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Biomedical subjects

P Goldstraw

Publications and source records attributed to P Goldstraw.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Attitudes of cardiothoracic surgeons in the UK to human immunodeficiency virus.

A survey was carried out into attitudes of cardiothoracic surgeons in the UK to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection associated with clinical situations that would normally have been managed surgically with low operative mortality rates and long median survival times. The survey response rate was 72.4 per cent. In patients with acute valvular insufficiency or with continuing angina despite maximal medical therapy (unstable angina) who were HIV-1 antibody positive, 75.8 and 80.8 per cent, respectively, of surgeons would operate. If the patient had end-stage infection, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), 29.7 per cent and 34.7 per cent, respectively, would consider surgical intervention. When asked to perform simple procedures such as open lung biopsy or pleurectomy on a patient with AIDS, more than half of surgeons would operate (52.2 and 65.6 per cent respectively). In patients with operable carcinoma of the lung and asymptomatic HIV-1 infection 52.3 per cent would operate. This fell to 15.0 per cent if the patient had a diagnosis of AIDS. The majority of surgeons (77.2 per cent) felt patients should have an HIV-1 antibody test before operation and this rose to 95.6 per cent if patients were in a high-risk group; 60.2 per cent of surgeons had changed their surgical practice to reduce the risks of blood-borne infection.

Attitude of Health Personnel

Results of operation without adjuvant therapy in the treatment of small cell lung cancer.

The role of surgery in the treatment of small cell lung cancer remains a subject of debate. We carried out a retrospective review of 87 patients with small cell lung cancer referred to one surgeon for staging and treatment. Thirty patients (34.5%) were deemed suitable for thoracotomy. Fourteen patients had stage I disease, 5 patients had stage II disease, and 11 patients had stage III disease. Twenty-eight of the 30 patients (93.3%) went on to have surgical resection. The actual overall 5-year survival in all patients who underwent thoracotomy was 43.3%. The actual 5-year survival for patients in stages I and III was 57.1% and 55.5%, respectively. No patients with stage II disease survived 5 years. We conclude that there is a small group of patients with small cell lung cancer in whom, with careful preoperative staging, the prospects of cure by operation are similar to those with non-small lung cancer.

Adult

Pulmonary torsion: a questionnaire survey and a survey of the literature.

Pulmonary torsion is a rare but life-threatening complication of thoracic operations and trauma. A questionnaire was sent to 140 thoracic surgeons in the United Kingdom to examine its incidence, particularly torsion of the middle lobe after right upper lobectomy. The answers from 117 thoracic surgeons (84%) were collected and analyzed. Thirty-five responders (30%) had seen one or more cases of pulmonary torsion. The majority of cases occurred after pulmonary resection, and most of these instances involved middle lobe torsion after right upper lobectomy. In total, 39 cases were reported; 1 (3%) occurred spontaneously in an azygos lobe, 2 (5%) were seen after trauma, 28 (72%) were seen after pulmonary resections and 8 (21%), after other procedures. In this group of responders, 27 (77%) routinely fix the middle lobe to the remaining lobe after right upper or lower lobectomy, upper lobe fixation being required only if the transverse fissure is well developed. Of the 82 responders who had never seen instances of pulmonary torsion, only 47 (57%) routinely do this fixation.

Humans

Sequential silastic and expandable metal stenting for tracheobronchial strictures.

The risks and limitations of surgical resection and reconstruction for tracheobronchial strictures demand consideration of other therapeutic options that can alleviate the distressing symptoms of tracheobronchial obstruction. One alternative is to stent the obstructive lesion until surgical advances allow primary reconstruction or replacement of the critically diseased airway or until an ideal endoprosthesis is found. The latter requires uniformity in the distribution of expansile force, conformability and stability within the tracheobronchial tree, and ease of placement. Here we report our experience with the placement of expandable metal stents (Wall-stent) used in conjunction with our Silastic (Dow Corning) endobronchial stents in 5 patients with recurrent tracheal or bronchial strictures. The major site of obstruction was the trachea in 1 patient and a main bronchus or both bronchi in 4 patients. Three patients had a benign bronchial stricture (anastomotic stricture in 2, idiopathic polychondritis in 1), and 2 patients had an obstructive airway neoplasm. Placement of the stents was performed under rigid bronchoscopic guidance. We had no complications from our technique of stenting. There has been no evidence of restenosis or occlusion within the stented segment of airway. The complementary use of expandable metal and Silastic endobronchial stents provided symptomatic and functional improvement in our patients during follow-up ranging from 5 to 24 months.

Adult

Self-expanding metal stent for tracheobronchial strictures.

To determine the role of expandable metal stent (Wallstent) in treating tracheobronchial strictures, 12 patients with recurrent symptoms of airway obstruction due to either benign or malignant strictures were studied. The seven benign strictures were anastomotic stricture following sleeve resection (2) and single lung transplant (1), tracheal amyloidosis (1), idiopathic chondritis (2), and post-tracheostomy stricture (1). The five malignant strictures were due to recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma of trachea (1), large-cell carcinoma of lung (1), recurrent laryngeal squamous carcinoma (1), squamous carcinoma of the trachea (1), and malignant melanoma (1). The placement of stents was performed under rigid bronchoscopic guidance with no complications. All patients with benign strictures derived subjective and functional improvement with stenting. No evidence of restenosis within the stented segment in six of the seven benign strictures was found within up to 24 months. Repeated diathermy resection was required in the patient with recurrent amyloidosis through the distal end of the stent. Among the malignant strictures, symptomatic relief was achieved in four of the five patients. One metal stent migrated proximally and was replaced by a Montgomery T tube. One patient with relief of stridor died at 4 months due to carcinomatosis. Tumour ingrowth through the metal stent remains problematic in two patients. However, the incidence of palliative interventions required has markedly reduced after stenting.

Adult

The development of a light curing prosthesis for chest wall replacement.

In conjunction with colleagues in the chemical industry, we have developed and evaluated a new plastic prosthesis which we hope will supplant presently used materials for chest wall replacement. We have modified the basic chemical of a reactive resin routinely used in orthopaedic and dental work by the inclusion of a polypropylene mesh. The resultant material is thin enough to cut with scissors and yet supple enough to shape to fit the defects. It is hardened by exposure to UV light and has a practical cure time when exposed to normal light in the operating theatre. When set it is strong and rigid. The mechanical properties have been studied with the Flexural 3-point bend test and compared with the best of the presently available prostheses. The inert nature of the material was studied in a subcutaneous implant in 29 rats over 3 months. Histology has shown a lack of reactivity. The stability in vivo was studied using the material to replace portions of the chest wall in rabbits for up to 6 months. Subsequent histology and in-vitro testing have proved satisfactory. The ability of this material to withstand the dynamic stresses of the chest wall have been studied by its implantation into the chest wall of 3 minipigs for 6 months. The material looks promising and has proved more "user friendly" than existing prostheses for flat bone replacement. We hope to refine its production to allow its use in humans.

Animals

HIV-1 infection and cardiothoracic surgery: the difference in attitudes between consultants and junior surgeons in the United Kingdom.

A postal survey was carried out inviting the opinions of consultant and trainee cardiothoracic surgeons on the subject of operating upon patients who are either HIV-1 antibody positive or suffer from full-blown AIDS. The questionnaire contained both cardiac and thoracic clinical situations, all of which under normal circumstances would be managed surgically with low operative mortality and long median survival. The overall response rate was 72.4%. A significantly greater number of consultants replied compared to juniors, 80% and 51.6%, respectively (P less than 0.001). In both groups, surgeons were more likely to operate upon a patient who was HIV-1 antibody positive than one who had AIDS. There were no significant differences in the replies of consultants and juniors to the clinical scenarios presented. However, a greater number of juniors admitted to modifying their surgical practice in the light of the increasing incidence of HIV-1 infection (P less than 0.001). Routine preoperative HIV antibody testing was advocated by 77.8% of consultants and 75% of juniors and this rose to 95.1% and 97%, respectively, if patients were in the traditionally high risk groups. Four consultants admitted that they were already performing routine preoperative HIV antibody screening. This survey emphasized the real concern amongst cardiothoracic surgeons, irrespective of their grade, about HIV-1 infection and the need for both education and clear policy guidelines to deal with this difficult issue.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

The value of CT scanning and percutaneous fine needle aspiration of adrenal masses in biopsy-proven lung cancer.

Pre-operative CT scans of 546 patients with biopsy-proven primary bronchial carcinoma were reviewed. Twenty-two patients had a solid adrenal tumour (2 bilateral). Sixteen underwent percutaneous fine needle aspiration (FNA). Malignant cells were aspirated in five, eight revealed benign cells and in three cases there was insufficient material for diagnostic purposes. Six patients did not undergo FNA, four of these were considered to have benign adenomas on CT. This was confirmed by the unchanged CT image at more than 21 months follow-up. The five subjects with FNA-proven metastases died at a median of 14 months (range 3-24 months). All five would have been regarded as operable on their staging chest CT scan. Five patients with a negative biopsy underwent surgery, two died of metastases at 6 and 11 months respectively and one died of post-operative complications. The other two have unchanged adrenal lesions on CT at 9 months and 25 months. The CT appearances of these lesions were analysed. Well defined, low attenuation lesions which had a smooth attenuation rim or only involved part of the gland were benign and the survivors had unchanged CT appearances at follow-up (six lesions in five patients). Of these four lesions were less than or equal to 2 cm in diameter. Low attenuation lesions without a rim were malignant (n = 2). These latter both measured more than 2 cm in diameter. The CT appearances of many adrenal lesions were insufficiently distinctive to exclude malignancy and biopsy was necessary to establish a diagnosis.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms

Desmoid tumour in thoracotomy scar 5 years after excision of a left giant atrial appendage aneurysm in female with a family history of Gardner's syndrome.

A very large desmoid tumour extensively involving the chest wall and the left anterior abdominal wall is described in a patient with a family history of Gardner's syndrome. The desmoid arose at the site of a thoracotomy scar due to the removal of a large aneurysm of the left atrial appendage five years before. Both a plastic surgeon and a thoracic surgeon were required to remove the tumour. Aneurysmal dilatation of the left atrium is extremely rare and has not been reported in association with Gardner's syndrome before.

Adult

Symptomatic cysts in otherwise normal lungs of children and adults.

The clinical and pathological features of 28 lung cysts resected in the period 1980-1989, excluding those from patients with emphysema elsewhere in their lungs, have been reviewed. In 12 children aged 8 days to 17 years, five cysts were congenital adenomatoid malformations, three were bronchogenic cysts, two were intralobar sequestrations, one was a cystic haemangioma and one resembled the cysts excised from 16 adult patients. This latter group ranged in age from 20 to 62 years and included 11 cigarette smokers and five asthmatics. Twelve of these cysts were intralobar and four were attached by a pedicle to the pleural surface of the lung. All these cysts had a fibromuscular wall showing varying degrees of acute and chronic inflammation. The presence of at least a partial lining of epithelial cells in all the cysts was confirmed using an immunocytochemical marker. The surrounding lung did not show any significant pathology. These cysts are labelled as simple fibromuscular pulmonary cysts. In the childhood cases, a congenital cause could be established in the majority. The pathogenesis of the adult cysts remains unclear. The presence of inflammation in the cyst walls does not necessarily suggest a role for infection, as secondary infection of cysts cannot be ruled out. An aetiological role for local damage due to cigarette smoking or asthma must be taken into consideration.

Adolescent

Primary leiomyoma of the pulmonary vein.

The first case of a primary leiomyoma in a pulmonary vein in an adult is presented. Although rare, leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma of the lung and great vessels should be included in the differential diagnosis of intrathoracic space occupying lesions.

Female

Treatment of desmoid tumours in Gardner's syndrome.

A 24 year old woman with Gardner's syndrome developed a massive chest wall desmoid tumour, which required radical excision and prosthetic reconstruction. In view of the local aggressiveness of this tumour and the fact that it does not metastasize a policy of radical surgery when possible is recommended.

Adult

High resolution computed tomography as a predictor of lung histology in systemic sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The relative proportions of fibrosis and inflammation seen by open lung biopsy examination is a predictor of disease outcome in fibrosing alveolitis. This study was designed to assess the ability of high resolution computed tomography to predict the histological appearance of open lung biopsy specimens from patients with systemic sclerosis. METHODS: Twenty abnormal biopsy specimens from 12 patients were assessed; abnormalities were categorised as fibrotic (fibrosis exceeding inflammation) or inflammatory (inflammation equal to or exceeding fibrosis). Computed tomography appearances were scored for the lobe from which the biopsy specimen was taken; scans were graded from parenchymal opacification alone through to a reticular pattern alone. RESULTS: Two lobar appearances were identified on computed tomograms: amorphous parenchymal opacification equal in extent to reticulation (grade 3) and a predominantly reticular pattern (grade 4). There was a significant association between a fibrotic histological appearance and a grade 4 computed tomogram, and between an inflammatory histological appearance and a grade 3 computed tomogram. Computed tomography grade 4 was associated with a fibrotic histological appearance in 12 out of 13 lobes, and grade 3 with an inflammatory histological appearance in four out of seven lobes. CONCLUSION: Computed tomography discriminated between biopsy specimens that were predominantly fibrotic and a smaller group with a larger amount of inflammation.

Adult

Open lung biopsy: a safe, reliable and accurate method for diagnosis in diffuse lung disease.

The ideal method for obtaining lung tissue for diagnosis should provide high diagnostic yield with low morbidity and mortality. We reviewed all 432 patients (mean age 55 years) who underwent an open lung biopsy at this hospital over a 10-year period. Twenty-four patients (5.5%) were immunocompromised. One hundred and twenty-five patients were on steroid therapy at the time of operation. Open lung biopsy provided a firm diagnosis in 410 cases overall (94.9%) and in 20 out of 24 patients in the immunocompromised group (83.3%). The commonest diagnosis was cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (173 patients). Twenty-two patients (5.1%) suffered complications following the procedure: wound infection 11 patients, pneumothorax 9 patients and haemothorax 1 patient. Thirteen patients (3.0%) died following open lung biopsy, but in only 1 patient was the death attributable to the procedure itself. We conclude that open lung biopsy is an accurate and safe method for establishing a diagnosis in diffuse lung disease with a high yield and minimal risk.

Adolescent

Hospital mortality and long-term survival after pulmonary resection in the elderly.

We have studied the hospital mortality and long-term survival in two groups of patients: those between 50 and 69 years of age (group 1, n = 136) and those older than 70 years of age (group 2, n = 43). The two groups were similar in terms of the distribution of histological type and postsurgical staging. The patients were treated by either lobectomy or pneumonectomy; the lobectomy rate was similar in both groups: 61% and 51% (not significant). Hospital mortality for group 1 was 4.4% and for group 2, 6.9%. Mortality was higher in both groups after pneumonectomy compared with lobectomy, but this was not significant (group 1, 6.2% versus 1.9%; group 2, 9.1% versus 4.7%). Hospital mortality after pulmonary resection was greater in the elderly, but this was not significant (lobectomy: 1.9% [group 1] versus 4.7% [group 2]; pneumonectomy: 6.2% [group 1] versus 9.1% [group 2]. The overall long-term survival at 2 and 4 years was 62.3% and 50.0% for group 1 and 72.5% and 66.6% for group 2. We suggest that the operative risk in the elderly is not prohibitive and the long-term results are acceptable. Patients should not be denied operation on the basis of age alone.

Aged