[The functional status of esophago-gastric transition segment in patients with burns of esophagus]. / Funktsional'noe sostoianie pishchevodno-zheludochnogo perekhoda u bol'nykh s ozhogom pishchevoda.

We examined 57 patients with burns of esophagus at the age of 18-76 years old. We analyzed the symptoms and medical history of the patients, used contrast X-ray examination, endoscopic imaging with biopsy of esophagogastric crossing, the test for gastroesophageal reflux, gastric intubation and pH-metry. The advanced gastroesophageal reflux was registered 1.5-2 years after surgery, then the function of gastroesophageal sphincter recovered. The information about reflux is essential before the intervention is conducted, in order to correct it during operation.

[Outcome prognosis of esophagoplasty of esophagus burns with colonic segment ]. / Prognozirovanie iskhoda ézofagoplastiki s ispol'zovaniem segmenta tolstoi kishki pri ozhogovoi bolezni pishchevoda.

Peculiarities of postburn esophagitis course and subsequent rehabilitation of patients with burn of esophagus were studied. The authors had systematized and proposed classification of postburn esophagitis, considering prognosis of autoplastic results using segment of colon for postburn esophageal impassability. Right calculation and logical interpretation, determination of significance of postburn esophagitis will provide success of autoplastic rehabilitation of patients with burn disease of the esophagus.

[Causes, surgical treatment and prevention of chondritis and osteomyelitis of the ribs and sternum]. / Prichiny, khirurgicheskoe lechenie i profilaktika khondrita i osteomielita reber i grudiny.

The causes of chondritis and osteomyelitis of the ribs and sternum in 33 patients were analysed. It was found that in 70% of them purulent inflammation developed in the first 2-12 weeks after injury to and operations on the thoracic and abdominal organs. The average duration of the disease prior to hospitalization was about 16 months. Pathogenic microflora was isolated from the secretions of the affected tissues in 70.96% of patients. Different forms of the clinical course of the disease were distinguished according to the manifestation of the principal symptom: infiltrative-inflammatory, algesic, fistulous, empyema-like, mediastinitis-like, and a form poor in symptoms. The results of nonoperative treatment were studied. The use of X-ray therapy in a complex with nonoperative measures in 9 (25.71%) patients proved to be ineffective. Surgery was the main method for the management of chondritis and osteomyelitis of the ribs and sternum. It led to recovery of 31 (89.57%) patients without a second surgical intervention.

[The importance of thoracoscopy in the differential diagnosis of pleurisy]. / Znachenie torakoskopii v differentsial'noi diagnostike plevritov.

Thoracoscopy was performed in 50 patients with pleural exudates of unclear etiology. Indications for thoracoscopy were: unclear character of accumulation of exudate, ineffective treatment including pleural punctures in case of hydrothorax. Visual examination of the pleura and chest organs supplemented by cyto- and histological study of tissues taken from involved places of the pleura allowed to arrive at an exact diagnosis in 90% of cases.

[Diagnosis and removal of foreign bodies of the thoracic cavity using thoracoscopy]. / Diagnostika i udalenie inorodnykh tel grudnoi polosti pri torakoskopii.

The author analysed the use of thoracoscopy in 12 patients with radiopaque and radiolucent foreign bodies in the pleural cavity, lung, mediastinum, myocardium, and diaphragm. The indications for the examination were specified: (1) foreign body in the pleural, cavity or its existence suspected; (2) indistinct character of an intrathoracic foreign body and injury inflicted by it to the viscera; (3) specification of surgical tactics and method for removal of the foreign body and rational surgical approach. Thoracoscopy made it possible to detect not only foreign bodies of different character, but the damages caused by them to the viscera, and the complications. Foreign bodies were removed during thoracoscopy in two thirds of cases.

[Errors in the diagnosis of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia in closed thoracic injuries]. / Oshibki diagnostiki travmaticheskikh gryzh diafragmy pri zakrytykh povrezhdeniiakh grudi.

An analysis of 48 patients with traumatic hernias of the diaphragm is given. The authors consider in detail their errors in diagnosis in acute period of trauma and later. Recommendations are given for the prevention of late erroneous diagnosis of diaphragm hernias.

[Diagnosis and treatment of benign tumors and cysts of the mediastinum]. / Diagnostika i lechenie dobrokachestvennykh opukholei i kist sredosteniia.

The experience of treatment of 253 cases of benign tumors and cysts of the mediastinum is summarized. Complex X-ray and endoscopic examination was used for diagnosis. Due to application of thoracoscopy, topical and morphologic diagnosis was improved. Surgery was the main method of treatment. Radical operations were carried out in 98.9% and in 6.3% they involved resection of the rib, lung, pericardium, the membranous part of the trachea and bronchus, esophageal diverticulum or removal of diaphragmatic hernia. The complicated and life-threatening nature of the procedure is mirrored in the postoperative lethality rate (1.57%) and pattern of complications and requires a strict observance of the suggested principles of surgery.