Pleural Pressure Differences Before Removal Are Greater in Patients Who Develop Residual Pneumothorax Post Chest Drain Removal.

We aimed to investigate whether the difference in pleural pressures (Δ) is wider among patients who develop a residual pneumothorax after chest tube removal following lung resection surgery. Ninety-eight patients who underwent lung resection were included in the study over a period of 12 months. The Δ prior to chest tube removal in patients who developed a residual pneumothorax after chest tube removal was compared with that of patients who did not develop this complication.

Ipsilateral pulmonary infarction after major lung resection.

Background Lung infarction is a rare complication of lung resection, developing mainly because of technical errors. In some cases, a specific reason cannot be identified. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence, characteristics, and outcome of this pathology in a series of patients.

Do pleural adhesions influence the outcome of patients undergoing major lung resection?

Objectives: Our goal was to investigate whether pleural adhesions identified during an operation can induce adverse events. We investigated the outcome of major lung resection in patients with pleural adhesions encountered on entry into the pleural cavity.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 144 patients undergoing major lung resection over a period of 9 months.

Performance of wider parenchymal lung resection than preoperatively planned in patients with low preoperative lung function performance undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery major lung resection.

Objectives: Pulmonary assessment before major lung resections is used to determine patient's operability. In marginal cases, extensive pulmonary assessment is additionally important under the fear of a more radical parenchymal removal. This study investigates the outcome of wider lung parenchymal resections in patients with low lung functional status undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) major lung resection.

Usefulness of colchicine to reduce perioperative myocardial damage in patients who underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

The objective of the present study was to test whether a perioperative course of colchicine, in patients who underwent standard coronary artery bypass grafting, would result in reduced postoperative increase of myocardial injury biomarker levels. Patients were prospectively randomized to colchicine or placebo starting 48 hours before scheduled coronary artery bypass grafting and for 8 days thereafter (0.5 mg twice daily).

Pneumomediastinum.

Pneumomediastinum is a condition in which air is present in the mediastinum. This condition can result from physical trauma or other situations that lead to air escaping from the lungs, airways or bowel into the chest cavity. Pneumomediastinum is a rare situation and occurs when air leaks into the mediastinum.

Delayed presentation of aortoesophageal fistula after endovascular repair.

The incidence of aortoesophageal fistula after thoracic endovascular aortic repair has increased following an increase in thoracic endovascular aortic procedures. A 68-year-old man was diagnosed with aortoesophageal fistula 6 years after thoracic endovascular aortic repair of a descending aortic aneurysm. Due to massive hematemesis and instability, he underwent a left thoracotomy, graft repair of the aorta with stent removal, gastrostomy, and proximal esophagostomy.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen block hydrothorax absorption in mice.

Objectives: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) and paracetamol alter pleural permeability, hindering pleural fluid recycling. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents on fluid recycling in an induced hydrothorax model in mice.

Methods: Hydrothorax was induced in C57BL/6 mice by injecting 500 μl phosphate-buffered saline-bovine serum albumin 1% isosmotic in the right hemithorax.

Role of histamine in altering fluid recycling in normal and post-traumatic rabbit peritoneum.

This study aims to investigate if histamine induces electrochemical alterations in the normal and post-traumatic peritoneum. Peritoneal rabbit specimens were obtained before surgery and 10 days post-operatively and were mounted in Ussing chambers. Histamine solutions were added facing the intra-peritoneal and outer-peritoneal surface.

Variation of the postoperative fluid drainage according to the type of lobectomy.

Objectives: The pleural membrane of the lower pleural cavity has a greater ability to recycle fluid than the pleural membrane of the upper pleural cavity. During lobectomy, the visceral pleura is removed with the lobe, whereas the parietal pleura is traumatized during manipulation. This study investigates variations of the drainage according to the type of lobectomy and its relation to effusion-related complications.

IGF-1 alters the human parietal pleural electrochemical profile by inhibiting ion trans-cellular transportation after interaction with its receptor.

Objective: The effect of IGF-1 in the human pleural permeability and the underlying mechanisms involved were investigated.

Design: Specimens from thoracic surgical patients were mounted in Ussing chambers. Solutions containing IGF-1 (1 nM-100 nM) and IGF-1 Receptor Inhibitor (1 μΜ), amiloride 10 μM (Na(+) channel blocker) and ouabain 1 mM (Na(+)-K(+) pump inhibitor) were used in order to investigate receptor and ion transporter involvement respectively.

Isolated sternal fractures treated on an outpatient basis.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the need for admission of patients with isolated sternal fracture (ISF) by prospectively and randomly discharging or admitting them.

Methods: Patients with ISF after the completion of investigations were randomly discharged or admitted. Investigations performed included lateral chest x-ray; chest computed tomography; electrocardiogram; cardiac ultrasound; definition of C-reactive protein; and cardiac enzymes, such as creatine phosphokinase, myocardial branch of creatine phosphokinase, and troponin I (cardiac specific).

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs alter the human mesothelial pleural permeability via ion cellular transportation by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis.

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used in clinical practice as analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs. Studies have implicated them in participating in permeability throughout various tissues such as the kidneys and lungs.

Objective: The effect of NSAIDs on the pleural permeability and the underlying mechanisms whereby this effect is mediated were investigated.

Staphylococcal isolated anterosuperior mediastinal abscess of unknown origin.

Mediastinal abscess is a rare presentation of infections involving the mediastinum. In rare cases, the origin of the infection cannot be identified. We report a case of a 32-year old male who was presented with a mediastinal abscess with an otherwise clear history.

Extrathoracic chronic heamatoma presenting as a chest wall tumor 2 years after a blunt thoracic injury.

Chronic expanding heamatomas may present as masses mimicking chest wall tumors. We report the case of a patient who was presented with a giant posterior extrathoracic chest wall tumor. The mass was proven to be a chronic heamatoma possibly developed after a blunt thoracic injury which took place 2 years before presentation and was growing thereafter.

Isolated right diaphragmatic rupture following blunt trauma.

Blunt diaphragmatic injuries are usually caused by blunt trauma or penetrating injuries. The diagnosis may be delayed or missed because of the confusing clinical and radiographic findings and the presence of multiple associated injuries. We report the case of an isolated right diaphragm rupture in a 56-year-old man who sustained blunt thoracic trauma after car accident 2 weeks before presentation.

Spontaneous expulsion from rectum: a rare presentation of intestinal lipomas.

Lipomas are rare, subserosal, usually solitary, pedunculated small lesions appearing mainly in the large intestine with a minimal malignancy potential. They usually run asymptomatic and become symptomatic when they become enlarged or complicated causing intestinal obstruction, perforation, intusucception or massive bleeding. In rare cases they can be self-detached and expulsed via the rectum as fleshy masses.

Rib fractures with heamothorax after labor: a case report.

Introduction: Maternal thoracic trauma during labor is extremely rare.

Case Presentation: A woman was presented at the Accident and Emergency Department complaining of pain over the lower thorax bilaterally which started after a difficult delivery when the obstetrician forced her lower thorax. Small right-sided haemothorax and rib fractures bilaterally were diagnosed and she was admitted to hospital.

Pleural electrophysiology alterations in spontaneous pneumothorax patients.

Physiology changes of the pleura in spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) patients are not known with its etiology remaining unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate the pleural electrophysiology profile of SP patients and to compare it with the normal pleural electrophysiology. Specimens from nine patients who underwent surgery for persistent SP were obtained after wedge resection (apical visceral) and apical pleurectomy (apical parietal) alongside with parietal specimens over the 8th-9th rib (caudal parietal).

Late presentation of jejunal perforation after thoracic trauma.

Jejunal perforation is extremely rare in trauma especially without initial involvement of the abdomen. We present the case of a delayed jejunal perforation after thoracic trauma with no initial indication of abdominal trauma in a 55-year-old man who was admitted to our department after a road traffic accident. The patient sustained thoracic trauma with rib fractures of the left hemithorax and hemopneumothorax and a mild head injury.

Pleural electrophysiology variations according to location in pleural cavity.

The aim of the study was to compare the electrophysiology profile of sheep pleura originated from different locations of the pleural cavity with the respective profile in humans. Sheep specimens obtained from upper and lower lung lobes, 1st-4th and 8th-12th rib, ventral-dorsal diaphragm and mediastinum were mounted between Ussing chambers. Human visceral tissues were obtained from patients subjected to lobectomy.

Primary omental torsion: report of two cases.

Two patients with omental torsion, who presented with acute abdomen, are reported. The first case, a 14-yearold boy, was admitted for acute appendicitis. During surgery, omental torsion on the long axis was diagnosed and the involved omentum was resected.