Jae Joon Kim

Prediction of post-operative pancreatic fistula in pancreaticoduodenectomy patients using pre-operative MRI: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND Post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is one of the most fearful complications which may occur after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The methods used to predict POPF pre-operatively have not been studied in great detail. We analyzed correlation between various parameters related to PD including pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal intensity (SI), pathology of pancreatic fibrosis and occurrence rates of POPF, and verified that MRI SI results could be the determining values for pre-operative prediction of POPF. METHODS From January 2005 to August 2006, we retrospectively examined 43 cases of PDs by reviewing abdominal MRI findings, degree of fibrosis of remnant pancreatic stump, and other surgery-related parameters. RESULTS POPF encountered in PD were 11 cases (25.6%). Operation time and degree of fibrosis of remnant pancreatic cut surface were related to POPF (P= 0.030, P= 0.010). The pancreas-liver SI ratio (PLSI) between fistula group and no fistula group was -0.0009 +/- 0.2 and -0.1297 +/- 0.2, respectively (P= 0.0004). The pancreas-spleen SI ratio (PSSI) in each group was 0.423 +/- 0.25 and 0.288 +/- 0.32, respectively (P= 0.014). Using quantitative analysis, the SI ratios were 1.27 and 0.66 in each group (P= 0.013). CONCLUSIONS When analyzing the results of POPF in 43 patients who underwent PD, PLSI, PSSI and qualitative analysis, fistula group differed significantly from no fistula group. Using these results, it will be helpful for us to predict the occurrence of POPF pre-operatively using MRI in PD patients.

Surgical management of left upper quadrant sided rectus sheath hematoma occurred by coughing in a hemodialysis patient.

Rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) is a rarely-occurring disease that is usually associated with anticoagulation, trauma, or spontaneous events. Most spontaneous rectus sheath hematomas may be relieved with conservative management. However, some extreme situations need surgical approach. Respecting the fact that the inferior epigastric artery mainly supplies the rectus abdominis muscle, interrupting its proximal side would cease the bleeding. We present a stepped procedure of ligation of the inferior epigastric artery and evacuation of hematoma with good field of vision in case of rectus sheath hematoma in hemodialysis patient.