Stent implantation for malignant pulmonary artery stenosis in a metastasizing non-small cell bronchial carcinoma.

A 58-year-old patient with recently diagnosed non-small cell bronchial carcinoma was referred to us with increasing shortness of breath and orthopnea by her family practitioner. To exclude the possibility of a pulmonary embolism, contrast medium-enhanced angio-CT of the thorax was performed. This showed a large mediastinal tumor, which, on the one hand, infiltrated and occluded the left upper lobe bronchus and, on the other, constricted the left pulmonary artery over a considerable part of its length. In view of the palliative situation and massively increasing dyspnea, balloon dilatation of the obstructed left pulmonary artery followed by stent placement was performed. This resulted in an immediate improvement of the symptoms. The originally strongly oxygen-dependent and heavily dyspneic patient could be relieved of the external supply of oxygen and was able to sleep normally without additional medication within 24 h. The patient was able ambulate freely within 2 days, with a markedly improved quality of life.

[Intramural rupture and intramural hematoma of the esophagus: 3 case reports and literature review]. / Intramurale Ruptur und intramurales Hämatom des Osophagus: 3 Fälle und Literaturübersicht.

Together with three of our own observations of intramural rupture (IRO) or hematoma (IHO) of the esophagus, we have analyzed 91 case reports from the literature. Precipitating factors were identified in 63% of all patients. Most frequently potentially traumatic events such as vomiting (22%) or instrumentation (17%) preceded IRO/IHO. In 21% there were disturbances of hemostasis, either alone (15%) or in addition to a traumatic event (6%). 37% of IRO/IHO were spontaneous. In 35% the typical clinical triad of acute retrosternal pain, odynophagia or dysphagia and hematemesis was complete; in 46% only two out of three symptoms were present. IRO/IHO was managed conservatively in 84% of the patients, whereas 9% required surgery for complications. 7% were operated on without a precise indication. One patient died following surgery for endoscopic perforation. The rare syndrome of IRO/IHO must be considered in patients with acute retrosternal pain. Treatment is primarily conservative and the prognosis is excellent.