Even within a hospital, the prognosis after a cardiac arrest is extremely poor if intervention starts only after the event; thus, early recognition and intervention is crucial to reduce inhospital cardiac arrests. This paper aims to assess the results of in-clinic surveys conducted for the implementation of the Rapid Response System (RRS) at our hospital and changes in awareness after awareness initiatives. Excluding the neonatal intensive care unit, all wards were targeted for implementation, with the creation of criteria for requesting the RRS and hospital-wide awareness initiatives. Four items were defined for the request criteria—namely, (1) respiration, (2) circulation, (3) state of consciousness, and (4) others (any concerns)—with a request being warranted if any one of these criteria was met. A pre-awareness survey revealed that respiratory rates were recorded only 6.9% of the time on average, indicating inadequate observation of respiratory rates across all wards. In response to this issue, we announced that respiratory status should be observed at least once a day, which resulted in the recording rate improving to 68.2% after 2 months. Survey results before and after the awareness initiatives among doctors and nurses showed a significant increase in RRS awareness. The percentage of nurses who answered “well aware” or “somewhat aware” increased from 34.8% to 77.6%, and from 63.4% to 88.0% among doctors. However, while the introduction of the RRS was relatively well-received by nurses struggling with on-site responses, some doctors questioned the necessity of the RRS. Upon implementation, it is important to make it known that it is a hospital-wide effort. Simplifying and thoroughly utilizing the request criteria can lead to early recognition of abnormalities. Since it is not easy to gain doctors’ understanding, it is necessary to listen to the needs and requests of each department and patiently continue awareness activities before implementation

Methods: This study included 46 patients who underwent spinal reconstruction surgery for thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral fractures and kyphosis and were followed up for 1 year postoperatively. DJK was defined as an advanced kyphosis angle >10° between the LIV and one lower vertebra. The patients were divided into groups with and without DJK. The risk factors of the two groups, such as patient background, surgery-related factors, radiographic parameters, and clinical outcomes, were analyzed. Results: The DJK and non-DJK groups included 14 and 32 patients, respectively, without significant differences in patient background. Those with instability in the distal adjacent LIV disc had a significantly higher risk of DJK occurrence (28.6% vs. 3.2%, p=0.027). DJK occurrence significantly increased in those with the sagittal stable vertebra not included in the fixation range (57.1% vs. 18.8%, p=0.020). Other preoperative radiographic parameters were not significantly different. Instability in the distal adjacent LIV disc (adjusted odds ratio, 14.50; p=0.029) and the exclusion of the sagittal stable vertebra from the fixation range (adjusted odds ratio, 5.29; p=0.020) were significant risk factors for DJK occurrence. Conclusions Regarding spinal reconstruction surgery in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures, instability in the distal adjacent LIV disc and the exclusion of the sagittal stable vertebra from the fixation range were risk factors for DJK occurrence in the short term.

We report the case of a 76-year-old man who developed type IA endoleak through the fenestration after 1-debranch TEVAR using a Najuta endograft. The patient was admitted with expansion of the aneurysm after TEVAR, for additional therapy. Type IA endoleak through a fenestration has remained a significant clinical concern and its treatment is challenging. We performed Zone 0 TEVAR using the “Squid-Capture” technique assisted in situ stent-graft fenestration. Cerebral vessels were perfused by a percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system during in situ stent-graft fenestration, and the cerebral branch was clamped at the proximal site. It is difficult to operate the catheter inside the endoskeleton structure of a Najuta endograft, but several innovations were effective. Test dilation of the balloon catheter was performed to ensure that the wire did not interfere with the endoskeleton. Avoiding interference with the endoskeleton is important. The Squid-Capture technique allows safe and secure puncture of the graft. The operation was completed successfully. After this procedure, the endoleak disappeared. It is considered to be a useful method for treatment of endoleak through the fenestration.

We report a case of a 56-year-old woman. She had a history of emergent ascending aorta replacement due to type A dissection. Seven years later, aortic arch enlargement (55 mm) was detected on CT scan, and indicated secondary repair. Because of the existence of the aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA), the safer surgical management needed to be discussed. Total arch replacement with the use of open stent-grafting technique and extra-anatomical reconstruction of ARSA was chosen for the treatment. In the operation, straight woven grafts (7 mm in diameter) were firstly anastomosed to the bilateral axillary arteries. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with antegrade cerebral perfusion through median sternotomy was established. The aortic arch was transected between the right and left subclavian arteries. The left subclavian artery was ligated at its origin, and an aortic open stent graft was inserted distally. An aortic reconstruction was performed between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery with a 4 branched J-graft. The left carotid artery was reconstructed anatomically, and the tube grafts anastomosed to the bilateral axillary arteries were reconstructed in an extra-anatomical fashion. On the 11th postoperative days, coil-embolization of the ARSA was performed to complete the treatment. The patient had an uneventful post-operative recovery. Total arch replacement using an open stent-grafting technique was a feasible treatment option for the aortic arch aneurysm with ARSA.

Methods: We investigated 154 foramina at L5–S1 in 77 patients. All the patients had degenerative lumbar disorders and had undergone both conventional MRI and 3D-MRI during the same visit. Differences between the FSRs calculated from conventional and 3D-MRI reconstructions and any correlations with the plain radiography findings were assessed. Results: In foramina that had a FSR of <50% on conventional MRI, the difference between the FSR obtained using conventional MRI and 3D-MRI was 5.1%, with a correlation coefficient of 0.777. For foramina with a FSR ≥50% on conventional MRI, the difference was 20.2%, with a correlation coefficient of 0.54. FSR obtained using 3D-MRI was significantly greater in patients who required surgery than in those who were successfully treated with conservative methods (88% and 42%, respectively). Segments with spondylolisthesis or lateral wedging showed higher FSRs than those without these conditions on both types of MRI. Conclusions FSRs <50% obtained using conventional MRI were sufficiently reliable; however, the results were inaccurate for FSRs ≥50%. Patients with high FSRs on 3D-MRI were more likely to require surgical treatment. Therefore, 3D-MRI is recommended in patients with suspected stenosis detected using conventional MRI or plain radiographs.

Methods: We investigated 154 foramina at L5–S1 in 77 patients. All the patients had degenerative lumbar disorders and had undergone both conventional MRI and 3D-MRI during the same visit. Differences between the FSRs calculated from conventional and 3D-MRI reconstructions and any correlations with the plain radiography findings were assessed. Results: In foramina that had a FSR of <50% on conventional MRI, the difference between the FSR obtained using conventional MRI and 3D-MRI was 5.1%, with a correlation coefficient of 0.777. For foramina with a FSR ≥50% on conventional MRI, the difference was 20.2%, with a correlation coefficient of 0.54. FSR obtained using 3D-MRI was significantly greater in patients who required surgery than in those who were successfully treated with conservative methods (88% and 42%, respectively). Segments with spondylolisthesis or lateral wedging showed higher FSRs than those without these conditions on both types of MRI. Conclusions FSRs <50% obtained using conventional MRI were sufficiently reliable; however, the results were inaccurate for FSRs ≥50%. Patients with high FSRs on 3D-MRI were more likely to require surgical treatment. Therefore, 3D-MRI is recommended in patients with suspected stenosis detected using conventional MRI or plain radiographs.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between preoperative total spinal sagittal alignment and the early onset of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after single-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in patients with normal sagittal spinal alignment. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Postoperative early-onset ASD is one of the complications after L4–L5 PLIF, a common surgical procedure for lumbar degenerative disease in patents without severe sagittal imbalance. A better understanding of the preoperative characteristics of total spinal sagittal alignment associated with early-onset ASD could help prevent the condition. METHODS: The study included 70 consecutive patients diagnosed with lumbar degenerative disease who underwent single-level L4–L5 PLIF between 2011 and 2015. They were divided into two groups based on the radiographic progression of L3–L4 degeneration after 1-year follow-up: the ASD and the non-ASD (NASD) group. The following radiographic parameters were preoperatively and postoperatively measured: sagittal vertebral axis (SVA), thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis, pelvic tilt, and pelvic incidence (PI). RESULTS: Eight of the 70 patients (11%) experienced ASD after PLIF (three males and five females; age, 64.4±7.7 years). The NASD group comprised 20 males and 42 females (age, 67.7±9.3 years). Six patients of the ASD group showed decreased L3–L4 disc height, one had L3–L4 local kyphosis, and one showed both changes. Preoperative SVA, PI, and TK were significantly smaller in the ASD group than in the NASD group (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A preoperative small SVA and TK with small PI were the characteristic alignments for the risk of early-onset ASD in patients without preoperative severe sagittal spinal imbalance undergoing L4–L5 single-level PLIF.
Animals ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kyphosis ; Lordosis ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Crohn Disease* ; Food, Formulated* ; Humans ; Infliximab*

Oxycodone controlled-release (CR) tablets are used as a first-line opioid analgesic for cancer pain. However, use of oxycodone CR tablets is associated with toxicities such as drowsiness and constipation, leading to deterioration of the quality of life (QOL), especially in patients with gynecologic cancer. In contrast, fentanyl has a superior toxicity profile while still showing a strong analgesic effect. Although fentanyl has been approved for switching from opioid, there have been no Japanese studies of patients with gynecologic cancer who were switched to transdermal fentanyl after experiencing toxicity during therapy with oxycodone CR. More importantly early introduction of palliative therapy for pain has not been adopted routinely in the management of gynecologic cancer. Thus, it appears that treatment for patients with gynecologic cancer remains unsatisfactory at present. We conducted research into improvement of the toxicity profile and pain control with the aim of improving QOL for patients with gynecologic cancer. We showed that pain, drowsiness, and constipation could be significantly improved in gynecologic cancer patients as a result of switching to transdermal fentanyl therapy at an early stage.

A 64-year-old man who underwent aortic valve replacement with a 25mm Bjork-Shiley valve in 1993 began to have severe anemia and required repeated transfusions by November 2003. Doppler echocardiography showed only mild aortic regurgitation, but revealed turbulent flow around the mechanical valve. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) was diagnosed and he was treated with prednisolone (PSL) starting May 2004. Because of unremitting hemolysis requiring multiple transfusions and the occurrence of renal dysfunction, he underwent rereplacement of the aortic valve with a 25-mm Freestyle valve. His hemolysis and general condition immediately improved. This case suggests the possibility that mild regurgitant jet and turbulent jet stress can cause severe hemolysis when AIHA develops.