Kyobu geka. The Japanese journal of thoracic surgery
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To clarify the clinical aspects of penetrating thoracic injury. ⋯ Emergent thoracotomy is indicated for patients with massive bleeding including shock, continuous air leakage and cardiac tamponade. Since cardiac arrest is difficult to cure, appropriate cooperation with the rescue team is necessary to avoid preventable trauma death.
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The experience of 14 cases with surgical stabilization of multiple rib fracture and flail chest was reported. They were 11 men and 3 women of 31 to 87 years of age. Paradoxical chest movement was noted in 10 patients. ⋯ No case of death was experienced. Ten patients who were performed fixation with acetabular reconstruction plate weaned from the ventilator earlier than cases treated by internal fixation, suggesting the superiority of the acetabular reconstruction plate. Improvement of rib stapler and the development of a titanium plate of specific use for rib is expected in the future.
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Blunt tracheobronchial injuries are rare, but can be life-threatening. A precise preoperative diagnosis and well recognized plan of surgical treatment, which may be unique for each patient are needed to restore the continuity of tracheobronchial tree in a one-stage intervention. We encountered 2 patients with complete tracheal transection of neck and 1 patient with complete tracheal transection in mediastinum and 15 cm tear in the posterior membranous trachea, whose tracheal injury was difficult to repair using direct intubation of distal airway by bronchoscopy. We achieved a good result of repair using a percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system (PCPS).
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Although the incidence of blunt chest trauma is very high, the mediastinal tracheobronchial injuries are quite rare. The airway injuries are thought to be one of the most urgent clinical conditions in thoracic surgery, and we are requested to make not only a rapid and sharp diagnosis but also an appropriate treatment plan considering combined injuries. We present 9 cases of tracheobronchial injuries due to blunt chest trauma in recent years. ⋯ Bronchoplasty were done in 5 cases (right main bronchus in 2, left main bronchus in 1, trunks intermediate bronchus in 1, and the spur between middle and lower lobe in 1), membranous-tracheoplasty with right pneumonectomy in 1, left pneumonectomy in 1, conservative treatment in 2. Postoperative mortality is occurred in 1 case who was suffering from multiple injuries including severe head injury and contralateral lung contusion. Tracheobronchial plasties should be chosen if possible to preserve lung function for the patient suffering from airway injuries.
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The record of 20 patients presenting with flail chest injury from 1998 to 2005 was reviewed to determine surgical indication and timing. There were 4 groups with each indication as followed: 1) 8 patients with surgical indication for injury regions other than fractured ribs, 2) 5 without improvement of flail chest after internal pneumatic stabilization for more than 10 days, 3) 4 performed surgical fixation positively for flail chest with respiratory failure, 4) 3 with strong deformation of the thorax without respiratory failure. Eight patients (40%) required artificial respiration for more than 6 days after surgical stabilization. ⋯ In patients with no improvement of flail chest after internal pneumatic stabilization for more than 10 days, surgical fixation reduces the period of internal pneumatic stabilization and the risk of pneumonia. For the elderly who can develop complications easily, early indication of surgical fixation should be considered. In patients with unconsciousness or ISS > or = 25, the extubation delays frequently after surgical fixations.