[Effectiveness and complications of video-assisted surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax]. / Eficacia y morbilidad del tratamiento con cirugía videoasistida del neumotórax espontáneo primario.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness and describe the complications of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between May 1997 and September 2003, our department scheduled 147 VATS procedures for spontaneous pneumothorax in 127 patients (102 men [80.5%]). The mean (SD) age for the series was 28.3 (11.6) years. Bullae and blebs were resected by endostapler and vigorous pleural abrasion was carried out. Vanderschueren staging was as follows: stage I, 10 (6.8%); stage II, 22 (15%); stage III, 71 (48.3%); and stage IV, 44 (29.9%). The procedure was indicated for the following reasons: third episode, 56 (38.1%); persistent air leak, 47 (32%); elective, 16 (10.9%); simultaneous bilateral pneumothorax, 28 (19%). VATS was performed on the right side only in 85 patients (57.8%), on the left in 62 (42.2%), and on both sides in 16 (11.6%). RESULTS: A total of 137 of the 147 VATS procedures scheduled (93.2%) were performed, and there were no deaths. The rate of conversion to thoracotomy was 6.8%, and the overall rate of complications was 13.7%. Postoperative complications were due to bleeding in 5 cases (3.6%), air leak (>5 days) in 10 (7.2%), wound infection in 2 (1.4%), residual pneumothorax in 4 (2.9%), need to insert a new pleural drain in 3 (2.1%), and pleural empyema in 1 (0.7%). Two patients took oral analgesics for more than 30 days after the procedure. Pneumothorax recurred during follow-up in 7 patients (5.1%). No significant correlation was found between recurrence of pneumothorax after VATS and Vandeschueren stage, age, bilaterality of the procedure, indication, or days of postoperative drainage (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: VATS for resection of pleural lesions plus pleural abrasion is an efficacious and simple treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax regardless of intraoperative findings.

Eficacia y morbilidad del tratamiento con cirugía videoasistida del neumotórax espontáneo primario / Effectiveness and complications of video-assisted surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax

Objetivo: Evaluar y describir la eficacia y la morbilidad de la VATS (video assisted toracic surgery [cirugía torácica videoasistida]) en el tratamiento del neumotórax espontáneo primario (NEP). Pacientes y métodos: Entre mayo de 1997 y septiembre de 2003 se programaron en nuestro servicio 147 intervenciones por NEP para VATS en 127 pacientes. Las lesiones bullosas se resecaron mediante endograpadoras. Posteriormente se realizó pleuroabrasión vigorosa. La estadificación según Vanderschueren resultó: estadio I, 10 (6,8%); II, 22 (15%); III, 71 (48,3%), y IV, 44 (29,9%). Se intervino a 102 (80,5%) hombres y 25 (19,5%) mujeres. La media de edad fue de 28,3 ± 11,6 años. Las indicaciones fueron: tercer episodio, 56 (38,1%); fuga aérea persistente, 47 (32%); cirugía electiva, 16 (10,9%); neumotórax bilateral sincrónico, 28 (19%). Se realizó VATS en el lado derecho en 85 pacientes (57,8%) y en el izquierdo en 62 (42,2%). Se realizó intervención bilateral en 16 (11,6%). Resultados: Se realizaron 137 VATS (93,2%). No hubo mortalidad y la tasa de reconversión fue del 6,8%. La incidencia de complicaciones fue del 13,7%. La morbilidad post-operatoria fue: sangrado en 5 pacientes (3,6%); fuga aérea (> 5 días) en 10 (7,2%); infección de herida en 2 (1,4%); neumotórax residual en 4 (2,9%); nuevo drenaje torácico en 3 (2,1%), y empiema pleural en 1 (0,7%). Dos pacientes tomaron analgésicos orales durante más de 30 días después del procedimiento. La recurrencia en seguimiento fue de 7 (5,1%). Se analizó el índice de recurrencia post VATS en relación al estadio Vandeschueren, la edad, el carácter bilateral del neumotórax, la indicación o los días de drenaje post-operatorio y no se encontraron diferencias significativas (p > 0,05). Conclusiones: La VATS con resección de lesiones y pleuroabrasión es un método eficaz y sencillo independiente de los hallazgos intraoperatorios para el tratamiento del NPE

Objective: To assess the effectiveness and describe the complications of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Patients and methods: Between May 1997 and September 2003, our department scheduled 147 VATS procedures for spontaneous pneumothorax in 127 patients (102 men [80.5%]). The mean (SD) age for the series was 28.3 (11.6) years. Bullae and blebs were resected by endostapler and vigorous pleural abrasion was carried out. Vanderschueren staging was as follows: stage I, 10 (6.8%); stage II, 22 (15%); stage III, 71 (48.3%); and stage IV, 44 (29.9%). The procedure was indicated for the following reasons: third episode, 56 (38.1%); persistent air leak, 47 (32%); elective, 16 (10.9%); simultaneous bilateral pneumothorax, 28 (19%). VATS was performed on the right side only in 85 patients (57.8%), on the left in 62 (42.2%), and on both sides in 16 (11.6%). Results: A total of 137 of the 147 VATS procedures scheduled (93.2%) were performed, and there were no deaths. The rate of conversion to thoracotomy was 6.8%, and the overall rate of complications was 13.7%. Postoperative complications were due to bleeding in 5 cases (3.6%), air leak (>5 days) in 10 (7.2%), wound infection in 2 (1.4%), residual pneumothorax in 4 (2.9%), need to insert a new pleural drain in 3 (2.1%), and pleural empyema in 1 (0.7%). Two patients took oral analgesics for more than 30 days after the procedure. Pneumothorax recurred during follow-up in 7 patients (5.1%). No significant correlation was found between recurrence of pneumothorax after VATS and Vandeschueren stage, age, bilaterality of the procedure, indication, or days of postoperative drainage (P>.05). Conclusions: VATS for resection of pleural lesions plus pleural abrasion is an efficacious and simple treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax regardless of intraoperative findings

[Risk factors for atrial fibrillation after thoracic surgery]. / Factores de riesgo en el desarrollo de fibrilación auricular tras cirugía torácica.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors for atrial fibrillation after lung resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2002 and December 2003, 149 patients underwent lung resection in our hospital. For all these patients, clinical, surgical, analytical, and oncological data were prospectively collected. The data were subjected to univariate analysis. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the 127 men (85.2%) and 22 women (14.8%) who underwent lung resection was 61.8 (12.3) years (range, 17-79 years). Atrial fibrillation was documented in 17 patients (11.4%). Mortality at 30 days was 8.1%. The following risk factors for atrial fibrillation were identified: age 70 years or older (P<.0004), prior heart disease (P<.005), patients undergoing operations for lung cancer (P<.04), and type of resection--right bilobectomy (P<.05) and left pneumonectomy (P<.03). Hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer stage were not risk factors. Likewise, systematic lymph node dissection and other forms of lung resection were not risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: After lung resection, atrial fibrillation is a common complication that seems to be associated with old age, history of heart disease, operations for lung cancer, left pneumectomy, and right bilobectomy. The identification of these risk factors may encourage prospective studies that assess the use of antiarrhythmic drugs to prevent atrial fibrillation during chest surgery.

Factores de riesgo en el desarrollo de fibrilación auricular tras cirugía torácica / Risk factors for atrial fibrillation alter thoracic surgery

Objetivo: Determinar los factores de riesgo en la fibrilación auricular (FA) tras la resección pulmonar. Pacientes y método: Entre enero de 2002 y diciembre de 2003 se realizaron en nuestro servicio 149 resecciones anatómicas pulmonares. Se recogieron prospectivamente las características clínicas, quirúrgicas, analíticas y oncológicas de todos los pacientes intervenidos. Se realizó un análisis univariante de todas las variables registradas. Resultados: La edad media (± desviación estándar) de los pacientes operados ­127 varones (85,2%) y 22 mujeres (14,8%)­ fue de 61,8 ± 12,3 años (rango: 17-79). Se detectaron 17 casos de FA (11,4%). La mortalidad a los 30 días fue del 8,1%. Se detectaron los siguientes factores de riesgo de presentar FA: edad >= 70 años (p < 0,0004), enfermedad cardíaca previa (p < 0,005), pacientes operados por carcinoma broncogénico (p < 0,04) y tipo de resección --­bilobectomía derecha (p < 0,05) y neumonectomía izquierda (p < 0,03)--­. No fueron factores de riesgo la hipertensión arterial, la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, el estadio del carcinoma broncogénico, la disección mediastínica sistemática ni otro tipo distinto de resección pulmonar. Conclusiones: La aparición de FA después de la resección pulmonar anatómica es una complicación frecuente que parece asociarse en nuestra serie a edad avanzada, antecedentes de cardiopatía, intervención por carcinoma broncogénico, neumonectomía izquierda y bilobectomía derecha. La identificación de estos factores de riesgo puede ser de utilidad para iniciar estudios prospectivos encaminados a valorar el uso de fármacos antiarrítmicos para prevenir esta complicación

Objective: To determine the risk factors for atrial fibrillation after lung resection. Patients and methods: Between January 2002 and December 2003, 149 patients underwent lung resection in our hospital. For all these patients, clinical, surgical, analytical, and oncological data were prospectively collected. The data were subjected to univariate analysis. Results: The mean (SD) age of the 127 men (85.2%) and 22 women (14.8%) who underwent lung resection was 61.8 (12.3) years (range, 17-79 years). Atrial fibrillation was documented in 17 patients (11.4%). Mortality at 30 days was 8.1%. The following risk factors for atrial fibrillation were identified: age 70 years or older (P<.0004), prior heart disease (P<.005), patients undergoing operations for lung cancer (P<.04), and type of resection--right bilobectomy (P<.05) and left pneumonectomy (P<.03). Hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer stage were not risk factors. Likewise, systematic lymph node dissection and other forms of lung resection were not risk factors. Conclusions: After lung resection, atrial fibrillation is a common complication that seems to be associated with old age, history of heart disease, operations for lung cancer, left pneumectomy, and right bilobectomy. The identification of these risk factors may encourage prospective studies that assess the use of antiarrhythmic drugs to prevent atrial fibrillation during chest surgery

Irreversible tetraplegia after tracheal resection.

The case of a 21-year-old woman without previous cervical pathology in whom irreversible tetraplegia developed after operation for tracheal stenosis is reported. After tracheal resection the neck was kept in extreme flexion and after extubation she was moved to a sitting position. The different causal agents that could produce the neurologic damage remain unclear, although we think that the combination of relative arterial hypotension secondary to the sitting position and disturbed autorregulation, caused by extreme neck flexion, could result in ischemic spinal cord injury.

[The treatment of pneumothorax by small-caliber drainage without a water seal]. / Tratamiento del neumotórax con drenaje fino sin sello de agua.

The authors describe their experience in treating 72 patients with pneumothorax by placement of a drainage tube of 2.2 mm internal diameter equipped with a Heimlich valve. Full lung expansion was achieved with this method in 93% of the cases. Mean hospital stay was 4.05 days (Sx = 3.4, minimum 1, maximum 20). In 7 (10.7%) cases out of 64 who were discharged and followed as outpatients, there was recurrence of pneumothorax. With these results the authors conclude that the system used is valid for treating pneumothorax and that large drains and water seals are not necessary in most cases.

Sclerosing hemangioma of the lung: an ultrastructural study.

A well-circumscribed nodular mass was excised from the lingula of the left lung of a 40-year-old-female. The lesion was discovered on routine chest x-ray examination and corresponded to a typical "sclerosing hemangioma" described by Liebow and Hubbell. Electron microscopic study revealed unequivocal epithelial cells in both the irregular spaces and the solid areas of the tumor; some of these cells were identical to granular pneumonocytes. The true vascular component was sparsely distributed. We concluded that "sclerosing hemangioma" was a misnomer because we were dealing with an essentially epithelial lesion.