Phrenic nerve trauma in the absence of direct injury is unusual and may present diagnostic difficulty. Diaphragmatic paralysis resulting from phrenic nerve injury may closely mimic diaphragmatic rupture. This case highlights the value of magnetic resonance imaging in establishing diaphragmatic integrity and of ultrasonographic assessment during respiratory excursion in confirming diaphragmatic ...

BACKGROUND Chest wall mesenchymal hamartoma (CWH) is a distinct and extremely rare tumor-like lesion of the thorax. It usually presents in the neonatal period or in infancy. The common presentation is in the form of a visible chest wall mass with or without respiratory distress. CASE PRESENTATION A 42-year-old man with a history of chest wall trauma since 5 years ago was admitted with a swell...

OBJECTIVE To verify serum procalcitonin levels of patients with acute respiratory failure secondary to influenza A (H1N1) upon their admission to the Intensive Care Unit and to compare these results to values found in patients with sepsis and trauma admitted to the same unit. METHODS Analysis of records of patients infected with influenza A (H1N1) and respiratory failure admitted to the Gener...

BACKGROUND Blunt chest trauma is second leading cause of death among trauma patients. Early identification and aggressive management of blunt thoracic trauma is essential to reduce the significant rates of morbidity and mortality. Thoracic trauma severity score (TTS) is a better predictor of chest trauma related complications. The objective of the study was to compare outcomes between low-and h...

157 Thoracic injury in a filly INTRODUCTION Thoracic injuries are relatively uncommon in horses and may follow blunt or penetrating trauma (1). The most common cause of trauma is collision with an inanimate object (2). Equine thoracic trauma may require rapid emergency measures in order to save the horse from life-threatening complications such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, pleuritis, diaphragma...

adequately ventilate), or both hypoxic and hypercapnic. In addition, respiratory failure can be caused by an inability to protect the airway. Alterations in the normal physiology and anatomy of the respiratory system can lead to respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Anatomic alterations causing airway obstruction, such as tumors, edema, direct or indirect trauma, burns, or other...

WALPOLE LEWIN (Cambridge) stated that newer diagnostic methods might allow a better understanding of the several complications that followed head injury. Illustrations of these methods and their limitations were given. He expressed the view that the emphasis in the immediate future might well rest on the recognition that after head injury a dynamic process was set in train with resultant second...

157 Thoracic injury in a filly INTRODUCTION Thoracic injuries are relatively uncommon in horses and may follow blunt or penetrating trauma (1). The most common cause of trauma is collision with an inanimate object (2). Equine thoracic trauma may require rapid emergency measures in order to save the horse from life-threatening complications such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, pleuritis, diaphragma...

Postoperative pulmonary complications are responsible for significant increases in hospital cost as well as patient morbidity and mortality; respiratory muscle dysfunction represents a contributing factor. Upper airway dilator muscles functionally resist the upper airway collapsing forces created by the respiratory pump muscles. Standard perioperative medications (anesthetics, sedatives, opioid...