Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 era, concern about the safety of surgical teams related to surgical smoke (SS) is rising. As simple ventilation improvement methods (SVIMs), we replaced 4 of the 8 supply diffusers with a direction-adjustable louver-type, closed 2 of the 4 exhaust grills, and strengthened the sealing of the doorway. Dynamic changes in the concentration of particulate matter (PM) with sizes of < 1.0 μm (PM1.0) were measured using low-cost PM meters (LCPMs) at eight locations in the operating room (OR). SS concentration up to 4 minutes at the location of the surgeon, first assistant, and scrub nurse before and after SVIMs application decreased from 65.4, 38.2, 35.7 µg/m 3 to 9.5, 0.1 and 0.7 µg/m 3 respectively. A similar decrease was observed in the other 5 locations. SVIMs could effectively control SS and the LCPM was also effective in measuring SS in the OR or other spaces of the hospital.

Surgery for the inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (IAAA) is a technically challenging procedure and it's associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Injuries of the vena cava, the duodenum, the left ureter and the renal vein are common in an operation for IAAA. Herein, we report 2 cases of ligation of the left renal vein during repair of the IAAA. Cases: The 1st case was a 75- year-old male patient, who had an abrupt onset of abdominal pain and a pulsatile abdominal mass. An 8.5 cm sized IAAA and left hydronephrosis were detected via CT angiogram. During the operation, the left renal vein was mobilized and then divided to gain access to the aneuysmal neck. We couldn't reconstruct the divided left renal vein. On the follow-up CT scan, the left renal vein drained into the left paravertebral plexus, and no renal congestion was demonstrated. The 2nd patient was a 72-year-old male who experienced sudden abdominal pain and a growing pulsatile mass on the abdomen. A huge IAAA 10.5 cm in diameter was detected in CT scan. During the repair of IAAA, the left renal vein was divided and ligated to expose the neck of the aneurysm. The divided left renal vein was anastomosed to the splenic vein in an end-to-side fashion instead of performing direct reconstruction. On follow-up CT scan, neither left renal congestion nor significant increment of the portal venous flow was noted. The two patients were doing well at the 15th and 10th postoperative month, respectively.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal* ; Duodenum ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Ligation* ; Male ; Mortality ; Neck ; Renal Veins* ; Splenic Vein ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ureter

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the safety and feasibility of gasless laparoscopic assisted transumbilical appendectomy (GLATUA). METHODS: Data for 62 GLATUA and 84 laparoscopic appendectomies (LA) for uncomplicated appendicitis, which had been performed over a 12 month period in a single institution, were compared retrospectively. The GLATUAs were carried out through an umbilical incision. The abdominal wall was retracted upward using an "L"-shaped retractor and the inflamed appendix was found by gasless laparoscopic vision. A transumbilical extracorporeal appendectomy was then performed. The LAs were performed using a three-port system. RESULTS: The GLATUA group had a shorter mean operative time (44.1+/-22.1 vs. 51.5+/-24.7 min, p=0.06), mean time for resuming a soft diet (29.0+/-9.2 vs. 41.3+/-20.7 hrs, p<0.01) and hospital stay (3.0+/-0.9 vs. 3.6+/-1.7, p<0.01) than the LA group. There was no significant difference in complication rates (6.5% vs. 3.6%, p=0.44). The mean medical costs of the GLATUA group were 66.7% of the LA group. CONCLUSION: GLATUA is a safe, feasible and more cost-effective alternative technique for surgery in uncomplicated acute appendicitis than LA.
Abdominal Wall ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Appendix ; Diet ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Vision, Ocular

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was aimed to determine prognostic factors after radical resection of an ampullary carcinoma. METHODS: Medical records of patients with adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater who had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy between Dec. 1994 and May 2002 were reviewed. This study included 59 men and 40 women with a mean age of 58.9 years. 62 patients underwent Whipple procedures, 36 patients, pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy and 1 patient, total pancreatectomy. Actuarial survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to test the independent predictors of survival. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate was 45.4% with 3% mortality and 34.3% morbidity. According to the pTNM stage, the 5-year survival rates were 91.7%, 54.3%, 28.5% and 0% at stages I, II, III, and IV (P<0.01), respectively. The patient survival was significantly impaired by the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis and intraoperative transfusion (P<0.05). In a multivariate analysis, only lymph node metastasis was a statistically independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: pTNM stage is a good prognostic indicator for an ampullary carcinoma after pancreaticoduodenectomy and patients with lymph node metastasis should be identified as high risk and considered as candidates for further adjuvant therapy.
Adenocarcinoma ; Ampulla of Vater ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Pylorus ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: To report a case series of patients experiencing side effects of 0.25% alcaftadine eye drops and to analyze the possible reasons for the side effects. CASE SUMMARY: Medical records of 90 patients who had a history of alcaftadine eye drop use were retrospectively analyzed. Eight out of the 90 patients (8.9%) showed ocular side effects that required discontinuation of the alcaftadine eye drops. All eight cases of alcaftadine side effects showed palpebral and bulbar conjunctival injection, watery discharge, and lid swelling. During additional history collection, all patients with alcaftadine side effects confessed of overuse (more than twice/day) of the eye drops. Anticipation for fast symptom relief was the main reason for the alcaftadine overuse. In all side effect cases, patients were asked to stop alcaftadine eye drops and use preservative-free artificial tears and steroid eye drops. After discontinuation of 0.25% alcaftadine eye drops, regression of palpebral and bulbar conjunctival injection and lid swelling was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Overuse of 0.25% alcaftadine eye drops can induce ocular surface toxicity possibly due to toxicity of drug itself. The possible side effects of overuse of 0.25% alcaftadine eye drops should be fully explained to all patients before use.
Conjunctivitis ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Lubricant Eye Drops ; Medical Records ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ancillary tests such as BRAF(V600E) mutation or immunohistochemical (IHC) assays have been utilized as complements to morphological criteria in diagnosing subsets of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Utilizing results from analysis by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we evaluated the diagnostic value and feasibility of these ancillary tests in diagnosing follicular variant PTC (FVPTC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data and tissue samples were analyzed from 370 PTC patients, who had undergone thyroidectomy between December 2003 and July 2014. PTC was limited to conventional PTC (CVPTC), tall cell variant PTC (TCPTC), and FVPTC. Using multivariate analyses, FVPTC cases were compared to CVPTC and TCPTC cases. Surgical specimens were pyrosequenced for BRAF(V600E) mutation or stained for IHC markers such as CD56, galectin-3, cytokeratin 19 (CK19), or CD31. For the validation, a comprehensive analysis was performed for BRAF(V600E) mutation and quantitative mRNA expressional difference in TCGA. RESULTS: Demographic differences were not observed between 159 CVPTC, 103 TCPTC, and 108 FVPTC cases. BRAF(V600E) mutation predominated in CVPTC+TCPTC group, but not in FVPTC group (78.4% vs. 18.7%, p<0.001), as suggested by TCGA (57.4% vs. 12.1%, p<0.0001). IHC markers significantly distinguished FVPTC cases from CVPTC+TCPTC cases. CD56 exhibited more intense staining in FVPTC cases (21.1% vs. 72.0%, p<0.001). Galectin-3 and CK19 yielded limited values. CD31 correlated with lymphovascular invasion (r=0.847, p<0.001). In analysis of TCGA, mRNA differential expression of these genes revealed their corresponding upregulation or downregulation. CONCLUSION: BRAF(V600E) mutation or TCGA-validated IHC assay could be recommended as ancillary tests for classifying PTC.
Complement System Proteins ; Down-Regulation ; Galectin 3 ; Genome* ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; Multivariate Analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy ; Up-Regulation

PURPOSE: To report a case of chronic hypotony maculopathy caused by traumatic cyclodialysis cleft and treated with 20% sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas tamponade with cyclocryotherapy. CASE SUMMARY: A 39-year-old woman with a history of blunt trauma developed a unilateral chronic ocular hypotony in her left eye. She was treated with topical atropine sulphate 1% for 2 months. Three years later, she was referred to our clinic for evaluation and treatment of persistent hypotony. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was 4 mm Hg and the best corrected visual acuity was 0.4. B-scan echography revealed a choroidal effusion and fundus examination showed choroidal detachment and macular folds. Gonioscopy examination revealed cyclodialysis cleft from the direction of 7 o'clock to 11 o'clock. A single bubble of SF6 20% (0.4 cc) was injected into the vitreous cavity and transconjunctival cyclocryotherapy was performed under retrobulbar anesthesia. Six months later, the IOP was 12 mm Hg and the best corrected visual acuity was 1.0. B-scan echograpy and fundus examination showed the disappearance of the choroidal effusion. CONCLUSIONS: Gas tamponade with cyclocryotherapy may be useful in cases of cyclodialysis cleft that failed to respond to medical therapy.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Atropine ; Choroid ; Eye ; Female ; Gonioscopy ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Ocular Hypotension ; Sulfur Hexafluoride ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: The authors of the present study report treatment experience of acute myopia and branch retinal vein occlusion associated with phendimetrazine, a drug used for weight reduction. CASE SUMMARY: Case 1: A 32-year-old woman, previously devoid of ocular problems, visited our hospital with bilateral visual disturbance after taking phendimetrazine for weight reduction. Ciliochoroidal effusion and anterior shifting of the lens-iris diaphragm were observed, which resulted in a shallow anterior chamber, myopic shifting and an increase in intraocular pressure due to angle closure. The symptoms were relieved by discontinuing the use of phendimetrazine and administration of intraocular pressure-lowering agents. Case 2: A 26-year-old woman, previously devoid of ocular problems, visited our hospital with left superior visual field disturbance after taking phendimetrazine for weight reduction. The examinations revealed papilledema, disc hemorrhage and tortuous vascular changes in her left eye. Fluorescein angiography was performed, and retinal vein occlusion was diagnosed. The patient discontinued weight reduction agents and recovered while under observation. CONCLUSIONS: Phendimetrazine, used for weight reduction, can cause acute myopia via prostaglandin synthesis and retinal venous occlusion due to vascular constriction.
Adult ; Anterior Chamber ; Constriction ; Diaphragm ; Eye ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Glaucoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Morpholines ; Myopia ; Papilledema ; Retinal Vein Occlusion ; Retinaldehyde ; Visual Fields ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: To report a case of maculopathy after exposure to a high-voltage spark. CASE SUMMARY: A 40-year-old male patient visited our clinic complaining of visual disturbance in both eyes 1 day after exposure to a high voltage arc discharge. His best corrected visual acuity was 4/20 in both eyes. On fundus examination, a yellowish retinal scar was observed at the foveal area. The spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) showed inner segment/outer segment line disruption. The best corrected visual acuity was 4/20 in both eyes and SD-OCT showed a remaining inner segment/outer segment line disruption after 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: Maculopathy can result from exposure to a high voltage arc discharge exposure.
Adult ; Cicatrix ; Humans ; Male ; Retinaldehyde ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: We report a rare case of unilateral acute macular neuroretinoapthy in a young male. CASE SUMMARY: A 35-year-old male presented with a 2-day history of paracentral scotoma. He had suffered for 2 days from a flu-like illness, and his best corrected visual acuity was 20/20 OD and 20/20 OS. Pupillary reflex was normal and no relative afferent pupillary defects were not found. Ocular movement test was normal and pain on ocular movement was not noticed. Ophthalmoscopic examination of the left eye revealed multiple exudates lining the nasal macula toward the fovea. A Humphrey visual field study identified small paracentral scotoma. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) of the lesions showed a hyper-reflective lesion located in the outer plexiform layer and inflammatory cell infiltration. Fluorescent angiography was normal in the macula but showed late leak at the disc. The multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) showed decreased foveal P1 amplitude in the left eye. The patient was diagnosed with acute macular neuroretinopathy and was treated with 60 mg of prednisolone. His subjective symptoms were improved, the paracentral scotoma disappeared, and the lesions appeared different upon SD-OCT; specifically, the hyper-reflective lesion disappeared and the outer plexiform layer showed thinning. CONCLUSIONS: Acute macular neuroretinopathy is a rare disease, and we report a case using SD-OCT and mfERG.
Adult ; Angiography ; Exudates and Transudates ; Humans ; Male* ; Prednisolone ; Pupil Disorders ; Rare Diseases ; Reflex, Pupillary ; Scotoma ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Fields