Effectiveness and value of using free pericardial fat pad to control residual alveolar air leaks after pulmonary resection operations

Residual postoperative air leaks are one of the most common problems following pulmonary resection operations. Many clinical studies were carried out in an attempt to offer solutions for this problem. Our study, aims to investigate the effectiveness and value of using free pericardial fat pad to control air leaks in residual raw parenchymal surfaces following lung resection or pleural decortication operations. This prospective comparative study was done in the Departments of Cardiothoracic Surgery and chest internal medicine of Kasr El Aini University French Teaching Hospital as well as private hospitals after approval of the local ethical committee. The study included 50 adult patients who were submitted to lung resection or pleural decortication operations between 2001 and 2006. There were 27 [54%] lobectomies with incomplete fissure; 5 [20%] wedge resections; .4 [8%] cases of segmentectomy; and 14 cases [28%] of pleural decortication. Patients were divided into two adequately-matched groups: group [I] contained 25 patients in whom residual air leaks were intraoperatively controlled by suturing them to pieces of free pericardial fat pad. In group [II], another 25 patients, in whom residual air leaks were solely managed by conventional manual suturing methods. Data was collected prospectively in group [I] patients but retrospectively in group [II] patients. In both groups, preoperative patient characteristics [age, sex, surgical risk factors], as well as the general standard operative techniques, were matchable. The hospital stay time was longer in group II patients [mean 9 days +/- 1.5 SD] vs. 3 days +/- 0.5 SD][p < 0.05]. In group I, there was no mortality, and no patient showed air leaks beyond 3 days postoperatively. All patients had their chest drains removed [day 3 and 5] after the operation. In none did evidence of space problems occur for 4 weeks postoperatively. In group II, there was no mortality, but shortcomings were noticed in 4 patients [16%] as persistent air leak in 3 patients [12%]; and persistent air leak transforming to empyema in one patient [4%], who needed surgical-reexploration 2 monthes later for pleural decortication. Application of a free pericardial fat pad proved to be effective and useful for controlling air leaks from residual raw parenchymal surfaces after pulmonary resections

Surgical management of bronchiectasis: indications, experience and early results

Background: in the developing and the underdeveloped countries pulmonary bronchiectasis is commonly-faced forming a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Although antibiotics postural drainage is widely applied in the medical management of the disease, resection of the involved segment[s] remains the only treatment modality that can offer a potential cure. In this prospective study, we evaluated our medico-surgical management protocol for pulmonary bronchiectasis [uni or bilateral] stressing on methodology of preoperative evaluation of the extent of the tissue damage caused by bronchiectatic pathology [morphologic and hemodynarnic classification] prior to recommending surgical solution in an attempt to reduce perioperative morbidity and mortality complications to its least

Patients and Methods: this prospective study was carried out in the departments of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and chest internal medicine Kasr El Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, as well as the Islamic Charity Hospital of El Agousa from January 2002 till January 2006. The study encompassed 20 patients: 15 men [75%]; and 5 women [25%]. The mean age was 39.5 +/- 4.5 years [range 23-51 years]. Bronchiectasis was unilateral in 14 patients [70%]; and bilateral in 6 patients [30%]. The main presenting symptom was unresolving pneumonia [uncontrollable productive cough] in 10 patients [50%]; progressive dyspnoea and shortness of breath [SOB] in 8 patients [40%]; and troublesome haemoptysis was present in 2 [10%]. The organism cultured in sputum samples was Streptococcus pneumoniae in 7 [35%]; Haemophilus influenzae in 5 [25%]; Staphylococcus aureus in 4 [20%]; Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 2 [10%]; and Klebsiella pneumoniae in 2 [10%]. Preoperative patient management started by complete physical examination; vigorous chest pb ysiotherapy and medical treatment by specific broad-spectrum antibiotic courses, mucolytics, expectorants, bronchodilators.. etc.], for a mean period of 22.5 + 4.5 months [range 3 months84 years]. Preoperative lab investigations consisted of full blood picture, renal-and-hepatic function tests, and coagulation profile. Special investigations included: plain chest radiography, bronchoscopy [rigid or fiberoptic]; high-resolution chest scanning [HRCT]; pulmonary function tests [spirometry and arterial blood gas analysis], and perfusion lung scanning [VQNT matching]. Surgery was planned targeting to remove destroyed non-perfuse lung tissues "Unresolving Pneumonia"; when pathology of lung destruction was progressive [cytic or advanced cylindric forms by HRCT or hemodynamic features]; and when the patient feared death or morbidity complic;itions

Results: we performed 13 lobotomies [65%]; 2 bi-lobotomies [10%]; 3 completion pneumonectomies [15%]; and 2 pneumonectomies [10%] via thoracotomy [15 anterolateral, and 5 posterolateral] 14 done on the right and 6 on the left side. One patient died postoperatively [5%] due to fulminant pneumonia, while 4 [20%] had morbidity events as: surgical wound gaping needing 2ry. stitches to heal [2ry. Intention] in 2 diabetic patients [10%] localized pocket without stump disruption treated by prolonged tube drainage in diabetic patient [5%]; and exploration for stump revision to control prolonged air leak in 1 patient [5%] with previous pseudomonas infection. In 19 survivors, follow-up for 1st. year [January 2005- January 2006] following surgery revealed that 12 patients [60%]; were cured; 5 patients [25%] had disappearance of the majority of their symptoms; while 2 [10%] showed mild symptomatic improvement without serious complications. Previous TB infection; Diabetes mellitus; Cystic pathology, and Pseudomonas infection were factors associated with poor prognosis

Conclusion: surgical resection for bronchiectasis in properly prepared and chosen patients is the final solution after failure of other management modalities. Preoperative morphologic and hemodynamic classification provided an accurate functional classification as to the extent of the histopathology damages and hence allowed proper determination of the patient who is truly in need of surgical resection and guided well the extent of surgical resection which was done with acceptable morbidity

Surgical management of pulmonary tuberculosis; indications and benefits

Background: mycobacterium tuberculosis is caused by a virulent organism rapidly destroys normal lung tissue leading to an acute illness with systemic side effects with serious morbidity an even mortality. We herewith assess our experience and early results with surgical intervention for thoracic TB and its sequelae according to its past and current indications

Patients and Methods: this retrospective study was carried out in the departments of cardiothoracic surgery, and chest internal, El Agousa Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University; and private practice be- Charity Hospital between 1999 and 2006. It enrolled 30 patients who underwent thoracic surgery for treatment of mycobacterium TB, or its sequelae. There were 20 men [66.6%]; and 10 women [33.3%]. Mean age was 32.5 +/- 1.5 years [range 25-54 years]. Preoperative symptoms lasted for a median of 8 +/- 0.5 years [range 4-15 years]. Twenty-five patients [83.3%] were operated upon primarily for parenchymal MTB, 4 patients [13.3%] had thickened pleurae; 1 [3.3%] for destruction of vertebral body D9 and 3 patients [9.9%] had hemoptysis. 10 patients [33.3%] had multi-drug resistance [MDR-TB]; while 20 patient [66.6%] were drug-sensitive in all patients. Pre- operative chemotherapy was by mean of 4 drugs [range 3-6]; for mean time of 4 +/- 0.5 months [range 3-7 months], based on in- vitro susceptibility. The regimen used included combination[s] of first line and second. Line drugs, while a fluoroquinolone was added in 14 patients [46.6%]

Results: we had one mortality [3.3%] due to uncontrollable ventricular arrhythmias. 18 lobectomies [60%] were performed : 11 right [36.6%], and 7 left [23.3%]; 3 right cavernoplasties [9.9%]; 1 right pneumonectomy [3.3%], 3 left [9.9%] with one of them being a completion pneumonectomy and comprised our single mortality case; pleural decortication as : 2 right [6.6%], 2 left [6.6%], while vertebral body in one patient [3.3%] needed debridement level of D9. At the time of surgery, 26 of our patients [68.6%] were sputum positive, while 4 [13.3%] were sputum negative. Postoperatively, and excluding one mortality case, 24/25 patients [96%], showed conversion to negative sputum over a mean duration of 2 +/- 1.7 months [range 2-4 months], and became culture-negative over mean duration of 3 +/- 2.5 months [range 3-6 months]. One patient relapsed [3.3%] and remained positive. Morbidity occurred to 11 [36.6%] of patients as prolonged air leak in 4 patients [13.3%]; empyema in 3 [9.9%];post-pneumonectomy lung congestion in 1 patient [3.3%]; re- exploration to remove early clotted haemothorax in 1 patient [3.3%]; atelectasis in 1 patient [3.3%]; and chylothorax in 1 patient [3.3%]

Conclusion : the results of our study confirms the good results obtained by lung resection for tuberculosis due to either drug-sensitive [evolving under treatment] or drug-resistant mycobacterial infection, Proper perioperative collaboration must be present between the chest internist and the surgeon for proper timing of surgery and to avoid induction of unneeded complications. Encouraged by the relatively-low rate of morbidity-and-mortality that follows the different types of surgical interventions, and given the increasing global epidemic of TB complications and resistant strains, it seems more likely than ever for surgery to take a more definitive role in treatment of such disease in the near future