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Background: The influence of the Tokyo Summer Olympic/Paralympic Games on normal emergency medical system operations in Japan had not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we examined whether out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients treated during the Tokyo Olympic/Paralympic Games had differences in outcomes. Methods: Using the nationwide JAAM-OHCA Registry, we evaluated the outcomes of OHCA patients admitted to the hospital during the Tokyo Olympic/Paralympic Games (July 23 to Aug. 8 and Aug. 24 to Sept. 5) in 2021, compared to those during same the dates in 2020 (Term 1: July 23 to Aug. 8 and Aug. 24 to Sept. 5), those during the pre-Olympic/Paralympic term during the same weekdays in the weeks before the event (Term 2: June. 18 to July. 4 and July. 6 to July. 18), and those during the post-Olympic/Paralympic term during the same weekdays in the weeks after the event (Term 3: Sept. 10 to Sept. 26 and Sept. 28 to Oct. 10). The primary outcome was 30-day survival, and multivariable logistic analysis was performed, adjusted for age and sex. Results: A total of 3,111 OHCA patients were included in the study period (786 in the Olympic/Paralympic group, 774 in Term 1, 747 in Term 2, and 804 in Term 3). Crude 30-day survivals were 7.4% (58/786), 9.3% (72/774), 6.8% (51/747), and 8.2% (66/804), respectively. Using the Olympic/Paralympic group as a reference, multivariable logistic analysis revealed that 30-day survivals in Term 1 (OR 1.27 95% CI 0.88–1.83p = 0.20), Term 2 (OR 0.92 95% CI 0.62–1.36p = 0.67), and Term 3 (OR 1.10 95% CI 0.76–1.59p = 0.63) did not differ significantly. Conclusions: No significant differences in 30-day survival for OHCA patients admitted during the Tokyo Summer Olympic/Paralympic Games were identified.

Abstract Background The surgical strategy for thoracic esophageal cancer that invades the lungs is controversial. In particular, invasion of the pulmonary vein is often regarded unresectable. We successfully applied bilateral video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in esophagectomy for esophageal cancer with left inferior pulmonary vein invasion following induction chemoradiotherapy (CRT), with a favorable response. Case presentation A 64-year-old woman was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower third of the esophagus. Computed tomography (CT) revealed that the tumor was suspected to be invading the main trunk of the left lower pulmonary vein and left lower lung. We initiated induction CRT comprising 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and concurrent radiotherapy at 50.4 Gy/28Fr. CT revealed shrinkage of the tumor, and the main trunk of the left inferior pulmonary vein was released from the tumor invasion. We considered the tumor to be completely resectable. VATS esophagectomy is usually performed using a right-sided approach. However, the right-sided approach is inappropriate for evaluating tumors around the left inferior pulmonary vein. We started with left-sided VATS to determine tumor resectability and dissected between the esophagus and the main trunk of the left inferior pulmonary vein. We only needed to perform partial resection of the left lower lobe. We then performed a right-sided VATS esophagectomy and lymphadenectomy with partial en bloc resection of the left lower lobe. Following this, we performed hand-assisted laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy and reconstruction using the gastric remnant. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 14. Histopathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed a complete pathological response without any remnant tumor or lymph node metastasis. There were no signs of recurrence or metastasis at the 1-year follow-up. Conclusions Curative resection for thoracic esophageal cancer that invades the pulmonary vein could be possible via the bilateral VATS approach following induction CRT with a favorable response.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate whether frailty was associated with 6-month mortality in older adults who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with an illness requiring emergency care. The investigation was a prospective, multi-center, observational study conducted among the ICUs of 17 participating hospitals. Patients ≥ 65 years of age who were admitted to the ICU directly from an emergency department visit were assessed to determine their baseline Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) scores before the illness and were surveyed 6 months after admission. Among 650 patients included in the study, the median age was 79 years old, and overall mortality at 6 months was as low as 21%, ranging from 6.2% in patients with CFS 1 to 42.9% in patients with CFS ≥ 7. When adjusted for potential confounders, CFS score was an independent prognostic factor for mortality (one-point increase in CFS, adjusted risk ratio with 95% confidence interval 1.19 [1.09–1.30]). Quality of life 6 months after admission worsened as baseline CFS score increased. However, there was no association between total hospitalization cost and baseline CFS. CFS is an important predictor of long-term outcomes among critically ill older patients requiring emergent admission.

Background: Traumatic retropharyngeal hematoma followed by airway obstruction is extremely rare. In this report, we show unique images from two cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to airway obstruction caused by massive retropharyngeal hematoma after a minor facial injury. Case presentation: Case 1: A 78-year-old man was transferred to our emergency department due to cardiac arrest. He presented with respiratory insufficiency after a ground level fall. His neck was swollen, and the attending physician performed an emergent cricothyroidotomy to secure his airway and administered intravenous adrenaline. Computed tomography revealed a massive retropharyngeal hematoma and severe hypoxic encephalopathy. Despite a temporary return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), the patient died on the admission day.Case 2: A 68-year-old woman presented with dyspnea, prompting her family to call an ambulance. On the way to the hospital, the ambulance crew determined the patient was in cardiac arrest. The patient's history revealed a ground level fall in which she hit her face. Computed tomography revealed a massive retropharyngeal hematoma compressing her upper airway. Although ROSC was obtained, the patient died on the 12th day of hospitalization due to hypoxic encephalopathy.Extension views of cervical spine images identified angular instability without cervical bone fracture in both cases, suggesting that possible injuries of the anterior longitudinal ligament contributed to the retropharyngeal hematoma. Conclusions: Patients presenting with asphyxia after a simple ground level fall accompanied by minor facial injuries should be assessed by emergency physicians for the possibility of a retropharyngeal hematoma. In both cases presented here, unique images indicate possible injuries of the anterior longitudinal ligament.

Background: Until recently, calls to the emergency medical service (EMS) from landline phones, which display the caller’s exact location at the dispatch center, had been common. Since the use of mobile phones has become widespread, many emergency calls are now made from mobile phones. Differences in outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients for whom EMS was called from mobile versus landline phones has not yet been fully elucidated. Methods: We performed a retrospective, population-based analysis in Kobe, Japan to examine whether EMS calls from mobiles improved the prognosis of OHCA patients over EMS calls placed from landlines. The primary outcome was favorable neurological outcome, defined as Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) scores of 1 or 2 at discharge. Secondary outcomes were survival at one-month, survival at discharge, and time durations between call and EMS activities. Results: Of 4,231 OHCA cases, 2,194 cases (706 landline cases vs. 1,488 mobile cases) were included in this study. The percentages of favorable neurological outcomes were 0.7% (5/706) in the landline group and 3.8% (56/1,488) in the mobile group. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression revealed that favorable neurological outcomes (odds ratio [OR] 3.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–8.17, p = 0.03) were better in the mobile group, while one-month survival (OR 1.30, 95% CI 0.80–2.14, p = 0.29) was not significantly different. Bystander CPR was more frequently administered in the mobile group (landlines 61.3% vs. mobiles 68.4%, p

Aim: Animal models of Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) focusing on neurological outcomes are required to further the development of this potentially life-saving technology. The aim of this review is to summarize current animal models of ECPR. Methods: A comprehensive database search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science was undertaken. Full-text publications describing animal models of ECPR between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2022, were identified and included in the review. Data describing the conduct of the animal models of ECPR, measured variables, and outcomes were extracted according to pre-defined definitions. Results: The search strategy yielded 805 unique reports of which 37 studies were included in the final analysis. Most studies (95%) described using a pig model of ECPR with the remainder (5%) describing a rat model. The most common method for induction of cardiac arrest was a fatal ventricular arrhythmia through electrical stimulation (70%). 10 studies reported neurological assessment of animals using physical examination, serum biomarkers, or electrophysiological findings, however, only two studies described a multimodal assessment. No studies reported the use of brain imaging as part of the neurological assessment. Return of spontaneous circulation was the most reported primary outcome, and no studies described the neurological status of the animal as the primary outcome. Conclusion: Current animal models of ECPR do not describe clinically relevant neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest. Further work is needed to develop models that more accurately mimic clinical scenarios and can test innovations that can be translated to the application of ECPR in clinical medicine.

Abstract Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes motor symptoms and autonomic dysfunction. However, autonomic function tests commonly performed in PD can only evaluate either the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study is to investigate whether power spectral analysis of heart rate variability could detect both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous dysfunctions in patients with PD. Methods Seventeen patients with PD and 11 healthy control subjects underwent electrocardiogram recording for the spectral analysis of heart rate variability to obtain values of low-frequency (LF) (0.04–0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF) (0.15–0.4 Hz) powers. Moreover, we examined the coefficient of variation of R–R intervals (CVRR) as a parameter of parasympathetic function in all participants and performed 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy to measure the heart-to-mediastinum ratio as a parameter of cardiac sympathetic innervation in patients with PD. Results The median age of control subjects and PD patients was 63 and 66 years old, respectively. The median Hoehn and Yahr scale of PD patients was stage 2. The values of resting LF and HF powers widely varied. The median values of resting LF powers of control subjects and PD patients and those of HF powers were 169 and 70 ms2, 279 and 65 ms2, respectively, the difference was statistically insignificant. Approximately 41% of patients with PD had values below the first quartile of resting LF powers (

Abstract Background Whether extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is indicated for patients with pulseless electrical activity (PEA) remains unclear. Pulmonary embolism with PEA is a good candidate for ECPR; however, PEA can sometimes include an aortic disease and intracranial haemorrhage, with extremely poor neurological outcomes, and can thus not be used as a suitable candidate. We began employing an ECPR strategy that utilised a hybrid emergency room (ER) to perform computed tomography (CT) before extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) induction from January 2020. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of this ECPR strategy. Methods Medical records of patients who transferred to our hybrid ER and required ECPR for PEA between January 2020 and November 2021 were reviewed. Results Twelve consecutive patients (median age, 67 [range, 57–73] years) with PEA requiring ECPR were identified in our hybrid ER. Among these patients, nine were diagnosed using an initial CT scan (intracranial haemorrhage (3); cardiac tamponade due to aortic dissection (3); aortic rupture (2); and cardiac rupture (1)), and unnecessary ECMO was avoided. The remaining three patients underwent ECPR, and two of them survived with favourable neurological outcomes. Patients not indicated for ECPR were excluded before ECMO induction. Conclusion Our ECPR strategy that involved the utilisation of a hybrid ER may be useful for the exclusion of patients with PEA not indicated for ECPR and decision making.

Aim In the current era of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, the responsiveness of emergency medical service (EMS) transport for patients with internal illness is often delayed. However, the influence of the COVID‐19 pandemic on prehospital transport for patients with trauma has not yet been fully elucidated. This study aims to examine the effect of COVID‐19 case surges on EMS transport for patients with trauma during the COVID‐19 states of emergency in Kobe, Japan. Methods EMS data during the states of emergency were compared with those in the 2019 prepandemic period. The incidence of difficulty securing hospital acceptance (four or more calls to medical institutions and ambulance staying at the scene for 30 min or more) was evaluated as a primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were the time spent at the trauma scene and the number of calls requesting hospital acceptance. The time spent at the trauma scene was stratified by trauma severity. Results The incidence of difficulty securing hospital acceptance increased (1.2% versus 3.2%, P

The Hybrid Emergency Room System (HERS) allows clinicians to perform life-saving procedures without having to transfer patients. Several studies have reported the effectiveness of the HERS in the treatment of blunt trauma patients. However, the use of a hybrid emergency room (ER) for the treatment of penetrating cardiac injuries, including impalement injuries, has not been reported. We present the case of a patient with cardiac impalement injury that was diagnosed via computed tomography (CT) and was managed via extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the hybrid ER and via surgery in the operating room. A 55-year-old man was transferred to our hybrid ER due to a penetrating wood injury through the right thoracic region. The patient had unstable vital signs. A CT scan revealed a pericardial effusion, right lung contusion, and bilateral pneumothoraxes. There were no signs of hemothorax or aortic injury. Veno-arterial-ECMO was performed in preparation for surgery. The patient was then transferred to the operating room. Pericardiotomy and cardiac repair were performed, and the ECMO was discontinued postoperatively. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 10 without complications. The hybrid ER allows rapid CT examination without relocation. Thus, it facilitates the formation of a timely and effective treatment plan. This report documents the successful management of a cardiac impalement injury in the HERS.

Background: Although the Hybrid Emergency Room System (HERS) is a relatively novel method for treating severe trauma patients, there have been few reported cases of gunshot wound patients treated in HERS. Here we report our treatment of a unique gunshot wound case, with shock, in a HERS setting. Case presentation: A 72-year-old male was transferred to our hospital due to a gunshot wound (GSW). He presented with left chest injuries and vital signs consistent with shock. While resuscitating the patient, including massive blood transfusion and surgery to control the damage, a subsequent computed tomography in HERS revealed the internal distribution of the birdshot and damage to the abdominal organs. Lower lobectomy of the left lung and laparotomy for gastrointestinal repair were performed. After a planned repeat operation and reconstruction of the left chest wall, he was discharged uneventfully. Conclusions: HERS during resuscitation was useful for helping clinicians not only to find the bullets' distribution and judge the severity of injury caused by the gunshot, but also to develop subsequent therapeutic strategies for rescuing the gunshot wound patient from a life-threatening situation.

We present the first documented case of emergent pericardial drainage and return (PD-R) under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for the management of aortic rupture into the pericardial sac caused by acute type A aortic dissection (AADA). An 83-year-old woman collapsed during an elective coronary intervention. ECMO was eventually required. Acute accumulation of pericardial effusion with aortic dissection was revealed by echocardiography. Percutaneous pericardial drainage was performed using a drainage line connected to the venous line of the ECMO system to maintain blood flow and blood pressure. After stabilization of the patient’s hemodynamics, immediate aortic repair was successfully performed and the patient was discharged with no neurological deficit. In cases of massive amounts of pericardial drainage and persistent hemorrhagic shock due to aortic rupture with AADA, PD-R connected to ECMO is useful while waiting for aortic repair.

Abstract We report a case of vascular injury caused by a multi‐lumen catheter for CRRT inserted through left jugular vein. Diagnosis was delayed because CRRT could be continued. Clinicians should be aware of potential vascular complications associated with the wrong placement of multi‐lumen catheters even if blood flow continues without difficulty.

Aim Survival of traumatic out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is poor. Early use of advanced airway management (AAM) techniques, including endotracheal intubation and supraglottic devices, are expected to contribute to the improved survival of these patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether prehospital use of AAM improves the outcomes for emergency medical service (EMS)‐witnessed traumatic OHCA. Methods A nationwide retrospective study was carried out. Trauma patients with EMS‐witnessed cardiac arrest who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation during transport were included. Patients younger than 16 years and those with missing data were excluded. We compared two groups using propensity score matching. The primary outcome was survival to discharge. The secondary outcome was return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) on hospital arrival. A logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI). Results After propensity score matching, 1,346 patients were enrolled (AAM 673 versus non‐AAM 673). Forty‐four AAM cases (6.5%) and 39 non‐AAM cases (5.8%) survived. Logistic regression analysis did not show a contribution of AAM for survival to discharge (AAM 44/673 (6.5%), non‐AAM 39/673 (5.8%); OR 1.12; 95% CI, 0.70–1.76; P = 0.64). However, AAM improved ROSC on admission (AAM 141/673 (21.0%), non‐AAM 77/673 (11.4%); OR 2.05; 95% CI, 1.51–2.78; P

Introduction A patient undergoing hemodialysis and being treated with everolimus for metastatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma has never been described in the literature, to our knowledge. Case presentation A 53‐year‐old woman who had undergone trans‐arterial embolization for epithelioid angiomyolipoma was referred with a chief complaint about right knee pain. Hemodialysis had been started after the embolization. Needle biopsy specimens of tumors obtained from behind the right kidney and in the right femur were diagnosed as epithelioid angiomyolipoma metastases. The patient underwent treatment with everolimus and achieved a partial response after 6 months of treatment without serious adverse events. Conclusion Everolimus might be effective for patients with metastatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma who are undergoing hemodialysis.

Background We report the first case of retro‐odontoid pseudotumor with an isolated symptom of C2–C3 dysesthesia triggered by a traumatic event. Case Presentation An 86‐year‐old man, who was a wood craftsman for more than 50 years, presented to the emergency room with sudden‐onset severe posterior head and neck dysesthesia after accidentally falling backward. No neurological impairment of the extremities was noted. Computed tomography revealed a C2–C7 osteophyte formation, mainly in front of the vertebral bodies. Moreover, magnetic resonance imaging showed cervical spinal cord compression by a soft tissue mass posterior to the odontoid process of the axis. Therefore, we diagnosed a cervical spine injury with an isolated symptom of C2–C3 dysesthesia due to a retro‐odontoid pseudotumor. He did not undergo surgical intervention and was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital on day 11 for pain control. Conclusion Our report could be useful to emergency physicians dealing with similar cases of cervical symptoms following trauma.

Background Studies describing the effectiveness of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for peripartum cardiopulmonary arrest are lacking. Case Presentation A 39‐year‐old woman underwent elective cesarean section. Right after surgery, she fell into a cardiac arrest and was promptly transferred to our institute by ambulance. On arrival, we immediately initiated ECPR, within 63 min of the cardiac arrest. Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved 80 min after induction of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. As the hemodynamics of the patient stabilized, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was discontinued on day 3 of hospitalization. The patient’s cerebral performance category score was 3 at discharge, which improved to 2 after 3 months. Conclusion This case suggests that prompt interhospital transfer and ECPR might be effective for peripartum cardiac arrest due to nonhemorrhagic events.

The proteasome is a large protein complex responsible for proteolysis in cells. Though the proteasome is widely conserved in all eukaryotes, vertebrates additionally possess tissue-specific proteasomes, termed immunoproteasomes and thymoproteasomes. These specialized proteasomes diverge from constitutive proteasomes in the makeup of their catalytic 20S core particle (CP), whereby the constitutive β1, β2, and β5 catalytic subunits are replaced by β1i, β2i, and β5i in immunoproteasomes, or β1i, β2i, and β5t in thymoproteasomes. However, as constitutive β1, β2, and β5 are also present in tissues and cells expressing immuno- and thymoproteasomes, the specialized proteasomes must be able to selectively incorporate their specific subunits. Here, we review the mechanisms governing the assembly of constitutive and specialized proteasomes elucidated thus far. Studies have revealed that β1i and β2i are added onto the α-ring of the CP prior to the other β subunits. Furthermore, β5i and β5t can be incorporated independent of β4, whereas constitutive β5 incorporation is dependent on β4. These mechanisms allow the immuno- and thymoproteasomes to integrate tissue-specific β-subunits without contamination from constitutive β1, β2, and β5. We end the review with a brief discussion on the diseases caused by mutations to the immunoproteasome and the proteins involved with its assembly.

Background: The focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) examination is helpful for the identification of pericardial effusion in trauma. However, in a cardiac rupture with a pericardial perforation, pericardial effusion is not always detected by FAST. We experienced the case that FAST and enhanced CT failed to detect pericardial effusion. Case presentation: A 51-year old woman injured after falling from a height of 3 m was brought to our institute. Focused assessment with sonography for trauma and enhanced computed tomography did not reveal any pericardial effusion; however, a massive hemothorax was revealed. Because the patient's hemodynamic state had become unstable, we performed an urgent left anterolateral thoracotomy. A left pericardial perforation was detected. By performing a clamshell thoracotomy, we found a rupture of 1 cm in diameter at the left atrial appendage. The hemodynamic state was stabilized by suturing the injury site. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was transferred to another hospital after 31 days of admission. Conclusions: Cardiac injury in the left atrial appendage is rare and sometimes difficult to diagnose and to repair. In the case of a blunt chest trauma with a massive hemothorax, although focused assessment with sonography for trauma gives negative results for pericardial effusion, a cardiac rupture with pericardial perforation should be considered.

Corticosteroids are most commonly used to treat HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM); however, their clinical efficacy has not been tested in randomized clinical trials. This randomized controlled trial included 8 and 30 HAM patients with rapidly and slowly progressing walking disabilities, respectively. Rapid progressors were assigned (1:1) to receive or not receive a 3-day course of intravenous methylprednisolone in addition to oral prednisolone therapy. Meanwhile, slow progressors were assigned (1:1) to receive oral prednisolone or placebo. The primary outcomes were a composite of ≥1-grade improvement in the Osame Motor Disability Score or ≥30% improvement in the 10 m walking time (10 mWT) at week 2 for rapid progressors and changes from baseline in 10 mWT at week 24 for slow progressors. In the rapid progressor trial, all four patients with but only one of four without intravenous methylprednisolone achieved the primary outcome (p = 0.14). In the slow progressor trial, the median changes in 10 mWT were −13.8% (95% CI: −20.1–−7.1; p < 0.001) and −6.0% (95% CI: −12.8–1.3; p = 0.10) with prednisolone and placebo, respectively (p for between-group difference = 0.12). Whereas statistical significance was not reached for the primary endpoints, the overall data indicated the benefit of corticosteroid therapy. (Registration number: UMIN000023798, UMIN000024085)

Abstract Background Goal-directed therapy (GDT) is beneficial for surgical patients, especially for those undergoing high-risk surgery. However, little has been reported on the hemodynamic effects of GDT in extensive surgery. We conducted a study to determine the impact of GDT on intraoperative management of extensive surgery. Findings We retrospectively collected data from 90 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy: 44 who received intraoperative GDT (GDT group) and 46 who received conventional hemodynamic management (control group). Intraoperative use of fluids and catecholamines and physiologic variables, including mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and urine output, were compared. We also examined the correlation between the amount of fluid administered and urine output. The amount of fluid administered was comparable, and urine output was significantly larger in the GDT group than in the control group. Fluid balance was significantly smaller in the GDT group (49.7 versus 61.7 mL/kg; 95% confidence interval, − 19.5 to − 4.6 mL/kg; P = 0.0019). There was a trend toward higher mean arterial pressure in the GDT group despite lower fluid balance. We found a rank correlation between the amount of fluid administered and urine output in the GDT group (rank correlation coefficient, 0.68; P

Abstract Bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS) is a known complication in patients undergoing cemented orthopedic surgeries; however, the etiology and pathophysiology of BCIS are not fully understood. We report the case of a patient who developed pulseless electrical activity (PEA) due to BCIS after cemented femoral head replacement. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during PEA revealed a massive embolus extending from the main pulmonary artery to the inferior vena cava. Of note, this embolus disappeared completely and rapidly after return of spontaneous circulation. TEE proved to be useful in the diagnosis and management of this case of PEA.

Abstract Background Symptomatic anterior mediastinal mass in pregnancy is rare, and cesarean section for such patients poses a risk of cardiopulmonary collapse. Case presentation A 30-year-old woman at 40 weeks’ gestation complained of breathlessness and cough, and she was not able to lie supine because of respiratory distress. Computed tomography scan revealed a large anterior-superior mediastinal mass severely compressing the trachea, bilateral main bronchus, and superior vena cava. Because clinical symptoms and computed tomographic findings suggested imminent respiratory catastrophe, urgent cesarean section was planned. The patient was able to lie in the semi-recumbent position with minimal symptoms; therefore, we considered it safe to perform cesarean section with combined spinal epidural anesthesia. In the event of cardiopulmonary collapse, emergent intubation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were also planned. The operation was performed successfully with combined spinal epidural anesthesia. The infant was healthy, and the postoperative hospital course was uneventful. Conclusions Combined spinal epidural anesthesia is preferable in the anesthetic management of cesarean section with symptomatic anterior mediastinal mass. A well-designed preoperative strategy can lead to favorable outcomes even in this complicated situation.

This was the case of a male patient in his 60s, who suddenly collapsed. When the ambulance team arrived, the initial waveform was pulseless electrical activity; accordingly, a supraglottic airway device was inserted, and the patient was immediately transported to a referring hospital. On arrival, the patient resumed spontaneous circulation, the patient was diagnosed with Stanford type B acute aortic dissection and was referred to the author’s hospital, where diffuse swelling of the anterior cervical region was revealed. CT performed by the previous hospital revealed compression of the trachea. The cause of cardiac arrest was considered to be severe airway stenosis secondary to a retropharyngeal haematoma associated with Stanford type B acute aortic dissection. Stanford type B acute aortic dissection can be complicated by retropharyngeal haematomas, which can lead to airway obstruction and even cardiac arrest. This condition also requires careful airway examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: A genomic analysis based on next-generation sequencing is important for deciding cancer treatment strategies. Cancer tissue sometimes displays intratumor heterogeneity and a pathologic specimen may contain more than two tumor grades. Although tumor grades are very important for the cancer prognosis, the impact of higher tumor grade distribution in a specimen used for a genomic analysis is unknown. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 61 clear cell carcinoma and 46 prostate cancer patients that were diagnosed between December 2018 and August 2022 using the GeneRead Human Comprehensive Cancer Panel or SureSelect PrePool custom Tier2. Genome annotation and curation were performed using the GenomeJack software. Results: Tumor mutation burden (TMB) was increased in proportion to the higher tumor grade distribution in grade 2 clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). In PC, Grade Group 3/4 specimens that included an increased distribution of Gleason pattern 4 had more frequent gene mutations. Conclusion: Our results suggest the importance of selecting the maximum distribution of higher tumor grade areas to obtain results on the precise gene alterations for genomics-focused treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: The Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene encodes a protein (pVHL) that plays an important role in proteasome degradation of hypoxia inducible factor α (HIFα) through E3 activation. Accumulation of HIFα by loss of functional pVHL promotes tumorigenesis, thus, VHL has tumor suppressor gene capability in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). VHL is the most frequently mutated gene in ccRCC. The complete loss of VHL is mainly achieved by loss of chromosome 3p, which has a VHL coding region in combination with mutation or hypermethylation of the remaining copy of VHL. Given the risk of constitutional chromosome 3 translocation for RCC, it is important to detect the translocation and understand the mechanism underlying the development of multifocal ccRCC. Case Report: A 67-year-old female patient diagnosed with multifocal RCC underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for three kidney tumors. A cancer gene panel test using next generation sequencing (NGS) detected differential VHL mutations (c.533T>G; p.L178R, c.465_466insTA; p.T157Ifs*3, c.343C>A; p.H115N), while VHL mutation was not detected in peripheral blood DNA. A tendency toward copy number loss of genes on der(3) was also detected in all tumors, but not in the germline one. A karyotype analysis revealed a germline translocation between 3 and 6, t(3;6)(q12;q14). Conclusion: Chromosome 3 translocation and loss of derivative chromosome containing 3p and subsequent somatic differential VHL mutations in this case strongly support the previously proposed three-step model to explain the development of familial conventional ccRCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]