AME Case Reports最新文献

Background: Pancoast tumor resection is associated with severe postoperative pain. In addition to wound pain, patients often complain of shoulder and upper extremity pain due to brachial plexus damage, making pain management difficult. We attempted to perform a continuous brachial plexus block in addition to continuous epidural analgesia.

Case description: For a 58-year-old man, left upper lobectomy and chest wall resection around the pulmonary apex was planned for the left Pancoast tumor. In this case, the appearance of neuropathic pain in the shoulder and upper extremity due to the effects of brachial plexus injury associated with the surgical operation was expected. General anesthesia was introduced after insertion of the epidural catheter, followed by insertion of a catheter for brachial plexus block (interscalene approach) under dual guidance of ultrasound device and nerve stimulator. For continuous epidural analgesia, a combination of 0.15% ropivacaine and fentanyl (8 µg/h) was administered at 4 mL/h. For continuous brachial plexus block, 0.15% ropivacaine was administered at 3 mL/h for 7 days. Postoperative analgesia was maintained at a Numerical Rating Scale of 2-3 for shoulder pain and 0-1 for wound pain.

Conclusions: Satisfactory postoperative analgesia for Pancoast tumor resection was achieved with continuous epidural analgesia and continuous brachial plexus block.

Background: Idiopathic myointimal hyperplasia of the mesenteric veins (IMHMV) is a rare condition that poses a diagnostic challenge to surgeons and pathologists alike. Our aim is to describe two cases of IMHMV requiring operative intervention. The challenge going forward is accurately and systematically identifying factors from both a pathologic and clinical perspective that guide timely diagnosis and avoid unnecessary treatment.

Case description: A 37-year-old male with no significant past medical history was evaluated for a two-month history of abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and recent bleeding per rectum. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed abnormal wall thickening with surrounding inflammatory changes and mesenteric edema involving the descending and sigmoid colon as well as the rectum. The patient was taken to the operating room where he underwent a laparoscopic-assisted extended left colectomy with end colostomy. The patient did well postoperatively and was ultimately meeting all goals for discharge by postoperative day 9. A 49-year-old male with a past medical history of hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux and recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection was admitted to another hospital following several months of colitis of unknown etiology; unresponsive to antibiotics and steroids. CT scan revealed concentric, severe mural thickening and intramural edema of the distal descending colon extending to the rectum consistent with proctocolitis. The patient was taken to the operating room where he underwent a laparoscopic-assisted low anterior resection with end colostomy with findings of an extremely indurated, thickened left colon and rectum. The patient recovered from these additional interventions and was discharged home in stable condition on postoperative day 32.

Conclusions: A multidisciplinary team approach to this condition will be vital to administering the appropriate treatment modalities for future cases of IMHMV.

Background: Cardiac arrest is the most dramatic event that compromises the cerebral blood flow with fatal outcomes. Factors like the presence of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, initial rhythm, and arrest time significantly influence outcomes. However, despite these known factors, there are still aspects of cardiac arrest-related neurological complications that remain less understood. As evidenced by limited case reports, the association between posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and cardiac arrest is not widely known.

Case description: We present a case study of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) involving a patient with multiple comorbidities and factors that could complicate her neurological outcome. Despite experiencing a delayed recovery following the cardiac arrest event and an initial insult to the brain, the patient exhibited remarkable neurological recovery. There has been a complex individualized targeted management that contributed to the favorable outcome.

Conclusions: This case study provides valuable insights into the complexities of managing OHCA patients, the factors influencing recovery, and the importance of a multidisciplinary team for early diagnosis and treatment of conditions like PRES to prevent permanent neurological damage. Further research into this area is necessary to better understand the mechanisms and implications of such associations for improving patient care and outcomes following cardiac arrest.

Background: Systemic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive T-cell lymphoma of childhood (STCLC) is a rare disease with few clinical reports and high mortality. By exploring the clinical manifestations of a child with STCLC in our hospital auxiliary examination and diagnostic and therapeutic process, to deepen pediatricians' understanding of this disease.

Case description: This paper describes a 5-year-old Chinese girl who presented with acute fever and epistaxis. After admission, relevant ancillary tests indicated the presence of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and the combination of EBV infection in this patient. Pathology of the cervical lymph node biopsy and bone marrow flow cytology examination indicated STCLC, and a diagnosis of STCLC combined with HLH was clear. Although the girl was clearly diagnosed within a few days and treated with chemotherapy and symptomatic support, she eventually died on the 6th day after admission due to progressive worsening of her disease.

Conclusions: STCLC is a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder that occurs primarily in the setting of acute EBV infection, usually presenting as HLH. It is a rapidly progressive and fatal disease of children and young adults characterized by monoclonal expansions of EBV-positive T-cells with an activated cytotoxic phenotype and by malignant proliferation. The mortality rate is close to 100%.

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy or broken-heart syndrome, is a non-ischemic cardiomyopathy that presents as a transient regional systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle with minimal increase in troponins. The pathogenesis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy is not well understood. Some possible theories include increased catecholamines causing sympathetic overdrive, microvascular dysfunction, coronary spasm, or inflammation. The association of herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis with takotsubo cardiomyopathy has rarely been reported with only two cases being described in literature.

Case description: We present a patient that came in with altered mental status who was found to have herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) encephalitis. During his hospital stay, the patient had developed shortness of breath on hospital day 3. The patient's troponin was found to be mildly elevated and echocardiogram revealed takotsubo cardiomyopathy with left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) of 20% and severe hypokinesis of all left ventricle segments except the basal segments. His echocardiogram nine months prior revealed a LVEF 60-65%. He was treated with intravenous (IV) acyclovir and repeat echocardiogram three weeks following hospitalization revealed resolution of his takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Conclusions: Physicians should keep HSV encephalitis induced takotsubo cardiomyopathy in their differential diagnosis when patients present with HSV encephalitis along with shortness of breath and pulmonary vascular congestion on imaging.

Background: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare and aggressive type of thyroid cancer. Patients with this condition typically manifest palpable neck swelling and compressive symptoms. Biochemical evaluation and neck ultrasound play vital roles in diagnosis. The management options differ based on the extent of the disease.

Case description: This paper describes a 47-year-old male patient diagnosed with MTC invading the trachea and larynx. He presented with a 5 cm × 5 cm hard thyromegaly on the right side with right-sided level IV lymphadenopathy, measuring approximately 2 cm. He underwent total thyroidectomy, total laryngectomy, and bilateral neck dissection. Postoperatively, the patient developed a neck abscess and pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF), which was managed surgically and had a satisfactory outcome. After 128 days of inpatient care, he was discharged in a stable condition with resolution of complications and had no evidence of local recurrence during the 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions: MTC is a rare type of thyroid neoplasia that can manifest with various symptoms resulting from either the primary lesion or secondary invasion. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment, however, there are limited options and no approved adjuvant therapies for patients with disseminated MTC. Complications that arise after total thyroidectomy and laryngectomy can be noteworthy and demand careful surveillance and immediate treatment to prevent further deterioration.

Background: This study highlights an unusual and previously unreported adverse event (AE) following the minimally invasive treatment of pancreatic walled-off necrosis (WON). The standard treatment for WON currently involves primary drainage via an ultrasound-guided endoscopic, typically transgastric, approach. This method is associated with lower mortality and morbidity rates compared to traditional surgery. However, emerging AEs from these procedures may necessitate the involvement of a multidisciplinary team. Our case highlights the potential for gastrovesical fistula development as a rare AE following endoscopic drainage. Treatment for our patient prioritized individualized and non-surgical strategy, although surgical revision was also considered.

Case description: A 42-year-old male presented with a large symptomatic pancreatic WON refractory to conservative management, necessitating transgastric drainage. Despite the gradual evacuation of the WON contents, treatment was complicated by stent-related issues, including inadvertent bladder penetration. Rather than surgical correction, a collaborative approach among urology, gastroenterology, and surgery teams was employed, focusing on conservative treatment strategies. This approach successfully resolved the fistula, leading to the patient's full recovery.

Conclusions: Given the increasing use of endoscopic transluminal drainage in (peri)pancreatic collections, it is crucial to be aware of all potential AEs. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of gastrovesical fistula following drainage of WON. Early recognition and a multidisciplinary approach are vital to manage this event.

Background: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the bile duct (IPMN-B) is a neoplastic disease of the bile duct with papillary hyperplasia and mucus secretion, which originates from the duct epithelium and rarely complicates with fistula formation.

Case description: The patient was admitted to the hospital due to abdominal pain and yellow skin. Laboratory results showed alanine aminotransferase 299 U/L, total bilirubin 350 µmol/L, computerized tomography showed severe dilatation of common bile duct and extrahepatic bile duct. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts were markedly dilated, and the signal of the bile ducts was uneven. Endoscope identified a large amount of mucus above the papilla that flowing out from the fistula. Further cholangiography through the fistula showed significant dilatation of the extrahepatic bile duct. SpyGlass examination showed a large amount of gelatinous mucus in the bile duct lumen and "fish-scaly or coral" changes in the mucosa of the right anterior branch bile duct, hepatic hilum as well as lower common bile duct. IPMN-B with choledochoduodenal fistula was diagnosed. The patient was then discharged with nasal biliary drainage and biliary stenting, oral antipyretic and hepatoprotective drugs. The patient's biliary obstruction and symptoms of infection improved with medical treatment but recured. Unfortunately, the patient died 10 months after his first visit.

Conclusions: SpyGlass has advantages in identifying the nature and extent of lesions, providing important references for diagnosis and treatment. Endoscopic intervention relieves biliary obstruction to some extent in patients with high operative risk or reluctance to undergo surgery.

Background: Primary adenocarcinomas of the vulva, particularly those from anogenital mammary-like glands, are exceedingly rare. These typically encompass a spectrum of cancers, including ductal, lobular, mixed ductal-lobular, tubular, and mucinous types, predominantly with invasive growth patterns.

Case description: A 73-year-old woman reported an 8-year history of a slowly enlarging vulvar mass, the mass skin surface color of the tumor was normal and there was no ulceration, redness, heat and pain, no skin itching and abnormal secretions. Examination revealed a 3 cm cyst-like nodule on the left vulva. Surgical excision was performed. Pathology showed a 2.5 cm nodular mass with a soft, mucinous texture. Microscopic analysis revealed a uniform cell distribution with papillary and solid patterns. Immunohistochemical staining showed estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), pan-cytokeratin [CK(pan)], GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3) expression, among others, with a Ki67 index around 10%, suggesting a specific tumor profile-encapsulated papillary carcinoma, originating from the vulva anogenital mammary-like glands.

Conclusions: This article presents a unique case of anogenital mammary-like gland adenocarcinoma-encapsulated papillary carcinoma. It closely mirrors the morphology, immunohistochemistry, and biological behavior of its breast counterpart. Due to its slow progression and localized, encapsulated nature, the treatment approach for this carcinoma differs from other vulvar adenocarcinomas, aligning more with carcinoma in situ management similar to breast encapsulated papillary carcinoma.

Background: With regard to the treatment of massive pulmonary embolism (MPE) with circulatory and respiratory collapse and thrombolytic contraindications, current guidelines and researches usually give the priority to veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO). However, the objective of this clinical case report is to highlight the effective use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) in a 35-year-old pregnant woman with MPE complicated by hemorrhage, persistent hypoxia and multiple cardiac arrests.

Case description: A 35-year-old pregnant woman with gestational mellitus suddenly presented with complaints of nausea, vomiting and dyspnea after going to the toilet, combined with increasing heart rate (HR) of 150 bpm, decreasing pulse oxygen saturation (SpO₂) of 94%, larger right heart and the growing D-dimer at 11.2 µg/mL, who was considered as the pulmonary embolism. Unpredictable cardiac arrest occurred repeatedly before and after the cesarean section. Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was started timely and successfully, the maintenance of blood pressure still depended on high-dose pressor drugs, even terribly, the oxygenation was unstable under the assistance of mechanical ventilation with pure oxygen. Thus, V-V ECMO supporting was commenced following by gradual recovering in haemodynamics and respiratory function. And the diagnosis of MPE was ascertained again through computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and pulmonary angiography. Directing at the pathogeny, thrombolysis infusion catheters and anticoagulant therapy were initiated after bilateral uterine artery embolism for postpartum haemorrhage, later the patient discharged from hospital after recovery and had a good prognosis.

Conclusions: V-V ECMO could be effective for some patients with MPE who suffer from successful CPR after cardiac arrest while still combined with severe hypotension and refractory hypoxemia.