General thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jun 2010
Case ReportsSuccessful usage of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge therapy for acute pulmonary embolism between hospitals.
A 50-year-old man presented to a nearby hospital with loss of consciousness. Investigation revealed thrombus formation at the tricuspid valve. ⋯ The patient was treated by surgical thromboembolectomy and was dismissed from the hospital without major complications. We have experienced a case where ECMO was successfully used for cardiovascular and respiratory support, serving as a bridge therapy between hospitals.
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Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jun 2010
Case ReportsPorridge-like tuberculous cardiac tamponade: treatment difficulties in the Horn of Africa.
A 16-year-old boy was hospitalized for fever, chest pain, and cardiovascular collapse. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a 30-mm circumferential echogenic "porridge-like" pericardial effusion with signs of cardiac tamponade. Tuberculosis (TB) was suspected because of its prevalence in Djibouti. ⋯ After 3 months of follow-up, there was no sign of constrictive pericarditis. Pericardiocentesis may fail in cases of advanced-stage fibrinous TB pericardial effusion. Thus, pericardiotomy with complete open draining is the only lifesaving procedure.
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Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jun 2010
Case ReportsRupture of the diaphragm and pericardium with cardiac herniation after blunt chest trauma.
A 61-year-old man was transferred to our institution because of blunt chest trauma after accidentally falling. A chest roentgenogram (CXR) and computed tomography (CT) revealed bilateral hemopneumothorax and fractures of multiple left ribs, the pelvis, and the left femur. On the second day in hospital, the patient suddenly complained of dyspnea. ⋯ They were repaired, and there were no cardiopulmonary complications during or after the operation. Pericardiodiaphragmatic rupture with cardiac herniation after multiple blunt traumas is rare. We describe the successful treatment of a diaphragmatic and pericardial rupture with cardiac herniation, with special reference to pericardial injuries.