Left-sided thoracoscopy in the prone position for surgery of distal esophageal benign pathologies.

Exposure of the distal esophagus can be achieved by a wide variety of surgical approaches. The standard procedure is mostly by laparoscopy. In cases where laparoscopy is relatively contraindicated, thoracoscopy is preferred.

Pulmonary endarterectomy for chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension: an institutional experience.

Objective: Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the treatment of choice for patients with chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The aim of this study was to review our initial experience since the implementation of our program.

Methods: Data were collected prospectively on all patients who underwent PEA between March 2011 and March 2012.

Management of massive pulmonary hemorrhage following pulmonary endarterectomy.

Massive pulmonary hemorrhage is a potentially fatal complication of pulmonary endarterectomy. We describe a successful management in which the patient's right lower lobe bronchus was occluded with a Fogarty balloon catheter while on peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Quality of life of patients who have undergone the minimally invasive repair of pectus carinatum.

Objectives: Several studies previously demonstrated an improvement in the quality of life (QoL) of the patients undergoing a minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum, but there are no data about such improvement following the minimally invasive repair of pectus carinatum (PC) deformity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the minimally invasive repair of PC deformity on the psychosocial and physical functioning of the patients.

Methods: Among 40 patients who underwent minimally invasive repair for PC deformity from July 2008 to March 2011, 35 patients accepted to answer the QoL questionnaires, and 30 of them who had completed the postoperative 6th month were evaluated in this study.

Stabilizing the sternum using an absorbable copolymer plate after open surgery for pectus deformities: New techniques to stabilize the anterior chest wall after open surgery for pectus excavatum.

An open surgical technique for the correction of pectus deformities using an absorbable copolymer plate for the sternal stabilization is described.