Michio Machida

Superior mesenteric vein thrombosis as a complication of acute appendicitis : report of a case.

Since superior mesenteric vein thrombosis (SMVT) is a relatively rare disease and shows no specific symptom, its diagnosis tends to be delayed. In this report, we present a patient in whom acute appendicitis was complicated by SMVT and portal vein thrombosis (PVT). A definitive diagnosis could be made by abdominal contrast-enhanced CT, and acute appendicitis was surgically treated. Anticoagulant therapy was continued for about half a year after surgery. Abdominal contrast-enhanced CT after discharge showed no recurrence of SMVT or PVT. We consider that acute appendicitis induced SMVT or PVT caused by the effect of inflammation. There is the possibility that these conditions lead to intestinal congestion or necrosis and liver dysfunction; appropriate diagnosis and treatment are necessary.

Laparoscopic Resection of an Intra-Abdominal Esophageal Duplication Cyst: A Case Report and Literature Review

Duplication of the alimentary tract is a rare congenital malformation that occurs most often in the abdominal region, whereas esophageal duplication cyst develops typically in the thoracic region but occasionally in the neck and abdominal regions. Esophageal duplication cyst is usually diagnosed in early childhood because of symptoms related to bleeding, infection, and displacement of tissue surrounding the lesion. We recently encountered a rare adult case of esophageal duplication cyst in the abdominal esophagus. A 50-year-old man underwent gastroscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging to investigate epigastric pain and dysphagia that started 3 months earlier. Imaging findings suggested esophageal duplication cyst, and the patient underwent laparoscopic resection followed by intraoperative esophagoscopy to reconstruct the esophagus safely and effectively. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed two layers of smooth muscle in the cystic wall, confirming the diagnosis of esophageal duplication cyst.

The efficacy of intraoperative ultrasonography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) has been used to delineate anatomy during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LapC) and screen for common bile duct stones (CBDS), however no consensus about its efficacy has been reached in Japan. In this study, we compared and evaluated the performance of intraoperative cholangiography(IOC) and IOUS during LapC. METHODOLOGY We evaluated 295 cases of cholecystolithiasis that underwent surgery from 2005- 2009 at our hospital. Frequency of CBDS and duration of surgery was examined in cases with IOC alone or IOC and IOUS in combination. RESULTS There were 5 cases (1.7%) in which IOUS or IOC detected CBDS that had not been detected by preoperative evaluation using abdominal CT, abdominal ultrasonography or MRCP. Out of 62 LapC cases involving both IOC and IOUS, 60 cases showed the same findings, i.e. no false-negative results, indicating that IOUS is a trustworthy examination method. The mean duration of surgery involving IOUS alone was 135 minutes while a longer mean time of 163 minutes was found for that involving IOC alone or IOC and IOUS in combination. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that IOC can be considered useful as it did not produce any false-negative results in screening CBDS and it also shortened the operation time. We also found some problems associated with IOC, such as small calculi falling within the gallbladder during examination procedures and the irradiation of patients and staff.

Postoperative portal vein thrombosis and gastric hemorrhage associated with late-onset hemorrhage from the common hepatic artery after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a rare but serious postoperative complication of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). We reported a case of late-onset postoperative PVT with hemorrhage from the common hepatic artery (CHA) in a 73-year-old man who underwent pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) for duodenum papilla cancer, followed by reconstruction using the modified Childs technique. The pancreaticojejunostomy was achieved by end-to-side, 2-layer invagination anastomosis without pancreatic duct stenting. Drain removal and hospital discharge were scheduled on postoperative day (POD) 18, but blood-stained fluid in the drain and sudden hematemesis were noted. Emergency surgery was performed because PVT and imaging findings were suggestive of necrosis of the lifted jejunum. Although no jejunal necrosis was identified during surgery, bleeding from the side of the CHA was detected and the bleeding point was suture-closed to achieve hemostasis. We suspected late-onset postoperative arterial hemorrhage and subsequent hematoma formation, which caused portal vein compression and PVT formation. We chose a conservative treatment strategy for PVT, taking into account the operation time, intraoperative vital signs and blood flow in the portal vein. Despite the complicated postoperative course, he was discharged home in a fully ambulatory state on POD 167.

Safe Skin Management during Open Hepatectomy in a Patient with Recessive Dystrophic Congenital Epidermolysis Bullosa

Congenital epidermolysis bullosa is a rare, genetic condition in which even slight stimulation can cause blistering of the skin or mucosa. While previous reports of treatments requiring general anesthesia in these patients were focused on anesthesia-related procedures, such as endotracheal intubation, no report has described specific management required for these patients during surgery, such as preparation of the surgical site, fixation of infusion lines and other tubes, and adjustment of the operation table. This is probably the first report to address these issues. This report presents a case of recessive dystrophic congenital epidermolysis bullosa in which open hepatectomy was safely performed.

Hepatic Sclerosing Hemangioma with Predominance of the Sclerosed Area Mimicking a Biliary Cystadenocarcinoma

We report here an extremely rare case of hepatic sclerosing hemangioma mimicking a biliary cystadenocarcinoma. A previously healthy 39-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of a large tumor in the liver. Abdominal computed tomography revealed early peripheral ring enhancement in the arterial phase and slight internal heterogeneous enhancement in the delayed phase. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tumor with low intensity in the T1-weighted image and very high intensity in the fat-saturated T2-weighted image. The patient underwent hepatectomy for a possible malignant liver tumor. Grossly, the tumor appeared as a white, solid, and cystic mass (weighted 1.1 kg and measured 170×100×80 mm) that was elastic, soft, and homogeneous with a yellowish area. Histological examination showed that the tumor mostly consisted of fibrotic areas with hyalinization. The typical histology of cavernous hemangioma was confirmed in part, and the tumor was diagnosed as a sclerosing hemangioma with predominancy of the sclerosed area. A review of 20 cases reported previously revealed that only 2 (10%) patients were diagnosed as having sclerosing hemangioma preoperatively.

Appendiceal Perforation due to Migration of a Dental Instrument

A 40-year-old male without any past medical history accidentally swallowed a titanium dental instrument (reamer) for root canal treatment. A cathartic was prescribed at a local hospital, and the course was observed. However, since the reamer was not excreted in feces, he was referred to our hospital. After admission, CT, lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, and barium enema revealed the migration of a foreign body into the appendix and its protrusion into the intraperitoneal cavity. As an emergency operation, laparoscopic appendectomy including the foreign body was performed. The following course was favorable without postoperative complications, and he was discharged on the 2nd hospital day. We report a patient with appendiceal perforation due to a foreign body (dental instrument for root canal treatment) in the appendix.

A case of perforated sigmoid diverticulitis in which gram staining of ascitic fluid was useful for diagnosis.

An 85-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for steroid therapy for relapsing nephrotic syndrome. During hospitalization, she complained of sudden epigastric pain at night. Although there were signs of peritoneal irritation, CT showed a large amount of ascitic fluid, but no free intraperitoneal gas. Gram staining of ascitic fluid obtained by abdominal paracentesis showed Gram-negative rods, which raised a strong suspicion of gastrointestinal perforation and peritonitis. Therefore, emergency surgery was performed. Exploration of the colon showed multiple sigmoid diverticula, one of which was perforated. The patient underwent an emergency Hartmanns procedure. Imaging studies failed to reveal any evidence of gastrointestinal perforation, presenting a diagnostic challenge. However, a physician performed rapid Gram staining of ascitic fluid at night when laboratory technicians were absent, had a strong suspicion of gastrointestinal perforation, and performed emergency surgery. Gram staining is superior in rapidity, and ascitic fluid Gram staining can aid in diagnosis, suggesting that it should be actively performed. We report this case, with a review of the literature on the significance of rapid diagnosis by Gram staining.