Comparative trial of rectal indomethacin and cryoanalgesia for control of early postthoracotomy pain.

A randomised double blind trial was carried out over the first two days after thoracotomy to compare the analgesic effects of rectal indomethacin 100 mg administered eight hourly, cryoanalgesia, and a combination of both of these with the effects of conventional intramuscular opiate analgesia. Pain scores were significantly reduced with both rectal indomethacin alone and cryoanalgesia alone; these treatments had an additive effect when used in combination. Pain on movement was significantly increased, and indomethacin was more effective in reducing this than cryoanalgesia. Groups receiving either indomethacin alone or the combination treatment required significantly less opiate on the first day and exhibited improved peak flow values over the first two days. It is concluded that rectal indomethacin, in this dosage, can provide good, safe analgesia after thoracotomy with minimum administrative difficulty. When used as an adjunct to cryoanalgesia it has an additive effect. There are many potential uses for this drug in other branches of surgery.     

Subjective Follow-up of Patients from a Surgical Intensive Therapy Ward

One-hundred consecutive patients who had been treated in the surgical intensive therapy ward completed a form recording their impressions of their stay. Most patients had a reasonable idea of how long they had spent in the ward and few remembered being in pain or excessively worried by any of the procedures carried out. Those who had been artificially ventilated had little recollection of this period; most either did not realize that their breathing had been artificially maintained or had no idea of the duration of ventilatory support. Very few of the patients who had tracheal suction via endotracheal or tracheostomy tubes were unduly worried by this, but 60% of the patients who needed nasopharyngeal suction to help sputum clearance had been considerably worried by this.Most of the patients were very pleased with the medical and nursing attention they had received and did not find the “intensive” nature of their care unduly disturbing.     

Improved pain relief after thoracotomy: use of cryoprobe and morphine infusion.

In a randomised controlled trial carried out during the first to days after thoracotomy patients who had had intercostal nerves frozen with a cryoprobe or were given morphine by continuous intravenous infusion had significant less pain at rest than patients given intramuscular morphine. Differences between the groups with respect to pain on movement and during physiotherapy were not significant. Pain was estimated using visual analogue scales, and an arc sine transformation was carried out on values obtained from these scales before comparison using an analysis of variance. The trial did not distinguish between the cryoprobe and infusion treatment. The simplicity of the cryoprobe had much to commend it, but in units without access to this equipment a small infusion pump offers a satisfactory alternative.     

Do distribution volumes and clearances relate to tissue volumes and blood flows? A computer simulation

Background

Thoracotomy is associated with severe pain that may persist for years. Acupuncture is a complementary therapy with a proven role in pain control. A randomized trial showed that acupuncture was effective in controlling pain after abdominal surgery, but the efficacy of this technique for the treatment of thoracotomy pain has not been established. We developed a novel technique for convenient application of acupuncture to patients undergoing thoracotomy, and in a Phase II trial evaluated the safety of this intervention and the feasibility of doing a randomized trial.

Methods

Adult patients scheduled for unilateral thoracotomy with preoperative epidural catheter placement received acupuncture immediately prior to surgery. Eighteen semi-permanent intradermal needles were inserted on either side of the spine, and four were inserted in the legs and auricles. Needles were removed after four weeks. Using a numerical rating scale, pain was measured on the first five postoperative days. After discharge, pain was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory at 7, 30, 60 and 90 days.

Results

Thirty-six patients were treated with acupuncture. Of these, 25, 23, and 22 patients provided data at 30, 60, and 90 days, respectively. The intervention was well tolerated by patients with only one minor and transient adverse event of skin ulceration.

Conclusion

The rate of data completion met our predefined criterion for determining a randomized trial to be feasible (at least 75% of patients tolerated the intervention and provided evaluable data). This novel intervention is acceptable to patients undergoing thoracotomy and does not interfere with standard preoperative care. There was no evidence of important adverse events. We are now testing the hypothesis that acupuncture significantly adds to standard perioperative pain management in a randomized trial.     

经胸腔镜与开胸手术治疗胸腺瘤合并重症肌无力的临床疗效比较

目的:观察和比较经胸腔镜与开胸胸腺瘤扩大切除术治疗胸腺瘤伴重症肌无力(MG)患者的临床疗效和安全性。方法:回顾性分析2010年1月至2015年12月在新疆医科大学附属第一医院胸外科接受胸腔镜手术与开胸手术(本研究指胸骨正中劈开胸腺瘤扩大切除术)共120例胸腺瘤伴MG患者的临床资料,比较两组的手术时间、术后并发症、术后WHO病理分型、Masaoka分期、术后MGFA分级、远期随访总缓解率、术中出血量、术后拔管时间、术后住院天数和术后VAS疼痛评分。结果:两组手术时间、术后并发症、术后WHO病理分型、Masaoka分期、术后MGFA分级及远期随访总缓解率比较差异均无统计学意义(P0.05);开胸组肿瘤直径明显大于胸腔镜组,胸腔镜组术中出血量、术后拔管时间、术后住院天数和术后VAS疼痛评分明显短于或低于开胸组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:经胸腔镜与开胸胸腺瘤扩大切除术治疗MG的远期疗效相当,但胸腔镜手术创伤更小,有利于减少术后疼痛并加快患者恢复。     

Intercostal catheter analgesia is more efficient vs. intercostal nerve blockade for post-thoracotomy pain relief

A pain after thoracotomy may result in a postoperative hypoventilation and lead to atelectases and pneumonia. This study was aimed to compare two analgesic regimens after posterolateral thoracotomy. 80 patients (40-70 years) undergoing thoracotomy were randomized to intercostal catheter analgesia (group A, n = 40) and intercostal nerve block (group B, n = 40). Patients in group A were given 20 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine injections twice a day by intercostal catheter. Intercostal nerve blockade was performed using 5 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine. Intercostal nerve in thoracotomy wound, nerves below and above thoracotomy wound was also injected. PaO2, PaCO2, FVC, FEV1 and visual analog pain scale (VAS) were obtained preoperatively, 24, 48 and 72 hours after operation. Postoperative complications were recorded at the patient discharge. Differences between groups were calculated using Mann-Whitney, KW test and chi square test. The arterial blood gas analyses did not show statistically significant change in any group and time according to the baseline values. FVC and FEV1 decreased significantly in both groups at first postoperative day according to baseline measurements. Patients in B group had significantly higher FEV1 values in the third postoperative day (73.05 +/- 11.25 in A vs. 83.50 +/- 9.17 in B group, p < 0.05). Intercostal catheter analgesia resulted in significantly lower postoperative VAS scores and reduced opioid requirement as compared to intercostal nerve blockade. No differences in the postoperative complications were observed between groups.     

电视胸腔镜术在老年小结节非小细胞肺癌患者治疗中的应用研究

目的:研究电视胸腔镜术在老年小结节非小细胞肺癌(Small nodules in non small cell lung cancer,sn NSCLC)患者治疗中的应用。方法:回顾2009年1月-2011年6月在我院接受电视胸腔镜术治疗的老年sn NSCLC88例患者的临床资料,按照手术方式将所有患者分为电视胸腔镜组与常规开胸组两个小组。电视胸腔镜组行电视胸腔镜术,常规开胸组行常规开胸术。观察两组患者手术指标、疼痛程度评分、手术前后1 d CRP、TNF-α、IL-6等炎性因子水平、术后并发症、1-3年生存率以及复发率等指标。结果:两组患者一般资料比较无统计学上的差异(P0.05)。电视胸腔镜组术中出血量、术后引流时间、下床活动时间以及疼痛程度评分及术后1 d CRP、TNF-α、IL-6等炎性因子水平及术后并发症发病率均显著低于常规开胸组(P0.05)。电视胸腔镜组术后1、2、3年生存率显著高于常规开胸组(P0.05),且术后复发率显著低于常规开胸组(P0.05)。结论:电视胸腔镜术治疗老年sn NSCLC创口小、恢复快,且有效避免过度激活炎性细胞,降低术后并发症发病率,值得应用于临床。     

Expectorant Action of Bromhexine in Chronic Obstructive Bronchitis

Bromhexine was compared with a placebo in a double-blind clinical trial in bronchitic inpatients with mucoid sputum. Oral bromhexine 16 mg. thrice daily for 11 days compared with placebo resulted in a significant increase in sputum volume and significant decrease in sputum viscosity, and changed markedly the rheological characteristics of the sputum. There was, however, no improvement in ventilatory capacity or in the overall respiratory state as assessed by the patients themselves or their clinician. No patient having the drug had side-effects and there was no change in laboratory findings attributable to it.     

The Adventures and Times of Eosilred,Prince of Elfour: A Bloodtime Story: Part IV

Eighty patients with carcinoma of the lung have been treated at the Nova Scotia Sanatorium since 1940; in 15, coexisting active pulmonary tuberculosis was present. No characteristic clinical or roentgenological findings indicated that the tuberculous individual also had lung cancer. In four cases cancer was not diagnosed until the lung was examined by the pathologist. In the others a considerable interval elapsed before carcinoma was suspected.Only four patients with known cancer were considered suitable for thoracotomy. In three, an attempt at curative resection was made. One survived over seven years before accidental death; one is alive less than one year after operation; the third died as a result of the surgery. Bronchogenic carcinoma should be suspected in every tuberculous patient over the age of 50; diagnostic investigations should include bronchoscopy and cytological studies of bronchial secretion and sputum. Suspicion of carcinoma in any such patient constitutes an indication for early resection of the tuberculous disease.     

局限性小切口开胸术在胸外科中的应用

目的：通过对标准的胸外科手术切口与局限性小切口的对比,了解局限性小切口的优点。方法：146例患者,随机分为2组,分别行标准的胸外科手术切口与局限性小切口,观察2组术中失血量,术后3天胸腔引流量,住院时间,住院花费及术后疼痛程度。进行对比及统计学分析。结果：局限性小切口组的术中失血量,术后3天胸腔引流量,住院时间,住院花费及术后疼痛程度明显好于标准的胸外科手术切口组。结论：局限性小切口能够减少术中失血量及术后引流量。缓解术后疼痛,缩短住院时间,减少住院花费,是一值得推广的方法。     

不同手术方式对于气胸术后长期生活质量的前瞻性研究

目的:探讨原发性或继发性气胸治疗的两种手术方式:电视胸腔镜手术(Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery,VATS)、后外侧开胸手术(posterolateral thoracotomy,PT)术后长期生活质量(QOL)状况。方法:采用患者生活质量测定量表核心量表(EORTCQLQ-C 3 0,简称QL Q-C3 0)中文版调查从2008年12月至2009年12月在我科治疗的60例原发性或继发性气胸患者,对其术前和术后1,3,6和12个月的QL Q-C30得分与参考值进行比较。结果:①术前术后生活质量相比较,功能方面,VATS组无明显差异,而后外侧开胸组患者术后6月躯体功能降低,12月情绪功能升高;1,3,12个月总体状况显著升高,有统计学差异;症状方面,VATS组,术后1月呼吸困难症状加重;术后1,3,6个月经济困难加重,有统计学差异;后外侧开胸组,术后1,3个月疼痛加重;术后6月疲乏减轻;术后12月,呼吸困难减轻;②两组术后生活质量相比较,功能方面,后外侧开胸组,术后6月躯体功能降低,术后12月情绪功能升高,术后1,3,12个月总体状况得分升高;症状方面,VATS组,呼吸困难术后1月升高,术后12月降低;后外侧开胸手术组,术后1,3个月疼痛降低;术后6月疲乏降低;术后1,3,6个月经济困难降低。结论:术后生活质量与术前比较,不同的手术方式会产不同的效果,总体来说手术是改善气胸患者生活质量的重要方法。比较两种方法术后生活质量,VATS组较后外侧开胸组患者功能恢复较快,而症状相关项目则具有各自的优缺点。     

A novel method of sputum processing for cytologic diagnosis of lung cancer

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic sensitivity and cytologic findings of the sputum-processing method with those of the traditional sputum smear method. STUDY DESIGN: From May to December 2001, 300 consecutive sputum samples were collected from 168 patients suspected of having lung cancer in the Chest Department, Taipei Veterans General Hospital. After the sputum smear method, the remaining sputum material was processed by homogenization, filtration and fixation. All the slides were stained with Papanicolaou stain and reviewed by 2 cytologists. RESULTS: Of the 300 sputum samples, 141 from 79 patients were finally diagnosed as lung malignancies. The mean number of sputum samples was 1.78 per patient. Among the 79 patients, 46 had peripheral lung malignancies (58.2%). The overall diagnostic sensitivities of sputum smear and sputum-processing methods were 29% and 31%, respectively (P = .776). Tumor location and cell types did not change the difference significantly; however, among patients with small cell lung cancer, there was a higher detection rate with the sputum-processing method (50% vs. 20%, P = .350). Eight patients with negative results with the sputum smear had positive results with the sputum-processing method (8 of 79 = 10.1%). Microscopic morphologic differences between the 2 methods were described. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in diagnostic sensitivity between the sputum smear and sputum-processing methods. However, the sputum-processing method may play a role in patients with small cell lung carcinoma.     

Use of neostigmine to increase the rate of lung cancer detection by sputum cytology

Neostigmine induction was investigated as a method for increasing the rate of detection of lung cancer in respiratory cytology samples. Eleven patients with dry and essentially nonproductive cough were given neostigmine, 15 mg by mouth or 0.5 mg by hypodermic injection. The quality of sputum produced was increased in all cases; the sputum was also more easily expectorated. Eight patients suspected of having lung cancer had previously negative cytologic examinations of sputum obtained by conventional methods. Following the administration of neostigmine, malignant cells indicating squamous-cell carcinoma were found in the sputum samples of three of these patients while dysplastic cells were detected in the samples from two patients. It is postulated that neostigmine intake may increase the excretion of mucous glands in the bronchial submucosa as well as the bronchial epithelium itself.     

Candida pneumonia: experience with 20 patients

Case reports of 20 patients with histologic evidence of Candida pneumonia at autopsy were studied retrospectively. Most of the patients had had malignant conditions or immunosuppressive disorders, or had been treated by immunosuppressive agents such as steroids. Clinical findings included cough, purulent sputum and invariable hypoxia. Of the 20 patients, 14 had positive sputum cultures, 6 had positive blood cultures and 6 had positive urine cultures for Candida organisms. Findings on chest radiographs of most of the patients showed diffuse bronchopneumonia with confluent areas of air space consolidation. Five patients had been suspected of having Candida pneumonia and were treated empirically with amphotericin B, but none survived.     

Evaluation of the forced expiration technique as an adjunct to postural drainage in treatment of cystic fibrosis.

Sixteen patients with cystic fibrosis were treated with conventional physiotherapy aided by an assistant. The results were compared with those produced by physiotherapy using the forced expiration technique cleared more sputum in less time than conventional physiotherapy. A sputum in less time than conventional physiotherapy. A second study showed that an assistant did not further improve the results obtained by the patient performing the forced expiration technique himself. These findings mean that patients with cystic fibrosis who have had to rely on the help of others for their home treatment may now perform more effective treatment without help. The forced expiration technique might also be helpful for patients with chronic bronchitis, asthma, or bronchiectasis.     

胸外科手术术后神经病理性疼痛的发生情况及相关因素分析

目的:探讨胸外科手术术后神经病理性疼痛的发生情况及相关危险因素。方法:回顾性分析2015年至2016年就诊于我院行胸外科手术的患者的临床资料,包括患者的年龄、性别、吸烟史、BMI、术前是否使用催眠药物、术前诊断、手术侧别、手术方式、是否为微创、硬膜外自控镇痛泵使用情况、术中失血量、手术持续时间、引流管引流时间及是否发生神经病理性疼痛,对比分析是否发生神经病理性疼痛患者的临床资料,对有差异的临床资料进行多因素Logistic回归分析探讨发生神经病理性疼痛的危险因素。结果:共有123例患者纳入研究,33例(26.8%)患者的患者术后出现神经病理性疼痛,6例(4.9%)患者在术后一年仍有持续性神经性病理疼痛,术后出现神经病理性疼痛的平均时间为术后第7天,平均持续时间为75天,发生神经病理性疼痛的患者吸烟比例(81.8%)、术前使用催眠药比例(57.6%)、开胸手术比例(81.8%)、术中失血量(185 mL)、手术时间(196分钟)、术后引流时间(2.5天)均高于没有发生神经病理性疼痛的患者。多因素分析显示术前使用催眠药(OR=2.322,P<0.001)、手术时间延长(OR=3.703,P<0.001)和术后引流时间延长(OR=2.675,P=0.002)均是神经病理性疼痛发生的危险因素,电视辅助胸腔镜手术方式是保护性因素(OR=0.453,P=0.002)。结论:术前使用催眠药物、延长的手术时间及术后引流时间增加了神经病理性疼痛发生的风险,电视辅助胸腔镜技术可减少其发生率。     

An outbreak of blastomycosis in Eastern Tennessee

Most cases of blastomycosis are sporadic and only nine outbreaks representing a total of 112 cases have previously been reported. Less than half of these have been culture proven cases. Outbreaks have previously occurred in North Carolina, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin and Virginia. We report three culturally confirmed cases of blastomycosis from Elizabethton, Tennessee, who had onset of illness within a one-week span of time. The patients presented with fever, chest pain, weight loss, poor appetite and myalgia. Each initially had a dry cough which became productive of purulent sputum as the illness progressed. Mild hemoptysis occurred during each patient's course. Serologic testing by immunodiffusion and enzyme immunoassay were positive and testing by complement fixation was negative in each case. The diagnosis was made by histopathology on transbronchial biopsy or transthoracic needle aspiration material. Each patient improved on ketoconazole therapy.     

稀土磁疗对开胸术后机体免疫功能及疼痛的影响

目的:研究稀土磁治疗床对食管癌、肺癌手术患者术后机体免疫力及切口疼痛的影响。方法:选食管癌患者37例,肺癌23例,采集手术前及稀土磁治疗床治疗后患者静脉血,检测T细胞亚群CD3 、CD4 、CD8 、CD4 /CD8 比值和NK细胞的比例变化,检查手术切口疼痛的恢复情况。结果:术后给予稀土磁治疗床治疗后与手术前相比较CD3 、CD4 、NK、CD4 /CD8 细胞有显著提高(P<0.05),也高于对照组术后的T细胞亚群水平(P<0.05)。结论:稀土磁治疗床可提高食管癌、肺癌患者术后的机体免疫力,减轻疼痛,有利于患者术后恢复。     

Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy in Diagnosis of Opportunistic Lung Infections: Assessment of Sputa,Washings, Brushings and Biopsy Specimens

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (washings, brushings and biopsies) was done in 25 cases of proven opportunistic pulmonary infections in compromised hosts. Diagnostic yields of bronchoscopic procedures and expectorated sputum were compared. Sputum examination gave the lowest yield (14 percent). Bronchial washings and brushings were diagnostic in 30 percent and 38 percent of patients, respectively. On transbronchial biopsy of the lung (TBB) pathogens were identified in 75 percent of patients with Pneumocystis carinii infection and 67 percent of patients with other opportunistic infections. The overall TBB yield of 73 percent was superior (P<0.05) to that of either washings or brushings. The yield from combining washings and brushings was greater than from either procedure alone, but combination with TBB did not result in any significant improvement. TBB is recommended as a useful diagnostic procedure in patients with suspected opportunistic pulmonary infections. Morbidity was minimal with this procedure, and the need for thoracotomy was reduced when it was used.     

Increased numbers of alveolar macrophages with apoptotic bodies predict lung carcinoma

In our previous study on fixed tissue blocks, we reported a high apoptotic rate in patients with operated small cell lung carcinomas. In addition to tumour cells, numerous apoptotic bodies could also be found within alveolar macrophages within and close to tumour tissue. In order to test if such cells could be found in sputum smears and if their presence could be utilized as a marker in tumour diagnosis, we analyzed the occurrence of alveolar macrophages with apoptotic bodies (AMWABs) in a set of sputum smear and BAL samples from patients with and without a pulmonary malignancy. An increased amount of AMWABs in the cytoplasm could be found in sputum and BAL samples from patients with lung cancer. Interestingly, AMWABs could also be seen in patients with a histologically confirmed pulmonary malignancy, but with no detectable tumour cells in their sputum smear. Thus, the presence AMWABs in sputum smears could serve as a more sensitive marker of pulmonary malignancy than the prese nce of malignant cells per se. This is the first report describing apoptotic bodies in macrophages and the utility of their detection in cancer diagnosis.