[Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in postoperative period of tracheal surgery].

Objectives: Reconstructive surgery of the airway often means prolonged periods of intubation during the post-operatory period, increasing the needs for drugs and favoring the appearance of infectious complications. We present an original system of ventilatory support with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) using in patients subjected to reconstructive surgery of the airway.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective study in patients undergoing reconstructive procedures of the airway in the year 2009 was carried out.

Galactomannan detection as a tool for the diagnosis and management of cardiac aspergillosis in 2 immunocompetent patients.

Serum galactomannan antigen detection was used for the diagnosis and follow-up of cardiac aspergillosis after surgery in 2 nonneutropenic patients. The galactomannan index, developed in response to surgical and antifungal therapies, could prove to be a valuable method for the diagnosis and follow-up of fungal infections in such patients.

[Interventional catheterization after the Norwood procedure].

Introduction And Objectives: To carry out a retrospective analysis of the indications for, and the results and complications of interventional catheterization after the Norwood procedure.

Methods: Between February 1993 and December 2006, 25 interventional catheterizations were performed in 14 patients who had undergone the Norwood procedure, prior to the Glenn or Fontan procedure.

Results: Nine angioplasties were carried out for recoarctation in seven of the 14 patients (2 patients developed restenosis after their first angioplasty).

Role of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in aortobronchial fistula diagnosis following aortic coarctation reparative surgery. Report of two cases.

Aortobronchial fistula (ABF) is an uncommon complication of aortic coarctation repair which may occur years after successful coarctation correction. It is invariably fatal if not diagnosed and treated. ABF diagnosis poses a challenge for clinicians and radiologists because of the difficulty in detecting the fistula and the risks associated with some of the diagnostic procedures.

Persistent sinus venosus valve mimicking pulmonary stenosis and atrial tumor.

A case of giant remnant of the right sinus venosus valve simulating first a pulmonary stenosis and afterward a left atrial tumor is described. We believe that this is the first reported case in which a correct diagnosis was performed before surgery.