[Significance of Thoracic Surgery for Treatment of Pleural Empyema in Childhood and Adolescence]. / Stellenwert der Thoraxchirurgie im Gesamtkonzept der Behandlung von Pleuraempyemen bei Kindern.

BACKGROUND: There still is controversy about surgical treatment of pleural empyema in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of treatment strategy, focussing on indication for surgery and outcome of children treated in 2 centres for pleural complications due to primary pneumonia from January 1(st) 2008 to December 31(st) 2012. RESULTS were compared to studies published within the last 10 years. RESULTS: 1 451 children with pneumonia were treated during the 5 year period. 187 (average age 6.1 years, sex: 86/101 f/m) developed a pleural effusion. THERAPY: pleural punction in 22 children, chest tube in 78 and operation in 37 children. In 9 cases microorganisms were identified. 34 children were operated for empyema stage II, only 3 for stage III. 3 children were operated due to septicaemia not responding to antibiotics. Time from admission to operation (including referring hospital):14.5 days. Time from operation to discharge: 12,5 days. All children but one were operated by thoracoscopy. COMPLICATIONS: 1 bronchopleural fistula, 1 delayed healing of the wound. All children survived and fully recovered mean (observation period 28 months postoperatively). SUMMARY: In experienced hands thoracic surgery yields excellent results for children suffering from pleural empyema stage II and III. Recent randomised prospective trials comparing fibrinolysis with VATS do not convince regarding the treatment protocols of their surgical arms. Fibrinolysis is nevertheless a valuable treatment in early stage II empyema, especially if thoracic surgical experience is not available. However, the further advanced the empyema presents, the sooner surgical experience should be gathered.

[Treatment Strategies for Septic Arthritis of the Sternoclavicular Joint]. / Behandlungsstrategie der septischen Arthritiden des Sternoklavikulargelenks.

Septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) is a relatively rare disease. Due to serious complications including mediastinitis and generalised sepsis early diagnosis and rapid onset of treatment are mandatory. The disease often affects immunocompromised patients, diabetics, or patients with other infectious diseases. The therapeutic options range from administration of antibiotics to extended surgery including reconstructive procedures. Apart from rare situations where conservative treatment with antibiotics is sufficient, joint resection followed by plastic surgical procedures are required. We present a retrospective analysis with data from two hospitals. From January 2008 to December 2012 23 patients with radiographically confirmed septic arthritis of various aetiology were included. Fourteen (60.8 %) male, nine (39.2 %) female patients with an average age of 60.3 ± 14.2 years (range: 23-88 years) with septic arthritis of the SCJ were treated. Seven (30.4 %) patients suffered from Diabetes mellitus, nine (39.1 %) had underlying diseases with a compromised immune system. In 14 (60.8 %) out of 23 patients a bacterial focus was detected. Only six (26 %) patients suffered from confined septic arthritis of the SCG, in 17 (73,9 %) patients osteomyelitis of the adjacent sternum, and the clavicle was present. In addition, 15 (65.2 %) patients already suffered from mediastinitis at the time of diagnosis, eight (35 %) patients even from septicaemia. In conclusion, septic arthritis requires an active surgical treatment. Limited incision of the joint and debridement alone is only successful at early stages of the disease. The treatment concept has to include the local joint and bone resection as well as complications like mediastinitis. After successful treatment of the infection, the defect of the chest wall requires secondary reconstructive surgery using a pedicled pectoralis muscle flap.

[Differential Treatment Strategy of Pleural Empyema in a Post-Pneumonectomy Cavity]. / Differenzierte Behandlungsstrategie des Pleuraempyems in der Postpneumonektomiehöhle.

INTRODUCTION: Pleural empyema in a post-pneumonectomy cavity (PEC) occurs with a frequency of 2% -15% and a mortality of more than 10%. It can occur with or without bronchopleural fistula (BPF). The treatment of empyema in the PEC requires a strict algorithm: drainage, bronchoscopy, closure of the fistula, thorough cleaning of the PEC, filling the cavity, thoracoplasty. METHODS: 39 cases with an empyema in the PEC were analysed retrospectively (men: n = 38; women: n = 1; mean age: 60.3 ±â€Š7.6 years). In 32 (82.1%) of the patients, a BPF was detected (right: n = 26, left: n = 6). The average length of stay in hospital was 125 days (22 - 293 days). Cleaning of the PEC was achieved in all surviving patients (n = 23, 65.1%). All patients (n = 39) underwent bronchoscopy with placement of a chest tube for drainage. The BPF was closed in three cases (7.7%) with a stent while in 12 cases (30.8%) a vascularized flap was used. In 14 patients (35.9%) the bronchial stump was either reclosed with sutures or resected. In three cases (7.7%) a re-anastomosis was performed. RESULTS: The PEC became sterile by regular flushing with antibiotic solution in three patients (7.7%). In 35.9% of the patients (n = 14), aggressive surgical debridement (Weder procedure) was necessary. A thoracic window was applied in 22 patients (56.4%), followed by negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and change of dressing every three to four days or a tamponade of the thoracic cavity with simple dressings. In 19 patients (48.7%) the thoracic cavity was sealed with an antibiotic solution. In 5 cases an Alexander thoracoplasty took place. CONCLUSIONS: Pleural empyema after pneumonectomy still poses a serious postoperative complication. A bronchopleural fistula is often detected. Thus, two problems arise at the same time ­ fistula and infection in the pleural cavity. Through a strict algorithm, both problems can be dealt with in stages. After sealing the fistula, the thoracic cavity is thoroughly cleaned and finally the thorax is closed. Only in a small number of patients (1.3%) in whom these measures remain ineffective (persistent MRSA, aspergillus colonization) should the cavity be obliterated by thoracoplasty.

[Detection of daytime sleepiness using Epworth Sleepiness Scale and a 3-item questionnaire in obstructive sleep apnea]. / Erfassung der Tagesschläfrigkeit mittels Epworth-Schläfrigkeits-Skala und einem 3-Item-Fragebogen bei obstruktiver Schlafapnoe.

INTRODUCTION: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) describes the likelihood of falling asleep in 8 specific situations. Pathological sleepiness (TS) of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is most often diagnosed with an ESS score≥11 (TS-ESS). In an epidemiological study on the prevalence of sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), only three questions with yes-no answers were used for the characterization of pathological daytime sleepiness (TS-Young): Due to the different construction of the ESS and the Young's questionnaire, we asked whether with the combination of the two questionnaires a larger number of patients with OSA and TS compared to the ESS can be identified. In addition, we examined the sleepiness questionnaires (FB) using objective vigilance in defined groups of OSA patients. METHODS: Using PSG 328 OSA patients with an AHI≥5 were identified. Vigilance was examined using the computer program CARDA. RESULTS: With both FB the same percentage of patients with AHI>5 with pathological sleepiness was found (48 %). By combining both FB (TS-comb), the number of patients increased from 158 (48.2 %) to 195 (59.5 %) significantly. The combination showed a significantly higher percentage with additional 37 (11.3 %) patients in comparison to the TS-ESS alone. Combining both FB, an increase of TS resulted in patients with below-average number of errors in the vigilance test (n=192) from 23.2 % to 31.4 % of these cases (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: As a single test both questionnaires can be used to detect daytime sleepiness with equal incidence. Combining both questionnaires a higher percentage of daytime sleepiness can be found in comparison to the ESS-questionnaire alone especially in patients without disturbance of vigilance.

[Use of a pediculed pectoralis major flap for the treatment of septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint]. / Der gestielte Pectoralis-major-Lappen zur Behandlung der eitrigen Arthritis des Sternoklavikulargelenks.

OBJECTIVE: Closure of the wound defect with a pedicled pectoralis major muscular flap after successful surgical treatment of septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ). INDICATIONS: Defect of the thoracic wall after septic arthritis of the SCJ. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Persistent infection of bony or soft tissue structures; persistent septicemia; persistent mediastinitis. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: After successful treatment of the local infection and radical debridement of the wound, the incision is expanded parallel to the clavicle and to the sternum. The neurovascular pedicled pectoralis flap is mobilized and a resection of the muscular attachment at the humerus is performed. Finally, the flap is rotated at the pedicle and attached to the defect zone. POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT: Anticoagulation with low molecular weight heparin and possibly aspirin (100 mg/day); short-term immobilization of the involved upper extremity. Avoidance of major weight bearing for a period of 6 weeks. RESULTS: Over a period of 4 years, 18 patients suffering from septic arthritis of the SCJ underwent surgical treatment. Of these, 9 patients were treated with pedicled muscular flap. In all patients, uneventful wound healing was observed with no further revision operations being required. The functional and optical results were satisfactory.

[Septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint: radical resection and treatment with a pectoralis flap]. / Septische Arthritis des Sternoklavikulargelenks: radikale Resektion und Weichteildeckung mittels Pektoralislappen.

After infection of a vascular prosthesis with generalised sepsis, a 59-year-old male patient suffered from an increasing swelling of his right sternoclavicular joint. We performed an incision and debridement of the SC joint and harvested material for microbiological diagnosis. However, we were not able to overcome the inflammation until we performed a radical resection including the medial aspect of the clavicle and parts of the manubrium followed by coverage with a pectoralis flap. The further course was uneventful with a good functional result. Reviewing data from the literature there are no unequivocal guidelines available for this rare disease. However, in most cases a radical debridement and a consecutive flap coverage are required.