A case of fulminant myocarditis with full recovery after a 38-h sustained asystole.

Key Clinical Message: Even if cardiac rhythm deteriorated to asystole in the clinical course of fulminant myocarditis, cardiac function may recover, and the patient may be discharged without brain damage, if circulation could be maintained by appropriate mechanical cardiac supports. Abstract: A 69-year-old man was diagnosed with fulminant myocarditis with circulatory collapse. His cardiac rhythm deteriorated to asystole on the second day; however, circulatory status was maintained through extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and intra-aortic balloon pumping. After 38 h-lasting asystole, his heart resumed beating. He was discharged without neurological deficits on Day 25.

Gastric tube perforation penetrating the pericardium after esophagectomy that needed surgical repair.

Background: As the prognosis of esophageal cancer surgery has improved, reports on postoperative complications of gastric tubes have increased. Among them, gastric tube ulcer perforation is infrequent but often severe and difficult to treat. Case Presentation: A 73-year-old man had undergone thoracoscopic subtotal esophagectomy and laparoscopic-assisted gastric tube reconstruction via the retrosternal route for thoracic esophageal cancer 8 years previously. He was transferred to our hospital with a diagnosis of gastric tube ulcer perforation, penetrating the pericardium. Emergency surgery was performed to remove the gastric tube, followed by immediate reconstruction by right colon interposition. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 142. Conclusion: We report a rare complication of gastric tube ulcer perforation, penetrating the pericardium, after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. It was successfully treated with appropriate surgical management.

Surgical strategy for airway management and bleeding control in penetrating neck injury in zone II: A case report.

We report the case of a 33-year-old man with a self-inflicted neck wound with severe hypopharynx injury, and hemorrhagic shock, which was well managed by a trauma surgeon trained in esophageal surgery. Training in cervical lymph node dissection for esophageal cancer could be useful in the management of penetrating neck injuries.

Propensity-Matched Analysis of the Short-Term Outcome of Robot-Assisted Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy Versus Conventional Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy in Thoracic Esophageal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: In this matched-cohort study, we investigated the short-term outcome of robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) compared with conventional minimally invasive thoracoscopic esophagectomy (MIE) in esophageal cancer patients. METHODS: One hundred eighty-nine patients with thoracic esophageal cancer scheduled to undergo thoracic esophagectomy between 2020 and 2021 were assigned to either RAMIE or MIE. Then, we retrospectively evaluated the postoperative surgical complications between two groups in a propensity-matched analyzation. RESULTS: Based on the propensity-matched score, 50 patients who underwent RAMIE or MIE were selected. Thoracic surgery time in RAMIE/MIE group were 233.1/173.3 min (p < 0.01), respectively. No significant intergroup differences were observed regarding incisional anastomotic leakage (RAMIE group 4.0% vs. MIE group 6.0%) and pneumonia (RAMIE group 8.0% vs. MIE group 12.0%; p = 0.68). The respective incidences of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis were 34.0 and 8.0% in the MIE and RAMIE groups, respectively (p < 0.01). In the matched cohort, no differences were observed between the groups in the success accomplishment of the clinical management pathway (RAMIE group 94.0% vs. MIE group 88.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Although patients who underwent RAMIE had longer operation times, the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis was lower than with MIE. Further study in a prospective multi-institutional setting are required to confirm the superiority of RAMIE compared with MIE.

Operative outcomes and long-term survival of patients undergoing colon interposition after esophagectomy for cancer.

BACKGROUND: The first choice of an esophageal substitute after esophagectomy for cancer is the stomach. However, the colon must be considered for reconstruction in specific situations. The purpose of this study was to clarify the frequency and clinical features of patients who underwent colon interposition in thoracic esophagectomy and to investigate the postoperative complications and survival. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control study in the National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan. Patients who underwent colon interposition after esophagectomy for cancer between 2010 and 2020 were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients underwent esophagectomy with colon interposition; 53.2% received preoperative treatment and 52.3% underwent thoracoscopic surgery. Clavien-Dindo grade >III postoperative complications occurred in 42% of the patients; anastomotic leakage was the most common complication, occurring in 26.1% of the cases. Univariate analysis of the factors associated with Clavien-Dindo grade III complications.

Fatal pancreatic fistula after laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma with pancreaticobiliary maljunction and sphincterotomized papilla: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic juice is constantly activated by contaminated bile in patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM). Here, we report a case of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for a patient with PBM and sphincterotomized papilla, resulting in fatal pancreatic fistula. CASE PRESENTATION: A 79-year-old man was diagnosed with pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and common bile duct stones. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed prior to surgery. The pancreatic duct was simultaneously visualized when the contrast agent was injected into the common bile duct. Sudden bleeding was observed from the abdominal drain on postoperative day (POD) 6. Emergent stent graft placement and coil embolization were performed for bleeding from the splenic artery. On POD 9, the drainage fluid changed to yellowish in color with bile contamination. For internal drainage of the digestive fluid, endoscopic retrograde biliary tube and pancreatic drainage tube were placed. On POD 24, second emergent coil embolization was performed for bleeding from the left gastric artery. On POD 25, open abdominal drainage was performed. On POD 32, third emergent coil embolization was performed for bleeding from the gastroduodenal artery. Subsequently, remnant pancreatic resection was performed. On POD 39, massive bleeding was again observed from the abdominal drain. Emergency arterial portography revealed bleeding in the right wall of the superior mesenteric vein. The patient died of hemorrhagic shock on the same day. CONCLUSIONS: The extreme risk of severe pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy should be considered in patients with PBM and sphincterotomized papilla. In this extraordinary situation, surgeons should promptly decide whether to resect the remnant pancreas to prevent losing the patient.

An amphiphilic pseudo[1]catenane: neutral guest-induced clouding point change.

The hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratio in a molecule largely affects its assembled properties in aqueous media. In this study, we synthesized a new bicyclic compound which could dynamically change its hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratio by chemical stimulus. The bicyclic compound consisted of amphiphilic pillar[5]arene and hydrophobic alkyl chain rings, and formed a self-inclusion structure in aqueous media, which was assigned as a pseudo[1]catenane structure. The hydrophobic chain ring was hidden inside the pillar[5]arene cavity in the pseudo[1]catenane structure, thus the bicyclic compound was soluble in water at 20 °C with a clouding point at 24 °C. The pseudo[1]catenane was converted to the de-threaded structure upon addition of the neutral guest 1,4-dicyanobutane, which displaced the alkyl chain ring from the inside to the outside of the cavity. The hydrophobic alkyl chain ring was now exposed to the aqueous media, causing aggregation of the hydrophobic alkyl chain rings, which induced insolubilization of the bicyclic compound in aqueous media at 20 °C and a decrease in its clouding point.

Redox-responsive host-guest system using redox-active pillar[5]arene containing one benzoquinone unit.

A pillar[5]arene containing one benzoquinone unit formed a weak host-guest complex with a triazole-substituted 1,4-butylene linker. In contrast, the corresponding reduced pillar[5]arene containing one hydroquinone unit formed a stable host-guest complex with the same guest.

[A Patient with Stage IV Gastric Cancer Who Survived More Than Five Years after Gastrectomy].

The prognosis of patients with Stage IV gastric cancer is generally poor. The 5-year overall survival rate is less than 10%. The patient was a 73-year-old man with Stage IV gastric cancer. Before chemotherapy, peritoneal dissemination was observed using staging laparoscopy. The patient received first-line chemotherapy with TS-1 plus CDDP. Renal function worsened and consequently the therapy was stopped. He received 3 courses of chemotherapy with weekly PTX. The peritoneal dissemination had disappeared by the second staging laparoscopy and he underwent distal gastrectomy. The final diagnosis was pT4a, ly2, v1, pN2(4/16),M0, fStage III B. The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy of TS-1 for 4 years and 8months after gastrectomy. More than 5 year after gastrectomy, the patient is alive without recurrence.

Reversible and contrasting changes of the cloud point temperature of pillar[5]arenes with one quinone unit and tri(ethylene oxide) chains induced by redox chemistry and host-guest complexation.

A new water-soluble redox-active pillar[5]arene was synthesized by incorporation of one benzoquinone unit. The pillar[5]arene showed redox-responsive reversible lower critical solution temperature changes in aqueous solution.

The template effect of solvents on high yield synthesis, co-cyclization of pillar[6]arenes and interconversion between pillar[5]- and pillar[6]arenes.

We have synthesized a pillar[6]arene in high yield and a co-pillar[6]arene using chlorocyclohexane as a solvent.

Achiral guest-induced chiroptical changes of a planar-chiral pillar[5]arene containing one π-conjugated unit.

A planar-chiral pillar[5]arene derivative containing one π-conjugated unit was prepared. Chiroptical changes were observed upon addition of the achiral guest 1,4-dicyanobutane.