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Acute cholecystitis is an inflammatory condition of the gallbladder, characterized by infection, ulceration, and neutrophilic infiltration of the gallbladder wall. Approximately 90% of cases are caused by gallstones. In contrast, acalculous cholecystitis is defined as the inflammation of the gallbladder in the absence of gallstones during diagnosis. The causes of acalculous cholecystitis include impaired blood flow to the gallbladder, chemical injury, bacterial or parasitic infections, and collagen vascular diseases. However, in this case, it was caused by an extremely rare condition: a duodenal ulcer penetration. Physical examination, blood tests, and ultrasound suggested a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. However, contrast-enhanced CT showed no gallstones and revealed a partial mucosal defect in the first portion of the anterior duodenum. There was also wall thickening and increased density of the surrounding fat tissue, particularly around the gallbladder wall adjacent to the first portion of the anterior duodenum. Based on these findings, secondary cholecystitis due to perforation of a duodenal ulcer was diagnosed, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy with omental patching was performed. Although rare, a duodenal ulcer should be considered as a cause of acalculous cholecystitis.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a viable treatment option for high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. In Japan, TAVI can be performed using first-generation self-expandable Medtronic CoreValve or balloon-expandable Edwards SAPIEN-XT from 2012. Since the durability and hemodynamic outcomes after transcatheter heart valve (THV) implantation in Japanese patients have not been clearly elucidated, we assessed serial changes in post-TAVI THV performances over a-3-year period by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). From January 2012 to September 2014, among 83 patients with severe aortic stenosis, 26 underwent TAVI with CoreValve and 57 underwent TAVI with SAPIEN-XT. We assessed the serial changes in first post-implant (FPI) and 3-year post procedure THV hemodynamics by TTE. Valve performance was evaluated by serial assessment of aortic valve mean pressure gradient (PG) and aortic valve area (AVA) assessments. Three-year clinical outcomes were compared between the patients with CoreValve and those with SAPIEN-XT. Seventeen patients with CoreValve and 34 patients with SAPIEN-XT had FPI and 3-year TTEs. The AVA decreased significantly from FPI to 3-year follow-up among patients with SAPIEN-XT, but not among patients with CoreValve. The mean aortic PG decreased significantly from FPI to the 3-year follow-up point among patients with CoreValve; however, it was not significantly different from those with SAPIEN-XT. The absolute change in mean PG from FPI to the 3-year follow-up point decreased significantly among those with CoreValve compared to those with SAPIEN-XT. Clinical outcomes after TAVI were similar for both devices at 3-years after TAVI. In this study, long-term clinical outcomes for CoreValve and SAPIEN XT were similar. The 3-year THV performance of both devices was maintained after TAVI. Serial change in mean aortic PGs for CoreValve decreases significantly from FPI to the 3-year follow-up point compared to that for SAPIEN-XT.

Conversion to open repair after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for acute type B aortic dissection is rare, but inevitable. We present a case of an 86-year-old man with ruptured type B aortic dissection after TEVAR. He received a successful stent-graft implantation of the descending aorta without any type of endoleak. After the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit, he went into a shock state. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a re-rupture of acute retrograde type B aortic dissection. The false lumen was patent and perforated to the left thorax. Left thoracotomy and descending aortic banding was performed. Descending aorta was encircled with a woven Dacron graft at the distal part of the rupture site to compress the patent false lumen. The bleeding was stopped, and the follow-up CT showed false lumen thrombosis. Descending aortic banding is one of the quick and effective open conversion techniques.

Background Pre-operative kidney function is known to be associated with surgical outcomes. However, in emergency surgery, the pre-operative kidney function may reflect chronic kidney disease (CKD) or acute kidney injury (AKI). We examined the association of pre-operative CKD and/or AKI with in-hospital outcomes of emergency colorectal surgery. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study including adult patients undergoing emergency colorectal surgery in 38 Japanese hospitals between 2010 and 2017. We classified patients into five groups according to the pre-operative status of CKD (defined as baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 or recorded diagnosis of CKD), AKI (defined as admission serum creatinine value/baseline serum creatinine value ≥ 1.5), and end-stage renal disease (ESRD): (i) CKD(-)AKI(-), (ii) CKD(-)AKI(+), (iii) CKD(+)AKI(-), (iv) CKD(+)AKI(+), and (v) ESRD groups. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, while secondary outcomes included use of vasoactive drugs, mechanical ventilation, blood transfusion, post-operative renal replacement therapy, and length of hospital stay. We compared these outcomes among the five groups, followed by a multivariable logistic regression analysis for in-hospital mortality. Results We identified 3002 patients with emergency colorectal surgery (mean age 70.3 ± 15.4 years, male 54.5%). The in-hospital mortality was 8.6% (169/1963), 23.8% (129/541), 15.3% (52/340), 28.8% (17/59), and 32.3% (32/99) for CKD(-)AKI(-), CKD(-)AKI(+), CKD(+)AKI(-), CKD(+)AKI(+), and ESRD, respectively. Other outcomes such as blood transfusion and post-operative renal replacement therapy showed similar trends. Compared to the CKD(-)AKI(-) group, the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for in-hospital mortality was 2.54 (1.90–3.40), 1.29 (0.90–1.85), 2.86 (1.54–5.32), and 2.76 (1.55–4.93) for CKD(-)AKI(+), CKD(+)AKI(-), CKD(+)AKI(+), and ESRD groups, respectively. Stratified by baseline eGFR (> 90, 60–89, 30–59, and < 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) and AKI status, the crude in-hospital mortality and adjusted odds ratio increased in patients with baseline eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 among patients without AKI, while these were constantly high regardless of baseline eGFR among patients with AKI. Additional analysis restricting to 2162 patients receiving the surgery on the day of hospital admission showed similar results. Conclusions The differentiation of pre-operative CKD and AKI, especially the identification of AKI, is useful for risk stratification in patients undergoing emergency colorectal surgery.

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in a global pandemic. Recently, COVID-19-related pneumothorax has gained attention because of the associated prolonged hospital stay and high mortality. While most cases of pneumothorax respond well to conservative and supportive care, some cases of refractory pneumothorax with persistent air leaks (PALs) do not respond to conventional therapies. There is a lack of evidence-based management strategies to this regard. We describe the case of a 73-year-old man with COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who developed delayed tension pneumothorax with PALs caused by alveolopleural fistulas. Despite chest tube drainage, autologous blood pleurodesis, and endoscopic procedures, the PALs could not be closed, and were complicated by thoracic empyema. Subsequent minimally invasive open-window thoracostomy (OWT) with vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy helped successfully control the refractory PALs. Serial chest computed tomography monitoring was useful for the early detection of the pneumothorax and understanding of its temporal relationship with air-filled lung cysts. Our case provides a new perspective to the underlying cause of refractory pneumothorax with PALs, secondary to COVID-19-related ARDS, and underscores the potential of OWT with VAC therapy as a therapeutic alternative in such cases.

Emphysematous prostatic abscess (EPA) is an extremely rare but potentially fatal urinary tract infection (UTI). Here, we describe a case (a 69-year-old male with prediabetes) of ruptured EPA caused by a hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) K1-ST23 strain, presenting as motor aphasia. Our patient presented with ruptured EPA concurrent with various severe systemic pyogenic complications (e.g., urethro-prostatic fistula, ascending UTIs, epididymal and scrotal abscesses, and liver, lung, and brain abscesses). Whole-body computed tomography (CT) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) were useful for the detection of ruptured EPA and its systemic complications, and for identification of K1-ST23 hvKp strains, respectively. Subsequently, the infections were successfully treated with aggressive antimicrobial therapy and multiple surgical procedures. This case highlights the significance of awareness of this rare entity, the clinical importance of CT for the early diagnosis of EPA and the detection of its systemic complications in view of hvKp being an important causative organism of severe community-acquired UTI, and the usefulness of NGS to identify hvKp strains.

Localization of the small bowel bleeding site with intraoperative angiography and indocyanine green injection. Aim Bleeding in the small bowel rarely occurs, and its treatment is challenging. Surgery is sometimes required in unstable patients; however, intraoperative identification of the bleeding site is extremely difficult. Many methods have been reported, but no standard strategy has been established yet. Here, we aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of intraoperative angiography with indocyanine green staining to accurately identify small bowel bleeding sites. Methods This retrospective study analyzed contrast‐enhanced computed tomography images of patients (n = 8) with small bowel extravasation who underwent surgery. If extravasation or other vessel abnormalities that were potential bleeding sites were detected on intraoperative angiography, a microcatheter was placed as close as possible to the extravasation site. Laparotomy was carried out, and 3–5 mL indocyanine green was injected through the microcatheter. The green‐stained segment of the small bowel was resected. Results Seven of the eight patients had positive angiographic findings and underwent bowel resection. The eighth patient had no abnormalities and hence did not undergo laparotomy. The rate of hemostatic success among the resected cases was 85.7% (six of seven cases). The resected specimens showed pathologic features in six of the seven patients (85.7%), all of whom achieved hemostasis. One patient had pneumonia and congestive heart failure that required longer hospital stay, but no mortality occurred. Conclusions Intraoperative angiography with indocyanine green injection, followed by resection for massive small bowel bleeding is effective. This can be a therapeutic option for hemodynamically unstable patients.

Background. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair of an aortoesophageal fistula is an effective emergency treatment for patients with T4-esophageal cancer, as it prevents sudden death, and is a bridge to surgery. However, the course of unresectable malignant aortoesophageal fistula treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair alone is not well-known. Case Presentation. We report a 67-year-old Japanese man with T4-esophageal cancer who experienced a chemoradiation-induced aortoesophageal fistula and was rescued with thoracic endovascular aortic repair. He recovered after the procedure and survived for 4 additional months with management of a mycotic aneurysm and secondary aortoesophageal fistula with the exposure of the stent graft into the esophagus. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair of aortoesophageal fistula with T4-esophageal cancer extended life for nearly an average of 4 months in the reported cases. As a postoperative complication, the exposure of the stent graft into the esophagus is rare but life-threatening; the esophageal stent insertion was effective. Conclusions. With postoperative management advances, thoracic endovascular aortic repair can improve survival and increase the quality of life of patients with T4-esophageal cancer.

Background: In Japan, laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) is common for early gastric cancer. Formerly, we used to verify the location of the marking clip to decide the proximal incisional line with our hand, through a small epigastric incision. In 2015, we introduced intracorporeal reconstruction and started to decide the incisional line using intraoperative fluoroscopy. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intraoperative fluoroscopy in LDG. Patients and Methods: A total of 19 patients were included in this retrospective observational study. On the day before operation, we endoscopically clipped several points located 2 cm proximal to the tumour edge to cover about half of the tumour. After lymph node dissection, we incised the stomach with an endoscopic linear stapling device, including the previously placed clips, guided by intraoperative fluoroscopy. Reconstruction was performed in all patients who underwent Billroth I and Roux-en-Y procedures. Results: No complications were observed during pre-operative endoscopic clipping or intraoperatively. On pathological examination, all resected specimens had negative margins, and the mean distance from the tumour edge was 28.5 ± 16.5 (13-60) mm. Conclusion: Stomach resection with intraoperative fluoroscopic guidance was safe and effective.

A pseudoaneurysm of the profunda femoris artery (PFA) is a rare disease induced by femoral trauma, proximal femoral fracture, or iatrogenic causes associated with orthopaedic surgery. Recently, transcatheter arterial embolism was reported as an effective treatment for profunda femoris artery pseudoaneurysm. This report presents the case of an 85-year-old male who underwent artificial head replacement for a left femoral neck fracture and was hospitalized with a peri-stem fracture four years later. Conservative treatment was conducted with a brace, though the swelling and pain in his left thigh increased one week after his hospital admission. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) led to a diagnosis of a left profunda femoris artery pseudoaneurysm, and the patient underwent emergency transcatheter arterial embolism and surgical hematoma removal. Since the emergency surgery, the patient's course has been good, and he has been undergoing rehabilitation.A pseudoaneurysm of the profunda femoris artery (PFA) is a rare disease induced by femoral trauma, proximal femoral fracture, or iatrogenic causes associated with orthopaedic surgery. Recently, transcatheter arterial embolism was reported as an effective treatment for profunda femoris artery pseudoaneurysm. This report presents the case of an 85-year-old male who underwent artificial head replacement for a left femoral neck fracture and was hospitalized with a peri-stem fracture four years later. Conservative treatment was conducted with a brace, though the swelling and pain in his left thigh increased one week after his hospital admission. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) led to a diagnosis of a left profunda femoris artery pseudoaneurysm, and the patient underwent emergency transcatheter arterial embolism and surgical hematoma removal. Since the emergency surgery, the patient's course has been good, and he has been undergoing rehabilitation.