Phrenic nerve injury after blunt trauma.

Phrenic nerve injury resulting from blunt trauma is unusual and may closely mimic diaphragmatic rupture. Diagnosis remains difficult and is often delayed. A prompt diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. We describe one patient with phrenic nerve injury in whom the diagnosis was made late at the time of injury. Radiograph, ultrasonography, and computed tomography were helpful in the diagnosis. Video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed on our patient for diagnostic purposes. Left phrenic nerve injury and pericardial injury were found. Diaphragmatic plication was performed through a miniature left posterolateral thoracotomy. This case was presented to show the unusual nature of phrenic nerve injury.

Ruptured hydatid cysts of the lung in children: clinical review and results of surgery.

BACKGROUND: Rupture of a hydatid cyst may cause some unique problems, especially in children. METHODS: Sixty-three children with a total of 68 ruptured lung hydatid cysts were operated on between 1980 and 2000. Mean age was 12.3 years (range, 1 to 15 years). Radiographic findings were hydropneumothorax (20.6%) and air-fluid level (19%). Mean follow-up was 19.3 months. RESULTS: Transthoracic needle aspiration was responsible for the rupture in 3 children. The interval between cyst rupture and operation was less than 24 hours in 10 patients (15.9%), 1 to 4 days in 36 (57.1%), and more than 4 days in 17 (27%). Resection rate was 22.1%. The most frequent operative method was cystotomy and capitonnage (38%). Morbidity was 25.4% (extended air leak 5, empyema 3, bronchopleural fistula 3, atelectasis 3, pneumonia 2). Mortality was 4.7% (hemoptysis 1, pneumonia and sepsis 1, aspiration of hydatid material 1). Morbidity and mortality seem to be more frequent in late cases. CONCLUSIONS: Early surgical intervention with single-lung ventilation and maximum parenchyma preservation are recommended.

Surgical treatment of post-traumatic tracheobronchial injuries: 14-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: Tracheobronchial injuries have different clinical pictures and high mortality unless aggressive treatment is used. We reviewed our surgical experience. METHODS: The records of 32 patients from 1988 to 2002 were reviewed. Mean age was 22.3 years (range: 4-53). Three patients were female. Prominent symptoms were dyspnea, subcutaneous air and pneumothorax in chest X-rays. Associated injuries were seen in 22 patients (68.7%): most frequently in the lung parenchyma (11 patients) and esophagus (seven patients). Bronchoscopic detection of a rupture of the trachea or bronchus was the main indication for surgery. RESULTS: Nineteen injuries (59%) were penetrating and 13 blunt (41%). The most common presenting sign of airway disruption was subcutaneous emphysema (25%) and stridor (22%). Of the 32 patients, 22 underwent bronchoscopic examination. Bronchography was used in three patients admitted during the late period. Surgical morbidity was 19.3%. Seven patients died (21.8%), of whom six had been operated on. In operations performed during the first 2 h of trauma, no mortality occurred. There were associated injuries in 100% of patients that died and in 60% of those that survived. The proportion (100 vs. 24%) and duration (2.8 vs. 11.6 days) of ventilatory support were lower in patients that survived than in those that died. Mean injury severity score of patients that died was 34.7+/-8.8 while it was 24.3+/-8.6 in those that survived. Tracheal stenosis developed in three patients (9.3%). CONCLUSION: In civilian life, tracheobronchial injuries occur relatively rarely. Early diagnosis and operative intervention save lives. Associated injury is an important mortality factor.

Does sodium nitroprusside reduce lung injury under cardiopulmonary bypass?

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that direct pulmonary arterial infusion of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) would ameliorate lung injury under cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Experiments were performed on 12 adult mongrel dogs of both sexes weighing 20-28 kg. The animals were randomly divided into two groups of six animals each. All animals were subjected to total cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and moderate hypothermia (28 degrees C core temperature). During total CPB, the aorta was clamped together with the pulmonary artery to prevent any antegrade flow to the lungs. After cardioplegic arrest for 120 min, the animals were rewarmed, weaned from CPB, and their condition stabilized for another 90 min. After the release of the aortic cross-clamp, the dogs received either a 5% glucose solution as a placebo (group I) or SNP (0.5 microg/kg per min) (group II), both infused into the pulmonary arterial line. The infusion was stopped after 60 min. To measure lung tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), water content and polymorphonuclear leukocytes count, lung tissue samples were taken before CPB and after weaning from CPB. In addition, alveolar-arterial oxygen difference (AaDO(2)) for tissue oxygenation was calculated by obtaining arterial blood gas samples. RESULTS: Values of MDA before CPB of 42.0+/-5.3 nmol/g of tissue rose to 67.6+/-5.7 nmol/g of tissue after weaning from CPB in group I (P=0.028). In group II MDA values also increased from 43.1+/-4.3 to 52.4+/-5.7 nmol MDA/g of tissue after weaning from CPB (P=0.046). The MDA increase in group II after CPB was found to be significantly lower than that for group I (P=0.004). The wet-to-dry lung weight ratio in the sodium nitroprusside group was 5.1+/-0.2, significantly lower than in the control group (6.8+/-0.4), (P=0.01). AaDO(2) increased significantly in group I (P=0.028). There was no statistically significant difference (P=0.065) between groups I and II. During histopathological examination it was observed that neutrophil counts in the lung parenchyma rose significantly after CPB in both groups. The increase in group I was significantly larger than that in group II (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results represented in our study indicate that pulmonary arterial infusion of sodium nitroprusside during reperfusion can reduce lung injury under cardiopulmonary bypass.

[The effects of hypertonic NaCl (7.5%) in dogs with induced acute pulmonary artery obstruction]. / Akut pulmoner arter tikanikligi olusturulan köpeklerde hipertonik NaCl (%7.5) etkisi.

The study was performed on 11 female and 9 male dogs to investigate the effect of hypertonic NaCl in severe hypotension and shock caused by acute pulmonary artery obstruction. The investigation was performed in Dicle University Healt Research Center (DUHRC). The youngest subject was six months old and the oldest was two years old. Their mean body weight was found as 19 kg. All the subjects were operated under general anesthesia. Invasive measurements of arterial pressure were performed through the right femoral artery by monitorization. All subjects were performed left thoracotomy, entrance to thorax was through 5th intercostal space, and first left then right pulmonary artery were circumferenced loosely with tape. After this, mean pulmonary artery pressures are recorded with the help of monitor by inserting canulla into the pulmonary artery. Pulmonary artery pressures at 3rd, 5th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 18th and 21st minutes after ligation of right main pulmonary artery and left lower lobe pulmonary artery, and mean artery pressures are recorded. Sodium nitroprusside is given to half of the subjects and nitroglycerine is given to the other half in order to lower pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary arterial pressure measurements following administration of these drugs are recorded. 7.5% of NaCl infusion to subjects is performed in case of hypotension and shock. Isotonic NaCl solution is used in the control group. Mean arterial pressures in group receiving sodium nitroprusside + 7.5% NaCl solution are found significantly higher statistically when compared to group receiving sodium nitroprusside + 0.9% NaCl isotonic solution. Difference in mean arterial pressures were not found statistically significant in the group receiving nitroglycerin + 7.5% NaCl when compared to group receiving nitroglycerin + 0.9% NaCl solution.

Myocardial infarction and venous thrombosis in a 42-year old woman with heterozygous methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHRF) gene mutation, hyperhomocysteinemia, and protein C deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: Hyperhomocysteinemia and protein C deficiency have synergistic effect on the onset of thrombotic disease. METHODS: We report a 42-year old woman with myocardial infarction and venous thrombosis in whom recognition of heterozygous MTHRF gene mutation, hyperhomocysteinemia, and protein C deficiency. RESULTS: The patient was treated successfully with coronary artery bypass graft surgery and systemic anticoagulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our report emphasize that a combined hyperhomocysteinemia, and protein C deficiency may be a high risk factor for arterial and venous thromboembolic events in young adults. These patients might be candidates for indefinite anticoagulation.

Treatment of vascular injuries associated with limb fractures.

INTRODUCTION: The goal of therapy in all patients with combined orthopaedic and vascular injuries of the extremities is salvage of a functional limb. In this study, we have evaluated our experience with a subset of patients who had a combination of vascular injury and limb fracture. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 192 patients with vascular injuries of the lower and upper limbs associated with bone fractures were reviewed. Of these, 168 were males and 24 were females; the mean age was 26 years. RESULTS: The mechanism of injury was a penetrating wound in 97 (51%) patients and blunt trauma in 95 (49%) patients. Injured vessels included 6 subclavian/axillary, 39 brachial, 14 radial/ulnar, 11 radial, 8 ulnar, 36 femoral, 43 popliteal, 35 tibial arteries. Saphenous vein graft was the most common conduit of choice in arterial repair (55%). Amputations were needed for 20 patients. The limb salvage rate was 88%. Three patients died. CONCLUSIONS: This study established that delay in surgery, blunt trauma and extensive soft tissue defect in combined orthopaedic and vascular injuries are associated with increased risk of amputation.

Unilateral post-traumatic pulmonary contusion: findings of a review.

PURPOSE: There is still much controversy regarding the optimal treatment for pulmonary contusion. Therefore, we examined the variables affecting patient outcomes over a 10-year period. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 107 consecutive patients with a mean age of 28 years, who were treated for pulmonary contusion during a 10-year period. Pulmonary perfusion scans were obtained for 11 patients. We used a pulmonary contusion score (PCS) of one-third of a lung = 3 and the entire lung = 9. RESULTS: Overall mortality was 15%, which increased to 24.4% in patients with a PCS of 7-9. The time taken for contusions to resolve was longer based on scan results than chest X-rays (42.6 vs 15.5 days, respectively). Concomitant thoracic injures were present in 64.5% of patients, and 29% had a flail chest. The factors predictive of mortality were age >/=60 years, an injury severity score (ISS) >/=25, transfusion of >/=4 units of blood, a PaO(2)/FIO(2) ratio of <300, concomitant flail chest, and a PCS of 7-9. The predictors for mechanical ventilation were age >/=60 years, concomitant flail chest, a PCS of 7-9, and an ISS >/=25. Mortality and the need for mechanical ventilation were higher in patients with nonisolated contusions than in those with isolated contusions. CONCLUSIONS: Optimizing patient outcome requires prompt diagnosis, appropriate maintenance of fluid volume, and selective mechanical ventilation.

A young adult with coronary artery and jugular vein thrombosis: a case report of combined protein S and protein C deficiency.

Protein C and protein S deficiencies increase the risk of thromboembolic events. We report a case of combined protein C and S deficiency in a young woman, with resulted in acute myocardial infarction and asymptomatic jugular vein thrombosis. The patient was treated successfully with coronary artery bypass graft surgery and systemic anticoagulation. Our report emphasizes that a combined deficiency of protein C and S may be a high risk factor for arterial thromboembolic events in young adults.

Free-floating ball thrombus in the left atrium.

Free-floating ball thrombi in the left atrium are rarely seen. They can cause sudden death by occluding the mitral valve. A 47-year-old female patient who showed signs of mitral stenosis during a physical examination and atrial fibrillation by electrocardiography was not administered anticoagulant therapy. On the transthoracic echocardiogram, a stenotic mitral valve and a floating mobile mass were seen inside the large left atrium. This mass was rounded (ball-like), had smooth contours, and occasionally occluded the stenotic mitral valve. The patient underwent emergency surgery to remove the mass, which was later proven to be a thrombus pathologically. Additionally, mitral valve replacement was performed. The importance of anticoagulant therapy for patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis has been emphasized by this case.

Bilateral subclavian arterial aneurysm and ruptured abdominal aorta pseudoaneurysm in Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease is characterized by recurrent ulcers of the mouth and genitalia and relapsing iritis. It is recognized as a chronic multisystem disease affecting the skin, mucous membranes, eye, joints, central nervous system, and blood vessels. About 8% of the patients with Behçet's disease have severe vascular complications such as arterial aneurysm and occlusion. In our patient, there was a massive, painful, pulsatile mass on the clavicle on the right side of neck. A left subclavian artery aneurysm mass was observed on the left apex on a chest X-ray. Through angiography, a lobular giant saccular aneurysm on the proximal side of the right subclavian artery, giant aneurysm on the left subclavian artery, and occlusion on the left subclavian-axillary artery were observed. We treated first the right and then the left subclavian arterial aneurysm with a two-stage operation. The aneurysms were resected and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft interposition was performed. Control angiography was performed 6 months postoperatively. Both grafts were open and there was no anastomotic aneurysm. The patient was reoperated on for a ruptured abdominal aorta pseudoaneurysm 13 months after the first operation. The aortic defect was repaired using a Dacron patch.

Purulent pericarditis in childhood: ten years of experience.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Purulent pericarditis is a rapidly fatal disease if left untreated. This article describes our experience with diagnosis and management of 18 patients seen over a 10-year period. METHODS: Eighteen children with purulent pericarditis were treated in our clinics between 1990 and 2000. Ten patients were boys and 8 were girls, and the mean age of all patients was 4 years (range, 8 months to 12 years). RESULTS: Most common findings were fever and cardiac tamponade. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common causative agent, and the most common predisposing factor was respiratory tract infection. Chest radiography and echocardiography were the most important methods for diagnosis, and pericardiosynthesis was diagnostic in purulent pericarditis. The treatment methods performed in our patients were subxiphoidal pericardial tube (10 patients), pericardiectomy after subxiphoidal pericardial tube (2 patients), pericardiectomy (3 patients), and pericardiocentesis-intrapericardial thrombolytic treatment (3 patients). Only one patient (5.5%) died who was critically ill at the time of admission. CONCLUSIONS: Subxiphoidal tube drainage and pericardiectomy were performed with good results in these cases. Intrapericardial streptokinase and pericardial aspiration method also was thought to be beneficial.

Effects of N-acetylcysteine on pulmonary function in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been implicated in causing poor pulmonary gas exchange postoperatively in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures. In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we examined the pulmonary effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in patients undergoing CABG. Twenty patients undergoing elective CABG and early tracheal extubation were randomized into two groups. Group I (ten patients) received a physiologic salt solution as a placebo in a continuous intravenous infusion for one hour before CPB and 24 hours after CPB; Group II (ten patients) received 100 mg/ kg NAC intravenously for one hour before CPB and 40 mg/kg/day at 24 hours after CPB. Perioperative hemodynamic and pulmonary data were recorded. Postoperative tracheal extubation was accomplished at the earliest appropriate time. The postoperative clinical course was similar in the two groups. Both groups exhibited significant postoperative increases in A-a oxygen gradient (p < 0.01), but patients in Group II exhibited significantly lower increases in postoperative A-a oxygen gradient (p < 0.006). Other hemodynamic and pulmonary data (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), cardiac index (CI), shunt flow, dynamic lung compliance and static lung compliance) exhibited no differences between the groups. There was no significant difference in terms of intubation time. The malondialdehyde (MDA) increase in Group II following CPB was found to be significantly lower than in Group I (p = 0.043). This clinical study reveals that administration of NAC to patients undergoing elective CABG with CPB improves systemic oxygenation. There was no effect in other pulmonary parameters and in terms of intubation time.

Extrapulmonary intrathoracic hydatid cysts.

INTRODUCTION: Hydatid disease, a clinical entity endemic in many sheep- and cattle-raising areas, is still an important health problem in the world. Extrapulmonary location of cysts in the thorax is rare. We report our experience with intrathoracic but extrapulmonary hydatid cysts and discuss concepts of treatment. METHOD: In our Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department at the Dicle University School of Medicine, 133 patients with thoracic hydatid cysts were managed surgically between January 1990 and October 2002. In 14 (10.5%), the cysts were extrapulmonary but within the thorax, located in the pleural cavity, mediastinum, pericardium and diaphragm, or in pleural fissures. Cysts were intact in 12 patients and ruptured in 2. Radiographs of the chest were the main means of diagnosis; all patients with mediastinal and diaphragmatic cysts and some with pleural cysts were also scanned with computed tomography. All patients were managed surgically. RESULTS: We operated on 3 mediastinal, 2 diapragmatic and 1 pericardial hydatid cyst, as well as 6 in pleural fissures and 2 in the pleural space. Lateral thoracotomy was chosen as the surgical incision in all patients except 1 (7% of the 14), who had median sternotomy for a pericardial hydatid cyst. Empyema developed in 2 patients (morbidity, 14%). No patient died perioperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Hydatid cysts may be found in many different sites. Surgery to obtain a complete cure is the treatment of choice for most patients with intrathoracic but extrapulmonary cysts; excision must be done without delay to avoid or relieve compression of surrounding vital structures.

N-acetylcysteine reduces lung reperfusion injury after deep hypothermia and total circulatory arrest.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that the use of N-acetylcysteine would ameliorate the lung reperfusion injury observed after deep hypothermia and total circulatory arrest (DHTSA). METHODS: Experiments were carried out on 12 adult mongrel dogs of either sex weighing 25 to 30 kg. The animals were randomly divided into two groups of six animals each. All animals were cooled to an esophageal temperature of 15 degrees C during 30 minutes and underwent 60 minutes of DHTSA, followed by the reinstitution of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and rewarming. Before rewarming, while 100 mL physiologic saline solution was added into the pump in group I, 50 mg/kg N-acetylcysteine(NAC) was given in group II. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure, left atrial pressure, central venous pressure, and cardiac output were recorded. To measure lung tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), water content and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) count, lung tissue samples were taken before CPB and after weaning CPB. In addition, alveolar-arterial oxygen difference (AaDO(2))()for tissue oxygenation was calculated by obtaining arterial blood gas samples. Dynamic lung compliance (DLC) was measured before CPB and after CPB. RESULTS: MDA levels before CPB of 44.2 +/- 3.9 nmol/g tissue rose to 76.6 +/- 5.6 nmol/g tissue after weaning CPB in group I (p = 0.004). In group II also, the MDA levels increased from 43.5 +/- 4.2 to 57.4 +/- 5.6 nmol MDA/g tissue after weaning CPB (p = 0.006). The MDA increase in group II after CPB was found to be significantly lower than in group I (p = 0.006). The wet-to-dry lung weight ratio in the NAC group was 5.1 +/- 0.2, significantly less than in the control group (5.9 +/- 0.3), (p = 0.004). AaDO(2) significantly increased in the group I and II (p = 0.002 and p = 0.002, respectively); this elevation in group I was significant than in group II (p = 0.044). In histopathological examination, it was observed that neutrophil counts in the lung parenchyma rose significantly after CPB in both groups (p < 0.001). The increase in group I was significantly larger than group II (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Results represented in our study indicate that addition of NAC into the pump after DHTSA can reduce lung reperfusion injury.

Neuroprotective effect of N-acetylcysteine and hypothermia on the spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) in rabbits. Thirty rabbits were divided into five equal groups, group I (sham-operated, no I-R), group II (control, only I-R), group III (I-R+NAC), group IV (I-R+hypothermia), group V (I-R+NAC+hypothermia). Spinal cord ischemia was induced by clamping the aorta both below the left renal artery and above the aortic bifurcation. Forty-eight hours postoperatively, the motor function of the lower limbs was evaluated in each animal according to Tarlov Score. Spinal cord samples were taken to evaluate the histopathological changes. The sham-operated rabbits (group I) showed no neurologic deficit (Score=4). Paraplegia (Score=0) developed in all rabbits in the control group (group II). Administration of 50 mg/kg of NAC (group III) resulted in significant reduction of motor dysfunction (Score=3.1+/-1.3, p=0.002). Application of hypothermia alone (group IV) showed significant recovery of motor functions (Score=3.0+/-1.1, p=0.002), and combination of hypothermia and 50 mg/kg of NAC (group V) showed complete recovery of lower limb motor function (Score=4, p=0.001). Histologic examination of the spinal cord in rabbits with paraplegia revealed several injured neurons. The cords of animals with no motor function deficits showed only minimal cellular infiltrates in the gray matter, and there was good preservation of nerve cells. NAC showed protective effects of the spinal cord. Moderate hypothermia alone also showed protective effects. Combined use of NAC and hypothermia resulted in highly significant recovery of spinal cord function.