[Real-time 3D reconstruction CT-jejunography guided direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy for levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel treatment in a patient with prior gastrojejunostomy].

A 68-year-old woman with Parkinson's disease, who had previously undergone Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy for early gastric cancer, complained of wearing-off and troublesome dyskinesia that had progressed over 7-years. After the introduction of levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel therapy (LCIG) by nasojejunal tube, she had a good clinical response. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with a jejunal extension tube was difficult in this case, due to lack of gastrostomy site and fibrous postoperative adhesion. We introduced LCIG by direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (D-PEJ) which offers a less invasive procedure to operative tube placement. The factors affecting the success of D-PEJ could interfere with transillumination, abdominal thickness and the location of other organs. We determined the optimum site of catheter insertion with the assistance of real-time 3D reconstruction CT-jejunography. She was discharged home on postoperative day 14 without any procedure-related complications. Real-time 3D reconstructive CT-jejunography guided D-PEJ is a useful method for a patient who benefit from LCIG with prior gastrojejunostomy.

Role of Endovascular Approach as Diagnostic Technique and First-Line Therapy for the Patients with Micro-Arteriovenous Malformations: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Objective: We describe a rare case report of micro-arteriovenous malformation (micro-AVM) treated by the endovascular approach in addition with literature review. Case Presentation: A 12-year-old boy presenting with a spontaneous intracerebral hematoma in the left occipital lobe underwent conventional diagnostic workups. The results of initial catheter angiography were considered to be equivocal as the AVM. Superselective angiography (SA) demonstrated a micro or small AVM (single feeder and single drainer type) with an aneurysmal dilatation. Immediate transarterial embolization (TAE) might fail to occlude the whole of nidus area completely, and subsequently, we switched to the surgical exploration of AVM lesion. Intraoperative findings demonstrated that the whole of AVM lesion had already been occluded completely, indicating the complete occlusion by TAE only. Pathological findings of the surgical specimen showed an aneurysmal dilatation was a venous aneurysm with vulnerable vascular wall structure, which was certainly the source of bleeding. Based on the above results, the retrospective revaluation of superselective angiogram permitted us to understand that the nidus of AVM was micro nidus type and TAE had resulted in the complete nidus occlusion. Conclusion: SA is the most useful diagnostic modality to clarify the angioarchitecture of micro-AVM and AVM-related aneurysms. If SA is successfully performed and relatively safe TAE is expected to be possible, the subsequent attempt to do curative embolization as a first-line treatment may be worthy of consideration. However, the surgical procedure should be fully reserved for the possible incomplete obliteration and hemorrhagic complications.

Rapid Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke Using a Computed Tomography-Based Reperfusion Protocol: The Reality of a Local Community Hospital with Limited Resources.

Objective: In patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), prognosis strongly depends on the onset-to-recanalization time. The Ishinomaki protocol for rapid recanalization has been used since October 2017. This protocol determines the indication for reperfusion therapy based on computed tomography (CT)/three-dimensional CT angiography (3DCTA) findings and intends to reduce the onset-to-recanalization time. We aimed to compare the outcomes before and after protocol introduction. Methods: Our hospital is the only thrombectomy-capable center in Ishinomaki, Tome, and Kesennuma medical area. Before protocol introduction (April 2014-June 2016), both CT and magnetic resonance imaging were performed to determine the indications for intravenous (IV) recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (rt-PA) or mechanical thrombectomy within 6 hours of disease onset. However, after protocol introduction (from October 2017), plain CT and 3DCTA were used. We collected data on patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy and/or IV rt-PA before (n = 13) and after (n = 34) the protocol introduction. The required time from onset to door (OTD), door to needle (DTN), needle to puncture (NTP), puncture to recanalization (PTR), and door to recanalization (DTR) were compared before and after protocol introduction. Furthermore, thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) grades and modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores at discharge were compared. Results: The outcomes before and after protocol introduction were as follows: OTD: 105 ± 73.8 (mean ± standard deviation) vs. 120 ± 68.1 min (p = 0.376, Mann-Whitney U test); DTN: 62.9 ± 15.9 vs. 41 ± 17 min (p <0.01); NTP: 112 ± 69.8 vs. 39.9 ± 33.7 min (p <0.01); PTR: 87.9 ± 45.4 vs. 52.5 ± 27.9 min (p <0.01); and DTR, 230 ± 69.9 vs. 110 ± 40.3 min (p <0.0001). Before and after protocol introduction, the proportion of patients with TICI grade 2b-3, mRS score of 0-2 at discharge, and mRS score of 5-6 were 54% vs. 50% (p = 0.815, Fisher's exact test), 23% vs. 21% (p = 0.854), and 15% vs. 50% (p = 0.046), respectively. Conclusion: The Ishinomaki protocol reduced the mean DTR time by 120 min. The reduction in treatment time was due to the change in CT-based recanalization and collaboration with emergency physicians and paramedics. There was no increase in good outcomes, but there was a significant increase in poor outcomes at discharge. Patients who could not be salvaged were indicated for reperfusion therapy as CT and 3DCTA cannot detect the ischemic core.