Thin steel plate with thumbtack fixation in the treatment of massive presacral venous plexus hemorrhage

Background Massive presacral venous plexus hemorrhage during radical resection of rectal carcinoma is rare, but when it occurs, bleeding can be uncontrollable, leading to death in some cases. Medical adhesive gauze sticking and packing and thumbtack compressive fixation are often used for hemostasis, but these methods are not effective in cases of uncontrollable massive hemorrhage. Therefore, identifying a practical, accurate, and reliable method of hemostasis in these cases is essential.Methods Between January 2004 and December 2009, we treated 3 patients with massive presacral venous plexus hemorrhage during resection of rectal carcinoma by placing small, trimmed thin steel plates at the bleeding sites. The plates were fixed with a saddle-type application of thumbtacks.Results Bleeding was successfully controlled in all 3 patients, and intestinal anastomosis was carried out after hemostasis. No complications were observed.Conclusions Application of a small, thin steel plate to the bleeding site with thumbtack fixation is a simple and effective method of hemostasis in patients with massive presacral venous plexus hemorrhage during resection of rectal carcinoma.

Color Doppler ultrasound imaging in varicoceles: Is the difference in venous diameter encountered during Valsalva predictive of palpable varicocele grade?

Objective:The clinical grading system for varicoceles is subjective and dependent on clinician experience.Color Doppler ultrasound(US)has not been standardized in the diagnosis of varicoceles.We aimed to determine if US measurement of varicocele could be predictive of World Health Organization(WHO)varicocele grade.Methods:Men who presented for either scrotal pain or infertility to a tertiary men’s health clinic underwent physical examination,and varicoceles were graded following WHO criteria(0Zsubclinical,1,2,3).US was used to measure largest venous diameter in the pampiniform plexus bilaterally at rest and during Valsalva maneuver.Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis was used to determine if resting diameter,diameter during Valsalva,or change in diameter between at rest and during Valsalva provided the highest sensitivity and specificity for determining clinical grade.Threshold values for diameter were determined from these receiver operator characteristic curves.Results:A total of 102 men(50 with clinical varicocele and 52 with subclinical varicocele)were included.Diameter at rest was the best ultrasonographic discriminator between subclinical and clinical varicoceles(area under the curve[AUC]Z0.67)with a diameter threshold of 3.0 mm(sensitivity 79%,specificity 42%).Diameter during Valsalva had the greatest AUC for determining clinical Grades 1 versus 2(AUCZ0.57)with diameter threshold of 5.7 mm(sensitivity 71%,specificity 33%).For differentiating between Grades 2 and 3,diameter at rest had the greatest AUC of 0.65 with a threshold of 3.6 mm(sensitivity 71%,specificity 58%).Conclusion:Our results corroborate other studies that have shown a weak correlation between US and clinical grading.The use of diameter during Valsalva was less predictive than diameter at rest and was only clinically significant in differentiating between Grade 1 and 2 varicocele.A standardized method for determining clinically relevant varicoceles on US would allow for improved patient counseling and clinical decision-making.

A new strategy for managing presacral venous hemorrhage：bipolar coagulation hemostasis

Massive presacral venous hemorrhage is dangerous and difficult to manage. Traditional methods for controlling this condition include packing with laparotomy pads, the use of sterile thumbtacks,1 ligation of the internal iliac vessel,2 and selective arterial embolization.3 These methods are generally ineffective. Recently, several other methods for controlling presacral bleeding have been reported, such as occlusion of the wound with rectus muscle fragment welding,4 oppression with sterile normal saline bags,5 balloon tamponade,6 and the use of endoscopic staples.7 However, these measures fail to arrest the bleeding in some patients, resulting in massive hemorrhage and even death.

Renal cell carcinoma presents as pleural metastasis without pulmonary involvement

Although lung metastasis is common in renal cell carcinoma （RCC）, only a few cases of pleural metastasis without lung involvement have been reported. We present here not only a special case of pleural metastases from RCC without lung involvement, but also discussion about the specific metastatic pathway and the treatment of sole pleural metastasis.