Spinal cord injury following aortic arch replacement

Surgery Today - Postoperative spinal cord injury is a devastating complication after aortic arch replacement. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of this complication. A group...     

Successful perioperative infection control measures after gastroenterological surgery reduced the number of cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection to almost zero over a 30-year period: a single-department experience

To investigate changes in the incidence of postoperative infections in the surgical department of a teaching hospital. During the 30-year period from September 1987 to August 2017, 11,568 gastroenterological surgical procedures were performed in our surgical department. This 30-year period was divided into seven periods (A–G), ranging from 2 to 7 years each and based on the infection control methods used in each period. We then compared the rates of incisional surgical site infection (SSI) and organ/space SSI; remote infection (RI) including respiratory tract infection (RTI), intravascular catheter-related infection, and urinary tract infection (UTI); and antibiotic-associated colitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) enteritis or Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile-associated disease (CDAD) among the seven periods. In periods B (September 1990–August 1997) and E (November 2004–July 2007), when a unique antibiotic therapy devised in our department was in use, MRSA was isolated from only 0.3% and 0.4% of surgical patients, respectively, and these rates were significantly lower than those in the other periods (p < 0.05). The rate of CDAD increased during period F (August 2007–July 2014), but in period G (August 2014–August 2017), restrictions were placed on the use of antibiotics with a strong anti-anaerobic action and, in this period, the rate of CDAD was only 0.04%, which was significantly lower than that in period F (p < 0.05). Limiting the use of antibiotics that tend to disrupt the intestinal flora may reduce the rates of MRSA infection and CDAD after gastroenterological surgery.     

Recovery from very long aortic cross-clamping in redo complex aortic surgery

A 68-year-old man had undergone ascending aortic replacement for acute type A aortic dissection. Three months later, he had a new aortic dissection with an ulcer-like projection located in the aortic arch with suspected graft infection. An emergent redo total aortic arch and root replacement was performed because of the coexistence of a fragile aortic root wall. The extensive redo procedure necessitated a very long aortic cross-clamping time (516 min). After 25 min of assisted circulation, he was easily weaned from the cardiopulmonary bypass. Finally, an omental flap was harvested to cover the graft. Postoperative ECG and CK-MB examinations showed no significant myocardial injury. He had no symptoms of heart failure and was discharged after a month of antibiotic therapy. One-year follow-up UCG study revealed no abnormal findings except for signs of pericardial adhesion.     

Clinical application of postoperative non-invasive positive pressure ventilation after lung cancer surgery

Objective

The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical efficacy of postoperative non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (PONIV) after pulmonary lobectomy in patients with lung cancer.

Methods

From August 2010 and July 2015, 143 patients with lung cancer who underwent pulmonary lobectomy were retrospectively reviewed. PONIV was used immediately after surgery until the morning of postoperative day (POD) 1. Arterial blood gas was analyzed before and just after surgery (POD0) and on POD1. Oxygenation ability was perioperatively assessed by PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio, alveolar–arterial oxygen difference (A-aDO₂), and respiratory index (A-aDO₂/PaO₂).

Results

112 patients received PONIV. From POD0 to POD1, the PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio significantly improved in all patients who received PONIV (333?±?83 to 359?±?47 mmHg, p?=?0.004). Moreover, A-aDO₂ and respiratory index significantly decreased following PONIV. PONIV significantly improved the PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio in patients with PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio of ≤?300 on POD0, older age (≥?70 years), higher body mass index (≥?25 kg/m²), and longer one-lung ventilation time (≥?180 min). There was no respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and no mortality.

Conclusions

PONIV effectively improved oxygenation in patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy in patients with poor status, especially in patients with PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio of ≤?300 on POD0. PONIV could be an option of perioperative management for major thoracic surgery.

     

Safety and efficacy of azilsartan in paediatric patients with hypertension: a phase 3, single-arm,open-label,prospective study

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - Azilsartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker indicated for the treatment of adult hypertension. A previous single-dose study suggested that azilsartan may...     

Sex differences in clinical outcomes in Japanese incident dialysis patients: a prospective observational multicenter study

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - A Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) has shown a one-to-one male-to-female mortality ratio, notwithstanding the statistically longer life...     

Safety and effectiveness of ferric citrate hydrate in serum phosphorus management of patients with chronic kidney disease: a long-term,real-world,observational, post-marketing surveillance study

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - Ferric citrate hydrate (FC) is an oral iron-based phosphate binder that is used to treat hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This...