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[Closed thoracic trauma. Considerations on surgical treatment of flail chest].

Two cases of thoracic injuries with flail chest are described. Particularly, the indications and management of surgical treatment, of flail chest are discussed. It is important not to reconstitute the anatomic structure of the chest, but to recover the physiological respiratory motion. Today, the first choice is the mechanical ventilation, even if it needs a long period of time and sometimes it has some complications. The surgical treatment is absolute only when other thoracic lesion i.e. massive hemothorax, pulmonary, tracheal and bronchial injuries) joined the flail chest. Often the surgical management follows the ventilation therapy; in these cases, thoracotomy is better made in five or six days after trauma. Today, the Kirschner pins or Judet plates are used for fixation. Sometimes, when injury is considerable synthetic meshes are also used.

Accidental Falls↗

[Personal experience with computerized tomography of shock and death in emergency situations].

PURPOSE: The wide availability of CT machines in hospitals specialising in emergency care has made it possible to observe CT features of severe shock and death of the patient during the CT examination. Unique radiological signs can be evaluated that testify to the state of shock or indicate arrest of the contrast medium in the cardiovascular system and parenchymatous organs, with different hemodynamic features from those found in living persons. This paper aims to report our personal experience with the role of CT in documenting states of shock or death. Our series, which is relatively large considering the infrequency of cases, seems to be of interest as it is one of the few to describe these rare CT findings, which have ethical implications for all healthcare providers and the field of diagnostic imaging. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the last 5 years we have observed 16 cases (12 males and 4 females; mean age 41 years; range 17-79) of death during CT examinations. Of these, 9 were severely polytraumatized patients, 2 had ruptured aneurysms of the abdominal aorta, and one had a cardiac arrest due to cardiac infarction. Death occurred in 3 patients with head trauma, in whom the CT examination had shown signs of inoperability. RESULTS: The most frequent CT signs of death observed in the patients who died of polytrauma were contusive-hemorrhagic foci in the lung associated with pneumomediastinum and hemothorax (9 cases), diffuse subcutaneous emphysema of the chest wall and pneumothorax (8 cases). CT revealed bilateral costal fractures and areas of pulmonary subatelectasia in 8 cases, and rupture of the diaphragm in one. Multiple lacerations of the liver and spleen with marked hemoperitoneum, incompatible with survival, were observed in 3 cases. Vertebral traumatic alterations were present in 2 cases. In 5 cases, the last CT scans of the heart and hepatic cupula revealed massive enhancement of contrast medium within the heart and great vessels due to contrast-medium hypostasis. The diaphragm was hypotonic, an indirect sign of death, with the left hemicardium and hemidiaphragm in a lower position than found in living persons; the abdominal aorta had a reduced caliber. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Such CT findings will probably become increasingly frequent in the future, because the need to avoid exploratory laparotomies or thoracotomies and unnecessary neurosurgical procedures will entail a greater demand for highly selective diagnostic examinations to be carried out on critical patients. This tendency is matched by the technological advances in diagnostic imaging, and particularly the availability of fast CT and spiral CT machines that give, in only a few seconds, an accurate diagnostic and clinical picture, on which immediate therapeutic decisions can be made.

Adolescent↗

[Complete transection of the left main bronchus due to a blunt chest trauma: report of a case].

A 62-year-old man was injured in a traffic accident. A chest roentgenogram showed pneumothorax, hemothorax, subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema, multiple rib fractures, and a shift of the trachea to the right. Bilateral thorax drainage was performed, and air leakage from a left chest tube was observed. A chest computed tomogram demonstrated stenosis and deformation of the left main bronchus. Bronchofiberscopy revealed complete obstruction of the left main bronchus by the left main pulmonary artery. An emergency thoracotomy revealed complete transection of the left main bronchus and laceration. End-to-end anastomosis of the left main bronchus was performed with interrupted 4-0 PDS II suture. The patient was discharged at the 33rd hospital day.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Mitral valve plasty for mitral regurgitation after blunt chest trauma.

A 21 year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of chest and back pain after blunt chest trauma. On admission, consciousness was clear and a physical examination showed labored breathing. Her vital signs were stable, but her breathing gradually worsened, and artificial respiration was started. The chest roentgenogram and a subsequent chest computed tomographic scans revealed contusions, hemothorax of the left lung and multiple rib fractures. A transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed normal left ventricular wall motion and mild mitral regurgitation (MR). TTE was carried out repeatedly, and revealed gradually progressive MR and prolapse of the posterior medial leaflet, although there was no congestive heart failure. After her general condition had recovered, surgery was performed. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed torn chordae at the posterior medial leaflet. The leaflet where the chorda was torn was cut and plicated, and posterior mitral annuloplasty was performed using a prosthetic ring. One month later following discharge, the MR had disappeared on TTE.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Thoracic sonography.

Sonography has inherent limitations for thoracic imaging because sound waves are reflected by bone and air space (such as in lung parenchyma). However, sonography is less expensive and more convenient than computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); it provides immediate information with real-time imaging; and it can provide information not available from a standard radiograph. This review describes the utility and limitations of sonography and compares sonography to radiography, CT, and MRI with regard to diagnosing pleural, pulmonary, and aortic diseases, including pneumothorax, pleural effusions and masses, hemothorax, empyema, consolidated lung, pneumonia, pulmonary abscess, pulmonary embolism, mediastinal masses, aortic dissection, aortic intramural hematoma, and penetrating aortic ulcers.

Aortic Dissection↗

The evaluation of diagnostic accordance between plain radiography and bone scintigraphy for the assessment of sternum and rib fractures in the early period of blunt trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accordance between scintigraphy and radiography in the early period following blunt thoracic trauma. DESIGN: Double-blind, prospective clinical study. METHODS: Thirty-four adult patients with blunt thoracic trauma were examined by plain radiography and scintigraphy within 24 hours of trauma. RESULTS: Radiography displayed pathologies in 25 (73.5%), while scintigraphy suggested pathologies in 24 (70.5%) patients. Rib fractures were identified radiographically in 16 (47%) and scintigraphically in 17 (50%) patients. Lateral radiograph of the sternum showed fracture in 10 (52.6%), while scintigraphy suggested fracture in 14 (73.6%) patients with suspected sternal trauma. CONCLUSION: Scintigraphy gave better results in the evaluation of sternal fractures during the early period of thorax trauma. Conventional plain radiography is thought to be the initial imaging modality, because it saves time and shows hemothorax or pneumothorax besides the osseous abnormality.

Adult↗

Subtotal thoracic aortic replacement as reoperation for ruptured aortic dissection: report of a case.

We report successful repair of a ruptured chronic aortic dissection in a 63-year-old female who had undergone end-to-end anastomosis for acute type A dissection 8 years before. The patient had hypotension with back pain and cough. A computed tomogram revealed a large chronic aortic dissection (Stanford type A) and complete atelectasis of the left lung due to hemothorax. The brachiocephalic artery was also dissected and aneurysmal. Emergency surgery was performed. Subtotal thoracic aortic replacement with reconstruction of 4 cervical vessels was carried out using hypothermic circulatory arrest with selective cerebral perfusion via a redo-sternotomy and a left anterolateral thoracotomy. The patient was discharged from the hospital without any sequelae.

Aortic Dissection↗

[Fractures of the sternum].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Assessment of the authors' group of patients with a fracture of sternum and comparison with available literary findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a group of 188 patients with a blunt injury of chest who were hospitalised in the Faculty Hospital in Olomouc in the period of 1996-1999 there were 7 cases with the diagnosis of the fracture of sternum. In this group of patients we observed the cause of injury, occurrence of associated injuries, the potential of diagnostic methods, method of treatment and duration of hospitalization. RESULTS: Mostly they were patients with an isolated fracture of the sternum or with an associated injury requiring only a short-term hospitalization. One patient with a rupture of v. azygos died from the sequelae of other multiple injuries. Another patient sustained a fracture of sternum together with a massive hemothorax and hemomediastinum. On the basis of circulation stability this patient was treated conservatively. For details see the case report. Six patients were subsequently transferred to out-patient department and are now without complaints. DISCUSSION: The most beneficial examination for the diagnosis of the fracture of sternum remains lateral radiograph of the chest. With regard to potential injuries of mediastinal organs it is necessary to perform ap radiograph of the chest and ECG, in indicated cases also CT of the chest, angiography and echocardiography, if need be. In patients treated for a fracture of sternum the duration of hospitalization and mortality is determined by the severity of the associated injuries. Surgical treatment is considered rarely in fractures with a greater dislocation or in injuries or mediastinal organs. CONCLUSION: The incidence of the fracture of sternum has recently increased. Isolated injuries of the chest do not pose any diagnostic or therapeutic problem. Of much greater severity are associated injuries of lungs and mediastinal organs which require a precise diagnosis and careful observation of the patient.

Adult↗

Surgical management of penetrating injuries to the coronary arteries.

Among 76 patients with heart wounds treated over a 4 year period, nine had penetrating injuries to the coronary arteries with clinical presentations of pericardial tamponade, electrocardiographic abnormalities of bundle branch block or ST and T wave changes, and hemothorax. The right coronary artery was injured in two patients, the left anterior descending coronary artery in six patients, and the left circumflex coronary artery in one patient. All but one of these injured coronary arteries were treated by ligation. One patient with a proximal left anterior descending coronary artery transection presented with cardiac arrest and was managed successfully by emergency cardiopulmonary support and saphenous vein bypass with ligation of the transected ends of the artery. The only death occurred six days postoperatively in a patient with a right coronary artery laceration and was not related to the heart injury. No late symptomatic or hemodynamic sequelae have been noted among any of these patients. Principles of elective cardiac surgery are readily adaptable to the patient with a coronary artery injury.

Adult↗

CT-guided percutaneous ethanol injection therapy for ultrasonically invisible hepatocellular carcinoma.

We report the case of a 75-year-old woman with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma located just beneath the diaphragm. Computed tomography-guided percutaneous ethanol injection therapy was performed, because images of the tumor were hard to obtain on ultrasonography. The angle and depth of needle insertion were determined by using the geometric relationship between the target lesion and the skin insertion site on computed tomography scans. A 22-gauge needle was inserted through the right 6th intercostal space under local anesthesia. Computed tomography scanning was repeated to verify the needle position. After entry of the needle into the target lesion was confirmed, 10 mL of absolute ethanol was injected. This procedure caused transient mild pain, but there were no serious adverse effects such as pneumothorax or hemothorax. Three months after treatment, the lesion was not enhanced on dynamic computed tomography scanning, suggesting complete tumor ablation. At present, the patient is doing well. In conclusion, computed tomography-guided percutaneous ethanol injection therapy was safe and accurately achieved the desired tumoricidal effect in a patient with ultrasonically invisible hepatocellular carcinoma.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

[Pediatric trauma life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation].

Accidents are the most frequent cause of mortality among children older than one year. Thus, the need to proceed to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during the early phases of trauma life support (TLS) is always a possibility. Trauma is a special situation in CPR: expected problems (i.e., hemorrhage, pneumo-hemothorax, hypothermia, and difficult intubation and vascular access), specific therapeutic actions (i.e., helmet retrieval and cervical spine immobilization), and exceptions to standard CPR guidelines (i.e., contraindication for the head tilt-chin lift manoeuvre) can arise. Therefore, TLS and CPR interventions must be appropriately integrated. TLS is considered a method (much like CPR). It combines organization and leadership with competent, structured and timely actions. Appropriate intervention within the first few moments ("platinum half-hour" and " golden hour") and first day ("silver day") is essential. As in CPR, two modalities can be distinguished: basic TLS (on the scene, without technical resources) and advanced TLS (with resources). The acronym PAA summarizes basic TLS: Protect-Alert-Aid. The advanced TLS sequence includes the following: primary survey and initial stabilization, secondary survey, triage, transport, and definitive care. The main objective of the primary survey and initial stabilization phase is the identification and treatment of injuries with immediate potential to cause death. CPR in the context of TLS should be adapted to the special features of trauma. Particular attention should be paid to the cervical spine. While not specific for trauma care, the early and generous administration of oxygen should be emphasized.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗

Clinical practice of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in children.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the value of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in diagnosis and treatment of children with chest diseases. METHODS From May 1997 to October 2001, forty-one children (25 boys and 16 girls) with chest diseases received VATS under general anesthesia in our hospital. Their average age was 6.9 years (range 9 days to 16 years) and their median body weight was 22.5 kg (2.8-54.0 kg). Operative procedures included fibrinopurulent empyema with debridement and decortication in 15 children, biopsy and(or) resection of mediastinal tumor in 11, bullectomy and cystectomy of the lung in 6, lobectomy with huge cyst of the lung or sequestration in 5, clearance of hemothorax in 2, and exploration, and repair of diaphragmatic hernia in 2. RESULTS The mean operative time was 74 minutes (range 30 to 220 minutes). The lost blood volume was 33 ml (range 10 to 150 ml). The mean duration of chest drainage and hospital stay after surgery was 2.4 days and 7.0 days (range 4 to 15 days) respectively. One infant born after 9 days with congenital diaphragmatocele died of respiratory failure due to left pulmonary hypoplasia 10 days after operation. Postoperative morbidity was 7.3% (3 patients). Forty patients were followed up for an average of 15.6 months, 38 patients lived and developed normally, and 2 received chemotherapy. CONCLUSION Video-assisted thoracoscopy is a safe and effective diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for children with chest disease, and this approach has an important place in pediatric thoracic surgery.

Adolescent↗

Endovascular repair for acute rupture of the descending thoracic aorta.

PURPOSE: To report the endovascular treatment of acute descending thoracic aortic rupture as an alternative to open surgery in high-risk patients. METHODS: Between November 1999 and April 2001, 10 patients (7 men; median age 75 years) underwent endovascular stent-grafting of the descending thoracic aorta for acute rupture from an aneurysm (n=7) or blunt trauma (n=3). All patients were evaluated as high operative risk. The aortic rupture was associated with isolated mediastinal hematomas (n=7), left hemothorax (n=2), or aortobronchial fistula (n=1). The Excluder Thoracic Endoprosthesis was used predominantly. RESULTS: The mean interval to the endovascular repair was 45.3+/-28.4 hours. All stent-grafts were successfully deployed. Two patients required common iliac artery access, and 2 needed covered stents for iatrogenic iliac artery rupture. There was 1 postoperative death (myocardial infarction) and no renal failure, neurological complications, embolization, stent-graft migration, or perigraft leak. One patient died 4 months later from an unrelated cause. At a mean follow-up of 7.9+/-5.1 months, all aneurysms and rupture sites were excluded with no evidence of endoleak or hematoma. CONCLUSIONS: Endoluminal treatment is a feasible technique for the management of acute rupture of the descending thoracic aorta. Long-term studies are required to assess the effectiveness and durability of this technique in comparison to open repair.

Acute Disease↗

[Angiosarcoma arised from a solitary schwannoma of the chest wall].

Angiosarcomas rarely develop within a peripheral nerve or a peripheral nerve sheath tumor. A 68-year-old woman was admitted for right hemothorax. She had suffered from the left thoracic empyema and the right chest wall tumor which had been regarded as schwannoma clinically. Anemia got serious due to continuous bloody effusion. Although bleeding point was not detected by thoracotomy. The right chest wall tumor was resected. Postoperatively bloody effusion still drained continuously, she died ten days after the operation. Resected tumor was almost necrotized. The tumor was diagnosed as angiosarcoma pathologically, in which a part of schwannoma component resided. It is indicated that angiosarcoma in this case arised from degenerated schwannoma. It is necessary to consider angiosarcoma, rarely arised from degenerated schwannoma, during conservative, long-term observation on the care of schwannoma.

Aged↗

Performance of advanced trauma life support procedures in microgravity.

BACKGROUND: Medical operations on the International Space Station will emphasize the stabilization and transport of critically injured personnel and so will need to be capable of advanced trauma life support (ATLS). METHODS: We evaluated the ATLS invasive procedures in the microgravity environment of parabolic flight using a porcine animal model. Included in the procedures evaluated were artificial ventilation, intravenous infusion, laceration closure, tracheostomy, Foley catheter drainage, chest tube insertion, peritoneal lavage, and the use of telemedicine methods for procedural direction. RESULTS: Artificial ventilation was performed and appeared to be unaltered from the 1-G environment. Intravenous infusion, laceration closure, percutaneous dilational tracheostomy, and Foley catheter drainage were achieved without difficulty. Chest tube insertion and drainage were performed with no more difficulty than in the 1-G environment due to the ability to restrain patient, operator and supplies. A Heimlich valve and Sorenson drainage system were both used to provide for chest tube drainage collection with minimal equipment, without the risk of atmospheric contamination, and with the capability to auto-transfuse blood drained from a hemothorax. The use of telemedicine in chest tube insertion was demonstrated to be useful and feasible. Peritoneal lavage using a percutaneous technique, although requiring less training to perform, was found to be dangerous in weightlessness due to the additional pressure of the bowel on the anterior abdominal wall creating a high risk of bowel perforation. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of ATLS procedures in microgravity appears to be feasible with the exception of diagnostic peritoneal lavage. Minor modifications to equipment and techniques are required in microgravity to effect surgical drainage in the presence of altered fluid dynamics, to prevent atmospheric contamination, and to provide for the restraint requirements. A parabolic simulation system was developed for equipment and procedure verification, physiological research, and possible crew medical officer training in the future.

Animals↗

Uniportal endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for treatment of palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis: analysis of 2000 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Primary hyperhidrosis of the upper limbs is a common and troublesome condition in Taiwan. Therefore, we present our experience in treating hyperhidrosis via uniportal endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. METHODS: Between April 1993 and March 2000, a total of 2000 patients underwent endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for treatment of palmar or axillary hyperhidrosis. There were 1520 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis and 480 patients with axillary hyperhidrosis. There were 788 male and 1212 female patients, with a mean age of 22.9 years (range, 9-60 yr). All patients were placed in a semi-sitting position, with single-lumen-intubation anesthesia. We performed T2 sympathectomy at the second and third rib beds for patients with palmar hyperhidrosis, using an 8-mm, 0-degree, offset thoracoscope (Karl Storz GmbH & Co., Tuttlingen, Germany), via a 0.8-cm incision below each axilla. Similar procedures were used for T3 and T4 sympathectomies at the third, fourth, and fifth rib beds for patients with axillary hyperhidrosis. Questionnaires were sent to all patients after surgery. RESULTS: Among these 2000 patients, successful bilateral sympathectomies were performed for 1992 patients. The operations were usually completed within 20 minutes (range, 10-30 min). Most patients were discharged within 4 hours after surgery. The surgical complications were minimal, including pneumothorax (10 cases, 0.5%), segmental atelectasis (7 cases, 0.35%), hemothorax (2 cases, 0.1%), and mild wound infections (2 cases, 0.1%). There were no surgery-related deaths. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 51.7 months (range, 6-89 mo). A total of 1720 patients (86%) developed compensatory sweating of the trunk and lower limbs. The recurrence rates for palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis after surgery were 0 and 4.1% in the first year, 0.1 and 8.2% in the second year, 0.5 and 10.4% in the third year, 0.6 and 14.1% in the fourth year, and 1.3 and 16.7% in the fifth year, respectively. CONCLUSION: Uniportal endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is a safe, effective method for the treatment of patients with palmar or axillary hyperhidrosis. For surgery, both a semi-sitting position and single-lumen-intubation anesthesia are recommended.

Adolescent↗

[Surgical treatment of the aortic arch aneurysm. Immediate results].

There was performed the retrospective analysis of 23 consecutive patients, to whom beside the ascending aorta aneurysm correction the aorta arch prosthesis was done in conditions of deep hypothermia, the blood circulation arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion via vena cava superior. For an acute layering and aneurysm of aorta with pericardium tamponade or hemothorax occurrence 16 (69.6%) of patients were operated on in emergency. Hospital mortality had constituted 21.7%, including after an urgent operation performance--25% and elective surgery--14.3%.

Adult↗

[Two cases of the traumatic rupture of the diaphragm (author's transl)].

Recently, the cases of traumatic rupture of the diaphragm increased due to traffic accidents increasing. We experienced two cases of this type of trauma in short breathing after traffic accidents. The chest roentgenograms on admission revealed multiple fractured ribs, homogenous density in the left thorax and mediastinal shift to the right side with the elevation of the left diaphragm, and the stomach were demonstrated in the left thoracic cavity by the method of nasogastric tube barium study. The transthoracic operation were performed following 7 hours after an accident on the first case. The omentum, splenic flexura of colon, stomach, small bowel, and spleen were herniated to the left thoracic cavity and the spleen was ruptured. The spleen was resected in the same field and the diaphragm rupture was closed with 8 figure stitch sutures. On the second case, also, the transthoracic operation were performed seven days after admission because of misdiagnosis for left hemothorax. Herniated stomach, colon, small bowel, omentum, and spleen were repositioned and diaphragm rupture was closed with 8 figure stitch sutures. Covalescence were smooth and the patients were discharged from the hospital on the 28th post operative days.

Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic↗