Right liver graft without middle hepatic vein reconstruction from a living donor

A case of adult-to-adult, living-donor liver transplantation using a right liver graft is described. In the donor operation, when the middle hepatic vein (MHV) was clamped after hepatic transection, reversed flow was detected in MHV tributaries by intraoperative color Doppler ultrasonography. Regurgitated flow in the clamped inferior right hepatic vein was also demonstrated. Portal flow remained hepatopetal during the procedure. Based on these ultrasonographic findings, neither the MHV tributaries nor the inferior right hepatic vein was reconstructed.     

Experience of silicone gel sheets for patients with keloid scars after median sternotomy

Purpose  

It is often difficult to control hypertrophic scars and keloids with drug therapy, steroid injection, surgery, radiation therapy, laser, or wound pressing. Use of silicone gel to treat hypertrophic burn scars and fresh incisions has yielded encouraging results. We report our experience of silicone gel sheets for patients with keloids following median sternotomy.     

Long-term survival and functional recovery after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction

Objective  Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with left ventricular dysfunction has been considered to be a challenging operation. We assessed the early angiographic and long-term clinical and functional outcomes of patients with poor left ventricular function who underwent isolated CABG. Methods  We retrospectively reviewed the records of 78 patients with a poor left ventricular ejection fraction (35% or less) who underwent isolated CABG between January 1991 and November 2006. The mean age of the patients was 66.1 ± 9.4 years, and their mean New York Heart Association functional class was 3.1 ± 0.8. Their mean end-diastolic left ventricular diameter was 57.4 ± 8.1 mm, and their mean grade of mitral regurgitation was 0.7 ± 1.0. Early postoperative angiograms were performed at 32.5 ± 33.5 days after the operation. Interval echocardiographic data were analyzed, and the long-term survival rate was evaluated. Results  The average number of distal anastomoses per patient was 3.2 ± 1.1. The operative mortality rate was 7.7%. Stroke occurred in 1.3% of patients. The overall patency rates for arterial and venous grafts were 100% and 97.2%, respectively. The left ventricular ejection fraction significantly improved from 28.2% ± 5.1% to 34.4% ± 8.4%. Both the end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricular dimensions significantly decreased from 57.4 ± 8.1 to 55.1 ± 8.8 mm and from 47.4 ± 8.4 to 45.1 ± 9.7 mm, respectively. The actuarial patient survival rate at 10 years was 73.1%. Conclusion  CABG in patients with left ventricular dysfunction was effective, with favorable early graft patency rates. The long-term outcome was also acceptable, with echocardiographic functional recovery.     

Treatment strategy for synchronous metastases of colorectal cancer: is hepatic resection after an observation interval appropriate?

Background In cases of synchronous colorectal hepatic metastases, the primary colorectal cancer strongly influences on the metastases. Our treatment policy has been to conduct hepatic resection for the metastases at an interval of 3 months after colorectal resection. We examined the appropriateness of interval hepatic resection for synchronous hepatic metastasis. Materials and methods The subjects were 164 patients who underwent resection of hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer (synchronous, 70 patients; metachronous, 94 patients). Background factors for hepatic metastasis and postoperative results were compared for synchronous and metachronous cases. Results The cumulative survival rate for 164 patients at 3, 5, and 10 years postoperatively was 71.9%, 51.8%, and 36.6%, and the post-resection recurrence rate in remnant livers was 26.8%. Interval resection for synchronous hepatic metastases was conducted in 49 cases after a mean interval of 131 days. No difference was seen in postoperative outcome between synchronous and metachronous cases. Conclusion The outcome was similarly favorable in cases of synchronous hepatic metastasis and in cases of metachronous metastasis. Delaying resection allows accurate understanding of the number and location of hepatic metastases, and is beneficial in determining candidates for surgery and in selecting surgical procedure.     

An experimental study of radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction in an adult rat model

The objectives of this study were to establish an adult rat model for the late onset of radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction and to compare behavioural dysfunction with histopathological changes. While under anaesthesia, 30 rats (experimental group) were irradiated with a total dose of 40 Gy, given as eight fractions in 24 days. Another 30 rats (control group) underwent sham irradiation. The cognitive functions of all rats were evaluated at 6, 9 and 12 months after irradiation using the Morris water maze and passive avoidance tasks. Histopathological examination of these rats was carried out after the evaluation of cognitive functions was complete. At 6 and 9 months after irradiation there were no significant differences between the control and irradiated groups in passive avoidance and water maze tests. At 12 months after irradiation, the passive avoidance task revealed a deterioration of cognitive function in the experimental group. Histopathological observations revealed no abnormal findings in the irradiated brains at the light microscope level. Late onset cognitive dysfunction following cranial irradiation was observed in an adult rat model. Pathological investigations showed no abnormalities in the irradiated brains. These findings indicate that radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction can precede morphological changes in the brain or that they arise without them. The present model seems useful for elucidating the pathogenesis of radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction and for developing methods for therapy and prophylaxis.     

Shape of the joint gap for 90° and 120° knee flexion after total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: The joint gap is set rectangular at 90 degrees flexion during total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, the condition of the joint gap in deep knee flexion is obscure. METHODS: The method for obtaining a posteroanterior view radiograph of the knee at 90 degrees flexion (the epicondylar view) was modified, and a method to obtain an anteroposterior view radiograph at 120 degrees flexion (deep flexion view) was established. With this method, subjects lie on the radiography table with their thighs placed on a device so their lower legs hang down in neutral rotation with a 1.5-kg weight attached to the ankle. The joint gap angle and medial and lateral joint space widths were measured on epicondylar view and deep flexion view radiographs in 20 normal male subjects, 20 normal female subjects, and 20 subjects after TKA. RESULTS: The joint gap was almost rectangular at two flexion angles in normal subjects. In the implanted knees, the gap angle was 1.4 degrees varus +/- 3.3 degrees (mean +/- standard deviation), and no significant difference was found between medial and lateral joint space widths at 90 degrees flexion. In contrast, the gap angle was 2.5 degrees varus +/- 2.5 degrees and the lateral joint space width was significantly wider than the medial joint space width at 120 degrees flexion (P < 0.001). The gap angle was more varus with a significant difference in the implanted knees than that in the normal subjects at 120 degrees flexion (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The joint gap was trapezoidal with a wider lateral side at 120 degrees flexion even though it was almost rectangular at 90 degrees flexion after TKA.     

Repair of cervical esophageal perforation using longus colli muscle flap: a case report of a patient with cervical spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Perforation of the esophagus after anterior cervical spine surgery is a rare, but well-recognized complication. The management of esophageal perforation is controversial, and either nonoperative or operative treatment can be selected. PURPOSE: Several reports have described the use of a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap for esophageal repair. In this case report, we describe a longus colli muscle flap as a substitute for a sternocleidomastoid flap in a patient with an esophageal perforation. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. PATIENT SAMPLE: A 20-year-old man sustained cervical spinal cord injury, on diving and hitting his head against the bottom of a pool. A C6 burst fracture was observed with posterior displacement of a bone fragment into the spinal canal. The patient exhibited complete paralysis below the C8 spinal segment level. METHODS: The patient underwent subtotal corpectomy of the sixth cervical vertebra with the iliac bone graft and augmented posterior spinal fixation (C5-7) with pedicle screws. After the primary operation, the patient showed signs of infection such as throat pain, a high fever, and osteolytic change of the grafted bone by cervical radiograph. A second operation was performed to replace the graft bone using fibula. On the day after the operation, food residue was confirmed in the suction drainage tube, suggesting esophagus perforation. A third operation was immediately performed to confirm and treat esophagus perforation, although apparent esophageal perforation could not be detected at the second operation. Because the erosion around the perforation of the esophageal posterior wall was extensive, a longus colli muscle flap transposition was accordingly performed into the interspace between the esophageal posterior wall and the grafted bone in addition to simple suturing of the perforation. RESULTS: Neither high fever nor pharyngeal pain has recurred at latest follow-up, 5 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the use of a longus colli muscle flap for esophageal perforation after anterior cervical spine surgery.     

Treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms--a clinicopathological correlation

OBJECT: Brain check-up is very important for detecting the incidence and prevalence of aneurysms in the population and to get the definite strategy for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 116 aneurysms detected by brain check-up between 1998-1999 which were treated either by clipping or endovascular coiling. In some cases the aneurysmal wall was resected for histopathological examination and compared with five normal autopsy cases. CONCLUSIONS: Direct surgery is the primary option for a patient with an aneurysm in the anterior circulation especially in young patients. Intravascular therapy is suitable for aneurysms in the posterior circulation and in intracavernous site.     

Five-year survivors after aggressive surgery for stage IV gallbladder cancer

Abstract. Purpose: To describe 5-year survivors after radical surgery for stage IV gallbladder cancer and to determine the characteristics leading to potential long-term survival. Methods: Of 59 patients undergoing radical resection for stage IV disease between 1979 and 1994, 6 patients who have survived for more than 5 years were followed up. Results: Three patients had developed obstuctive jaundice due to involvement of the hepatic hilum, but the other three had not. The jaundiced patients had remarkable tumor spread over the bile duct and right hepatic artery within the hepatoduodenal ligament. However, the proper and left hepatic arteries and the portal trunk and its left branch were free from tumor involvement. The nonjaundiced patients had N1 or N2 lymph node metastasis. However, none underwent bile duct resection or pancreatoduodenectomy to establish radical lymphadenectomy. Conclusions: Selected patients with stage IV gallbladder cancer may be candidates for 5-year survival when the primary tumor is fairly localized even if it forms a large mass and involves neighboring organs including the hepatic duct, lymph node metastasis is limited to N1 and N2 except for the celiac and superior mesenteric nodes and is less infiltrative, and distant metastasis including that in the paraaortic area is absent. Received: January 9, 2001 / Accepted: June 18, 2001     

Complications of hepatectomy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma

We retrospectively reviewed postoperative complications in 105 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma who underwent hepatectomy at Nagoya University Hospital from January 1990 through March 1999. Of the 105 subjects, 97 (92.4%) underwent resection of two or more Healey's segments of the liver. Combined portal vein resection was performed in 33 (31.4%) patients and pancreatoduodenectomy in 10 (9.5%). Twenty (19.0%) patients had no postoperative complications, another 39 (37.1%) patients had minor complication(s) only, and the remaining 46 (43.8%) developed major complication(s). The morbidity rate reached as high as 81.0%. Major complications required relaparotomy in 11 (10.5%) patients. Of the 46 patients with major complication(s) 36 recovered; the remaining 10 patients died of liver failure with other organ failure(s) or of intraabdominal bleeding 12, 14, 18, 21, 57, 75, 75, 87, 93, or 134 days after surgery. Thus the 30-day mortality was 3.8% and the overall mortality 9.5%. Pleural effusion was the most frequent complication found in 66 (62.9%) patients, followed by wound sepsis in 39 (37.1%), and then liver failure in 29 (27.6%). Liver failure developed in 16.7% of 48 patients with less than 50% liver resection and in 36.8% of 57 patients with 50% or more resection (P < 0.05). Other organ failures, including renal, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and hematologic failures, developed as a sign of multiple organ failure following liver failure in most patients or preceding liver failure in a few patients. None of the six patients with four or more organ failures survived. Hepatectomy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma is risky owing to impaired hepatic functional reserve in jaundiced patients and the technical difficulty associated with hepatobiliary resection. Our goal is to reduce mortality to less than 5% while keeping a high resectability rate (above 80%).