Videotoracoscop í a con bloqueo loco regional en pacientes complejos para manejo del derrame pleura / Videothoracoscopy under local antesthesia in complex patients for management of pleural effusion

Introducción: La videotoracoscopía con anestesia local es un método mínimamente invasivo que permite la visualización directa de la cavidad pleural así como toma de muestras para biopsia y realización de intervenciones terapéuticas en pleura.1,2,3. Objetivo: Demostrar la utilidad de la realización de videotoracoscopía con anestesia local en pacientes con derrame pleural neoplásico que presentan elevada morbimortalidad quirúrgica. Material y Método: En el periodo comprendido entre Marzo 2012 a Marzo 2015, se evaluaron 23 pacientes que se les realizo Videotoracoscopia por derrame neoplásico, de las cuales 8 fueron con anestesia local. Resultados: Se analizaron en el Sector de Cirugía Tórax del Hospital Aeronáutico Central 23 videotoracoscopía, desde Marzo 2012 a Marzo 2015 de las cuales 8 (34.78%) fueron realizadas con anestesia loco regional. La edad promedio de los pacientes fue de 81,5 años. Además del antecedente neoplásico, todos fueron evaluados por anestesia como ASA IV. Todos presentaban derrame pleural que afectaba por lo menos 2/3 del hemitórax, favoreciendo así el colapso pasivo pulmonar. La evolución posoperatoria fue satisfactoria, sin morbimortalidad. El promedio de tiempo de drenaje pleural fue de 6 días. Conclusiones: La videotoracoscopia bajo anestesia local es una variante que debería tenerse en cuenta para pacientes complejos con elevada morbimortalidad.

Introduction: VATS under local anesthesia is a minimally invasive method that allows direct visualization of the pleural cavity and biopsy sampling and production of therapeutic interventions in pleura.1,2,3 Objective: To demonstrate the usefulness of performing VATS under local anesthesia in patients with neoplastic pleural effusion presented high surgical mortality and morbidity. Material and Methods: In the period from March 2012 to March 2015, 23 patients who underwent Videothoracoscopy by malignant effusion, of which 8 were evaluated under local anesthesia. Results: We analyzed in Sector Thoracic Surgery Central Hospital Aeronautic videothoracoscopy 23, from March 2012 to March 2015 of which 8 (34.78%) were performed with locoregional anesthesia. The average age of patients was 81.5 years. In addition to neoplastic history, all were evaluated by ASA IV anesthesia. All had pleural effusion affecting at least 2/3 of the hemithorax, favoring passive lung collapse. The postoperative course was satisfactory without morbidity and mortality. The average time of pleural drainage was 6 days. Conclusions: VATS under local anesthesia is a variant that should be considered for patients with high morbidity and mortality complex.

Surgical Treatment for Intra-Thoracic Migration of Acupuncture Needles

The aim of this study was to introduce the experience of diagnosis and treatment for patients with migrated acupuncture needle to pleural cavity and or lung parenchyma. We had treated 5 patients who had acupuncture needles in their thoracic cavity from January 2000 to September 2009. The mean age was 55.8 yr old. All patients suffered from the sequelae of the cerebrovascular accident and had been treated with acupuncture. They had drowsiness and hemiplegic or quadriplegic motor activity. Fever and dyspnea were main symptoms when referred to us. Diagnosis was made by the chest radiography and chest computed tomography which revealed straight metallic materials in their thoracic cavity. The needles were removed via thoracotomy or thoracoscopic procedures. Pleural decortications were also needed in four patients. Thoracoscopic surgery was successfully performed in two patients. After the removal all patients became symptomless. Although we experienced only five patients who have migrated acupuncture needles in thoracic cavity, we suggest that thoracoscopic removal of the needle with or without pleural decortication is the most optimal modality of treatment in those patients.