Contralateral brachial arterial access for endovascular treatment of recurrent axillofemoral bypass graft stump syndrome: A case report.

Axillofemoral bypass graft stump syndrome is an uncommon complication of axillofemoral bypass graft surgery. The traditional treatment is open surgical repair; however, endovascular recanalization can be achieved. Interventional treatment by approaching the brachial artery contralateral to the lesion site has rarely been reported in acute upper extremity ischemia. We report a case of recanalization through the left brachial artery due to embolic occlusion of the right brachial and axillary arteries and suspected axillofemoral bypass graft stump syndrome in a 71-year-old man. Access through the common femoral artery was impossible because the patient underwent reoperation of the left axillofemoral bypass and femorofemoral bypass due to occlusion of the right axillofemoral bypass and femorofemoral bypass surgery. Furthermore, bilateral radial arteries were occluded, allowing access to the left brachial artery. Two self-expandable stents were inserted into the occlusion of the right brachial and axillary arteries, and the stump area was covered. Aspiration thrombectomy was performed for embolism in the ulnar artery. Axillofemoral bypass graft stump syndrome can also be treated with interventional management. If access to the bilateral common femoral and radial arteries is not possible, an upper extremity arterial procedure through the contralateral brachial artery may be considered in cases of steno-occlusion of the upper extremities.

The clinical usefulness of chemokine C-X-C Motif Ligand 12 as a diagnostic marker for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer worldwide. It is essential to develop methods for the accurate diagnosis of PTC to avoid unnecessary surgery. The chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 12 (CXCL12) is associated with various cancers. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of CXCL12 in the diagnosis of PTC in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens. METHODS: We prospectively collected samples from 58 patients who were scheduled for surgical treatment of PTC from 2013 to 2015. Tissue samples of 31 people with benign thyroid conditions were used as controls. Immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical staining for CXCL12 was performed on FNAs and corresponding tissue specimens. B-type Raf kinase (BRAF) V600E mutant protein expression and gene mutation were also analyzed to compare the clinical usefulness. RESULTS: : The mean age of the patients was 49.1 ± 1.4 years and 88.1% were women. Positive CXCL12 staining was observed in 6.5% of benign and in 98.3% of PTC samples; positive BRAF V600E mutant protein expression was found in 19.4% of benign and 93.1% of PTC samples. For the diagnosis of PTC for CXCL12 staining of FNA specimens, the calculated values were 93.1% sensitivity, 90.3% specificity, 94.7% positive predictive value, 87.5% negative predictive value, and 89.1% accuracy. CXCL12 had 100% sensitivity and specificity for the 12 cases of atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) diagnosed in FNA specimens. CONCLUSIONS: CXCL12 may be a useful diagnostic tool for PTC, especially when the FNA specimen is classified as AUS.

Risk Factors Associated with Difficult Reversal of Heparin by Protamine Sulfate in Cardiopulmonary Bypass: An Ignored Issue.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors associated with difficult heparin reversal by protamine after cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Data from 120 consecutive patients who underwent open heart surgery from 2009 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) those in whom complete heparin reversal was achieved after a single infusion of protamine (group A, n=89); and (2) those who required more protamine for heparin reversal (group B, n=31). RESULTS: Female sex, prolonged bypass time (>200 min), long aortic cross-clamping time (>120 min), and a lowest rectal temperature <26°C were significant predictors of difficult heparin reversal. Larger amounts of fresh frozen plasma and platelet concentrate were transfused in group B than in group A. CONCLUSION: Surgeons' efforts to reduce operative time and avoid deep hypothermia may be helpful for increasing the likelihood of easy heparin reversal, especially in female patients.

Clinical Value of Intraoperative Flow Measurements of Brachiocephalic Arteriovenous Fistulas for Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical outcomes of autogenous brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas and to investigate the factors associated with 1-year patency after initiation of hemodialysis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 41 patients who underwent surgery to create an autogenous brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistula between January 2015 and December 2017, received hemodialysis at the same hospital for longer than 1 year, and were monitored for their vascular access status. Intraoperative flow was measured using transit-time ultrasonography. RESULTS: The 1-year primary and secondary patency rates were 61% (n=25) and 87.8% (n=36), respectively. The functional group (subjects who required no intervention to maintain patency within the first year after hemodialysis initiation) displayed a significantly higher median intraoperative flow rate (450 mL/min) than the non-functional group (subjects who required intervention at least once regardless of 1-year patency) (275 mL/min) (p=0.038). Based on a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, all patients were additionally subdivided into a high-flow group (>240 mL/min) and a low-flow group (≤240 mL/min). The high-flow group included a significantly greater number of functional brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas than the low-flow group (74.2% vs. 20%, respectively; p=0.007). CONCLUSION: Transit-time flow, as measured with intraoperative transit-time ultrasonography, was associated with patency without the need for intervention at 1 year after initiation of hemodialysis.

Cardiac Autotransplantation with Concurrent Pneumonectomy for Complete Resection of Primary Cardiac Intimal Sarcoma.

Primary cardiac sarcoma is rare, and intimal sarcoma is an extremely rare and highly lethal disease. We report a case of a 62-year-old woman who was incidentally diagnosed with a primary cardiac sarcoma originating from the left atrial appendage and extending to the left superior pulmonary vein. The location of the tumor was very complicated, posing a major challenge for complete resection. We successfully performed complete resection of the cardiac sarcoma via cardiac autotransplantation with left pneumonectomy. The patient recovered uneventfully, without any adjuvant therapy as of 6 months postoperatively. Autotransplantation of the heart may be suggested as a reasonable surgical option for extensive left atrial tumors.

Bronchogenic cysts mimicking thymoma in the anterior mediastinum.

Bronchogenic cysts are commonly located in the middle mediastinal compartment as fluid-filled cysts and thymoma is one of the most common neoplasms in the anterior mediastinum in adult cases. For two cases of asymptomatic, incidentally discovered anterior mediastinal soft tissue mass in adults, we planned to perform complete thymectomy with minimally invasive techniques based on the guidelines of International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group. Their pathological finding revealed cystic lesions lined by ciliated epithelium and this supported the diagnosis of bronchogenic cyst rather than thymic neoplasm. We report the two cases of resected bronchogenic cysts which were in the unusual location of anterior mediastinum with uncommon radiological feature.

Unusual aetiology of lymphocyte-predominant exudative pleural effusion: primary mediastinal actinomycosis.

Actinomycosis is a rare infectious bacterial disease typically involving cervicofacial, abdominopelvic, or thoracic regions, caused by Actinomyces species. However, involvement of the mediastinum as the primary site of origin is extremely rare. An elderly patient complained of left-sided chest pain. The chest radiograph revealed pleural effusion, which revealed lymphocyte-predominant exudates. Chest computed tomography showed a soft tissue mass in the left anterior mediastinum. Positron emission tomography revealed an increased uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose in this lesion. To exclude malignancy and make a confirmative diagnosis, a mediastinal biopsy was performed through video-assisted thoracic surgery. Finally, mediastinal actinomycosis was diagnosed. We report herein a case of mediastinal actinomycosis mimicking lung malignancy presented with recurrent lymphocyte-predominant pleural fluid exudate. In patients with a recurrent or unexplained exudative pleural effusion, it may be worthwhile to consider a hidden foci of actinomycosis.

Selective Shunting Based on Dual Monitoring with Electroencephalography and Stump Pressure for Carotid Endarterectomy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to analyze postoperative outcomes for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in addition to the preoperative clinical characteristics related to selective shunting based on dual monitoring with stump pressure (SP) and electroencephalography (EEG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 70 patients who underwent CEA from March 2010 to December 2017. CEA was performed under general anesthesia and selective shunting was done if the SP was lower than 35 mmHg regardless of EEG or if intraoperative EEG showed any changes different from preoperative one regardless of SP. RESULTS: There was no postoperative 30-day adjusted mortality or adverse cardiac events. Three patients (4.3%) had postoperative minor stroke finally reaching pre-operative neurologic status at the time of discharge. Twenty-six patients (37.1%) used shunting and severe contralateral internal carotid stenosis or occlusion was related to shunting (P<0.010). There were larger number of symptomatic patients in shunt group in spite of no statistical significance (P=0.116). CONCLUSION: Perioperative stroke rate was 4.3% for CEA under general anesthesia based on dual intraoperative monitoring with SP and EEG. There was no 30-day adjusted mortality and adverse cardiac event. Severe stenosis or occlusion of contralateral internal carotid artery is related to shunting (P<0.010).

Dual Monitoring with Stump Pressure and Electroencephalography During Carotid Endarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative monitoring during carotid endarterectomy is crucial for cerebral protection. We investigated the results of carotid endarterectomy under dual monitoring with stump pressure and electroencephalography. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 50 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy between March 2010 and February 2016. We inserted a temporary shunt if the stump pressure was lower than 35 mm Hg or if any intraoperative change was observed on electroencephalography. RESULTS: Seventeen (34%) patients used a temporary shunt, and the mean stump pressure was 26.8 mm Hg in the shunt group and 46.5 mm Hg in the non-shunt group. No postoperative mortality or bleeding occurred. Postoperatively, there were 3 cases (6%) of minor stroke, all of which took place in the shunt group. A comparison of the preoperative and the intraoperative characteristics of the shunt group with those of the non-shunt group revealed no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (p <0.01). CONCLUSION: Dual monitoring with stump pressure and electroencephalography was found to be a safe and reliable monitoring method with results comparable to those obtained using single monitoring. Further study should be performed to investigate the precise role of each monitoring method.

Delayed aortic rupture resulting from postoperative superficial sternal wound infection.

While deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) after cardiac surgery is a significant contributor to patient morbidity and mortality, superficial sternal wound infection (SSWI) mostly has a benign course. We report a mortality case of aortic rupture resulting from SSWI after cardiac surgery. A 50-year-old male underwent an aortic valve replacement (AVR). Three months after the valve operation, he presented with severe dyspnea, which had never before been observed, and chest computed tomography revealed an ascending aortic rupture with large hematoma compressing the main pulmonary artery. We performed an emergent operation for aortic rupture that possibly originated from the SSWI. Postoperatively, the patient died of hypovolemic shock due to recurrent aortic rupture despite efforts to resuscitate him.

Bilateral chylothorax after transsternal total thymectomy: resolution with short period of fasting and total parenteral nutrition.

Bilateral chylothorax after transsternal total thymectomy is very rare, but can be a serious complication. Disruption of minor lymphatic channels in the anterior mediastinum which is remote from thoracic duct is considered to be the cause of chylothorax. We report the case of bilateral chylothorax followed by thymectomy which was treated with pleural drainage, total parenteral nutrition, and fasting without octreotide injection.

Unusual Presentation of a Cervical Mass Revealed as External Jugular Venous Aneurysm.

Venous aneurysms of the jugular vein are one of the rare causes of neck swelling, and primary venous aneurysms of the external jugular vein are extremely rare. A 46-year-old woman presented with a painless and suddenly growing mass in the left neck. A computed tomography angiography revealed a fusiform venous aneurysm of the external jugular vein containing intraluminal thrombus. We performed resection of the aneurysm and ligation of the external jugular vein. Removal of the aneurysm of the neck vein was necessary because venous aneurysms with thrombosis may lead to serious thrombotic complications such as pulmonary embolism.

Ectopic Pancreas Presenting as a Solid Mediastinal Mass.

Ectopic pancreas is a well-known developmental anomaly found in approximately 2% of all autopsies, frequently in the gastrointestinal tract. Mediastinal pancreatic ectopia is very rare; only a few cases have been described in the English-language literature. According to previous reports, the pancreatic tissue is detected in the cyst wall or appears as small solid components of cystic masses within the anterior mediastinum. In this report, we present a case of ectopic pancreas appearing as a large solid mass in the anterior mediastinum of a 17-year-old male patient.

Arteriovenous fistula stent infection diagnosed with radiolabelled leucocyte scintigraphy.

Infectious complications of haemodialysis in patients with arteriovenous fistula stent are rare. In addition, patients with low-grade infection are more difficult to diagnose. Here, we report the first case of low-grade infection of an arteriovenous fistula stent diagnosed using (99m)Tc-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO)-labelled leucocyte scintigraphy. A 62-year-old man with end-stage renal disease was referred for prolonged fever. We performed (99m)Tc-HMPAO-labelled leucocyte scintigraphy following a work-up according to fever of unknown origin. A focal uptake on the left forearm compatible with the arteriovenous fistula stent insertion site was shown, and the stent was removed. (99m)Tc-HMPAO-labelled leucocyte scintigraphy could be a suitable method for assessing vascular stent infection in low-grade fever.

Acute pneumonitis consequent on pleurodesis with Viscum album extract: severe chest images but benign clinical course.

Chemical pleurodesis is widely recommended in the treatment of pulmonary air leak of different etiologies as well as malignant pleural effusions and chylothorax. Conventional chemical pleurodesis using erythromycin, tetracycline, hydrophilic fumed silica, autologous blood and talc slurry has been standardized, and its complications, including high fever, intractable chest pain, and acute lung injury, seem to be frequent. Viscum album extract is a new chemical agent for pleurodesis, and only a few studies have reported outcomes of such chemical pleurodesis in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion. Moreover, the complications resulting from pleurodesis using Viscum album extract are very rare, and acute pneumonitis has not been reported. in this paper we report the first case of acute pneumonitis after pleurodesis using Viscum album extract in a 58-year-old man who had prolonged air leaks after a left upper lingularsegmentectomy for metastatic lung cancer. We performed repeated pleurodesis four times with 2 to 4 days intervals. While the patient had no symptoms of pneumonia, such as cough, sputum, chilling, and fatigue, a follow-up chest X-ray revealed increasing peribronchial consolidations and infiltrations in the left upper lobe. A chest tomography showed extensive parenchymal consolidations and ground-glass appearances in the left lungs, representing pneumonia with acute lung injury. The acute pneumonitis was spontaneously resolved with supportive care, and the patient was discharged ten days after the development of pneumonitis. We think that pleurodesis with Viscum album extract is effective, but repeated pleurodesis should be avoided for possible onset of acute pneumonitis.

A giant popliteal artery aneurysm treated with exclusion and bypass using a saphenous vein.

While popliteal artery aneurysm is the most common form of peripheral artery aneurysm, it is a rare condition in the general population. Furthermore, a giant popliteal artery aneurysm has not previously been reported in Korea. A 67-year-old male presented with left thigh pain that had begun 4 months earlier and was aggravated when in a sitting position. We found a giant aneurysm on the left popliteal artery and performed a bypass from the common femoral artery to the distal popliteal artery below the knee, using the autologous greater saphenous vein, and excluded the aneurysm at the sites of anastomoses.

Cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery: resection and repair with autologous vein patch.

Cystic adventitial disease is rare, but it is one of the well-recognized causes of non-atherosclerotic arterial stenosis or obstruction. Despite one of its most common symptoms being chronic intermittent claudication, it may be misdiagnosed as arterial embolism when presented with acute ischemic symptoms. Surgical resection is recommended because of recurrence or a low success rate with aspiration or endovascular stent. We performed resection and repair with autologous vein patch for cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery of a 57-year-old man presenting with pain, pallor, and paresthesia, without any postoperative complications or recurrence.

Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor of the anterior mediastinum.

Calcifying fibrous pseudotumors are rare soft-tissue lesions pathologically characterized by hyalinized collagen, psammomatous or dystrophic calcification, and lympho-plasmacyte infiltration. They are clinically benign with an extremely low rate of recurrence and complete surgical resection is known to be the treatment of choice. We performed the resection of a calcifying fibrous pseudotumors in the anterior mediastinum without complications.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -13 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-4 in varicose veins.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between the degree of expression of matrix metalloproteinases or tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases and venous reflux remains to be investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary varicose vein tissues were obtained from 23 patients, 18 females and 5 males, aged from 19 to 73. Cephalic or basilic veins were obtained for the control group from 10 patients who underwent vascular access for maintenance hemodialysis. Two operative techniques (high ligation with stripping or endovenous laser coagulation) were used. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and 13 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-4 in the varicose vein group and control group was assessed semi-quantitatively by immunohistochemical slides stained with primary antibodies. RESULTS: Twenty (87%) of the varicose vein group patients had greater or lesser saphenous vein diseases with reflux. The focal weak (+) stain for matrix metalloproteinases-2, and 13, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-4 was dominant in the varicose vein group; the focal or diffuse strong stain (++ or +++) was prevalent in the control group. The differences were statistically significant (p<0.01). The degree of reflux and the duration of symptoms were not significantly related to the expression of MMP-13 (p=0.317 and p=0.654, respectively). CONCLUSION: Further study should be performed to investigate the relationship between the clinical characteristics related to venous hypertension or reflux and expression of MMPs and TIMP in varicose veins.