Complications related to a broken stylet during endotracheal intubation have been infrequently reported. In most cases, broken stylets have been recognized by chest radiography. We report a case of unrecognized iatrogenic aspiration of a broken stylet. A 37-year-old man, who underwent explo-laparotomy two days previously, was reintubated with an uncoated stylet in the intensive care unit because of dyspnea and pulmonary congestion. He was on artificial ventilation for one day and was extubated one week later. We could not find the broken stylet on serial chest x-ray films until a metallic substance was expectorated while the patient was coughing 28 days after extubation. During the intervening period the patient did not complain of any chest discomfort and we did not realize that the broken stylet remained. The use of a plastic coated stylet and its careful observation after intubation are recommended to avoid this complication.
Adult ; Cough* ; Dyspnea ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Plastics ; Radiography ; Thorax ; Ventilation ; X-Ray Film

Although dysphagia in patients with acute leukemia is usually related to reflux esophagitis, infectious esophagitis, chemotherapy1) and leukemic infiltration2), acute esophageal stricture resulting from chemotherapy in the patient with leukemia is very rare. A 40-year-old man with acute myelogenous leukemia was admitted for operation of esophageal stricture which was developed within 1 month of chemotherapy. An esophagectomy and esophagogastrostomy with pyloroplasty was carried out. Histology showed mucosal infiltration of mononuclear cells and transmural fibrosis involving submucosa and the muscle layer.
Adult ; Deglutition Disorders ; Drug Therapy ; Esophageal Stenosis* ; Esophagectomy ; Esophagitis ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy* ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute

PURPOSE: Although acute renal failure (ARF) commonly develops in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), the impact of ARF on disease severity is rarely reported in Korea. This study was performed to compare the clinical findings, morbidity and mortality between SAP patients with and without ARF. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 102 patients with SAP between january 2001 and June 2008 in 3 hospitals. We investigated the incidence and clinical course of ARF in SAP patients. Then, we compared morbidity and mortality between the patients with ARF and normal renal function (NRF). RESULTS: Of the total 102 SAP patients, ARF was observed in 39 patients (38.2%). The peak serum creatinine level in ARF patients was 4.5+/-2.3 mg/dL. Eight of the 39 ARF patients (20.5%) received hemodialysis and ten patients (25.6%) died. When compared to NRF patiens, ARF patients (n=39) had higher incidence of dyspnea (17.9% vs 3.2%, p=0.011), loss of consciousness (17.9% vs 1.6%, p=0.003), and APACHE II scores more than 8 (92.3% vs 0%, p<0.001). The ARF group had also higher incidences of sepsis (35.9% vs 7.9%, p<0.001), multiorgan failure (15.4% vs 0%, p=0.001), respiratory failure (28.2% vs 4.7%, p=0.001) and mortality (25.6% vs 3.2%, p=0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated thrombocytopenia, hemoconcentration, and high LDH as independent risk factors of ARF in SAP patients. CONCLUSION: The incidence of ARF was high (38.2%) and ARF patients showed higher morbidity and mortality, compared to NRF patients. We suggest that early management of ARF should be performed for reducing the mortality in SAP patients.
Acute Kidney Injury ; APACHE ; Creatinine ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreatitis ; Renal Dialysis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis ; Thrombocytopenia ; Unconsciousness

There has been an increase in the use of central venous catheters for temporary hemodialysis. Infected thrombus of right atrium is a rare but life-threatening complication of the central venous catheterization. A 35-year-old female hemodialysis patient was admitted with fever and dyspnea. She had been inserted tunneled hemodialysis catheter 2 months before. Blood cultures revealed methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Chest CT showed multi-focal pneumonia and 4 cm sized huge thrombus in the right atrium. Echocardiography demonstrated same thrombus attached to the catheter tip in the right atrium. The catheter could not be removed because of high risk of pulmonary thromboembolism. Despite intravenous vancomycin treatment, the patient died from esophageal varix bleeding.
Adult ; Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Female ; Fever ; Heart Atria ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Renal Dialysis ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Thorax ; Thrombosis ; Vancomycin

Colon cancer treatment is on the way to evolution over several decades. The minimally invasive surgery has improved postoperative short-term outcomes. Adjuvant chemotherapy has prolonged the survival of advanced colon cancer patients. Hohenberger proposed the noble concept of complete mesocolic excision (CME) which consists of 3 components: plane surgery, sufficient longitudinal bowel resection, and central vascular ligation (CVL). Mesocolic plane surgery shares the same surgical principle of total mesorectal excision, which is maintaining the intact mesothelial envelope. However, there remain debates about the extent of bowel resection and the level of CVL for maximizing lymph node dissection. There is no solid clinical evidence for the oncological necessity and benefit of extended radical dissection in right hemicolectomy. CME with CVL based on open surgery has been adopted in laparoscopic surgery. So, it is also necessary to look at how the CME could be transformed and successfully implanted in the laparoscopic era. Recent rapid advances in surgical technology and cancer biology are preparing for fundamental changes in cancer surgery. In this study, we reviewed the history, oncological necessity, and compatibility of CME for the right hemicolectomy in the laparoscopic era and outline the new perspectives on the evolution of cancer surgery.