Journal of surgical oncology
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Cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen is a method for treating benign- and low-malignant skeletal tumors. The advantage of preserving the supportive function of bone should be compared to the risk for its complications; postoperative fracture is well known, but less so the occurrence of intraoperative venous gas embolism. This paper describes 17 patients: 2 patients who had serious hemodynamic complications during cryosurgery and a study of 15 patients in whom end-tidal N2 tension was measured in an attempt to investigate the clinical incidence of venous gas embolism during cryosurgery. In the 15 cases analyzed, we did not detect any exhaled N2 during cryosurgery.
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The management of a substernal goiter is a problem which has challenged surgeons since its first description in 1749. While the overall incidence in the United States has decreased with the routine use of iodized salt, the development of large multinodular substernal goiters in the rest of the world is still common. In addition, even in those regions where they are less common, knowledge of their treatment is important as they can represent up to 7% of mediastinal tumors. ⋯ The vast majority of substernal goiters can be removed via a cervical incision; occasionally sternotomy or thoracotomy is necessary. Although rare, tracheomalacia secondary to prolonged compression of the trachea by the mass needs to be watched for postoperatively. Overall, the results of surgical treatment are excellent, as morbidity and mortality are minimal and patients can expect full relief of symptoms secondary to these mediastinal masses.