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PubMed1995

Lung transplantation after previous thoracic surgical procedures.

BACKGROUND: This study examined results of lung transplantation after previous thoracic surgical procedures. METHODS: Twenty percent of the 69 isolated lung transplantations performed at the University of North Carolina between January 1990 and June 1993 were in patients who had undergone a previous thoracic surgical procedure, and an additional 10% had undergone a previous chest tube placement. RESULTS: No statistically significant increase in morbidity or mortality was observed between those having undergone a previous procedure or chest tube placement and all other patients. Specifically, the length of intubation, length of hospital stay, hospital mortality, or the number of patients who experienced major early complications was not significantly different between these groups. A statistically significant increase in the number of blood products used was observed in the patients with previous thoracic surgical procedures but not with patient having had previous chest tube placements. However, when the data were reanalyzed with respect to the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, those patients requiring bypass had a markedly poorer outcome that reached statistical significance in all of the parameters studied: hospital death, incidence of major complications, length of intubation, hospital stay, incidence of bleeding, and number of blood products used. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that although increased bleeding may be encountered, lung transplantation can be performed successfully in patients who have had previous thoracic surgical procedures without increased major morbidity or mortality; however, the use of cardiopulmonary bypass has been associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality in our patient population.

Blood Transfusion↗
PubMed2001

Warfarin therapy does not increase bleeding in patients undergoing heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Historically, warfarin has been discontinued or rapidly reversed with fresh frozen plasma in patients awaiting heart transplantation because of concerns regarding excessive bleeding. Because preoperative warfarin may have effects on bleeding after cardiac operations, we reviewed our experience to determine the risks in patients undergoing heart transplantation while maintained on warfarin. METHODS: The records of consecutive adult patients undergoing heart transplantation from January 1996 to December 1998 were reviewed. Preoperative and 24-hour postoperative data were obtained, including patient demographics; hematologic laboratory values; medication use; repeat or primary sternotomy data; allogeneic blood product administration; and chest tube drainage. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were performed using these variables to determine risk factors for bleeding after heart transplantation. RESULTS: Ninety adult patients, mean age 50 years, underwent orthotopic heart transplantation during the 36-month period. No relationships existed between preoperative international normalized ratio (INR, mean = 1.83 +/- 0.1, p = 0.84) or postoperative INR (mean = 2.2 +/- 0.9, p = 0.63) and chest tube drainage (mean = 721 +/- 63 mL). Relationships were observed between total blood product administration and preoperative INR (partial r = 0.30, p = 0.01) and postoperative INR (partial r = -0.37, p = 0.002); however, preoperative INR did not correlate (p = 0.29) when perioperative use of fresh frozen plasma was factored as a covariate. Inverse relationships were evident between postoperative INR and total blood product exposures, as well as transfusions of platelets (partial r = -0.26, p = 0.03), fresh frozen plasma (partial r = -0.28, p = 0.02), and red cells (partial r = -0.25, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Although we noted no correlations between INR and chest tube output, inverse relationships were observed with transfusion requirements in the first 24 hours after transplantation. Preoperative warfarin may be safely continued in patients awaiting heart transplantation.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Intrapleural administration of streptokinase in complicated purulent pleural effusion: a CT-guided strategy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness and the results of a strategy using intrapleural streptokinase (SK) instillation guided by repeated computed tomography (CT) scan examinations in pleural empyemas unresponsive to chest tube drainage. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review. SETTING: The medical Intensive Care Unit and Department of Radiology, in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Sixteen patients with empyema who had a persistent pleural effusion despite drainage, among 37 patients with infectious pleural effusion. INTERVENTIONS: In the 16 patients, CT examination was performed before and at least once after SK. Intrapleural SK was instilled, either through the chest tube or via a needle puncture, according to the CT scan results. RESULTS: The first CT scan confirmed a persistent effusion in all, showing a multiloculated effusion in 13 patients, and an ectopic loculus in one. The first SK instillation resulted in a dramatic increase of fluid drained per day (from 68 +/- 28 ml to 567 +/- 262 ml; p < 0.001), leading to complete resolution in 11 patients, while the others required a second CT scan-guided procedure. In one, the chest tube was misplaced, while in two, transparietal injection was needed. Finally, a complete resolution was observed in 14 (87.5%) of the patients. Two patients had a poor initial response to SK and were eventually scheduled for video-thoracoscopy. A single episode of chills and fever was observed among 32 SK instillations. CONCLUSION: CT-guided SK instillation in pleural empyema appears to be safe, and allowed complete resolution in 87.5% of our patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Paediatric empyema: a case report and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of bilateral parapneumonic effusions in a child with Pneumococcal pneumonia and bacteraemia managed aggressively with early thoracotomies. The literature from peer reviewed journals is summarized and the different management strategies are discussed. METHODS: Articles and reviews from peer reviewed journals on the management of empyema in children and adults. RESULTS: Staging of parapneumonic pleural effusions is difficult to assess clinically and radiologically. Most cases can be successfully managed with simple chest tube drainage, plus appropriate antibiotic therapy. However, based on the available evidence for children, thoracotomy with decortication and direct drainage may provide the most effective treatment in terms of length of hospital stay and duration of chest tube insertion, when compared with video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or chest tube drainage, with or without intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: More conservative approaches to treatment of empyema may be appropriate initially to avoid the cosmetic and other disadvantages of thoracotomy. However, delayed surgical drainage increases morbidity and may potentially increase mortality.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Prospective randomized trial of ketorolac after congenital heart surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Ketorolac is a potent nonsteroidal analgesic agent used to treat postoperative pain. It produces excellent analgesia without the sedating side effects of opioid analgesics. Routine use of ketorolac after cardiac surgery is limited by concerns of bleeding complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of bleeding complications of ketorolac for treatment of pain after congenital heart surgery in infants and children. DESIGN: Prospective randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Pediatric cardiac intensive care unit in tertiary teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy infants and children, median age 10 months (range 2.5-174), who underwent congenital heart surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass were randomized in the trial. INTERVENTION: Pain control was performed with ketorolac and opioid analgesics in one arm of the study and opioid analgesics alone in the other arm. OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome evaluated was bleeding complications measured by chest-tube drainage and wound and gastrointestinal bleeding. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were randomized to each treatment arm. In the ketorolac group, the median chest-tube drainage was 13.3 (range 4-22) mL/kg/d, no patient had significant wound bleeding, and 1 (0.03%) patient had gastrointestinal bleeding. In the control group, the median chest-tube drainage was 16.5 (range 3-24) mL/kg/d, 1 (0.03%) patient had wound bleeding, and no patient had gastrointestinal bleeding. CONCLUSION: Ketorolac can be used to treat pain after congenital heart surgery without an increased risk of bleeding complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Bronchial stump reinforcement with the intercostal muscle flap without adverse effects.

OBJECTIVE: Bronchopleural fistula is a serious complication of pulmonary resection. For anatomical reasons, lower lobectomy is thought to carry a higher risk for bronchopleural fistula. We investigated the efficacy of bronchial stump reinforcement with a pedicled intercostal muscle flap after lower lobectomy and compared the responses in patients treated with the flap, without the flap, and with other types of flap. We also investigated whether harvesting the intercostal muscle flap leads to an increase in blood loss during surgery and whether the type of flap influences chest-tube volume and pain after surgery. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-eight patients had lower or middle-lower lobectomy between January 1990 and December 2004. The bronchial stumps were treated in one of the three ways: covered with an intercostal muscle flap (116 patients, group A), not covered with a muscle flap (32 patients, group B), or covered with free fat or pleura (20 patients, group C). In a separate study, we compared the blood loss during surgery, and chest-tube volume and pain after surgery between patients treated with the intercostal muscle flap (23 patients) and non-intercostal muscle flap (32 patients). RESULTS: No patients in group A exhibited bronchopleural fistula, and two patients in group B and one patient in group C exhibited bronchopleural fistula. These differences were not significant. Blood loss, chest-tube volume, and pain score after surgery did not differ significantly between treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Bronchial stump reinforcement with the intercostal muscle flap after pulmonary resection is safe and effective when performed during lower and lower-middle lobectomy and does not increase the risk of complications.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Persistent air leak (PAL): conservative vs. invasive approach?].

INTRODUCTION: An air leak following pulmonary resection is generally defined as persistent, or prolonged, if it fails to resolve within the first post-operative week. The precise definition has varied from study to study. STATE OF ART: Persistent air leak represents the most frequent complication in patients undergoing general thoracic procedures. The groups most at risk are elderly patients, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and those who have general risk factors such as diabetes mellitus or who are taking oral steroids. The surgical procedures most commonly affected are upper lobectomies and lung volume reduction surgery for end-stage emphysema. PERSPECTIVES: Technically, performing a pleural tent at the time of an upper lobectomy may decrease the incidence of prolonged air leak. Reinforcement or buttressing of the staple line has been shown to decrease both the incidence and the duration of air leaks, but this increases costs and should thus be reserved for patients with lung parenchyma at the highest risk. The use of biological glues can be helpful in reducing the duration of chest tube drainage when applied intraoperatively for moderate and/or severe parenchymal air leaks, however, their systematic use in not recommended. The management of chest tube drainage after pulmonary resection varies widely from one institution to another. Most recent reports have favoured early discontinuation of negative pressure drainage and a move to underwater seal drainage (from the second post-operative day), however, no large scale randomised study is yet available to compare this with a more conservative approach. CONCLUSIONS: The management of persistent air leak following surgery requires identification of risk factors, good surgical technique and appropriate chest tube management.

Air↗
PubMed2005

Recent advances in the treatment of air leaks.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Alveolar-pleural fistulas (air leaks) are an extremely common clinical problem and remain the most common complication after elective pulmonary resection and video-assisted procedures. The decision making process used to manage air leaks and chest tubes that control them has been, until very recently, based on opinions and training preferences as opposed to facts derived from randomized clinical trials. RECENT FINDINGS: Recently, several prospective randomized trials have studied air leaks. An objective, reproducible classification system has also been designed and clinically validated to help study air leaks. This system and these studies have shown that water seal is superior to wall suction to help stop most leaks. Even in patients with a pneumothorax and an air leak, water seal is safe and best; however, if a patient has a large leak (greater than an expiratory 3 on the classification system) or experiences subcutaneous emphysema or an expanding pneumothorax that causes hypoxia, then some suction (-10 cm of water) should be applied to the chest tubes. SUMMARY: Air leaks were a poorly understood yet extremely common clinical problem that had never been scientifically studied. Over the past 5 years, prospective randomized studies have shown that water seal is the best setting for chest tubes and that a pneumothorax is not a contraindication to leaving tubes on seal. Further studies are needed to investigate the ideal management of alveolar-pleural fistulas (air leaks) in different clinical scenarios besides those that occur postoperatively.

Chest Tubes↗
PubMed1999

Pneumothorax and dependent versus nondependent patient position after needle biopsy of the lung.

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that placing the patient in a position with the puncture site dependent (down) after transthoracic needle biopsy reduces the incidences of pneumothorax and of pneumothorax that requires chest tube placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred twenty-three needle biopsies of the lung were performed in 390 patients from October 1991 to August 1994 with computed tomographic guidance, fluoroscopic guidance, or both. Two hundred forty-two biopsies were performed from the posterior approach, 166 from the anterior approach, and 15 from the lateral approach. The patients were assigned on an alternating basis to either the puncture-site-dependent recumbent position (210 biopsies) or the puncture-site-nondependent recumbent position (213 biopsies) for at least 1 1/2 hours after biopsy. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in either the incidence of pneumothorax (dependent position, 62 of 210 biopsies [30%], vs nondependent position, 57 of 213 biopsies [27%]; P = .60) or the incidence of pneumothorax that required chest tube placement (dependent position, 10 of 210 biopsies [5%], vs nondependent position, six of 213 biopsies [3%]; P = .43). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the puncture-site-down postbiopsy position may not affect either the incidence of postbiopsy pneumothorax or the incidence of pneumothorax that requires chest tube placement.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Treatment of sonographically stratified multiloculated thoracic empyema by medical thoracoscopy.

INTRODUCTION: In cases of empyema, some form of intervention, either chest tube drainage, thoracoscopy, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), or thoracotomy, with or without pleural fibrinolysis, is required. What the best approach is and when and how to intervene is a matter of debate. STUDY OBJECTIVE: To analyze the safety and outcome of medical thoracoscopy in the treatment of multiloculated empyema. METHODS: We report a retrospective series of 127 patients with thoracic empyema treated with medical thoracoscopy from 1989 to 2003 in three hospitals in Switzerland and Italy. All patients had multiloculated empyema as identified by chest ultrasonography. In the absence of multiloculation, or in case of fibrothorax, simple chest tube drainage or surgical VATS/thoracotomy were performed, respectively. RESULTS: Mean age +/- SD was 58 +/- 18 years (range, 9 to 93 years). In 47%, a microbiological diagnosis was made. Complications occurred in 9% of patients (subcutaneous emphysema, n = 3; air leak of 3 to 7 days, n = 9). No mortality was observed. Forty-nine percent of patients received postinterventional intrapleural fibrinolysis. Medical thoracoscopy was primarily successful in 91% of cases. In four patients, the insertion of an additional chest tube or a second medical thoracoscopy was required. Finally, 94% of patients were cured by nonsurgical means. Six percent of patients required surgical pleurectomy, mostly through thoracotomy. CONCLUSION: Multiloculated empyema as stratified by ultrasonography can safely and successfully be treated by medical thoracoscopy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Thoracoscopic lobectomy: a safe and effective strategy for patients receiving induction therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Thoracoscopic lobectomy is an accepted oncologic approach for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent lobectomy after induction therapy to determine the feasibility of thoracoscopic lobectomy compared with conventional thoracotomy lobectomy. METHODS: The outcomes of 97 consecutive patients with NSCLC who received induction therapy followed by lobectomy from 1996 to 2005 were reviewed. Outcome variables analyzed included complete resection, chest tube duration, length of hospitalization, 30-day mortality, hemorrhage, pneumonia, respiratory failure, and other major complications. The Student t test and chi2 or RxC contingency tables were used to compare continuous and categoric variables, respectively. RESULTS: Lobectomy was performed by thoracotomy in 85 patients and thoracoscopically in 12 patients (1 conversion), with complete resection in all patients. All patients received induction chemotherapy, and 74 (76%) received induction radiotherapy as well: 66 of 85 (78%) in the thoracotomy group and 8 of 12 (67%) in the thoracoscopy group. The overall median survival was 2.3 years, with no difference between the groups. Patients undergoing a thoracoscopic lobectomy had a shorter median hospital stay (3.5 vs 5 days, p = 0.0024) and chest tube duration (2 vs 4 days, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in 30-day mortality, hemorrhage, pneumonia, or respiratory failure. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic lobectomy is a feasible approach for selected patients undergoing resection after induction therapy, and is associated with shorter hospital stay and chest tube duration. Long-term follow-up of survival will determine the role of thoracoscopic lobectomy in the management of patients after induction therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Impact of pleural effusion pH on the efficacy of thoracoscopic mechanical pleurodesis in patients with breast carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: A prospective randomised study was conducted to compare the efficacy of treating malignant pleural effusions (MPE) in patients with breast carcinoma by thoracoscopic mechanical pleurodesis (TMP) as a new palliative treatment and talc pleurodesis (TP) at various pleural fluid pH levels and to determine whether at low pH values, when the success of TP is reduced, TMP is more successful. METHODS: 87 female patients with breast carcinoma and a resulting MPE resistant to systemic therapy were divided into two groups: TMP and TP groups. In the TMP group 24 patients with pH levels above 7.3 and 21 patients with pH levels below 7.3 underwent thoracoscopic parietal and visceral pleural abrasion utilising general anaesthesia. In the TP group, 22 patients with pH levels above 7.3 and 20 patients with pH levels below 7.3 were administered 5 g of sterile talc, dissolved in 100 ml of physiological solution, via a chest tube, utilising local anaesthesia. Postoperative follow-up was performed to determine a possible recurrence of MPE with periodic radiographs, the duration of chest tube drainage and hospitalisation, occurrence of complications, and perioperative mortality. The following was used for statistical analysis: t-test for odd samples, chi2 test, logistic regression, and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: TMP and TP were equally successful (92 and 91%) in patients with pH levels above 7.3. Differences occurred in patients with pH below 7.3 (81 and 55%) (P = 0.07). The lowest pH value at which TMP proved successful was 7.06, while for TP this value was 7.25. In TMP group the average duration of chest tube drainage amounted to 3.8 days and hospitalisation to 5.5 days, while in TP group it was 5.6 and 7.5 days, respectively. Differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). 16% of easily treatable complications and no case of perioperative mortality were identified in TMP group, while 26% of complications and four cases of perioperative mortality were noted in TP group. CONCLUSIONS: TMP is a safe palliative treatment for MPE in breast carcinoma, with a minimal number of complications and a short hospital stay; it is more successful than TP in patients with pH of MPE below 7.3.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Analysis of thoracoscopy in trauma.

BACKGROUND: The role of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in trauma has yet to be established. Up to the time of this writing, reviews of thoracoscopy in trauma have been primarily descriptive rather than analytic. This article analyzes the results of thoracoscopy (nonvideo and VATS) in trauma. METHODS: Analysis was done by reviewing 28 nonoverlapping studies since the introduction of thoracoscopy in 1910, with a combined total of more than 500 patients. RESULTS: Diagnostically, thoracoscopy has been used primarily to evaluate diaphragmatic injury, continued chest tube bleeding, and suspected cardiac injury. Thoracoscopy has a 98% (188/191 patients) accuracy rate in diagnosing diaphragmatic injuries. Therapeutically, thoracoscopy has been used primarily to control chest tube bleeding, evacuate retained hemothoraces, and evacuate empyemas. Thoracoscopy is 90% (89/99 patients) effective in evacuating retained hemothoraces, 86% (19/22 patients) effective in evacuating empyemas, and 82% (33/40 patients) effective in controlling chest tube bleeding. Thoracoscopy benefits include preventing 62% (323/514) of trauma patients from having a thoracotomy or laparotomy. Risks include a 2% (11/534 patients) procedure-related complication rate and a 0.8% (4/471 patients) missed injury rate. Technical failure rates are 10% (10/99 patients) and 4% (7/199 patients) in evacuation of retained hemothoraces and evaluation of diaphragmatic injuries, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis suggests that thoracoscopy (nonvideo and VATS) can be applied safely and effectively in the care of the injured patient.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1992

The role of desmopressin acetate in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. A controlled clinical trial with thromboelastographic risk stratification.

The role of desmopressin acetate in attenuating blood loss and reducing homologous blood component therapy after cardiopulmonary bypass is unclear. The purpose of this investigation was to identify a subgroup of patients that may benefit from desmopressin acetate therapy. One hundred fifteen patients completed a prospective randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the effect of desmopressin acetate (0.3 microgram.kg-1) on mediastinal chest tube drainage after elective coronary artery bypass grafting surgery in patients with normal and abnormal platelet-fibrinogen function as diagnosed by the maximal amplitude (MA) on thromboelastographic (TEG) evaluation. The 115 patients evaluated were divided into two groups based on the MA of the post-cardiopulmonary bypass TEG tracing. Group 1 (TEG:MA greater than 50 mm) consisted of 86 patients, of whom 44 received desmopressin and 42 received placebo. Twenty-nine patients had abnormal platelet function (TEG:MA less than 50 mm) and were designated as group 2. In group 2, 13 received desmopressin and 16 placebo. During the first 24 h after cardiopulmonary bypass, the placebo-treated patients in group 2 had significantly greater mediastinal chest tube drainage when compared to placebo patients in group 1 (1,352.6 +/- 773.1 ml vs. 865.3 +/- 384.4 ml, P = 0.002). In addition to increases in blood loss, group 2 placebo patients also were administered an increased number of blood products (P less than 0.05). The desmopressin-treated patients in group 2 neither experienced increased mediastinal chest tube drainage nor received increased amounts of homologous blood products when compared to those in group 1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed2002

[Invasive emergency techniques (INTECH). A training concept in emergency medicine].

BACKGROUND: Introducing a chest tube is a routine emergency procedure in trauma victims. Emergency coniotomy or establishing an intraosseous access, however, are not often necessary, but in individual cases these techniques can be decisive for patient survival. The aim of this study was to present and evaluate a model for teaching these techniques, since the majority of emergency physicians do not have adequate experience in this area. METHODS: In November 2001 our institution organized the first workshop on "Invasive emergency techniques (INTECH): chest tube, emergency coniotomy, and intraosseous access" in collaboration with the Institute of Anatomy II of the University of Heidelberg. After presenting basic anatomy and also particular features of the relevant regions of the body, the techniques of introducing a thoracic drainage, performing a coniotomy, and establishing an intraosseous access were presented. Video demonstrations as well as practical exercises on corpses followed the theoretical part of the course. At the end of each lesson, the participants were asked anonymously why they took part in the workshop and about their previous experience with these emergency techniques in written form and also asked to assess the didactic concept of the workshop (scale 1=very good up to 6=very poor). RESULTS: Of the 86 participants, 66 completed the questionnaire (77%) and 40 of the participants had been working as emergency physicians for 6.5+/-6.3 years (range 0.5-22) with approx. 13+/-8 (range 4-30) interventions per month. The most common reason for participating was lack of practice (52%): prior to the workshop, 98% of the emergency physicians had never performed a coniotomy, 85% had never established an intraosseous access, and 28% had never introduced a chest tube in an emergency setting. The theoretical parts of the course received the following scores: "Basic anatomy" 2.3+/-0.8, "coniotomy" 1.7+/-0.7, "intraosseous access" 1.5+/-0.5, and "thoracic drainage " 1.7+/-0.7. In the practical part they were given the scores: "coniotomy" 1.9+/-0.7, and "intraosseous access" and "thoracic drainage" both 1.6+/-0.8. Finally, the "positioning demonstrations" were given scores of 1.7+/-0.8 and the practical exercises as a whole 1.4+/-0.7. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that even emergency physicians with many years of practice have too little knowledge about thoracic drainage, even though it is required in the management of trauma victims. Over 80% of the emergency physicians have no experience with certain other emergency measures recommended as lifesaving in individual cases. Despite the criticism that the participants of the workshop were a selected study group, these numbers seem to reflect reality: Institutions with emergency medicine departments have reported considerable and serious deficiencies in providing emergency care to patients with polytrauma. These gaps could be closed by implementing practice-oriented workshops in collaboration with anatomical institutes. As these institutes use fixated corpses for training purposes, the differences in working with living patients would have to be made clear. In spite of this minor restriction, practical exercises could counteract the deficits in the care of emergency patients and should therefore be integrated into a future educational concept on a long-term basis.

Chest Tubes↗
PubMed1996

Thoracoscopy for empyema and hemothorax.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has assumed greater importance in the management of pleural disease. Since 1990, we have performed VATS procedures to manage a variety of pathologic pleural processes in 306 patients. The 99 patients with complex empyemas or hemothoraces are the focus of this report. Seventy-six patients with complex empyemas (including 26 chronic) were approached with VATS after inadequate chest tube drainage. The causes associated with the thoracic empyemas were parapneumonic collections in 47, after hemothorax in 8, infected sympathetic effusions associated with intra-abdominal sepsis in 6, postresectional in 5, prolonged bronchopleural fistula following spontaneous pneumothorax in 4, chronic drainage of malignant pleural effusions in 4, and chronic drainage of pleural effusion in 2 patients undergoing chemotherapy. Ages ranged from 14 to 78 years. Sixty-three patients (83%) were treated with thoracoscopic drainage +/- decortication alone. Thirteen patients (17%) required subsequent thoracotomy for decortication, including 12 of the 26 (46%) chronic empyemas known to be greater than 3 weeks old. Chest tubes were removed 3.3 +/- 2.9 days postoperatively in 67 patients; 9 patients (12%) were sent home with empyema tubes. Postoperative hospital stay for these patients with empyema averaged 7.4 +/- 7.2 days. There were five deaths, all related to progressive sepsis from associated pneumonia (6.6%). Twenty-three patients underwent thoracoscopic evacuation of hemothoraces that resulted following open heart surgery in 6, thoracic trauma in 7, were iatrogenic in 7, and bleeding into malignant effusions in 3. All were successfully treated by thoracoscopic drainage and pleural debridement alone. Chest tubes were removed 2.8 +/- 0.5 days postoperatively and hospital stay averaged 4.3 +/- 1.9 days. There were no complications; one patient with a hemothrax (after heart transplant) died of unrelated causes. In our experience, VATS has been highly successful in the early management of empyemas and hemothoraces. Conversion to open thoracotomy must always be anticipated, especially when approaching chronic empyemas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Small (</=2-cm) subpleural pulmonary lesions: short- versus long-needle-path CT-guided Biopsy--comparison of diagnostic yields and complications.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively compare the diagnostic yield and complications associated with the use of short versus long needle paths for computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy of small subpleural lung lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was approved by the institutional review board, and the requirement for informed patient consent was waived. The medical and imaging records of patients who underwent CT-guided biopsy of subpleural pulmonary nodules measuring up to 2 cm in diameter were reviewed. The study included 176 patients (79 men, 97 women; age range, 18-84 years) who were divided into two groups: In group A, a direct approach in which the needle traversed a short lung segment was used. In group B, an indirect approach involving the use of a longer needle path was used. Diagnostic yield, accuracy, and pneumothorax and chest tube placement rates were compared between the two groups. Two-tailed t tests and Pearson chi(2) tests were used to analyze continuous and categorized variables, respectively. RESULTS: Group A comprised 48 patients; and group B, 128 patients. The mean needle path length was 0.4 cm in group A and 5.6 cm in group B. The short-path approach necessitated more needle punctures (mean, 2.9 vs 1.8 with long-path approach, P < .001) through the pleura. The diagnostic yield in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (71% vs 94%, P < .001), particularly in patients with small (0-1-cm) nodules (40% in group A vs 94% in group B, P < .001). The frequency of postbiopsy pneumothorax was identical (69%) in the two groups. However, more group B than group A patients required chest tube placement for treatment of pneumothorax (38% vs 17%, P = .006). CONCLUSION: Use of long-needle-path biopsy of subpleural lesions resulted in a higher diagnostic yield, especially for small nodules. However, compared with the short-needle-path technique, this approach was associated with a higher frequency of chest tube placement for pneumothorax.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Comparative study of microfibrillar collagen hemostat (Colgel) and oxidized cellulose (Surgicel) in high transfusion-risk cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of microfibrillar collagen hemostat (Colgel) and oxidized cellulose (Surgicel) on bleeding and allogeneic transfusions were compared in cardiac operations with a predicted high risk of bleeding. METHODS: Between August 1999 and November 2001, 71 patients undergoing elective, high risk of bleeding operations were studied after giving informed consent. The procedures included repeat cardiac operations (aorta-coronary bypass operations or valvular operations), ascending aortic aneurysm repair necessitating deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, and ascending aortic grafting without deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Subjects were excluded if they had recent (<5 days) acetylsalicylic acid ingestion, thrombolytic therapy, or anticoagulant therapy (heparin <4 hours preoperatively or warfarin <3 days preoperatively). Consenting subjects were randomized to receive either Colgel or Surgicel. RESULTS: Chest tube drainage in the first 24 hours was 373 +/- 143 mL in the Colgel group and 571 +/- 144 mL in the Surgicel group (P =.01). Total postoperative chest tube drainage was 423 +/- 154 mL (range, 280-1100 mL) in the Colgel group and 677 +/- 128 mL (range, 285-1350 mL) in the Surgicel group (P =.01). In addition, chest tube drainage was compared between the 2 groups every 3 hours after operation. Blood loss in the first 3 postoperative hours was significantly less in the Colgel group (132 +/- 41 vs 228 +/- 57 mL, P <.001). In the following 3-hour interval, this significant difference persisted (67 +/- 24 vs 121 +/- 49 mL, P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the easy application, low cost, and significant blood-loss reduction effect of microfibrillar collagen powder renders this agent attractive for cardiac operations associated with high risk of bleeding.

Blood Transfusion↗