Thymic epithelial tumors. Retrospective review of 54 patientsBackground: Thymic epithelial tumors are uncommon and can be associated with myasthenia gravis. Aim: To describe variables associated with survival and treatment of thymic epithelial tumors. Material and Methods: Retrospective review of surgical databases of a respiratory diseases hospital, identifying patients operated for a thymic epithelial tumor between 2000 and 2010. Follow up lasted from 12 to 156 months and information was obtained from medical records and death certificates of the Chilean national identification service. Results: Data from 54 patients aged 52.5 ± 16.4 years (33 women) was retrieved. Forty two patients were symptomatic and 47 were subjected to resective surgery. The pathological diagnosis was thymoma in 46 cases and thymic carcinoma in eight. Fourteen patients had postoperative complications and one died. Mean survival time was 101.8 ± 10.2 months. One, three and five years survival was 90.7 ± 3.9, 81.4 ± 5.7 and 71.8 ± 8.2%, respectively. Preoperative performance status of patients, histological type of the tumor and associated myasthenia gravis were predictors of survival. Conclusions: More commonly, thymic epithelial tumors appear in women, their histological type corresponds to thymomas and their resection is feasible

Minimally invasive correction of pectus excavatum among adults. Report of eighteen cases Background: A minimally invasive technique or Nuss procedure was devised for children with pectus excavatum (funnel chest), but it is also used in adult patients. Aim: To report the experience with the Nuss procedure in adults patients with pectus excavatum. Material and methods: Prospective study of patients operated between January 2007 and January 2009. Clinical features, symptoms, operative time, postoperative complications, hospital stay and quality of life, using the Nuss questionnaire adapted for adults, were recorded. Results: Eighteen patients aged 18±2 years (14 males) were operated. Seven patients had scoliosis, two had depression, two had asthma and one had a Marfan syndrome. All patients were concerned about aesthetic issues, nine had dyspnea, three had compression of cardiac cavities and three had pulmonary function disturbances. Haller index was 3.8. Mean operative time was 92 minutes. Postoperative complications were a pneumothorax without chest tube management in two patients, a peridural hematoma in one patient and a bar stabilizer infection that required a reoperation in one patient. No patient died and the mean hospital stay was six days. The Nuss questionnaire scores in the pre and postoperative periods were 33 and 48, respectively (p <0.05). Conclusions: Nuss operation is feasible and safe in adults with pectus excavatum (Rev Méd Chile 2009; 137: 1583-90).

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Pleural empyema. Retrospective review of 343 patientsBackground: Pleural empyema still has a dismal prognosis. Aim: To describe features and prognostic factors of patients with pleural empyema subjected to surgical procedures. Material and Methods: Retrospective review of 343 patients with pleural empyema (mean age 52 years, 71% males), that were subjected to any type of surgical procedure. Criteria for diagnosis of empyema were a positive culture, a fluid pH of less than 7.2 or a compatible macroscopic appearance of the fluid. Results: Empyema was secondary to pneumonia in 243 patients (71%), secondary to surgical procedures in 41 patients (12%), secondary to trauma in 19 patients (5.5%), secondary to a lung abscess in 10 patients (3%), tuberculous in 10 patients (3%), neoplastic in two cases (0.6%), secondary to pneumothorax in 2 cases (0.6%) and of unknown origin in 13 patients (4%). A microorganism was isolated from pleural fluid in 89 patients (26%). The surgical procedures performed were 251 decortications by thoracotomy (73%), 70 pleurotomies (20%), 11 video assisted surgeries (3%), seven decortications with lung resections and four fenestrations. Complications were recorded in 104 patients (30%), 29 patients were re-operated (8.5%) and 31 died (10%), all due to sepsis. Conclusions: The main cause of pleural empyema is pneumonia. In most patients, microorganisms are not isolated from pleural fluid, thoracotomy with decortication is the most frequent surgical procedure. There is a high rate of complications and mortality.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the mediastinum involving the superior vena cava system. Surgical resection and venous reconstructionMediastinal tumors have multiple presentation forms and various pathological origins. Sometimes they reach a large size and can involve the system of superior vena cava by compression or infi ltration. We present a 48 year old man admited for dyspnea, headache and palpitations in decubitus, for the last two months. The X-ray and chest computed tomography showed an anterior mediastinal tumor and the tru-cut pathological study concluded leiomyosarcoma. He underwent surgical treatment; the tumor compromised the system of the superior vena cava and was resected with ligation and resection the left brachiocephalic trunk. Part of the superior vena cava was reconstructed with autologous pericardium. The right phrenic nerve was surrounded by the tumor mass and was resected in block. The patient recovered satisfactorily and was discharged on the eleventh day post surgery. The histopathologic study of the surgical specimen confi rmed a leiomyosarcoma G2 (3,100 gr). Full adjuvant radiotherapy was done. At 15 months after surgery the patient is in good condition without evidence of recurrence or superior vena cava syndrome.Key words: Leiomyosarcoma, mediastinum, vena cava superior, thoracic surgery, cardiovascular surgical procedures. ResumenLos tumores del mediastino pueden tener múltiples formas de presentación y diversos orígenes anatomopatológicos. A veces alcanzan gran tamaño y pueden comprometer por compresión o infi ltración el sistema de la vena cava superior. Presentamos el caso de un hombre de 48 años que consultó por disnea, cefalea y Rev. Chilena de Cirugía.

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Report of one caseHereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome) is an autosomal dominant vascular disease that can be associated with pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas. We report a 16 years old female with an Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome and a history of frequent episodes of epistaxis since the age of 10 years. A Chest CAT scan performed on that occasion showed an arteriovenous fistula. The patient presented with progressive dyspnea, low arterial oxygen saturation and clubbing of fingers. An echocardiogram and lung perfusion scintigram confirmed the presence a right to left shunt. The patient was subjected to a lobectomy with a good postoperative evolution. ResumenLas Fístulas Arteriovenosas Pulmonares (FAVP son malformaciones vasculares infrecuentes. La Telangectasia Hemorrágica Hereditaria o Enfermedad de Rendu-Osler-Weber (EROW) es una enfermedad hereditaria autosómica dominante que se asocia con frecuencia a dichas malformaciones vasculares pulmonares. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 16 años con EROW y una FAVP única, sintomática y que comprometía extensamente el lóbulo medio, en quien realizamos tratamiento con cirugía resectiva pulmonar (lobectomía media) y que evolucionó satisfactoriamente con desaparición de la sintomatología.

Parapneumonic empyema: characterization and factors associated with morbidity and mortality in 242 surgical casesObjectives: To describe and evaluate factors associated with morbidity and mortality in surgically treated parapneumonic empyemas (PNE). . We described clinical features and we performed univariate and multivariate analysis to fi nd the factors associated with morbidity and mortality. SPSS 15.0 program was used in the statistical analysis. Results: 242 of 343 surgically treated empyemas (70.6%) were paraneumonic. Of these 165 (68.2%) were men, average age 52.1 years, 229 (94.6%) were community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and 13 (5.4%) nosocomial. Germs were isolated in pleural fl uid in 57 (23.6%). Surgical procedures were: 183 (75.6%) decortications, 49 (20.2%) pleurotomies, 7 (2.9%) video-assisted surgery and 3 (1.2%) decortications with pulmonary resection. Complications occurred in 65 cases (26.9%) and 16 patients died (6.6%). We found variables associated with morbidity and mortality. Conclusions: PNE is the most common cause of empyema, mostly associated with CAP and germs are diffi cult to identify. Decortication is the most common surgical treatment. Morbidity and mortality are present. Variables associated with morbidity and mortality were identifi ed in this clinical series. ResumenObjetivos: Describir las características y evaluar los factores asociados a morbi-mortalidad en el empiema paraneumónico (EPN) tratado quirúrgicamente. Método: Revisión retrospectiva entre Enero 2000 y Agosto 2006. Se describen características y factores asociados a morbi-mortalidad, se realizó análisis univariado y multivariado utilizando programa SPSS 15.0. Resultados: 242 pacientes tenían EPN (70,6% de los empiemas tratados), 165 (68,2%) fueron hombres, edad promedio 52,1 años, 229 (94,6%) fueron neumonías adquiridas en la comunidad (NAC) y 13 (5,4%) intrahospitalarias. Se aisló gérmenes en líquido pleural en 57 (23,6%). Se realizaron 183 (75,6%) decorticaciones, 49 (20,2%) pleurotomías, 7 (2,9%), cirugías video-asistidas y 3 (1,2%) decorticaciones con resección pulmonar. Presentaron complicaciones 65 (26,9%). Fallecieron 16 pacientes (6,6%). Se identifi caron variables asociadas a morbi-mortalidad. Conclusiones: El EPN es la causa más frecuente de empiema, la mayoría está asociado a NAC y en pocos se identifi can gérmenes. La decorticación es el procedimiento más frecuente. Se identifi caron las variables asociadas a morbi-mortalidad en esta serie clínica.Palabras clave: Empiema pleural, patología pleural, neumonía, cirugía torácica, morbilidad, mortalidad. No existen confl ictos de interés ni apoyo fi nanciero extrainstitucional.

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