World journal of surgery
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World journal of surgery · Oct 2002
Early experience with the Nuss minimally invasive correction of pectus excavatum in adults.
Nuss described a minimally invasive technique for correcting pectus excavatum in children. A curved stainless-steel bar is inserted behind the sternum through the chest cavity with the convex surface face down, then rotated 180 degrees to elevate the sternum and correct the deformity. The procedure gained wide acceptance in children. ⋯ The procedure is effective for correcting pectus excavatum in selected patients. Early results are dependent upon adequate bar stabilization and pain control. The long-term results in adults are unknown.
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World journal of surgery · Oct 2002
Modified technique of percutaneous dilational tracheostomy in 600 cases.
Tracheostomy is frequently required for the treatment of critically ill patients to prevent the complications with prolonged translaryngeal intubation. It may facilitate airway suctioning and improve patient comfort during the process of weaning. The purpose of the study was to introduce a new modified technique for percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (MPDT) and assess its advantages. ⋯ The surgical incision was completely healed within 3 to 4 days after removing the tracheostoma. No tracheal stenoses were observed during the follow-up. MPDT is a safe, applicable technique that can be performed quickly even by a nonsurgeon in the intensive care unit and emergency department, with a low risk of complications because there is a direct view of the trachea and minimal trauma.
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World journal of surgery · Oct 2002
Trans-mediastinal gunshot wounds: are "stable" patients really stable?
Gunshot wounds that traverse the mediastinum frequently cause serious injury to the cardiac, vascular, pulmonary, and digestive structures contained within. Most patients present with unstable vital signs signifying the need for emergency operation. An occasional patient will present with stable vital signs. ⋯ Patients may appear stable following a transmediastinal gunshot wound, even when they have life-threatening injuries. There is no difference in vital signs, blood gas, or hemothorax to indicate which patients have serious injuries. We advocate continued aggressive work-up of these patients to avoid missing an injury with disastrous consequences.
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Isolated sternal fractures are seen with increasing frequency in road accidents, especially since the introduction of seatbelt legislation. The medical records of all our patients who were treated with a diagnosis of sternal fracture (SF) over the past two decades were retrospectively reviewed to determine the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of this entity. Between 1984 and 1998, 100 consecutive patients were admitted to the Department of Surge Surgery, General Hospital of Nikea-Piraeus, Greece, for SF. ⋯ Eight of our patients needed ventilatory support. Four of them died from respiratory insufficiency, myocardial infarction, and heart and lung contusion. Although an isolated SF carries a good prognosis, careful evaluation and clinical observation are essential.