VATS-assisted surgical stabilization of rib fractures in flail chest: 1-year follow-up of 105 cases.

Objectives: Early surgical stabilization of flail chest has been shown to improve chest wall stability and diminish respiratory complications. The addition of video‑assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) can diagnose and manage intrathoracic injuries and evacuate hemothorax. This study analyzed the outcome of our 7-year experience with VATS-assisted surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) for flail chest.

Nuss Procedure for Pectus Excavatum: A Comparison of Complications Between Young and Adult Patients.

Background: The Nuss procedure is the gold standard surgical treatment for pectus excavatum in young patients. Its use in adults has also been described, although it may be associated with increased postoperative morbidity resulting from higher chest wall rigidity. This study aimed to examine the risk of complications after the Nuss procedure in adult patients compared with young patients with pectus excavatum.

Surgical treatment of bronchial rupture in blunt chest trauma: a review of literature.

Bronchial rupture by blunt chest trauma is rare. We present a case of bronchial injury after blunt chest trauma that was repaired surgically by primary reconstruction. We performed a review of literature to verify if primary reconstruction is suitable for the treatment of adult patients with blunt bronchial injury.

Tumor heterogeneity on (18)F-FDG-PET/CT for response monitoring in non-small cell lung cancer treated with erlotinib.

Response monitoring using fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography acquired together with low dose computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) textural features has potential in targeted treatment with erlotinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Patients with substantial decrease of metabolic activity during erlotinib treatment will probably benefit from continued treatment. However, various aspects of the method (quantification tools, cut-off values, etc.

Prognostic value of pre-operative glucose-corrected maximum standardized uptake value in patients with non-small cell lung cancer after complete surgical resection and 5-year follow-up.

Introduction: In this study we evaluated the value of pre-operative glucose corrected maximum standard uptake value (GC-SUVmax) as prognostic factor in patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after complete surgical resection.

Methods: This study was designed as a retrospectively evaluated single center study with prospective data registry. Inclusion criteria were: histologically proven stage I NSCLC, 18F-FDG-PET/CT scan prior to surgery, complete resection (R0) and follow up in our outpatient department.

Complications after laparotomy for trauma: a retrospective analysis in a level I trauma centre.

Purpose: Laparotomy is a potential life-saving procedure after traumatic abdominal injury. There is limited literature about morbidity and mortality rates after trauma laparotomy. The primary aim of this study is to describe the complications which may occur due to laparotomy for trauma.

FDG-PET/CT response evaluation during EGFR-TKI treatment in patients with NSCLC.

Over recent years, [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography acquired together with low dose computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) has proven its role as a staging modality in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this review was to present the evidence to use FDG-PET/CT for response evaluation in patients with NSCLC, treated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). All published articles from 1 November 2003 to 1 November 2013 reporting on 18F-FDG-PET response evaluation during EGFR-TKI treatment in patients with NSCLC were collected.

(18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography versus computed tomography in predicting histopathological response to epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment in resectable non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate diagnostic computed tomography (CT) and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for identification of histopathologic response to neoadjuvant erlotinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: This study was designed as an open-label phase 2 trial, performed in four hospitals in the Netherlands. Patients received preoperative erlotinib 150 mg once daily for 3 weeks.

Timing of metabolic response monitoring during erlotinib treatment in non-small cell lung cancer.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the timing of metabolic response monitoring with (18)F-FDG PET of (neoadjuvant) erlotinib treatment in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods: This study was designed as an open-label phase II trial performed in 4 hospitals in The Netherlands. Patients received preoperative erlotinib (150 mg) once daily for 3 wk.