Katsumi Motohiro

Lung Cancer Associated with Pulmonary Bulla

A few reports have suggested the possible association between lung cancer and bullous disease. We report a surgical case of lung adenocarcinoma located in close proximity to pulmonary bullae. A 48-year-old nonsmoker, asymptomatic male was found to have a pulmonary tumor mass and giant bulla in the right lung. Thoracotomy identified a tumor arising from a firm, scarred and contracted area close to the bulla wall. Based on this report and review of other cases in the literature, we emphasize the need for physicians to be aware of the potential development of lung cancer in patients with pulmonary bulla.

Congenital Tracheoesophageal Fistula with Symptoms Commencing at the Onset of Trauma : Report of a Case

Congenital tracheoesophageal fistula without atresia can persist and remain undetected without symptoms until adulthood. We have recently encountered such a rare case and also conducted a review of the literature. Symptoms are commonly present during infancy, but occasionally patients do not develop symptoms until adulthood. In this case, it is suggested that the symptoms commenced after the redundant mucosal flap or membrane was broken due to a trauma to the chest.

Relation of stroke and cardiac indices to serum catecholamines following open heart surgery.

Serum catecholamines (epinephrine, dopamine and norepinephrine) were measured two, four and six hours after open heart surgery. The ratios of stroke index (SI) and cardiac index (CI) to catecholamines (CA) were determined. Patients studied consisted of 27 with congenital and 14 with acquired heart disease. Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) time was longer than 90 minutes in 17 and shorter in 24 patients. SI and CI diminished in elder patients with congenital disease (Group Cg-ad), patients with acquired desease (Group Ac) and patients with a longer ECC time (Group L). Therefore, elder age and/or longer ECC time seems to be responsible to the lower indices. However, the ratios of the indices to CA showed that the lower indices indicated the poor response of the myocardium to CA in Group Ac and Group L. The response was larger in Group Cg-ad and the lower indices were related to lower serum CA level. It was concluded, therefore, that the indices of stroke volume and cardiac output had inverse correlation to ECC time, but not to age, namely, prolonged ECC compromised more severely the myocardium and resulted in the poor response of the myocardium to CA. Subsequently, to compensate for the poor response, serum CA levels were elevated probably to maintain due SI and CI in patients with prolonged ECC.

Myocardial protection during open-heart surgery: intermittent aortic crossclamping versus coronary perfusion.

Twenty-seven patients undergoing open-heart surgery were divided into three groups, i.e., control, intermittent aortic crosslamping and coronary perfusion groups. Myocardial oxygen extraction, lactate extraction, arterial-coronary sinus hydrogen ion difference, potassium difference and glucose difference were determined during the operation, as well as, postoperative stroke and cardiac indices and comparisons were made. When the ascending aorta was not crossclamped, myocardial metabolism was well preserved during and after the perfusion at a flow rate of 2.0 L./min/m2. Intermittent aortic crossclamping for 15 minutes alternating with a period of perfusion for five minutes at 30°C was sufficient to protect the myocardium from ischemia. Perfusion of the left coronary artery alone at a flow rate of six per cent of total body perfusion (150 to 200 ml per minute) at 30°C was sufficient to protect the myocardium when the aorta was opened. Since intermittent perfusion of the left coronary artery may produce myocardial derangement, coronary perfusion should be continuous. Otherwise topical cardiac cooling or other means of myocardial protection should be used.