Evaluation of different routes of management for acute traumatic haemothorax

Sixty-two patients with acute traumatic hemothorax have been evaluated after receiving different lines of treatment in Alexandria University Hospital. Thoracocentesis and observation were the initial therapy for limited or mild hemothorax in ten patients. Thoracostomy tube drainage succeeded to evacuate and to re-exp and the collapsed lung in another 43 patients due to moderate to severe hemothorax. Early thoracotomy was applied immediately after failure of tube thoracostomy to drain continued massive hemothorax of the remaining nine patients due to lung laceration, intercostal or subclavian vascular injury, pericardial and diaphragmatic tears. Pulmonary functions, blood gases, clinico-radiological studies were succeeded in evaluating different lines of treatment in acute traumatic hemothorax

Spontaneous pneumothoraces in the last five years in Alexandria main University Hospital

A total of 45 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax who were hospitalized during the last 5 years [from 1983-1987] in the Chest Department and Cardiothoracic Surgical Department in Alexandria Main University Hospital had been reviewed. The right lung was involved in 60% of the cases and the left lung in 40%. 87% of the cases were males and 13% were females, their ages ranged between 17- 67 years [mean equals 35.6 years]. Recurrent pneumothorax was recorded in 20% of the cases. Conservative treatment was tried in 31% of the cases, while 15.5% were treated by needle aspiration. Intercostal tube under water seal drainage was done in 53% of the cases. Thoracotomy was performed in 11% of the cases, particularly those cases with unexp and ed lungs and bronchopleural fistulae. Pleurodesis using intrapleural tetracycline was tried in three cases of recurrent pneumothorax to obliterate the pleural space