Comparison between Integrated Backscatter Intravascular Ultrasound and 64-Slice Multi-Detector Row Computed Tomography for Tissue Characterization and Volumetric Assessment of Coronary Plaques

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the cut-off values of Hounsfield units (HU) for the discrimination of plaque components and to evaluate the feasibility of measurement of the volume of plaque components using multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT). Methods: Coronary lesions (125 lesions in 125 patients) were visualized by both integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) and 64-slice MDCT at the same site. The IB values were used as a gold standard to determine the cut off values of HU for the discrimination of plaque components. Results: Plaques were classified as lipid pool (n =50), fibrosis (n =65) or calcification (n =35) by IB-IVUS. The HU of lipid pool, fibrosis and calcification were 18 ± 18 HU (−19 to 58 HU), 95 ± 24 HU (46 to 154 HU) and 378 ± 99 HU (188 to 605 HU), respectively. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, a threshold of 50 HU was the optimal cutoff values to discriminate lipid pool from fibrosis. Lipid volume measured by MDCT was correlated with that measured by IB-IVUS (r =0.66, p <0.001), whereas fibrous volume was not (r =0.21, p =0.059). Conclusion: Lipid volume measured by MDCT was moderately correlated with that measured by IB-IVUS. MDCT may be useful for volumetric assessment of the lipid volume of coronary plaques, whereas the assessment of fibrosis volume was unstable

Mortality and physical status at hospital discharge in Japanese elderly critically ill patients: a single-center retrospective study

Abstract Background Because there is ongoing population aging, the age of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) is also higher. However, the evidence about outcomes in elderly patients is insufficient in Japan. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study. Method The study participants were consecutive patients who were admitted to our ICU and received mechanical ventilation for more than 24 h. We divided the patients into two groups, according to age. Patients in group A were 74 years old or younger, and those in group B were 75 years old or older. The major outcome was in-hospital mortality. Findings Two hundred and twenty patients met the inclusion criteria. There were 118 patients in group A and 102 patients in group B. The overall hospital mortality in both groups were similar (19 vs. 25%, p = 0.23). The proportion of patients who were discharged home and had good physical status at hospital discharge in group A were significantly higher than that in group B (72 vs. 37%, p < 0.0001; 91 vs. 74%, p = 0.004, respectively). Conclusion The elderly population were associated with a twofold increase in the risk of discharged not to the home compared with others

Diagnostic effectiveness of preoperative water-soluble contrast enema in colorectal perforation

Summary: Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of performing a preoperative water-soluble contrast enema (WSCE) before emergency surgery for colorectal perforation. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 68 consecutive patients who underwent a preoperative WSCE before emergency surgery for colorectal perforation during the period from January 2011 to December 2017. Clinical characteristics and inflammatory biomarkers were compared between patients with Hinchey I–II versus those with Hinchey III–IV. Results: WSCE leakage occurred in 27 of 68 patients (39.7%). Univariate analysis showed that the two groups (Hinchey I–II and Hinchey III–IV) significantly differed regarding age, perforation site, cause of perforation, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, presence or absence of WSCE leakage, and white blood cell count. Multivariable analysis revealed that WSCE leakage was a predictor of Hinchey III–IV, with an odds ratio of greater than 24 (P = 0.002). The sensitivity and specificity of WSCE leakage for differentiating those with Hinchey III–IV from those with Hinchey I–II were 76.5% and 97.1%, respectively. Conclusions: This retrospective study indicates that preoperative WSCE before emergency surgery is a useful tool for predicting the presence of Hinchey III–IV in patients with colorectal perforation. Keywords: Colorectal perforation, Water-soluble contrast enema (WSCE), Emergency surger