Colchicine for large pericardial effusion

On the basis of our reported experience with colchicine for recurrent pericarditis, we administered colchicine to two patients with large pericardial effusions complicating idiopathic pericarditis. The first was a 26-year-old male who showed clinical deterioration following emergency pericardiocentesis and aspirin (3 g/day) for 10 days; the second was a 2-year-old girl who was unsuccessfully treated with aspirin (100 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks, followed by corti-costeroids for 7 months. Administration of colchicine (1 mg/ day) instead of aspirin in the first case, and with a rapid tapering-off of the corticosteroids in the second case, led to complete regression of the pericardial effusion on echocardiography within 1 week and 1 month, respectively. Colchicine was discontinued after 1 month in the first patient and was continued for 6 months in the child. Neither has had a recurrence at 24 and 6 months of follow-up, respectively. No side effects of colchicine were observed. We conclude that colchicine may be effective in the treatment of large pericardial effusion when therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or corticosteroids fails.     

Ascites,pleural, and pericardial effusions in acute pancreatitis

Ascites and pleural and pericardial effusions can be observed during acute pancreatitis. The aims of this study were to evaluate their incidence, natural history, and prognostic role in patients with acute pancreatitis. One hundred patients consecutively admitted with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis were prospectively submitted to abdominal, pleural, and cardiac ultrasonography at admission and during follow-up. Ascites was found in 18 patients, pleural effusion in 20, and pericardial effusion in 17. Twenty-four patients of this series had severe pancreatitis; three of them died. All effusions disappeared spontaneously in patients who survived pancreatitis up to two months after dismissal. At multivariate analysis ascites and pleural effusion were demonstrated to be accurate independent predictors of severity. The respective odds ratios were 5.9 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.5–23.0%) and 8.6 (95% CI, 2.3–32.5%). Furthermore the presence of pleural effusion, ascites, and pericardial effusion were associated with an increased incidence of pseudocyst during follow-up. Ascites and pleural and pericardial effusions are frequent during acute pancreatitis. Pleural effusion and ascites are accurate predictors of severity in these patients.     

Combined splenocaval or mesocaval C shunt and portoazygous devascularization in the treatment of portal hypertension: analysis of 150 cases

BACKGROUND: Portal hypertension is a common disease and its major surgical therapeutic approaches include devascularization and shunting. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of combined splenocaval or mesocaval C shunt and portoazygous devascularization (combined procedures) on portal hypertension. METHODS: The clinical data of 150 patients with portal hypertension who had undergone combined procedures at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May1990 to May 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean free portal pressure (FPP) was 25.6±1.83 mmHg, 18.0±2.07 mmHg and 18.4±2.19 mmHg before operation, after splenectomy plus splenocaval or mesocaval C shunt, and combined procedures, respectively. There was no operative death in all patients. The 1-7 year follow-up of 100 patients showed rebleeding in 3 patients, encephalopathy in 4, thrombosis of artificial vascular graft in 3, and dying from liver failure in 2. CONCLUSIONS: The combined procedures can not only decrease portal pressure but also preserve hepatic blood flow to some extent. It may be one of the best choices for treating portal hypertension in China.     

脾切除贲门周围血管离断术治疗470例门静脉高压症疗效分析

目的总结脾切除贲门周围血管离断术治疗不合并肝癌及胆管癌的门静脉高压症患者的疗效。方法对不合并肝癌及胆管癌的门静脉高压症患者行脾切除贲门周围血管离断术并随访470例,其中肝炎后肝硬化436例,占92．8％。结果出血患者424例,手术止血率为993％（421／424）,围手术期病死率为1．4％（6／424）,主要死亡原因是上消化道出血、肝肾功能衰竭;急症及择期手术424例,预防手术46例,预防手术嗣手术期无死亡。平均随访时间4年,出血患者术后复发出血率为3．2％（15／470）,预防手术后无出血,肝性脑病发生率为1．9％（9／470）。结论脾切除贲门周围血管离断术防治门静脉高压症引起的上消化道出血效果好。合理选择手术适应证及手术时机、完全彻底断流、术后早期抗凝及近端脾静脉结扎预防术后肝外门静脉系统血栓形成是提高手术疗效的必要措施。     

Complete Absence of Precordial R Waves Due to Absence of Left‐Sided Pericardium

Poor R‐wave progression (PRWP) in the precordial leads on random ECG is relatively frequent in the general population and includes a broad differential diagnosis. Here, we present for the first time a case of complete absence of precordial R waves associated with a prominent R wave in aVR due to the absence of the left‐sided pericardium in a 44‐year‐old woman who experienced sudden cardiac death.     

腹腔镜脾切除贲门周围血管离断术治疗门脉高压症的临床体会

目的：探讨腹腔镜脾切除联合断流术治疗门静脉高压症的手术技巧及临床应用价值。方法：回顾分析2012年1月至2013年4月为135例门静脉高压症患者行腹腔镜脾切除联合贲门周围血管离断术的临床资料。结果：6例由于术中出血难以控制而中转开腹,129例顺利完成腹腔镜手术。手术时间150～270min,平均（195．9±24．4）min;术中出血量150—1000ml。平均（346．1±112．2）ml;术后住院5—9d,平均（6．3±0．6）d。2例由于术后腹腔出血行二次手术,1例术后腹腔出血非手术治疗。术后发生胰漏1例,肺部感染1例,胸腔积液1例,均经保守治疗痊愈。术后随访3—18个月,均无近期消化道再出血。结论：腹腔镜脾切除联合贲门周围血管离断术治疗门静脉高压症是安全、可行的,具有患者创伤小、术后康复快、疗效确定等优点。术前认真选择患者,固定手术组人员,根据术者经验灵活处理各种情况,尤为重要。     

Anuric Acute Renal Failure Associated with Pericardial Effusion without Signs of Cardiac Tamponade

This article describes the anuric acute renal failure (ARF) secondary to massive pericardial effusion without tamponade in an 84 year-old man. He was referred to our emergency room with progressive dyspnea and azotemia. An electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia. A two-dimensional echocardiogram confirmed the presence of severe pericardial effusion without prominent ventricular diastolic collapse and there were no changes in his vital signs. Laboratory findings showed that his blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels were 91.8 and 3.77 mg/dL, respectively. Renal ultrasonography showed no signs of hydronephrosis. Urine output did not increase in spite of giving a saline and furosemide infusion but increased immediately after pericardiocentesis with drainage. His renal function was completely restored 3 days after the procedure. A pericardial biopsy demonstrated invasion of malignant cells. We should keep in mind that pericardial effusion is one of the causes of anuric ARF, although it is not accompanied by tamponade.