Dysnatremia as a Mortality Marker in Intensive Care Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Retrospective Study.

Background and Objectives: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may cause acute respiratory failure, but also remains responsible for many other pathologies, including electrolyte disorders. SARS-CoV-2 infection causes disorders in many systems and can disrupt water homeostasis with thirst and appetite abnormalities. Dysnatremia affects prognosis, and may be associated with mortality in patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2. Materials and Methods: The study included 209 patients admitted to the ICU between 12 April 2021 and 1 March 2022 who were over 18 years old and diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection by clinical and thoracic tomography findings or with a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result. The laboratory markers, treatment modalities, nutritional, and respiratory support also for outcome evaluation, length of stay in the ICU, total hospitalization duration, and mortality in the ICU were recorded. The laboratory marker comparison was made using admission with the final assessment performed before the time of mortality in the ICU or after discharge. Results: Inotropic requirements among patients were high, which reflected mortality in the ICU. Hypernatremia presence was associated with an increase in enteral support, the inotropic support requirement, and mortality. Hypernatremia was correlated with diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, and a longer duration under mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: Hypernatremia was an important risk factor in ICU patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection, which was also affected by the treatment regimens given themselves. This complex relationship underlies the importance of proper electrolyte management, especially in patients who were under severe stress and organ failure.

The Effect of Prognostic Nutritional Index in Postoperative Infection Following Lobectomy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients.

Background The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is a valuable marker for evaluating the nutritional status associated with postoperative complications and the prognosis of patients with cancer. However, the role and clinical value of PNI in infection after lung cancer surgery remains unclear. This study examined the association between PNI and infection after lobectomy for lung cancer, focusing on the predictive value of PNI. Methods We conducted this retrospective cohort study on 139 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent surgery between September 2013 and December 2018. Two groups were composed according to their PNI values (≥ 50 or <50 ), and the relationship was assessed with infection after lobectomy. Results Only PNI values, atelectasis, and prolonged air leaks were significantly associated with the development of infection. The median preoperative PNI was 52.97±5.69. Postoperative infection was seen in patients (15.5%) with PNI≥ 50 and 38.1% in patients with PNI <50. The mean PNI in patients with postoperative infection, empyema, and prolonged air leakage was lower than in patients without these conditions. Conclusions Malnutrition is commonly seen in patients with malignancy. The overall malnutrition rate is 45% in lung cancer patients. Patients with metastatic diseases are malnourished in a 73% ratio compared to 5% for localized diseases. Furthermore, malnutrition increases the tendency of postoperative infection and reduces wound healing. We aim to determine whether PNI can be a predictive index marker for postoperative infection in patients with NSCLC who underwent lobectomy. Postoperative infection was seen in 15.5% of patients with PNI>50 and 38.1% in patients with PNI <50.

[The third primary-the second metachronous lung cancer in the same patient]. / Ayni hastada üçüncü primer-ikinci metakron akciger kanseri.

Having more than one lung carcinoma in an organism is called as multiple primary lung carcinoma. The probability of having a second primary lung carcinoma in the same patient at the different times is very rare.Third primary lung carcinoma has not been reported in literature before. A sychronous mass was determined on a 67 years old man about eight years ago. The mass was localized on the left upper lobe and it's histologic type was squamous cell carcinoma/adenosquamous cell carcinoma (bronchioalveolar component). A left upper lobectmy was performed with a left thorocotomy. Thirty nine months after that operation a metachronous epidermoid carcinoma was determined on the right upper lobe, consequently a right upper lobectomy was performed to him. A squamous cell carcinoma was determined on the right intermedier bronch as a third time and second metachronous 49 months later after the first operation. After all he underwent chemotherapy. We reported this case because of a second metachronous tumour in the same patient has not been reported before and to emphasize the effects of postoperative follow up on the prognosis.

Clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts (TPP) are rare complications of blunt chest trauma. The aim of this study is to increase the understanding of this rare entity with imaging and clinical parameters for preventing complications and determining the correct treatment approach by observing 15 cases. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical data and thoracic computed tomography scans of 185 patients who underwent examinations in our department after chest trauma between July 2014 and December 2015. RESULTS: Fifteen patients had TPPs, and their clinical features and imaging findings were evaluated. Their average age was 26.33 (range, 1-89) years. The cause of TPP was traffic accident in 13 patients and falling from a height in two. Tube thoracostomy was required in five patients. None of the patients required thoracotomy, and 66% of them recovered without any complications. Five patients died because of serious concomitant injuries. CONCLUSION: Sudden shearing force across the pulmonary parenchyma results in an area of pulmonary contusion and airtransfer from the airway to the contused area, which in turn leads to pneumatocele formation. Conservative treatment is recommended for these patients, but complications can occur because of cyst rupture. Patients should be closely monitored and be made aware of the risk of life-threatening complications.

First experiences and complications in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy at a thoracic surgery center.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to report the difficulties and complications we experienced in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomies performed at our thoracic surgery center. METHODS: A total of 76 patients (54 males, 22 females; mean age 48.3 years; range 9 to 83 years) who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy between January 2012 and June 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative patient characteristics such as additional diseases or tuberculosis history, stage for malignant diseases, surgical characteristics such as port properties and amount of bleeding, postoperative characteristics such as amount, time and duration of drainage, air leakage, and discharge time, morbidity and mortality rates, and their causes were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the patients, 35 were evaluated due to benign pulmonary diseases and 41 due to malignant pulmonary diseases. Postoperative prolonged air leakage developed in 14 patients. Of these patients, one was administered thoracotomy and primary repair, three were administered pleurodesis, and three were administered secondary pleurocan catheter, while the air leakage ended spontaneously in seven patients. Due to bleeding, one patient was treated with revision video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery on the same day postoperatively. One patient developed chylothorax and one patient developed pneumonia, which caused respiratory failure. CONCLUSION: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy is a safe thoracic procedure, which is used for both oncologic and non-oncologic diseases of the lung. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery may be performed by all thoracic surgeons experienced in open thoracic surgery. Thanks to the gained experiences, the rates of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy may improve in all centers.