Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
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Although there were some reports predicting postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing liver transplantation, most of them studied deceased-donor liver transplantation (DDLT). In this context, we performed this study to predict early mortality after liver transplantation from preoperative variables in both living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and DDLT. ⋯ In conclusion, hepatic encephalopathy in DDLT and serum creatinine level in LDLT were the significant pretransplant variables that were related with early death after LT.
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Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a common hospital-acquired acute kidney injury. Published studies on this condition have dramatically increased in recent years. This article aims to provide a brief literature review. ⋯ The other medications or techniques for reducing CIN risk are still unclear. CIN is a potentially preventable clinical condition. A careful review of published reports gives us a deeper understanding of CIN and a greater chance of decreasing its risk.
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Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is not only an invaluable diagnostic tool for cardiac patients, but also is essential for cardiac monitoring in critically ill patients in cardiac and non-cardiac surgery settings and in the differential diagnosis of unexplained hemodynamic collapse. The advantage of TEE over transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is usually clearer images, especially when viewing structures that are difficult to see transthoracically. ⋯ Although TEE is considered to be relatively safe and noninvasive, TEE-associated complications, such as esophageal laceration, must be taken seriously. Recently, real-time three-dimensional (3D) TEE imaging has played an important role defining valvular and congenital abnormalities and aiding in operative and percutaneous repair.
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High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) has become increasingly popular recently and more pulmonary ground-glass opacities (GGOs) are being identified. However, the treatment for these GGOs remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review the clinical and pathological characteristics and to demonstrate the longterm surgical outcomes in patients undergoing resection for GGOs in our institute. ⋯ The percentage of malignancy is high in pulmonary GGOs. Surgery results in an excellent prognosis in these patients.
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Gastroesophageal varices bleeding is a major complication in patients with cirrhosis. Gastric varices (GVs) occur in approximately 20% of patients with portal hypertension. However, GV bleeding develops in only 25% of patients with GV and requires more transfusion and has higher mortality than esophageal variceal (EV) bleeding. ⋯ Although endoscopic injection of cyanoacrylate is superior to sclerotherapy and band ligation, and has remained the treatment of choice for treating acute GV bleeding, the outcome of this treatment is still unsatisfactory. New treatment options, such as thrombin injection, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts, or balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration, have shown promising results for acute GV bleeding. However, randomized controlled trials are needed to compare the efficacy of these therapies with cyanoacrylate.