• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.466-472
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• 2021

Background: Major intraoperative hemorrhage reportedly predicts unfavorable survival outcomes following surgical resection for esophageal carcinoma (EC). However, the factors predicting the amount of blood lost during thoracoscopic esophagectomy have yet to be sufficiently studied. We sought to identify risk factors for excessive blood loss during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for EC. Methods: Using simple and multiple linear regression models, we performed retrospective analyses of the associations between clinicopathological/surgical factors and estimated hemorrhagic volume in 168 consecutive patients who underwent VATS-type esophagectomy for EC. Results: The median blood loss amount was 225 mL (interquartile range, 126-380 mL). Abdominal laparotomy (p<0.001), thoracic duct resection (p=0.014), and division of the azygos arch (p<0.001) were significantly related to high volumes of blood loss. Body mass index and operative duration, as continuous variables, were also correlated positively with blood loss volume in simple linear regression. The multiple linear regression analysis identified prolonged operative duration (p<0.001), open laparotomy approach (p=0.003), azygos arch division (p=0.005), and high body mass index (p=0.014) as independent predictors of higher hemorrhage amounts during VATS esophagectomy. Conclusion: As well as body mass index, operation-related factors such as operative duration, open laparotomy, and division of the azygos arch were independently predictive of estimated blood loss during VATS esophagectomy for EC. Laparoscopic abdominal procedures and azygos arch preservation might be minimally invasive options that would potentially reduce intraoperative hemorrhage, although oncological radicality remains an important consideration.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.53-55
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• 2023

Azygos vein injuries are rare consequences of blunt trauma. When there is high drainage output from a right-sided intercostal catheter, an azygos injury must be considered in the differential diagnosis. We report the case of a 38-year-old male patient involved in a fall from a height during a motorcycle accident. Computed tomography demonstrated a large right-sided hemothorax and left-sided pneumothorax. The patient was transferred to the operating theatre and underwent a clamshell thoracotomy. A laceration in the azygos vein at the confluence of the arch of the azygos and the right superior intercostal vein was identified. Bleeding was controlled at the trifurcation. The patient survived and was discharged home on postoperative day 15.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.304-306
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• 2011

An azygos vein aneurysm is a very rare cause of a posterior mediastinal mass. Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, no treatment is usually required. However, the aneurysm can thrombose, and this may lead pulmonary thromboembolism, or the aneurysm may rupture. In these instances, the excision of the mass is recommended. Video-assisted thoracic surgery techniques have considerably improved. If it is necessary to remove the aneurysm, video-assisted thoracic surgery may be a good option for surgical treatment. We report a case of an aneurysm of the azygos arch that was successfully resected by video-assisted thoracic surgery.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.114-118
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• 2018

A 3-month-old intact male Lakeland terrier was presented with recurring regurgitation after removing cervical esophageal foreign body by endoscopy. Blood and urine analysis, radiography, ultrasonography, fluoroscopic esophagography, computed tomographic angiography (CTA) were performed. In radiography and fluoroscopic esophagography, vascular ring anomaly was considered as the primary cause of megaesophagus, and CTA with gas-inflation of the esophagus was performed. Compressed esophagus, persistent right aortic arch (PRAA), aberrant left subclavian artery (LSA), and a venous structure which was confirmed in surgery to be incomplete type persistent left cranial vena cava (PLCVC) connected with the left side azygos vein were observed. Left deviation of the trachea was also revealed in CT, which implies the compression by left ligamentum arteriosum. Therefore, type 3 PRAA with left ligamentum arteriosum and aberrant LSA, was considered as a prior differential diagnosis. Surgical repair was performed and the clinical signs improved. This report describes CTA characteristics of combination of PRAA with aberrant LSA, incomplete PLCVC and Lt. azygos vein in a dog. Although not every vascular anomaly does induce clinical sign, some types can complicate the surgical procedure, and cause clinical signs. Therefore, thorough evaluation of vascular anomalies in the thorax is important, and CTA is a useful method in identifying multiple vascular anomalies in dogs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.902-905
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• 2006

We report a case in which routine chest roentgenograms of an 840 g infant led to the belief that the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was appropriately positioned within the superior vena cava when, in actuality, it was within the azygous arch. Although many cases of pleural effusions have been reported to be caused by a central venous catheter, a right-sided hydrothorax caused by azygous vein rupture from the use of a PICC is an extremely rare complication. Sudden changes in the condition of a preterm infant with PICC should raise the suspicion of a catheter-related problem.