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.

Management of congenital lobar overinflation in an adult.

Congenital lobar overinflation is characterized by disruption of bronchopulmonary development which produces lobar or segmental bronchial abnormalities and overinflation of normal lung tissue. This is a 44-year old man, never smoker, who presents dyspnea every time he arrived in highlands, marked decreased breathing sounds and hyperresonance in the left hemithorax. Imaging studies suggested left upper lobe overinflation. The affected area was resected resulting in symptoms improvement. Accepted treatment is resection, however conservative management has been proposed for asymptomatic patients because cases of spontaneous improvement have been described. We recommend close monitoring and resection if symptoms or overinflation progress.

Hernioplastia incisional y abdominoplastia simultáneas como métodos quirúrgicos seguros y eficaces / Simultaneous incisional hernioplasty and abdominoplasty as effective and safe surgical methods

Introducción: la hernioplastia-abdominoplastia simultáneas producen resultados clínicos-estéticos favorables en pacientes con exceso de piel y tejido graso en abdomen inferior. Objetivo: evaluar los resultados de estos métodos quirúrgicos. Método: se efectuó un estudio prospectivo de 16 pacientes operadas de hernia incisional y abdomen péndulo en el Hospital General Universitario Dr Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso de Santiago de Cuba, durante el bienio 2015-2016. Resultados: predominaron la hernia infraumbilical, el anillo de 10-15 centímetros, las técnicas de dermolipectomía y Rives, así como el seroma como complicación posoperatoria. La edad media fue de 40 años; se realizó profilaxis antimicrobiana y antitrombótica. Se usó la prótesis de polipropileno en 100,0 por ciento de las afectadas. Conclusión: la eventroplastia y abdominoplastia son métodos seguros y eficaces en pacientes adecuadamente seleccionados

Introduction: simultaneous hernioplasty-abdominoplasty provoque favorable clinic-cosmetic results in patients with excess skin and adipose tissue in the lower abdomen. Objective: to evaluate the results of these surgical methods. Method: a prospective study of 16 operated patients with incisional hernia and pendulum abdomen was carried out in Dr Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso University General Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, during 2015-2016. Results: There was a prevalence of the imphraumbilical hernia, 10-15 cm ring, dermolipectomy and Rives technique, as well as seroma as postoperative complication. The mean age was 40 years; antimicrobian and antithrombotic prophylaxis were carried out. The polypropylene prosthesis was used in 100 percent of the affected patients. Conclusion: eventroplasty and abdominoplasty are safe and effective methods in patients adequately selected

Hernioplastia incisional y abdominoplastia simultáneas como métodos quirúrgicos seguros y eficaces / Simultaneous incisional hernioplasty and abdominoplasty as effective and safe surgical methods

Introducción: la hernioplastia-abdominoplastia simultáneas producen resultados clínicos-estéticos favorables en pacientes con exceso de piel y tejido graso en abdomen inferior. Objetivo: evaluar los resultados de estos métodos quirúrgicos. Método: se efectuó un estudio prospectivo de 16 pacientes operadas de hernia incisional y abdomen péndulo en el Hospital General Universitario Dr Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso de Santiago de Cuba, durante el bienio 2015-2016. Resultados: predominaron la hernia infraumbilical, el anillo de 10-15 centímetros, las técnicas de dermolipectomía y Rives, así como el seroma como complicación posoperatoria. La edad media fue de 40 años; se realizó profilaxis antimicrobiana y antitrombótica. Se usó la prótesis de polipropileno en 100,0 por ciento de las afectadas. Conclusión: la eventroplastia y abdominoplastia son métodos seguros y eficaces en pacientes adecuadamente seleccionados(AU)

Introduction: simultaneous hernioplasty-abdominoplasty provoque favorable clinic-cosmetic results in patients with excess skin and adipose tissue in the lower abdomen. Objective: to evaluate the results of these surgical methods. Method: a prospective study of 16 operated patients with incisional hernia and pendulum abdomen was carried out in Dr Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso University General Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, during 2015-2016.Results: There was a prevalence of the imphraumbilical hernia, 10-15 cm ring, dermolipectomy and Rives technique, as well as seroma as postoperative complication. The mean age was 40 years; antimicrobian and antithrombotic prophylaxis were carried out. The polypropylene prosthesis was used in 100 percent of the affected patients(AU)

Business Associations, Conservative Networks, and the Ongoing Republican War over Medicaid Expansion.

A major component of the Affordable Care Act involves the expansion of state Medicaid programs to cover the uninsured poor. In the wake of the 2012 Supreme Court decision upholding and modifying reform legislation, states can decide whether to expand Medicaid-and twenty states are still not proceeding as of August 2015. What explains state choices about participation in expansion, including governors' decisions to endorse expansion or not as well as final state decisions? We tackle this puzzle, focusing closely on outcomes and battles in predominantly Republican-led states. Like earlier scholars, we find that partisan differences between Democrats and Republicans are central, but we go beyond earlier analyses to measure added effects from two dueling factions within the Republican coalition: statewide business associations and cross-state networks of ideologically conservative organizations. Using both statistical modeling and case studies, we show that GOP-leaning or GOP-dominated states have been most likely to embrace the expansion when organized business support outweighs pressures from conservative networks. Our findings help make sense of ongoing state-level debates over a core part of health reform and shed new light on mounting policy tensions within the Republican Party.

The effect of post­resistance exercise alcohol ingestion on lipopolysaccharide­stimulated cytokines.

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of post-resistance exercise alcohol ingestion on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated production of IFNγ, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10. METHODS: Recreationally resistance-trained men (n = 10, 25 ± 3 year, 177 ± 7 cm, 83.8 ± 15.7 kg, 14.8 ± 8.5% body fat) and women (n = 8, 23 ± 2 year, 161 ± 3 cm, 59.5 ± 6.0 kg, 26.5 ± 3.0% body fat) completed two identical heavy back squat sessions (6 × 10 at 80% 1 repetition maximum) followed by ingestion of either an alcohol (ALC; 1.09 g ethanol · kg fat-free mass(-1)) or water (PLA) drink. Blood samples were collected before exercise (PRE), and at 3 h (3 h), and 5 h (5 h) after exercise, stimulated with LPS, and analyzed for IFNγ, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 concentrations. RESULTS: There were no drink conditions by time effects for IFNγ, TNF-α, IL-1ß, or IL-10. Regardless of condition, resistance exercise induce an increase in IFNγ, TNF-α, and IL-1ß at 5 h compared to PRE but a decrease in IL-10 at 3 and 5 h compared to PRE. For ALC, IL-8 was reduced at 5 h compared to PLA. From PRE to 3 h, IL-6 was reduced for ALC but increased for PLA; resistance exercise induced an increase in IL-6 for both conditions at 5 h. CONCLUSIONS: Heavy resistance exercise increased production of IFNγ, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and Il-6 and decreased production of IL-10. Alcohol ingestion after resistance exercise affected aspects of inflammatory capacity (IL-6 and IL-8 production). It appears that some of the effects previously observed for alcohol ingestion alone on the LPS-stimulated cytokine production were overwhelmed by the response to resistance exercise.

Early retiree and near-elderly health insurance in recession.

This paper examines recent trends in health insurance cost and coverage for the near-elderly population (aged 55 to 64), with particular attention directed toward the implications of the 2007 recession. We examine coverage by demographic and socioeconomic characteristics from the Current Population Survey and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. We also estimate the effects of projected increases in the unemployment rate for employer-sponsored insurance coverage of the near elderly in 2009 and 2010. Erosion in coverage is likely to be exacerbated in the short run by the 2007 recession, given rapidly rising unemployment among this age cohort, and in the long-run, given the inability of the labor market to support increased labor market participation of older Americans in jobs that would have traditionally provided health insurance coverage.

The Chilean infant mortality decline: improvement for whom? Socioeconomic and geographic inequalities in infant mortality, 1990-2005.

OBJECTIVE: To measure socioeconomic inequalities and differential risk in infant mortality on national and regional levels in Chile from 1990 to 2005, and propose new policy targets. METHODS: The study analysed Chilean vital events registries from 1990 to 2005 for infant mortality by maternal education, head of household occupational status, cause, age and location of death. Annual infant mortality rates and relative risk were calculated by maternal education and head of household occupational status for each cause and age of death. Socioeconomic inequalities were then mapped to 29 regional health services. FINDINGS: Reductions in the national infant mortality rate were driven by reductions among highly educated mothers, while recent stagnation in the national rate is caused by high levels of infant mortality among uneducated mothers. These vulnerable households are particularly prone to infant mortality risk due to infectious disease and trauma. We also identify clustering of high socioeconomic inequalities in infant mortality throughout the poorer north, indigenous south and densely populated metropolitan centre of Santiago. Finally, we report large inequities in vital statistics coverage, with infant deaths among vulnerable households much more likely to be inadequately defined than in the remaining population. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the socioeconomically disadvantaged in Chile are at a significantly higher risk for infant mortality by infectious diseases and trauma during the first month of life. Efforts to reduce national infant mortality in Chile and other countries must involve policies that target child survival for at-risk populations for specific diseases, ages and locations.