Trans-Colostomy Placement of a Button Gastrostomy Tube for Malignant Bowel Obstruction in Patients with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

Purpose The aim of the study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the trans-colostomy placement of a button gastrostomy tube for patients with malignant bowel obstruction due to peritoneal carcinomatosis. Material and Methods Data from seven consecutive patients who presented with malignant bowel obstruction due to peritoneal carcinomatosis involving the colostomy site and underwent trans-colostomy button gastrostomy tube placement between 2013 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. We assessed technical and clinical success rate, procedure time, duration of improvement, and complication rate. Results The technical success rate of the trans-colostomy button gastrostomy tube placement was 100%, and average procedure time was 25 minutes. Clinical symptoms of malignant bowel obstruction resolved in four out of seven (57%) patients. Average duration of improvement in the four patients with clinical success was 170.8 days. There were no complications associated with the procedure. Conclusion Trans-colostomy button gastrostomy tube placement might be a safe and feasible treatment option for patients with malignant bowel obstruction due to peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Factors Affecting Compliance With Myringotomy Tube Follow-up Care

Objective: Myringotomy and tube insertion is a commonly practiced procedure within pediatric otolaryngology. Though relatively safe, follow-up appointments are critical in preventing further complications and monitoring for improvement. This study sought to evaluate the factors associated with compliance of post-myringotomy follow-up visits in an urban safety-net tertiary care setting. Methods: This study is a retrospective chart review conducted in outpatient otolaryngology clinic at an urban, safety-net, tertiary-care, academic medical center. All patients from ages 0 to 18 who received myringotomy and tube placement between February 3, 2012, to May 30, 2018 at the aforementioned clinic were included. Results: A total of 806 patients had myringotomy tubes placed during this period; 190 patients were excluded due to no visits being scheduled within 1 and 6 month visit windows post-operatively, leaving 616 patients included for analysis. Of 616 patients, 574 patients were seen for the 1-month visit, (42 patients did not have follow-up visits within the 1-month window), and 356 patients were examined for the 6-month visit (260 patients did not schedule follow-up visits within the 6-month window). For the 1-month follow-up visits post-procedure, only race/ethnicity type “Other” was associated with lower no-show rates (OR = 0.330, 95% CI: 0.093-0.968). With the 6-month follow-up visits, having private insurance (OR = 0.446, 95% CI: 0.229-0.867) and not having a 1-month visit scheduled (OR = 0.404, 95% CI: 0.174-0.937) predicted lower no-show rates. Conclusion: No meaningful factors studied were significantly associated with compliance of short-term, 1-month visits post-myringotomy. Compliance of longer-term, 6-month post-operative visits was associated with insurance type and previous visit status.

Safety of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Placement in Pregnancy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Gastrostomy tube placement in pregnancy is historically contraindicated due to risk of injury to the developing fetus and exposure to anesthetic agents. However, in cases where oral nutritional access is severely jeopardized, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement can be a life-saving measure. In this case report and literature review, we present a case of successful PEG placement in a pregnant woman, followed by a discussion of the existing literature regarding PEG placement during pregnancy.

Metal Allergy in Tracheostomy Tube Placement Resulting in Complete Subglottic Stenosis: A Case Report

Objectives: Metal hypersensitivity reaction to surgical implants is a well- known phenomenon that is associated with pain, swelling, inflammation, and decreased efficacy of the implant. We present a unique case of a patient with placement a metal Jackson tracheostomy tube that led to expeditious total subglottic stenosis. Methods: The patient was a 33-year old, severely atopic woman with history of asthma exacerbations requiring several intubations for acute respiratory failure with several subsequent tracheal dilations with steroid injections, and eventual tracheostomy placement with a metal Jackson tracheostomy tube that led to expeditious total subglottic stenosis. Results: Initial intervention included performing an airway evaluation, CO2 laser, and steroid injection of the area of complete subglottic stenosis. Follow up several months later revealed little improvement in level of tracheal narrowing proximal to the tracheostomy tube. Patient did not have shortness of breath but continued to be aphonic. Cricotracheal versus tracheal resection have been proposed but surgical morbidity was deemed too high due to patient’s obesity. Conclusions: Metal hypersensitivity reactions are well known phenomena as it relates to surgical implants in other surgical specialties but are seldom reported within the ear, nose and throat literature. Oftentimes, it takes astute observation to diagnose and establish a connection. Prompt recognition and treatment can be acquired from interdisciplinary collaboration with allergy.

Outpatient endoscopic resection of large calcified thoracic disc herniation with caudal displacement

Thoracic disc herniations can cause radiculopathy and myelopathy from neural compression. Surgical resection may require complex, morbid approaches. To avoid spinal cord retraction, wide exposures requiring extensive tissue, muscle, and bony disruption are needed, which may require instrumentation. Anterior approaches may require vascular surgeons, chest tube placement, and intensive care admission. Large, calcified discs or migrated fragments can pose additional challenges. Previous literature has noted the endoscopic approach to be contraindicated for calcified thoracic discs. The authors describe an ultra–minimally invasive, ambulatory endoscopic approach to resect a large calcified thoracic disc with caudal migration and avoidance of conventional approaches. The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2021.10.FOCVID2112

Improve the success rate of inserting and intubating the spiral nasojejunal tube with bare hands

[Objective] To improve the success rate of spiral nasojejunal tube insertion through training of blind insertion of spiral nasojejunal tube with bare hands. [Methods] A total of 49 patients (5 of them were secondary intubation) who were admitted to the emergency department of our hospital from April 2, 2019 to June 17, 2021 needed to undergo blind hand intubation treatment with a nasal jejunal tube. The nurses who were recruited to participate in Guangdong. The enteral nutrition intubation training class hosted by the Provincial Nursing Society Critical Care Committee has been divided into two groups: the experimental group after training (n=28) and the control group before training (n=21) at the aim of comparing the success rate of one-time catheterization of patients in the two groups. [Results] The success rate of nurses' bare-handed blind insertion of the nasal jejunal tube increased from 43% to 86% (p<0.01). [Conclusion] Carrying out the training of blind insertion of nasal jejunal tube with bare hands can improve the success rate of tube placement for nurses in emergency department.

Retrograde Placement of Ring-Bolster Retained Tubes Facilitates Gastrostomy to Gastrojejunostomy Revision in Children with Esophageal Pathology and Microgastria

Techniques for gastrostomy revision to gastrojejunostomy within the pediatric population, who have failed initial tube placement due to obstructive pathologies, have not been well established. Novel techniques are required to improve outcomes for these patients, and these techniques must be evaluated for both viability and safety. This article describes a technique utilized for gastrostomy to gastrojejunostomy revision and the outcomes for three pediatric patients.