Journal of thoracic disease
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Pulmonary involvement is common in connective tissue disease (CTD), and respiratory failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in CTD-related interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD). Lung transplantation is thus important for these patients. However, survival, outcomes, and management of these patients after transplantation have been debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes for CTD-ILD compared to those for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) after lung transplantation. ⋯ Patients with CTD-ILD and those with IPF who underwent lung transplantation had similar survival rates.
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Case Reports
Transaxillary uniportal video assisted thoracoscopic surgery for right upper lobectomy.
Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) was growing popular since its first introduction. Based on the conventional uniportal VATS, we modified the technique and introduced transaxillary uniportal VATS lobectomy in this case report. In March 2017, transaxillary uniportal VATS was firstly attempted on a patient suffering from right upper lobe lesion at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. ⋯ The patient was discharged 3 days post-operatively. Transaxillary uniportal VATS lobectomy is safe and feasible, and the procedure showed cosmetic advantages. Further studies based on larger population are required to determine these findings.
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Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) is a rescue treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) failing protective mechanical ventilation. It temporarily provides proper gas exchange: hypoxia is treated by adjusting the blood flow rate and fraction in spired oxygen over the ventilator (FiO2) on the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit while CO2 removal is regulated by the ECMO fresh gas flow. Therefore, ventilator settings can be gradually reduced allowing the lungs to rest and recover. ⋯ Notably, in almost all papers dealing with data on VV ECMO support, the management of weaning and the weaning procedure itself are not described. The aim of this paper is to make a picture of VV ECMO weaning, as it is performed in three European large volume intensive care units (ICUs) which represent referral centers for VV ECMO treatment. We focused on data concerning the timing of VV ECMO weaning and parameters at the time of weaning, in order to assess adequacy and safety of VV ECMO removal.
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Optimal pharmacological management during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) involves more than administering drugs to reverse underlying disease. ECMO is a complex therapy that should be administered in a goal-directed manner to achieve therapeutic endpoints that allow reversal of disease and ECMO wean, minimisation of complications (treatment of complications when they do occur), early interruption of sedation and rehabilitation, maximising patient comfort and minimising risks of delirium. ECMO can alter both the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of administered drugs and our understanding of these alterations is still evolving. ⋯ The altered PD associated with ECMO is less understood and more research is indicated. Until robust dosing guidelines become available, clinicians will have to rely on the principles of drug dosing in critically ill and known PK alterations induced by ECMO itself. This article summarises the PK alterations and makes preliminary recommendations on possible dosing approaches.
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Review
Anesthesia and fast-track in video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS): from evidence to practice.
In thoracic surgery, the introduction of video-assisted thoracoscopic techniques has allowed the development of fast-track protocols, with shorter hospital lengths of stay and improved outcomes. The perioperative management needs to be optimized accordingly, with the goal of reducing postoperative complications and speeding recovery times. Premedication performed in the operative room should be wisely administered because often linked to late discharge from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). ⋯ Fluid therapy needs to be administered critically, to avoid both overload and cardiovascular compromisation. All these practices are analyzed singularly with the aid of the most recent evidences aimed at the best patient care. Finally, a few notes on some of the latest trends in research are presented, such as non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and intravenous lidocaine.