Surgery for pulmonary cavity associated with fungus ball is challenged by chronic lung disease. The purpose of this report was to review patient data, operative procedures and results of surgery. This was a retrospective study. Twenty patients were operated on between January 1997 and December 2002. Fourteen (70%) patients were male and the mean age was 46.30 +/- 13.10 years (range, 24 to 76 years). The most common underlying pulmonary disorder was tuberculosis (70%). Ninety five percent of the patients had a history of hemoptysis, and 35% presented with massive hemoptysis. Lobectomy was performed in 11 (55%) patients and 6 (30%) patients were operated on by cavernostomy with transposition of muscle flap technique. There was no operative mortality and 8 complications (3 prolonged airleaks, 2 wound infections, 1 postoperative bleeding, 1 seroma and 1 empyema). It was also found that emergency surgery and cavernostomy with transposition of muscle flap compromised the postoperative course. Surgery is very effective in controlling and preventing hemoptysis in patients who have pulmonary cavity associated with fungus ball. Elective surgery and formal pulmonary resection may be the proper option for low risk patients. Cavernostomy with transposition of muscle flap may be suitable for patients who have poor pulmonary reserve.

Aim The overarching aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a nurse‐led pain management programme on pain intensity, side effects of treatment, shoulder range of motion and length of stay after thoracic surgery. Background Post‐thoracic surgical pain is a major source of stress and distress for patients. It has profound effects ranging from increased risks in developing chronic post‐thoracic surgery pain to an increased length of stay after surgery. The post‐thoracic surgical pain management in the Nigerian context is based on the traditional approach that is dependent on the attending medical and nursing staff. Methods The study was a quasi‐experimental design (two‐group post‐test only). The study was conducted in a Nigerian hospital. Forty‐two patients were recruited and consecutively assigned into either the usual pain management group or the intervention group after they had met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected utilizing the following: (1) the modified McGill Pain Questionnaire; (2) a Numeric Rating Scale; (3) the documentation form for thoracic surgery pain management outcomes and (4) a goniometer. Results The findings indicated that pain intensity, nausea and drowsiness were significantly reduced among the patients in the experimental group than the control group, while the duration of stay after surgery and the shoulder range of motion were not different between the groups. Conclusion This study's results suggest that the intervention in question for patients undergoing thoracic surgery had a positive effect on reducing pain intensity, nausea and drowsiness but not the shoulder range of motion and length of stay after surgery. Implications for nursing policy Nursing policymakers may need to give a serious consideration to the revision of policies related to the nursing education curriculum as well as the in‐service training curriculum regarding pain management by nurses especially after surgery. Likewise, future research on other populations employing an improved methodology as well as utilizing up‐to‐date evidence by nurses across different hospitals may be necessary.

In this high-risk group of patients who weighed less than 3 kg with functional UVH and who underwent modified Blalock-Taussig shunt, in-hospital mortality was strongly associated with the occurrence of shunt thrombosis. Our study highlighted the perioperative variables of delayed postoperative initiation of anticoagulant, cardiac arrest and the occurrence of intraoperative bradycardia that were significant risk factors for shunt thrombosis and mortality. Achieving better quality of perioperative care potentially improves outcomes.

Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is an uncommon life-threatening complication of cardiac surgery performed through median sternotomy. Surgical treatment is considered complicated and challenging. We report our experience with a single-stage omental flap transposition in the treatment of the 14 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with DSWI within 3-16 days after the primary cardiac surgery, between August 2001 and January 2008. The single-stage omental flap transposition was achieved within 70-135 min, at four to eight hours after diagnosis of DSWI. The single-stage omental flap transposition was successfully applied and all 14 patients survived. They displayed a shortened intensive care unit stay (one to nine days) and hospital stay (19-36 days). Follow-up was 100% complete (26-92 months) and demonstrated rapid recovery, complete wound healing without fistula, and no late gastrointestinal complications. However, the very few complications found were slight numbness of anterior chest and minor paradoxical chest movement. We obtained satisfactory outcomes when treating the patients with DSWI by a single-stage omental flap transposition. Based on our solid experience, we recommend this procedure as an option for patients with DSWI, especially those who are not in a state of severe low cardiac output or malnutrition.

Tracheo-innominate artery fistula (TIF) is an uncommon but frequently fatal complication of tracheostomy. Significant airway hemorrhage usually occurs after premonitory bleeding. When massive bleeding occurs, immediate control of arterial bleeding, control of the airway and subsequent definite treatment are the principles for saving lives. Without prompt surgical intervention, the outcome of this complication is grave. Physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion of TIF in any patient with a recent tracheostomy and subsequent tracheal hemorrhage.

Intraoperative intensive glycaemic treatment significantly increased the risk of hypoglycaemia, but its effect on post-operative infection by clinical assessment could not be determined. Anaesthetic duration, pre-operative and post-operative IL-6 levels can independently predict post-operative infection.

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