation, and we performed thrombolytic therapy. The day after starting thrombolytic therapy, the patient developed pulmonary embolism due to a dropped in SpO2 needed oxygen, and dyspnea triggered by coughing. Thrombolytic therapy was continued after the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. However, thrombolytic therapy was ineffective, so we decided on surgical thrombectomy and inferior vena cava filter placement. The postoperative course was not eventful, and an anticoagulant was started. The patient was transferred to the hospital on the 62nd day for rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: When a diaphragmatic hernia is suspected of causing hepatic hernia and narrowing of the inferior vena cava, it may be necessary to consider emergency surgical treatment to prevent secondary inferior vena cava thrombosis and fatal pulmonary embolism.

Association of Body Weight Change and Fluid Balance With Extubation Failure in Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Single-Center Observational Study.

PURPOSE: To elucidate whether fluid balance and body weight change are associated with failed planned extubation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who received invasive mechanical ventilation for over 24 hours were enrolled and divided into extubation success and extubation failure groups. Fluid balance and body weight fluctuation within 24 and 48 hours before extubation and from admission to planned extubation were calculated. The primary outcome was extubation failure (ie, all-cause reintubation within 72 hours). The association of extubation failure with fluid balance and body weight change was assessed via logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Extubation failure occurred in 12(7.4%)/161 patients. The extubation success group had a significantly lower fluid balance within 24 hours before extubation than did the extubation failure group (-276 mL [-1111 to 456] vs 1217 mL [503 to 1875], P = .002). However, fluid balance within 48 hours before extubation, cumulative fluid balance, and body weight change were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The sensitivity and specificity of water balance +1000 mL within 24 hours before extubation for the extubation failure group were 0.54 and 0.84, respectively, based on the receiver operating characteristic curve. Logistic regression analysis showed that fluid balance within 24 hours before extubation was associated with extubation failure (odds ratio: 22.9, 95% confidence interval: 4.1-128.4). CONCLUSIONS: A larger fluid balance within 24 hours before extubation is associated with extubation failure. Thus, fluid balance may be a good indicator of extubation outcome.

Severe sepsis caused by Capnocytophaga canimorsus complicated by thrombotic microangiopathy in an immunocompetent patient.

Case: A 61-year-old man with an unremarkable medical history was admitted with fever 7 days after being bitten by his dog. On day 3, he showed altered mental status, and laboratory data showed progressive hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia, renal dysfunction, coagulopathy, and schistocytosis. Severe sepsis complicated with thrombotic microangiopathy caused by Capnocytophaga canimorsus was suspected. Outcome: Plasma exchange was applied to treat the thrombotic microangiopathy and resulted in platelet count increase and improved renal function, hyperbilirubinemia, and schistocytosis. Blood culture results confirmed the presence of C. canimorsus. The patient was discharged in good condition. Conclusion: Capnocytophaga canimorsus is rare cause of severe sepsis, and should be suspected even in immunocompetent patients with dog-bite history. Capnocytophaga canimorsus infection may be complicated by thrombotic microangiopathy, for which plasma exchange should be considered prior to definitive diagnosis of thrombotic microangiopathy.

Delayed intestinal stricture following non-resectional treatment for non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia associated with hepatic portal venous gas: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic portal venous gas associated with non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia is indicative of a serious pathology that leads to bowel necrosis and it has a high mortality rate. Although non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia is acknowledged as a condition that requires early surgical treatment, it has been reported that bowel necrosis and surgical resection of the gangrenous lesion may be avoided if the condition is identified quickly and the cause is detected at an early phase. However, no reports or guidelines have been published that describe the management of patients in whom bowel necrosis and surgical treatment were avoided. We report the case of a patient who presented with non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia who was managed with non-resectional treatment at an early phase and had a delayed small-bowel stricture. CASE PRESENTATION: A 24-year-old man presented to the hospital with fever, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Abdominal computed tomography confirmed a diffuse gaseous distention with small-bowel pneumatosis and hepatic portal venous gas. An urgent laparotomy was performed, because septic shock associated with diffuse peritonitis and bowel necrosis was strongly suspected. Although we found purulent ascites and a perforated appendix at the time of surgery, gangrenous and transmural ischemic changes were not evident in the small bowel and colon. We performed an appendectomy without a bowel resection, and the patient was discharged on an oral diet. However, he was re-admitted to hospital, because 4 days after discharge he developed postoperative paralytic ileus. Non-operative management was chosen, but his symptoms did not improve. We decided to perform a laparotomy 40 days after the initial operation, and a considerable adhesion was detected. Therefore, only a synechotomy was performed. On day 57, he experienced symptoms that were associated with bowel obstruction once again. On day 59, a partial resection of the jejunum was performed. Severe luminal strictures were apparent within the jejunum, and marked structural changes were evident. CONCLUSION: While non-surgical management can be chosen for selected patients with non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia, continuous observation to evaluate the development of delayed strictures that lead to bowel obstructions is required in patients who undergo non-resectional treatment.

Radiology diagnostic devices under emergency electric power at disaster base hospitals during the acute phase of the Great East Japan Earthquake: results of a survey of all disaster base hospitals in Miyagi Prefecture.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the management of emergency electric power and the operation of radiology diagnostic devices after the Great East Japan Earthquake. METHODS: Timing of electricity restoration, actual emergency electric power generation, and whether radiology diagnostic devices were operational and the reason if not were investigated through a questionnaire submitted to all 14 disaster base hospitals in Miyagi Prefecture in February and March 2013. RESULTS: Commercial electricity supply resumed within 3 days after the earthquake at 13 of 14 hospitals. Actual emergency electric power generation was lower than pre-disaster estimates at most of the hospitals. Only 4 of 11 hospitals were able to generate 60% of the power normally consumed. Under emergency electric power, conventional X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scanners worked in 9 of 14 (64%) and 8 of 14 (57%) hospitals, respectively. The main reason conventional X-ray and CT scanners did not operate was that hospitals had not planned to use these devices under emergency electric power. Only 2 of the 14 hospitals had a pre-disaster plan to allocate emergency electric power, and all devices operated at these 2 hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-disaster plans to allocate emergency electric power are required for disaster base hospitals to effectively operate radiology diagnostic devices after a disaster. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;8:548-552).