Kasim Dogan

Turban pin aspiration; a potential risk for young Islamic girls

A turban is a kind of headcover, worn for religious intentions. In Islamic countries, girls start to wear a turban with the onset of puberty. Turban pins (headscarf needles) are used for attaching the layers of turban to each other in order to keep it in a steady position around the head. Aspiration of these pins is investigated in accordance with age groups, pin characteristics and treatment. From 1987 through 1998, 63 girls were admitted to our department with turban pin aspiration. All patients were healthy prior to aspiration. The median age was 14 years. Foreign bodies were removed, either by rigid bronchoscopy (n = 57), flexible bronchoscopy (n = 2), laryngoscopy (n = 3) or thoracotomy (n = 1). Repeated bronchoscopy rate was 8% (n = 5) and we had no mortality. This recently recognized aspiration hazard can be minimized by using adhesive bands or snap fasteners, instead of pins, when wearing a turban.

Aneurysmal Peroneal Nerve Compression

Vascular compression syndromes of the peroneal nerve are rare. The case history of a patient with a peroneal nerve compression caused by a true anterior tibial artery aneurysm is reported. The surgical excision of the aneurysm resulted in marked improvement.

eNOS G894T Polymorphism and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Background: The genetic risk factors that contribute to the risk of developing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are poorly understood. We assessed the association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphism with AAA. Methods: eNOS gene polymorphism of 61 patients with AAA and 62 control participants were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction technique. Results: eNOS G894 homozygote T/T genotype polymorphism and 894T allele frequency in patients with AAA were significantly higher than those of the control participants (P = .01, P = .03). Among patients with AAA, the eNOS G894 T/T polymorphism and 894T allele frequency were associated with larger AAAs. Conclusion: The current study, in a small group of participants, showed a relationship between eNOS G894T polymorphism and AAA.

Asymptomatic total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with double drainage in a young adult: a case report.

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection is an uncommon congenital anomaly in which all pulmonary venous return drains to the right atrium or one of its tributaries. Survival beyond infancy without surgical palliation is unlikely, so this anomaly is not encountered in the adult population with congenital heart disease. The patient presented here was 22 years old on admission and had no total anomalous pulmonary venous connection-associated symptoms. He underwent transthoracic echocardiographic examination for atypical chest pain. Transthoracic echocardiography along with cardiac catheterization favored the presence of a total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Surgical correction of pulmonary venous confluence (draining to both the coronary sinus and right atrium) was performed successfully. This is a rare case of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with no reported symptoms in contrast to the majority of patients who are symptomatic during the first year of life.

Unusual Sites of Uncommon Endobronchial Foreign Bodies: Reports of Four Cases

Foreign body aspiration occurs most commonly in children and can have serious consequences. In adults, it is associated with surgery, trauma and accidents. We report four unusual cases of foreign body inhalation. In one case a spike of wild barley entered the trachea through a tracheostomy cannula and migrated from the chest wall. In the second case a piece of coarse cloth which was introduced through a tracheostomy stoma aided by a wood sliver was retained in the trachea. In another patient an inhaled sewing needle migrated to the pericardium, and in the fourth case the head of a metal stud penetrated the trachea percutaneously through the neck and lodged in the right main bronchus. The incidence, causes, complications and management of such cases are discussed and the literature is briefly reviewed.

Bilateral chylothorax caused by pleuropulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis: a challenging problem in thoracic surgery.

Massive left-sided pleural effusion in a 35-year-old man was initially diagnosed as idiopathic spontaneous chylothorax and treated with serial thoracenteses and left thoracotomy. Six weeks later, a right thoracotomy was performed for contralateral chylothorax, and histologic examination revealed lymphangiomyomatosis. The patient survived this rare and potentially fatal disease. We have found no previously published case of bilateral lymphangiomyomatosis treated with separate thoracotomies because of bilateral chylothorax.Massive left-sided pleural effusion in a 35-year-old man was initially diagnosed as idiopathic spontaneous chylothorax and treated with serial thoracenteses and left thoracotomy. Six weeks later, a right thoracotomy was performed for contralateral chylothorax, and histologic examination revealed lymphangiomyomatosis. The patient survived this rare and potentially fatal disease. We have found no previously published case of bilateral lymphangiomyomatosis treated with separate thoracotomies because of bilateral chylothorax.

Neuroprotective effects of diltiazem in rabbits with occluded aorta

OBJECTIVE In the present study, we aimed to determine the protective effect of the perfusion of the distal aorta with diltiazem and ringer lactate solution on the spinal cord. METHODS Twenty-seven New Zealand rabbits were used in which spinal cord ischemia was provided by occlusion of the aorta for thirty minutes. Experimental animals were divided into four groups: group A (n=4), the sham operation group; group B (n=8) in which intraaortic balloon occlusion alone was applied; group C (n=7), ringer lactate group in which ringer lactate was perfused into distal aorta at a rate of 40 ml/kg, hr, following intraaortic balloon occlusion; group D (n=8) diltiazem group in which diltiazem 40 mg/kg, hr, in Ringer lactate was perfused into distal aorta following intraaortic balloon occlusion. Motor function of hind limbs was evaluated by Tarlovs scoring system. After observation, spinal cords were removed for histopathological evaluation. RESULTS The degree of histopathological injury was well correlated with neurological function. The most severe histopathological injury and neurological dysfunction occurred in group B, followed by group C, D and A respectively. No injury or neurological dysfunction occurred in the sham group. CONCLUSIONS The protective effect of diltiazem on both histopathological injury and neurological function was significant in comparison with control groups.

Lung Mass Due to Amniotic Fluid Embolism: An Intrathoracic Complication of Pregnancy

A 29-year-old woman with right chest pain was admitted for radiographic investigation and found to have a round mass in the right lower zone. This was initially suspected to be a hydatid lung cyst but was confirmed as a cystic mass by computed tomography and duly excised. Histologic examination revealed an amniotic fluid embolism. The patient had had a stillbirth three months earlier.

The influence of priming solutions used in cardiopulmonary bypass on blood viscosity in hypothermic conditions.

Vessel diameter, flow velocity, temperature, and viscosity are among the factors determining blood flow in vessels. To assess the influence of arterial blood flow on veins in a cardiac operation, the viscosity of blood diluted with priming solutions must be known. This study aimed to demonstrate the alteration of blood viscosity following dilution with priming solutions: hydroxyethyl starch (HES), gelatin, albumin, and Ringer’s lactated solution (RL). Sixty volunteers were (15 female, 45 male) included in the study. Using a 50-ml syringe containing heparin, 40-ml fasting blood was drawn from antecubital veins. Six milliliters of blood was added to glass tubes previously filled with 2 ml of HES 6%, gelatin 4%, albumin, and RL solutions. Relative viscosity values of these mixtures were measured with an Ostwald viscometer device while the temperature was kept constant at 15°C and 30°C by means of a water bath. Measured viscosity values were compared with the calculated viscosity values and corrected values were obtained. All mixtures demonstrated decreased viscosity; however, it was evident that the mixtures containing HES and gelatin presented a lesser degree of decrease in viscosity when compared with the mixtures containing albumin and RL solution. Viscosity of all mixtures except RL decreased significantly at deep hypothermia (15°C).

A temperatura da pele pode ser um indicador para hemorragia grave no pós-operatório?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether postoperative hypothermia evaluated by skin temperature can be a clue of excessive bleeding requiring re-exploration. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the records of 12 patients who needed re-exploration due to bleeding in the postoperative period were reviewed and the time from the first minute in the intensive care unit until the skin temperature reached 36.5oC was measured. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) durations were noted as were preoperative and postoperative Activated Clotting Times (ACT) and the lowest body temperatures during the operation. A control group was formed of 16 randomly chosen patients who did not need re-exploration with CPB times similar to the study group. All parameters were compared between the two groups using the SPSS software version 10.0. RESULTS: The length of time from the first minute in the intensive care unit until skin temperatures reached 36.5oC were significantly longer in the study group (p=0.0001). Preoperative and postoperative ACT were not significantly different (p=0.312 and p=0.576 respectively). The lowest body temperatures were also not significantly different (p=0.157). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that skin temperature is an important indicator of excessive bleeding with a need for re-exploration. Hypothermia may be a reason for this or may be a result of the bleeding.