[Traumatic pneumothorax - diagnosis and treatment of 322 cases over a five-year period]. / Traumatický pneumotorax - diagnostika a lécba 322 prípadu v petiletém období.

INTRODUCTION: Retrospective analysis of a set of patients treated for traumatic pneumothorax in the Trauma Centre of Teaching Hospital in Pilsen over a period of five years. METHOD: In total, 322 patients with traumatic pneumothorax were treated in the study period 20122016. The set included subjects whose injury fell within the definition of traumatic pneumothorax and who underwent either primary treatment or secondary transport to the Trauma Centre following basic treatment in another health facility on the day that the trauma occurred. The exclusion criterion was a pneumothorax <1 cm; in addition, patients with inconclusive findings from imaging screening were not included in the set. Basic demographic information, the mechanism, type and laterality of the traumatic pneumothorax, the Injury Severity Score, associated injuries, diagnostic procedures, timing, method and outcome of the treatment, as well as any complications and reoperations, were identified in the set. Other assessed information included deaths of patients with traumatic pneumothorax, including the cause and time of death in relation to the time of admission to the Trauma Centre. RESULTS: The vast majority of traumatic pneumothoraces (94.1%) occurred as a result of blunt chest trauma, car accidents being the most common mechanism (about 28%). Closed pneumothoraces dominated (91.3%). Traumatic pneumothorax was part of a polytrauma in about one half of the injured. The average Injury Severity Score within the set was 20 points. Traumatic pneumothorax was diagnosed in more than three quarters of the patients based on clinical examination and computed tomography. The most common therapeutic procedure was drainage of the relevant pleural cavity (259 patients - 80.5%). Almost two thirds of surgical procedures were carried out within 1 hour of admission to the Trauma Centre. Complications associated with traumatic pneumothorax treatment were reported in 10.2% of the cases, and 33 reoperations were carried out. 15 patients (4.7%) in the set died, out of which 12 on the day of the trauma, all of them as a result of decompensated traumatic shock. CONCLUSION: Traumatic pneumothorax is a relatively frequent type of chest trauma found in up to half of the patients with chest trauma as part of a polytrauma. It usually occurs as closed pneumothorax as a result of blunt chest trauma. The diagnostic process is based on clinical examination and chest radiogram. However, ultrasound examination could be an alternative to chest radiogram in emergency situations. Computed tomography is the method of first choice for more serious traumas and inconclusive findings. To manage this condition, proper drainage of the relevant pleural cavity is sufficient in the vast majority of the patients. With timely diagnosis and adequate therapeutic intervention, the prognosis for patients with traumatic pneumothorax is favourable.Key words: traumatic pneumothorax - diagnosis - chest drainage.

[Penetrating chest trauma - experience of the Pilsen University Hospital Trauma Centre]. / Penetrující poranení hrudníku - zkusenosti Traumacentra Fakultní nemocnice Plzen.

INTRODUCTION: Retrospective analysis of a set of patients treated for penetrating chest trauma in the Trauma Centre at University Hospital Pilsen over seventeen years. METHOD: Overall, 96 injured with penetrating chest trauma were treated in the study period 2000-2016. Basic demographics, the mechanism, type, location and extent of the penetrating chest trauma, Injury Severity Score, existence of associated injuries, diagnostic procedures, timing and method of the chest trauma treatment as well as any complications and reoperations were identified in the set. Other collected information included deaths of the injured, and the cause and time of death in relation to the time of admission to the Trauma Centre. RESULTS: The most common mechanism of injury was attack by a stabbing weapon (54%) and the most common type of injury was pulmonary laceration (33%). The average Injury Severity Score within the set was 24 points. The most common therapeutic procedure was pleural cavity drainage (47 patients), and less than 40% of the cases required revision surgery by means of thoracotomy or sternotomy. One patient died immediately after being admitted to the Trauma Centre without a chance to apply any therapy; three other patients died during resuscitative thoracotomy or laparotomy. Post-operative complications occurred in 13 patients (13.5%) and required 14 reoperations. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm of penetrating chest trauma is primarily determined by the condition of the injured. Adequate drainage of the relevant pleural cavity is sufficient to treat one half of the patients; on the other hand, 40% of traumas, injuries of the heart, large vessels and gunshot wounds in particular, require urgent revision surgery by means of thoracotomy or sternotomy. If the injured patient is transported to a specialized centre for timely treatment, the prognosis of penetrating chest traumas is quite favourable.Key words: penetrating chest trauma - diagnosis - chest drainage - thoracotomy - sternotomy.

[Combined gunshot injuries of the heart and lungs]. / Kombinierte Schussverletzung des Herzens und der Lunge.

The authors present a case report of a 38-year-old man who suffered combined gunshot injuries of the heart and lungs from a small caliber gun. The gunshot resulted in combined injuries of a penetrating wound of the left lung, the right heart chambers and the right lung which were successfully managed despite a delay in surgery of several hours by pledget sutures of the heart wounds, wedge resection of the lingula and right lower lung lobectomy performed via a clamshell thoracotomy.

Are minimized perfusion circuits the better heart lung machines? Final results of a prospective randomized multicentre study.

INTRODUCTION: Minimized perfusion circuits (MPCs), although aiming at minimizing the adverse effects of cardiopulmonary bypass, have not yet gained popularity. This can be attributed to concerns regarding their safety, as well as lack of sufficient evidence of their benefit. METHODS: Described is a randomized, multicentre study comparing the MPC - ROCsafeRX to standard cardiopulmonary bypass in patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting and/ or aortic valve replacement. RESULTS: Five hundred patients were included in the study (252 randomized to the ROCsafeRX group and 248 to standard cardiopulmonary bypass). Both groups were well matched for demographic characteristics and type of surgery. No operative mortality and no device-related complications were encountered. Transfusion requirement (333 ± 603 vs. 587 ± 1010 ml; p=0.001), incidence of atrial fibrillation (16.3% vs. 24.2%; p=0.03) and the incidence of major adverse events (9.1% vs. 16.5%; p=0.02) were all in favour of the MPC group. CONCLUSION: These results confirm both the safety and efficacy of the ROCsafeRX MPC for a large variety of cardiac patients. Minimized perfusion circuits should, therefore, play a greater role in daily practice so that as many patients as possible can benefit from their advantages.

[Intraoperative neuromonitoring, neuroprotection and preventive carotid endarterectomy in patients with increased risk for development of cerebral ischemia indicated for cardiosurgery]. / Postavení peroperacní neuromonitorace, neuroprotekce a preventivní karotické endarterektomie u nemocných se zvýseným rizikem mozkové ischemie indikovaných ke kardiochirurgické operaci.

AIM OF STUDY: To demonstrate the benefit of peroperative electrophysiological monitoring and neuroprotection in cardiac surgery that makes use a cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with a high risk of stroke and to analyze the importance of prophylactic carotid endarterectomy. BACKGROUND: Cerebral ischemia is the most dreaded complication of cardiovascular operations that make use of a cardiopulmonary bypass. It is necessary to select an approach that minimalizes neurological complications. In our treatment strategy we use preoperative electrophysiological monitoring and neuroprotection. Prophylactic carotid endarterectomy performed as part of a combined operation we performed in patients with a high risk of hemodynamic stroke. METHOD: We retrospectively evaluated 86 patients (2004-2008) after cardiac surgery that made use of a cardiopulmonary bypass and synchronous electrophysiological neuromonitoring. After any decrease in neuronal function neuroprotection was used. Combined carotid and cardiac operations were performed under one general anestesia in ten patients with a high risk of hemodynamic stroke. RESULTS: A peroperative decline in electrophysiological responses was noted in 76.5%, of these 54.5% were insignificant alterations, 42.4% significant and in two cases there was a total deletion. After administration of neuroprotection electrophysiological responses partially normalized in 14%, totally normalized in 60% and did not change in 26%. Only one permanent stroke and four temporary encephalopathy were identified after surgery. No morbidity/mortality were detected after combined operations. CONCLUSION: Peroperative electrophysiological neuromonitoring combined with neuroprotection eliminate cerebral ischemic complications in cardiac surgery that makes use of a cardiopulmonary bypass. Selected patients with high risk of hemodynamic stroke profit from carotid endarterectomy.

Beneficial effects of modern perfusion concepts in aortic valve and aortic root surgery.

Minimized perfusion circuits (MPC) were found to reduce side effects of standard extracorporeal circulation (ECC). We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the ROCsafe MPC for aortic valve and aortic root surgery. One hundred and seventy patients were randomized for surgery using either MPC [n = 85, 30 female/55 male, mean age: 69.8 +/- 11.8 years; aortic valve replacement (AVR): n = 40; AVR + coronary artery bypass graft (CABG): n = 31; David operation: n = 3; aortic root replacement (ARR): n = 11] or ECC [n = 85, 29 female/56 male, mean age: 67.7 +/- 9.5 years; AVR: n = 39; AVR+CABG: n = 35, David operation: n = 2; ARR: n = 9]. Neurological status, length of ICU stay, C-reactive protein (CRP), blood count, transfusion requirements and bleeding volume were analyzed. The MPC system provided ultrasound-controlled de-airing. A small roller pump and a flexible reservoir were used for left ventricular venting. As a control, we used a standard ECC with cardiotomy suction and hard-shell reservoir. Cross-clamp time (MPC: 76.5 +/- 29.5; ECC: 79.0 +/- 34.0 min) and bypass time (MPC: 103.0 +/- 37.9; ECC: 106.9 +/- 44.9 min) were comparable between groups. Transfusion requirements (red blood cells: MPC: 1.5 +/- 1.5 vs. ECC: 2.2 +/- 2.1 units [p = 0.05], frozen plasma: MPC: 1.2 +/- 1.8 vs. ECC: 1.9 +/- 2.4 units [p = 0.03]), postoperative bleeding (MPC: 521 +/- 283 vs. ECC: 615 +/- 326 ml/24 h, p = 0.09) were lower using MPC. ICU stay was shorter with MPC (1.6 +/- 1.6 days) compared to ECC (2.4 +/- 2.8 days, p = 0.001). One stroke occurred in each group. The ROCsafe MPC provides safe circulatory support for a wide range of aortic valve surgeries. Transfusion requirements, postoperative bleeding and length of ICU stay were markedly reduced compared to standard extracorporeal perfusion.