The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Esophageal submucosal tumors (SMTs) are usually benign, and surgical enucleation is widely accepted as the treatment of choice. The goals of this study were to investigate the surgical outcomes after enucleation of esophageal SMTs and to establish the feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic enucleation. ⋯ Overall, surgical outcomes were excellent after enucleation. The thoracoscopic approach was feasible for most patients and was correlated with a shorter hospital stay. However, careful management is warranted after enucleation of GISTs considering the recurrence risk.
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Case Reports
Two unusual cases of adult onset congenital bronchoesophageal fistulas treated with fistula division.
Adult onset congenital bronchoesophageal fistula is a very rare entity. We report 2 cases of adult onset type II congenital bronchoesophageal fistula between the distal thoracic esophagus and the lower lobe superior segmental bronchi surgically treated through a right and left thoracotomy, respectively. ⋯ Both patients had an uneventful recovery. Resection of the underlying parenchyma during surgery for bronchoesophageal fistula is not always necessary as the lung can heal in time after performing just fistulectomy.
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Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome is an inherited disease characterized by recurrent pneumothorax. We report some unusual clinicopathologic features of the lung in a Japanese family with this syndrome presenting with recurrent pneumothorax. ⋯ The proband underwent genetic testing and BHD syndrome was diagnosed. Although many patients with BHD syndrome with pneumothorax show obvious pulmonary cysts, this case suggests that radiologically indeterminate cysts have the potential to cause pneumothorax.
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Case Reports
The "TEVAR-first" approach to DeBakey I aortic dissection with mesenteric malperfusion.
Acute DeBakey type 1 aortic dissection presenting with mesenteric malperfusion is a lethal variant of all dissection-related malperfusion syndromes with reported mortality rates of 38% to 75%. Conventional surgical treatment involves proximal aortic replacement to restore true lumen perfusion, followed by mesenteric revascularization if malperfusion persists. In an attempt to improve the dismal outcomes associated with this malperfusion syndrome, we have instituted a [thoracic endovascular aortic repair] "TEVAR-First" approach in hemodynamically stable patients, which allows for earlier true lumen expansion and resolution of the malperfusion syndrome.
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Chylothorax associated with pulmonary resection for lung cancer, although rare, must be considered as a potential complication during thoracic surgery. In the present study, we investigated the effectiveness of a conservative approach (diet or pleurodesis) to the management of chylothorax. ⋯ Conservative treatment, including pleurodesis, should be the first choice of treatment for chylothorax complicating pulmonary resection.