Thoracoscopic Surgical Treatment of Spontaneous Pneumothorax: Selection of Surgical Therapy According to Thoracoscopic Findings

We report our experience with thoracoscopy used for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax and idiopathic emphysematous bullae. Fifty-one patients with pneumothorax were admitted to the hospital and received a pleurography and CT scanning before thoracoscopy. End-GIA resection or end-loop ligation were used alone or in combination, with or without laser coagulation. Only one patient developed recurrent pneumothorax, whereas another required repeated resection. Our results indicate that surgical treatment of pneumothorax using thoracoscopy results in a rapid expansion of the lung, minimum postoperative pain, early hospital discharge, and return of normal activity

Portal Vein Anastomosis with Parachute Method in Hepatectomy and Pancreatectomy

In advanced cancers of hepatobiliary and pancreatic lesions, major vascular resection and reconstruction are necessary to accomplish curative resection. Stenosis of vascular anastomosis is a concern in case of portal or superior mesenteric venous anastomosis with different vascular calibers. We attempted to apply parachute anastomosis in such a situation, which has often been used in the field of cardiovascular surgery. We applied this procedure in 4 cases of two hepatectomies in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and two pancreatectomies in pancreatic carcinomas, in which combined vascular resection was necessary. After anastomosis, the orifice of anastomotic veins was well matched and did not show stenosis or poor blood flow on ultrasonographic examination. Parachute anastomosis in the portal or superior mesenteric vein is a useful procedure to prevent vascular stenosis, particularly in case of anastomosis with different calibers

A new simplified sensorless speed control of induction motor using D-axis voltage

This paper presents a new simplified sensorless speed control method of induction motors (IM). The output voltage of d-axis PI current controller is used to compute the flux angle and to control the speed in correspondence with its reference. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been demonstrated by simulations considered PWM and experiments.15th International Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems, ICEMS 2012; Sapporo; Japan; 21 October 2012 ～ 24 October 201

Cholecystitis caused by a fish bone.

The accidental ingestion of a foreign body is not uncommon. However, the presence of a foreign body in the gallbladder is extremely rare. Here, we present a case of cholecystitis due to a fish bone that may have penetrated through the stomach wall and into the gallbladder without causing peritonitis. A laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed; a fish bone, measuring 4.0 cm in length, was found in the gallbladder. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such case to be reported

Successful Colectomy for Hemorrhagic Colitis with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and Acute Encephalopathy due to Escherichia coli O157 Infection

An 81-year-old man was admitted to a primary care hospital due to bloody diarrhea. The findings of abdominal computed tomography indicated ischemic colitis, so conservative therapy was started. On the 4th hospital day, the patient was transferred to our hospital because of renal dysfunction. Physical examination showed clouding of consciousness and abdominal distention. Abdominal computed tomography revealed massive ascites and thickening of the whole colonic wall. With a diagnosis of acute abdomen, an emergent laparotomy was performed. Extended right hemicolectomy was performed because of severe ischemic change and necrosis of the right side of the colon. In the stool culture before the operation, Escherichia coli O157 and verotoxin were found, so this case was diagnosed as hemorrhagic colitis with hemolytic uremic syndrome and acute encephalopathy due to Escherichia coli O157 infection. Postoperatively, the hemolytic uremic syndrome and acute encephalopathy were prolonged. However, with intensive care, the patient recovered and was discharged on the 33rd postoperative day