The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon
-
Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Feb 1997
Case ReportsPostpartum pulmonary embolectomy; a surgical challenge and favourable outcome.
A 23-year-old female underwent uneventful caesarian section, which was followed by massive pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolectomy on cardiopulmonary bypass was performed, and was complicated by massive intraabdominal haemorrhage due to a hepatic subcapsular rupture. To our knowledge, this is the first surgically orientated case of postpartum pulmonary embolectomy to be reported in the literature.
-
Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Feb 1997
Videothoracoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma with associated pleural effusions.
Between 1985 and 1994 46 of 662 patients examined by thoracoscopy for secondary malignant pleural effusion were diagnosed to have diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma. Mean patient age was 59 years, with a male: female ratio of 5:1. The right hemithorax was more frequently involved than the left (55% versus 45%). ⋯ Survival after one, two, and 5 years was 37.5%, 12.5%, and 5%, respectively. The characteristics of mesothelioma and pleural effusion evident in thoracoscopy and their diagnostic relevance are discussed. We suggest talc instillation as the sole therapeutic maneuver in evolutioned cases, since the literature and our own experience indicate that survival is not significantly prolonged by more aggressive surgical approaches.