Iatrogenic esophago-tracheal fistula:Challenges in diagnosis and management

Esophageo-tracheal fistula is a rare condition,and in most cases such fistulas are caused by malignant disease or emergency endotracheal intubation.A case where a wrapped tablet produced a fistula between the esophagus and trachea is described.The patient is a male born in 1938 who swallowed a tablet without unwrapping it.The patient was treated with selfexpanding metal stents(SEMS),but closure of the fistula was not achieved.Different examinations and treatment options are discussed.Surgical treatment for this condition has demonstrated considerable mortality and morbidity.In some cases closure of the fistula can be achieved by use of SEMS.Although we advise treatment of such cases with SEMS,in some cases treatment with stents will prove troublesome and the risk/benefit analysis will have to be reevaluated.     

Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer with situs inversus totalis:A case report

Situs inversus totalis(SIT) is a rare anomaly in which the abdominal and thoracic cavity structures are located opposite to their usual positions. Occasionally,patients with this condition are diagnosed with malignant tumors. We report a case of a 60-yearold woman with gastric cancer and SIT. Laparoscopyassisted distal gastrectomy(LADG) with D2 lymph node dissection and Billroth Ⅱ anastomosis were performed successfully on the patient by careful consideration of the mirror-image anatomy. The operation required 230 min, and no intraoperative complications occurred. The final pathological report was p T4 a N0M0,according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer 7th edition staging guidelines. The postoperative course was favorable, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 8. We believe that this is the first case of LADG with D2 lymphadenectomy reported in a SIT patient with advanced gastric cancer.     

Liposarcoma of the stomach： A rare case report

Liposarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma and accounts for 15%-20% of all mesenchymal malignancies. The tumor occurs most frequently in the limbs, retroperitoneum and rarely has a visceral location. We report a case of a gastric liposarcoma in a male patient. A 68 years old male patient was admitted to hospital for abdominal discomfort and fullness lasting for a month. He reported rare episodes of vomiting. The CT examination revealed a large epigastric mass （8 cm × 4 cm） involving the lesser curvature of the stomach, in contact with the pancreas and gallbladder. Fatty areas within the mass were evident. A total gastrectomy together with cholecystectomy was performed. The histopathological diagnosis was a well differentiated liposarcoma. The patient did not undergo any adjuvant treatment, he is under close follow up and two years later he is disease free. We report this case due to the rarity of this tumor in the stomach （nine cases reported in the literature）.     

Nodular fasciitis in the mesentery,a differential diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis

Nodular fasciitis is a benign proliferative lesion composed of fibroblast-like cells that affects various sites in the body.We describe a patient with nodular fasciitis in the mesentery,encountered during laparotomy for the treatment of ascending colon cancer.The nodular fasciitis in our patient resembled peritoneal dissemination of malignancy on macroscopic observation.Because the treatment options change with concomitant peritoneal dissemination of gastrointestinal tract malignancy,recognition of this rare condition and preparation for unexpected nodular lesions are crucial.     

Management of ischemic proctitis with severe rectal haemorrhage： A case report

Acute ischemic proctitis is a rare pathological condition. We report here a patient presented with massive rectal haemorrhage from a bleeding vessel superimposed on an underlying pathology of ischemic proctitis. This case report illustrates the difficulties in making the clinical distinction between ischemic proctitis and other pathological entities. We also discussed the beneficial role of arteriogram with embolotherapy as an effective therapeutic measure in the management of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. The literature on the subject is reviewed.     

Melena： A rare complication of duodenal metastases from primary carcinoma of the lung

Small bowel metastases from primary carcinoma of the lung are very uncommon and occur usually in patients with terminal stage disease. These metastases are usually asymptomatic, but may present as perforation, obstruction, malabsorption, or hemorrhage. Hemorrhage as a first presentation of small bowel metastases is extremely rare and is related to very poor patient survival. We describe a case of a 61- year old patient with primary adenocarcinoma of the lung, presenting with melena as the first manifestation of small bowel metastasis. Both primary tumor and metastatic lesions were diagnosed almost simultaneously. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy performed with a colonoscope revealed active bleeding from a metastatic tumor involving the duodenum and the proximal jejunum. Histological examination and immunohistochemical staining of the biopsy specimen strongly supported the diagnosis of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma, suggesting that small bowel metastases from primary carcinoma of the lung occur usually in patients with terminal disease and rarely produce symptoms. Gastrointestinal bleeding from metastatic small intestinal lesions should be included in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal blood loss in a patient with a known bronchogenic tumor.     

Bone and brain metastases from ampullary adenocarcinoma

Ampullary carcinoma is the second most common cancer of the peri-ampullary area after pancreatic carcinoma and metastasizes mostly intra-abdominally and to the liver. Extra-abdominal metastases are less frequent. In this report we describe the case of a patient with resected adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater who developed skeletal metastases in the lower extremity and brain metastases. We briefly discuss aspects of this comparatively rare gastrointestinal malignancy.     

Gallbladder lymphangioma： A case report and review of the literature

Lymphangiomas are rare, benign tumors of the lymphatic system, usually present in children aged 5 years and younger. Because they are asymptomatic until the mass enlarges to cause symptoms, most lymphangiomas are diagnosed at adulthood incidentally. We experienced a case of a 60-year-old man diagnosed with a cystic lymphangioma of the gallbladder, which was successfully resected without any complication.Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography were very helpful for the diagnosis of the cystic lesion around the gallbladder as were ultrasonography and computed tomography scan. These showed a multi-lobulated cystic mass with intact cystic duct and bile duct in the gallbladder fossa. The patient underwent an open cholecystectomy and the histological findings were consistent with a cystic lymphangioma of the gallbladder. We here report the case of cystic lymphangioma of the gallbladder with a review of the literature.     

Laparoscopic cystogastrostomy for the treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts： A case report

Pancreatic pseudocysts （PPs） are collections of pancreatic secretions that are lined by fibrous tissues and may contain necrotic debris or blood. The interventions including percutaneous, endoscopic or surgical approaches are based on the size, location, symptoms and complications of a pseudocyst. With the availability of advanced imaging systems and cameras, better hemostatic equipments and excellent laparoscopic techniques, most pseudocysts can be found and managed by laparoscopy. We describe a case of a 30-year-old male patient with a pancreatic pseudocyst amenable to laparoscopic cystogastrostomy. An incision was made through the anterior gastric wall to expose the posterior gastric wall in close contact with the pseudocyst using an ultrasonically activated scalpel. Then, another incision was made for cystogastrostomy to obtain complete and unobstructed drainage. The patient recovered well after operation and was symptom-free during a 6-mo follow-up, suggesting that laparoscopic cystogastrostomy is a safe and effective alternative to open cystogastrostomy for minimally invasive management of PPs.     

Congenital bronchoesophageal fistula in an adult： A case report

Bronchoesophageal fistulas are usually diagnosed in the neonatal period. As such, the condition is rare in adults. We present a case of a congenital bronchoesophageal fistula in a 62-year-old man with the complaint of severe bouts of cough and choking after swallowing liquid. His workup included a barium esophagogram that revealed a fistula between the esophagus and a right lower lobe bronchus. The diagnosis should be considered in certain individuals with suggestive symptomatology and unexplained respiratory pathology. The fistula was divided and resected, The patient had an uneventful recovery.     

Randomized, Controlled Trial of Anal Electrical Stimulation for Fecal Incontinence

Purpose Anal electric stimulation has been described as effective for fecal incontinence in several case series, but no study has addressed possible mechanism of benefit. We wished to examine whether anal electric stimulation, using an anal probe electrode, used on a daily basis at home for eight weeks, in the absence of any adjunctive exercises or advice, would improve symptoms of fecal incontinence and anal sphincter pressures when compared with “sham” electric stimulation. Methods Ninety patients (9 males, 81 females), with median age of 55 (range, 30–77) years were randomized, 47 to active anal stimulation at 35 Hz and 43 to “sham” stimulation at 1 Hz. Outcome measures included a one-week bowel diary, symptom questionnaire, manometry, and patients' evaluation of outcome. Results Seventy patients completed the study. On an intention-to-treat analysis, there was no difference between the two groups on any of the outcome measures after eight weeks. Of those who completed stimulation, 44 (63 percent) felt the stimulation had improved their continence. Those with intact anal sphincters were not likely to rate their change more positively than those with sphincter disruption (P = 0.71). Median patient rating of bowel control increased from 3 of 10 before stimulation to 5 of 10 after stimulation (P = 0.001). Conclusions Eight weeks of anal electric stimulation was rated by patients as having improved their bowel control to a modest extent. There was no statistically significant difference detected between the groups, suggesting that 1 Hz was as effective as 35 Hz. This raises the possibility that the main effect is not sphincter contraction but sensitization of the patient to the anal area, or simply the effect of intervening per se. Home electric stimulation is a relatively cheap and generally well-tolerated therapy in the conservative treatment of fecal incontinence. Supported by Action Medical Research, a medical research charity. The charity had no role in design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation of data, nor in the decision to submit for publication. Presented at the Royal College of Nursing Gastroenterology Forum Annual Conference, Telford, United Kingdom, November 18 to 19, 2004. Work was conducted at St Mark's Hospital, Harrow, United Kingdom. Reprints are not available.     

Conservative reconstruction using stents as salvage therapy for disruption of esophago-gastric anastomosis

Esophagectomy with extended lymphadenectomy and gastric conduit reconstruction is a radical procedure for the treatment of esophageal cancer that is associated with a high morbidity rate. Gastric conduit necrosis is a fatal complication that occurs in 2% of patients. Conventionally, two-stage salvage surgery consisting of removal of the necrotic gastric conduit followed by reconstruction has been performed; however, this procedure has a high morbidity rate. We describe a 61-year-old man who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy complicated by slowly progressive gastric conduit necrosis associated with complete neck drainage and a stable overall condition. There was a 2 cm gap in the anastomosis. Because there was no evidence of residual gastric conduit necrosis, a removable, covered self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) was inserted to bridge the anastomosis. The stent was fixed to the patient’s ear with silk thread through the lasso on its proximal end to prevent migration. Eight weeks after insertion, the stent was removed easily without any associated complications. The anastomotic defect was completely bridged with granulation tissue, showing progressive epithelialization without leakage or stenosis. The patient was discharged home in good general health. This is the first report of the successful conservative management of esophago-gastric conduit anastomosis disruption with SEMS placement.     

重症急性胰腺炎治疗方法的临床探讨

目的探讨重症急性胰腺炎(severe acute pancreatitis，SAP)患者手术时机与指征。方法回顾性分析我院1999年1月～2004年1月79例SAP患者的治疗方法，手术时机选择与并发症发生率、病死率。结果 本组收集患者79例，其中非手术治疗28例，早期手术治疗33例，延期手术治疗18例。非手术组、早期手术组、延期手术组的并发症发生率分别为7．14％(2例)、33．33％(1l例)和11．11％(2例)，各组病死率分别为3．57％(1例)、15．15％(5例)和5．56％(1例)，早期手术组明显高于其他两组。结论 SAP的治疗选择是直接影响预后的重要因素，应根据SAP的病情实施个体化治疗方案。     

An atypical case of Stanford type‐A chronic aortic dissection managed conservatively

Stanford type‐A aortic dissection is a clinical emergency; mortality is high, and surgery is urgently required in most cases. Chronic forms of type‐A dissection are rare and have a poor prognosis if not treated surgically. We present an unusual case of chronic type‐A aortic dissection, with silent onset, in an oncologic patient without risk factors, which was managed conservatively and remained substantially stable during follow‐up.     

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection in a female with antiphospholipid syndrome

We report a case of spontaneous coronary artery dissection occurring in a young female who had been diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome. Coronary angiography revealed extensive dissection in the proximal to mid LAD. She was treated conservatively with an excellent result. Follow-up coronary angiography at two months failed to reveal any evidence of the previous dissection.     

Immediate and early discharge for patients with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: is there a role in “real life”?

An exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most common respiratory condition necessitating admission to hospital. Many of these are relatively mild in nature and as a consequence, there is increasing interest in immediate and early discharge of patients with nonsevere exacerbations. Following initial assessment, “hospital at home” or “assisted discharge” schemes enable suitable patients with COPD to be discharged into the community earlier than normally anticipated. The putative implication is that substantial financial savings can be made in addition to increasing the availability of in-patient beds, without compromising patient care or satisfaction. We highlight the current literature which has evaluated the role of hospital at home and assisted discharge schemes and discuss our own “real life” service operating in a large teaching hospital in Scotland.     

Splenic abscess due to Staphylococcus lentus: a rare entity

Splenic abscess is an unusual condition, most often seen in immunocompromised patients. Splenic abscesses are due to aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, fungi and parasites, Staphylococcus aureus being the most common aetiological agent. We describe a case of splenic abscess in an alcoholic patient due to Staphylococcus lentus, a rare aetiology included in the microbiology of this disease.     

Aneurysm of the left subclavian artery: infrequent cause of upper pulmonary mass

Subclavian artery aneurysm is an uncommon condition. Usually is arteriosclerotic in origin. Its clinical features are scarce and generally are due to compression of the neighbourhood structures or ischemic, embolic or, less frequently, rupture of it. Diagnosis is performed by an arteriography or a computed tomography scan. Treatment includes the surgical reaction or the embolization. We report the case of a patient with a left subclavian artery aneurysm and review the most important clinical features of this entity.     

Masse cervicale douloureuse révélant un anévrysme de la veine jugulaire interne

Internal jugular vein aneurysms or phlebectasia of the internal jugular vein are considered a benign pathology. They are more and more diagnosed with the evolution of imaging techniques : ultrasonography, angioscanner and MRI. Clinically they are often by chance, however accompanying clinical signs can be seen such as pain, hoarseness or vocal cord paralysis. Several differential diagnoses can be mentioned such as laryngocoele, gill cyst, paraganglioma and hemangioma. They are of unknown etiology with several hypotheses on the etiopathogenesis and on the frequent localization on the right. Conservative treatment can be chosen for small aneurysms and in children. Surgical treatment finds its indication especially in the event of a complication such as thrombosis or for an aesthetic interest; other treatments such as endovascular treatment are being evaluated. We report the case of a 67-year-old woman admitted for a painful latero-cervical mass, and in whom the diagnosis of an aneurysm of the internal jugular vein was suspected and confirmed by ultrasound and CTscan. The patient received successful surgical treatment.     

Operation for huge subclavian artery aneurysm: a case report

Subclavian artery aneurysm is extremely rare, and further aneurysm compressing trachea and leading to breathing difficulty is more exceptional. The most common causes of subclavian artery aneurysm are atherosclerosis, trauma and post-stenotic dilated aneurysm secondary to thoracic outlet syndrome, besides, the rare causes include infective, syphilitic media necrosis and so on. We present a case report in which the patient presented with sever dyspnea due to compression of trachea by a 7 cm large subclavian artery aneurysm. After operation, the patient improved symptomatically. The blood pressure remained stable, blood circulation of right upper extremity was fine, and pulse was improved comparing with that before operation. Chest film confirmed tumor shrank and depressed trachea improved significantly. The patient was discharged 14 days later and continued anticoagulant therapy after discharge. Follow up one month later after the operation revealed breathing difficulty disappeared, and patient was with normal right upper extremity movement and good blood circulation.