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Emergent endovascular stent grafting for perforated acute type B dissections and ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of endovascular stent grafts in the treatment of acutely ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysms and type B dissections as an alternative to the conventional surgical approach in an emergency setting. METHODS: From January 2001 to October 2001, we deployed 11 emergent endovascular stent grafts into the thoracic aorta. We treated seven ruptured aortic aneurysms and four acutely perforated type B dissections. Aortic rupture was confirmed preoperatively by spiral computed tomography. In all cases, hemothorax was present. The average interval from onset of symptoms to treatment was 28.5 hours. We used nine Talent and two Excluder stent grafts. RESULTS: Deployment of the stent grafts was successful in nine cases. There were two cases of access failure due to small caliber of iliac arteries, and 1 of these patients died shortly after the procedure was abandoned, At 12 months of follow-up, there were no cases of paraplegia, stent migration, or endoleaks. There was, however, one temporary renal failure, and 2 patients required mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Our experiences with emergency endovascular stent grafting show that the procedure is technically feasible, with less morbidity and mortality than conventional open surgery, in high-risk patients.

Adult↗

Late bleeding from right internal mammary artery after HeartMate left ventricular assist device implantation.

Postoperative bleeding is one of the major complications after implantation of left ventricular assist devices. We experienced 5 unusual cases, which had bleeding from the right internal mammary artery between 5 and 69 days after implantation of a HeartMate (Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, CA) device. It was evident that the outflow graft had eroded through the vessel. Sudden decreases in device flow, hypotension, bleeding from the driveline or chest tube sites, and a drop in hematocrit were the initial manifestations. Chest roentgenogram and transthoracic echocardiography were effective in identifying hemothorax and cardiac tamponade. Four out of 5 patients survived to heart transplantation and were discharged from the hospital. When identified and treated appropriately, this complication does not impair patient outcome.

Adult↗

Radiographic manifestations of mediastinal hemorrhage from blunt chest trauma.

The diagnosis of rupture of the thoracic aorta or its major branches depends largely on the recognition of mediastinal hemorrhage from the initial chest radiograph and subsequent thoracic aortography. This review discusses the radiographic manifestations of mediastinal hemorrhage, including widening of the mediastinum; a ratio of mediastinal width to chest width greater than 0.25; abnormalities of aortic contour; opacification of the aortopulmonary window; depression of the left main bronchus; deviation of the trachea to the right; deviation of the nasogastric tube to the right; the apical cap sign; widening of the paraspinal lines; widening of the right paratracheal stripe; and left hemothorax. The relationship of these manifestations to major thoracic arterial injury is examined. Pitfalls in the radiographic evaluation of mediastinal abnormalities are considered, and indications for computed tomography of the thorax and thoracic aortography in the severely injured patient are reviewed.

Adult↗

Thrombolytic therapy for superior vena caval thrombosis following superior vena cava-pulmonary artery anastomosis.

Immediate postoperative thrombosis of left superior vena cava-left pulmonary artery anastomosis in a modified Fontan procedure for single ventricle and pulmonary artery stenosis is described. Before thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase is initiated, confirmation of thrombosis by venography is mandatory to lessen the risk of cardiac tamponade or hemothorax. By this technique major surgical intervention is avoided, but close attention to the dose of streptokinase and the coagulation profile is essential. Measures to be taken if bleeding occurs with streptokinase therapy are described.

Adult↗

Bypass grafts for recurrent or complex coarctations of the aorta.

Twenty-three patients aged 5 to 53 years with recurrent or complex coarctations of the aorta were successfully operated upon using bypass grafts. This technique of repair was selected for 5 patients with recurrent coarctation, 11 with long-segment coarctation with or without hypoplasia of the transverse aortic arch, and 7 with inadequate collateral circulation. Nineteen patients had bypass grafts from the left subclavian artery to the distal descending thoracic aorta. The other 4 had a combined approach through a left thoractomy and median sternotomy with grafts between the ascending and descending thoracic aorta. All patients survived the operative procedure. One patient were reexplored for a hemothorax and 5 developed transient postoperative hypertension. There were no instances of abdominal vasculitis or lower extremity paralysis. These patients have been followed from 3 months to 11 years postoperatively, and all but 1 are alive and well. Twenty-two are normotensive, and none have the sequelae of hypertensive disease. Gradients up to only 15 mm Hg exist between upper and lower extremity blood pressures. Five patients have undergone postoperative catheterization and aortography, and all have patent grafts. This procedure is a useful and adjunct in difficult coarctations of the aorta and can be safely performed with excellent reproducible long-term results.

Adolescent↗

Blunt intrapericardial rupture of the pulmonary artery in a surviving patient.

Blunt chest trauma can produce a number of potentially lethal injuries, including pulmonary artery rupture. Survivors of pulmonary artery injuries are rare. Most previously reported surviving patients presented with hemothorax from a hilar injury. We report a patient who survived a blunt rupture of the intrapericardial portion of the pulmonary artery and thus presented with pericardial tamponade. The interventions that led to her survival are discussed.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Videothoracoscopic lung biopsy in diffuse infiltrative lung diseases: a 5-year surgical experience.

BACKGROUND: To establish an accurate diagnosis of diffuse infiltrative lung disease, a surgical lung biopsy may be required. We report our experience with video-thoracoscopic lung biopsy over a period of 5 years. METHODS: From March 1992 through December 1996, videothoracoscopic lung biopsy was performed in 64 patients (17 were women [26.5%]; age, 50.5+/-13 years) with a diagnosis of diffuse infiltrative lung disease of an unknown cause. All patients except one received general anesthesia. Single lung ventilation was used in 61 patients. All lung biopsies were obtained with an endoscopic stapler. RESULTS: Single lung biopsies were performed in 39 patients (61%), two biopsies in 23 patients (36%), and three biopsies in 2 patients. Minithoracotomies were necessary in 10 patients (15.6%) owing to an iatrogenic pulmonary wound (1 patient), extensive pleural adhesions (6 patients), and a stiff lung (3 patients). Postoperative complications were rare and included five discrete pneumothoraces (7.8%), all resolving spontaneously, one prolonged air leak (1.6%), and one hemothorax requiring reoperation. Three preoperatively debilitated patients died (4.7%), 2 with progression of respiratory failure and 1 owing to septic shock. Average chest tube duration was 2.4+/-2 days and average hospital stay was 4.6+/-2.5 days. Lung biopsy contributed to the diagnosis in 59 patients (92%). CONCLUSIONS: Videothoracoscopic lung biopsy using an endoscopic stapler is a safe and effective procedure in most cases and should be performed by trained thoracic surgeons.

Biopsy↗

Cervical aortic arch with pseudocoarctation: presentation with spontaneous rupture.

A 23-year-old man presented with hypotension secondary to a left hemothorax. Diagnostic studies revealed a left cervical arch associated with a redundant tortuous pseudocoarctation in the proximal descending thoracic aorta. Operative exploration revealed an aortic rupture just proximal to the pseudocoarctation. Resection of the diseased aorta and tube graft replacement was performed under circulatory arrest. The patient was discharged home on the 12th postoperative day.

Adult↗

Intrapleural endodermal sinus tumor arising from the diaphragm.

We report a primary endodermal sinus tumor (EST) of the right hemidiaphragm, presenting as a right-sided hemothorax in an 18-month-old female. Four operations were performed, the last three being indicated solely by an elevated level of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Cyclic chemotherapy with varying drug combinations together with irradiation therapy were not effective in controlling the disease. To our knowledge, this is the first instance of a primary EST arising from the diaphragm.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Prognosis and management of lesions of the trunk in children with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome.

The Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome is a congenital vascular anomaly consisting of the triad of soft-tissue and bony hypertrophy of the extremities, hemangiomas and/or lymphangiomas, and varicosities. From 1956 to 1983, 42 patients with the Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome were seen at the Mayo Clinic. Of the 42 patients, 16 had involvement of the trunk (thorax, abdomen and/or pelvis). Twelve of the 16 had evidence of the malformation at birth and 4 had evidence shortly thereafter. Lesions involving the trunk included hemangiomas (75%) and lymphangiomas (50%). Complications included rectal bleeding, hematuria, colonic obstruction, hemothorax, paraparesis secondary to clotting disorder, and compression of the external urethral meatus. One child died of enlargement of diffuse lymphangiomas and hemangiomas of the abdomen and chest. Eight of the 16 patients underwent 13 operative procedures. These included excision of the superficial lymphangiomas, resection of the rectosigmoid colon, and resection of an extremely large retroperitoneal mass of hemangiomatous-lymphangiomatous tissue. While progression requiring major surgery was seen in several patients, most patients had supportive therapy, with minimal surgery being necessary.

Abdomen↗

Congenital left atrial aneurysm in an infant.

Congenital left atrial aneurysm, without associated cardiac abnormalities, is a rare defect. We report the case of a large left atrial aneurysm filling almost the entire left hemothorax. This is the first report of this anomaly occurring in an infant less than 1 year of age.

Female↗

Hemodynamic significance of pediatric femur fractures.

PURPOSE: To determine whether hemodynamically significant bleeding occurs after pediatric femur fractures. METHOD: A retrospective chart review was performed; demographic and injury data were collected for all patients with the diagnosis of femur fracture over a 30-month period at a level/ pediatric trauma center. Included were patients with multisystem injury and patients with femur fractures as the only injury. The incidence of hemodynamic insufficiency, the reasons for and timing of transfusions, and the changes in hematocrit levels over time were evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-eight children were identified (182 femur fractures). There were 116 boys and 62 girls, and the mean age was 6.04 +/- 4.5 years (range, 1 month to 19 years). The mechanisms of injury included falls (46), pedestrian/ motor vehicle accidents (43), motor vehicle crashes (19), sports accidents (22), abuse (10), and miscellaneous (38). The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 5.88 +/- 3.93 (range, 4 to 29). There were no deaths. The length of hospital stay was 8.13 +/- 9.37 days (range, 1 to 43 days). Prehospital treatment included early immobilization. Fracture treatment was according to recognized orthopedic techniques based on age, size, and fracture configuration. The mean hematocrit in the emergency department was 34% +/- 3.5% (range, 27.8% to 44.4%) and 32% +/- 6.6% (range, 16.9% to 47.8%) at 24 hours. 67 patients (38%) suffered multiple injuries. Mean ISS for this group was 9.4 +/- 5.0 (range, 5 to 29). Four patients had hemodynamic insufficiency at the time of admission. All were in the multiple-injury group Seven of these 67 patients (10%) required transfusion-three in the first 24 hours (two in the emergency department [associated with severe facial/scalp bleeding] and one in the operating room [associated with severe liver injury]) and four after the first 24 hours (three associated with intraoperative orthopedic procedures and one with a hemothorax). The mean age of those who underwent transfusion was 8.29 +/- 4.79 years, and their mean ISS was 13.71 +/- 4.61. All patients who required transfusion had been injured in motor vehicle crashes or in pedestrian/motor vehicle accidents. One hundred eleven children had isolated closed femur fractures. No patient in this group had evidence of hemodynamic insufficiency or required transfusion. The initial mean hematocrit was 34.5% +/- 2.7%, and the mean 24-hour hematocrit was 34.6% +/- 3.2%. We found that (1) no child with an isolated closed femur fracture had evidence of hemodynamic instability, or showed significant blood loss as evidenced by a decreasing hematocrit at 24 hours, and (2) in this series, evidence of hemodynamic insufficiency and/or the need for transfusion was found only in multiply injured children. CONCLUSION: Hemodynamic instability or evidence of a declining hematocrit in the child should not be attributed to a closed femur fracture and that other sources of blood loss must be found.

Anemia↗

Pleural complications in lung transplant recipients.

Pleural complications occurred in 30 (22%) of 138 patients after 53 single and 91 double lung transplants between September 1986 and February 1993. These were defined for the purpose of this study as pneumothorax persisting beyond the first 14 postoperative days, recurrent pneumothorax, or any other pleural process that necessitated diagnostic or therapeutic intervention. Overall, a higher pleural complication rate was seen in double lung transplantation (25 of 30) than in single lung transplantation (5 of 30) with no differences noted in the frequency among preoperative diagnostic groups (p > 0.05). Pneumothorax was the most frequent complication, affecting 14 of 30 patients, with 6 of 14 cases occurring after transbronchial biopsy. All pneumothoraces in single (n = 4) and double lung transplantation (n = 10) resolved spontaneously or with chest tube thoracostomy. One patient required placement of a Clagett window after open lung biopsy and another required thoracotomy and pleural abrasion after transbronchial biopsy. Parapneumonic effusion was observed in 4 of 30 double lung transplantations with spontaneous resolution in all cases. Empyema affected 7 of 30 patients and occurred exclusively in the double lung transplant group. Sepsis developed in three of the patients with this complication and they subsequently died. The risk of empyema was independent of preoperative diagnosis (p > 0.05). Of interest, all patients with cystic fibrosis (n = 3) with complicating empyema had Pseudomonas cepacia in the pleural fluid. Other miscellaneous complications included subpleural hematoma, chylothorax, and hemothorax. The latter two necessitated thoracic duct and bronchial artery ligation, respectively. In summary, a significant proportion of lung transplant recipients will have pleural space complications. The vast majority of these will resolve spontaneously or with conservative procedures. These complications were not related to preoperative diagnosis nor associated with a significant prolongation of hospital stay (p > 0.05). Empyema is the only pleural space complication associated with increased patient mortality and, as such, is an important clinical marker for those at risk for sepsis and death.

Adult↗

New approaches to trauma management using severity of illness and outcome prediction based on noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring.

The mathematical model satisfactorily predicted outcome in acute emergencies based on noninvasively monitored flow, pressure, pulse oximetry, tissue perfusion values, and their cumulative deficits. A decision support system provided information on the relative effectiveness of various therapeutic modalities based on the responses of patients with very similar states. The concept that hypovolemia and oxygen debt is an early primary problem that plays an important role in low flow and poor tissue perfusion states is supported by direct observation of massive hemorrhage, estimated blood loss of hemoperitoneum and hemothorax at the time of surgery, and prior studies in the literature that documented blood volume deficits in posttraumatic and postoperative patients who subsequently developed organ failures and death.

Arteries↗

Ultrasound as used in thoracoabdominal trauma.

Because it is unique in being portable, rapid, and noninvasive, ultrasound is particularly suited to the trauma setting. When performed by the surgeon, it offers immediate feedback that can be incorporated into the management plan for the patient. Multiple studies in this area have now documented that surgeons can perform and interpret focused ultrasound examinations. Enthusiasm for surgeons as ultrasonographers will likely increase now that the Advanced Trauma Life Support Subcommittee of the American College of Surgeons has published an algorithm that includes ultrasound for the assessment of patients with blunt truncal injuries. As a rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic test for the detection of pericardial tamponade, hemothorax, and hemoperitoneum, ultrasound is now an integral part of the practice at many Level I trauma centers.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Current concepts in the use of cavitary endoscopy in the evaluation and treatment of blunt and penetrating truncal injuries.

The use of thoracoscopy in the patient with penetrating injury to the thorax is in its infancy. Although it is used mainly for diagnosis, evidence suggests that it will become a therapeutic tool during the initial management of the traumatized patient and in the postinjury period (early evacuation of retained hemothorax and the treatment of empyema). Although its role in injuries to the superior chest is clear, its role has not been established in the evaluation of the diaphragm. Both laparoscopy and thoracoscopy offer advantages in this area that must be considered when contemplating diagnosis and treatment. Further studies help define the place of these procedures for injuries in the thoracoabdominal area. The indications for cavitary endoscopy after truncal injury are summarized in Table 2. It must be remembered that experience in this field is rapidly increasing, and indications will change with new studies and new technology.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Management of pyothorax.

Pyothorax is a serious disease process which requires both medical and surgical intervention. Late recognition, management problems, and likely recurrence make successful treatment difficult and often frustrating. Aims of therapy should be to avoid undue stress to the patient, to relieve respiratory distress by thoracocentesis, to eliminate infectious agents with antimicrobials, to remove pleural exudate, and to provide supportive care. Close monitoring of the patient is necessary to prevent iatrogenic complications such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, hypothermia, or hypoproteinemia. Exploratory thoracotomy for removal of granulomatous material and fibroelastic pleural "peels" is occasionally necessary to resolve compressive cardiopulmonary lesions.

Animals↗

Blunt chest trauma and suspected aortic rupture: reliability of chest radiograph findings.

The chest radiographs of 86 patients with suspected aortic rupture from blunt chest trauma were reviewed. Seventy-three patients had no evidence of aortic rupture on aortography or surgical exploration, and 13 patients had surgically confirmed rupture. Sixteen radiographic findings were analyzed for sensitivity and specificity in detecting aortic rupture. The following findings were not statistically significant: hemothorax on either side; rib fractures on either side; pneumothorax on either side; lung contusion; widened left paravertebral stripe; and widening of the mediastinum, along with an increased ratio of mediastinal width to chest width. The most helpful findings leading to suspicion of aortic rupture included nasogastric tube or tracheal deviation to the right at the T4 level; depression of the left mainstem bronchus; and loss of the aortic contour or knob and left apical cap. False positives and false negatives occurred with each radiographic sign, indicating that there is no single finding that is absolutely reliable in predicting or excluding significant injury in every patient with suspected aortic rupture. Analysis of combinations of findings found that when the aortic contour and knob are normal and the nasogastric tube and trachea are not deviated, there was no case of aortic rupture in four consecutive years of experience. These four signs can be used to exclude aortic rupture.

Aortic Rupture↗