Background: Only few reports are available on the use of aortic balloon catheter for cesarean hysterectomy in placenta previa percreta. Case: A 32-year-old woman with placenta previa percreta underwent cesarean hysterectomy at 34 weeks of gestation. Before starting the surgery, an aortic occlusion balloon catheter (30 mm balloon, 5 Fr) was inserted. For total hysterectomy, the aortic balloon catheter was inflated and there was a sudden and dramatic reduction in blood loss, and the surgery was completed safely. An aortic occlusion was sustained for 80 min, with blood loss estimated at 3,200 ml. The postoperative course was uneventful. At 3 months after the operation, the mother and baby remained healthy. Conclusion: An aortic balloon is rapidly and easily inserted, and is an option for major hemorrhage in placenta previa percreta.

The Macklin effect can frequently be demonstrated in patients with spontaneous pneumomediastinum of nontraumatic respiratory causes by MDCT. A CT-proven Macklin effect may be useful in differentiating respiratory from other causes of pneumomediastinum.

Although there was relatively good agreement between tumor vascularity and enhancement pattern (60% correlation for hypervascular tumors, 80% correlation for hypovascular tumors), hyperattenuation of the large HCCs (> or = 5 cm) at CT appeared to be a function of dilated sinusoids within the tumor (peliotic changes) as well as vascularity. In patients with advanced cirrhosis, hypovascular HCCs could be hyperattenuating at CT.

Mediastinal fluid collections or free gas bubbles are not specific during the early postoperative period. However, after 2 21 days, these observations could be indicative of mediastinitis.

The angiographic incidence of the HFA is more common than previously reported. The delayed and persistent opacification of the HFA on hepatic angiograms caused by its slow blood flow is considered the key to its identification.