1/278. Acute torsion of the renal transplant after combined kidney-pancreas transplant.BACKGROUND: Surgical complications after combined kidney and pancreas transplantation are a major source of morbidity and mortality. Complications related to the pancreas occur with greater frequency as compared to renal complications. The occurrence in our practice of two cases of renal infarction resulting from torsion about the vascular pedicle led to our retrospective review of similar vascular complications after combined kidney and pancreas transplantation. methods: charts were reviewed retrospectively, and two patients were identified who experienced torsion about the vascular pedicle of an intra-abdominally placed renal allograft. RESULTS: Two patients who had received combined intraperitoneal kidney and pancreas transplantation presented at 16 and 11 months after transplant, respectively, with abdominal pain and decreased urine output. One patient had radiological documentation of abnormal rotation before the graft loss; unfortunately, the significance of this finding was missed. diagnosis was made in both patients at laparotomy, where the kidneys were infarcted secondary to torsion of the vascular pedicle. Both patients underwent transplant nephrectomy and subsequently received a successful second cadaveric renal transplant. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of this complication is a result of the intra-abdominal placement of the kidney, length of the vascular pedicle, excess ureteral length, and paucity of adhesions secondary to steroid administration. These factors contribute to abnormal mobility of the kidney. Technical modifications such as minimizing excess ureteral length and nephropexy may help to avoid this complication.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = infarction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/278. Detection of retroperitoneal hemorrhage by transesophageal echocardiography during cardiac surgery.PURPOSE: To present a case of massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) which was detected using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). CLINICAL FEATURE: A 50-yr-old man suffering from severe mitral regurgitation (MR) was admitted for mitral valvuloplasty. After the beginning of CPB, the volume in the reservoir was noticed to be gradually decreasing. Although venous cannulation had been properly performed, TEE showed an echo free space around the liver, the spleen and in front of the abdominal aorta showed intraabdominal hemorrhage. After cardiac surgery, emergency laparotomy revealed about 5,000 ml of blood in the retroperitoneal space probably as a result of femoral artery cannulation prior to CPB. hemostasis was achieved, and the patient made complete cardiac and neurological recovery. Retrospective review of the TEE imaging revealed that the kidneys were surrounded by blood bilaterally confirming the diagnosis of retroperitoneal hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Retroperitoneal hemorrhage during CPB is rare, but may be lethal. Transesophageal echocardiography is a useful monitor not only to evaluate cardiac performance, but also to detect unexpected intraabdominal bleeding during cardiac surgery.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3.1843341186682keywords = cardiac (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/278. Potential utility of left heart contrast agents in diagnosis of myocardial rupture by 2-dimensional echocardiography.This case illustrates the use of intravenous injections of a contrast agent during 2-dimensional echocardiography in a patient with myocardial rupture after myocardial infarction. Intravenous injections of echocardiographic contrast agents may have potential use in the identification of intrapericardial hemorrhage after myocardial infarction caused by myocardial rupture or development of ventricular pseudoaneurysm.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 16.327145632156keywords = myocardial infarction, infarction, heart (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/278. Functional, life-threatening disorders and splenectomy following liver transplantation.splenectomy (SPL) in cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation (LTx) may resolve specific problems related to the procedure itself, in case of functional and life-threatening clinical situations often occurring as a result of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. METHOD: A single-center experience of ten splenectomies in a series of 180 consecutive adult liver transplant patients over a period of 6 yr is reported. The mean patient age was 46.8 /- 9.5 yr (range 25 57 yr). Indications for SPL were post-operative massive ascitic fluid loss (n = 3), severe thrombocytopenia (n = 3), acute intra-abdominal hemorrhage (n = 2), infarction of the spleen (n = 1), and multiple splenic artery aneurysms (n = 1). RESULTS: Extreme ascites production due to functional graft congestion disappeared post-SPL, with an improvement of the hepatic and renal functions. SPL was also effective in cases of thrombocytopenia persistence post-LTx, leading to an increase in the platelet count after about 1 wk. Bleeding episodes related to left-sided portal hypertension or trauma were also resolved. The rejection rate during hospitalization was 0%, and no other episodes were recorded in the course of the long-term follow-up. However, sepsis with a fatal outcome occurred in 4 patients, i.e. between 2 and 3 wk post-SPL in three cases and 1 yr after the procedure as a result of pneumococcal infection in the last case. Fatal traumatic cranial injury occurred 3 yr post-LTx in another case. Five patients (50%) are still alive and asymptomatic after a median follow-up period of 36 months. CONCLUSION: The lowering of the portal flow appears to resolve unexplained post-operative ascitic fluid loss as a result of functional graft congestion following LTx. However, because of the enhanced risk of SPL-related sepsis, a partial splenic embolization (PSE) or a spleno-renal shunt could be used as an alternative procedure because it allows us to preserve the immunological function of the spleen. SPL is indicated in case of post-transplant bleeding due to left-sided portal hypertension and trauma, spleen infarction, and to enable prevention of hemorrhage in liver transplant patients with multiple splenic artery aneurysms. Severe and persistent thrombocytopenia could be treated with PSE. Because the occurrence of fatal sepsis post-SPL is a major complication in LTx, functional disorders, such as ascites and thrombocytopenia, should be treated with a more conservative approach.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = infarction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/278. Aortopulmonary collateral artery embolization during postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after arterial switch procedure.Aortopulmonary collateral arteries sometimes complicate cyanotic congenital heart defects. Combined with a relevant left-right shunt, this could result in massive airway bleeding during and after corrective surgery. A preoperatively diagnosed 1.2 mm small aortopulmonary collateral artery in a newborn suffering from transposition of the great arteries caused life-threatening airway bleeding during surgery. Postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was necessary, and coil embolization was performed on ECMO to terminate pulmonary bleeding.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.11469377778165keywords = heart (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/278. Primary angiosarcoma of the heart in identical twins.Imaging findings of cardiac angiosarcoma in identical twins are presented and discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.85681687596014keywords = cardiac, heart (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/278. Continuous infusion of von willebrand factor and factor viii after elective heart surgery in a 12-year-old girl with von Willebrand disease type 3.The continuous infusion of von willebrand factor (VWF) in a 12-year-old girl with type 3 von Willebrand disease is described. The patient had elective heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass for closure of her atrial septum defect. The surgical procedure lasted 3 h. A presurgical bolus followed by a postoperative continuous infusion of factor viii/VWF concentrates was administered. During the continuous infusion of clotting factors, stable plasma levels of hemostasis and avoidance of dangerously low levels of factor concentrates were achieved. No peri- or postsurgical complications occurred. Continuous infusion of clotting factors allows constant and hemostatic factor concentrations to be maintained with the possibility of dose titration and adjustment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.57346888890826keywords = heart (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/278. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage syndrome due to 'silent' mitral valve regurgitation.A variety of clinical diseases are associated with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Although mitral valve disease can cause hemoptysis, it rarely is associated with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage at presentation. A 49-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with the abrupt onset of fever, anemia, dyspnea, azotemia, and diffuse alveolar infiltrates. Two-dimensional echocardiography done several months earlier to evaluate atypical chest pain had been unremarkable. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy 2 days after admission to the hospital revealed fresh blood throughout the tracheobronchial tree. The infiltrates resolved rapidly and completely during systemic steroid therapy only to reappear as the steroids were tapered, suggesting a beneficial therapeutic response. Results of serologic evaluation were negative. Transbronchial biopsies showed inflammation and hemosiderin-laden macrophages; no specific diagnosis was established. The patient was scheduled for open lung biopsy. The surgeon was concerned about the history of chest pain and requested placement of a pulmonary artery catheter, which revealed severe pulmonary hypertension. Transesophageal echocardiography and subsequent cardiac catheterization showed severe mitral regurgitation. mitral valve replacement resulted in complete elimination of symptoms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.39804176483353keywords = cardiac (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/278. Pulmonary haemorrhage as a predominant cause of death in leptospirosis in seychelles.We examined the cause of death during a 12-month period (1995/96) in all consecutive patients admitted to hospital with leptospiral infection in seychelles (indian ocean), where the disease is endemic. leptospirosis was diagnosed by use of the microscopic agglutination test and a specific polymerase chain reaction assay on serum samples. Seventy-five cases were diagnosed and 6 patients died, a case fatality of 8%. All 6 patients died within 9 days of onset of symptoms and within 2 days of admission for 5 of them (5 days for the 6th). On autopsy, diffuse bilateral pulmonary haemorrhage (PH) was found in all fatalities. Renal, cardiac, digestive and cerebral haemorrhages were also found in 5, 3, 3 and 1 case(s), respectively. Incidentally, haemoptysis and lung infiltrate on chest radiographs, which suggest PH, were found in 8 of the 69 non-fatal cases. dengue and hantavirus infections were ruled out. In conclusion, PH appeared to be a main cause of death in leptospirosis in this population, although haemorrhage in other organs may also have contributed to fatal outcomes. This cause of death contrasts with the findings generally reported in endemic settings.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.39804176483353keywords = cardiac (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/278. Localized testicular infarction masquerading as a testicular neoplasm.Localized testicular infarction appears to represent a relatively uncommon phenomenon. We describe a patient presenting with a testicular mass simulating a neoplasm, who proved to have a localized hemorrhagic infarction.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = infarction (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |