Severe haemoptysis due to subclavian arteritis.

Severe haemoptysis due to infective subclavian arteritis has, to our knowledge, never been documented. We report a case of subclavian arterial vasculitis that eroded into the left lung apex, causing a large intraparenchymal mycotic pseudoaneurysm. The patient presented with high fever and blood expectoration. An emergent left lateral thoracotomy was performed. The inflamed segment of the subclavian artery was resected and continuity was restored with a reversed saphenous vein graft. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 10th postoperative day.

Resection of left anterior descending coronary artery aneurysm on a beating heart.

We report on the case of a 65-year-old man with unstable angina due to a left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery single aneurysm. On a beating heart, the aneurysm was partially resected and the left internal thoracic artery was grafted in situ as a patch to the LAD opening. The patient remains well and free of symptoms two years after the operation.

Prognosis of stage pIIIA non small cell lung cancer after mediastinal lymph node dissection or sampling.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to define the impact of systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection (MLD) and mediastinal lymph node sampling (MLS) on the long-term results of patients suffering from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with N2 disease (pIIIA/N2). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1999 to 2002, patients with NSCLC in stage pIIIA/N2 were retrospectively classified according to MLD or MLS procedure. Several clinical and pathological factors such as overall survival, disease-free interval, and complications were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Ninety-seven (64%) patients were subjected to MLD and 54 (35%) to MLS. Comparison between the two studied groups disclosed more frequent detection of one station pN2 nodes in MLS specimens (p <0.001), while skip metastasis was more often encountered after MLD (p=0.05). Duration of the operation, amount of postoperative bleeding and incidence of prolonged air leak were not significantly different between MLD and MLS groups. Cox regression analysis of all cases disclosed squamous histology as the only favorable factor of survival. The disease-free interval was significantly longer after MLD (p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Although radical lymphadenectomy did not offer significant prolongation of survival, the disease-free interval was significantly longer after MLD compared with MLS.

Surgical management of lung cancer invading the aorta or the superior vena cava.

OBJECTIVE: Invasion of mediastinal structures (T4) is considered as an absolute contraindication to surgical management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The authors studied the role of surgical treatment in case of direct aortic and superior venous caval involvement. PATIENTS: From 1995 to 2000, 13 patients with left lung NSCLC invading descending aorta and 9 patients with right upper lobe NSCLC and superior vena cava (SVC) invasion were subjected to thoracotomy for lung resection. Surgery was indicated in case of absence of intraluminal extension. All patients were cN2 negative. The pathology results and 5-year survival were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: In three cases (23%) the tumor was adhered to the parietal pleura overlying descending aorta, which was resected en block with tumor-associated lung parenchyma. Aortic adventitia invasion by tumor led to local resection of adventitia (<1cm(2)) in nine patients (69%). Invasion deeper than adventitia was encountered in one case (8%), which was managed with aortic partial occlusion, resection of aortic wall and repair of the defect with Gore graft patch. In three patients (33%) the SVC wall was involved by the tumor 1-3cm in length and 2-4mm of the circumference. The defect was repaired with direct suturing. In five patients (56%) the area of SVC wall that was invaded was 3cmx2cm. The defect was repaired with Dacron patch. In 1 patient (11%) an arterial 14 graft was end-to-end interposed. All resections were radical (R0). Neither associated postoperative complications nor operative mortality was recorded. Five-year survival was 30.7% for the cases with aortic invasion and 11% for the ones with SVC involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Radical surgical resection of lung tumors with localized aortic invasion can be considered after exclusion of N2 involvement.

Early detection of occult bronchopleural fistula after routine standard pneumonectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to define symptoms and signs for early diagnosis of occult bronchopleural fistula (OBPF) after routine pneumonectomy. PATIENTS AND METHOD: From 1999 to 2003, 301 pneumonectomies for malignancy were performed. The records of these patients were retrospectively analyzed for several clinicopathologic factors. All patients (group A) that presented postoperatively with one or more suspicious symptoms and signs were recorded. These cases were grouped according to bronchopleural fistula documentation (group A1) or not (group A2). Both groups were subjected to multivariate analysis. RESULTS: In 10 cases (3.3%) bronchopleural communication was confirmed (group A1). The most frequent signs included the lack of contracture or even enlargement of postpneumonectomy space (52.7%), subcutaneous emphysema (33.3%), fever (27.7%), respiratory insufficiency (27.7%), and cough (22.2%). Multivariate analysis disclosed failure of the postpneumonectomy space to contract as an independent prodromal sign for bronchopleural communication (P=0.03, odds ratio 58.3, 95% CI: 1.45-2335.9). CONCLUSION: Chest radiology proved to be the diagnostic modality of choice for early detection of bronchopleural fistula.

Posterior non-ischemic left ventricular aneurysm. Report of 2 surgical cases.

Posterior non-ischemic left ventricular aneurysms are unusual aneurysms of different etiology that develop adjacent to the mitral valve annulus causing mitral regurgitation and progressive heart failure. Surgical correction is mandatory and involves repair of the aneurysm along with repair or replacement of the mitral valve. Two cases of posterior non-ischemic left ventricular aneurysms are reported. Both patients were females (19 and 9 years old) and they presented with symptoms of progressive heart failure. Definite diagnosis was made with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and confirmed with left ventriculography. Both patients were successfully treated by surgery. The first patient underwent repair of the aneurysm from inside the left ventricle and mitral valve replacement. The second patient had resection of the aneurysm through an extracardiac route. Both patients are in NYHA class 1, 5 and 4 years respectively after their operation with no evidence of mitral valve dysfunction. Posterior non-ischemic left ventricular aneurysms can securely be diagnosed by TEE and angiocardiography. Surgical treatment is mandatory in order to forestall potential life threatening cardiovascular events and should be tailored to the operative findings.

Diagnostic mini-video assisted thoracic surgery. Effectiveness and accuracy of new generation 2.0 mm instruments.

OBJECTIVE: Recently 2.0 mm mini-VATS has aroused much interest among surgeons involved with endoscopic surgery. We report our initial experience with the first first 54 patients who underwent this procedure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of mini-VATS. METHODS: 54 patients were undertaken to mini-VATS for diagnostic purposes. Patients were randomly selected and the indication for operation was set by the classic VATS criteria. 35 (65%) patients were treated under general anesthesia, while 19 (35%) patients were treated under local anesthesia. RESULTS: The average length of hospital stay was 1.8 +/- 0.9 days. The days of requirement for narcotic analgesia were 1.9 +/- 1.0. Diagnostic accuracy was 100%; morbidity and mortality rates were 0%. CONCLUSIONS: The high diagnostic accuracy and low operative danger, combined with less postoperative pain, due to minor surgical trauma and faster patient recovery, has established mini-VATS as a dynamic competitor to the classic VATS procedure. Since high technology is a strong partner in endoscopic surgery, a strong potentiality for evolution exists.

Intracoronary thrombolysis and intraaortic balloon counterpulsation for the emergency treatment of probable coronary embolism after repair of an acute ascending aortic dissection.

IMPLICATIONS: This report shows that if diffuse coronary thromboembolism is encountered during ascending aortic dissection-repair, the option of combining single-bolus, intracoronary thrombolysis with intraaortic balloon counterpulsation should be considered.

Acute pulmonary embolism due to multiple hydatid cysts.

A case of acute pulmonary embolism due to multiple hydatid cysts is reported. Chest X-ray, echocardiography, spiral CT scan and MR-angiography were performed for the diagnostic evaluation. The patient underwent a left anterior thoracotomy and a left pulmonary arteriotomy in order to remove the hydatid cysts, without using extracorporeal circulation. The post-operative recovery was uneventful and the patient, 42 months later, has a normal life.

Surgery for abdominal metastases of cutaneous melanoma.

The objective of this study was to support our hypothesis that surgical resection of abdominal metastases of melanoma, regardless of symptomatology, could provide prolonged palliation and improved survival. We performed a retrospective chart review at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. A series of 251 melanoma patients (stages I, II, or III at registration) who developed intraabdominal metastases during follow-up were studied. Altogether, 96 patients underwent 119 laparotomies; 51 underwent endoscopic or percutaneous procedures; and 116 patients were treated medically. Surgery was associated with a median survival of 11 months, significantly longer than that with other treatment (p < 0.001). Tumor was extirpated during 37% of the first laparotomies, and in an additional 33% very good palliation was achieved with incomplete resection. Tumor extirpation was associated with 10-month symptom-free survival (SFS), significantly longer than that with any other approach (p < 0.0001). In the nonsurgically treated patients, good palliation was achieved in 8% to 17% of patients with no complete response. The median SFS after surgery was 5 months, but 23% of patients were symptom-free more than 12 months; 87 patients with minimal symptoms; and 72 severely symptomatic patients underwent surgery. Complete resection was feasible in 42% and 34%, respectively. Surgery was associated with 12 months median survival in both groups. There was a significant survival benefit from surgery in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) tract metastases in contrast to those who had non-GI metastases. For the 96 surgically treated patients, a time interval of more than 4 years between diagnosis of the primary lesion and the abdominal recurrence predicted decreased risk of death (p = 0.038). The 30-day postoperative complication and mortality rates were 19.0% and 3.3%, respectively. Complete surgical resection of melanoma metastases in the abdomen is associated with median and symptom-free survival benefits. Symptomatic and asymptomatic patients benefit equally, especially if abdominal metastases appear more than 4 years after the initial diagnosis and do not involve non-GI viscera. Less than complete resection can provide durable palliation.

Celiac artery compression syndrome.

Celiac artery compression syndrome occurs when the median arcuate ligament of the diaphragm causes extrinsic compression of the celiac trunk. We report a case of a 65-year-old woman who presented with a three-month history of postprandial abdominal pain, nausea and some emesis, without weight loss. There was a bruit in the upper mid-epigastrium and the lateral aortic arteriography revealed a significant stenosis of the celiac artery. At operation, the celiac axis was found to be severely compressed anteriorly by fibers forming the inferior margin of the arcuate ligament of the diaphragm. The ligament was cut and a vein by-pass from the supraceliac aorta to the distal celiac artery was performed. The patient remains well and free of symptoms two and a half years since operation.In this report we discuss the indications and the therapeutic options of this syndrome as well as a review of the literature is being given.

Total occlusion of the left main and proximal right coronary artery: case report and review of the literature.

Chronic total left main coronary artery occlusion at angiography is very rare, and there are only four cases reported with concomitant total right coronary artery occlusion. We describe a case of total left main and proximal right coronary artery occlusion and review the clinical and angiographic characteristics of this condition which represents the most severe from of coronary artery disease compatible with life.

Emergency thrombectomy of the inferior vena cava and total colectomy in a patient with ulcerative colitis.

Patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, particularly ulcerative colitis, have a greater thrombotic tendency. An effective management of a patient with established ulcerative colitis complicated with acute arterial occlusion of the right lower extremity and inferior vena cava thrombosis is presented. The episodes of thrombosis usually occur in the active phase of the disease. It is suggested that in patients with diseases such as UC, predisposing to thrombosis, the identification of abnormalities in the coagulation profile may predict those particularly at risk.