Objective To summarize the characteristics of ecthyma gangrenosum and explore its significance in early diagnosis of pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis in children.Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 11 children with ecthyma gangrenosum who were hospitalized at Guangzhou women and children's medical center between May 2008 and Apr 2011.Results Eight cases were male and 7 were less than twelve months,the oldest was 2 years old,all of them were diagnosed as Pseudomonas aeruginosa spesis.Two patients had a single lesion,and the others had multiple lesions.Ecthyma gangrenosum located on the trunks in 7 cases,on anogenital areas in 5 cases,on extremities in 5 cases and on faces in 3.The lesions appeared on day 2 to day 10.On average,they developed on day 5.Seven patients developed ecthyma gangrenosum before admission,the course of the illness before admission was 6 days.Fever and multiple organ dysfunction occurred in all the patients and their cultures grew pseudomonas aeruginosa,blood cultures were positive in 8 cases,the others were isolated psudomonas aeruginosa from tissue of the lesion,discharge,ascites,pleural effusion,respectively.The time of ecthyma gangrenosum appeared was earlier than the time of the culture results reported.All of the patients were started empiric antibiotics therapy on admission,the initial antibiotic regimen was appropriate in 9 patients,8 needed surgical intervention,4 were treated with continuous blood purification.Ten patients survived and 2 died,the hospital stay was from 1 to 63 days,the average was 30.Conclusion Ecthyma gangrenosum is a known cutaneous manifestation of pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis,which is helpful for early diagnosis and treatment,and then the outcome will be improved.

Objective To study the indication,feasibility and short-term efficacy of combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical esophagectomy for the treatment of esophageal cancer.Methods Retrospective medical records analysis was conducted for 139 esophageal cancer patients who underwent combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy in our department from December 2009 to August 2011.The tumors were located in upper esophagus in 16 cases,middle esophagus in 107 cases,and lower esophagus in 16 cases.The surgery started with the thoracoscopic mobilization of thoracic esophagus and lymph nodes dissection,which were followed by the laparoscopic stomach mobilization and gastroesophageal anastomosis in left neck.Postoperative pathological staging identified stage Ⅰ esophageal cancer in 25 cases ( stage Ⅰ a:13 cases,stage Ⅰ b:12 cases),stage Ⅱ esophageal cancer in 71 cases,stage Ⅲ esophageal cancer in 31 cases ( stage Ⅲ a:16 cases,stage Ⅲ b:15 cases) and stage Ⅳ esophageal cancer in 12 cases.Results Except for open conversions in 4 cases (2.9％),all surgical operations were completed smoothly.Postoperative anastomotic leak was found in 6 cases(4.3％ ),chylothorax in 1 case(0.7％ ),arrhythmia in 4 cases(2.9％ ),and dumping syndrome in 1 case( 0.7％ ).All of these complicated cases fully recovered after conservative treatments.Postoperative lung infection was found 11 cases (7.9％),3 of whom required tracheotomy and assisted ventilation and 1 case died as a result of the infection (mortality rate:0.7％ ).Ten cases(7.2％ ) presented with hoarseness postoperatively.Out of the 139 cases,130 cases were successfully followed up with durations ranged from 1 to 20 months,during of time the esophageal cancer spread to liver in 2 cases,celiac lymph nodes in 4 cases,lung in 2 cases,and bone in 1 case.Ten cases died,and all remaining cases remained alive during the follow up.The one-year survival rate was 88.9％ for these cases.Conclusion Combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical esophagectomy is a technically safe and feasible treatment for esophageal cancer.The short-term efficacy results are satisfactory.This technique is indicated not only for early and middle stage esophageal cancer,but also for some of the advanced esophageal cancer cases.