We report a case of possible venous air embolism (VAE) during trans pars plana vitrectomy with air-fluid exchange of the vitreous cavity. Shortly after initiation of air-fluid exchange, decreases in end-tidal CO2, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure were observed. The patient rapidly progressed to cardiac arrest unresponsive to cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and recovered after the application of percutaneous cardiopulmonary support. Prompt termination of air infusion is needed when VAE is suspected during air-fluid exchange, and extracorporeal life support should be considered in fatal cases. Although the incidence is rare the possibility of VAE during ophthalmic surgery clearly exists, and therefore awareness and vigilant monitoring seem critical.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Embolism, Air* ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures ; Oxygen ; Vitrectomy

Surgery is the standard treatment for a primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST); however, surgical resection is often not curative, particularly for large GISTs. In the past decade, with imatinib mesylate (IM), management strategies for GISTs have evolved significantly, and now IM is the standard care for patients with locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic GISTs. Adjuvant therapy with imatinib was recently approved for use, and preoperative imatinib is an emerging treatment option for patients who require cytoreductive therapy. IM neoadjuvant therapy for primary GISTs has been reported, but there is no consensus on the dose of the drug, the duration of treatment and the optimal time of surgery. These are critical because drug resistance or tumor progression can develop with a prolonged treatment. This report describes two cases of large rectal malignant GISTs, for which a abdominoperineal resection was initially anticipated. The two patients received IM preoperative treatment; we followed-up with CT or magnetic resonance imaging to access the response. After 9 months of treatment, a multi-disciplinary consensus that maximal benefit from imatinib had been achieved was reached. We determined the best time for surgical intervention and successfully performed sphincter-preserving surgery before resistance to imatinib or tumor progression occurred. We believe that a multidisciplinary team approach, considerating the optimal duration of therapy and the timing of surgery, is required to optimize treatment outcome.
Benzamides ; Consensus ; Drug Resistance ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mesylates ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Piperazines ; Pyrimidines ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Patient-centered care (PCC) and integrative care approach are widely advocated. However, their implementation usually requires an extended consultation time. Despite significant advances in medical diagnosis and treatment, no studies have examined consultation time and patient centeredness in Korea. METHODS: We conducted a “15-Minute Consultation” for first-time patients in outpatient clinics of 13 departments. A control group was selected from the same physicians' first-time patients, adjusting for age and gender. A total of 275 patients were selected for receiving in-depth consultation and 141 control patients were selected for regular consultation. Data were collected from patients using a questionnaire comprising a patient-centeredness scale and items on potential predictors such as socio-demographic and clinical factors. We also investigated the participating physician's professionalism. RESULTS: As compared to the control group, the in-depth consultation group scored higher on 5 variables associated with PCC, including (patients' perception of) medical professionals, wait and consultation times, treatment, patient advocacy, and patient satisfaction. While 92.4% of patients in the in-depth consultation group reported that the consultation time was sufficient, only 69.0% of those in the control group reported the same (P < 0.01). In the in-depth consultation group, scores on satisfaction level were the highest for the department of internal medicine, followed by departments of surgery and pediatrics. Participating physicians' improved satisfaction following the intervention proved that in-depth consultation facilitated building a rapport with patients. CONCLUSION: This study illustrated that the provision of sufficiently long consultation for serious and rare diseases could improve PCC and physicians' professionalism. Health authorities should reshuffle the healthcare delivery system and provide sufficient consultation time to ensure PCC and medical professionalism.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Korea ; Outpatients ; Patient Advocacy ; Patient Satisfaction ; Patient-Centered Care ; Pediatrics ; Professionalism ; Rare Diseases ; Tertiary Care Centers

Anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is a primary systemic vasculitis that affects the small vessels, and ANCA is involved as the common pathogenesis. Environmental factors such as infectious agents have been considered to play a role in triggering the autoimmunity. We report here on a case of ANCA-associated vasculitis that developed after scrub typhus. A 64-year-old male was admitted because of fever, chills, pain, weakness and hypoesthesia of his calves. He was diagnosed as having scrub typhus based on the findings of an eschar and the positive serum anti-orientia antibody. The fever continued despite the antibiotic treatment. Neurologic symptoms such as numbness, hypoesthesia and weakness began to develop in the hands, feet and calves with a persisting fever. The nerve conduction velocity study revealed mononeuritis multiplex of the superficial peroneal nerve and the median nerve. Microscopic hematuria then additionally developed, and the serology showed a positive myeloperoxidase (MPO) test. A nerve biopsy was conducted on the left superficial peroneal nerve and the result showed non-infectious systemic vasculitis of the medium-small arteries. He was diagnosed as having microscopic polyangiitis along with ANCA associated vasculitis. The fever resolved and the neurologic symptoms began to improve after steroid pulse treatment (methylprednisolone 1 g/day). The neuropathy gradually improved after discharge. We presume that the ANCA-associated vasculitis was triggered by scrub typhus.
Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; Arteries ; Autoimmunity ; Biopsy ; Chills ; Cytoplasm ; Fever ; Foot ; Hand ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Male ; Median Nerve ; Microscopic Polyangiitis ; Middle Aged ; Mononeuropathies ; Neural Conduction ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Peroneal Nerve ; Peroxidase ; Scrub Typhus ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Vasculitis

Abstract Since the first confirmed human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus was reported in Hong Kong SAR (China) in 1997, sporadic zoonotic avian influenza viruses causing human illness have been identified globally with the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region as a hotspot. A resurgence of A(H5N1) occurred in humans and animals in November 2003. Between November 2003 and September 2017, WHO received reports of 1838 human infections with avian influenza viruses A(H5N1), A(H5N6), A(H6N1), A(H7N9), A(H9N2) and A(H10N8) in the Western Pacific Region. Most of the infections were with A(H7N9) (n = 1562, 85%) and A(H5N1) (n = 238, 13%) viruses, and most (n = 1583, 86%) were reported from December through April. In poultry and wild birds, A(H5N1) and A(H5N6) subtypes were the most widely distributed, with outbreaks reported from 10 and eight countries and areas, respectively. Regional analyses of human infections with avian influenza subtypes revealed distinct epidemiologic patterns that varied across countries, age and time. Such epidemiologic patterns may not be apparent from aggregated global summaries or country reports; regional assessment can offer additional insight that can inform risk assessment and response efforts. As infected animals and contaminated environments are the primary source of human infections, regional analyses that bring together human and animal surveillance data are an important basis for exposure and transmission risk assessment and public health action. Combining sustained event-based surveillance with enhanced collaboration between public health, veterinary (domestic and wildlife) and environmental sectors will provide a basis to inform joint risk assessment and coordinated response activities.