Int J Cardiol
February 2025
Background: Bilateral cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) performed via video-assisted thoracoscopic (VAT) surgery shows potential in managing ventricular tachycardia (VT), thereby reducing arrhythmic burden. In this setting, the scarcity of studies addressing both perioperative and long-term outcomes creates a substantial gap in the optimal management of patients with multiple comorbidities and limited treatment options. This observational study aimed to assess the medical comorbidities, as well as the short- and long-term outcomes of patients who underwent CSD for VT refractory to catheter ablation and medical therapy at a referral tertiary teaching hospital.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Lung cancer screening with low-dose helical computed tomography (LDCT) reduces mortality in high-risk subjects. Cigarette smoking is linked to up to 90% of lung cancer deaths. Even more so, it is a key risk factor for many other cancers and cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) is a safe and efficient minimally invasive thoracic approach compared to thoracotomy. Today, almost all thoracic procedures can be performed by RATS. In recent years, the Chinese government has issued some policies to support the development of domestic surgical robots, leading to the development of the Toumai surgical robot system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSeveral randomized and observational studies on lung cancer screening held in Europe significantly contributed to the knowledge on low-dose computed tomography screening targets in high-risk individuals with smoking history and older than 50 years. In particular, steps forward have been made in the field of risk modeling, screening interval, diagnostic protocol with volumetry, optimization, overdiagnosis estimation, oncological outcome, oncological risk due to radiation exposure, recruitment, and communication strategy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objective: Prolonged air leak (PAL) following lung resection is related to an increase in morbidity and both direct and indirect costs. In recent years, robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) has proved to be a safe technique with comparable perioperative outcomes of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), optimal oncological results, and potential advantages in case of sublobar resection. We here focus on the incidence and clinical impact of PAL in the field of robotic surgery and discuss the therapeutic strategies currently available.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The menstrual-related catamenial pneumothorax (CP) can be the first expression of thoracic endometriosis syndrome (TES), which is the presence of endometriotic lesions in the lungs and pleura, and pelvic endometriosis (PE). This study aims to analyze our experience with this specific correlation describing our multidisciplinary approach to CP.
Methods: Hospital records of 32 women, operated for CP at our Department from January 2001 to December 2021 were reviewed.
The novel coronavirus (Covid-19), as of January 2021, infected more than 85 million people worldwide, causing the death of about 1,840 million. Italy had more than 2 million infected and about 75,000 deaths. Many hospitals reduced their ordinary activity by up to 80%, to leave healthcare staff, wards, and intensive care unit (ICU) beds available for the significant number of Covid-19 patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF: The histological classification and staging of thymic tumors remains a matter of debate. The correlation of computed tomography (CT) parameters with tumor histology and stage also still has to be completely assessed. The aim of this study was therefore to analyze the correlation of radiological parameters with histological and staging classifications of thymomas evaluating their prognostic role.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Thoracic endometriosis syndrome (TES) is a rare disorder characterized by the presence of functional endometrial tissue within the chest cavity. Up to 80% of women with TES present with concomitant pelvic endometriosis. The diagnostic-curative path is defined by both thoracic surgeons and gynecologists, consistent with the manifestation of the disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn recent years, several molecules targeting specific genetic aberrations were released for the treatment of patients affected by locally advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), leading to an improvement in survival. Moreover, inhibitors of PD-1 and PD-L1 immune checkpoints showed to improve survival, and they are now indicated as first-line treatment in selected patients. Hence, the collection of adequate samples for diagnosis, staging, genotyping and immunohistochemical analysis is a fundamental step in NSCLC treatment planning.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground According to the current pathological classification, lung adenocarcinoma includes histological subtypes with significantly different prognoses, which may require specific surgical approaches. The aim of the study was to assess the role of CT and PET parameters in stratifying patients with stage I adenocarcinoma according to prognosis. Patients and methods Fifty-eight patients with pathological stage I lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgical treatment were retrospectively reviewed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrimary chondrosarcoma of the trachea is an extremely rare tumor. We report two cases of tracheal chondrosarcoma describing the role of surgical and conservative treatment. Endoscopic treatment with rigid bronchoscopy was performed in both patients to restore airway patency and obtain histological specimens for diagnosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg
April 2020
Objectives: A significant number of patients with thymoma develop a recurrence after surgery. The results of previous studies analyzing therapeutic strategies in the treatment of recurrences have been controversial. Aim of the study was to evaluate the role of surgery in the treatment of thymoma recurrences assessing prognostic factors related with survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransbronchial needle aspiration under endobronchial ultrasound guidance (EBUS-TBNA) is recommended for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. Major complications following EBUS-TBNA are uncommon. We report a case of isolated tension pneumoperitoneum following EBUS-TBNA under deep sedation in an 80-year-old male patient affected by a right hilar mass suspicious for lung cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The introduction of the new TNM staging system for thymic epithelial malignancies produced a significant increase in the proportion of patients with stage I disease. The identification of new prognostic factors could help to select patients for adjuvant therapies based on their risk of recurrence. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has recently gained popularity as reliable prognostic biomarker in many different solid tumors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLiposarcomas are rare mesenchymal tumors that usually develop in lower extremities or retroperitoneum; cervico-mediastinal presentation is quite uncommon. These neoplasms are commonly diagnosed at a late stage because they remain asymptomatic until nearby structures are compressed. This makes radical excision particularly challenging.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: In the search of new therapeutical strategies against non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the identification of new prognostic factors is crucial.
Objectives: In this study, we analyzed the prognostic value of the liver X receptor-alpha (LXR-alpha), a nuclear receptor of a family of cholesterol derivatives called oxysterols, in patients with radically resected NSCLC.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 140 stage II and III surgically treated NSCLC patients that were grouped by percentage of LXR-alpha-positive cells value above or below its median value.
Background: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is a relatively rare condition in the pediatric population lacking of specific recommendations regarding the management. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has gained widespread consensus during the last 10 years. We retrospectively reviewed our experience of VATS in the treatment of pediatric patients affected by PSP in terms of timing of surgery, operative technique, and postoperative outcome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSubclavian vein cannulation is frequently performed in patients undergoing electrophysiologic procedures in order to facilitate catheterization of the coronary sinus. We present a rare case of massive haemothorax, secondary to subclavian artery injury, during an ablation of atrial fibrillation. Following the procedure, a chest radiograph revealed a massive left haemothorax and the angiographic phase of a computed tomography scan indicated the presence of active bleeding due to left subclavian artery injury.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF