Early Transfusion of Convalescent Plasma Improves the Clinical Outcome in Severe SARS-CoV2 Infection.

INTRODUCTION: Plasma harvested from convalescent COVID-19 patients (CCP) has been applied as first-line therapy in the early phase of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic through clinical studies using various protocols. METHODS: We present data from a cohort of 267 hospitalized severe COVID-19 patients who received CCP. No transfusion-related complications were reported, indicating the overall safety of CCP therapy. RESULTS: Patients who eventually died from COVID-19 received CCP significantly later (3.95 versus 5.22 days after hospital admission) and had higher interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels (28.9 pg/ml versus 102.5 pg/ml) than those who survived. In addition, CCP transfusion caused a significant reduction in the overall inflammatory status of the patients regardless of the severity of disease or outcome, as evidenced by decreasing C-reactive protein, IL6 and ferritin levels. CONCLUSION: We conclude that CCP transfusion is a safe and effective supplementary treatment modality for hospitalized COVID-19 patients characterized by better expected outcome if applied as early as possible. We also observed that IL-6 may be a suitable laboratory parameter for patient selection and monitoring of CCP therapy effectiveness.

Extracorporeal Cytokine Removal in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: A Case Series.

Introduction: Extracorporeal hemoadsorption (HA) is a potential adjunctive therapy in severe cases of COVID-19 associated pneumonia. In this retrospective study we report data from critically ill patients treated with HA during the first and second wave of the pandemic. Patients and Methods: All patients, who received HA therapy with CytoSorb within the first 96 h of intensive care unit (ICU) admission without hospital-acquired bacterial superinfection, were included. Clinical and laboratory data were collected: on admission, before (TB) and after (TA) HA therapy. Results: Out of the 367 COVID-19 cases, 13 patients were treated with CytoSorb, also requiring mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy. All patients were alive at the end of HA, but only 3 survived hospital stay. From TB-TA there was a tendency of decreasing norepinephrine requirement: 193.7 [IQR: 34.8-270.4] to 50.2 [6.5-243.5] ug/kg/day and increasing PaO2/FiO2 ratio 127.8 (95% CI: 96.0-159.6) to 155.0 (115.3-194.6) mmHg but they did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.14 and 0.58, respectively). Treatment related adverse events were not reported. Conclusion: The treatment was well-tolerated, and there was a tendency toward an improvement in vasopressor need and oxygenation during the course of HA. These observations render the need for prospective randomized trials.

Case report of Actinomyces turicensis meningitis as a complication of purulent mastoiditis.

BACKGROUND: Central nervous system (CNS) infections caused by Actinomyces spp. including brain abscess, actinomycoma, subdural empyema and epidural abscess are well described, however reports of Actinomyces-associated meningitis are scarcely reported. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 43-year-old Hungarian male patient with poor socioeconomic status who developed acute bacterial meningitis caused by Actinomyces turicensis originating from the left side mastoiditis. The bacterial cultures of both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and purulent discharge collected during the mastoid surgery showed slow growing Gram-positive rods that were identified by automated systems (API, VITEK) as A. turicensis The bacterial identification was confirmed by 16S rRNA PCR and subsequent nucleic acid sequencing. No bacterial growth was detected in blood culture bottles after 5 days of incubation. Hence, multiple antibacterial treatments and surgical intervention the patient passed away. CONCLUSIONS: Anaerobes are rarely involved in CNS infections therefore anaerobic culture of CSF samples is routinely not performed. However, anaerobic bacteria should be considered as potential pathogens when certain risk factors are present, such as paranasal sinusitis, mastoiditis in patients with poor socioeconomic condition. To the best of our knowledge, our case report is the first description of A. turicensis meningitis that has been diagnosed as consequence of purulent mastoiditis.

Magnetic Twin Stent for Short-Term Palliation of Acquired Nonmalignant Tracheoesophageal Fistula.

Through a tracheostomy with a rigid esophagoscope in the esophagus, the authors simultaneously placed self-made magnetic twin stents in a critically ill patient with high tracheoesophageal fistula. The operation took 17 minutes. Oral nutrition was started immediately. The stents were checked and changed after the months 3, 7, and 14. At 18 months, a tracheal resection and esophageal reconstruction through a partial median sternotomy was completed successfully. The magnetic twin stent technique can temporize critically ill patients with an acquired nonmalignant tracheoesophageal fistula until they become operable.

Estimation of the severity of breathlessness in the emergency department: a dyspnea score.

BACKGROUND: Dyspnea is a frequent complaint in emergency departments (ED). It has a significant amount of subjective and affective components, therefore the dyspnea scores, based on the patients' rating, can be ambiguous. Our purpose was to develop and validate a simple scoring system to evaluate the severity of dyspnea in emergency care, based on objectively measured parameters. METHODS: We performed a double center, prospective, observational study including 350 patients who were admitted in EDs with dyspnea. We evaluated the patients' subjective feeling about dyspnea and applied our Dyspnea Severity Score (DSS), rating the dyspnea in 7 Dimensions from 0 to 3 points. The DSS was validated using the deterioration of pH, base-excess and lactate levels in the blood gas samples (Objective Classification Scale (OCS) 9 points and 13 points groups). RESULTS: All of the Dimensions correlated closely with the OCS values and with the subjective feeling of the dyspnea. Using multiple linear regression analysis we were able to decrease the numbers of Dimensions from seven to four without causing a significant change in the determination coefficient in any OCS groups. This reduced DSS values (exercise tolerance, cooperation, cyanosis, SpO2 value) showed high sensitivity and specificity to predict the values of OCS groups (the ranges: AUC 0.77-0.99, sensitivity 65-100%, specificity 64-99%). There was a close correlation between the subjective dyspnea scores and the OCS point values (p < 0.001), though the scatter was very large. CONCLUSIONS: A new DSS was validated which score is suitable to compare the severity of dyspnea among different patients and different illnesses. The simplified version of the score (its value ≥7 points without correction factors) can be useful at the triage or in pre-hospital care.

Endoscopic transluminal pancreatic necrosectomy using a self-expanding metal stent and high-flow water-jet system.

Walled-off pancreatic necrosis and a pancreatic abscess are the most severe complications of acute pancreatitis. Surgery in such critically ill patients is often associated with significant morbidity and mortality within the first few weeks after the onset of symptoms. Minimal invasive approaches with high success and low mortality rates are therefore of considerable interest. Endoscopic therapy has the potential to offer safe and effective alternative treatment. We report here on 3 consecutive patients with infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis and 1 patient with a pancreatic abscess who underwent direct endoscopic necrosectomy 19-21 d after the onset of acute pancreatitis. The infected pancreatic necrosis or abscess was punctured transluminally with a cystostome and, after balloon dilatation, a non-covered self-expanding biliary metal stent was placed into the necrotic cavity. Following stent deployment, a nasobiliary pigtail catheter was placed into the cavity to ensure continuous irrigation. After 5-7 d, the metal stent was removed endoscopically and the necrotic cavity was entered with a therapeutic gastroscope. Endoscopic debridement was performed via the simultaneous application of a high-flow water-jet system; using a flush knife, a Dormia basket, and hot biopsy forceps. The transluminal endotherapy was repeated 2-5 times daily during the next 10 d. Supportive care included parenteral antibiotics and jejunal feeding. All patients improved dramatically and with resolution of their septic conditions; 3 patients were completely cured without any further complications or the need for surgery. One patient died from a complication of prolonged ventilation severe bilateral pneumonia, not related to the endoscopic procedure. No procedure related complications were observed. Transluminal endoscopic necrosectomy with temporary application of a self-expanding metal stent and a high-flow water-jet system shows promise for enhancing the potential of this endoscopic approach in patients with walled-off pancreatic necrosis and/or a pancreatic abscess.

Sexual function after modified laparoscopic Vecchietti's vaginoplasty.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To report on minor modification of laparoscopic Vecchietti vaginoplasty and to examine the quality of sexual life after the operation. DESIGN: A retrospective study to examine the role of minor modification during laparoscopic Vecchietti operation to prevent injuries and to evaluate the sexual function of patients with neovagina. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pécs, Faculty of Medicine, a tertiary supply center in Hungary. PATICIPANTS: Twenty-three adolescents or young adults, ages 16 to 26 with vaginal agenesis (Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome) were operated. Twenty-five sexually active patients with matched age served as controls. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopic Vecchietti operation was modified with the use of endovaginal ultrasound transducer to visualize the narrow vesico-rectal space. The quality of sexual life 2-11 years after the operation was measured by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Complications occurring during operations; desire, arousal, orgasm, satisfaction, lubrication, and pain during sexual intercourse. RESULTS: The technical modification of the operation, with endovaginal transducer, improved the method. Serious injuries of the bladder or rectum could be avoided. Anatomic and functional results shown by the total FSFI scores did not differ from that of the control group. Desire, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction of the operated patients were similar to controls; however, patients with neovagina tended to have less lubrication and more pain during sexual intercourse. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic Vecchietti operation modified by the use of endovaginal transducer is a safe procedure to create a neovagina, which guarantees good quality of sexual life with high satisfaction for patients.

[Liver failure a la Eastern Europe]. / Májelégtelenség kelet-európai módra.

The use of valeriana was underplayed at the beginning of the 20th century because of its addictive and side effects. The 38-year-old woman, mother of a 20-month-old child from Eastern Europe, was treated with liver insufficiency and vascular, parenchymal decompensated cirrhosis needing plasmapheresis for the first time in our hospital. In case history, abusus of aethyl-alcohol and valeriana was found to be as toxic agent which was treated as the etiologic factor of the liver disease and liver failure. After intensive and conservative treatment her status was stabilised, during the follow-up she had no signs and symptoms, the laboratory results tend to be in normal range. Half year after her hospitalization intensive care treatment was necessary abroad due to gastric bleeding. In the background the histology of gastric biopsy taken during gastroscopic examination showed gastric sigillocellular carcinoma in our hospital. Total gastrectomy, omentectomy, lymphadenectomy were performed, the tumor was removed and she received cytostatic treatment. The use of valeriana and aethyl-alcohol is supposed to have a potential effect on tumorgenesis and on the increase of toxicity.

[Celiac artery compression syndrome--stepchild of abdominal angina?]. / A truncus coeliacus kompressziós szindróma--a hasi angina "mostohagyermeke"?

BACKGROUND: Celiac trunk compression in few percentages of the cases can cause chronic abdominal pain that shows no connection with eating. CASE REPORT: Detailed preoperative examinations showed significant, segmental stenosis of the celiac trunk, caused by outer compression of a tendonous arc of diaphragm, in the background of abdominal pain and mesenteric ischemia of a 58-year-old woman. After preparation we have executed the surgery by removing a tight ring, located at around 8-10 mm from the origin of trifurcation, and a part of the celiac ganglion. The patient was dismissed from our hospital 6 days after surgery in good general condition. DISCUSSION: The abdominal pain can normally be the consequence of mesenteric ischemia. The root cause in most of the cases is the alteration of the particular artery. The outer compression is normally responsible only for a few percentages of the cases. In our case the problem was caused by a stronger tendonous part of the aortic hiatus. The first sign of this during the examination was a recognisable noise over the artery, which was caused by the poststenotic turbulent flow. Detailed radiological examinations executed based on this indeed proved this malfunction. CONCLUSION: In case of unidentified abdominal pain we have to consider the possibility of the stenosis of the celiac trunk. By our case study we would like to call the attention to the importance of the auscultation over the abdomen, which is a relevant part of the basic physical examinations. When getting to the final diagnosis, apart from the duplex doppler sonography, we also used the results of angiography. The essence of the surgery was to get rid of the outer compression of the artery, which has to be done as soon as possible in order to avoid that compression causes degeneration of the artery itself.

[Malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor arising in a duodenal diverticulum]. / Duodenum-diverticulumban kialakult gastrointestinalis stromalis tumor.

Malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor arising in a duodenal diverticulum. The authors describe the case of a 74-year-old male patient who was operated on for a GIST found in a large duodenal diverticulum, co-using gastrointestinal bleeding. This diverticulum--including the tumor--was removed by resection the distal part of the stomach and proximal third of duodenum. The histology revealed malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). 6 months after the operation he remained tumor free according to the control examinations. On the basis of new pathologic classification we summarise the signs, the diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities and the histologic characteristics of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

[Dilemmas arising from surgical treatment of epiphrenic diverticulum]. / Az epiphrenalis nyelocso-diverticulum sebészi kezelésének dilemmái.

INTRODUCTION: Epiphrenic diverticulum cannot be considered a primary anatomical alteration, there is a manometrically verifiable motility disturbance in the background. OBJECTIVES: To determine the place, type and time of surgical solution in the treatment. PATIENTS: Between 1999 and 2004 seven patients were treated for epiphrenic diverticulum causing complaints. Average age was 61 years, and the leading symptom was dysphagia and regurgitation. Motility abnormalities characteristic of achalasia in four cases, hypertensive LES in three cases, and incompetent and normal LES, and diffuse esophageal spasm in one patient each could be revealed. The size of diverticuli varied between 5-9 cm. RESULTS: In four cases transthoracic diverticulectomy myotomy and partial antireflux plasty, in two cases esophagus resection, and in the case of one patient myotomy and fundoplication was performed. In the removed diverticuli an ulcer and a malignant transformation in one case each was detected. No major complications could be observed. Six patients are completely satisfied with the operation, only one reported well tolerable occasional regurgitations. CONCLUSION: Even in the era of minimal invasive surgery the traditionally performed, combined - diverticulectomy, myotomy, fundoplication - operative solution should be considered the gold standard. Surgical intervention is justified even for accidentally discovered symptomless patients, due to the considerable potential complications of the disease.

[Considerations in the surgical treatment of enterogenic mediastinal cyst]. / Mediastinalis enterogen cysta sebészi kezelésének dilemmái.

INTRODUCTION: Mediastinal alterations causing esophageal dysfunctions originate from malignant or inflammatory diseases and in a few cases from congenital anomalies. CASE REPORT: The authors report the medical history of a 27-year-old woman whose large (35-40 mm in diameter) cystic lesion was causing compression of the middle third esophagus and dysphagia. Because of subjective complaints resection was made from a right posterolateral "muscle-preserving" thoracotomy. Histological examination verified an intramural, esophageal cyst. After the 7th postoperative day the patient was discharged from the hospital, currently she is without symptoms and complaints. DISCUSSION: In the background of esophageal dysfunctions can be a mediastinal lesion causing external compression. This lesion, in a few cases, is a congenital anomaly, which develops during the separation of the respiratory- and the digestive apparatus. Probably the effect of increased divisional tendency can create the partial duplication of developing organs, i.e. trachea, esophagus. Later these are described as bronchogenic or enterogenic cysts. Literature mentions cases about ciliated columnal epithelium, ventricular mucosa or malignancy covering the inner surface of the cyst. Preoperative examinations are not enough to describe a mediastinal cyst. According to the surgical guidelines a case without complaints is only a relative indication to operate. If it is followed, an occasional malignant transformation will not be recognized, or will be recognized too late. CONCLUSION: As we know, a mediastinal cystic lesion never regresses. Because of the tendency of malignant transformation, in the absence of operative contraindication, surgical resection is the method of choice even in symptom-free cases.