Cervical and retrosternal approach to the left thoracic cavity using a flexible endoscope.

Objectives: Mediastinoscopy remains the gold standard for surgical exploration of the mediastinum. The use of this approach to access the left thoracic cavity could be complicated by vascular or neurological lesion. The aim of this experimental work was to describe a new approach to the left thoracic cavity through a cervical incision and retrosternal space using a flexible endoscope as a unique instrument.

Successful surgical treatment of a posttransplantation bronchovascular fistula involving the pulmonary vein.

Bronchovascular fistula is a rare complication after lung transplantation, which usually has a fatal outcome. We describe the case of successful surgical treatment of bronchovascular fistula of the left upper pulmonary vein and the left main bronchus.

Abdominal compartment syndrome due to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in adults.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) improves the outcome of refractory cardiogenic shock. Few studies in adult populations have specifically addressed the complications of ECMO. Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) has been previously described in the pediatric literature, but it has never been directly attributed to ECMO alone.

Cryopreserved arterial allograft reconstruction for infected peripheral bypass.

Infection of peripheral bypass is a very severe complication associated to a high rate of morbimortality. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate cryopreserved arterial allografts (CAAs) performances in the treatment of this complication. Between April 1996 and June 2008, we prospectively collected data from patients presenting with major infections of peripheral bypasses who benefited from a CAA reconstruction in association with the excision of the infected bypass.