Hany Elsayed

Thoracic Epidural or Paravertebral Catheter for Analgesia After Lung Resection: Is the Outcome Different?

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine whether thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) or a paravertebral catheter block (PVB) with morphine patient-controlled analgesia influenced outcome in patients undergoing thoracotomy for lung resection. DESIGN A retrospective analysis. SETTING A tertiary referral center. PARTICIPANTS The study population consisted of 1,592 patients who had undergone thoracotomy for lung resection between May 2000 and April 2008. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Patients who received PVBs were younger, had a higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second, had a higher body mass index, a higher incidence of cardiac comorbidity, fewer pneumonectomies, and more wedge resections. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to develop a propensity-matched score for the probability of patients receiving an epidural or a paravertebral catheter. Four patients with an epidural to one with a paravertebral catheter were matched, with 488 patients and 122 patients, respectively. Postmatching analysis now showed no difference between the groups for preoperative characteristics or operative extent. Postmatching analysis showed no significant difference in outcome between the two groups for the incidence of postoperative respiratory complication (p = 0.67), intensive therapy unit (ITU) stay (p = 0.51), ITU readmission (p = 0.66), or in-hospital mortality (p = 0.67). There was a significant reduction in the hospital length of stay in favor of the paravertebral group (6 v 7 days, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS Paravertebral catheter analgesia with morphine patient-controlled analgesia seems as effective as thoracic epidural for reducing the risk of postoperative complications. The authors additionally found that paravertebral catheter use is associated with a shorter hospital stay and may be a better form of analgesia for fast-track thoracic surgery.

Impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity on surgical outcomes in patients undergoing non-emergent coronary artery bypass grafting †

OBJECTIVES Although the association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and adverse surgical outcomes has been previously demonstrated, the impact of COPD severity on postoperative mortality and morbidity remains unclear. Our objective was to analyse the prognostic implication of COPD stages as defined by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. METHODS Between September 1997 and April 2010, 13,638 patients undergoing first time isolated CABG were retrospectively reviewed, of whom 2421 patients were excluded due to lack of spirometry records or restrictive pattern on spirometry. The remaining 11,217 patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (including patients with normal spirometry and patients with mild COPD (FEV1/FVC ratio<70%, FEV1≥80% predicted), group 2 (moderate COPD: FEV1/FVC ratio<70%, 50%≤FEV1<80% predicted) and group 3 (severe COPD: FEV1/FVC ratio<70%, FEV1<50% predicted). Logistic regression was used to examine the effect of COPD severity on early mortality and morbidity, after adjusting for differences in patient characteristics. RESULTS Early mortality in the three groups was 1.4, 2.9 and 5.7% respectively (P<0.001). Similarly, a consistent trend of increasing frequency of postoperative complications with advanced COPD stage was noted. On multivariate analysis, severe COPD was found to be significantly associated with early mortality [adjusted OR, 2.31 (95% CI) (1.23-4.36)], P=0.01. CONCLUSIONS The severity of COPD as defined by spirometry can be a prognostic marker in patients undergoing CABG. Spirometric criteria may help refining currently used operative risk scores.

Treatment of pneumothoraces at a tertiary centre: are we following the current guidelines?

The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) in 2001 and British Thoracic Society (BTS) in 1993 and 2003 published guidelines for the treatment of pneumothorax. Here, we review our experience of managing pneumothorax patients, comparing standards of management before and after the publication of the guidelines in 2003. One hundred and twenty patients were transferred to our care for management of pneumothorax between October 2001 and September 2006. One hundred and one patients underwent pleurectomy [28 by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)]. There were 69 males and 32 females with a median age of 47 years (range 15-86 years). 24% (n=24) of patients had evidence of intrapleural infection at time of operation. This was more likely if the time to pleurectomy was >14 days (P=0.03). The median time of referral for patients in the pre-guideline group was 12 days [interquartile range (IQR) 9-12] while post guidelines it was 10 days (IQR 6-13). There was no statistical significance (P=0.09) between these groups in terms of time taken to refer patients. The ACCP and BTS guidelines are not being followed. Pneumothoraces should be managed by chest physicians who are aware of the current guidelines. Impact of delayed referral in the form of increased incidence of morbidity and financial burdens on hospitals needs to be recognized.

Haemothorax after mediastinoscopy: a word of caution

Mediastinoscopy is used for the staging of lung cancer and for the diagnosis of mediastinal lesions. It is a valuable diagnostic tool but, in a few cases, it could result in major complications. We describe a simple technique to avoid the development of a major complication--massive haemothorax--after a mediastinoscopy, which should be applied in cases of inadvertent injury of the pleura during the procedure.

Oesophageal perforation complicating intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography: suspicion can save lives

Oesophageal injury is an extremely rare complication of intra-operative transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) associated with cardiac surgery. We report a case of delayed presentation (19 days after surgery) of oesophageal injury that was likely due to TOE following an aortic valve replacement. Lack of suspicion led to a delay in diagnosis but the patient fortunately survived. We advocate that in the event of postoperative hydropneumothorax, the differential diagnosis must include iatrogenic oesophageal injury from transoesophageal echo.

Is video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery talc pleurodesis superior to talc pleurodesis via tube thoracostomy in patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax?

A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was [in patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP)] is [video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery talc pleurodesis] superior to [talc pleurodesis through tube thoracostomy] in terms of [absence of recurrence and procedure morbidity]? Seventy-three papers were found using the reported search. In looking through our search strategy, we selected studies comparing both procedures and studies performing either procedures and stating their outcome, morbidity mortality and rate of recurrence. Hence, six studies and one society guideline represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. Only one study compared both techniques and showed a higher length of hospital stay (14.2 vs 10.6 days; P = 0.033), higher rate of recurrence (30 vs 4.5%; P = 0.016) and higher mortality (5 vs 0%; P = 0.280) with tube thoracostomy talc pleurodesis in comparison with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) talc pleurodesis. Two studies looked at talc pleurodesis via tube thoracostomy (TT) alone for patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP). Talc pleurodesis was associated with an immediate success rate of 78.1 and 78.6%, with a short-term recurrence rate of 21.9 and 21.4%. No mortality was recorded in any study, but 1 patient (1.6%) in one study suffered from respiratory distress. No long follow-up periods were available in both studies; hence, there is no recording of long-term recurrence. Three studies looked at VATS talc pleurodesis alone in SSP patients. The procedure was associated with higher immediate success rates (90-100%) than TT pleurodesis alone with lower recurrence rates (0-10%). Average hospital stay was in the range of 3-4.7 days. Follow-up periods were 18, 22.7 and 24 months with recurrence rate ranging from 0 to 15%. No study was associated with major postoperative morbidity or in-hospital mortality. In conclusion, while there is only one study directly comparing both VATS and tube thoracostomy talc pleurodesis, the best evidence suggests that VATS talc pleurodesis for patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax should be considered the treatment of choice as it is associated with a higher immediate success rate, lower recurrence rate and a lower mortality than talc pleurodesis via tube thoracostomy.

Insertion of paravertebral block catheters intraoperatively to reduce incidence of block failure.

Paravertebral block catheters are a recognized method of regional pain control after a thoractomy. We describe a technique of insertion with the belief that it provides a superior positioning of the paravertebral (extra-pleural) catheter resulting in a better distribution of the local anaesthetic and better pain control.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis: a right-sided or left-sided approach?

A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was in [patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for myasthenia gravis (MG)] is a [left-sided approach] superior to a [right-sided approach] in terms of [clinical outcome]? Two hundred and fifty-nine papers were found using the reported search. In looking at both procedures, we selected studies with a sizeable number of patients performing or studying both procedures and comparing their outcome. Hence, only 4 studies represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date, country, study type, patient group, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. Two studies compared their clinical experience with a right-sided versus a left-sided video assisted thoracoscopic surgery thymectomy approach, while 1 study compared using a bilateral versus a unilateral right-sided approach in patients with non-thymomatous MG. The number of patients studied included 31, 107 and 103 patients, respectively. All 3 studies demonstrated no difference regarding surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative complications and therapeutic effects (the last study compared the 5-year complete stable remission rate). All 3 studies concluded that both approaches are feasible, effective and comparable in operative and long-term results for the treatment of non-thymomatous MG. One anatomical study compared both approaches in 10 cadavers, 5 in each group. They studied the size of the specimen resected and visualization of different anatomic sites via each approach. Visualization was superior using the left-sided approach, while a right-sided approach resulted in slightly higher chances of an incomplete resection. The study concluded that a left-sided approach achieves a better chance of radical thoracoscopic thymectomy due to anatomic considerations. In conclusion, despite 1 cadaveric study suggesting that a left-sided approach may achieve more complete resection, possibly due to anatomical considerations, there are no differences in outcomes with either unilateral approach in terms of complications, hospital stay or long-term symptom relief.

An intra-parenchymal pulmonary lipoma with a high activity on positron emission tomography scan

Benign pulmonary tumours are a less frequent differential diagnosis of the more common malignant pulmonary tumours. They usually present in the younger age groups and are almost invariably inactive on positron emission tomography (PET) studies. We report a unique case of peripheral pulmonary lipoma in an 81-year-old female which showed increased activity on PET.

A Novel Application of Cerebral Oximetry in Cardiac Surgery

We report a novel use of cerebral oximetry in cardiac surgery using the Fore-Sight absolute cerebral oximeter (CAS Medical Systems Inc, Branford, CT). A patient with a persistent left superior vena cava underwent mitral and aortic valve replacement. We decided to tape and occlude the persistent left superior vena cava and used cerebral oximetry to compare left and right hemispheric oxygen saturation levels to ensure that cerebral perfusion was not impaired. The procedure was uneventful, and the patient was extubated 8 hours later without neurocognitive deficit.