Aortopulmonary fistula is an uncommon but often fatal condition resulting as a late complication of an aortic aneurysm. The most common cause is erosion of a false aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta into the pulmonary artery, resulting in the development of a left-to-right shunt and leading to acute pulmonary edema and right heart failure. We report an our experience with aortopulmonary fistula as a rare complication associated with thoracic aortic aneurysm and high output heart failure.
Aneurysm, False ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Arterio-Arterial Fistula ; Fistula ; Heart Failure ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Edema

Purpose: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) using both a radioactive isotope (RI) and blue dye is considered highly effective; however, there were limitations with the use of both agents in some hospitals, and blue dye has been shown to have some adverse effects. Additionally, preoperative prediction of sentinel lymph node (SLN) status using the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) can help avoid unnecessary axillary dissection or SLNB. Thus, we evaluated the efficacy and oncologic safety of SLNB using an RI alone in terms of long-term outcomes and determined the association between SLN metastasis and SUVmax of the primary tumor. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Konyang University Hospital between March 2011 and May 2018. Overall, 142 patients with breast cancer who underwent SLNB using an RI alone were enrolled. Data on identification and false-negative rates were collected. The SUVmax of primary tumors on PET-CT were analyzed for their association with SLN metastasis. Results: The identification and false-negative rates were 98.6% and 0%, respectively. There was no axillary local recurrence in patients with negative SLN findings. The correlation between the SUVmax of the primary tumor and SLN status was significant (r=0.249, P=0.005); the cutoff value for negative SLN metastasis was <2.15. Conclusion The single agent method using an RI is not inferior to other methods and serves as a feasible option for SLNB. And the number of excised SLNs could be minimized when the SUVmax of primary tumor is extremely low.

Purpose: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) using both a radioactive isotope (RI) and blue dye is considered highly effective; however, there were limitations with the use of both agents in some hospitals, and blue dye has been shown to have some adverse effects. Additionally, preoperative prediction of sentinel lymph node (SLN) status using the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) can help avoid unnecessary axillary dissection or SLNB. Thus, we evaluated the efficacy and oncologic safety of SLNB using an RI alone in terms of long-term outcomes and determined the association between SLN metastasis and SUVmax of the primary tumor. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Konyang University Hospital between March 2011 and May 2018. Overall, 142 patients with breast cancer who underwent SLNB using an RI alone were enrolled. Data on identification and false-negative rates were collected. The SUVmax of primary tumors on PET-CT were analyzed for their association with SLN metastasis. Results: The identification and false-negative rates were 98.6% and 0%, respectively. There was no axillary local recurrence in patients with negative SLN findings. The correlation between the SUVmax of the primary tumor and SLN status was significant (r=0.249, P=0.005); the cutoff value for negative SLN metastasis was <2.15. Conclusion The single agent method using an RI is not inferior to other methods and serves as a feasible option for SLNB. And the number of excised SLNs could be minimized when the SUVmax of primary tumor is extremely low.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is critical for tumor growth and metastasis. Notably, tumors themselves can lead to angiogenesis by inducing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is one of the most potent angiogenic factors. Inhibition of angiogenesis is currently perceived as one of the most promising strategies for the blockage of tumor growth. In this study, we investigated the effects of Acer tegmentosum maxim water extract (ATME) on angiogenesis and its underlying signal mechanism. We studied the antiangiogenic activity of ATME by using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). ATME strongly inhibited VEGF-induced endothelial cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation, as well as vessel sprouting in a rat aortic ring sprouting assay. Moreover, we found that the p44/42 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathway is involved in the inhibition of angiogenesis by ATME. Moreover, when we performed the in vivo matrigel plug assay, VEGF-induced angiogenesis was potently reduced when compared to that for the control group. Taken together, these results suggest that ATME exhibits potent antiangiogenic activity in vivo and in vitro and that these effects are regulated by the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) pathway.
Acer/*metabolism ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cell Survival ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/*metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/*drug effects ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1/metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness/pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/*drug therapy/prevention & control ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/metabolism ; Phosphorylation/drug effects ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical results for women undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH). METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent TAH (n=97), LAVH (n=112) and TVH (n=95) from June 2002 to June 2005. We compared and evaluated patient's characteristics, previous abdominal operation histories, indication of hysterectomy, uterine weight, operative time, perioperative hemoglobin and hematocrit change, the degree of postoperative pain, hospital stay and complications. RESULTS: The patient's characteristic (age, weight, height, parity, perioperative hemoglobin and hematocrit change, complication rate) had no statistical difference in all three groups. In the TVH group, the rate of previous abdominal operations (25%) was significantly lower than TAH (56%), and LAVH (40%) (p=0.023). The mean uterine weight was the heaviest in TAH group (443.6+/-407.3 g), compared to LAVH group (301.9+/-133.9 g) and TVH group (225.3+/-91.8 g) (p<0.001). Operative time was the longest for LAVH group (p=0.001), and there was no significant difference between TAH group and TVH group (p=0.087). The TAH group had the highest postoperative pain scale and the length of hospital stay. The LAVH group and TVH group had almost the same postoperative pain scale and the length of hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Both LAVH and TVH had the following advantages compared with total abdominal hysterectomy: less pain, shorter hospital stay, cosmetic advantages. But limited operation field in TVH and expensive operative cost in LAVH were disadvantages. Specific guidelines for determining the route of hysterectomy result in decreased morbidity and lower costs, and thus the gynecologist can ensure that the patient receives the best possible surgical care.
Female ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Operative Time ; Pain, Postoperative ; Parity

Purpose: The safety of single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) for acute cholecystitis (AC) has not yet been confirmed. Methods: This single-center retrospective study included patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for AC between April 2010 and December 2020.Propensity scores were used to match patients who underwent SILC with those who underwent conventional multiport LC (CMLC) in the entire cohort and in the two subgroups. Results: A total of 1,876 patients underwent LC for AC, and 427 (22.8%) underwent SILC. In the propensity score-matched analysis of the entire cohort (404 patients in each group), the length of hospital stay (2.9 days vs. 3.5 days, p = 0.029) was shorter in the SILC group than in the CMLC group. No significant differences were observed in other surgical outcomes. In grade I AC (336 patients in each group), the SILC group showed poorer surgical outcomes than the CMLC group, regarding operation time (57.6 minutes vs. 52.4 minutes, p = 0.001) and estimated blood loss (22.9 mL vs. 13.1 mL, p = 0.006). In grade II/III AC (58 patients in each group), there were no significant differences in surgical outcomes between the two groups. Postoperative pain outcomes were also not significantly different in the two groups, regardless of severity. Conclusion This study demonstrated that SILC had similar surgical and pain outcomes to CMLC in patients with AC; however, subgroup analysis showed that SILC was associated with poor surgical outcomes than CMLC in grade I AC. Therefore, SILC should be carefully performed in patients with AC by experienced hepatobiliary surgeons.

Purpose: Common bile duct (CBD) stone recurrence after laparoscopic CBD exploration (LCBDE) is relatively common. No studies have been conducted evaluating the safety and feasibility of re-do LCBDE in the treatment of recurrent CBD stones. Methods: This single-center retrospective study reviewed 340 consecutive patients who underwent LCBDE for CBD stones between January 2004 and December 2020. Patients with pancreatobiliary malignancies and those who underwent other surgical procedures were excluded. Results: Of the 340 included patients, 45 experienced a recurrence after a mean follow-up period of 24.2 months. Of them, 18 underwent re-do LCBDE, 20 underwent endoscopic intervention, 2 underwent radiologic intervention, and 5 underwent observation. Re-do LCBDE and initial LCBDE showed similar surgical outcomes in terms of operative time (113.1 minutes vs. 107.5 minutes, P = 0.515), estimated blood loss (42.5 mL vs. 49.1 mL, P = 0.661), open conversion rate (2.9% vs. 0%, P = 0.461), postoperative complication (15.3% vs. 22.2%, P = 0.430), and postoperative hospital stay (6.5 days vs. 6.4 days, P = 0.921). Comparing re-do LCBDE and nonsurgical treatment (endoscopic or radiologic), no statistically significant differences were noted in posttreatment complication (22.2% vs. 13.6%, P = 0.477), hospital stay (6.4 days vs.7.3 days, P = 0.607), and recurrence (50.0% vs. 36.4%, P = 0.385). The clearance rate was higher in the re-do LCBDE group than in the nonsurgical group (100% vs. 81.8%, P = 0.057). Conclusion Compared to initial LCBDE and endoscopic or radiological treatments, re-do LCBDE for recurrent CBD stones is a treatment option worth considering in selected patients.

Purpose: Common bile duct (CBD) stone recurrence after laparoscopic CBD exploration (LCBDE) is relatively common. No studies have been conducted evaluating the safety and feasibility of re-do LCBDE in the treatment of recurrent CBD stones. Methods: This single-center retrospective study reviewed 340 consecutive patients who underwent LCBDE for CBD stones between January 2004 and December 2020. Patients with pancreatobiliary malignancies and those who underwent other surgical procedures were excluded. Results: Of the 340 included patients, 45 experienced a recurrence after a mean follow-up period of 24.2 months. Of them, 18 underwent re-do LCBDE, 20 underwent endoscopic intervention, 2 underwent radiologic intervention, and 5 underwent observation. Re-do LCBDE and initial LCBDE showed similar surgical outcomes in terms of operative time (113.1 minutes vs. 107.5 minutes, P = 0.515), estimated blood loss (42.5 mL vs. 49.1 mL, P = 0.661), open conversion rate (2.9% vs. 0%, P = 0.461), postoperative complication (15.3% vs. 22.2%, P = 0.430), and postoperative hospital stay (6.5 days vs. 6.4 days, P = 0.921). Comparing re-do LCBDE and nonsurgical treatment (endoscopic or radiologic), no statistically significant differences were noted in posttreatment complication (22.2% vs. 13.6%, P = 0.477), hospital stay (6.4 days vs.7.3 days, P = 0.607), and recurrence (50.0% vs. 36.4%, P = 0.385). The clearance rate was higher in the re-do LCBDE group than in the nonsurgical group (100% vs. 81.8%, P = 0.057). Conclusion Compared to initial LCBDE and endoscopic or radiological treatments, re-do LCBDE for recurrent CBD stones is a treatment option worth considering in selected patients.

Purpose: Common bile duct (CBD) stone recurrence after laparoscopic CBD exploration (LCBDE) is relatively common. No studies have been conducted evaluating the safety and feasibility of re-do LCBDE in the treatment of recurrent CBD stones. Methods: This single-center retrospective study reviewed 340 consecutive patients who underwent LCBDE for CBD stones between January 2004 and December 2020. Patients with pancreatobiliary malignancies and those who underwent other surgical procedures were excluded. Results: Of the 340 included patients, 45 experienced a recurrence after a mean follow-up period of 24.2 months. Of them, 18 underwent re-do LCBDE, 20 underwent endoscopic intervention, 2 underwent radiologic intervention, and 5 underwent observation. Re-do LCBDE and initial LCBDE showed similar surgical outcomes in terms of operative time (113.1 minutes vs. 107.5 minutes, P = 0.515), estimated blood loss (42.5 mL vs. 49.1 mL, P = 0.661), open conversion rate (2.9% vs. 0%, P = 0.461), postoperative complication (15.3% vs. 22.2%, P = 0.430), and postoperative hospital stay (6.5 days vs. 6.4 days, P = 0.921). Comparing re-do LCBDE and nonsurgical treatment (endoscopic or radiologic), no statistically significant differences were noted in posttreatment complication (22.2% vs. 13.6%, P = 0.477), hospital stay (6.4 days vs.7.3 days, P = 0.607), and recurrence (50.0% vs. 36.4%, P = 0.385). The clearance rate was higher in the re-do LCBDE group than in the nonsurgical group (100% vs. 81.8%, P = 0.057). Conclusion Compared to initial LCBDE and endoscopic or radiological treatments, re-do LCBDE for recurrent CBD stones is a treatment option worth considering in selected patients.

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the role of the perioperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as an early predictor of major postoperative complications after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods: This single-center, retrospective study reviewed consecutive patients with gastric cancer who underwent total gastrectomy at a single institution from March 2009 to March 2021. The postoperative complications were graded according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. We analyzed the patient demographics and surgical outcomes according to the grade of postoperative complications in the major complications group (≥grade III) and the no major complications group (Results: Out of 212 patients (mean age, 64.1 years; 152 male [71.7%]), 63 (29.7%) underwent minimally invasive surgery. Twenty-five (11.8%) were in the major complications group and 187 (88.2%) were in the no major complications group. There was a significant difference in the NLR on POD 2 (16.54 vs. 8.83, P = 0.033) between the 2 groups. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve for the NLR on POD 2, the cutoff was calculated to be 9.6. In multivariate analysis, an NLR on POD 2 of ≥9.6 and an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification of ≥III were statistically significant predictors of major postoperative complications. Conclusion Determination of the NLR on POD 2 is a simple and useful method for the early prediction of major complications after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.