Objective To summarize the characteristics of ecthyma gangrenosum and explore its significance in early diagnosis of pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis in children.Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 11 children with ecthyma gangrenosum who were hospitalized at Guangzhou women and children's medical center between May 2008 and Apr 2011.Results Eight cases were male and 7 were less than twelve months,the oldest was 2 years old,all of them were diagnosed as Pseudomonas aeruginosa spesis.Two patients had a single lesion,and the others had multiple lesions.Ecthyma gangrenosum located on the trunks in 7 cases,on anogenital areas in 5 cases,on extremities in 5 cases and on faces in 3.The lesions appeared on day 2 to day 10.On average,they developed on day 5.Seven patients developed ecthyma gangrenosum before admission,the course of the illness before admission was 6 days.Fever and multiple organ dysfunction occurred in all the patients and their cultures grew pseudomonas aeruginosa,blood cultures were positive in 8 cases,the others were isolated psudomonas aeruginosa from tissue of the lesion,discharge,ascites,pleural effusion,respectively.The time of ecthyma gangrenosum appeared was earlier than the time of the culture results reported.All of the patients were started empiric antibiotics therapy on admission,the initial antibiotic regimen was appropriate in 9 patients,8 needed surgical intervention,4 were treated with continuous blood purification.Ten patients survived and 2 died,the hospital stay was from 1 to 63 days,the average was 30.Conclusion Ecthyma gangrenosum is a known cutaneous manifestation of pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis,which is helpful for early diagnosis and treatment,and then the outcome will be improved.

Objective To summarize our results and experience in dealing with the postoperative intrathoracic gastro-air-way fistulae after esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma.Methods From January 2010 through February 2012,1490 patients with esophageal carcinoma underwent esophagectomy in our department.The postoperative intrathoracic gastro-airway fistulae were documented in 10 patients,with a frequency of 0.67％.Five of them died.The possible etiology,clinical characters,treatment and prevention of this complication were reviewed.Results The location of the fistulate were 7 at left main bronchus,1 at right main bronchus,and 2 at distal trachea.After 2-3 weeks conservative treatment,1 patient underwent primary surgical repair and cured,1 refused any further intervention and sacrified,8 patients underwent endoscopic insertion of covered stent and only 3 healed.For the remaining 5 cases with failed stent therapy,2 died of severe aspiration and lung infection,3 had surgical repair,one of them successed and 2 died of aspiration and aortic rupture,respecively.Conclusion The development of intrathoracic gastro-airway fistulae was associated with the iatrogenic injuries and suturing material irritation of the gastric tube to the tracheal/bronchial wall.Therefore,a meticulous closure and wapping of gastroplasty and appropriate isolation using artifical patch or great omentum between airway and esophageal substitution could effectively reduce the fistulae.The stent therapy usually fails in treating this entity and surgical repair remains the final and ratical therapeutic option.Primary repaire is suggested and careful preoperative assessment is crucial.