Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-3350 is the most frequently used lavage solution for bowel cleansing prior to colonoscopy or elective surgery because its large molecular weight means that it is poorly absorbed. However, if it leaks into the peritoneal cavity, complications may arise. Few published studies have assessed the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of PEG. Moreover, no published clinical data regarding complications due to the intra-peritoneal leakage of PEG-3350 could be found. We report on an elderly patient who developed the poisoning caused by leaking of PEG-3350 during bowel preparation. It resulted in severe metabolic acidosis, hypernatremia, hyperosmolality and a high anion gap, but it was effectively treated with early continuous renal replacement therapy after surgery.
Absorption ; Acid-Base Equilibrium ; Acidosis ; Aged* ; Colonoscopy ; Humans ; Hypernatremia ; Metabolism ; Molecular Weight ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Poisoning* ; Polyethylene Glycols* ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Therapeutic Irrigation

Scrub typhus is a mite-borne infectious disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi . Although early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic therapy improve the prognosis for the majority of patients, life-threatening complications are not uncommon. Here, we present a case of successful veno-veno-type extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for scrub typhus-induced complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, myocarditis and multi-organ dysfunction. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in complicated scrub typhus in Korea.
Communicable Diseases ; Early Diagnosis ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Humans ; Korea ; Myocarditis ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Scrub Typhus*

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a transient condition characterized by altered mental status, seizure, headache, and visual disturbance with typical neuro-imaging findings in the bilateral parieto-occipital regions. Clinicians should be aware of this syndrome because delayed diagnosis and treatment result in irreversible neurologic deficits. We present the case of a 77-year-old male diagnosed with PRES in the setting of postoperative critical illness caused by small-bowel strangulation.
Aged ; Critical Illness* ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Headache ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome* ; Postoperative Period ; Seizures

Anaphylactic reaction during the perioperative period typically exhibits rapid onset, varying clinical manifestations, and an expected mortality rate of 1.5-9%. Neuromuscular blocking agents are the leading cause of perioperative anaphylaxis. Here, we report a severe case of anaphylaxis that developed in a 66-year-old man due to cisatracurium administration. And he was successfully managed by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and the patient was successfully weaned off 24 hours later.
Aged ; Anaphylaxis* ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents ; Perioperative Period

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare but fatal complication after solid organ transplantation. Acquired forms of HLH are described in association with severe sepsis, autoimmune disorders, malignancy, immune-compromised states, infections, and solid organ transplantation. We experienced a case of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis after bilateral lung transplantation. Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hyperbilirubinemia were noted and became aggravated 50 days after transplantation. Diagnosis of HLH was based on clinical and laboratory findings of splenomegaly, cytopenia, elevated ferritin, elevated interleukin-2 receptor, and hemophagocytosis in bone marrow. Other features such as elevated bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase, and D-dimer which can be present in HLH were also noted. The patient was immediately treated with etoposide and dexamethasone. Despite aggressive therapy, the patient deteriorated and died. Awareness of the diagnostic criteria of HLH after lung transplantation is important for clinicians.
Bilirubin ; Bone Marrow ; Dexamethasone ; Diagnosis ; Etoposide ; Ferritins ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Interleukin-2 ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Leukopenia ; Lung Transplantation* ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* ; Organ Transplantation ; Sepsis ; Splenomegaly ; Thrombocytopenia ; Transplants

Although alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists are widely used as postoperative sedatives in adults, the postoperative effects in pediatric patients with secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) due to congenital heart disease are not well known. We experienced a case of successful ventilator weaning with continuous intravenous administration of dexmedetomidine (DEX) after surgical correction in a 46-month-old child with congenital ventricular septal defect (VSD) with severe PAH. She underwent VSD closure on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). After successful weaning from the CPB, hemodynamics and oxygenation were stabilized on DEX and nitroglycerin in the intensive care unit. The patient was successfully weaned from the ventilator 46 hours after surgery. The transthoracic echocardiogram two weeks after surgery showed a closed VSD with no residual shunt and trivial tricuspid regurgitation (Vmax = 2.5 m/sec) without PAH.
Administration, Intravenous ; Adult ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Dexmedetomidine* ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Intensive Care Units ; Nitroglycerin ; Oxygen ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; Ventilator Weaning ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Weaning

A 81-year-old man was referred for respiratory failure by emergency medical technicians. He admitted at intensive care unit for ventilator treatment. Several hours before admission, he took sildenafil 100 mg for erectile dysfunction without prescription. The episodes of hemoptysis occurred several hours later. Computed tomography revealed multifocal diffuse ground-glass attenuation in both lungs. And the more we performed bronchoalveolar lavage, the more the color of it was turned into red. We treated him with empirical antibiotics and tranexamic acid, and hemoptysis was stopped in one day after admission. But in the 5th admission day, he died from sepsis combined with pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii abruptly.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage* ; Emergency Medical Technicians ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Hemoptysis* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung ; Male ; Pneumonia ; Prescriptions ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Sepsis ; Tranexamic Acid ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Sildenafil Citrate

Cardiac rupture following blunt thoracic trauma is rarely encountered, since it commonly causes death at the scene. With advances in critical care, blunt cardiac rupture has been successfully treated with well-organized team approach including an emergency physician, anesthesiologist, and cardiac surgeon. We encountered a patient with blunt cardiac rupture of the junction of the superior vena cava and right atrium that extended 7 cm to the right ventricular junction. The patient was successfully resuscitated after a closed thoracostomy and pericardiocentesis with fluid loading. Cardiac injury was repaired via mid-sternotomy without cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient recovered without complications and was discharged on the 7th day after surgery.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Critical Care ; Emergencies ; Heart Atria* ; Heart Injuries ; Heart Rupture* ; Humans ; Pericardiocentesis ; Thoracostomy ; Vena Cava, Superior*

We present a case of pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) placement through the right internal jugular vein, bridging vein and coronary sinus in a patient with previously unrecognized persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC) and diminutive right superior vena cava. A 61-year-old male patient was scheduled for mitral valve repair for regurgitation. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography revealed dilated coronary sinus, but no further evaluations were performed. During advancement of the PAC, right ventricular and pulmonary arterial pressure tracing was observed at 50 and 60 cm, respectively. Transesophageal echocardiography ruled out intracardiac knotting and revealed the presence of the PAC in the LSVC, entering the right ventricle from the coronary sinus. Diminutive right superior vena cava was observed after sternotomy. The PAC was left in place for 2 days postoperatively without any complications. This case emphasizes that the possibility of LSVC and associated anomalies should always be ruled out in patients with dilated coronary sinus.
Arterial Pressure ; Catheterization, Swan-Ganz* ; Catheters ; Coronary Sinus ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; Pulmonary Artery ; Sternotomy ; Vascular Malformations ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Superior*

In critically ill patients, centeral venous catheterization is a widely used procedure for fluid resuscitation, massive transfusion, total parenteral nutrition, central venous pressure monitoring and hemodialysis. However, many complications are associated with central venous catheterization. Among these complications, hemothorax is rare but fatal. We recently experienced a 32-year-old female diagnosed with hemothorax due to subclavian catheterization who was successfully treated with angiographic intervention. There are no absolute indications of surgery or interventional treatment in such cases. Multicenter studies and consensus are necessary to determine the proper treatment for hemothorax due to central venous catheterization. Angiographic treatment is rarely used for this uncommon complication of subclavian catheterization. We describe a rare case with a review of the literature.
Adult ; Angiography ; Catheterization ; Catheterization, Central Venous* ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters* ; Central Venous Pressure ; Consensus ; Critical Illness ; Female ; Hemothorax* ; Humans ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Renal Dialysis ; Resuscitation ; Stents*