No abstract

A single-drain method is effective, reduces hospitalization times and the cost of treatment in patients who undergo lobectomy.

The most common causes of PPE were postoperative complications, mainly bronchopleural fistula. The scheme of therapeutic management in PPE was elaborated as a result of our experience.

No abstract

Most retrosternal goiters are situated in the anterior mediastinal compartment, but according to the literature, 10-15% are located in the posterior mediastinum. Although most of the anterior mediastinal goiters can be removed by a transcervical approach, posterior mediastinal goiters may require additional extracervical incisions. We report the case of a huge posterior mediastinal goiter extending from the neck retrotracheally beyond the aortic arch and azygous vein with crossover from the left to the right side and ending at the level of the lower part of the left cardiac atrium, nearly reaching the diaphragm. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice in such cases. We performed an operation using a transcervical and right thoracotomy approach. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of the large goiter. The patient recovered well and was discharged in 1 week.

No abstract

Lung cancer in younger patients seems to be more advanced at the time of surgery. It is probable that the group of younger patients with squamous cell carcinoma will require additional treatment after surgery.

Diagnosis and treatment of patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a serious problem for clinicians. The aim of the study were: to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic value of thoracoscopy and videothoracoscopy (VTS) and to determine the efficiency of using talc for the management of MPE. Material and methods. Between January 1996 and December 2006, thoracoscopy (VTS) was performed in 95 patients. A 4 g dose of talc was used for pleurodesis. Out of the 95 diagnostic procedures, malignancy was diagnosed in 94 (98.9%) patients. Patients were divided into two subgroups: subgroup A, patients (n=4) who died within first month, and subgroup B, patients (n=91) who lived more than one month. In subgroup A, complete remission (CR) was achieved in four (100%) patients until they died. In subgroup B, CR was achieved in 90 (98.9%) patients after one month, with relapse (R) occurring in 1 (1.1%) patient. After three months, CR was achieved in 86 (94.5%), partial remission (PR) in three (3.3%), and R in two (2.2%) patients. After six and nine months, CR was achieved in 85 (93.4%), PR in three (3.3%), and R in three (3.3%) patients. Postoperative complications, side effects after applying talc, and general performance were assessed. Difficulties in lung expansion requiring redrainage occurred in four (4.2%) patients. Fever appeared in 79 (83.2%) patients, while pain appeared in 90 (94.7%) patients. After treatment, the number of patients classified as I on the WHO scale increased from 36.8% to 74.7%, while the number of patients classified as III on the WHO scale decreased from 10.5% to 2.1%. Conclusions. Thoracoscopy (VTS) significantly improves diagnostic effectiveness in cases without cytological and histological diagnosis and is a method of treatment for MPE. Very good results were achieved after intrapleural administration of talc (CR occurred in 93.4% patients). The most common side effect of administering talc was pain.