Child abuse with multiple sharp foreign bodies penetrating the chest wall causing hemothorax and cardiac tamponade in two separate occasions: Case report.

We present a case of repeated child abuse causing left-sided hemothorax and cardiac tamponade on two separate occasions. A 14-year-old cerebral palsy male presented with left-sided hemothorax and multiple metallic foreign bodies in the chest wall managed by small limited incision, removal of the foreign bodies and chest tube. One week later, he came to our emergency department (ER) with multiple chest wall foreign bodies and tamponade managed by median sternotomy, removal of the foreign bodies, one of them was in the LAD. He had a smooth postoperative course and the case is under investigation.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiography of chylous leak before surgical ligation of the thoracic duct: case report.

We herein report a case of a 22-year-old male patient with an unusual presentation of recurrent chylous pericardial and pleural effusions. Lymphatic leak was suspected. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiography (DC-MRL) was performed after ultrasound-guided intranodal injection of contrast through inguinal lymph nodes. DC-MRL could diagnose the presence of upper thoracic duct lymphatic leak. After open surgical ligation of the thoracic duct, the patient showed clinical improvement and pericardial and pleural effusions were cleared.

Respiratory-digestive tract fistula: two-center retrospective observational study.

Background Aerodigestive fistulae can be defined as abnormal communications between the gastrointestinal tract and the respiratory tract. Choking after meals, coughing, feeding difficulties, tachycardia, and persistent pneumonia are the main presentations. The aim of our study was to review our experience in the management of 27 cases of acquired aerodigestive fistulae of different types, levels, and management. Methods We conducted a retrospective observational study on 27 cases of fistulae between the respiratory and digestive tracts, which were managed in 2 hospitals in Saudi Arabia in the last 5 years. The patients comprised 16 females and 11 males, with a mean age of 29 years (range 17-67 years). Results The most common aerodigestive tract fistula was tracheoesophageal in 8 patients, followed by esophagobronchial in 6, and esophagopleural in 5. Four postendoscopic fistulae were included. The least common were gastropleural and esophagopulmonary fistulae. The most common etiologies were iatrogenic and esophageal cancer, and the least common was blunt chest trauma. The main presentations were fever, chocking after or during meals, and tachycardia. We used various modalities of treatment: conservative, cervical repair, thoracoabdominal repair, hybrid insertion of a T-tube, endoscopic esophageal stenting, and endoscopic clipping of the fistulous tract. During follow-up, 6 patients died due to advanced esophageal cancer in 5 and upper airway obstruction after iatrogenic tracheobronchial fistula in one. Conclusion Acquired aerodigestive fistula is a devastating condition that should be managed early and aggressively by a multidisciplinary team.

Autologous Diced Cartilage in Nasal Septoplasty.

Diced rib cartilage is an acceptable option in severe nasal deformities. We present our preliminary experience in KAMC in nasal septoplasties using the autologous diced costal cartilage. This is a retrospective study of the 22 cases who needed the autologous diced costal cartilage in our centre in 4 years. All our patients needed autologous diced rib cartilages. Twelve were wrapped with temporalis fascia, eight needed rectus fascia and perichondrium was used in only 2 cases. The naso-frontal angle for the whole series decreased by a mean of 4.41° (p=0.008) for the group using the rectus fascia diced cartilage graft. From the aesthetic point of view, all cases were satisfied except 3 (13.6%); two in the group of diced cartilage temporalis fascia; group 1. From the functional breathing view, only 1 case was not satisfied. He was in group 1. Autologous rib cartilage was shown to be a good graft in nasal septoplasty especially if wrapped with rectus fascia.

Impacted thoracic foreign bodies after penetrating chest trauma.

BACKGROUND: Retained foreign bodies in the chest may include shell fragments, bullets, shrapnel, pieces of clothing, bones, and rib fragments. The risks of removal of foreign bodies must be weighed against the complications of leaving them inside the chest. METHODS: We treated 90 cases of retained intrathoracic foreign bodies in patients admitted to 3 tertiary centers in Saudi Arabia between March 2015 and March 2016. Sixty patients were injured by shrapnel, 26 had one or more bullets, 3 had broken rib fragments, and one had a metal screw. The chest wall was site of impaction in 48 cases, the lungs in 24, pleura in 14, and mediastinum in 4. RESULTS: Removal of the retained foreign body was carried out in 12 patients only: bullets in 9 cases, bone fragments in 2, and a metal screw in one. The predictors for removal were bullets, female sex, and mediastinal position with bilateral chest injury, especially with fracture ribs. CONCLUSION: Retained intrathoracic foreign bodies due to penetrating chest trauma are treated mainly conservatively unless there is another indication for chest exploration.

Post-traumatic ruptured gastrothorax mimicking chylothorax.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of the stomach in the chest is called gastrothorax. Few cases were reported. Most of them were related to congenital diaphragmatic hernia. OBJECTIVES: We are presenting a case of successful repair of ruptured traumatic gastrothorax which was masqueraded as chylothorax. METHODS: A male patient with rupture stomach in the left chest cavity. Results successful repair of ruptured traumatic gastrothorax. CONCLUSION: Traumatic ruptured gastrothorax can be mistaken for chylothorax.

Postsplenectomy left lower lobe bronchiectasis.

BACKGROUND: Bronchiectasis has decreased significantly. I describe a new underestimated clinicopathological entity of postsplenectomy left lower lobe bronchiectasis. METHODS: This is a retrospective study on 24 patients who had a left lower lobectomy for left lower lobe bronchiectasis after splenectomy. The mean age was 34.6 years (range 18 to 63 years); there were 19 men and 5 women. The available data included history, radiological investigations (ultrasonography and computed tomography of the chest and abdomen), operative data, postoperative complications, and follow-up data. RESULTS: All patients had a history of splenectomy and 10 had undergone subphrenic collection drainage either percutaneously or through open drainage a few years prior to the left lower lobectomy. Fourteen patients were lost to follow-up. The mean follow-up in 10 patients was 5.8 years (range 2 to 13 years). CONCLUSIONS: Postsplenectomy left lower lobe bronchiectasis is an underestimated clinicopathological entity of bronchiectasis. It can be managed by a left lower lobectomy, with acceptable results.

Emergency thoracotomies: Two center study.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Emergency thoracotomy is performed either immediately at the scene of injury, in the emergency department or in the operating room. It aims to evacuate the pericardial tamponade, control the haemorrhage, to ease the open cardiac massage and to cross-clamp the descending thoracic aorta to redistribute blood flow and maybe to limit sub-diaphragmatic haemorrhage, bleeding and iatrogenic injury are the common risk factors. We aimed to review our experience in the field of emergency thoracotomies, identify the predictors of death, analyze the early results, detect the risk factors and asses the mortalities and their risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our hospital records of 197 patients who underwent emergency thoracotomy were reviewed. We retrospectively analyzed a piece of the extensive experience of the Mansoura University Hospitals and Mansoura Emergency Hospital; Egypt and Saudi German Hospitals; Jeddah in the last 12 years in the management of trauma cases for whom emergency thoracotomy. The aim was to analyse the early results of such cases and to detect the risk factors of dismal prognosis. RESULTS: Our series included 197 cases of emergency thoractomies in Mansoura; Egypt and SGH; Jeddah; KSA in the last 12 years. The mean age of the victims was 28 years and ranged between 5 and 62 years. Of the 197 patients with emergency thoracotomy, the indications were both penetrating and blunt chest trauma, iatrogenic and postoperative hemodynamito a surgical cause. The commonest indication was stab heart followed by traumatic diaphragmatic ruptures. CONCLUSION: The results of emergency thoracotomy in our series were cooping with the results of other reports, mainly due to our aggressive measures to achieve rapid stabilization of the hemodynamic condition. We emphasize the importance of emergency medicine education programs on rapid diagnosis of traumatic injuries with early intervention, and adequate hemodynamic and respiratory support. Emergency thoracotomy has an important role in emergency big volume hospitals and can save a lot of lives. Outcome can be improved by increasing the learning curve and the integrated cooperation of the emergency and surgical teams.

Radiopaque foreign body inhalations.

BACKGROUND: The most frequent cause of accidental household death in children under 6 years of age is inhalation of a foreign body. Delayed management is blamed for death. The absence of a recognizable penetration syndrome complicates and delays not only the diagnosis but also the treatment of foreign body inhalation. OBJECTIVE: This report aimed to highlight the problem of radiopaque foreign body inhalation and analyze part of our experience in the treatment of such cases. METHODS: A multicenter experience in the management of radiopaque inhaled foreign bodies in 3 centers in Egypt and Saudi Arabia was reviewed retrospectively, including old and new techniques to remove the foreign body. The study included data from 136 cases. RESULTS: The majority of patients were female (91.17%). The mean age was 12 years. More than one-third of the inhaled foreign bodies were found on the left side. A positive history of chocking was reported in more than 95%. Almost 87% presented in the first 24 h after inhalation. CONCLUSION: Early rigid bronchoscopic extraction of inhaled radiopaque foreign bodies can be achieved with acceptable results. Video-assisted bronchoscopic removal of an inhaled foreign body may be safer.

Predictors of prolonged drainage of chylothorax after cardiac surgery: single centre study.

UNLABELLED: INTRODUCTION AND AIM OF THE WORK: Chylothorax is a clinical challenge. This study aims at determination of the predictors of prolonged drainage of chylothorax after cardiac surgery in a single tertiary centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 52 patients of chylothorax with a mean age of 30 months (range 1 month to 60 years) who developed chylothorax after heart surgery (January 2007-September 2010). Data were collected regarding patients demographics, procedures, chylous drainage and its management, complications and follow-up. RESULTS: There was one hospital mortality. All patients were managed by fat-free diet or Monogen. Lone fat-free diet with steroids were used a in eight patients (15.4%). Somatostatin analogue (Octreotide) was used adjunctively in 7 (13.5%) patients and in two patients (3.8%), steroids and octreotide were used adjunctively. The median duration of chest tube drainage was 10.5 days (range 4-34 days). The median amount of chest tube drainage/kg/day was 18 mL (range 6.6-72 mL). All patients responded to medical treatment except one case who required thoracic duct ligation and a patient who died. The use of octreotide and steroids therapy significantly reduced the amount chest tube drainage. At median follow-up of 12 months (range 1-40 months) after hospital discharge, no recurrence of chylothorax was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Chylothorax is much more common post-pediatric cardiac than post-adult cardiac surgery. Conservative therapy of chylothorax after cardiac surgery remains the standard approach. Steroids and or octreotide can be used with an acceptable success. The most significant predictor of prolonged chest tube drainage in chylothorax is triglyceride/cholesterol ratio more than 2.