Airway compression by the ascending aorta due to a thin thoracic cage

An 89-year-old woman with dyspnea and disturbed consciousness due to hypoventilation was admitted to our hospital. Chest radiography showed no abnormal shadow, but she was intubated for deteriorated hypoventilation. Bronchoscopy demonstrated obstruction of the left main bronchus at the carina. Computed tomography (CT) showed neither a mass lesion in the mediastinum nor an aortic aneurysm, but compression of the airway by the ascending aorta was observed. It was thought that the patient’s thin thoracic cage was unable to support the weight of the ascending aorta, which consequently compressed the left main bronchus. After inserting stents into both main bronchi, the patient’s consciousness improved, and respirator support was withdrawn. In aged, bedridden, thin patients with hypopnea or recurrent airway infection, CT and bronchoscopy should be performed to investigate airway patency.     

Biphasic pulmonary blastoma with rapid progression

We report a rare case of biphasic pulmonary blastoma (BPB) with rapid progression in a 75-year-old man. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed a well-defined tumor shadow measuring 8 × 6 cm in the right upper lobe. CT-guided lung biopsy revealed malignant cells with sarcomatous elements. Right upper lobectomy and systemic lymph node dissection with chest wall resection were performed. Histopathologically, the tumor was composed of immature embryoniclike mesenchymal and epithelial components that resembled embryonic lung tissue. The final diagnosis was BPB classified as pathological stage IIB (T3N0M0). Two months later, the tumor recurred in the right supraclavicular lymph nodes. The patient died of respiratory failure due to tumor progression 7 months after surgery.     

Successful video-thoracoscopic drainage for descending necrotizing mediastinitis

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a rare but severe disease with a high mortality rate. We report a case of a 77-year-old woman with DNM who was treated using video-thoracoscopic drainage and a Blake drain. She was admitted to our hospital with a 3-day history of a sore throat. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a peritonsillar abscess descending into the anterior and posterior mediastinum below the carina. She was diagnosed with DNM, and emergency surgery was performed. The mediastinal abscess was drained via video-thoracoscopy, and a 24F Blake drain was inserted into the mediastinum. Following mediastinal drainage, cervical drainage was performed for treatment of the retropharyngeal abscess. The outcome of videothoracoscopic mediastinal drainage was satisfactory, and no further invasive treatment was required. We believe that video-thoracoscopic mediastinal drainage is an effective, minimally invasive treatment for DNM with subcarinal spread. Blake drains are useful for mediastinal drainage.     

Total knee arthroplasty using cementless keels and cemented tibial trays: 10-year results

The problem of early mechanical stability of cemented and cementless keels of the tibial component in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical and radiographic outcomes of a cohort of 51 TKAs using a cemented platform with cementless keel fixation. At a mean follow-up of 10.4 years (range, 7 to 14 years), the mean Knee Society Score (KSS) was 93 points (range, 59 to 100 points), and the mean functional score was 73 points (range, 0 to 100 points). Only one patient demonstrated progressive tibial radiolucencies at 13.1 years follow-up, which resolved with a revision with an exchange of components. The results of this study suggest that a proximally cemented tibial tray with a press-fit keel TKA provides excellent mean 10-year outcomes.

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Résumé  Le problème de la stabilité précoce immédiate de la quille du composant tibial d’une prothèse totale du genou est sujet à controverse. Le propos de cette étude est d’étudier le devenir clinique et radiographique d’une cohorte de 51 prothèses totales du genou, avec un plateau cimenté sans fixation cimentée de la quille. Après un suivi moyen de 10,4 ans (de 7 à 14 ans), le score de la Knee Society a été de 93 points (59 à 100 points) et le score fonctionnel moyen de 73 points (de 0 à 100 points). Seulement un patient a présenté un liseré tibial progressif 13,1 ans après l’intervention avec une nécessité de révision et de changement prothétique. Le résultat de cette étude permet de penser qu’un plateau tibial cimenté avec une quille en press-fit permet d’obtenir de bons résultats avec au moins 10 ans de recul.

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Two of the authors (FRK and MAM) received financial support from Stryker Orthopaedics, Mahwah, New Jersey.

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Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the human protocol for this investigation and that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research.

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The authors FRK and MAM contributed equally to this work.     

The effect of fibroblast growth factor-2 on autologous osteochondral transplantation

In this study, we performed a mechanical analysis of the effect of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) on autologous osteochondral transplantation in a rabbit model. A full-thickness cartilage defect (diameter: 5 mm; depth: 5 mm) made in the right femoral condyle was treated with osteochondral transplantation using an osteochondral plug (diameter: 6 mm; depth: 5 mm) taken from the left femoral condyle. The animals were divided into three groups: Group I, the defect was filled with 0.1 ml of gelatin hydrogel containing 1 microg of FGF-2; Group II, the defect was filled with 0.1 ml of gelatin hydrogel only; Group III, the defect was left untreated. Thereafter, osteochondral plugs were transplanted and the transplanted osteochondral grafts were evaluated mechanically and histologically at postoperative weeks 1, 3, 8 and 12. The structural property of the osteochondral graft was significantly greater in Group I than in Groups II and III at postoperative week 3. Histological analysis at 3 weeks revealed a tendency towards increased subchondral bone trabeculae in Group I compared with the other groups. Autologous osteochondral grafts transplanted with gelatin hydrogel containing FGF-2 acquired adequate stiffness at an early postoperative phase.     

Half clamping of the infrahepatic inferior vena cava reduces bleeding during a hepatectomy by decreasing the central venous pressure

Background and aims  Bleeding from the hepatic vein is closely related to central venous pressure (CVP). To evaluate the effect of low central venous pressure during a hepatectomy, the infrahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) was half clamped. Patients and methods  Between 2006 and 2007, 20 patients undergoing major hepatectomy with the IVC half clamping (half-clamping group) were compared with 58 patients undergoing hepatectomy without IVC half clamping between 2003 and 2005 (control group). The types of liver resection, amount of blood loss during the hepatectomy, volume of blood transfusion, length of hospital stay, and complications were compared between the two groups. Results  In the half-clamping group, blood loss was decreased in comparison to the control group (p = 0.041) and the suprahepatic CVP was low (2.4 ± 1.8 mmHg; p = 0.0002). The diameter at the root of the right hepatic vein was reduced in comparison to before clamping (5.8 ± 1.6 mm; p < 0.001). There were no complications of half clamping on any hemodynamic and blood electrolytic parameters. Conclusion  Using the half clamping technique of the IVC, intra-operative CVP was maintained below 3 mmHg without any side effects, and the low CVP significantly reduced the bleeding from hepatic veins during a major hepatectomy.     

Effects of hospital and surgeon case-volumes on postoperative complications and length of stay after esophagectomy in Japan

Purpose  The exact relationship between larger caseload volume and lower morbidity following esophagectomy has not been established. This study investigates the effect of surgical volumes on reducing postoperative complications and length of stay after esophagectomy. Methods  Patient and hospital data were collected electronically via a web-based questionnaire sent to surgeons in the Japan Surgical Society. Data were based on 642 patients treated with esophagectomy at 183 hospitals between November 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007. Multivariate analysis revealed that postoperative morbidity and length of stay regressed against hospital and surgeon volumes, patient characteristics, and details of the procedures. Results  In a logistic regression model, esophagectomies by surgeons performing a high volume of operations (>100 cases; “high case-volume surgeons”) were followed by a significantly lower rate of postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR], 0.49; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.24–0.98, P = 0.04). In a proportional hazard model, high-volume surgeons reduced the length of stay significantly: the hazard ratio for medium casevolume surgeons (50–99 cases) was 1.53 [95% CI, 1.14–2.06, P = 0.00], whereas that for the highest case-volume surgeons was 1.34 [95% CI, 1.00–1.79, P = 0.05] vs the lowest case-volume surgeons. Neither postoperative complications nor length of stay were significantly associated with hospital volume. Conclusion  These findings indicate that morbidity after esophagectomy is more dependent on individual surgeon-specific skill than on hospital-based factors.     

Marshall R. Urist, 1914–2001

This biographical sketch of Marshall R. Urist corresponds to the historic texts, The Classic: Bone Morphogenetic Protein, available at DOI  10.1007/s11999-009-1068-3; The Classic: A Morphogenetic Matrix for Differentiation of Cartilage in Tissue Culture, available at DOI  10.1007/s11999-009-1069-2; and The Classic: A Morphogenetic Matrix for Differentiation of Bone Tissue, available at DOI  10.1007/s11999-009-1070-9.     

The retroperitoneal approach combined with epidural anesthesia reduces morbidity in elective infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair

In elective open infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair the surgical approach and the use of epidural anesthesia (EDA) may determine patients' outcome. Hence we analyzed our results after elective open aneurysm repair in the light of the surgical approach and the use of EDA. Retrospective analysis of a prospective data base. From December 2005 to April 2008, 125 patients with infrarenal aortic aneurysm underwent elective open repair. Patients were divided into four groups: retro- and transperitoneal approach with and without epidural anesthesia (RP+/-EDA and TP+/-EDA). In terms of age, sex, aneurysm diameter, ASA score and clamping time all groups were comparable. In the retroperitoneal groups significantly more tube grafts were implanted (63 vs. 27; P=0.001). The rate of surgical complications did not differ between the groups. The RP+EDA group had the lowest rate of postoperative assisted mechanical ventilation (5.1% vs. 35.7%; P=0.002) and medical complications (17.9% vs. 42.8%; P=0.032). Concerning frequency of surgical complications, the retroperitoneal incision was comparable to the transperitoneal approach in infrarenal aortic reconstruction. Supplementation with EDA resulted in a decreased rate of postoperative assisted mechanical ventilation and in lower morbidity rates.     

MRT bei Myokarditis

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) has become the primary tool for the non-invasive assessment in patients with suspected myocarditis, especially after exclusion of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) for the differential diagnosis. Various MRI parameters are available which have different accuracies. Volumetric and functional ventricular assessment and the occurrence of pericardial effusion alone demonstrate only a poor sensitivity and specificity. The calculation of the T2-ratio (edema assessment), the early or global relative myocardial enhancement (gRE) and the late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), which represents irreversibly injured myocardium, are more specific parameters. All MRI parameters demonstrate the best accuracy in infarct-like acute myocarditis, whereas in chronic myocarditis sensitivity and specificity are less accurate. Therefore, a multisequential (at least two out of three parameters are positive) approach is recommended. The assessment of the value of newer, more quantitative MRI sequences, such as T1 and T2-mapping is still under investigation.