The venous anomalies of thorax are common, but the only drainage 1st and 2nd posterior intercostal veins on both sides into internal vertebral plexus with no communication to azygos system is reported for first time. common hemiazygos vein singular receiving all left from 4th 11th subcostal side. This drains right. It also connects cranial end via an anomalous Left SVC. receives 3rd vein. On ri...

BACKGROUND A study was undertaken to compare the relative physiological effects of underwater seal (UWS) versus flutter valve (FV) pleural drainage systems in the treatment of postoperative air leaks. METHOD Fourteen patients with air leaks of 1-11 days duration, following lobectomy (n = 5), bullectomy (n = 4), decortication (n = 4), and pleural biopsy (n = 1) were analysed. Intrapleural pres...

A 25-year old female, with a background of asthma, presented with acute shortness of breath. On examination the patient was in severe respiratory distress with expiratory wheezes. She was nebulized with ipratropium and fenoterol. A chest x-ray revealed pseudodextrocardia and air trapping (A). She did not respond to inhaled bronchodilator therapy. Intravenous hydrocortisone and magnesium sulphat...

Dear Editor, The Baerveldt glaucoma implant (BGI; Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA) is a widely used glaucoma drainage device for intraocular pressure (IOP) control. Although the BGI effectively controls IOP, the possibility of postoperative ocular hypotony owing to excessive aqueous drainage and tube-related complications still remains [1,2]. Given that the amount of aqueous drainage ...

OBJECTIVE To compare the clinical efficacy of exploration of common bile duct through cystic duct or T type tube in CE patients. METHODS One hundred and fifty six patients with chronic CE received decompression of biliary tract from January 2007 to December 2012 were included. Exploration of common bile duct was performed through cystic duct (n=102) or T type tube (n=54). Psychological reacti...

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was 'Is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage of benefit in patients undergoing surgery on the descending thoracic aorta or thoracoabdominal aorta?' Altogether 1177 papers were found using the reported search, of which 17 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The...

OBJECTIVES Thoracoscopic surgery using internal intercostal nerve block, vagal block and targeted sedation without endotracheal intubation is a promising technique for selected patients, but little is known about its feasibility and safety. METHODS We evaluated 109 patients with lung (105), mediastinal (3) or pleural (1) tumours treated using non-intubated thoracoscopic surgery. Internal, int...

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and complications and compare the efficacy of medical thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis among patients with different types of tumors and different pathological classifications of lung cancer as well as to evaluate the role of postoperative negative pressure chest tube drainage. A total of 1061 patients with malignant pleural effusion who underwent ...

A ten-year experience with operations on the pericardium in 71 consecutive patients was reviewed. The patients ranged in age from nine months to 75 years old. Fifty-three patients were operated upon for pericardial effusion and 14 for pericardial constriction. Sixty-seven patients had pericarditis: 21 of them underwent subxiphoid tube drainage; ten, limited pericardiectomy; and the remaining 36...