The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon
-
Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Sep 2008
Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on wound healing after tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomoses in rats: results of early observations.
Proliferating scar tissue is an important problem after tracheal surgery. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) provides good support to the poorly perfused tissues. We aimed to evaluate the early effects of HBO therapy on tracheal healing after tracheal resection. ⋯ Our short-term observation results demonstrate that HBO treatment increases tracheal healing and decreases the complication ratios. HBO may be preferred as a supportive treatment modality during the healing period after tracheal surgery.
-
Catamenial pneumothorax is a rare entity of spontaneous, recurrent pneumothorax occurring in synchrony with the menstrual cycle. The etiology is not completely known, but in most cases it is associated with thoracic endometriosis and/or diaphragmatic fenestrations. ⋯ The surgical findings were thoracic endometriosis and diaphragmatic holes. She underwent resection of the affected part of the diaphragm and pleurodesis via a mini-thoracotomy and videothoracoscopy assistance.
-
Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Sep 2008
Rate of paraplegia and mortality in elective descending and thoracoabdominal aortic repair in the modern surgical era.
The risk of paraplegia and hospital death is the major concern in the surgical repair of descending and thoracoabdominal aortic pathologies. For specific indications, the evolving technology of endovascular stent grafting is becoming increasingly popular. We reviewed our results for elective surgical repair of various aortic pathologies with respect to this innovative therapeutic background. ⋯ If modern surgical principles are used in elective descending and thoracoabdominal aortic repair, surgery can be performed with a low postoperative risk for hospital death or paraplegia. These results should be taken into account when evaluating alternative therapeutic strategies in patients with similar pathologies.
-
Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Sep 2008
Case ReportsUse of video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery for the treatment of Aspergillus empyema with bronchopleural fistula.
Pulmonary aspergillus empyema with bronchopleural fistula is a rare and severe disease with a poor prognosis. In this report, we describe the successful surgical treatment of this condition in a 34-year-old man who was initially hospitalized due to complications of chronic hepatitis B. While under artificial liver therapy and as a consequence of long-term corticosteroid use, the patient developed invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, which was further complicated by an empyema and a bronchopleural fistula. Video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery was performed following failure of the prescribed antifungal treatment and chest tube drainage, and the empyema resolved completely 3 months postoperatively,with no evidence of recurrence after 5 months' follow-up.
-
Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Sep 2008
A simple way to decompress the left ventricle during venoarterial bypass.
The aim of this investigation was to improve the hemodynamics during venoarterial bypass by remote decompression of the left ventricle (LV). ⋯ Remote drainage of the pulmonary artery during venoarterial bypass allows for effective decompression of the left ventricle and provides superior hemodynamics.