Mortality Factors in Crush Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Crush Syndrome is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following large-scale catastrophic earthquakes. Since there are no randomized controlled studies on Crush Syndrome, knowledge on this subject is limited to expert experience. The primary objective is to analyze the epidemiological and demographic characteristics, clinical outcomes, and mortality factors of earthquake victims after the Pazarcik and Elbistan earthquakes on February 6, 2023. METHODS: This cross-sectional and observational retrospective study evaluated 610 earthquake victims who presented to our center between February 6 and April 30, 2023. Among these patients, 128 with Crush Syndrome were included in the study. Patient information was gathered from hospital records during their stay and from national registries upon referral. The primary outcome was to identify risk factors for mortality. Demographic and laboratory data were analyzed by acute kidney injury (AKI) stages; mortality-affecting factors were identified through regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 128 Crush Syndrome patients (100 adults, 28 children), 64 were female. The AKI rate was 32.8%. Among patients with AKI, the frequency of hemodialysis requirement was 69%, and the mortality rate was 14.2%. The overall mortality rate for patients with Crush Syndrome was 4.6%, compared to 3.9% (19/482) in earthquake victims without Crush Syndrome (p=0.705). Notably, low systolic blood pressure at admission was the only factor significantly affecting mortality in Crush Syndrome patients (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 1.088, p=0.021, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]). CONCLUSION: Our study highlights low systolic blood pressure upon admission as a significant risk factor for increased mortality in Crush Syndrome patients. This finding may contribute to the literature by emphasizing the importance of monitoring blood pressure under rubble and administering more aggressive fluid therapy to patients with low systolic blood pressure.

Survival outcome of pulmonary metastasectomy among the patients with colorectal cancers.

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary metastasectomy for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer is essential, but high ranked evidence of survival benefit is lacking. Here, we aimed to examine the prognostic factors after pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: This is a single-center, retrospective hospital-based observational case series study. We reviewed data for 607 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who were treated and observed from 2012 to 2019. Of the 607 patients with mCRC, 87 were with solitary lung metastases. Of the 87 patients, 39 were not appropriate for metastasectomy, while 15 patients recognized as suitable candidates by the multidisciplinary thoracic tumor board rejected metastasectomy. Consequently, only 33 patients were included in the final analysis. RESULTS: Rectum was detected as the primary site in 16 (48.5%) patients. Over 80% of patients had metachronous lung metastases, with a median of 29.0 months from initial diagnosis. Video-assisted thoracic surgery with wedge resection was performed in 20 (60.6%) patients. Over 90% of patients had solitary metastasis resected, with 97% of R0 resection. Median tumor size was 23.0 mm (min: 10; max: 90). Adjuvant treatment was given to 31 (93.9%) patients, while neoadjuvant treatment was given only to 8 (25%) patients. Of the 33 patients, there were 25 (75.7%) relapses. The most frequent site of relapse was lung in 15 (45.5%) patients. Interestingly, there were only 4 (12.2%) patients who had a relapse in the liver after lung metastasectomy. We found that median disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 43.0 (13.0-73.0) and 55.0 (31.6-78.4) months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary metastasectomy was associated with significantly long-time survival rates in mCRC (43 months of DFS and 55 months of OS). The second relapse occurred in 25 (75.7%) patients, with isolated lung metastases in nearly half of the patients (45.5%). Therefore, lung metastases in mCRC were unique and a multidisciplinary team including a thoracic surgeon should manage these patients.

Survival outcome of pulmonary metastasectomy among the patients with colorectal cancers

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary metastasectomy for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer is essential, but high ranked evidence of survival benefit is lacking. Here, we aimed to examine the prognostic factors after pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: This is a single-center, retrospective hospital-based observational case series study. We reviewed data for 607 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who were treated and observed from 2012 to 2019. Of the 607 patients with mCRC, 87 were with solitary lung metastases. Of the 87 patients, 39 were not appropriate for metastasectomy, while 15 patients recognized as suitable candidates by the multidisciplinary thoracic tumor board rejected metastasectomy. Consequently, only 33 patients were included in the final analysis. RESULTS: Rectum was detected as the primary site in 16 (48.5%) patients. Over 80% of patients had metachronous lung metastases, with a median of 29.0 months from initial diagnosis. Video-assisted thoracic surgery with wedge resection was performed in 20 (60.6%) patients. Over 90% of patients had solitary metastasis resected, with 97% of R0 resection. Median tumor size was 23.0 mm (min: 10; max: 90). Adjuvant treatment was given to 31 (93.9%) patients, while neoadjuvant treatment was given only to 8 (25%) patients. Of the 33 patients, there were 25 (75.7%) relapses. The most frequent site of relapse was lung in 15 (45.5%) patients. Interestingly, there were only 4 (12.2%) patients who had a relapse in the liver after lung metastasectomy. We found that median disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 43.0 (13.0-73.0) and 55.0 (31.6-78.4) months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary metastasectomy was associated with significantly long-time survival rates in mCRC (43 months of DFS and 55 months of OS). The second relapse occurred in 25 (75.7%) patients, with isolated lung metastases in nearly half of the patients (45.5%). Therefore, lung metastases in mCRC were unique and a multidisciplinary team including a thoracic surgeon should manage these patients.

The use of 18F-FDG positron emission tomography to detect mediastinal lymph nodes in metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: To assess the predictive value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in detecting mediastinal lymph node metastasis with histopathologic verification in breast cancer (BC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 2012 and October 2019, 37 BC patients who underwent histopathological verification for FDG-PET positive mediastinal lymph nodes were retrospectively analyzed. Nine patients (24%) were screened before beginning treatment, while 27 (76%) were screened at the time of disease progression, an average of 39 months after completion of initial treatment. RESULTS: The histopathologic diagnosis revealed lymph node metastasis from BC in 15 patients (40%) and benign disease in 22 patients (60%). The standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of mediastinal lymph nodes was significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastasis compared to those with benign histology (9.0 ± 3.5 vs. 5.9 ± 2.4; P = 0.007). The cut-off value of SUVmax after the ROC curve analysis for pathological lymph node metastasis was 6.4. Two of the 15 patients with mediastinal SUVmax ≤ 6.4 and 13 of the 22 patients with SUVmax > 6.4 had lymph node metastasis. Age and pathological findings were prognostic factors for overall survival in univariate analysis. The treatment decision was changed in 19 patients (51%) after mediastinoscopic evaluation of the entire cohort. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to support the need for pathologic confirmation of a positive PET/CT result following evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes for staging BC, either at initial diagnosis or at the time of progression. Treatment decisions were consequently altered for nearly half of the patients.

Risk Factors for Fatal Pulmonary Hemorrhage following Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Stage 3B/C Squamous-Cell Lung Carcinoma Patients.

We aimed to identify the fatal pulmonary hemorrhage- (FPH-) related risk factors in stage 3B/C squamous-cell lung carcinoma (SqCLC) patients treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT). Medical records of 505 stage 3B/C SqCLC patients who underwent 66 Gy radiotherapy plus 1-3 cycles of concurrent chemotherapy with available pretreatment thoracic computerized tomography scans were retrospectively analyzed. Primary end-point was the identification of FPH-related risk factors. Examined factors included the basal patient and tumor characteristics with specific emphasis on the tumor cavitation (TC) status, tumor size (TS) and cavitation size (CS), tumor volume and cavitation volume (TV and CV), relative cavitation size (RCS = CS/TS), and relative cavitation volume (RCV=CV/TV). FPH emerged in 13 (2.6%) patients, with 12 (92.3%) of them being diagnosed ≤12 months of C-CRT. All FPHs were diagnosed in patients with TC (N=60): group-specific FPH incidence: 21.6%. TC (P<0.001) was the unique independent factor associated with higher FPH risk in multivariate analysis. Further analysis limited to TC patients exhibited the RCV>0.14 (37.5% versus 11.1% for RCV≤0.14; P<0.001), major RCS group [31.0% versus 19.0% for minor versus 0% for minimum RCS; P=0.008), and baseline hemoptysis (26.3% versus 13.6% for no hemoptysis; P=0.009) as the independent risk factors for higher FPH incidence. FPH was an infrequent (2.6%) complication of C-CRT in stage 3B/C SqCLC patients, but its incidence increased to 37.5% in patients presenting with TC and RCV>0.14. Diagnosis of >90% FPHs ≤12 months of C-CRT stresses the importance of close and careful follow-up of high-risk patients after C-CRT for multidisciplinary discussion of possible invasive preventive measures.

Incidence and Impact of Pretreatment Tumor Cavitation on Survival Outcomes of Stage III Squamous Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated With Radical Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence and influence of tumor cavitation (TC) on survival outcomes of locally advanced squamous cell lung cancer (LA-SqCLC) patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation therapy (C-CRT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Records of 789 stages IIIA/B squamous cell lung cancer (SqCLC) patients treated with C-CRT who received 1 to 3 cycles of platinum-based doublet chemotherapy during 60 to 66 Gy radiation therapy (RT) were analyzed retrospectively. Primary endpoint was the association between overall survival (OS) and pretreatment TC status. Secondary endpoints included locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and incidence of TC and correlated factors. RESULTS: Pretreatment TC occurred in 95 patients (12%), being significantly more common in those patients with ever-smoking history (12.6% vs 3.9%; P < .001), weight loss >5% (20.9% vs 7.1%; P < .001), and hemoptysis (27.1% vs 6.4%; P < .001). Rates of acute and late toxicities were similar in patients who presented with and without TC (P > .05 for each). For the whole cohort, at a median follow-up of 22.9 months (range: 2.4-71.1), the respective median OS, LRPFS, and PFS estimates were 23.7, 14.7, and 10.7 months. In multivariate analysis, stage IIIB disease (P < .001; hazard ratio [HR]: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.21-1.45), weight loss >5% (P < .001; HR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.85-2.35), anemia (P < .001; HR: 1.82; 95% CI: 1.67-1.97), and presence of TC (P < .001; HR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.37-1.71) appeared to be independently associated with poorer OS durations, likewise the LRPFS (P < .001 for each of these covariates), and PFS (P < .001 for each of these covariates), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Present results showed that the TC occurred in 12% of LA-SqCLC patients, which was strongly associated with poorer PFS, LRPFS, and OS outcomes after definitive C-CRT.

Chondromyxoid Fibroma of the Sternum in a 63-Year-Old Woman.

Primary chondromyxoid fibroma is a benign bone tumor. Its localization in the sternum is quite rare; we found only 6 relevant reports. We report our diagnosis and treatment of a chondromyxoid fibroma in the sternum of a 63-year-old woman. The patient underwent subtotal sternectomy and chest-wall reconstruction with use of a titanium rib bridge system and Prolene mesh. The patient's clinical course was uneventful, and she had no local recurrence 41 months postoperatively. Our review herein of the 6 previous cases reveals that our patient is the oldest thus far to have been diagnosed with a sternal chondromyxoid fibroma.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with vinorelbine plus split-dose cisplatin may be an option in inoperable stage III non-small cell lung cancer: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the current standard treatment for inoperable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study we aimed to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of CCRT with split dose of cisplatin (30 mg/m2) and vinorelbine (20 mg/m2) in patients with inoperable stage III NSCLC followed in our oncology clinic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical records of 97 patients with inoperable stage III NSCLC treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin-vinorelbine were retrospectively analyzed. Cisplatin (30 mg/m2) and vinorelbine (20 mg/m2) were administered on days 1, 8, 22, and 29 during radiotherapy. Two cycles of consolidation chemotherapy were given. All patient data, including pathological, clinical, radiological, biochemical, and hematological data, were assessed retrospectively using our database system. RESULTS: Our study included 97 unresectable stage III NSCLC patients who were treated with CCRT. Median age was 58 years old (range 39-75) and 87 (89.7%) of the patients were men. ECOG performance score was 0-1 in 93 patients (95.9%). Squamous histology, the most common histology, was diagnosed in 46 patients (47.4%). Median follow-up time was 23.8 months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and median overall survival time (OS) were 10.3 months and 17.8 months, respectively. Objective response rate and clinical benefit rate were 75.3% and 83.5%, respectively. Distant and local relapse rate were 57.1% and 42.9%, respectively. Hematological and non-hematological grade 3-4 toxicities were seen in 13 (13.4%) and 16 (16.5%) patients, respectively. Six (6.1%) patients died due to toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that split-dose cisplatin may offer fewer grade III-IV toxicities without sacrificing efficacy and could be an option in patients with inoperable stage III NSCLC during CCRT. Similar to past studies, despite high response rate during CCRT, distant relapse is the major parameter that influences patient survival in long-term in NSCLC.

Elastofibroma dorsi incidentally detected by (18)F-FDG PET/CT imaging.

OBJECTIVE: Elastofibroma dorsi (ED) is a rare pseudotumor of the soft tissues that can also show 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging. The aim of this retrospectively study was to describe the metabolic characteristics of ED incidentally detected by (18)F-FDG PET/CT imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 2009 and August 2013 at our institution, 10,350 consecutive PET/CT examinations were retrospectively investigated. In 176 of these patients, ED was recorded as an incidental finding. Fifty-five of 176 patients also had follow-up scans after chemoradiotherapy. A total of 231 scans with ED in 176 patients were identified. To determine the metabolic activity of ED, the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was calculated semiquantitatively. For measurement size of ED, the longest axis of transaxial CT images was used. Seven of the 176 patients underwent surgery due to suspected metastases and/or invasion of primary malignancy and/or symptoms or incidental during surgery. RESULTS: The prevalence of ED in our series was 1.7%. The lesions were located in the subscapular region in all patients, except in one case with a lesion in the infrascapular region. A total of 419 ED lesions in 231 scan of 176 patients were evaluated. Mean ± SD SUVmax and long axis values for these 419 lesions were 2.31 ± 0.61 (range 1.0-4.30) and 56.78 ± 17.01 mm (range 19-112 mm), respectively. Of these 176 patients, 141 (80.1%) had bilateral lesions and 35 (19.9%) had unilateral lesions. There were statistically significant differences in the SUVmax and long axis values between the right and left side in the bilateral lesions (p = 0.001). No significant differences in the SUVmax and long axis values of the lesion were found between pre- and posttreatment in the patients with follow-up scans. CONCLUSION: Elastofibroma dorsi located in the scapular region is usually bilateral, asymmetric and with mild or moderate metabolic activity on PET/CT imaging. In addition, the metabolic activity and size of ED remained stable after chemoradiotherapy. Awareness of these metabolic characteristics of ED is important for preventing misinterpretation during (18)F-FDG PET/CT studies.

Is clipping superior to cauterization in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis?

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy has been accepted as the most effective treatment for palmar hyperhidrosis (PH). However, there is a debate regarding the surgical techniques in terms of effectiveness, recurrence, and reversibility. In this study, sympathetic chain disruptions were compared in terms of whether the clipping or ablation technique had an effect on the long-term outcomes of patients who underwent thoracic sympathectomy for primary PH. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent video-thoracoscopic sympathectomy for PH between May 2008 and October 2011 were included. Single-port bilateral sympathectomy was performed depending on the sweat distribution. As a standard approach, rib-based terminology was used to describe the blockade level of the sympathetic ganglia, and single-level R3 sympathectomy (between R3 and R4) was performed in all patients. The type of sympathectomy was changed. Monopolar electrocautery was first performed and 5-mm clips were then used for nerve disruption. Both techniques were evaluated and compared in terms of effectiveness, reversibility, and recurrence. RESULTS: Cauterization of the sympathetic chain was applied in 28 (47%) (Group A) patients and clipping in 32 (53%) patients (Group B). CH was the most common adverse effect and was observed in 43 (71.6%) patients (Group A, 71.4%; Group B, 71.8%; p = 0.8). The success rate was 93% for Group A and 100% for Group B (p = 0.15). The satisfaction rate for Group A was 83% and for Group B was 86% (p = 0.77). In Group A two patients (7%), and in Group B three patients (9%) requested reversibility because of severe compensatory hyperhidrosis. Overly dry hands were the other most common side effect and were identified in 12 (25%) patients. Recurrences were observed in 11 patients in Group A and 4 patients in Group B (19 vs. 6%; p = 0.01). The mean follow-up time was 33 ± 10.5 months (range, 13-53 months). CONCLUSION: Both clipping and cauterization are highly effective for the treatment of PH. The methods are comparable in terms of effectiveness and side effects despite the fact that the recurrence rate was higher in the cauterization group. Potential reversibility of compensatory sweating was not observed in our series. Identification of ideal candidates for surgery and education of patients about the permanent side effects of sympathectomy might make these techniques more convenient.

Textiloma mimicking superior sulcus tumor: positron emission tomography/computed tomography findings of a pseudotumor.

We present an interesting case report of a 52-year-old man with a superior sulcus tumor. To evaluate the suspicious left lung tumor, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) was used. Increased FDG level was indicative of a malignant tumor. Left thoracotomy revealed a textiloma retained during cardiac surgery.

Isolated mediastinal lymph node false positivity of [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography in patients with cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the degree of mediastinal involvement in patients with cervical cancer with isolated mediastinal [F]-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) positivity as verified by histopathologic examination. METHODS: Two hundred twenty-eight patients with newly diagnosed cervical cancer and who underwent FDG-PET imaging were analyzed. Twenty-nine patients (17%) had disseminated disease detected with PET/computed tomography (CT). Only 10 patients (4%) had increased FDG uptake in mediastinal lymph nodes alone. Of the 10 patients with mediastinal disease, 2 refused surgical mediastinal lymph node biopsy and did not receive any treatment. Patients with suspected paratracheal or subcarinal lymph node metastasis detected on PET/CT underwent mediastinoscopy, and those with hilar metastasis had video-assisted mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Treatment was delivered according to final staging based on histopathologic confirmation of mediastinal lymph node involvement. RESULTS: The mean (SD) maximum standardized uptake values for primary cervical tumor and mediastinal lymph nodes were 19.7 (10.3) and 7.5 (1.6), respectively. Of 8 patients who underwent mediastinal lymph node confirmation, 6 (75%) were tumor free, demonstrating granulomatous changes, and were treated curatively. No patients had residual or recurrent disease at the primary site, and all but 1 were alive without disease. Two patients with confirmed mediastinal lymph node metastasis were treated palliatively and died between 9 and 11 months after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Positron emission tomography/CT is an important tool for lymphatic staging and evaluation of distant metastases in cervical cancer. However, PET/CT should be interpreted cautiously for isolated mediastinal involvement; surgical evaluation is required for accurate staging and appropriate treatment decisions to achieve better outcomes.

A thoracic surgeon's perspective on the elastofibroma dorsi: A benign tumor of the deep infrascapular region.

BACKGROUND: An elastofibroma is a benign, soft-tissue tumor and is important in the differential diagnosis of thoracic wall masses. Here, patients with elastofibromas who underwent thoracic surgery were retrospectively reviewed to elucidate elastofibroma formation and to facilitate the differential diagnosis. METHODS: This is a retrospective and descriptive study of a series of 30 patients with elastofibroma dorsi. The data was obtained by review of the hospital records. RESULTS: There were 27 female and three male patients (mean age, 55.13 ± 8.7 years) with a total of 42 elastofibroma dorsi tumors (12 bilateral cases, 18 unilateral cases) diagnosed between January 2004 and October 2011. Twenty patients (67%) underwent surgery as a result of subscapular swelling and pain. In 10 (33%) asymptomatic patients, elastofibromas were found incidentally during a thoracotomy. Imaging methods in symptomatic patients included computerized tomography (15 cases), magnetic resonance (three), and ultrasonography (two). For five patients, fluorodeoxyglucose uptake values were available and revealed mild metabolic activity in the elastofibromas. Elastofibromas were significantly larger in symptomatic patients (8.15 ± 1.9 vs. 6.2 ± 2.3; P= 0.02). Exposure to long-term repetitive micro-trauma was a precipitating factor in 23 (77%) patients. Seroma formation, the most common surgical complication, was observed in 40% of patients. CONCLUSION: The differential diagnosis of elastofibroma dorsi is straightforward, and preoperative histology is unnecessary when the clinical, radiological, and metabolic characteristics are known. Repetitive micro-trauma may predispose to hyperproliferation of fibroelastic tissue, and genetics may also play a role. Surgical treatment can be reserved for cases with severe symptoms.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to treat hydatid disease of the thorax in adults: is it feasible?

BACKGROUND: Optimal treatment of intrathoracic hydatid diseases in adults involves complete removal of the cyst with parenchyma-preserving surgery. In current practice, thoracotomy remains the standard surgical approach for pulmonary hydatid cysts, so surgical experience is limited, particularly with regard to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between June 2007 and May 2011, a selected series of 12 adult patients presenting with intrathoracic hydatid cysts underwent VATS. The cysts were completely removed using a three-trocar technique. RESULTS: Complete removal of the cysts was successful in all patients. All cysts were diagnosed by computerized tomography, and 6 (50%) patients had a history of hydatid disease in the liver or lung. No serious postoperative complications were observed. Patients with thoracoscopic excision were discharged after a median of 2.9 days (range, 2-6 days). No recurrences or complications were observed during a mean follow-up of 29 months. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the conversion and complication rates in our series, VATS should be the primary therapeutic choice for adults with thoracic hydatid cysts. Open surgical interventions in patients with large and uncomplicated cysts appear optional.

When is transthoracic approach indicated in retrosternal goiters?

PURPOSE: It is critical to differentiate among pathologies of substernal thyroid gland diseases because surgical approaches (i.e., median sternotomy or thoracotomy) might also include a cervical incision. The aim of this study was to analyze the features of patients with goiter who underwent a thyroidectomy via a cervical incision and a median sternotomy or thoracotomy. METHODS: We reviewed 9 cases of thyroid disease in patients undergoing thoracic incisions with or without a cervical incision for varying indications between March 2003 and Jun 2009 were reviewed. Thyroidal masses were removed via a median sternotomy in six patients and thoracotomy in three patients. Split median sternotomy combining thoracotomy was performed in 1 patient. Cervical incision was added in all patients. RESULTS: Pathologic examination revealed multinodular goiter in 5 patients, thyroid carcinoma in 3, and reidel thyroiditis in 1. All patients were extubated in the early postoperative period. There was no postoperative mortality or morbidity. The mean hospital stay was 8.6 days (range, 4-11 days), and mean follow-up was 24.3 months (range, 4-39 months). CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the use of transthoracic approaches, such as median sternotomy and thoracotomy for retrosternal goiter for surgical exposure, because they provide a wide exposure and facilitate removal of the mass. By using median sternotomy and thoracotomy, we can avoid catastrophic results, such as hemorrhage, as well as completely remove malignancies.

When is surgical tracheostomy indicated? Surgical "U-shaped" versus percutaneous tracheostomy.

OBJECTIVE: Tracheostomy is one of the most frequent interventions for ICU patients. The current trend in performing a tracheostomy is a percutaneous approach because of its popularity and significant advantages. In this study, certain indications of surgical tracheostomy (ST) are suggested and furthermore, ST is compared with percutaneous tracheostomy (PT). PATIENT AND METHODS: We performed a U-shaped ST in 121 patients and PT in 85 patients between March 2003 and December 2006. All of the STs were opened U-shaped in the operating room. In this technique; instead of removing the tracheal ring, it was used to create a flap. The tracheal flap was hung with a suture from middle of the 2nd or the 3rd cartilage rings, as a guide. Also, the PT procedure "Griggs dilatation technique" was performed in the ICU. RESULTS: PT and ST had similar complication rates: 4.1% for ST [bleeding in 2 patients, stenosis in 2, and stomal infection in 1] versus 3.6% for PT [bleeding in 2 patients, and pneomothorax in 1] (p = 0.08). No significant difference was found regarding mean operation time between ST [12 min (9-18)] and PT [8 min (6-16)] (p = 0.09) CONCLUSIONS: Staff utilization and cost seem like the major advantages of PT. However, our surgical technique has similar complication rates with PT and moreover, using ST still remains favorable for select patients with thyroid hyperplasia, short neck, tracheaomalacia, obesity, neck operation history and for children.

Thoracic epidural anesthesia and analgesia during the perioperative period of thoracic surgery: levobupivacaine versus bupivacaine.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of thoracic epidural anesthesia with levobupivacaine or bupivacaine on block features, intraoperative hemodynamics, and postoperative analgesia for thoracic surgery. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, and double-blind study. SETTING: A university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty patients undergoing thoracic surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received thoracic epidural catheterization either with levobupivacaine or bupivacaine. A bolus of 0.1 mL/kg of 0.25% levobupivacaine or 0.25% bupivacaine was administered, and infusion of the same drug with 0.25% concentration was started at 0.1 mL/kg/h. General anesthesia was induced after assessing the sensory block and maintained with 0.3% to 0.8% isoflurane and 50% O(2) in air. Epidural patient-controlled analgesia with the same agent was started at the end of the operation for 48 hours postoperatively. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Sensory block features such as onset time and spread were assessed for the next 20 minutes after the bolus dose. Heart rate and systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures were recorded intraoperatively and postoperatively. Pain at rest and activity was evaluated by the visual analog scale (VAS) for 48 hours after the operation. All patients were comparable with respect to the demographic data. Onset time of the block and the number of blocked dermatomes and hemodynamic parameters were similar in both groups. All VAS assessments were comparable between groups except VAS at the 36th hour postoperative, which was higher in the levobupivacaine group (p = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic epidural anesthesia with either levobupivacaine or bupivacaine provided comparable sensory block features, intraoperative hemodynamics, and postoperative analgesia for thoracic surgery.

Necessity of lung resection in neglected cases of pulmonary hydatidosis.

In pulmonary hydatid disease, lung resection is not a desirable treatment. Two young boys, aged 9 and 15, presented at our institution, the 9-year-old with a destroyed lung as the result of a delayed diagnosis of a giant cyst; the second with a massive hemoptysis as the result of preoperative albendazole use. Both children underwent a lobectomy for the treatment of pulmonary hydatidosis. Delayed diagnosis and use of albendazole, respectively, were considered the causes necessitating lung resection in these cases of giant and complicated pulmonary hydatid disease.