Effectiveness of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block and rectus sheath block in pain control and recovery after gynecological transumbilical single-incision laparoscopic surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) and rectus sheath (RS) blocks in pain management and recovery after gynecological single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Abilateral TAP block (Group A, n = 9), bilateral TAP and RS blocks (Group B, n = 10), and a bilateral RS block (Group C, n = 9) with 40 ml ropivacaine per patient were conducted in 28 patients undergoing SILS for ovarian tumors. A pain score and walking distance in a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were examined. RESULTS: Pain scores were significantly lower on postoperative day (POD) 3 than on POD 1 in Groups B (p = 0.03) and C (p = 0.02). The walking distance on POD 3 was comparable with that before surgery in Group C (p = 0.75), but shorter in Groups A (p = 0.004) and B (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The RS block alone was the most effective in relieving pain and accelerating general recovery after gynecological SILS.

[Huge left atrial myxoma masking the severity of mitral regurgitation; report of a case].

It is well known that mobile or large left atrial myxoma may lead to valve obstruction and insufficiency, and affect transmitral valve flow. A 50-year-old woman with a huge left atrial myxoma occluding the mitral valve was reported. The tumor was diagnosed by preoperative echocardiogram and mitral regurgitation was minimum. During the operation and after the myxoma resection, a severe mitral regurgitation, which was not observed during the preoperative echocardiogram, was noticed. Mitral valve defect was corrected by an annuloplasty ring, and the patient had an uneventful recovery. Our case suggests that careful evaluation of mitral valve during a myxoma resection operation is recommended.

[Rupture of type III acute aortic dissection into the bilateral pleural space: report of a case].

Rupture of type III aortic dissection into the bilateral pleural space is very rare. A 62-year-old man was transferred to our department because of aortic dissection for emergency operation. computed tomography (CT) scan revealed rupture of type III aortic dissection into the bilateral pleural space. He underwent successful prosthetic graft replacement through left thoracotomy and removal of a massive amount of blood from the right pleural space by chest tube drainage. The postoperative course was uneventful after 2 days of respiratory support.

[Concomitant lobectomy by video-assisted thoracic surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting: report of a case].

Successful simultaneous operation for cardiac and lung disease was performed in a 71-year-old man with lung carcinoma and ischemic heart disease. Chest CT scan revealed a mass in the right lower lobe and absence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Coronary angiography revealed significant stenosis of the left anterior descending artery, circumflex artery and right coronary artery. We performed concomitant video-assisted right lower lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection as a form of less invasive surgery and triple coronary artery bypass grafting under cardiopulmonary bypass. Curative surgery for lung carcinoma and complete revascularization for ischemic heart disease were completed. The postoperative course was uneventful.

Superficial lymphangitis with interface dermatitis occurring shortly after a minor injury: possible involvement of a bacterial infection and contact allergens.

BACKGROUND: Linear supralymphatic eruptions with epidermal involvement have rarely been reported. OBJECTIVE: A search was made for apparent anatomical reasons and for external factors to explain the unique distribution pattern and clinical course in three cases in which the linear lesions occurred shortly after a minor injury. METHODS: Efforts to search for its etiology include careful outlining of the localization, bacterial culture from the site of traumatic injury, patch tests, and skin biopsies. RESULTS: Linear lesions developed along superficial lymphatic vessels and the presence of eczematous conditions around the injured sites and isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from the site were observed concomitantly. The histopathological findings showed interface dermatitis. CONCLUSION: Our cases provide a unique example of the combined effects of a bacterial infection and contact allergens in the development of the linear supralymphatic eruptions.

Radiographic analysis of lumbar spine for low-back pain in the general population.

We sought to demonstrate a correlation between low-back pain (LBP) and the plain radiographic findings of the lumbar spine in the general population based on an analysis of 838 persons, 387 of whom presented with complaints of low-back pain. The incidence of intervertebral narrowing and irregular ossification of the vertebral end-plate image increased consistently with age and was higher in the presence of LBP in any age or gender group. Multiregression analysis was performed with the imaging factors as multivariates. As a result, multiregression equations with irregular ossification of the vertebral end-plate image, intervertebral narrowing, spondylolisthesis and abnormal lumbar lordotic angle combined as variates showed the highest significance as predictors of a relationship with LBP. The discrimination analysis was performed using the linear discriminant function, resulting in a true discrimination rate of 65%. Plain radiography of the lumbar spine is thus significant as it provides information which can be evaluated as meaningful findings in the investigation of LBP. In addition, while the significance can be increased by considering multiple factors, it is important to understand the limits of the accuracy of this prediction.

Protochlorophyllide and chlorophyll forms in dark-grown stems and stem-related organs.

Protochlorophyllide contents and the spectral properties together with photoactivities of native protochlorophyllide forms have been studied in dark-forced stems of 26 and epicotyls or hypocotyls of 9 plant species. The 77 K fluorescence emission spectra show that a form emitting at 629-631 nm is general in these organs. Besides this short-wavelength form, other protochlorophyllide forms emitting at 636, 645 and around 650-655 nm are found with various relative amplitudes. The pigment contents show good correlation with the ratio of short- to long-wavelength forms, i.e., the higher this ratio is, the less protochlorophyllide is detected. In addition to protochlorophyllide, several dark-grown plants also contain chlorophylls. In some cases only one chlorophyll form appears with emission maximum at 678-680 nm; other plants have forms characteristic of the fully developed photosynthetic apparatus (with maxima at 685, 695 and 730-740 nm). Flash illumination can transform only the 645 and 650-655 nm protochlorophyllide forms, the shorter-wavelength-emitting forms being inactive. Plant species with dominating 629-636 nm protochlorophyllide forms cannot accumulate chlorophyll on continuous illumination of natural intensity, and they became photodamaged. The structural or molecular background of the appearance of the different protochlorophyllide and chlorophyll forms and the reasons for their photosensitivity are discussed.

[Video-assisted minithoracotomy versus conventional posterolateral thoracotomy for performing lobectomy of lung carcinomas].

This study was performed to evaluate the advantages of video-assisted minithoracotomy over conventional posterolateral thoracotomy for performing lobectomy of lung carcinomas. Thirty-two patients with clinical T1N0M0 non-small cell lung carcinoma underwent lobectomy with R2a mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Of these, sixteen patients underwent posterolateral thoracotomy (between April 1994 and November 1995: T group), and sixteen patients underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (between December 1997 and April 1999: V group). No significant differences were found in the two groups with respect to the total number of mediastinal lymph nodes dissected (T group: 16.9 +/- 8.7. V group: 14.3 +/- 7.2) or operative time (T group: 182.3 +/- 48.8 min, V group: 174.9 +/- 28.8 min). The intraoperative blood loss was significantly less in the V group (T group: 222.3 +/- 107.1 ml, V group: 143.3 +/- 92.6 ml, p < 0.05), and the postoperative max CPK was also less (T group: 1,484 +/- 496, V group: 785 +/- 327, p < 0.0001). Duration of chest tube drainage (T group: 11.3 +/- 3.6 days, V group: 7.9 +/- 2.7 days) and the requirement of epidural analgesia (T group: 6.7 +/- 2.2 days, V group: 5.0 +/- 0.8 days) were less in the V group (p < 0.01), and the length of postoperative hospitalization as also shorter in the V group (T group: 26.3 +/- 8.3 days, V group: 20.6 +/- 4.1 days, p < 0.05). In conclusion, video-assisted minithoracotomy is less invasive than posterolateral thoracotomy for performing lobectomy of lung carcinomas, and has an advantage in that it improves the postoperative quality of life.

[Clinical study of warm heart surgery in emergent coronary artery bypass grafting].

Twenty-six nonrandomized patients undergoing emergent coronary artery bypass operation were assigned to either the cold group (traditional intermittent cold blood cardioplegia and slight hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (n = 7) or the warm group (intermittent warm blood cardioplegia and normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass) (n = 19). Preoperative variables were similar in both groups except the number of renal dysfunction patients were greater in the cold group. The time from removal of the aortic crossclamp to discontinuation of cardiopulmonary bypass was significantly shorter in the warm group and the incidence of heartbeat spontaniously converted to normal sinus rhythm after removal of the aortic crossclamp was higher in the warm group. The warm group showed good results concerning postoperative blood loss volume, change of base excess, time required for awakening and extubation. Significant differences were found in the hospital mortality rates between the groups (cold: 57.1%, warm: 5.3%). This study suggested a beneficial influence of warm heart surgery on postoperative hemodynamics, metabolic recovery and hospital mortality in emergent coronary artery bypass grafting.

[Three-stage operation for multifocal aortic aneurysms--a case report].

A 72-year-old man underwent a three-stage operation for aneurysms of the distal aortic arch, descending thoracic aorta, and infrarenal abdominal aorta. Graft replacement of the abdominal aortic aneurysm was performed as an emergency because of suspicion of impending rupture. Operations for the aneurysms of the thoracic descending aorta and distal aortic arch were performed 2 months and 4 months later, respectively. The patient was well 16 months after discharge from the hospital. This is the first report of the successful three-stage surgical treatment of three isolated aortic aneurysms. The therapeutic principles for multifocal aortic aneurysms remain controversial. The strategy of surgical treatment for multifocal aortic aneurysms is discussed and previous literature is reviewed.

[Mitral valvuloplasty for the repair of mitral valve prolapse due to tendon rupture of the posterior leaflet in a father and son--case reports].

The use of mitral valvuloplasty for the repair of mitral valve prolapse in members of a family has been reported only rarely. Patient 1 was a 71-year-old man, and patient 2 the son of patient 1 was a 47-year-old man. Both patients had a grade 3/4 mitral valve regurgitation due to tendon rupture of the posterior leaflet. The procedure was quadrangular resection of the posterior leaflet with annulorrhaphy and ring annuloplasty. The results were good in both cases. Histopathological analysis of a specimen resected from the mitral valve revealed myxomatous degeneration in both cases. These case reports suggest that there is a genetic basis for mitral valve prolapse.

[A case report of total aortic arch replacement for distal aortic arch aneurysm in an octogenarian].

A 81-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of hoarseness. Chest CT scan and aortogram showed distal arch aneurysm measuring 7.5 cm in diameter. Under deep hypothermia and selective cerebral perfusion, the distal aortic arch aneurysm was completely replaced with a woven Dacron graft with three limbs for the arch vessels. After the aortic cross clamp was released, severe low output syndrome (LOS) continued because of perioperative myocardial infarction. Then, a coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was performed, after which the cardiopulmonary bypass was easily weaned under intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) assistance. The postoperative course was uneventful. The perioperative myocardial infarction was thought to be induced by left coronary spasm, as comparison of the preoperative and postoperative coronary arteriograms showed no change.

[A surgical case report--combined valvular disease in a 77-year-old woman with multi-organ dysfunction].

A 77-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with congestive hepatic dysfunction and combined valvular disease. In addition to aortic stenosis, mitral stenosis, and tricuspid regurgitation, multi-organ dysfunction consisting of hepatic cirrhosis, pulmonary dysfunction and renal dysfunction were found. In consideration of the patient's anxiety for surgical treatment, we performed aortic valve replacement, open mitral commissurotomy and tricuspid annuloplasty. Although the patient required hemofiltration for 2 days and an assist of catecholamines for 1 month, she improved better and was discharged at 2 months after surgery. As preoperative assessment of preliminary function of other organs is difficult in the elderly, indications for surgery and optimal surgical procedures must be investigated in each case.

[A successful surgical case of descending necrotizing mediastinitis with fistula formation to the right main bronchus].

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is extremely rare and one of the most lethal forms of mediastinitis, even in the era of antibiotics. We have recently treated a 65-year-old man who was diagnosed as having a fistula to the right main bronchus caused by DNM secondary to a peritonsillar abscess. Surgical treatment consisted in closing the right bronchial fistula and covering it with the latissimus dorsi muscle flap and mediastinal drainage through thoracotomy. Postoperative course was uneventful. This is the second known reported case of a successful operation for DNM with bronchial fistula.

[A report of successful surgical management of right coronary artery to right atrium fistula forming giant aneurysms at the posterior wall of the right atrium].

A 52-year-old woman was diagnosed by echocardiography to have a fistula of the right coronary artery (RCA) and the right atrium (RA). Aortography demonstrated a remarkably dilated and undulating fistulous tract originating from the region corresponding to the orifice of the normal RCA. The fistulous tract detoured to the posterior wall of the RA, and forming 2 aneurysms there, opened to the RA. A RCA of normal size originating midway of the fistulous tract was also observed. The patient was operated on under cardio-pulmonary bypass. Aortocoronary saphenous vein graft to the RCA having normal diameter was performed, and the RCA was ligated in the proximal side of the anastomosis. The orifice of the fistulous tract from the aorta was closed with a patch and the entrances into the RA were also closed by pledgetted mattress sutures. The post operative course was uneventful and the patient is now doing well without any complaints.

[A case of bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma in a 7-year-old girl].

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung presenting in childhood is extremely uncommon. A 7-year-old girl was referred to our hospital with complaint of persistent cough and abnormal shadow on the chest roentgenogram. Bronchoscopic biopsy revealed a bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma and a left pneumonectomy was performed. The histopathological examination revealed intermediate grade malignancy without any metastasis in mediastinal lymph nodes. She is now doing well without any evidence of recurrence 2 years after the operation.

[A coronary aneurysm of left main trunk associated with localized dissecting aneurysms of thoracic and abdominal aorta].

A 47-year-old man who had undergone surgery of a dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm was admitted for a localized, dissecting abdominal aortic aneurysm. Preoperative coronary arteriogram incidentally showed a coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) of the left main trunk. Prior to the operation for abdominal aortic aneurysm, that for the CAA was performed under standard cardiopulmonary bypass conditions with antegrade and retrograde coronary sinus cold blood cardioplegia. A longitudinal incision of the aneurysmal wall was made for the removal of a small thrombus and, the ostia of the left anterior descending artery (LAD), circumflex artery (LCX), intermediate artery (IM) and main trunk were closed from the inside of the aneurysm. The aneurysmal wall was closed without resection of the whole aneurysm. Finally, coronary artery bypass grafting to LAD, LCX and IM was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful with patency of all grafts. The retrograde coronary sinus cardioplagia is effective to prevent thromboembolism of distal coronary arteries due to the antegrade cardioplagia.

[The evaluation of pre and intraoperative factors influencing the false lumen after graft replacement surgery to the extended dissecting aneurysm].

We evaluated the residual false lumen of type I and IIIb dissecting aneurysm by CT, MRI and angiography postoperatively. The 19 patients with type I dissecting aneurysm were included eleven men and eight women, the average age was 55.8 +/- 10.2 years old. The 20 patients with type IIIb dissecting aneurysm were included sixteen men and four women, the average age was 56.2 +/- 8.5 years old. The rate of distal patent false lumen was 52.6% of type I and 35% of type IIIb dissecting aneurysm after graft replacement surgery. In type I dissecting aneurysm, the rate of distal patent false lumen was 40% of acute stage vs 66.7% of chronic stage, 66.7% of ascending and partial arch replacement vs 46.2% of ascending and total arch replacement, and 90% of graft inclusion technique vs 11.1% of graft exclusion technique. The distal patent false lumen was the lowest (12.5%) with type I dissecting aneurysm of ascending and total arch replacement using graft exclusion technique. In type IIIb dissecting aneurysm, the rate of patent false lumen was 66.7% of acute stage vs 29.4% of chronic stage, 30% of graft exclusion technique vs 40% of graft inclusion technique. The size of false lumen preoperatively were larger (11.1 +/- 4.5 cm2) in patients with distal patent false lumen than that (6.7 +/- 3.2 cm2) of in patients with distal occlusive false lumen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Total aortic arch graft replacement using a prosthetic graft with three branches for acute type A aortic dissection].

Between March 1991 and August 1991, six consecutive patients underwent the replacement of the both ascending aorta and total aortic arch using a prosthetic graft with three branches for acute type A aortic dissection involving the aortic arch. Preoperative complications included cardiac tamponade in 5 cases, aortic regurgitation in 2, and shock state in 3. All operations were performed with the aid of extracorporeal circulation, selective cerebral perfusion, and open aortic anastomosis within 3 days after the onset. One patient died of rupture of the aortic anastomosis secondary to mediastinitis two weeks after the operation. All patients gained their own consciousness after the operation without any serious cerebral complications. The present data suggest that acute type A aortic dissection involving the aortic arch could be treated by replacing both the ascending aorta and aortic arch using a prosthetic graft with three branches with an aid of the extracorporeal circulation, selective cerebral perfusion and open distal anastomosis.