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Objective: Proximal ExTension to Induce COmplete ATtachment (PETTICOAT), which utilizes downstream bare metal stents for structural support, demonstrates potential, yet its adoption is limited by variable outcomes. This study elucidates the potential of PETTICOAT in aortic dissection, emphasizing the determinants that guide patient selection., Methods: A retrospective analysis of 60 patients who underwent full PETTICOAT for aortic dissections was conducted. A multivariate logistic regression model identified predictors of favorable aortic remodeling. Patients underwent standardized follow-up with CT scans to assess size, volumetric changes, and anatomical conditions. Selection criteria included full PETTICOAT application and a minimum three-month follow-up. Demographics, preoperative conditions, and procedural details were collected and analyzed., Results: The analysis identified predictors of favorable aortic remodeling, including age over 60, a larger downstream aorta stent graft, a smaller abdominal aorta (<450mm 2 ), and oral angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) administration. Over a median 47.5-month follow-up, survival rates in the favorable remodeling (97.3%) and unfavorable groups (100%) were similar. Downstream aortic event-free survival rates did not significantly differ (89.2% vs. 73.9%), although the unfavorable group had a relatively higher incidence of distal stent-induced new entries (26.1% vs. 8.1%)., Conclusions: The PETTICOAT concept effectively enhances aortic remodeling in complex aortic dissections. Predictors for favorable remodeling, including age, stent graft sizing, aortic diameter, and ARB therapy, offer insights for optimizing patient selection. This approach improves survival outcomes, mitigates risks associated with untreated aortic segments, and provides a minimally invasive solution for aortic dissections. Despite some outcome variations, the technique holds promise for addressing the challenges of aortic dissections, with the potential for further refinement in patient selection and technique application., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare that they have no known competing interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objectives: To elucidate the incidence and risk factors for pneumonia after acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI)., Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Spinal injuries center in Japan. Participants: Of 184 individuals who were admitted within 2 weeks after acute traumatic cervical spinal injuries, 167 individuals who met the criteria were included in this study. Interventions: The occurrence of pneumonia, degree of dysphagia using the Dysphagia Severity Scale, patient age, history of smoking, presence of tracheostomy, vital capacity, level of injury, and the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) 2 weeks after injury were assessed. Outcomes: Incidence of pneumonia were analyzed. Moreover, the risk factors of pneumonia were evaluated using logistic regression analysis., Results: From the 167 individuals who met the criteria, 30 individuals (18%) had pneumonia; in 26 (87%) of these individuals, pneumonia was aspiration related, defined as Dysphagia Severity Scale ≤ 4. The median occurrence of aspiration pneumonia was 11.5 days after injury. A logistic regression analysis revealed that severe AIS and severe Dysphagia Severity Scale scores were significant risk factors of pneumonia after CSCI., Conclusions: It was highly likely that the pneumonias following CSCI were related to aspiration based on the Dysphagia Severity Scale. In addition, most of the patients developed aspiration pneumonia within 1 month after injury. Aspiration and severe paralysis were significant risk factors for pneumonia. The treatment of dysphagia in the acute phase should be considered an important indicator to prevent pneumonia.

Objective: To investigate the usefulness of the combination of neurological findings and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a prognostic predictor in patients with motor complete cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) in the acute phase. Design: A cross-sectional analysis Setting: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Spinal Injuries Center Participants/Methods: Forty-two patients with an initial diagnosis of motor complete CSCI (AIS A, n  = 29; AIS B, n  = 13) within 72 h after injury were classified into the recovery group (Group R) and the non-recovery group (Group N), based on the presence or absence of motor recovery (conversion from AIS A/B to C/D) at three months after injury, respectively. The Neurological Level of Injury (NLI) at the initial diagnosis was investigated and the presumptive primary injured segment of the spinal cord was inferred from MRI performed at the initial diagnosis. We investigated whether or not the difference between the presumptive primary injured segment and the NLI exceeded one segment. The presence of a difference between the presumptive primary injured segment and the NLI was compared between Groups R and N. Results: The number of cases with the differences between the presumptive primary injured segment and the NLI was significantly higher in Group N than in Group R. Conclusion: The presence of differences between the presumptive primary injured segment and the NLI might be a poor improving prognostic predictor for motor complete CSCI. The NLI may be useful for predicting the recovery potential of patients with motor complete CSCI when combined with the MRI findings.

Background: The effect of the surgical sealant AQUABRID on outcomes after acute aortic dissection repair has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to examine whether the use of AQUABRID affects the volume of intraoperative blood transfusion or operative time in patients undergoing emergency surgery to repair acute aortic dissection., Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort study from January 2007 to December 2021. A total of 399 patients underwent emergency acute aortic dissection repair. Propensity score matching was used to adjust for the type of surgery and other patient characteristics., Results: A total of 387 of the eligible 399 patients were included in this study and propensity score matching yielded 94 patients for whom characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. The type of surgery was exactly matched (ascending aorta replacement: 19 [40%]; partial arch replacement: 13 [28%]; total arch replacement: 15 [32%] in each group). Within the matched cohort, there was a statistically significant difference in the volume of intraoperative blood transfusion. (AQUABRID vs. control: 34 [26-38] vs. 50 [38-60] U in Japan, p = .03). Operating time was significantly shorter in the AQUABRID group (total operation: mean ± SD, 343 ± 92 vs. 402 ± 161 min, p = .03; reconstruction for arch vessels: 29 ± 17 vs. 56 ± 22, p < .01). The rate of postoperative complications was comparable in the two groups. Failure to use AQUABRID was a significant predictor of the need for massive transfusion (>40 U) (odds ratio: 7.20; 95% confidence interval: 2.56-20.23; p < .01)., Conclusions: The use of AQUABRID during emergency acute aortic dissection repair significantly decreased the volume of intraoperative blood transfusion and the duration of surgery., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: Emergency surgical repair is the standard treatment for acute aortic dissection type A. However, the surgical risk of total arch replacement remains high. The Viabahn Open Revascularization TEChnique has been used for supra-aortic reconstruction during total arch replacement. This Cleveland Clinic technique is called "branched stented anastomosis frozen elephant trunk repair." Our total arch replacement with reconstructed extended branched stented anastomosis frozen elephant trunk repair requires no unnecessary cervical artery exposure. We compared the outcomes of extended branched stented anastomosis frozen elephant trunk repair and conventional total arch replacement in acute aortic dissection type A., Methods: We compared the clinical course of patients undergoing total arch replacement using sutureless direct branch vessel stent grafting with frozen elephant trunk (extended branched stented anastomosis frozen elephant trunk repair) for acute aortic dissection type A with patients undergoing conventional total arch replacement. For the procedure, the aortic arch was transected circumferentially distal to the brachiocephalic artery origin. Frozen elephant trunk was fenestrated by heating with a cautery, and the self-expandable stent graft was delivered into the branch vessels through the fenestration., Results: Of 58 cases, 21 and 37 were classified in the extended branched stented anastomosis frozen elephant trunk repair and conventional total arch replacement groups, respectively. The times (minutes) of selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (75 ± 24, 118 ± 47), total operation (313 ± 83, 470 ± 151), and cardiopulmonary bypass (195 ± 46, 277 ± 96) were significantly better in the extended branched stented anastomosis frozen elephant trunk repair group ( P  < .001). Six surgical deaths occurred: 2 (9%) in the extended branched stented anastomosis frozen elephant trunk repair group and 4 (10%) in the conventional total arch replacement group. In all cases, only 1 patient (2%) in the conventional total arch replacement group had a branch artery-related complication during the postoperative follow-up period. In the extended branched stented anastomosis frozen elephant trunk repair group, blood product use significantly decreased ( P  < .05)., Conclusions: Extended branched stented anastomosis frozen elephant trunk repair has shown comparable safety and efficacy to conventional total arch replacement and can be used for acute aortic dissection type A emergency repair. It optimizes true lumen perfusion and facilitates supra-aortic artery remodeling., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Study Design: A retrospective clinical study., Objective: To elucidate the usefulness of the patellar tendon reflex (PTR), bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR), and plantar response (PR) as factors in the prognostic prediction of motor function in complete paralysis due to cervical spinal cord injuries (CSCIs) at the acute phase., Setting: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spinal Injuries Center, Japan., Methods: 99 patients assessed as the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade A (AIS A) were included in this study. The PTR, BCR, and PR were evaluated respectively as positive or negative at the time of injury. We classified the patients into two groups based on their neurological recovery at 3 months after injury: "recovered" group was defined as AIS C, D, or E; "non-recovered" group was defined as AIS A or B., Results: Eight patients demonstrated positive PTR, while 91 demonstrated negative. Three out of eight patients with positive PTR (37.5%) were R group, while 83 out of 91 patients with negative PTR (91.2%) were N group. A significant difference was observed (p = 0.043). For BCR, no significant difference was observed (p > 0.05). Twenty-six patients demonstrated positive PTR, while 73 demonstrated negative. Nine out of twenty-six patients with positive PR (34.6%) were R group, while 71 out of 73 patients with negative PR (97.3%) were N group. A significant difference was observed (p = 0.000068)., Conclusion: The PTR and PR are useful for poor prognostic prediction of motor function in CSCI at the acute phase., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Spinal Cord Society.)

Study Design: A retrospective review of a case series of five participants., Objective: To elucidate the effects of post-cervical laminoplasty on the clinical pathophysiology of traumatic CSCI. Cervical laminoplasty has been widely performed with good results in individuals for cervical myelopathy. However, no reports have thus far referred to the incidence of traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) after previous history of cervical laminoplasty., Setting: Spinal Injuries Center, Japan., Methods: From 2008 to 2017, 999 cervical myelopathy individuals were treated by cervical laminoplasty in our institution. Of these, only five participants were subsequently emergency transported to our institution caused by traumatic CSCI. The pathology of five participants were cervical ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (C-OPLL). The changes of cervical sagittal range of motion (ROM) and the morphology of OPLL were radiologically evaluated. Moreover, the mechanism of injury, the level of injury, and neurological evaluations were discussed., Results: All of the participants demonstrated ankylosed cervical spine due to developing OPLL and spontaneous bony facet and laminar fusion on post-laminoplasty. A significant difference in cervical ROM was observed between pre-laminoplasty and 6 months post-laminoplasty (p = 0.0065). Three participants were extension injury and the other two were flexion injury., Conclusions: All of the five traumatic CSCI participants had a history of previous cervical laminoplasty for C-OPLL. Cervical laminoplasty for C-OPLL might lead to cervical spine with rigidity and ankylosing due to developing OPLL and bony facet and laminar fusion, and might have a risk for traumatic CSCI., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Spinal Cord Society.)

Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy of the provisional extension to induce complete attachment (PETTICOAT) technique for type B and postoperative residual type B aortic dissections compared with the conventional thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) technique., Methods: In this retrospective study, we compared sequential aortic morphologic changes in consecutive patients with type B and postoperative residual type B aortic dissections treated with the PETTICOAT technique between January 2016 and December 2017 with patients treated with the conventional TEVAR between January 2013 and December 2015. Outcomes included aortic remodeling and aorta-related adverse events for 2 years postoperatively., Results: Forty-eight patients were included in this study (24 in the PETTICOAT group, 24 patients in the conventional TEVAR group). Although both groups showed aortic remodeling in the descending thoracic aorta, the PETTICOAT group developed significantly better aortic remodeling in the abdominal aorta compared with the conventional TEVAR group during the observation period. The PETTICOAT group had significantly fewer aorta-related adverse events compared with the conventional TEVAR group (8% vs 54%; P < .001). Aorta-related adverse events more commonly occurred in the poor remodeling group compared with in the good remodeling group (P = .001; hazard ratio, 8.32; 95% confidence interval, 2.26-30.64)., Conclusions: This study suggests that the PETTICOAT technique for aortic dissection may promote aortic remodeling and decrease the incidence of aorta-related adverse events. Additional studies are required to confirm these preliminary findings., (Copyright © 2020 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: Spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma (SSDH) is a rare disease that can cause severe permanent neurological dysfunction. Here we present a case of spontaneous SSDH, in which a series of magnetic resonance images (MRIs) taken through the course of the disease facilitated understanding of the resolution process of the hematoma and the diagnosis of SSDH., Patient Concerns: A 59-year-old male presented with sudden severe back pain and rapid onset of paraplegia. This symptom had continued developing while he was transferred to the emergency department. Initial physical examination showed flaccid paralysis of both lower limbs with areflexia and loss of all sensation below T6 bilaterally. MRI images showed an anterior subdural hematoma from C7 to T7 with spinal cord compression., Diagnosis: Based on MRI findings, the diagnosis was SSDH., Interventions: We chose conservative treatment of 1-week bed rest and intensive rehabilitation for the patient due to the presence of sacral sparing and the slight motor recovery at 24 hours after the onset., Outcomes: Frequent MRI images demonstrated that the spinal cord compression was surprisingly mitigated only 2 days and mostly absorbed 4 days after the onset. The patient's motor function was recovered completely and he was discharged after 8 weeks of hospitalization., Lessons: Our chronological MRI findings provide crucial information for diagnosing SSDH and also suggest that spinal surgeons should consider the potential option of a conservative approach for treating SSDH. Although prompt selection of a therapeutic strategy for SSDH could be challenging, the surgeons could observe the course of the patient's neurological status for a few days to detect signs of spontaneous recovery.

Study Design: Retrospective chart audits., Objective: To investigate the optimal timing at which permanent complete cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) can be confirmed when evaluating paralysis caused by traumatic CSCI., Setting: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spinal Injuries Center, Japan., Methods: Two-hundred and three patients with CSCI that was classified with an American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) grade A (AIS A) within 72 h of the initial diagnosis of traumatic CSCI were included in the present study. Neurological data from the time of the initial diagnosis to 1 year after the injury were extracted. The number of those with recovery from AIS A and changes of AIS in the recovery were examined., Results: Thirty-five of 203 (17%) patients whose injuries were initially classified with an AIS A showed recovery from AIS A. Thirty-four of 35 (97%) patients showed recovery from AIS A within 8 weeks after injury., Conclusion: If CSCI patients with AIS A have not recovered by 8 weeks, the likelihood that they will recover from AIS A is marginal. However, this conversely means that we must consider the possibility that a patient with a traumatic CSCI classified with an AIS A may still show recovery from AIS A within the first 8 weeks after injury.

We report the first use of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for the treatment of a patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the esophagus (EACC). An 82-year-old woman visited our hospital for evaluation of an esophageal submucosal tumor. Endoscopic examination showed a submucosal tumor in the middle third of the esophagus. The lesion partially stained with Lugol's solution, and narrow band imaging with magnification showed intrapapillary capillary loops with mild dilatation and a divergence of caliber in the center of the lesion. Endoscopic ultrasound imaging revealed a solid 8 mm × 4.2 mm tumor, primarily involving the second and third layers of the esophagus. A preoperative biopsy was non-diagnostic. ESD was performed to resect the lesion, an 8 mm submucosal tumor. Immunohistologically, tumor cells differentiating into ductal epithelium and myoepithelium were observed, and the tissue type was adenoid cystic carcinoma. There was no evidence of esophageal wall, vertical stump or horizontal margin invasion with pT1b-SM2 staining (1800 μm from the muscularis mucosa). Further studies are needed to assess the use of ESD for the treatment of patients with EACC., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a rare connective tissue disorder (CTD) caused by mutations in the gene encoding transforming growth factor-β receptors Ⅰ and Ⅱ. Patients with LDS manifest spontaneous aneurysms and dissections of the aorta and peripheral artery. We report a successful treatment with a hybrid endovascular repair for a rapidly expanding thoracoabdominal aneurysm in a 41-year-old woman affected by LDS. To overcome the difficulties of anatomical and surgical repair, we applied an original strategy using surgeon-modified fenestrated endografts., (Copyright © 2017 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Augmented renal clearance (ARC) of circulating solutes and drugs has been recently often reported in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, only few studies on ARC have been reported in Japan. The aims of this pilot study were to determine the prevalence and risk factors for ARC in Japanese ICU patients with normal serum creatinine levels and to evaluate the association between ARC and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated using the Japanese equation., Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study from May 2015 to April 2016 at the emergency ICU of a tertiary university hospital; 111 patients were enrolled (mean age, 67 years; interquartile range, 53-77 years). We measured 8-h creatinine clearance (CL CR ) within 24 h after admission, and ARC was defined as body surface area-adjusted CL CR  ≥ 130 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for ARC. Moreover, a receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis, including area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) was performed to examine eGFR accuracy and other significant variables in predicting ARC., Results: In total, 43 patients (38.7 %) manifested ARC. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed for age, body weight, body height, history of diabetes mellitus, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores, admission categories of post-operative patients without sepsis and trauma, and serum albumin, and only age was identified as an independent risk factor for ARC (odds ratio, 0.95; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.91-0.98). Moreover, the AUROC of ARC for age and eGFR was 0.81 (95 % CI, 0.72-0.89) and 0.81 (95 % CI, 0.73-0.89), respectively. The optimal cutoff values for detecting ARC were age and eGFR of ≤63 years (sensitivity, 72.1 %; specificity, 82.4 %) and ≥76 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (sensitivity, 81.4 %; specificity, 72.1 %), respectively., Conclusions: ARC is common in Japanese ICU patients, and age was an independent risk factor for ARC. In addition, age and eGFR calculated using the Japanese equation were suggested to be useful screening tools for identifying Japanese patients with ARC.

Aim: To investigate two distinct clinical phenotypes of reflux esophagitis and intra-hernial ulcer (Cameron lesions) in patients with large hiatal hernias., Methods: A case series study was performed with 16 831 patients who underwent diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy for 2 years at an academic referral center. A hiatus diameter ≥ 4 cm was defined as a large hernia. A sharp fold that surrounded the cardia was designated as an intact gastroesophageal flap valve (GEFV), and a loose fold or disappearance of the fold was classified as an impaired GEFV. We studied the associations between large hiatal hernias and the distinct clinical phenotypes (reflux esophagitis and Cameron lesions), and analyzed factors that distinguished the clinical phenotypes., Results: Large hiatal hernias were found in 49 (0.3%) of 16,831 patients. Cameron lesions and reflux esophagitis were observed in 10% and 47% of these patients, and 0% and 8% of the patients without large hiatal hernias, which indicated significant associations between large hiatal hernias and these diseases. However, there was no coincidence of the two distinct disorders. Univariate analysis demonstrated significant associations between Cameron lesions and the clinico-endoscopic factors such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) intake (80% in Cameron lesion cases vs 18% in non-Cameron lesion cases, P = 0.015) and intact GEFV (100% in Cameron lesion cases vs 18% in non-Cameron lesion cases, P = 0.0007). In contrast, reflux esophagitis was linked with impaired GEFV (44% in reflux esophagitis cases vs 8% in non-reflux esophagitis cases, P = 0.01). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed these significant associations., Conclusion: GEFV status and NSAID intake distinguish clinical phenotypes of large hiatal hernias. Cameron lesions are associated with intact GEFV and NSAID intake.

In order to clarify the characteristics of epilepsy in patients with severe mentally retarded (SMR) subjects, we analyzed 52 SMR subjects with epilepsy from the institute for SMR subjects at Kikuchi National Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan. A total of 61.5% patients had uncontrolled seizures which were resistant to treatment. The most common combinations of seizure types in those not responding to conventional anticonvulsants were generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) with tonic seizure and GTCS with atypical absence. Their clinical features were characterized by spastic paralysis associated with a slower background electroencephalogram and abnormal computed tomography scans of the head, suggesting the involvement of cortical damage. These findings suggest that a large proportion of epilepsy in SMR subjects does not respond to treatment and that the severity of organic brain damage may therefore affect the natural course of epilepsy in such patients.

We examined the anticonvulsant properties of dipotassium clorazepate (DC) against hippocampal kindled seizures in rats. Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to kindling 1 week after the implantation of electrodes. After five stage 5 seizures were induced, the generalized convulsion triggering threshold (GST) was determined. Dipotassium clorazepate was administered intraperitoneally in rats that showed two stable stage 5 seizures induced at the GST current intensity. Dipotassium clorazepate at doses of 1 mg/kg or more produced an anticonvulsant effect, but did not readily suppress limbic seizures. Dipotassium clorazepate did not completely suppress after-discharges (AD) even at the highest dose, which was 5 mg/kg. Moreover, raised stimulus intensity failed to affect its efficacy as an anticonvulsant. The results of the present study suggest that DC has a modest anticonvulsant potency. It is reasonable to assume that its anticonvulsant efficacy is primarily due to attenuation of AD propagation rather than the raising of the seizure triggering threshold at the kindling focus.