Refik Ülkü

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.

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.

Management of multiloculated empyema thoracis in children: thoracotomy versus fibrinolytic treatment

OBJECTIVE Progression of empyema, with the development of fibrinous adhesions and loculations, makes simple drainage difficult or impossible. The appropriate management remains controversial. Intrapleural fibrinolytic treatment to facilitate drainage of loculated empyema instead of open thoracotomy has been advocated recently. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the intrapleural fibrinolytic application. METHODS In our clinic we used urokinase in 28 patients and performed thoracotomy and decortication in another 43. The two groups of patients had similar characteristics. Mean age was 10.2 (range: 3-14 years). All had undergone medical treatment and tube thoracostomy. Empyema severity score (ESS) was measured in all. RESULTS Fibrinolytic treatment, and thoracotomy and decortication had complete response rates of 67.8 and 100%, respectively. Treatment was ineffective in six (21.4%) out of 28 patients who underwent urokinase instillation; they recovered after thoracotomy. In three (10.7%) patients, partial resolution was observed. One patient died of sepsis and pleural hemorrhage. Mean hospital stay after urokinase was 10.7 (range: 6-17) days. In the thoracotomy group, all patients recovered completely. No deaths occurred. Postoperative complications were incisional infection in two patients, atelectasis in one and reoperation after hemorrhage in one. Mean hospital stay after surgery was 9.5 (5-19) days. The ESS of cases operated on was lower postoperatively (0.3 versus 0.8). CONCLUSION Continued conservative therapy risks morbidity and mortality. Thoracotomy-decortication can be used successfully and must remain the preferred method in the treatment of multiloculated pediatric empyema.

Factors affecting the outcome of surgically treated non-iatrogenic traumatic cervical esophageal perforation: 28 years experience at a single center

BackgroundWe reviewed our experience with non-iatrogenic traumatic cervical esophageal perforations, paying particular attention to factors affecting the outcome of such cases.MethodsIn total, 30 patients treated surgically between 1980 and 2008 for non-iatrogenic traumatic cervical esophageal perforation in our clinic were reviewed.ResultsThere were 25 male and 5 female patients with a median age of 27.5 years. The type of injury was external trauma in 21 (70%) patients and endoluminal injury in the remaining 9 (30%) patients. The mechanism of injury was gunshot in 16 patients, stabbing in 4, falling in 1 (extraluminal injury), and foreign body in 9 (endoluminal injuries). The overall mortality rate was 16.6% (5/30). The mortality rate for extraluminal injuries was 19%, and for endoluminal injuries was 11.1%. Mortality in patients treated within 24 h of sustaining injury was substantially less than in those for whom diagnosis and treatment were delayed (12.5 and 21.4%, respectively). The mortality rate was 33.3% (3/9) for patients with tracheal injuries and 9.5% (2/21) for those without tracheal injuries.ConclusionsA treatment delay greater than 24 h, the presence of tracheal injury, or extraluminal perforation significantly affected the outcome of surgically treated non iatrogenic traumatic cervical esophageal perforation.

Congenital lobar emphysema: Differential diagnosis and therapeutic approach

Background: Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) is a rare anomaly of lung development that usually presents in the neonatal period with respirator distress and pulmonary lobar hyperinflation. It is commonly confused with pneumothorax. The aim of the present paper was to review the authors’ experience in order to emphasize the importance of differential diagnosis with pneumothorax.

Unilateral post-traumatic pulmonary contusion : Findings of a review

PurposeThere is still much controversy regarding the optimal treatment for pulmonary contusion. Therefore, we examined the variables affecting patient outcomes over a 10-year period.MethodsWe 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.ResultsOverall 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 PaO2/FIO2 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.ConclusionsOptimizing patient outcome requires prompt diagnosis, appropriate maintenance of fluid volume, and selective mechanical ventilation.

Thoracic firearm injuries in children: management and analysis of prognostic factors

OBJECTIVE Thoracic firearm injuries (TFI) have become increasingly prevalent in children. Our purpose is to assess the injury pattern, Injury Severity Score (ISS), length of hospital stay (LOS), management and outcome of children with TFI with respect to the type of injury and to evaluate the value of ISS for predicting injury severity and the eventual need for thoracotomy, as well as the rate of morbidity and mortality. METHODS Between January 1987 and June 2002, 110 children (88 boys and 22 girls) </=16 years of age with firearm injuries to the chest were evaluated. The children were divided in four groups according to cause of injury. An ISS was calculated for each child. Those children who died before admission were excluded from the study. The relationship between ISS and prognostic factors was analyzed in all four groups. RESULTS The mean age was 11.1+/-3.0 (range 3-16) years. Eighty-eight (80%) were male and 22 (20%) were female. The causes of firearm injuries were high-velocity gunshot wounds (HVGSW) in 52 (47.2%), low-velocity gunshot wounds (LVGSW) in 23 (20.9%), shotgun wounds (SGW) in 18 (16.3%), and explosives wounds (EW) in 17 (15.4%). Lung injury occurred in 72 (65.5%) patients. Tube thoracostomy was sufficient in 76.3% (84 of 110) for thoracic injury. The morbidity rate was 16.3% (18/110) and the mortality rate was 4.5% (5/110). Mean ISS was 16.62+/-8.2 (range 4-48). Fifty-eight patients (52.7%) had an ISS </=16, while 31 (28.2%) had a score between 17 and 25, and 21 (19.1%) had a score greater than 25. The need for thoracotomy, as well as the rate of morbidity and mortality were significantly higher in children for those with an ISS >25. SGW and EW groups had a significantly higher ISS. The mean LOS was 10.84+/-4.7 days (range 4-42). The value of LOS was significantly higher in children with SGW and EW. CONCLUSION The majority of TFI in children can be treated successfully by tube thoracostomy if there are no gross pulmonary lacerations and airway injuries. SGW and EW were commonly associated with higher ISS and LOS. The ISS was found to be an independent predictor of the need for thoracotomy, as well as for rates of morbidity and mortality.

Evaluation of ectodermal dysplasia.

This case series report outlines possible cranio‐maxillofacial deformation consequences associated with ectodermal dysplasia (ED) and embryonic malformations, including dental agenesis. Also described are the oral aspects and rehabilitation. A total of 14 ED patients (7 males and 7 females, aged 5‐45 years) underwent clinical examination before assessment and treatment. Lateral cephalometric radiography, Steiners analysis, and respiratory capacity tests were performed. Most of the patients had sparse or absent hair, a short face with an unusual facial concavity, a maxillary retrusion, and a relative mandible protrusion. Depending on age and orthopedic abnormalities, patients were treated with prosthodontic and orthodontic approaches or implant treatment. Therapists should take a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach with these patients to improve their dental, masticatory, growth, and orthognathic conditions, as well as esthetic appearance.

A new method: measurement of microleakage volume using human, dog and bovine permanent teeth

This study investigates the feasibility of a different new approach to determining the microleakage volume associated with dental restorations (Class V cavity restorated with glass ionomer cement + high copper amalgam) and the relative marginal adaptation deficiency of dog, bovine and human permanent teeth in in vitro conditions. Also researched is the appropriateness of using dog and bovine teeth in in vitro studies rather than human teeth. Our method utilizes the molecular adsorption characteristics of methylene blue. Within the framework of this study, 60 permanent teeth (20 human, 20 dogs and 20 bovine) were used. These groups were evaluated statistically, of which indicated no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). It was also concluded that this preliminary investigation showed that the new microleakage volume measurement method may be a valuable new technique for the in vitro study of microleakage dynamics around dental restorations.

Tracheobronchial Foreign Body Aspirations in Children: A Retrospective Analysis of 980 Patients

AbstractBetween January 1987 and May 1997, hospital records of 980 children (587 boys and 393 girls) ≤15 years old referred to our clinic for suspected airway foreign body aspiration were reviewed. Rigid bronchoscopy was performed for all patients. Foreign bodies were successfully removed in 918 (93