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Timing, safety, and efficacy of thoracoscopic evacuation of undrained post-traumatic hemothorax.

Residual post-traumatic hemothorax (RPTH) occurs in 3 to 8 per cent of patients with tube thoracostomy and may cause serious infectious complications. Surgical evacuation is recommended, and thoracoscopic evacuation (THEVA) tends to replace open thoracotomy for this purpose. The objective of this study is to evaluate the optimal timing, safety, and efficacy of THEVA. Over 5 years patients with tube thoracostomy for trauma who had unresolved opacities on plain chest radiograph were evaluated by CT. If the residual fluid volume was estimated to be more than 500 mL3 on CT the patients were offered THEVA. Unstable patients were excluded. A score ranging from one (easy) to three (difficult) was used to grade the difficulty of the operation according to the attending surgeon's perception. Of 1728 chest trauma patients 143 (8%) were evaluated by CT for persistent opacity on plain film, 31 (1.8%) were found to have RPTH, and 24 (1.4%) were eventually taken for THEVA at 3.5+/-2 days after admission. Low oxygen saturation (less than 94%) was found in 58 per cent of patients before THEVA but in only 25 per cent after THEVA (P = 0.02). The majority of chest tubes (75%) were removed within 4 days of the operation. Two patients required conversion to thoracotomy. THEVA done within 3 days of admission was associated with a lower operative difficulty score, shorter hospital stay, and a trend toward shorter intraoperative time compared with THEVA done after 3 days of admission. All patients had effective resolution of their radiographic opacities after THEVA. Three patients developed a complication (urinary tract infection, pneumonia, and persistent air leak). We conclude that patients with significant RPTH and without major physiologic compromise are appropriate candidates for THEVA. The procedure is safe, evacuates PRTH effectively, and improves the respiratory function of affected patients. Ideally it should be performed within 3 days of admission.

Adult↗

Preoperative information and recovery of open-heart surgery patients.

Postoperatively, 19 adult open-heart surgery patients were interviewed as to information, included or not included in preoperative instruction, they identified as important to recovery. It was found that subjects desired details of all aspects of their conditions and treatment--preoperatively, operatively, and postoperatively. They had the greatest difficulty with pulmonary aspects of their care postoperatively. Subjects indicated a specific need for more information about the endotracheal tube, the ventilator, mucus, suctioning, deep breathing and coughing, and chest tube removal. Subjects experienced transient, primarily depressive, nonpsychotic postoperative mood changes unrelated to preoperative information, physical manifestations, and/or behavioral manifestations. Subjects regarded the nurse as an important provider of information and found the content of preoperative information satisfactory but wanted more individualization of instruction. They also indicated a need for more family involvement in preoperative instruction to provide them with information of the patient's progress throughout hospitalization. Questions and hypotheses for future research were generated.

Adult↗

Spontaneous pneumothorax in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

A new roentgenographic finding of spontaneous pneumothorax occurred in a patient with well-advanced (stage V) allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). The pneumothorax responded to chest tube evacuation. Patients with well-advanced ABPA and severe chest pain should be carefully examined and treated for pneumothorax, to maintain as much functioning lung as possible.

Adult↗

Abdominal placement of tube thoracostomy due to lack of recognition of paralysis of hemidiaphragm.

Tube thoracostomy is an invasive procedure that carries a risk of complications. We report a patient with liver cirrhosis, ascites and large left-sided pleural effusion, in whom a trocar type chest tube was inserted at the seventh left intercostal space in the midaxillary line. Chest roentgenogram revealed that the drainage tube was placed into the abdominal cavity because of a misrecognized elevation of the left hemidiaphragm. This case demonstrates that the placement of a tube thoracostomy requires caution in the identification of possible abnormalities which can lead to dangerous complications.

Abdomen↗

Diagnostic thoracoscopic lung biopsy: an outpatient experience.

BACKGROUND: Tissue diagnosis of either interstitial lung disease or indeterminate pulmonary nodules can be obtained by either limited thoracotomy or thoracoscopic lung biopsy. Both procedures traditionally have required hospital admission. We report a series of patients undergoing outpatient thoracoscopic lung biopsy to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of this practice. METHODS: Sixty-two ambulatory patients with a clinical diagnosis of either interstitial lung disease or indeterminate pulmonary nodule(s) underwent thoracoscopic lung biopsy between June 2000 and June 2001. All procedures were performed with double-lumen endotracheal anesthesia and stapled wedge resection. Chest tubes were removed if no air leak was present and if chest radiograph demonstrated no residual pneumothorax. RESULTS: Of 62 patients undergoing thoracoscopic lung biopsy, 45 (72.5%) were discharged home within 8 hours of observation on the day of operation. Fourteen (22.5%) were discharged within 23 hours of their operation. Reasons for 23-hour observation included significant comorbidity (8), pain management (4), postoperative air leak (1), and conversion to muscle-sparing thoracotomy (1). Three (5%) required admission for prolonged air leak (2) or conversion to muscle-sparing thoracotomy (1). Diagnoses were obtained in 61 patients, including neoplasm (25), interstitial lung disease (18), granulomatous disease (7), and other (11). One patient was readmitted for pneumothorax. Patients diagnosed with nonbronchogenic pulmonary metastases were more likely to be discharged on the day of operation. No differences in age, smoking status, or preoperative pulmonary function testing were observed between patients requiring short-stay observation and those discharged immediately after operation. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient thoracoscopic lung biopsy is safe and effective, and has become our procedure of choice for diagnosis of either interstitial or focal lung disease.

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↗

Intrapleural streptokinase in complicated parapneumonic effusions and empyema.

BACKGROUND: The management of complicated parapneumonic effusions (CPE) and empyema by chest tube drainage usually fails because of thick viscous fluid and multiple pleural space loculations. The use of intrapleural fibrinolytic agents facilitates pleural drainage and can obviate the need for more invasive surgical interventions in these types of effusions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy with streptokinase (STK) as an adjunctive therapy in the management of CPE and empyema. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients of CPE and empyema were considered for intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy when the chest tubes/catheter drainage became insignificant (i.e., less than 50 ml a day) and the tube was adequately positioned and patent. Intrapleural STK was administered eight hourly in the dosage of 2,50,000 IU in 50 ml of saline. The end points were volume of fluid drained and radiological resolution. RESULTS: [corrected] There were 24 (80%) patients with CPE and six (20%) with empyema, with a mean age of 35 years. The median of STK doses used were three in 26 (87%) cases and two in four (13%) cases. There was significant drainage (mean +/- SD) 1094 ml +/- 116 and radiological resolution in 26 (87%) cases. The only complication observed was transient chest pain in one and fever in two patients. CONCLUSION: Intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy with STK is a safe and effective adjunctive therapy in the management of CPE and empyema.

Adult↗

Support line and tube visibility in chest examinations using computed radiography.

The visibility of support lines and tubes was compared in computed radiography (CR) and screen-film adult chest radiographs. Parameters investigated were radiation dose, image minification, and the use of unsharp mask enhancement. Five radiologists rated the visibility of support lines and tubes on a five-point scale ranging from 1 (entire course of line visible) to 5 (line not visible or only small portion seen). These CR results were compared with the visibility of support lines and tubes as assessed by the same readers for conventional screen-film radiographs (600 speed). Support line and tube visibility improved with image enhancement, image minification, and increasing radiation dose. At the same radiation exposure, support line and tube visibility of the screen-film combination was superior to that of standard CR images. Application of an unsharp mask enhancement algorithm to CR images, however, significantly improved support line and tube visibility in comparison to that obtained with the screen-film combination. It was concluded that unsharp mask processing is a valuable tool for improving the visibility of support lines and tubes in CR chest radiographs.

Adult↗

Posttraumatic empyema thoracis: a 24-year experience at a major trauma center.

The purpose of this paper is to review the outcome of patients with posttraumatic empyema thoracis. Between April 1972 and March 1996, the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the King-Drew Medical Center managed or was consulted on 5,474 trauma patients (4,584 patients with penetrating injuries and 890 with blunt injuries) who were admitted emergently for thoracic and thoracoabdominal injuries and who underwent tube thoracostomy. Patients were not given routine prophylactic antibiotics merely because they had a chest tube placed. Based on our previous reports on thoracic trauma, our criteria for empiric antibiotic administration included (1) emergent or urgent thoracotomy, (2) soft-tissue destruction of the chest wall by shotgun injuries, (3) lung contusion with hemoptysis, (4) associated abdominal trauma requiring exploratory laparotomy, or (5) associated open long-bone fractures. Eighty-seven of these 5,474 patients developed posttraumatic empyema thoracis, for an incidence of 1.6%. These 87 patients were treated with tube thoracostomy, image-guided catheter drainage, or open thoracotomy with decortication. Seventy-nine of 87 patients (91%) were cured without conversion to open thoracostomy. Four patients required conversion to open thoracostomy, and there were three deaths. Even though a majority of our patients required decortication, successful management of posttraumatic empyema thoracis also was achieved with closed-tube thoracostomy or image-guided catheter drainage based on clinical and radiographic findings with appropriate patient selection. When thoracic empyema did occur in our group, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common microbe isolated, followed by anaerobic bacteria. In correlating microbiologic data with outcomes, S. aureus, especially methicillin-resistant S. aureus, was the most frequent cause of antibiotic failure. Because of the low incidence of posttraumatic empyema thoracis, we do not recommend routine antibiotic prophylaxis for all trauma patients who undergo closed-tube thoracostomy. A review of the role of tube thoracostomy, intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy, image-guided catheter drainage, video-assisted thoracoscopy, and open thoracotomy for the management of thoracic empyema is provided.

Adolescent↗

Early decortication after thoracic trauma.

Twenty-three patients who sustained either blunt or penetrating thoracic trauma underwent early decortication after failure of chest tube drainage. Patients were divided into two groups: (1) ten with isolated chest injuries were compared with (2) 13 with chest trauma and other associated major injuries. Group 1 patients had earlier decortication (10.3 days), rapid recovery (home in 6.1 days), and little morbidity. Group 2 patients had later decortications (19.3 days), higher incidence of infected clot, yet were home in 9.8 days after thoracotomy. Early decortication is advocated as a safe and expedient means of dealing with the complications of traumatic pneumothorax and hemothorax.

Adolescent↗

Feline pyothorax: a retrospective study of 27 cases in Australia.

Pyothorax was diagnosed in 27 cats between 1983 and 2002. In 21 (78%) of the cases, pleural fluid culture and/or cytology was consistent with a mixed anaerobic bacterial infection of oropharyngeal origin. In six cases (22%), infection was caused by unusual pathogens or pathogens of non-oropharyngeal origin, including a Mycoplasma species, Cryptococcus gattii, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus. The overall mortality rate was 22%. Treatment was successful in 18 of 19 cases (95%) where closed thoracostomy tubes were inserted. One case resolved only after thoracotomy. Actinomyces species were isolated in three cases and in contrast to dogs where thoracotomy is recommended, they were resolved with tube thoracostomy. Mechanical complications occurred in 58% of the cats with indwelling chest tubes. Probable mechanisms of pleural space infection were identified in 18 cats (67%) including haematogenous infection (n=1), direct inoculation of bacteria into the pleural space (n=1), intrathoracic oesophageal rupture (n=1) and parapneumonic extension of infection (n=15; 56%). Of the latter, perioperative aspiration was suspected in two cats, parasitic migration in two and antecedent upper respiratory tract infection was implicated in seven. Parapneumonic spread of infection after colonisation and invasion of lung tissue by oropharyngeal flora appears to be the most frequent cause of feline anaerobic polymicrobial pyothorax and contests the widespread belief that direct inoculation of pleural cavity by bite wounds is more common.

Animals↗

Mitoxantrone for malignant pleural effusion due to metastatic sarcoma.

Malignant pleural effusion due to metastatic sarcoma is a difficult problem to treat. Mitoxantrone hydrochloride is an anthracenodione that has been reported to be useful when used intracavitary for malignant effusion due to gynaecological malignancies. We reviewed 15 cases of malignant pleural effusion due to pleural involvement by metastatic sarcoma that were treated with intrapleural mitoxantrone. None of the patients had previous pleurodesis. A standard dose of 20 mg per square metre in 50 cc of saline solution was instilled by chest tube after drainage of the effusion. All patients were initially evaluated by chest CAT scans and chest films, control films were done immediately and 6 weeks after treatment. Thirteen cases were evaluated. Three patients presented with fever, two patients had local pain and one patient developed neutropenia. Three patients did not respond to the treatment. Complete resolution of the effusion was achieved in 76% of the patients: such an effect could be due to the local antineoplastic activity of the drug. We believe that mitoxantrone is effective in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion due to pleural involvement with sarcoma without causing significant local or systemic toxicity.

Adolescent↗

Pneumopericardium and pneumothorax contralateral to venous access site after permanent pacemaker implantation.

A 77-year-old female underwent implantation of a left-sided dual chamber permanent pacemaker for symptomatic bradycardia with active fixation leads. Eight hours after the procedure, the patient complained of shortness of breath and was found to have a 30% right pneumothorax on chest X-ray. Immediately, a chest tube was inserted, promptly relieving the symptoms. A CT scan of the chest revealed extrusion of the helix of the screw-in atrial lead, through the wall of the right atrial appendage. The helix was abutting a bulla in the right lung, the likely cause for pneumothorax and pneumopericardium. The atrial lead was explanted without incident.

Aged↗

Bronchial complication of a closed-tube endotracheal suction catheter.

Iatrogenic bronchial complications in intubated premature infants are rare. The authors present one case of rupture of a closed-tube endotracheal suction catheter. Clinical presentation was a persistent pneumothorax that required chest tube placement in several days. A foreign body was confirmed in x-ray and computed tomography (CT) scan. Flexible bronchoscopy showed a piece of catheter in the left bronchus and using a rigid bronchoscope was possible to remove. No perforation was found. There are a few reports in the literature of iatrogenic bronchial complication in premature infants caused by closed-tube endotracheal suctioning catheters. Endobronchial rupture of this catheter has never been reported.

Bronchi↗

Parapneumonic pleural effusion and empyema in children. Review of a 19-year experience, 1962-1980.

Between 1962 and 1980, 50 children admitted to Strong Memorial Hospital had a pleural effusion or an empyema associated with pneumonia. Such parapneumonic effusion and empyema accounted for 52 per cent of cases of pleural effusion and empyema of all etiologies admitted during those years. Review of cases of parapneumonic effusion and empyema suggested that clinical manifestations, laboratory, and roentgenographic findings did not separate these two groups of patients before thoracentesis was performed. Specific organisms were identified in 29 per cent of cases with parapneumonic effusion and 62 per cent with parapneumonic empyema. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pyogenes were responsible for 35, 30, and 20 per cent of cases, respectively. Parapneumonic effusions were treated without closed-chest tube drainage in 76 per cent of the cases, while closed-chest drainage was necessary in virtually all cases of children with empyema.

Adolescent↗

Predicting risk of pneumothorax in needle biopsy of the lung.

We prospectively studied results of 103 consecutive transthoracic needle biopsies of lung lesions suspicious for malignancy to determine if lesion size, depth within the lung, hyperinflation, second needle passes, or 100 percent oxygen breathing influenced the incidence of pneumothorax. Thirty-eight patients (37 percent) developed pneumothorax. Ten (10 percent) required tube thoracostomy for re-expansion. Five of the ten requiring the chest tube had clinically severe obstructive lung disease. In all patients, greater depth (D) in centimeters of needle penetration significantly increased the probability (p) of pneumothorax (p much less than .001) and can be estimated by the equation: (formula see text) The estimated probability of pneumothorax is 13 percent at 1 cm, 49 percent at 4 cm, and 86 percent at 7 cm. An increase in total lung capacity above predicted added additional risk of pneumothorax (p less than .02). Oxygen breathing did not significantly reduce the incidence of pneumothorax, but may reduce size by increasing the rate of reabsorption. The other factors had little influence. We conclude that the more central location of the lesion and pre-existing lung hyperinflation determine the risk of pneumothorax.

Adult↗

Spontaneous pneumothorax in children.

Sixteen consecutive children diagnosed with spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) and admitted to Chang Gung Children's Hospital between July 1994 and June 1999 were retrospectively studied. The presenting features, radiographic abnormalities, and indications of surgery were reviewed. All patients were exclusively adolescents and were aged between 12 and 17 years. Six patients received chest tube drainage only. Nine patients underwent ablation of blebs or bullae using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with good results. One patient had a bullous emphysema removed by wedge resection. One patient with spontaneous hemopneumothorax required a blood transfusion and emergent thoracotomy for stabilization. Computed tomographic (CT) scans of the chest detected all seven (100%) cases with apical bulla formations. First episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax were treated conservatively using closed-tube thoracostomy if the plain chest radiographs and CT scans were negative for apical bleb or bulla formations. In summary, SP occurred exclusively in adolescents in this study, commonly they had no underlying pulmonary abnormalities except for bulla or bleb formations. SP can be safely and effectively managed using VATS and abrasive pleurodesis in children without recurrence at follow-up. SP may be treated surgically even in the first event of pneumothorax when subpleural blebs are demonstrated by high-resolution computed tomographic scans.

Adolescent↗