Adult pulmonary intralobar sequestrations: changes in the surgical management.

BACKGROUND: Until now, the traditional procedure to treat intralobar pulmonary sequestration (ILS) in adults has been a lobectomy performed by open chest surgery. We have reviewed our data to determine whether the surgical management of these lesions has evolved over the last years. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who were operated on for an ILS by either posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT group), or by thoracoscopy (TS group) between 2000 and 2016. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were operated on for a ILS during this period. Before 2011, all resections were performed by thoracotomy (n=6) and after 2011 the approach was either a thoracotomy (n=5) or a thoracoscopy (n=7). There was one conversion because of dense pleural adhesions and this patient was integrated in the PLT group for further analysis. ILS presented more frequently on the left side (n=12, 66.7%) than on the right one (n=6, 33.3%) and exclusively in the lower lobes. All the PLT group patients underwent a lobectomy. In the TS group, five patients underwent a sublobar resection (2 segmentectomies S9+10, 1 basilar segmentectomy and 2 atypical resections). There was no mortality. In the PLT group, 5 patients (45%) had complications versus one patient (14%) in the TS group. The mean hospital stay was 7.4 days in the PLT group versus 5.4 days in the TS group. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm that ILS can be safely treated by a sublobar resection that should be performed, whenever possible, without opening the chest.

Congenital bronchial atresia in adults: thoracoscopic resection.

Congenital bronchial atresia (CBA) is a rare congenital malformation consisting in an interruption of a lobar or-more frequently-of a segmental bronchus. It leads to mucus impaction and hyperinflation of the obstructed lung segment. It causes infectious complications and, in the long term, destruction of the adjacent lung parenchyma. Thus, a surgical resection is usually indicated, even in asymptomatic patients.

Predictive factors for complications of anatomical pulmonary segmentectomies.

OBJECTIVES: The role of anatomical pulmonary segmentectomy is increasing, but there are few data about its complication rate. We have analysed the postoperative morbidity, mortality and risk factors in a consecutive series of 228 segmentectomies performed in our department. METHODS: Between January 2007 and December 2011, 221 patients underwent 228 segmentectomies. There were 99 women (45%) and 122 men (55%). The mean age was 61 years (range 18-86 years). The mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was 87%, and 30 patients had an FEV1 of ≤60%. Fifty-seven patients had a previous history of pulmonary resection. Indications for segmentectomy were: primary lung cancer (111 cases), metastases (71 cases), benign non-infectious (25 cases) and benign infectious diseases (21 cases). The approach was a posterolateral thoracotomy (Group PLT) in 146 patients (64%) and a thoracoscopy (Group TS) in 82 (36%). The two groups were homogenous in terms of age, gender, indications of surgery and type of segmentectomy. RESULTS: The mortality rate at 3 months was 1.3% (3 patients). The overall complication rate was 34%. Ten patients were reoperated for the following reasons: haemothorax (4 cases), ischaemia of the remaining segment (3 cases), active bleeding (1 case), prolonged air leak (1 case) and dehiscence of thoracotomy (1 case). The average duration of drainage was 5 days (range 1-34 days) and the average length of stay was 9 days (range 3-126 days). On univariate analysis, FEV1, male gender and thoracotomy were statistically significant risk factors for complications. On multivariate analysis, the same three predictive factors of complications independently of age were found statistically significant: preoperative FEV1 < 60% [odds ratio (OR) = 5.9, 95% CI (2.5-13.7), P < 0.001] male gender [OR = 2.04, 95% CI (1.2-3.6), P < 0.013] and thoracotomy [OR = 2.14, 95% CI (1.33-3.46), P = 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary anatomical segmentectomies have an acceptable morbidity rate. Postoperative complications are more likely to develop in male gender patients, with FEV1 ≤ 60% and operated by open surgery.

Parenchyma sparing procedures is possible for most pulmonary hydatid disease without recurrence and low complications.

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective review of 223 patients (242 operations) of pulmonary hydatid cysts. We analyze and evaluate our experience in the surgical management of this Moroccan endemic disease and concluded that parenchyma-saving must be always used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an 8 year period (2002 -2009), 223 patients (242 interventions, 282 pulmonary hydatid cysts) were operated on in our department. There were 166 males and 57 females with a mean age of 45.7 years. The diagnosis was established on the basis of different clinical signs and imaging studies. Surgical approach consisted of a posterolateral thoracotomy in all cases. Different surgical procedures were performed on the pulmonary lesions according to the localization, the size, the complicated or intact cyst and the importance of lung destruction. RESULTS: Parenchyma-saving were done in 217 patients (238 interventions) cases, including cystectomies (189 cysts), pericystectomies (47cysts) with capitonnage of the cavity in 177 cysts. Radical treatment as lobectomies is used in only 6 cases. Postoperative minors complications occurred in 13 cases (5.4%), including 6 prolonged air leak, 4 pneumonias, one wound infection and two transitory residual cavities. There was no postoperative death. All patients were free of recurrence of thoracic hydatid disease in a follow-up ranging from 3 to 90 months (mean: 49 months). CONCLUSION: Hydatid cysts of the lung should be treated before complications. Parenchyma saving is the best procedures for this benign disease; the radical resection must be reserved only for pulmonary destruction.

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration associated with bronchogenic cyst in adult.

Pulmonary sequestration and mediastinal bronchogenic cysts are rare but well known to thoracic surgeons. However, their association is exceptional. We report such a case in a young adult. The common origin of these 2 malformations is discussed.

Primary axillary hydatid cyst.

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic infection, affecting humans in a characteristic geographic distribution. The disease generally involves the liver, the lung and sometimes an axillary location. We reported a case of 43-year-old man, who was diagnosed with a cystic lesion of the left axilla, which was presumed to be a hydatid cyst or a vascular malformation by ultrasound and computed tomography. Surgical excision of the lesion was performed confirming the hydatid cyst diagnosis by histological studies.

Monostotic fibrous dysplasia of the ribs.

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a sporadic benign skeletal disorder that can affect one bone (monostotic form) or multiple bones (polyostotic bone). Around 6-20% of monostotic FD occurs in the ribs. The objective of this study was to report our experience in the management of the monostotic FD of the ribs. Between January 2004 and December 2009, seven cases of FD of the rib (six men and one woman, mean age 30.4 years, range 17-40 years) were operated on. The patients were evaluated with plain radiographs and computer tomography (CT). All our patients were symptomatic; two patients presented chest pain and swelling and other patients presented only chest pain. One rib was involved in all our patients (monostotic form): the site was fifth rib (four cases), sixth rib (two cases) or second rib (one case). Radiologically, plain films and CT showed an expansible lesion with a ground-glass centre and thinning of the cortex. Rib resection was performed in all patients; there were no postoperative complications and no recurrence in all cases at mean 43 month follow-up. In symptomatic monostotic FD of ribs, the involved segment of bone may be excised to rule out malignancy and for painful lesions.

Costal hydatidosis: management and outcome of five cases.

The objective of the study was to report our experience in the management of hydatid cyst of the rib. Between December 2001 and December 2009, five patients underwent surgery for costal echinococcosis, among 234 cases of thoracic hydatid cyst managed in our department. They were three males and two females, aged 19-42 years (mean = 32.2 years). Imaging investigations consisted of chest X-ray and computed tomography. All the patients underwent thoracotomy along the arch of the infected rib. Albendazole was administered postoperatively in all cases. The echinococcosis of the rib was primary in 3 cases, and secondary to thoracic localization in 2 cases. It was located on the right side in four patients, on the left one in one patient. The posterior arch was the site of infection in 3 cases, and the anterior arch in 2 cases. The cyst was intact in 4 cases, and the invasion of adjacent structures was found in one case. There were no concomitant hydatid lesions. The resection of the infected rib was total in 2 cases and partial in 3 cases. There was no postoperative mortality or complications. The follow-up ranged from 28 months to 8 years did not show any recurrence. Echinococcosis of the rib is very rare. To avoid complications and to allow the eradication of the disease, the combination of surgery and antihelmentic drugs remains the best therapeutic choice.

Complete sternal cleft in an adult: case report.

A cleft of the sternum is a rare congenital anomaly. We report a rare case of complete sternal cleft in a 25-year-old woman. After surgical correction of the pectus excavatum, complete closure by direct approximation of the freshened sternal remnants to the midline, without interposition of tissue graft or inert prosthesis, was achieved in our patient. The functional and cosmetic result was excellent after complete healing.

Parietal pleura lipoma: a rare intrathoracic tumor.

Lipoma is a common benign tumor of soft tissues in adults. An intrathoracic location, particularly in the parietal pleura, is rare. We report two cases of pleural parietal lipoma with a review of literature. A preoperative diagnosis was established histologically by fine-needle aspiration in the first case and radiologically by computed tomography scan in the second. Both patients underwent surgical excision via thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracic surgery. Pathology examination confirmed the diagnosis of lipoma. The authors emphasize the necessity of surgical resection because of preoperative diagnostic difficulty of discerning lipoma from well-differentiated liposarcoma.

Giant cell tumors that originated in the sternum.

Giant cell tumors originating from the sternum are rare. We report a case of a giant cell tumor of the sternum with radiological evidence of aggressiveness. A 34 year-old woman noted a mass in the anterior chest wall that had been slowly growing over 1 year. After incision biopsy revealed a diagnosis of a giant cell tumor she was treated by surgical resection (subtotal sternectomy) and reconstruction with methylmethacrylate. The tumor was 14×9×8 cm, and histological study confirmed that it was a giant cell tumor. Although giant cell tumors are benign, they are locally aggressive lesions and must be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with a sternal mass.

Mediastinal hydatid cyst.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to report our experience in the management of hydatid cysts of the mediastinum. METHODS: Among 206 patients who underwent surgery in our department for intrathoracic hydatid cysts between September 2001 and September 2008, 7 patients (3.4%) aged 24 to 49 years (mean, 36.2 years) had mediastinal hydatid cysts. Imaging consisted of chest X-ray and computed tomography. Surgical approach was by posterolateral thoracotomy in all cases. RESULTS: The cyst was located in the posterior mediastinum in 3 cases (42.8%), in the anterior mediastinum in 2 cases (28.5%) and in the middle mediastinum in 2 cases (28.5%). Two patients had cysts in other thoracic locations (diaphragm, pleural). All cysts were intact. Surgical approach was right thoracotomy in 5 patients (71.4%) and left thoracotomy in 2 patients (28.5%). In 5 cases, a small part of the cyst wall intimately adherent to vital structures was left in place. There were no postoperative complications or mortality. CONCLUSION: Mediastinal hydatid cyst is an uncommon disease. Because of the surrounding vital structures, the cyst should be removed immediately. Surgical removal remains the treatment of choice for mediastinal echinococcosis, without extensive resection when progression of dissection is impossible or dangerous.