Eduardo Sperb Pilla

Lobectomia por carcinoma brônquico: análise das co-morbidades e seu impacto na morbimortalidade pós-operatória

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact that comorbidities have on the postoperative outcomes in patients submitted to lobectomy for the treatment of bronchial carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective study of 493 patients submitted to lobectomy for the treatment of bronchial carcinoma was conducted, and 305 of those patients met the criteria for inclusion in the final study sample. The surgical technique used was similar in all cases. The Torrington-Henderson scale and the Charlson scale were used to analyze comorbidities and to categorize patients into groups based on degree of risk for postoperative complications or death. RESULTS: The postoperative (30-day) mortality rate was 2.9%, and the postoperative complications index was 44%. Prolonged air leakage was the most common complication (in 20.6%). The univariate analysis revealed that gender, age, smoking, neoadjuvant therapy and diabetes all had a significant impact on the incidence of complications. The factors found to be predictive of complications were body mass index (23.8 ± 4.4), forced expiratory volume in one second (74.1 ± 24%) and the ratio between forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity (0.65 ± 0.1). The scales employed proved efficacious in the identification of the risk groups, as well as in drawing correlations with morbidity and mortality (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, body mass index and the Charlson index were found to be the principal determinants of complications. In addition, prolonged air leakage was found to be the principal factor involved in mortality (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Reductions in forced expiratory volume in one second, in the ratio between forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity, and in body mass index, as well as a Charlson score of 3 or 4 and a Torrington-Henderson score of 3, were associated with a greater number of postoperative complications in patients submitted to lobectomy for the treatment of bronchial carcinoma. Air leakage was found to be strongly associated with mortality.

Perfusão pulmonar anterógrada "versus" retrógrada na preservação pulmonar para transplante em modelo canino de viabilidade pulmonar pós-morte

Lung retrieval following cardio-circulatory arrest has been studied experimentally, however severe ischemia/reperfusion injury requires improved methods of graft preservation. Allograft perfusion with crystalloid solution delivered via pulmonary artery (antegrade perfusion) remains the standard procedure, however it does not provide adequate washout of the blood retained within the bronchial circulation which may trigger reperfusion injury. This has led the authors to test the impact of antegrade versus retrograde (via left atrium) perfusion of lung grafts submitted to 3 hours of warm ischemia after cardio-circulatory arrest in a dog model of left lung allotransplantation. Twelve donor dogs were sacrificed with thiopental sodium and kept under mechanical ventilation at room temperature for 3 hours. They were randomized and the heart-lung blocks harvested after being perfused in a retrograde (group I, n = 6) or antegrade (group II, n = 6) fashion with modified Euro-Collins solution. Twelve recipient animals were submitted to a left lung transplant receiving the grafts from both groups and the assessment was performed during 6 hours. Hemodynamic parameters were similar for animals in both groups. The gas exchange (arterial PaO2 and PaCO2) in recipients of group I (retrograde perfusion) was significantly better when compared to recipients of grafts perfused via pulmonary artery. Intracellular ATP did not show difference between the groups, however there was a measurable drop in its values when samples obtained upon extraction were compared to those measured after reperfusion and at the end of the assessment. The authors concluded that retrograde perfusion yields better pulmonary function after 6 hours of reperfusion in this animal model of left lung allotransplantation following 3 hours of normothermic ischemia under mechanical ventilation.

Pré-condicionamento isquêmico por oclusão seletiva da artéria pulmonar em ratos

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito do pre-condicionamento isquemico (PCI) em modelo de isquemia e reperfusao (I/R) pulmonar normotermica em ratos, quantificando a producao de especies reativas do oxigenio. METODOS: Quarenta e sete ratos Wistar foram randomizados em quatro grupos: controle, sham, I/R e PCI. Apos anestesia, animais do grupo controle foram sacrificados por decapitacao, pneumonectomizados, e os pulmoes esquerdos armazenados em nitrogenio liquido. Animais dos grupos sham, I/R e PCI foram anestesiados, traqueostomizados, ventilados, anticoagulados e submetidos a uma toracotomia esquerda com disseccao da arteria pulmonar esquerda para clampeamento. No grupo sham procedeu-se a disseccao da arteria pulmonar esquerda; no grupo I/R, clampeamento hilar total de 30 min e no grupo PCI, clampeamento da arteria pulmonar esquerda por 5 min seguido por reperfusao de 10 min e um clampeamento hilar total de 30 min. Pulmoes foram reperfundidos por 90 min e ventilados com os mesmos parâmetros, acrescidos de pressao expiratoria final positiva de 1 cmH2O. Foram obtidas medidas hemodinâmicas e gasometricas antes da toracotomia, antes do clampeamento hilar total, aos 30 e 90 min de reperfusao. A peroxidacao lipidica foi estabelecida por meio da determinacao das substâncias reativas ao acido tiobarbiturico. RESULTADOS: A determinacao das substâncias reativas ao acido tiobarbiturico analisada nos grupos controle, sham, I/R, PCI nao revelou diferencas significativas, o mesmo ocorrendo com a pressao parcial arterial de oxigenio, pressao parcial arterial de gas carbonico e medidas hemodinâmicas entre os grupos sham, I/R e PCI. CONCLUSOES: O PCI de 5 min da arteria pulmonar esquerda em modelo de I/R in situ em ratos nao atenua a lesao de I/R.

Blastoma pulmonar: tratamento cirúrgico por lobectomia superior direita e broncoplastia

Pulmonary blastoma is a rare lung tumor that is composed of malignant epithelial and mesenchymal cells. It presents a pattern of rapid growth. Herein, we report the case of a patient with hemoptysis and a mass in the right upper lobe. The patient presented limited pulmonary function, and fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed invasion of the intermediate bronchus. The patient underwent sleeve resection of right upper lobe, a technique never before described. After 36 months of follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic. We also review the literature regarding treatment, clinical aspects and pathology.

Efeitos da metilprednisolona na atividade inflamatória e estresse oxidativo nos pulmões de ratos com morte cerebral

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects that early and late systemic administration of methylprednisolone have on lungs in a rat model of brain death. METHODS: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were anesthetized and randomly divided into four groups (n = 6 per group): sham-operated (sham); brain death only (BD); brain death plus methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg i.v.) after 5 min (MP5); and brain death plus methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg i.v.) after 60 min (MP60). In the BD, MP5, and MP60 group rats, we induced brain death by inflating a balloon catheter in the extradural space. All of the animals were observed and ventilated for 120 min. We determined hemodynamic and arterial blood gas variables; wet/dry weight ratio; histological score; levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS); superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity; and catalase activity. In BAL fluid, we determined differential white cell counts, total protein, and lactate dehydrogenase levels. Myeloperoxidase activity, lipid peroxidation, and TNF-α levels were assessed in lung tissue. RESULTS: No significant differences were found among the groups in terms of hemodynamics, arterial blood gases, wet/dry weight ratio, BAL fluid analysis, or histological score-nor in terms of SOD, myeloperoxidase, and catalase activity. The levels of TBARS were significantly higher in the MP5 and MP60 groups than in the sham and BD groups (p < 0.001). The levels of TNF-α were significantly lower in the MP5 and MP60 groups than in the BD group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this model of brain death, the early and late administration of methylprednisolone had similar effects on inflammatory activity and lipid peroxidation in lung tissue.

The effects of positive end-expiratory pressure in alveolar recruitment during mechanical ventilation in pigs

PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of alveolar recruitment based on mean airway pressure (MAP) on pig lungs submitted to thoracotomy through blood gas exchange and hemodynamic parameters. METHODS Twelve pigs weighting approximately 25 Kg were intubated and ventilated on volume controlled ventilation (tidal volume 10 ml/Kg, respiratory rate 16 min, FiO2 1.0, inspiratory:expiratory ratio 1:2, PEEP 5 cmH2O). The animals were then randomized into two groups: control and left lateral thoracotomy. The PEEP was increased at each 15-minute intervals to reach a MAP of 15, 20 and 25 cmH2O, respectively. Hemodynamic, gas exchange and respiratory mechanic data were measured immediately before each PEEP change. RESULTS There were no significant differences between both groups in all parameters analyzed (P=1.0). The PaO2, PaCO2, MAP, PAP and plateau pressure were significantly worse at MAP of 25 cmH2O, when compared with the other values of MAP (P=0.001, P=0.039, P=0.001, P=0.016 e P=0.027, respectively). The best pulmonary performance according to the analyzed parameters was observed at MAP of 20 cmH2O. CONCLUSION PEEP adjusted to MAP of 20 cmH2O resulted in best arterial oxygenation, without compromising the venous return, as opposed to MAP of 25 cmH2O, which caused deterioration of gas exchange, hemodynamics and respiratory mechanic.

Pseudotumor inflamatório endobrônquico: relato de caso

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung is a rare form of benign neoplasia and is generally characterized by a solitary pulmonary nodule. The endobronchial presentation is uncommon. Conservative surgery remains the treatment of choice, and surgeons should always strive to achieve tumor-free margins due to the possibility of local recidivism. This article reports the case of a 36-year-old male patient with recurrent attacks of wheezing and cough. The patient underwent successful bronchoplasty for the resection of an endobronchial inflammatory pseudotumor.

Cateteres venosos totalmente implantáveis em pacientes com neoplasia hematológica e não hematológica

BACKGROUND: We analyse whether hematological tumors increase the risk of complications of totally implantable catheters and if there are differences regarding procedure time when it is perfomed through venous dissection or venous puncture. METHODS: We studied 68 patients with neoplasia in Hospital Santa Rita from Porto Alegre, between February 1998 and December 1999, who had required central venous access for chemotherapy. Forty-eight patients were female and the mean age was 55.6 years. Thirty-one patients had hematological tumors. RESULTS: Postoperative complications were observed in 13 patients (7% with device obstruction, 6% with hematoma and 6% with infection), but there was no difference regarding the pattern of the neoplasia (p = 0.56). Venous dissection and venous puncture were performed in 30 and 38 patients, respectively, with no difference concerning surgical time (p = 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: Hematological tumors did not increase the risk of complications of totally implantable catheters; furthermore, both surgical techniques (venous dissection or venous puncture) are acceptable choices, with similar surgical times, since one respects minimal platelet count of 50 000/mL and careful hemostasis techniques and compressive dressings.