Posture Dependent Hypoxia Following Lobectomy: The Achilles Tendon of the Lung Surgeon?

: Platypnoea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome is an uncommon phenomenon characterized by dyspnea/arterial desaturation in the standing position, resolving in recumbency. Some patients present with Platypnoea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome in the early-or-late post-operative period after major lung resection (lobectomy/pneumonectomy). The main cause of Platypnoea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome is an intracardiac anomaly (Patent Foramen Ovalis/Atrial Septal Defect) leading to right-to-left shunt.

Bronchoscopical Repair of Tracheal Laceration Using Conventional Instrumentation: A Novel Technique.

Postintubation tracheobronchial laceration is a rare complication of endotracheal intubation. It requires early serial treatment in cases of pneumomediastinum with difficulty in ventilation to prevent mediastinitis and stricture. The surgical access to the posterior tracheal wall depends on the site of the laceration.

Nitric oxide regulates cytokine induction in the diaphragm in response to inspiratory resistive breathing.

Resistive breathing (encountered in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) results in cytokine upregulation and decreased nitric oxide (NO) levels in the strenuously contracting diaphragm. NO can regulate gene expression. We hypothesized that endogenously produced NO downregulates cytokine production triggered by strenuous diaphragmatic contraction.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the thoracic wall in a 48-year-old man.

We describe a rare case of primitive neuroectodermal tumor arising from the thoracic wall in a 48-year-old man. He underwent extensive resection of the tumor en bloc with the diaphragm and the thoracic wall, followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Primitive neuroectodermal tumor may be included in a multidisciplinary protocol incorporating neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Thoracic empyema after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. A rare complication.

The laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is a popular therapeutic option for morbid obesity. It is a minimally invasive procedure. The reported early morbidity is low and there are only few reports of respiratory complications.