We report 4 cases of aortic graft replacement for Kommerell diverticulum (KD) and the aberrant subclavian artery (ASA). In two patients who had a right-sided aortic arch, KD and the left ASA, we performed descending aorta replacement and in-situ reconstruction of the left ASA via a right lateral thoracotomy. Third patient had a left-sided aortic arch, KD and the right ASA, in whom we performed descending aorta graft replacement via a left lateral thoracotomy with ostial closure of the right ASA. Fourth patient had a left-sided aortic arch, KD and the right ASA, and complicated by acute type A aortic dissection. We performed a total arch repair with frozen elephant trunk procedure via a median sternotomy. All 4 patients survived operations and discharged from the hospital with symptom relief. The choice of approach, a thoracotomy or a median sternotomy, should be based on patient-specific anatomy and extent of graft replacement.

Pyogenic spondylitis is a frequently observed disease in orthopedics, and the number of cases is increasing. Some patients with pyogenic spondylitis suffer from vertebral destruction due to infection. The disease is typically treated with antibiotics, bed rest, spinal support, and lesion curettage; however, vigorous drug therapy against vertebral body destruction by pyogenic spondylitis has not been attempted. In this report, a case of pyogenic spondylitis with spinal destruction caused by infection and treated with once-weekly teriparatide administration is presented. Vertebral body erosion in cortical and cancellous areas by the infection was rapidly repaired after 6 weeks of once-weekly teriparatide treatment. Treatment with once-weekly teriparatide appears to be a new strategy for patients with severe osteoporosis suffering from pyogenic spondylitis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bed Rest ; Bone Density ; Curettage ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Orthopedics ; Osteoporosis* ; Quality of Life ; Spondylitis* ; Teriparatide*

Pyogenic spondylitis is a frequently observed disease in orthopedics, and the number of cases is increasing. Some patients with pyogenic spondylitis suffer from vertebral destruction due to infection. The disease is typically treated with antibiotics, bed rest, spinal support, and lesion curettage; however, vigorous drug therapy against vertebral body destruction by pyogenic spondylitis has not been attempted. In this report, a case of pyogenic spondylitis with spinal destruction caused by infection and treated with once-weekly teriparatide administration is presented. Vertebral body erosion in cortical and cancellous areas by the infection was rapidly repaired after 6 weeks of once-weekly teriparatide treatment. Treatment with once-weekly teriparatide appears to be a new strategy for patients with severe osteoporosis suffering from pyogenic spondylitis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bed Rest ; Bone Density ; Curettage ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Orthopedics ; Osteoporosis* ; Quality of Life ; Spondylitis* ; Teriparatide*

Background: This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of a percutaneous method for treating intra-abdominal abscesses caused by gastrointestinal anastomotic leakage using tandem catheter placement for simultaneous drainage. Methods: This retrospective study involved 12 patients with intra-abdominal abscesses from anastomotic leakage who underwent image-guided percutaneous drainage. In the tandem drainage technique, one or more catheters were inserted into the abscess while an additional catheter was advanced into the gastrointestinal tract through the anastomotic dehiscence to decompress the tract and prevent further leakage. The study evaluated the technical and clinical success rates of this approach. Results: Technical success was achieved in nine of 12 patients (75.0%), with clinical success in eight of these nine patients (88.9%). The mean overall drainage duration after tandem placement was 65.0 days (range, 6–154 days), and the mean hospitalization duration for patients with clinical success was 66.7 days (range, 10–156 days). Conclusion Simultaneous tandem drainage is a feasible treatment for intra-abdominal abscesses caused by anastomotic leakage and may be a viable option for patients who are not candidates for surgery.

Background: This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of a percutaneous method for treating intra-abdominal abscesses caused by gastrointestinal anastomotic leakage using tandem catheter placement for simultaneous drainage. Methods: This retrospective study involved 12 patients with intra-abdominal abscesses from anastomotic leakage who underwent image-guided percutaneous drainage. In the tandem drainage technique, one or more catheters were inserted into the abscess while an additional catheter was advanced into the gastrointestinal tract through the anastomotic dehiscence to decompress the tract and prevent further leakage. The study evaluated the technical and clinical success rates of this approach. Results: Technical success was achieved in nine of 12 patients (75.0%), with clinical success in eight of these nine patients (88.9%). The mean overall drainage duration after tandem placement was 65.0 days (range, 6–154 days), and the mean hospitalization duration for patients with clinical success was 66.7 days (range, 10–156 days). Conclusion Simultaneous tandem drainage is a feasible treatment for intra-abdominal abscesses caused by anastomotic leakage and may be a viable option for patients who are not candidates for surgery.

Background: This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of a percutaneous method for treating intra-abdominal abscesses caused by gastrointestinal anastomotic leakage using tandem catheter placement for simultaneous drainage. Methods: This retrospective study involved 12 patients with intra-abdominal abscesses from anastomotic leakage who underwent image-guided percutaneous drainage. In the tandem drainage technique, one or more catheters were inserted into the abscess while an additional catheter was advanced into the gastrointestinal tract through the anastomotic dehiscence to decompress the tract and prevent further leakage. The study evaluated the technical and clinical success rates of this approach. Results: Technical success was achieved in nine of 12 patients (75.0%), with clinical success in eight of these nine patients (88.9%). The mean overall drainage duration after tandem placement was 65.0 days (range, 6–154 days), and the mean hospitalization duration for patients with clinical success was 66.7 days (range, 10–156 days). Conclusion Simultaneous tandem drainage is a feasible treatment for intra-abdominal abscesses caused by anastomotic leakage and may be a viable option for patients who are not candidates for surgery.

Medical students at Kurume University begin practical training in clinical skills in their fourth year. At that time, students use the skills laboratory to improve their clinical skills. Medical education resources in the skills laboratory include simulators for emergency resuscitation and heart diseases, wireless stethoscopes, and videotapes. All students use the skills laboratory for 2 months, and its usefulness was evaluated with questionnaires after practical training. More than 50 % of students approved of their practice in the skills laboratory. However, some students were unsatisfied because they were unable to make effective use of the simulators. In the future, an improved skills laboratory will be necessary to improve practical training in the clinical skills for medical students.

Background/Aims: Advanced pancreatic and biliary tract cancers can invade the duodenum and cause duodenal hemorrhagic stenosis. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of covered self-expandable metal stents in the treatment of cancer-related duodenal hemorrhage with stenosis. Methods: Between January 2014 and December 2016, metal stents were placed in 51 patients with duodenal stenosis. Among these patients, a self-expandable covered metal stent was endoscopically placed in 10 patients with hemorrhagic duodenal stenosis caused by pancreatobiliary cancer progression. We retrospectively analyzed the therapeutic efficacy of the stents by evaluating the technical and clinical success rates based on successful stent placement, degree of oral intake, hemostasis, stent patency, and overall survival. Results: The technical and clinical success rates were 100%. All 10 patients achieved a gastric outlet obstruction scoring system score of three within two weeks after the procedure and had no recurrence of melena. The median stent patency duration and overall survival after stent placement were 52 days (range, 20–220 days) and 66.5 days (range, 31–220 days), respectively. Conclusions Endoscopic placement of a covered metal stent for hemorrhagic duodenal stenosis associated with pancreatic or biliary tract cancer resulted in duodenal hemostasis, recanalization, and improved quality of life.