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Biomedical subjects

G Morand

Publications and source records attributed to G Morand.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Long-term complications of extraperiosteal plombage.

BACKGROUND: As soon as complications due to migration of extraperiosteal plombage material had been documented, early removal became the rule. Some patients who have escaped this rule may still present with long-term complications. METHODS: Since 1980, 14 patients aged 54 +/- 10 years were admitted 28 +/- 11 years after collapse therapy. Eight presented with signs of infection, 4 with hemoptysis, and 2 with periscapular pain. Vascular erosion, suspected in 3 patients, was demonstrated with angiograms in 1. RESULTS: Ablation of the material was combined with excision of the devitalized ribs in 13 patients. Femorofemoral bypass was used in 2 patients for repair of an aortic erosion. Single ablation of subcutaneously migrated material was performed in a poor-risk patient. Operative bleeding was moderate except in 2 patients; 1 of them died intraoperatively during repair of an aortic erosion. A second patient died postoperatively with a massive pulmonary embolus on day 11. Infection was diagnosed in 8 patients (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 4; and pyogens, 4). Operative outcome was satisfactory in all 12 operative survivors. A single patient presented with an infected apical space at 1 year and underwent complementary resection of the first rib. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend routine ablation of any residual plombage material whenever operative risk is acceptable because of the high incidence of spontaneous complications.

Adult↗

Does a thoracoscopic approach for surgical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax represent progress?

OBJECTIVE: Surgical management is indicated in recurrent forms of pneumothorax and for failure of tube drainage. We have for several years performed pleurodesis and apical blebs stapling by axillary thoracotomy. Thoracoscopy has been a well established procedure for 70 years and recently further developed as the result of current technological progress. For 10 years thoracoscopy has been developed as an alternative to thoracotomy in several indications. Spontaneous pneumothorax is ideally suitable for thoracoscopic management. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate this new approach. METHODS: We compare our results of axillary thoracotomy management of spontaneous pneumothorax in 237 patients (group 1) with those of thoracoscopic management in 101 patients (group 2). Sex distribution, average age, indications and stapling of apical blebs were comparable in both groups. RESULTS: Etiologies were comparable in both groups. The average operation time was 71 min in group 1 and 57 min in group 2. The average duration of chest tube placement was 8 days in group 1 and 6.5 days in group 2. The mean hospital stay was 14 days in group 1 and 9.5 days in group 2. The overall morbidity was 16 and 11% in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The most frequent complication was early or late failure of pleurodesis which required second drainage or a subsequent operation. Late failure occurred more frequently after thoracoscopy (3 vs. 0.4%) but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic management of spontaneous pneumothorax is a safe procedure. Moreover, it offers the benefits of a shorter hospital stay and less postoperative pain.

Adolescent↗

[Imaging of limbic paraneoplastic encephalitis].

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis is a rare syndrome mostly associated with small cell lung cancer. We present the case of a 69-year-old man with selective amnesia suggesting limbic encephalitis. A neuroendocrine cell lung cancer was found, confirming the diagnosis of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis. Contrast-enhanced cerebral CT was normal whether magnetic resonance imaging showed signal abnormalities of the medial part of temporal lobes and hippocampal regions. Because neurologic improvement may follow treatment of the primary tumor, early diagnosis is important.

Aged↗

The dendritic cell lineage: a ubiquitous antigen-presenting organization.

Dendritic cells are specialized antigen-presenting cells with two unique characteristics: the greatest stimulatory potential and the ability to stimulate naive T-lymphocytes. They originate from the bone marrow and reach their destination via hematogenous or lymphatic migration. Their phenotype is characterized by a high expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules and a high expression of adhesion molecules (CD25, CD54, CD58, CD72, and CD80). Pulmonary dendritic cells may be investigated by histologic examination, phenotype analysis, and function studies in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. Their isolation requires enzymatic digestion of lung tissue and subsequent steps of cell separation. The complexity of these manipulations makes it difficult to obtain large numbers of viable cells. A close anatomic relationship with alveolar macrophages underlines a functional interconnection: macrophages down-regulate the antigen-presenting function through release of tumor necrosis factor alpha. Dendritic cells most probably play a major role in lung diseases such as histiocytosis, primary and secondary cancers, and both acute and chronic lung graft rejection. Identification of the precise functional pathways might lead to therapeutic use of modulation of dendritic cell function.

Antigen Presentation↗

Tracheobronchial lacerations after intubation and tracheostomy.

BACKGROUND: Although long-term complications of intubation and tracheostomy are well documented, little has been reported on acute complications of airway access techniques. METHODS: Fourteen patients (1 male and 13 female patients) aged 15 to 80 years presented with tracheobronchial lacerations after single-lumen intubation (n = 9), double-lumen intubation (n = 1), or tracheostomy (n = 4). RESULTS: A left bronchial laceration after double-lumen intubation was discovered and repaired intraoperatively. A tracheal laceration after single-lumen intubation was recognized during induction of anesthesia. The remaining 12 were diagnosed within 6 to 126 hours (median, 24 hours) after injury. All patients had mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema. At endoscopy, 12 injuries were located in the thoracic trachea and 1 in the cervical trachea. Twelve underwent primary repair through a right thoracotomy (n = 11) or left cervicotomy (n = 1), and 1 was treated conservatively. Two patients with tracheostomy injury died postoperatively. All repairs healed well but one. The latter was performed 5 days after the injury; a dehiscence occurred, but healed spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that prognosis of tracheal lacerations depends both on the general health of the patient and on the rapidity of diagnosis and treatment.

Adolescent↗

Blood vessel invasion is a major prognostic factor in resected non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: We examined the prognostic value of histologic indices in non-small cell lung cancer with particular interest in major blood vessel invasion. METHODS: We studied 593 patients who had curative resection between November 1983 and December 1988. We determined the histology, T and N status, peritumoral lung tissue invasion, tumor stroma, necrosis, mitotic rate, and blood vessel invasion. RESULTS: The median patient survival of the whole series was 3.2 years, with a 5-year survival of 38.9%. In univariate analysis, a high T stage, a high percentage of necrosis, blood vessel invasion, and N stage significantly worsened the survival. In multivariate analysis, only blood vessel invasion and, less significantly, T stage and lymph node metastasis remained independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the negative prognostic value of blood vessel invasion in non-small cell lung cancer and suggest that blood vessel invasion, T stage, and node metastasis are three unrelated and distinctive characteristics of resected non-small cell lung cancer.

Analysis of Variance↗

Pneumonectomy for chronic infection is a high-risk procedure.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to estimate operative risk, and to identify indicators of adverse prognosis, in patients undergoing pneumonectomy for chronic infection. METHODS: Twenty-five patients aged 41 +/- 15 years underwent pneumonectomy (three completions) for chronic infection: sequelae of tuberculosis, 15; cystic bronchiectasis, 9; and radiation pneumonitis, 1. Eight patients had aspergilloma (7 after tuberculosis, 1 with radiation pneumonitis). RESULTS: Operative mortality was 4%. Operative blood loss was estimated at 1,983 +/- 1,424 mL, ranging from 150 to 5,600 mL. A single patient required reexploration. Eight patients (32%) had empyema, and a further 3 (12%) had bronchopleural fistula; thoracoplasty was required for 10 (40%). Sequelae of tuberculosis heralded increased operative bleeding (t = 2.884; p < 0.005). Incidence of empyema or bronchopleural fistula was increased in patients with sequelae of tuberculosis (chi 2 = 3.896; p < 0.05), patients with aspergilloma (chi 2 = 4.588; p < 0.05), patients in whom the parenchymal cavities were entered (chi 2 = 11.5; p < 0.001), and those in whom blood loss was in excess of 1,000 mL (chi 2 = 4.911; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that pneumonectomy is a high-risk procedure, especially in patients with sequelae of tuberculosis.

Adolescent↗

Association of bronchial and pharyngo-laryngeal malignancies. A reappraisal.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to re-evaluate operative risk and probability for survival patients with a history of upper aerodigestive cancer, who underwent thoracotomy for presumed primary bronchogenic cancer. Our hypothesis was to consider any isolated lung opacity as a primary bronchogenic cancer. METHODS: The cohort under investigation included 114 consecutive patients. Histology of bronchial cancer was squamous cell carcinoma in 98 patients (86%), adenocarcinoma in 14 (12%) and large cell carcinoma in 2 (2%). Exploratory thoracotomy was performed in 5 patients (4%); the remaining 109 patients underwent a potentially curative resection, including 25 pneumonectomies (22%) and 84 conservative resections (74%). Pathological staging was as follows: 66 stage I (58%), 20 II (17.5%), 20 IIIa (17.5%), 6 stage IIIb (5%), and 2 stage IV (2%). RESULTS: Four patients died post-operatively (3.5%). Non-fatal morbidity concerned 32 patients (28.1%) and was dominated by respiratory superinfections. Incidence of respiratory infections was increased after voice-sparing resections (chi 2 = 4.311, P < 0.05), and more particularly after transmaxillary buccopharyngectomy (chi 2 = 12.224; P < 0.01). Estimated 5-year survival was 28.7% (33.3% in stage I, 19.2% in stage II, and 30.2% in stage III). There was no difference in survival with reference to the location of head and neck cancer (chi 2 = 3.412; 0.05 < P < 0.1) or chronology (chi 2 = 0.005; P > 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that isolated lung opacities in patients with previous or simultaneous head and neck cancer are most likely primary bronchogenic cancers. The acceptable operative mortality legitimizes surgical treatment despite an impaired 5-year survival; patients with a previous voice-sparing operation are at increased risk for respiratory complications and should be managed carefully.

Adult↗

Bronchogenic cancer in the elderly: operative risk and long-term prognosis.

Surgery for bronchogenic cancer raises the question of benefit to elderly patients. The present study reviews a cohort of 223 patients aged 70 years and more (range: 70-84), who underwent thoracotomy for pulmonary malignancy over a 10-year period. The aim of the study was to evaluate both operative risk and 5-year survival. Medical history was negative in 29% of the patients; 26% had a history of cardio-vascular disease, and 19% had a history of malignancy in complete remission. Tumor histology was squamous-cell carcinoma for 70.4%, adenocarcinoma for 24.2%, large-cell carcinoma for 3.6%, and small-cell carcinoma for 1.3% of the patients. 48.4% of patients were in stage I, 17.2% in stage II, and 30.3% in stage III. Exploratory thoracotomy was carried out in 5.8% of patients. A resection was achieved in 210 patients (pneumonectomy in 28.5%, lobectomy in 71.5%). Operative mortality was 7.2% for the whole series, 10% after pneumonectomy and 6.6% after lobectomy. Mortality was similar below and above 75 years. Overall 5-year survival was 32.9% (45.7% for stage I, 36.3% for stage II, and 13.8% for stage III). Survival was not influenced by age, symptomatic or asymptomatic presentation, medical history, and in particular not by history of malignant disease. Although operative mortality is slightly increased when compared to younger patients, long-term results legitimize surgery for bronchogenic cancer in the elderly.

Aged↗

[Do pericardial strips (Peri-Strip) facilitate the follow-up after pulmonary surgery in emphysematous patients?].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of bovine pericardial strips (Peri-Strip) to achieve aerostasis within emphysematous lungs. A preliminary evaluation included 15 patients (13 men and 2 women, mean age 57 years) with severe emphysema (mean FEV-1: 28.6 +/- 10.2% of predicted, mean RV: 18.4 +/- 41.3% of predicted). Two patients were on ventilator owing to acute respiratory failure. Indication for surgery was elective surgery for emphysema in 9 patients, emergency surgery for emphysema in 2, and resection for bronchogenic cancer in 4 patients. The various procedures included single aerostasis in 1, unilateral bullectomy in 6, bilateral volume reduction in 4, thoracoscopic wedge resection for peripheral cancer in 1 and lobectomy for cancer in 3 (2 of which underwent simultaneous bullectomy) Peri-Strip were used to buttress the staple lines at the base of bullae, on parenchymatous transsection lines, and on the borders of fissures. One patient who underwent emergency thoracotomy for single aerostasis died 8 days post-operatively due to multiple organ failure. Another patient developed pneumonia which resolved under treatment. Mean duration of air leaks was 5.6 days (0-21, median 8). Two patients required tube thoracotomy for residual effusions. Mean hospital stay was 17 days (6-53; median 16). We conclude that use of Peri-Strip offered a real benefit to 12 patients; no evidence of benefit was noted in 3 patients.

Adult↗

[Preoperative evaluation of cancers of the esophagus. Contribution of in vivo staining].

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the effectiveness of a dye-endoscopy to detect inapparent multicentric carcinomas of the oesophagus. METHODS: The study included 95 patients scheduled for oesophagectomy. A lugol stain was applied to the oesophageal mucosa and any non-stained area was biopsied. The proximal oesophagus was reexamined on the pathology specimen obtained after oesophagectomy. RESULTS: Intramucosal epithelioma of the proximal oesophagus was found in 7 patients (7.4%) and severe dysplasia was seen in 3 (3.1%). Abnormal stains were seen in 33 patients including 9 with diffuse parakeratosis. There were 24 focal anomalies including 6 cases of intramucosal carcinoma, 3 severe dysplasias, 3 gastric metaplasias and 12 parakeratoses. One intramucosal epithelioma observed on the surgical specimen had not been detected by the staining technique. Overall sensitivity was 85.7% and specificity was 71.7%. Including focal anomalies only, specificity was 79.5%. CONCLUSION: Vital staining is a useful tool for pre-operative assessment of cancer of the oesophagus, in particular for superficial forms.

Adult↗

Early and long-term results after completion pneumonectomy.

From January 1, 1978 to December 31, 1992, 37 patients underwent a completion pneumonectomy after a previous lobectomy (36 men and 1 woman; mean age, 60 years; range, 41 to 77 years). These account for 4.8% of 758 pneumonectomies. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the operative results of completion pneumonectomy and long-term survival in patients with bronchogenic cancer. The initial lung resection had been performed for primary bronchogenic cancer in 23, metastatic thyroid adenocarcinoma in 1, and benign diseases in 13 (tuberculosis in 11, aspergilloma in 1, and bronchiectasis in 1). Completion pneumonectomy was required for bronchogenic cancer in 32 (15 stage I, 6 stage II, 11 stage III). One patient had relapsing metastatic thyroid carcinoma, 2 had bronchiectasis, and 2 had a venous infarction after lobectomy. Four patients (10.8%) died perioperatively of the following causes: 1 fatal intraoperative bleeding, 1 fatal postoperative bleeding, 1 pneumonia, and 1 malignant hypercalcemia. Median operative blood loss was 1,000 mL, and 19 patients experienced bleeding exceeding 1,000 mL (51%). Six patients had intraoperative vascular injury. Nonfatal surgical complications occurred in 9 patients (24%), including 5 clotted hemothoraces, 3 empyemas, and 1 bronchopleural fistula. Four patients had medical complications (2 pulmonary edemas, 1 sinus tachycardia, and 1 unexplained fever). Twenty-three had an uneventful straightforward recovery (62%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Are bilobectomies acceptable procedures?

BACKGROUND: Controversy about operative morbidity and oncologic value of bilobectomy has led to a review of our experience over the past 12 years. METHODS: The charts of 112 patients (100 men and 12 women with a mean age of 63 years) were reviewed for operative mortality and morbidity and long-term survival. Survival of patients with stage I or stage II disease was compared with that of stage-matched and age-matched groups having right pneumonectomy. RESULTS: Four patients (3.5%) died postoperatively. Nonfatal complications occurred in 55 patients (49%); the most frequent problem was pleural space disease (34%). Survival studies focused on the 96 patients with nonsmall cell bronchogenic cancer (44 in stage I, 32 in stage II, and 20 in stage IIIA). The overall 5-year survival rate was 40%; the 5-year survival rate was similar for stage I and stage II (41% for stage I, 50% for stage II, and 17% for stage IIIA). The incidence of local recurrence was significantly increased after bilobectomy for stage I cancer (chi 2 = 5.066; p < 0.05) compared with pneumonectomy but did not affect 5-year survival. Local recurrence and survival were similar after bilobectomy and pneumonectomy in stage II. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate an increased morbidity after bilobectomy. Survival studies demonstrate an increased risk of local recurrence in patients with stage I disease, which might be partly explained by understaging.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Decortication is a valuable option for late empyema after collapse therapy.

BACKGROUND: Infection of previous collapse therapy spaces may raise challenging problems. This study evaluated a conservative surgical approach based on decortication. METHODS: Since 1979, 28 patients (mean age, 60 +/- 6 years) have presented at an average of 37 +/- 7 years after artificial pneumothorax for tuberculosis. Diagnosis of empyema was made on follow-up in 12 patients and on symptoms in 16 patients. Mean vital capacity was 66% +/- 16% of normal. Microorganisms were isolated in 13 patients (Aspergillus fumigatus in 5, Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 4, anaerobes in 4). Decortication was made in 24 patients, associated with thoracoplasty in 4, and with partial lung resection in 2 patients. Thoracoplasty alone was performed in 2 patients, and 2 patients underwent an extrapleural pneumonectomy. RESULTS: Both extrapleural pneumonectomies were complicated with empyema requiring thoracoplasty, resulting in one postoperative death. Operative mortality after decortication was nil. Mean intraoperative blood loss during decortication was 1,830 +/- 1,310 mL. All patients were extubated within 24 hours, except 1 patient who was ventilator-dependent preoperatively. Prolonged air leaks were common (mean duration of drainage, 16 +/- 11 days), but ultimately sealed. Existence of symptoms was predictive of prolonged air leaks (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that decortication may provide a one-stage cure avoiding the hazards of extrapleural pneumonectomy; the nonfunctioning remaining lung may resolve the space problem.

Aged↗

Respiratory complications after surgical treatment of esophageal cancer. A study of 309 patients according to the type of resection.

This study analyzes the respiratory complications in a retrospective study of 309 resections for esophageal cancer. We mainly performed two types of resections according to the height of the tumor: the Ivor-Lewis resection for middle thoracic lesions (182 cases), and the Akiyama resection for upper thoracic lesions (127 cases). We compared the respiratory complications occurring after these two procedures. Our overall mortality and morbidity rates were, respectively, 9% and 37%. In our series, the mortality rate was 4 times higher after the Akiyama procedure than after the Ivor-Lewis procedure, and the morbidity was twice as high. Respiratory complications accounted for 64% of the postoperative deaths. The Akiyama procedure yielded more respiratory complications, especially isolated bronchopneumonia and necrosis of the trachea or of the right or left main bronchus. Respiratory complications accounted for 53% of morbidity, mainly recurrent nerve paralysis with false passages and stasis in the transplant. Both are directly related to the surgical act and often result in bronchopneumonia. Rather than the surgical technique or the skill of the surgeon, it seems that local factors, such as the position of the tumor on the esophagus, increased the incidence of recurrent nerve paralysis following the Akiyama procedure. However, the rate of respiratory complications remained high after the Ivor-Lewis procedure. Patient history, which sometimes included a previous ENT cancer, must be taken into account, as well as the gravity of the operation and the duration of the intubation. Frequent false passages and reflux must be fought by intensive physiotherapy and, when necessary, by early tracheotomy before the patient develops postoperative acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Hemodilution is an effective treatment for reperfusion edema after lung transplantation.

A 38-year-old patient underwent left single-lung transplantation for end-stage histiocytosis with secondary pulmonary hypertension and polycythemia. Despite use of an optimal lung graft and a total ischemia limited to 250 minutes, major pulmonary edema developed postoperatively. Hemodilution resulted in a quick recovery of lung function. We speculate that blood hyperviscosity was a major factor of pulmonary edema in this patient.

Adult↗

[Surgical treatment of pneumothorax. Study of a series of 400 cases].

Surgical management is indicated for recurrent forms of pneumothorax as well as for failures of tube drainage. We report a series of 400 patients treated surgically mainly by pleural abrasion over the past 17 years. Statistical analysis of the results identifies two groups: 308 patients under the age of 45 years had surgery mainly for spontaneous idiopathic pneumothorax, where as 92 patients over the age of 45 years had surgery mainly for emphysema. In young patients, the axillary incision was preferred due to the lack of muscular sequelae and to avoid unpleasant aesthetic sequelae. Postoperative complications occurred in 60 patients (15%). The main complication was a residual pneumothorax after drain removal requiring further drainage (10%). A single recurrence occurred (0.25%). Pleural abrasion is a very effective way to treat recurrent forms of pneumothorax.

Adolescent↗