The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor is a rare lesion recently reported in the literature. We report a new case occurring in the pleura, which is an unusual location. The patient, a 38-year-old woman, had a left pleural mass revealed by chest roentgenograms. ⋯ The pathogenesis is discussed but remains uncertain. Tumor resection appears to be the best option and the clinical course is benign. However, the number of cases to date is insufficient to establish therapeutic recommendations.
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Following Fontan palliation, the univentricular circulation is notable for coexisting systemic venous hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypotension. Assisted cavopulmonary blood flow to overcome this pressure gradient would restore the circulation to one more closely resembling normal two-ventricle physiology. We hypothesized that mechanical augmentation of cavopulmonary blood flow would provide physiologic stability in a model of cavopulmonary diversion and univentricular circulation. ⋯ Cavopulmonary assist with a percutaneous pump provides physiologic stability in a model of total cavopulmonary diversion and univentricular Fontan circulation without altering regional volume distribution or cardiac output. This mode of circulatory support may have potential to benefit patients with marginal Fontan hemodynamics in both the early and late time periods.
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Biography Historical Article
Gibbon and his Heart-Lung Machine: 50 Years and Beyond. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. May 2, 2003.
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Meta Analysis
Sleeve lobectomy or pneumonectomy: optimal management strategy using decision analysis techniques.
The choice between sleeve lobectomy and pneumonectomy is controversial for patients with early-stage lung cancer and who have acceptable lung function. ⋯ In patients with anatomically appropriate early-stage lung cancer, sleeve lobectomy offers better long-term survival and quality of life than does pneumonectomy and is more cost effective.
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Comparative Study
Lung resection for non-small-cell lung cancer in patients older than 70: mortality, morbidity, and late survival compared with the general population.
Operative mortality and morbidity in elderly patients operated on for non-small-cell lung cancer are acceptable. However, risk factors for hospital mortality and the benefits for the patients in the long term are insufficiently defined, and survival compared with the general population is not known. ⋯ Pulmonary resection for non-small-cell lung cancer in patients older than 70 years shows acceptable morbidity and mortality. The Charlson index is a better predictor of complications than individual risk factors. In time survival is no longer correlated with the disease but follows the same pattern as the general population.