Background: Anticoagulation during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) usually is required to prevent thrombosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of nafamostat mesilate (NM) as a regional anticoagulant during veno-arterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) treatment. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 16 patients receiving VA-ECMO and NM from January 2017 to June 2020 at Haeundae Paik Hospital. We compared clinical and laboratory data, including activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), which was measured simultaneously in patients and the ECMO site, to estimate the efficacy of regional anticoagulation. Results: The median patient age was 68.5 years, and 56.3% of patients were men. Cardiovascular disease was the most common primary disease (75.0%) requiring ECMO treatment, followed by respiratory disease (12.5%). The median duration of ECMO treatment was 7.5 days. Among 16 patients, seven were switched to NM after first using heparin as an anticoagulation agent, and nine received only NM. When comparing aPTT values in the NM group between patients and the ECMO site, that in patients was significantly lower than that at the ECMO site (73.57 vs. 79.25 seconds; P=0.010); in contrast, no difference was observed in the heparin group. Conclusions: NM showed efficacy as a regional anticoagulation method by sustaining a lower aPTT value compared to that measured at the ECMO site. NM should be considered as a safer regional anticoagulation method in VA-ECMO for patients at high risk of bleeding.

Perforation is the rarest complication of the duodenal diverticulum (DD), but it is the most serious complication. Mortality rate was reported up to 30%, which may be related to diagnostic delay because the symptoms of the perforated DD are vague and nonspecific. Therefore, accurate diagnosis is important to improve the clinical outcome. Surgical treatment was considered as the standard therapeutic option. However, surgical intervention may increase morbidity and mortality due to surgical complications. Therefore, nonoperative management can be considered in some patients with perforated diverticulum who have stable vital signs without generalized peritonitis, or in elderly patients with comorbidities. Several case reports of nonoperative management of perforated DD have been reported. Herein, we describe a patient with perforated DD diagnosed based on a computed tomography scan, who was successfully treated with conservative treatment.

Purpose: Intussusception is uncommon in adults and often manifests as nonspecific symptoms. Owing to its low incidence and the lack of knowledge on the symptoms, causes, and treatment of adult intussusception (AI), many surgeons may have limited experience in the diagnosis and treatment of intussusception. This study aimed to describe the experience of AI and discuss its clinical presentation, etiology, and management. Material and Methods: I retrospectively reviewed patients aged 19 years and older who were diagnosed with intussusception at a single institution between March 2010 and December 2019. Results: Among 28 patients who were finally analyzed, abdominal pain was the most commonly observed symptom. Ileocolic and ileoileal intussusceptions were the most common locations, and a lead point was observed in 19 cases (68%), of which malignancy was observed in six (21%). Bowel resection was performed in 27 cases. According to the pathological findings of the tissue from the resected section, nine and three cases of small bowel intussusception (SBI) were benign and malignant, respectively, whereas 13 and three cases of colonic intussusception (CI) were benign and malignant, respectively. On comparing SBI and CI, it was observed that most variables did not significantly differ, except for the duration of symptoms. Conclusion: SBI had a higher lead point than CI. The rate of malignancy in CI cases in this study was lower than that reported in other studies. En-bloc resection can be considered the first option for the treatment of AI.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate the demographics, injury pattern, and treatment outcomes among children hospitalized for the management of blunt liver and spleen injury at a single institution in Korea, and to document trends in treatment strategies of children with blunt torso trauma. Methods: Children (< 20 years) with blunt liver and spleen injuries, hospitalized at our center between May 2010 and February 2016, were included in the present study. Data were retrospectively analyzed for demographic and injury-related information were obtained. Results: During the study period, 34 patients with blunt liver injury and 21 patients with blunt spleen injury presented at the center. The most common cause of liver and spleen injury was motor vehicle collision, followed by fall. Thirty patients (88.2%) with liver injuries and 18 patients (85.7%) with spleen injuries were managed conservatively. No cases of mortality occurred in patients with spleen injury group; one patient (2.9%) died in patients with liver injury due to uncontrolled bleeding. Conclusions: Our data demonstrated that 85.7% of patients with spleen injuries and 88.2% of patients with liver injuries were managed nonoperatively. Operative management was chosen more selectively, being applied in patients with high grade organ injury scores or abrupt changes in vital status. Our findings will contribute to the available data concerning children with traumatic injuries in Korea. (C) 2016 IJS Publishing Group Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Kim KH, et al. Korean J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg. 2012 Aug;16(3):98-104. http://dx.doi.org/10.14701/kjhbps.2012.16.3.98

Background: The effects of prior antiplatelet and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use on mortality in critically ill patients remain unclear. We investigated the relationship between antiplatelet and/or NSAID use and mortality in patients who had undergone surgery for sepsis caused by intra-abdominal infection. Methods: We obtained data from adult patients (aged >18 years) admitted to the intensive care unit after abdominal surgery due to intra-abdominal infection. The patients were categorized into those with and without prior antiplatelet and/or NSAID use. Results: Overall, 241 patients were enrolled, with 76 in the antiplatelet and/or NSAID use group and 165 in the non-use group. The 60-day survival probabilities for the antiplatelet and/or NSAID use and non-use groups were 85.5% and 73.3%, respectively, and this difference was significant (P = .040). In the multivariate analysis of 28-day mortality, higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (P <.001), Simplified Acute Physiology Score III (P <.001), and blood transfusion within 5 days postoperatively (P = .034) were significant mortality risk factors. In the multivariate analysis of 60-day mortality, higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (P = .002), Simplified Acute Physiology Score III (P <.001), and blood transfusion within 5 days postoperatively (P = .006) were also significant mortality risk factors. However, prior drug use (P = .036) was a factor in reducing mortality. Conclusion: Patients with a prior history of antiplatelet and/or NSAID use had a higher 60-day survival than those who did not use these drugs. Prior antiplatelet and/or NSAID use was significantly associated with a reduction in 60-day mortality. (c) 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).