Chieko Hisamatsu

Hypoalbuminemia following Abdominal Surgery Leads to High Serum Unbound Bilirubin Concentrations in Newborns Soon after Birth

Background: The serum concentration of unbound bilirubin (UB), which is bilirubin not bound to albumin (Alb), is a better index than total bilirubin concentration (TB) for identifying infants at risk for developing bilirubin neurotoxicity. The degree to which the hypoalbuminemia following abdominal surgery in jaundiced newborns affects bilirubin binding is unknown. Objective: To determine whether lower Alb occurring in newborns undergoing abdominal surgery shortly after birth results in significantly higher UB in serum versus nonsurgical patients at comparable serum TB. Methods: A matched case-control study was conducted with term and late-preterm newborns. The surgery group included 15 newborns who underwent abdominal operation within 3 days after birth. Clinical and laboratory data (serum UB, TB, and Alb concentrations, UB/TB ratio, and binding constant) in the surgery group were collected and compared with those of 30 control newborns who did not undergo abdominal surgery (control group). Results: Serum UB and the UB/TB ratio in the surgery group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.02, p < 0.001, respectively), whereas there were no significant differences in serum TB and binding constant between the groups. Serum Alb concentrations in the surgery group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.001). When pre- and postoperative serum Alb concentrations were compared, there was a significant decrease from 3.4 to 2.7 g/dl (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study suggests that hypoalbuminemia following abdominal surgery causes a higher serum UB at comparable serum TB in newborns.

Minimally invasive innominate artery transection for tracheomalacia using 3-dimensional multidetector-row computed tomographic angiography: report of a case.

We successfully performed transection of the innominate artery in a patient with a neuromuscular disorder through minimally invasive access after confirming the anatomical relationships of the vessel using 3-dimensional multidetector-row computed tomographic angiography. A 16-year-old girl with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 had been on long-term mechanical ventilation with a tracheostomy. She had scoliosis and tracheomalacia. Bronchoscopy showed a flattened and narrow lower trachea and an anterior pulsatile compression by the innominate artery. She underwent transection of the innominate artery to prevent tracheoinnominate artery fistula formation. Based on preoperative 3-dimensional multidetector-row computed tomographic angiography images, the innominate artery was transected through a small transverse curvilinear skin incision just below the suprasternal notch and an oblique partial manubriotomy from the suprasternal notch to the first left intercostal space.

Efficacy and safety of balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration for gastric fundal varices in children

Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) is an interventional radiologic technique that obliterates gastric fundal varices (GFV) from draining veins under balloon occlusion. Few reports have described the use of B-RTO in children. Here, we report a case of B-RTO in a 2-year-old female patient with isolated huge varices in the gastric fundus associated with portal hypertension after surgery for biliary atresia. There was no complication and thrombosis of the varices was achieved. Our results demonstrate that B-RTO is an efficacious and safe treatment for children with isolated GFV.

A very low-birth-weight infant with spontaneous perforation of a choledochal cyst and adjacent pseudocyst formation

Spontaneous perforation of a choledochal cyst with ensuing pseudocyst formation is a very rare complication. We report the development of a pseudocyst adjacent to a choledochal cyst in a very low-birth-weight infant at 2 months of age. Elective excision of the choledochal cyst and biliary tract reconstruction were successfully performed 2 months later when the infant weighed 3 kg. Delayed primary repair may be a viable alternative treatment for low-birth-weight infants with choledochal cysts.

A novel technique of catheter placement with fibrin glue to prevent pericatheter leakage and to enable no break-in period in peritoneal dialysis

OBJECTIVE Pericatheter leakage is a catheter-related complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). To prevent pericatheter leakage, a modified technique of PD catheter insertion with fibrin glue was performed in 19 children. METHODS At the time of PD catheter insertion, as much fibrin glue as possible was injected into the subcutaneous tissue along the tunneled segment of the catheter and then the skin was compressed. RESULTS There was no occurrence of pericatheter leakage and full PD could be initiated 1 day (median) after implantation. CONCLUSIONS This technique prevented pericatheter leakage completely even in smaller-weight infants and will enable initiation of full PD with no break-in period.

Innominate artery compression of the trachea in patients with neurological or neuromuscular disorders

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to review and assess our surgical management of innominate artery compression of the trachea (IACT) in patients with neurological or neuromuscular disorders (NMDs). METHODS Thirty patients with NMD who underwent surgical treatment for IACT at Kobe Childrens Hospital and Kobe University Hospital from 2002 to 2012, were enrolled in this retrospective study. The clinical outcomes of preventive elective surgery for IACT (Group A, n=20) were assessed and compared with those of emergent surgery (Group B, n=10). RESULTS A total of 27 patients underwent innominate artery transection (17 in Group A and 10 in Group B), and 3 patients in Group A underwent innominate artery reimplantation using prosthetic graft interposition. No operative or early death occurred. There were no cases of postoperative mediastinitis or neurological complications. The operative benefits in Group A included a smaller skin incision, more limited sternotomy, less blood loss, shorter operative time and shorter hospital stay, compared with Group B. No blood transfusion was required in Group A. The number of patients in whom cerebral circulation was assessed before surgery in Group A was significantly higher than those in Group B. CONCLUSIONS Preventive elective surgery for IACT provides many advantages, including minimally invasive procedures and successful postoperative outcomes without neurological complications in patients with NMD. Because this surgical management can prevent the tragic occurrence of a tracheo-innominate artery fistula or an exacerbation of tracheomalacia, it would be an optimal surgical treatment for IACT to improve the quality of life in patients with NMD.

Innominate artery transection for patients with severe chest deformity: optimal indication and timing

PurposeThe innominate artery sometimes compresses the trachea, leading to tracheomalacia and highly fatal tracheoinnominate fistula in patients with severe chest deformity. This study is focused on the indication of innominate artery transection for the definitive treatment of these complications.Patients and methodsWe retrospectively analyzed the medical records of eight patients who underwent transection of innominate artery.ResultsAll patients had developed severe chest deformity and their symptoms were life-threatening anoxic spell or endotracheal hemorrhage. Bronchoscopy showed tracheomalacia with or without pulsatile granulations on the anterior wall of the trachea underlying the innominate artery. In six cases who had previously undergone tracheostomy or laryngotracheal separation, the tracheal tube tip made granulations or tracheoinnominate fistulas. In addition to transection of innominate artery, the tracheoinnominate fistula was closed in two cases and the artery was transposed in one. All patients survived without neurologic complications and airway symptoms postoperatively.ConclusionsFor patients with severe chest deformity, innominate artery transection is indicated when they have tracheal compression by the artery and need to be intubated through the compressed part of trachea to secure the airway. This would be the best timing to schedule the prophylactic operation.

Mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV deficiency complicated with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction in a neonate

A female infant born at 36 weeks gestational age with birthweight 2135 g, and who developed respiratory disorder, hyperlactacidemia and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy after birth, was admitted to hospital at 3 days of age. After admission, bilious emesis, abdominal distention, and passage disorder of the gastrointestinal tract were resistant to various drugs. Exploratory laparotomy was performed at 93 days of age, but no organic lesions were identified and normal Meissner/Auerbach nerve plexus was confirmed, which led to a clinical diagnosis of chronic intestinal pseudo‐obstruction (CIPO). She was diagnosed with mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV deficiency on histopathology of the abdominal rectus muscle and enzyme activity measurement. This is the first report of a neonate with mitochondrial respiratory chain complex deficiency with intractable CIPO. CIPO can occur in neonates with mitochondrial respiratory chain disorder, necessitating differential diagnosis from Hirschsprung disease.

Intraventricular hemorrhage as a comorbid factor for intestinal obstruction in very low-birthweight infants.

In very low‐birthweight infants (VLBWI), intestinal obstruction (IO) tends to increase in severity due to the immaturity of the intestine and perinatal events. We examined the clinical comorbid factors related to IO in VLBWI.

Severely high serum unbound bilirubin level after abdominal surgery in a newborn

We report a newborn with intestinal malrotation who developed a severely high serum unbound bilirubin level and a low serum albumin level without a marked increase in serum total bilirubin level after abdominal surgery, which required exchange transfusion and albumin supplementation. The serum unbound bilirubin level may be highly relative to the serum total bilirubin level in newborns who have undergone abdominal surgery soon after birth and are hypoalbuminemic after surgery.