Mauro Tamagno

Predictors for Postoperative Complications After Tracheal Resection

BACKGROUND Tracheal resection and anastomosis is the gold standard for the treatment of tracheal stenosis. The objective of this study is to evaluate the complications after tracheal resection for benign stenosis and the predicting factors for such complications. METHODS A retrospective study was made involving patients with benign tracheal or laryngotracheal stenosis who underwent surgical resection and reconstruction between February 2002 and January 2009. Complications related and unrelated to the anastomosis were studied. Categorical variables were presented as percentage and continuous variables as mean and standard deviation. Predicting factors were determined by univariate analysis. Factors with p less than 0.05 were used for multivariate regression. Logistic regression models were also employed for dependent variables. Statistical significance was set for p less than 0.05. RESULTS Ninety-four patients (18 female, 76 male) were included. Complications occurred in 42 (44.6%). Twenty-one percent had anastomotic complications. The most common complication was restenosis (16%). Nonanastomotic complications occurred in 23.2%. Wound infection occurred in 10.6%. Clinical comorbidities, previous tracheal resection, and the length of tracheal resection were statistically significant factors for complications. Previous tracheal resection was the most significant factor and was highly associated with anastomotic complications (odds ratio 49.965, p=0.012). The greatest number of complications was found in the laryngotracheal reconstruction group, and in resections more than 4 cm. Mean follow-up was 19±14 months. At the end of the study, 86 patients (91.4%) were breathing normally. There was no mortality in this series. CONCLUSIONS Comorbidities, previous tracheal resection, and the length of tracheal resection more than 4 cm were statistically significant factors for the onset of complications.

Decannulation in Tracheal Stenosis Deemed Inoperable Is Possible After Long-Term Airway Stenting

BACKGROUND Decannulation is the ultimate therapeutic goal for patients who undergo stenting because of inoperable benign tracheal stenosis. In this study, our objectives were to evaluate whether long-term airway stenting allows decannulation in patients with benign tracheal stenosis who were deemed inoperable and to identify possible predictive factors for successful decannulation (SD). METHODS Retrospective cohort study including all patients with inoperable benign tracheal stenosis who underwent tracheal stenting in our tertiary-care university-based institution from 1998 to 2008. For benign stenosis, we use only silicone stents (T tubes, Dumon stents, and Y stents). The main outcome was SD, which was defined as removal of the tracheal stent followed by absence of respiratory symptoms and no requirement for new dilation procedures for at least 6 months. A Kaplan-Meier curve was built to evaluate SD in 5 years, and we used a Cox model to evaluate predictors for a SD. RESULTS Ninety-two patients were included, and during the study period 21 were decannulated. However, 2 of them had to undergo new airway procedures and were considered to represent failure. Therefore, 19 patients were successfully decannulated. According to the Kaplan-Meier estimate, the SD rate in 5 years was 27.5%. The mean follow-up time after SD was 34.3 ± 33.9 months (range, 6 to 108 months). Cox regression showed only 1 significant factor: tracheostomy before stent insertion caused a threefold increase in the likelihood of the patient remaining with a tracheal stent (p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS Tracheal stenting may be considered a curative therapeutic approach in as many as 27.5% of patients with inoperable benign tracheal stenosis.

Hemangioma of the Rib

An asymptomatic 48-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a tumor of the rib incidentally diagnosed on a chest roentgenogram. The patient was investigated and underwent tumor resection of the chest wall. The pathologic study revealed that it was cavernous hemangioma. This tumor of the bone is a distinctly uncommon benign vascular tumor, generally occurring in the spine or skull. Hemangiomas involving the rib are even more rare, with only 22 cases described in the literature. However, we suggest that this tumor of the rib should be considered in the differential diagnosis, principally in asymptomatic patients.

Hemangioma subglótico e mediastinal em criança: tratamento com propranolol

A 6-month-old girl with upper airway obstruction was evaluated in the emergency room. The patient had been born prematurely (at gestational week 34). Prior to the emergency room visit, she had been treated for gastroesophageal reflux and recurrent respiratory infection. Physical examination revealed laryngeal stridor. All laboratory test results were normal. A CT scan of the chest, larynx, and trachea showed a heterogeneous, highly vascularized mass in the left hemithorax (Figure 1). However, there was no cardiac malformation. Rigid bronchoscopy performed under general anesthesia revealed a large pulsatile mass that obstructed approximately 80% of the larynx and trachea (Figure 2a; Video 1

Peripheral pulmonary artery aneurysm presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodule

We report the case of a 63-year-old female patient who was evaluated due to a solitary pulmonary nodule. The final diagnosis was a solitary peripheral pulmonary artery saccular aneurysm. The patient was submitted to a pulmonary lobectomy with excellent recovery. Peripheral pulmonary artery aneurysms that arise from segmental or intrapulmonary branches are extremely rare, and their management is still controversial.

Giant multilocular thymic cyst in an HIV-infected adolescent

A girl with vertically acquired HIV infection presented with a 6-month history of dyspnea and chest pain. Computed tomography of the thorax showed a heterogenous mass measuring 13 × 9 × 17 cm located in the anterior mediastinum. Complete surgical resection was accomplished with no complications. The final diagnosis was multilocular thymic cyst, a distinct pathologic entity that is morphologically distinguishable and unrelated to congenital thymic cyst.

Bilateral Thoracic Sympathectomy: How I Do It?

The main indications for thoracic sympathectomy are essential or primary hyperhidrosis, ischemic pathologies of the hands, post-traumatic pain syndromes, long QT syndrome, thoracic angina, and Raynaud’s phenomenon. We describe the standardized surgical technique we employ, its results, and complications.

Treatment of thoracic wounds with adapted vacuum therapy

This is a report of seven cases of infected thoracic wounds treated with an adapted low-cost vacuum therapy in the Thoracic Surgery Unit of Santa Marcelina Hospital. The vacuum system used was designed and adapted to our hospital due to financial limitations on the acquisition of commercial kits. The vacuum-assisted closure kit used in this study consisted of chlorhexidine sponges (which are usually used for antisepsis of the surgical team), a 16F nasogastric tube, and two sterile adhesive films (OPSITE) for surgical field reinforcement. The mean duration of vacuum therapy was 13.4 days (range, 10-20 days), with an average of three dressing changes (range, 1-5). After treatment with vacuum-assisted closure, three wounds (3/7) were closed with simple primary sutures, one of the lesions (1/7) was closed by muscle flap rotation, and three wounds (3/7) healed by second intention. This adapted vacuum therapy was safe and easy to apply in our institution, including its use in patients with thoracostomies.