[Thyroid cartilage fracture following sneezing as a cause of spontaneous pneumomediastinum]. / Perelom shchitovidnogo khryashcha vsledstvie chikhan'ya kak prichina spontannogo pnevmomediastinuma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible etiological factors of spontaneous pneumomediastinum and to describe a case that was unusual in its etiology: a thyroid cartilage fracture as a result of sneezing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six patients (four male, two female, aged 16-82 years) were hospitalized with spontaneous pneumomediastinum diagnosed with a chest X-ray in five patients and 100% with computed tomography. Treatment was symptomatic. RESULTS: The commonest symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, hoarseness) were in four patients. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum developed in three cases as a result of bronchospasm during an attack of bronchial asthma, in one patient after exercise, in one after fibrogastroscopy, in one after sneezing. We report a 30-year-old man who presenting subcutaneous emphysema on the neck, hoarseness, pain when swallowing, hemoptysis developed after sneezing. His computed tomography revealed a pneumomediastinum due to fistula of the fracture of the thyroid cartilage following sneezing while simultaneously obstructing both nostrils. At laryngoscopy, there was a linear hematoma in the resolution stage on the anterior wall of the larynx. He was treated conservatively and recovered rapidly. There are no previous published reports of spontaneous pneumomediastinum following fracture of the thyroid cartilage. CONCLUSION: Fracture of the thyroid cartilage as a result of a sharp rapid increase in airway pressure during a sneeze with blocked nasal passages can be one of the rare causes of spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Avoid closing both nostrils at the same time when sneezing.

[Dagnostics and surgical treatment of Bochdalek hernia in adults]. / Diagnostika i khirurgicheskaya taktika pri gryzhakh Bogdaleka u vzroslykh.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence, diagnostic possibilities and surgical strategy for Bochdalek hernias in adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bochdalek hernias were diagnosed in 7 (9.2%) out of 76 patients with diaphragmatic hernias (age 49-63 years). The left-sided hernia was diagnosed in 5 patients (71.4%), right-sided - 1 patient, bilateral hernia - 1 patient. RESULTS: The disease was diagnosed during routine X-ray examination in 5 cases. Two patients complained of breathlessness and abdominal pain. Computed tomography revealed displacement of retroperitoneal fat (n=6), kidney (n=3), adrenal gland (n=2), pancreas (n=1) and colon (n=1) towards the diaphragm. In one case, ureter angulation caused kidney dysfunction. Mean dimension of hernial orifice was 7.9±3.1 cm. Two patients without any clinical and functional manifestations did not require surgery. In 1 case, surgery was contraindicated due to cardiac comorbidities. The fourth one refused surgery. Three (42%) patients underwent surgery. In the first case, diaphragm repair was performed through the right-sided thoracic approach in combination with nephrectomy because of kidney dysfunction. In the second case, we performed left-sided thoracotomy, in one case - video-assisted thoracoscopy. One patient died from recurrent mesenteric thrombosis accompanied by bowel necrosis after nephrectomy. CONCLUSION: Bochdalek hernias in adults are most often right-sided and contain fat tissue. Surgical treatment is required in case of displacement of internal organs, clinical manifestations, compression and functional disturbances.

[Diagnostics and treatment of morgagni-larrey hernia]. / Diagnostika i lechenie gryzh Morgan'i­Larreya.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the peculiarities of diagnosis, surgical treatment and laparoscopic suturing of Morgagni-Larrey hernia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Morgagni-Larrey hernias were diagnosed in 20 out of 78 patients (26%) with diaphragmatic hernias. Mean age was 56 years. Nineteen patients had right-sided hernia, 1 patient - left-sided hernia. Abdominal approach was used in all cases. RESULTS: In 50% of patients, hernias were asymptomatic and found during X-ray examination. Symptoms were shortness of breath (4), cough (3), chest pain (1), epigastric pain (6), stool and gas retention (3), vomiting (1), belching (1). Hernia sac included omentum in all patients, transverse colon in 9 cases and small bowel in 1 patient. CT data completely coincided with intraoperative findings. Intraoperative dimension of hernia was 7.4±1.7 cm. Hernia sac was excised in all cases. Median laparotomy was performed in 10 patients, transrectal incision - in 3 cases. Laparoscopic suturing of hernia orifice with imposing 3-5 extracorporeal transfascial-muscular U-shaped polypropylene sutures was performed in 7 cases. We passed the thread through abdominal wall (two skin incisions up to 2 cm) and diaphragm using a straight needle for suturing the wound from the port EndoClose. Ligatures were tied in subcutaneous fatty tissue. No postoperative complications and recurrent hernias were observed. CONCLUSION: Morgagni-Larrey hernias occur in adults aged over 50 years as a rule. These hernias are usually right-sided, asymptomatic in 50% of cases and detected during routine X-ray examination. Laparoscopic suturing of hernia orifice using extracorporeal transfascial-muscular sutures with fixation of ligatures in subcutaneous tissue ensures adequate closure of defect.

[Causes of resistant pleural effusions and efficiency of chemical pleurodesis in these patients]. / Prichiny rezistentnykh plevral'nykh vypotov i effektivnost' khimicheskogo plevrodeza v ikh lechenii.

OBJECTIVE: To study the causes of resistant pleural effusions and efficiency of chemical pleurodesis with Betadin, Iodopyrone and concentrated glucose solution in these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Resistant pleuritis with daily exudation over 300 ml lasting ≥6 days occurred in 206 (48%) out of 424 cases of pleural effusions. Twenty-seven patients underwent chemical pleurodesis with Betadine, 15 patients - mixture of Iodopyrone with concentrated glucose solution. Solutions were injected via pleural drainage. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, the risk factors of complicated pleuritis were air leakage, prolonged drainage period, age over 60 years, fluid output volume during thoracoscopy and higher Charlson index. Pleurodesis with a mixture of Betadine 10% 10 ml and glucose 40% 40 ml suppressed exudation in 92.6% of cases. Pleurodesis with a mixture of Iodopyron and glucose solution in the same quantities was effective in 93.4% of cases. If exudation continued, pleurodesis was repeated after 3 days. VAS score of pain syndrome following Iodopyrone injection was 3.0±1.8, in case of Betadine - 3.4±0.3. No significant hemodynamic changes were noted. In case of malignant pleural effusions and low functional parameters after fluid evacuation, favorable effect was obtained after pleurodesis with a mixture of povidone-iodine with glucose through the same catheter and subsequent removal of drainage tube. CONCLUSION: Resistant pleural effusions with daily exudation over 300 ml for more than 6 days are characterized by advanced risk of infectious and inflammatory complications due to air leakage and duration of drainage. Pleurodesis with mixtures of Betadine or iodopyrone and 40% glucose solution is effective for resistant pleural effusions.

[Diagnosis and treatment of benign lung tumors]. / Diagnostika i lechenie dobrokachestvennykh opukholei legkikh.

Benign lung tumors account 2-12% of all lung neoplasms. The classification of lung tumors, adopted by the World Health Organization in 2015, is reported with a detailed indication of all changes based on immunohistochemical and genetic studies. Diagnosis with computed tomography, dynamic and perfusion computed tomography, virtual bronchoscopy and positron emission tomography is described. These methods ensure 94-98% sensitivity for differentiation with malignancies. CT and ultrasound signs of benign tumors are presented. Surgical strategy for newly diagnosed nodes in the lungs is analyzed depending on their dimensions and risk factors. It was shown that comprehensive examination with possible surgical verification of the diagnosis is necessary for nodes over 6 mm and moderate-to-high risk factors. The authors describe argon plasma and laser destruction, bronchoplastic procedures for central benign tumors, thoracoscopy for peripheral neoplasms. One can conclude that high-tech methods of radiological and nuclear diagnosis are valuable to determine benign neoplasms and their dimensions with a high degree of reliability. Endoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures are successfully used for benign tumors.

[Intraoperative pleurodesis with talc and trichloroacetic acid for exudative pleuritis]. / Intraoperatsionnyi plevrodez tal'kom i trikhloruksusnoi kislotoi pri ekssudativnykh plevritakh.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of chemical pleurodesis with talc and trichloroacetic acid during thoracoscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thoracoscopy with pleural biopsy was performed in 355 (83.5%) out of 424 patients with pleural effusion. Pleurodesis was ensured by intraoperative insufflation of talc powder (n=135) and application of 33% trichloroacetic acid solution to parietal and visceral pleura (n=19) in patients with malignant (125), inflammatory (6), post-traumatic (4), tuberculous (3), pancreatogenic (8) and hepatogenic (8) effusions. Drainage tubes were removed if daily drainage output volume was less than 100 ml or complete lung inflation was observed. RESULTS: Post-pleurodesis drainage took 7.1±5.4 days. Two patients developed bumpy rashes that were initially interpreted as carcinomatosis. However, these rashes were later identified as tuberculosis. Retrospectively, these patients were not good candidates for pleurodesis. Pleurodesis with talc suppressed exudation in 89.6% of cases. Complications developed in 4 cases (3%): pneumonia (1) and pleural empyema (3). These complications were associated with a violation of technical procedure of pleurodesis, i.e. procedure in rigid lung, atelectasis (1) and bronchopleural fistula (2). Mean duration of drainage after trichloroacetic acid-induced pleurodesis was 7.9±6.7 days. This procedure was effective in 84.2% of cases, and there were no complications. There are no previous reports on the use of this pleurodesis technique in the literature. Mean duration of drainage after talc-induced pleurodesis was decreased up to 6.9±5.4 days in patients with malignant pleural effusion (p<0.05), after trichloroacetic acid-induced pleurodesis - up to 7.5±8.1 days (p>0.05) compared to patients without pleurodesis (9.1±11.2 days). CONCLUSION: Pleurodesis with talc or trichloroacetic acid during thoracoscopy is effective for pleural effusions following malignancies, liver, kidney and cardiac diseases with decompensation. Essential requirements are adequate lung inflation, no atelectasis and bronchopleural fistula.

[Analysis of endothelial dysfunction in the context of pleural effusions of various origins using skin thermometry]. / Issledovanie endotelial'noi disfunktsii pri plevral'nykh vypotakh razlichnoi etiologii metodom teplovoi kozhnoi termometrii.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the mechanisms and severity of endothelial dysfunction in patients with pleural effusion of various origins using skin thermometry. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied microcirculation in 135 patients with pleural effusions of various origins. Local skin thermometry and computer wavelet analysis were performed in 3-5 days after thoracoscopy with pleural biopsy using Microtest-100WF device with a temperature measuring resolution of 0.001°C. We estimated endothelial, myogenic and neurogenic indices using spectral analysis of skin temperature fluctuations in a range 0.0095-2 Hz. The control group comprised 40 healthy participants aged 23-36 years. RESULTS: Three groups of patients were distinguished depending on the cause of effusion: malignant pleural effusions (n=65, 48.1%); inflammatory pleural effusions (para-pneumonic, post-traumatic, pancreatogenic, tuberculous) (n=58, 43%); transudates (hepatogenic, cardiogenic, and nephrogenic) (n=12, 8.9%). There were no significant differences in vascular tone in response to local heating of the second finger of the hand up to 40°C. Measurements were carried out within 10 min in all groups. Patients with diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases (n=48, 35.6%) had significant decrease of thermal vasodilation index in endothelial range up to 2.93±1.77, in the control group - up to 4.21±2.40 (p=0.041). CONCLUSION: Endothelial dysfunction is a universal non-specific aspect in pathogenesis of various diseases. This process is essential in pleural effusion. Local thermometry and computer wavelet analysis revealed no significant differences between patients with malignant, inflammatory and transudative pleural effusions. Pleural effusions in the context of cardiovascular pathology and/or diabetes mellitus occur due to impaired vasodilatation mechanisms in endothelial range.

[Diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions using convolutional neural networks by the morphometric image analysis of facies of pleural exudate]. / Diagnostika zlokachestvennykh plevral'nykh vypotov s pomoshch'yu svertochnykh neironnykh setei putem morfometricheskogo analiza izobrazhenii fatsii plevral'nogo ekssudata.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the possibility of diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion using convolutional neural networks of facies images of pleural exudates obtained by the method of wedge-shaped dehydration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 163 images of pleural fluid facies obtained by wedge-shaped dehydration in patients with various pleural effusions (10 nosological groups). Recognition and analysis were carried out using convolutional neural network. The images were divided into two groups - malignant effusion (n=65; 40%) and other diseases (n=98; 60%). RESULTS: There were 131 photos selected for further investigation after pre-processing of images by eliminating defective ones, turning them into black and white format, cleaning of 'noise', cutting out the facies. Then the images were standardized. The method of rigid transformations with rotation for every 10 degrees was used. As a result, their number increased up to 4,585. Self-taught neural network analyzed the images of facies independently by separation of the fragments consisting of black and white dots and comparison of them with each other. Self-teaching and training of each neural network were ensured by random sampling of 80% of images from the initial sample. Then the remaining 20% of the images were used as a control sample to assess the possibilities of recognition pleural effusion cause. Four options of convolutional neural networks were used. An accuracy of cancer detection ranged from 82% to 95.6%, benign diseases - from 84% to 94.7%. The neural network with the highest sensitivity was chosen. CONCLUSION: Automated image analysis system of pleural effusion facies using convolutional neural network ensured an accuracy of diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion in 95,6% of cases and other diseases in 90% of cases. The method is simple, efficient, cheap and reagentless.

[Mediastinal pancreatic cysts: review and own clinical observations]. / Mediastinal'nye pankreatogennye kisty.

OBJECTIVE: To present the results of surgical treatment of patients with mediastinalpancreatogeniccysts (MPC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 5 patients with MPC. RESULTS: Laboratory tests revealed increased blood amylase level by 1.5-2 times in 3 cases, urine diastase by 4-5 times - in 2 cases. Pleural effusion with amylase concentration in the fluid from 5680 to 48 640 units was diagnosed in 4 cases. CT data of preudocysts of pancreatic body and tail were obtained in 3 cases, head and body - in 2 patients. These cysts extended to posterior mediastinum through the hiatal orifice for about 3.5-40 cm. Three patients underwent VATS removal of pleural fragments, one - thoracotomy, lung decortication and MPC drainage through pleural cavity. Three patients underwent pancreatic drainage procedures (cystogastrostomy, pancreaticojejunostomy and external drainage of the cyst). A small pseudocyst has been successfully treated by conservative treatment with octreotide. CONCLUSION: MPC is a rare complication of pancreatitis and often associated with pleural effusion. CT and fluid amylase analysis are the main diagnostic measures. Surgical treatment includes VATS, destruction of pleural fragments and pleural drainage, cystogastrostomy, pancreaticojejunostomy or external drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst.

[Bilateral post-traumatic diaphragmatic hernias].

Traumatic diaphragmatic hernias could be clinically apparent and diagnosed after months and years after trauma. Bilateral ruptures of the diaphragm rarely appeared. Patients (46 cases) with diaphragmatic hernias were treated at the period from 1998 to 2010. The rate of diaphragmatic hernias consisted of 41,3%, bilateral post-traumatic hernias was noted in 2.2%. The article presents a follow-up study of bilateral diaphragmatic hernia, which was formed on the left (after 1 year) and on the right after 5 years. Diagnosis was supported by radiographic contrast research and computed tomography data. The stomach and omentum were displaced to the pleural cavity on the left, the transversely colon and omentum had a shift on the right. Thoracotomy and diaphragm plasty were performed in both cases. Hernial orifice was located in the area of esophageal opening and crura of diaphragm. It is necessary to increase clinical suspicion in relation to possibility of diaphragmatic hernia origin after severe closed trauma.

[Acute pain syndrome and levels of peripheral blood saturation after various thoracic surgical approaches].

The traumatic effect of surgical approaches was determined by the intensity and duration of pain syndrome and by the degree of lung ventilation disturbances after thoracic surgery. An acute pain syndrome was considered by visual analog pain scale and a blood saturation level for the first 5 days after operation. There were 3 groups, each group consisted of 31 patients. All patients were after thoracotomies, thoracoscopies, rethoracoscopies. Maximal intensity of pain appeared to be after thoracotomies and its degree has been reducing since the first till fifth day (from 8.1 +/- 1.7 to 4.2 +/- 0.9 points). The pain syndrome was reliably less after thoracoscopy (from 5.9 +/- 1.6 to 3.5 +/- 1.4 points). Minimal pain was noted after revideothoracoscopies with the dynamics from 4.0 +/- 2.4 to 2.7 +/- 1.2 points. The rate of blood saturation was more reduced after thoracotomy for the first two days till 92.9 +/- 4.6% and the saturation level became equal on the third day in all groups. Obtained data objectively confirmed the considerably less injury in the case of endoscopic thoracic approaches in comparison with open intervention.

[Optimization of surgical strategy in complications after thoracic operations demanding recurrent surgical interventions].

A frequency of postoperative complications varied from 1-2% after endoscopic thoracal operations to 4-12% after open operations using thoracotomic access. There isn't any common approach to indications and terms of the recurrent endoscopic intervention. An analysis of postoperative complications was made after 2795 thoracothomies and 3632 videothoracoscopies required the recurrent operation in 139 patients (2.2%). The rethoracoscopies were performed on 62 patients (44.6%), thoracoscopies were carried out after thoracotomies in 40 cases (28.8%) and rethoracotomies were in 37 cases (26.6%). The more frequent indication to recurrent operation was bleeding (26.6%), pleural empyema (20.9%), fragmented pleuritis (11.5%). It was shown that thoracoscopy was an alternative to rethoracotomy as the rethoracoscopy in case of nonmassive intrapleural bleeding, clotted hemothorax, postoperative fragmented pleuritis, non-sanitized empyema region, the presence of sequestrums in this area, limited postoperative pleuritis, chylothorax, bronchopleural fistula of the size of 1-2 mm, leakage of the lung, a foreign body in pleural cavity. The lethality consisted of 35.1% after rethoracotomies and it was 12.7% after recurrent endoscopic operations.

[Early rethoracotomies for diseases and chest traumas].

Rethoracotomies were performed on 34 patients operated for diseases and traumas of the chest, diseases of the esophagus which made up 1.3%. Emergency and reoperations were performed on 14 (46%) patients for ongoing intrapleural bleeding, clotted hemothorax and pulmonary bleeding. Emergency and delayed rethoracotomies were performed on 7 patients for non-hermeticity of the lung and incompetence of the bronchus suture, on 5 patients for incompetence of esophagogastroanastomosis, necrosis of the transplant and gastric wall, 3 patients for chylothorax not-arrested conservatively, 2 patients for gangrene of the residual lung lobe due to disturbed venous outflow. Postoperative complications resulted in death of 12 (37.5%) patients. Causes of lethal outcomes were purulent complications (pleural empyema, mediastinitis, sepsis, polyorganic insufficiency--in 5), massive blood loss with the development of coagulopathy (in 4), pneumonia of the only lung after pulmonectomy (in 2), pulmonary embolism (in 1). In addition, torsion of the residual lung lobe, foreign body in the pleural cavity can be considered as indications for rethoracotomy.

[Possibilities of thoracoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of complications after thoracotomy].

Reoperations were fulfilled on 71 patients (2.73%) after 2576 thoracotomies for diseases and injuries of the chest, rethoracotomies were fulfilled on 34 patients, in 37 patients the interventions were fulfilled endoscopically. The indication for thoracoscopy were continuing intrapleural bleeding, fragmented pleurisy due to pleural empyema, not arrested chylothorax, foreign body (drainage tube). Nine patients died (24.3%). Lethality was one third less as compared with rethoracotomy.

[Optimization of surgical strategy in trauma of the chest: correlation of thoracoscopy and thoracotomy].

The authors analyzed an experience with treatment of 4372 patients. Videothoracoscopy allowed the number of usual drainages of the pleural cavity to be reduced in closed trauma from 16.3% to 2.3%, in wounds--from 3.9% to 0.4%. Persistent hemo- and airstasis were obtained by coagulation of the vessels of the thoracic wall and lung, suturing lung wounds. The coagulated hemothorax was removed, diaphragm wounds were sutured, the pericardium wounds were revised, the character of intrathoracic lesions was reliably determined in 98% of cases. Conversion into thoracotomy was fulfilled in 91 (5.5%) patients. Thoracotomy was fulfilled in 344 (8%) patients with indications to operative interventions and severe condition and unstable hemodynamics. The number of thoracotomies and lethality in patients with penetrating wounds of the chest became 1.5-2 times less, was not considerably changed in closed traumas.

[Causes and results of repeated videothoracoscopy].

For 7 years videothoracoscopies for diseases and traumas of the chest were fulfilled in 2075 patients, abscessoscopy in 27 patients. Repeated videothoracoscopies were fulfilled in 41 (2%) patients operated for spontaneous pneumothorax, pleural empyema, exudative pleurisy and injuries to the chest due to recurrent hydropneumothorasx, prolonged abundant release by drainage, bleedings by drainage or formation of clotted hemothorax, not effectiveness of sanation, of the empyema cavity, reabscessoscopy - in 2 patients. Revideothoracoscopies were divided into groups with the presence of drainages or removed drainages according to the terms - into emergent (on the first day, immediately after the development of complications), urgent (from 2 to5 days), postponed (from 6 to 15 days), and late (more than 15 days). In 4 cases the conversion to minithoracotomy had to be done due to continuing bleeding, the absence of lung hermetism. All patients with spontaneous pneumothorax, pleuritis and chest trauma recovered. Lethal outcome was in 1 (2.4%) case from lung artery thromboembolism. It was concluded that revideothoracoscopy was an alternative thoracotomy of full value in reinterventions.

[Principles of the correction of central hemodynamic disorders in severe combined thoracic trauma]. / Printsipy korrektsii narushenii tsentral'noi gemodinamiki pri tiazheloi sochetannoi travme grudi.

Successive treatment of syndromes of circulatory disorders on the basis of complex evaluation of central hemodynamics was conducted in 73 patients with severe closed chest trauma. Reinfusion reduced the requirements for donor blood by 28%. The volume of the infusion-transfusion therapy was regulated according to the ventricular filling pressure and the Frank-Starling curves. The optimal level of pulmonary capillary pressure blocking was 12-20 mm Hg in patients with cardiac insufficiency and 8-12 mm Hg in the other patients. Spasmolytics, saluretics, and droperidol were prescribed and fluid intake was limited in pulmonary circulation hypertension. Cardiac glycosides, calcium preparations, antiarrhythmic agents, and diuretics were given in cardiac insufficiency.

[Subtotal esophagectomy with simultaneous retromediastinal plastic surgery using gastric pedicled flap without thoracotomy]. / Subtotal'naia ézofagéktomiia s odnomomentnoi zadnemediastinal'noi plastikoi zheludochnym steblem bez torakotomii.

Thirty-three operations for subtotal esophagectomy with one-stage plastics with a gastric pedicle without thoracotomy were carried out between 1985 and 1988. The indications for the operation were as follows: carcinoma of the esophagus (17) and of cardioesophageal localization (7), cicatricial stricture of the esophagus (6), IV degree cardiospasm (2), unspecific esophageal ulcer (1). The esophagus was resected through a laparotomo-transdiaphragmatic-cervical access, the graft formed from the greater curvature of the stomach was passed in the posterior mediastinum with the establishment of a cervical esophagogastroanastomosis. Postoperative complications occurred in 29 patients: incompetence of the anastomosis (26), mediastinitis and pyothorax, (4), peritonitis (2), pneumonia (4). Six patients died. With the performance of intrapleural esophagogastroplasty the mortality rate fell from 25 to 18.2%. The authors claim that subtotal esophagectomy with posteromediastinal gastroplasty without thoracotomy is a less traumatic and safer operative intervention.