Peritoneal and pleural ports for management of refractory ascites and pleural effusions: assessment of impact on patient quality of life and hospice/home nursing care.

Purpose: Patients with end-stage malignancies often have refractory ascites or pleural effusions requiring repeated paracenteses or thoracenteses. Subcutaneous peritoneal and pleural port catheters are an alternative therapeutic option. We evaluate the clinical utility of this approach and the impact on quality of life (QOL) and home/hospice care.

Splenic infarction from cholesterol embolization following cardiopulmonary bypass.

The authors report a case of symptomatic splenic infarction secondary to cholesterol embolization after coronary artery bypass grafting in a 59-year-old woman. The patient was treated with urgent splenectomy, which was curative. The diagnosis, investigations and management of the condition are discussed.

A technique for repair of traumatic parasternal lung herniation: case report.

A case of traumatic lung herniation through an area of costalsternal separation in a 36-year-old male is presented. Persistent pain and the threat of strangulated lung tissue prompted repair that was accomplished with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene Gortex tissue patch.