Application of autologous blood patch in patients with non-expanded lungs and persistent air leak.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of pleurodesis procedure by ensuring the expansion of the lung and occluding lung parenchyma leaks with an autologous blood patch.

Methods: A total of 24 patients (17 males, 7 females; mean age 59.9±12.

Retained foreign body after chest stab wound.

Foreign bodies may occur after a thoracic trauma, but foreign bodies retained after stab wounds are rare. This paper reports the case of a 20-year-old man who was admitted with the diagnosis of haemothorax following a single stab wound on the chest. One month later, he was referred to the authors' clinic with symptoms of pain and swelling under the left scapula due to a previously overlooked foreign body on the chest wall.

Is a neutral head position as effective as head rotation during landmark-guided internal jugular vein cannulation? Results of a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Objective: Central venous access remains a cornerstone procedure for a variety of clinical conditions. Ultrasound studies suggest that rotation of the head increases the magnitude of the overlap of the internal jugular vein with the carotid artery. The authors assessed whether a neutral position of the head during anatomic landmark-guided cannulation of the internal jugular vein (IJV) was an attractive alternative to rotating the neck to a >45° head turn.

Early and midterm results of single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy.

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (VATS) is the gold standard for patients with hyperhidrosis of the upper limbs. The primary aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the midterm outcome and the degree of satisfaction of patients who underwent single-port VATS.

Methods: Forty three patients diagnosed with hyperhidrosis underwent T3, T4 VATS single-port approach, between January 2009 and May 2011.

Comparison between intermittent intravenous analgesia and intermittent paravertebral subpleural analgesia for pain relief after thoracotomy.

Objective: In the present prospective double-blind randomized trial, the effects of intermittent paravertebral subpleural bupivacaine and morphine on pain management in patients undergoing thoracotomy were evaluated and compared with intermittent systemic analgesia.

Methods: Forty-five patients undergoing elective lobectomy were included in the present study. Three randomized groups consisting of 15 patients each were compared.

Effects of flurbiprofen on CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and postoperative pain of thoracotomy.

Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate serum levels of acute phase reactants, such as CRP and cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in patients who have undergone thoracotomy and to investigate the effects of flurbiprofen on postoperative inflammatory response.

Methods: Forty patients undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy were randomly divided into 2 groups of 20 each. Control group received tramadol (4 x 100 mg) intravenously for four days, and flurbiprofen group received both tramadol (4 x 100 mg) and flurbiprofen (2 x 100 mg).