Computed Tomography-Guided Placement of Sacral Electrodes.

BACKGROUND: The current approach to performing sacral neuromodulation consists of a two-stage procedure, the first of which includes insertion of the sacral electrode under fluoroscopic visualization of the S3 foramen. Alternatively, in certain situations computed tomography (CT)-guided insertion can be used. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the use of CT in cases of reinsertion of the electrode due to infection, dislocation, or rupture. METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent neuromodulation device reinsertion between 2005 and 2016 for fecal incontinence were reviewed. Study outcomes included procedure course, successful placement, and long-term treatment success. RESULTS: During the study period, we inserted a neuromodulation device in 67 patients. A CT-guided insertion of a sacral electrode was performed in 10 patients. In nine patients, the insertion and the final location of the electrode were successful. In one patient, the electrode migrated upward due to a malformation of the S3 foramen on both sides and had to be placed in S4. In a mean follow-up of 68.4 ± 30.0 months following the re-insertion, there was a significant reduction in the number of incontinence episodes per day (P < 0.001) and the number of pads used per day (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: CT-guided insertion of a sacral electrode is a safe and promising option, especially in recurrent and or selected cases.

Histiocytic Sarcoma

BACKGROUND: Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare hematopoietic malignancy originating from the monocyte/macrophage bone marrow lineage. HS can occur in isolation or in association with other hematological neoplasms such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), myelodysplasia, or acute leukemia. Clinically, HS can affect lymph nodes, gastrointestinal tract, skin, bone marrow, and spleen as well as the central nervous system. Most cases of HS follow an aggressive clinical course, with most patients dying of progressive disease within one year of diagnosis.

Visceral adiposity but not subcutaneous fat associated with improved outcome of patients with acute cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study to study the effect of visceral and subcutaneous fat tissue mass on short- and long-term prognosis of patients with acute calculus cholecystitis (ACC). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of medical records. Included were all patients admitted because of ACC. Computed tomography images at the level of L3 were analyzed for body composition using designated software (Slice-O-matic; TomoVision, Montreal, Quebec, Canada). General linear model was used to analyze the effect of body composition on length of hospital stay, and Cox regression analysis was used to ascertain the effect of the different parameters on 1-y survival. RESULTS: Included were 159 patients (mean age: 71.7 ± 15.8 y, 54.7% males). Fat was the most abundant tissue (401 ± 175 cm2 of the computed tomography slices surface area), and visceral fat was 45.8 ± 14.1% of the fat area measured. Using the general linear model, we found that American Society of Anesthesiologists score, disease severity index, and age were positively associated with higher length of stay, whereas high visceral fat was associated with lower length of stay (estimated marginal means at 7.4 ± 1.4 d compared to 12.7 ± 1.4 d among patients with lower visceral fat surface area, P = 0.010). The Cox regression model showed that 1-y survival risk was significantly reduced by age, the Charlson Comorbidity Index and high muscle mass. High visceral adiposity was associated with improved survival (odds ratio: 0.216, 95% confidence interval: 0.064-0.724, P = 0.013). Subcutaneous adiposity did not affect prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Visceral adiposity is associated with shorter length of stay and improved 1-y survival among patients hospitalized with ACC.

Correct depth of insertion of right internal jugular central venous catheters based on external landmarks: avoiding the right atrium.

OBJECTIVE: Radiographically, a central venous catheter (CVC) tip should lie at the level of the right tracheobronchial angle. Precalculation of length of CVC insertion may avoid unnecessary catheter malposition. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of a method of CVC positioning, based on external topographic landmarks. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized study. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital, single institution. PARTICIPANTS: Patients scheduled for surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were allocated for insertion of the catheter through the right internal jugular vein to either a fixed, predetermined, 15-cm length (n = 50) or to a depth calculated topographically (n = 50) by drawing a line from the level of the thyroid notch to the sternal manubrium. The catheter was repositioned if its tip was situated >5 cm above the carina or >1 cm below it. The distance from the catheter tip to the carina was measured. The main study endpoint was the need for catheter repositioning. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Two percent of patients required repositioning in the topographic group compared with 78% in the 15-cm length group (p < 0.001). No patient in the topographic group and 10 patients (20%) in the 15-cm group had the catheter placed in the right atrium (p < 0.05). The mean distance from the CVC tip to the carina was 2.9 +/- 1.4 cm above the carina in the topographic group and 1.9 +/- 1.1 cm below the carina in the 15-cm length group (p < 0.001). No patient had a too proximally placed catheter. Insertion lengths in the topographic group ranged between 9 and 12.5 cm. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended to use the topographic approach in deciding CVC depth with right internal jugular CVC placement.

Leiomyosarcoma of the superior vena cava: Resection with vascular reconstruction - case report and review of the literature.

The present report describes a case of pedunculated intraluminal leiomyosarcoma of the superior vena cava, extending to the right atrium, that was successfully resected surgically. Superior vena cava reconstruction was performed using bovine pericardial graft, saving the sinus node. The pathological variants of this neoplasm according to the anatomical site of the tumour are described.