False esophageal hiatus hernia caused by a foreign body: A fatal event

Foreign body ingestion is a common complaint in gastrointestinal clinics. It is usually not difficult to diagnose because most of the patients report a definitive history of accidental foreign body ingestion. However, in rare cases, patients do not have a clear history. Thus, the actual condition of the patient is difficult to diagnosis or is misdiagnosed; consequently, treatment is delayed or the wrong treatment is administered, respectively. This report describes a fatal case of esophageal perforation caused by an unknowingly ingested fishbone, which resulted in lower esophageal necrosis, chest cavity infection, posterior mediastinum fester, and significant upper gastrointestinal accumulation of blood. However, his clinical symptoms and imaging data are very similar with esophageal hiatal hernia. Unfortunately, because the patient was too late in consulting a physician, he finally died of chest infection and hemorrhage caused by thoracic aortic rupture. First, this case report underlines the importance of immediate consultation with a physician as soon as symptoms are experienced so as not to delay diagnosis and treatment, and thus avoid a fatal outcome. Second, diagnostic imaging should be performed in the early stage, without interference by clinical judgment. Third, when computed tomography reveals esophageal hiatus hernia with stomach incarceration, posterior mediastinal hematoma, and pneumatosis caused by esophageal, a foreign body should be suspected. Finally, medical professionals are responsible for making people aware of the danger of foreign body ingestion, especially among children, those who abuse alcohol, and those who wear dentures, particularly among the elderly, whose discriminability of foreign bodies is decreased, to avoid dire consequences.

Evaluation of Endotracheal Intubation with a Flexible Fiberoptic Bronchoscope in Lateral Patient Positioning： A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Background： There is an unmet need for a reliable method of airway randomized controlled two-center study was designed to evaluate the management for patients in the lateral position. This prospective feasibility of intubation using a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope in the lateral position during surgery. Methods： Seventy-two patients scheduled for elective nonobstetric surgery in the lateral decubitus position requiring tracheal intubation under general anesthesia at Lishui Central Hospital of Zhejiang Province and Jiaxing First Hospital of Zhejiang Province from April I, 2015, to September 30, 2015, were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to the supine position group （Group S, n = 38） and the lateral position group （Group L, n = 34）. Experienced anesthetists performed tracheal intubation with a fiberoptic bronchoscope after general anesthesia. The time required for intubation, intubation success rates, and hemodynamic changes was recorded. Between-group differences were assessed using the Student＇s t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, or Chi-square test. Results： The median total time to tracheal intubation was significantly longer in Group S （140.0 [135.8, 150.0] s） compared to Group L （33.0 [24.0, 38.8] s） （P 〈 0.01）. The first-attempt intubation success rate was significantly higher in Group L （97%） compared to Group S （16%）. Hemodynamic changes immediately after intubation were more exaggerated in Group S compared to Group L （P = 0.02）. Conclusion： Endotracheal intubation with a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope may be an effective and timesaving technique for patients in the lateral position. Trial Registration： Chinese Clinical Trial Register, ChiCTR-IIR- 16007814; http：//www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx？proj= 13183.