High dose-rate endobronchial irradiation in malignant airway obstruction.

We evaluated the effectiveness of high dose rate (HDR) endobronchial irradiation for palliation of malignant airway obstruction. Between May 1989 and February 1992, 39 patients were treated in our department. Thirty-two patients (82 percent) had primary lung neoplasms and 7 (18 percent) had metastatic disease. Thirty-three patients (85 percent) had prior external irradiation (either alone or in combination with chemotherapy), and 9 patients (23 percent) received laser excision before treatment. Of the 39 patients, 14 (36 percent) presented with hemoptysis, 20 (51 percent) with cough, 15 (38.5 percent) had dyspnea, and 15 patients (38.5 percent) had pneumonia or atelectasis. There were 57 applications performed in the 39 patients. Patients with hemoptysis had 93 percent complete response (CR), 20 percent with cough had CR; 60 percent improved (partial response [PR]); no response was seen in 20 percent. Atelectasis and pneumonia resolved in 20 percent of patients. Eighteen patients (46 percent) underwent a second procedure and were evaluated for objective response; 34 percent had CR, 44 percent had PR, and 22 percent did not respond. There were two acute (one bronchospasm, one pneumothorax) and three late (two strictures, and one exsanguination) complications. In our experience, HDR was highly effective in the palliation of airway symptoms caused by malignant tumors, with acceptable toxicity.

Lack of efficacy of intrapleural bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia following thoracotomy.

Intrapleural bupivacaine has been reported to be effective for analgesia following cholecystectomy and thoracic surgery. Twenty patients who had a posterolateral thoracotomy were studied in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled fashion. Patients were assigned to receive intrapleural administration of either 0.5 percent bupivacaine or saline solution every 4 h for 12 doses postoperatively, as well as narcotic analgesics as needed for additional pain control. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale. Narcotic analgesic use, duration of hospitalization, and the development of complications were recorded. There were nine evaluable patients who received bupivacaine, and ten patients who received placebo. The age, sex, and type of operation were similar in the two groups, and the procedures were performed by the same two surgeons. The mean pain score at 24 h postoperatively was 5.8 +/- 0.8 in the bupivacaine group and 6.0 +/- 0.6 in the placebo group. At 48 h, the scores were 4.6 +/- 0.8 in the bupivacaine group and 5.1 +/- 0.9 in the placebo group. The mean dose of morphine sulfate or equianalgesic dose of meperidine during the first 24 h was 13.9 +/- 3.7 mg in the bupivacaine group and 12.6 +/- 1.8 mg in the placebo group, and during the next 24 h it was 40.0 +/- 13.4 mg in the bupivacaine group and 38.0 +/- 9.2 mg in the placebo group. The mean duration of hospitalization was 12.8 +/- 3.2 days in the bupivacaine group and 12.1 +/- 2.9 days in the placebo group. Two patients who received bupivacaine and three patients who received placebo had development of pneumonia or atelectasis postoperatively. There was no statistically significant difference in any parameter between those who received bupivacaine and those who received placebo. Thus, there was no subjective or objective clinical benefit of this method of postoperative analgesia compared with placebo following posterolateral thoracotomy.

Thoracic surgery in the AIDS patient.

AIDS is a syndrome caused by HIV. The virus is spread by homosexual or heterosexual transmission and by infected blood or certain body fluids. Respiratory infections are the commonest cause of death, and diagnosis may be difficult. The fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) plays an essential role in diagnosing respiratory infections in AIDS and is important in minimizing the need for open lung biopsies. Various problems require thoracic surgical consultation and treatment. We do not consider it ethical to deny these patients help. There can be no "double standard" in the care of patients in the hospital or in the operating room since any of our patients may have HIV without our knowledge.

Massive haemoptysis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A 32-year-old male intravenous drug abuser was admitted to our institution with constitutional symptoms and sputum smears containing acid-fast bacilli, but no parenchymal disease on chest radiograph. He subsequently developed massive haemoptysis and required an emergency lobectomy. The pathology specimen revealed miliary tuberculosis with extensive caseation, schistosomiasis and cytomegalovirus. This is the first report of massive haemoptysis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The severe pulmonary haemorrhage was most likely due to miliary tuberculosis.

Infectious diseases of the thyroid gland.

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of 224 patients with thyroidal infection reported since 1900 are reviewed. Much of the prior literature on this subject has assumed that most instances of thyroiditis are infectious and that all lymphomatous thyroiditis is tuberculous. Similarly, thyroiditis occurring with syphilis was often equated with treponemal invasion of the gland. Acute bacterial thyroiditis is rapid in onset and more likely than tuberculous infection to produce fever, pain, and tenderness. Suppurative and mycobacterial infections are most common among women with preexisting thyroid disorders. Mortality due to infectious thyroiditis is lower in cases covered by this review than has been previously reported. Gummatous and fungal infections of the thyroid are generally diagnosed only at biopsy or necropsy. Frequent thyroidal involvement in disseminated aspergillosis warrants careful investigation of the gland in patients with this infection. Echinococcosis of the thyroid is a chronic process that is generally diagnosed only following excision.