Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy For Penetrating Cardiac Box Injury in Stable Patients

Abstract Introduction: In high-volume trauma centers, especially in developing countries, penetrating cardiac box injuries are frequent. Although many aspects of penetrating chest injuries have been well established, video-assisted thoracoscopy is still finding its place in cardiac box trauma and algorithmic approaches are still lacking. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide a streamlined recommendation for penetrating cardiac box injury in stable patients. Methods: Literature review was carried out using PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases to identify articles describing the characteristics and concepts of penetrating cardiac box trauma, including the characteristics of tamponade, cardiac ultrasound, indications and techniques of pericardial windows and, especially, the role of video-assisted thoracoscopy in stable patients. Results: Penetrating cardiac box injuries, whether by stab or gunshot wounds, require rapid surgical consultation. Unstable patients require immediate open surgery, however, determining which stable patients should be taken to thoracoscopic surgery is still controversial. Here, the classification of penetrating cardiac box injury used in Colombia is detailed, as well as the algorithmic approach to these types of trauma. Conclusion: Although open surgery is mandatory in unstable patients with penetrating cardiac box injuries, a more conservative and minimally invasive approach may be undertaken in stable patients. As rapid decision-making is critical in the trauma bay, surgeons working in high-volume trauma centers should expose themselves to thoracoscopy and always consider this possibility in the setting of penetrating cardiac box injuries in stable patients, always in the context of an experienced trauma team.

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy For Penetrating Cardiac Box Injury in Stable Patients.

INTRODUCTION: In high-volume trauma centers, especially in developing countries, penetrating cardiac box injuries are frequent. Although many aspects of penetrating chest injuries have been well established, video-assisted thoracoscopy is still finding its place in cardiac box trauma and algorithmic approaches are still lacking. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide a streamlined recommendation for penetrating cardiac box injury in stable patients. METHODS: Literature review was carried out using PubMed/ MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases to identify articles describing the characteristics and concepts of penetrating cardiac box trauma, including the characteristics of tamponade, cardiac ultrasound, indications and techniques of pericardial windows and, especially, the role of video-assisted thoracoscopy in stable patients. RESULTS: Penetrating cardiac box injuries, whether by stab or gunshot wounds, require rapid surgical consultation. Unstable patients require immediate open surgery, however, determining which stable patients should be taken to thoracoscopic surgery is still controversial. Here, the classification of penetrating cardiac box injury used in Colombia is detailed, as well as the algorithmic approach to these types of trauma. CONCLUSION: Although open surgery is mandatory in unstable patients with penetrating cardiac box injuries, a more conservative and minimally invasive approach may be undertaken in stable patients. As rapid decision-making is critical in the trauma bay, surgeons working in high-volume trauma centers should expose themselves to thoracoscopy and always consider this possibility in the setting of penetrating cardiac box injuries in stable patients, always in the context of an experienced trauma team.

Uso de los colgajos musculares en la enfermedad pleuropulmonar infecciosa complicada / Use of muscular flaps in complicated infectious pleuropulmonary disease

Objetivo: describir los resultados de la aplicación de los colgajos musculares en el tratamiento de las enfermedades pleuropulmonares infecciosas complicadas. Materiales y métodos: de agosto 1 del 2002 a julio 31 del 2003, 70 pacientes han requerido tratamiento quirúrgico para el manejo de enfermedades pleuropulmonares infecciosas complicadas en el Hospital Santa Clara, Bogotá, D.C. Durante su evolución, 10 pacientes han requerido rotación intratorácica de colgajos musculares y han sido seguidos prospectivamente. Resultados: la muestra está compuesta de ocho pacientes hombres y dos mujeres; edad media de 57 años (35 a 79 años). Dos pacientes fueron intervenidos previamente en otra institución y llegaron con una Ventana de Eloesser sobreinfectada. En nueve de 10 pacientes había presencia de pus en la cavidad torácica al momento de rotar el colgajo. La indicación para el colgajo muscular terapéutico fue cierre de fístulas broncopleurales en cuatro pacientes, cierre fístula parenquimatosas pulmonares múltiples y manejo del espacio pleural infectado en dos pacientes y cierre de fístula esofágica en un paciente. En tres pacientes se realizó cubrimiento del muñón bronquial profiláctico. El serrato fue rotado en cinco pacientes, el serrato con la mitad superior del dorsal en tres, y el serrato con dorsal y el octavo intercostal en un paciente respectivamente; y se requirieron ocho procedimientos promedios para el control de la infección (rango 1 a 22 procedimientos por paciente). El tiempo de hospitalización medio fue 25 días (14 a 60), todos los pacientes requirieron ventilación mecánica en el postoperatorio. La mortalidad fue del 20/100 (2 de 10 pacientes). Al seguimiento dos pacientes han fallecido, uno de ellos con el tórax abierto sin control de la infección. Seis pacientes (60/100) han evolucionado satisfactoriamente, sin evidencia de fístula o infección al seguimiento. Conclusión: los colgajos musculares son un método efectivo en el manejo de enfermedades...

Emissöes otoacústicas no diagnóstico precoce de lesäo coclear na doença de Ménière / Otoacoustic emissions in early diagnosis of cochlear lesions in Ménière's disease

Na Doença de Ménière em fase inicial, pode ocorrer surdez flutuante predominante em baixas frequências e também alteraçöes nas otoemissöes acústicas (EOA) nas freqüências correspondentes àquelas da flutuaçäo, que näo säo correlacionadas aos limiares auditivos encontrados na audiometria tonal. Estas alteraçöes, experimentalmente, näo estäo relacionadas à perda de células ciliadas externas (CCE) no ápice coclear, sendo que suas causas ainda näo säo muito claras podendo ser atribuídas às alteraçöes do micromecanismo hidrodinâmico e biomecânico coclear. Assim, as EOA mostraram, neste caso apresentado, alteraçöes cocleares na Doença de Ménière compensada em fase inicial que ainda näo säo detectadas no audiometria tonal e exames convencionais, sendo portanto um exame que pode mostrar lesäo precoce por alteraçäo apenas do micromecanismo coclear