The Annals of thoracic surgery
-
This study evaluated the role of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in the assessment of newly developed mediastinal/hilar abnormalities in patients with previously treated lung cancer. ⋯ EBUS-TBNA can differentiate a new primary lung cancer from recurrence of previously treated lung cancer, which will facilitate treatment strategy.
-
Comparative Study
The right internal thoracic artery: the forgotten conduit--5,766 patients and 991 angiograms.
The right internal thoracic artery (RITA) is biologically identical to the left ITA, yet is rarely used in coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). We examined the results and long-term patency of RITA grafts. ⋯ Late patencies of RITA are excellent, equivalent to the LITA for identical territories, always better than radial arteries and saphenous vein grafts, and remain free of atheroma. Use of RITA in addition to LITA is associated with excellent survival in triple-vessel coronary disease. More extensive use of the RITA in CABG is recommended.
-
We report the case of a 22-year-old woman suffering from mature mediastinal teratoma, revealed by trichoptysis, which is an exceptional, but pathognomonic symptom of intrathoracic teratomas. Only eight cases of trichoptysis are reported, none of them involved a mediastinal localization. We present the endoscopic and radiologic presentation, its surgical management, and histologic particularities.
-
We describe a new aortic retractor that is effective in maintaining aortic root geometry and providing for adequate intraoperative visual valve assessment, and therefore enables the surgeon to perform precise aortic valve repair or replacement procedures.
-
The international experience with resection of advanced thoracic malignancies performed with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support is limited. We examined our results to assess the risks and benefits of this approach. ⋯ Based on this experience, we consider VA ECMO support to be a safe alternative to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for advanced general thoracic operations.