Asian cardiovascular & thoracic annals
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Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann · Oct 2010
Is epidural analgesia necessary after video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy?
Most studies have shown that thoracic epidural analgesia reduces postoperative pain, but it carries potential risks. Recently, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has become an established technique that causes minimal postoperative pain. This report shows that thoracic epidural analgesia is not always necessary after video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. ⋯ All patients made uneventful postoperative recoveries. There is no need for thoracic epidural analgesia after every video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy because our patients recovered with no serious complication. Less invasive surgical approaches should require simpler postoperative pain management.
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Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann · Oct 2010
Case ReportsBicuspid aortic valve replacement with stentless autologous pericardial valve.
Bicuspid aortic valve is a common congenital cardiac anomaly that poses a surgical challenge in young patients. We describe replacement of a bicuspid aortic valve with a stentless glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardial prosthesis in a 16-year-old girl.
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Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann · Oct 2010
Case ReportsAn adult case of giant bronchogenic cyst mimicking tension pneumothorax.
Bronchogenic cysts are usually discovered only incidentally in the adult. A giant bronchogenic cyst in a 19-year-old woman presenting with pain and shortness of breath was mistaken for tension pneumothorax and initially treated with tube thoracostomy. ⋯ Bullae resection was undertaken, but the remaining lung tissue required pneumonectomy. Pathologic examination of the specimen confirmed bronchogenic cyst.