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Biomedical subjects

R Jancovici

Publications and source records attributed to R Jancovici.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[A serious complication of sternal puncture: penetrating injury of the ascending thoracic aorta].

INTRODUCTION: Penetrating thoracic aorta wounds are rare but responsible for a high mortality when medical and surgical management is delayed. OBSERVATION: We report the case of a 71 year-old patient with malignant lymphoma who sustained an accidental penetrating injury of the ascending thoracic aorta while undergoing trephine biopsy of the sternum. He was successfully treated with emergency sternotomy and aortic suture-repair. CONCLUSION: This case report highlights the limits of sternal trephine biopsy, notably in patients whose bones are weakened by a malignant haematological process, and proposes preventive measures in order to avoid accidents.

Aged↗

[Thoracic sympathectomy: treatment for hyperhidrosis].

Hyperhidrosis is a benign functional anomaly which is highly stressful for the patient. Active management is required. Several medical options are available but are often ineffective. The thoracic sympathic system plays a fundamental role in propagating stimulation of sudoral gland secretion. Endoscopic thoracic sympatecomy thus provides a radical treatment for severe palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis. We describe the technique used in our unit and present results and possible complications. This method has been used by many teams for several Years and despite some differences, most confirm major patient benefit. Phenomena of transferred sudation are frequent by are usually not invalidating. Patients should however be informed of this possibility because the effect is often irreversible.

Endoscopy↗

[Videothoracospy in thoracic trauma and penetrating injuries].

Videothoracoscopy represents a valid and useful approach in some patients with blunt chest trauma or penetrating thoracic injury. This technique has been validated for the treatment of clotted hemothorax or posttraumatic empyema, traumatic chylothorax, traumatic pneumothorax, in patients with hemodynamic stability. Moreover, it is probably the most reliable technique for the diagnosis of diaphragmatic injury. It is also useful for the extraction of intrathoracic projectiles and foreign bodies. This technique might be useful in hemodynamically stable patients with continued bleeding or for the exploration of patients with penetrating injury in the cardiac area, although straightforward data are lacking to confirm those indications. Thoracotomy or median sternotomy remain indicated in patients with hemodynamic instability or those that cannot tolerate lateral decubitus position or one-lung ventilation. Performing video-surgery in the trauma setting require expertise in both video-assisted thoracic surgery and chest trauma management. The contra-indications to videothoracoscopy and indications for converting the procedure to an open thoracotomy should be perfectly known by surgeons performing video-assisted thoracic surgery in the trauma setting. Conversion to thoracotomy or median sternotomy should be performed without delay whenever needed to avoid blood loss and achieve an adequate procedure.

Hemodynamics↗

[Correction of the congenital malformations of the front chest wall by the modelling technique of sternochondroplasty: technique and results on a series of 14 cases].

In the congenital malformations of the front chest wall showing depression or protrusion, the cardiorespiratory disorders are inconstant and often not linked with the distortion. On the other hand psychoaffective repercussions are major in adolescents and young adults justifying recourse to surgery with morphological and aesthetic aiming. The authors present the technique of modelling sternochondroplasty by raising with osteosynthesis by slide fastener-handle of Martin-Borrelly, applied to the correction of congenital malformation of the front chest wall in young adult, both of protrusion (pectus carinatum), of thoraxes in funnel (pectus excavatum) types or of mixed types (pectus arcuatum). This surgical replanning intervention is carried out by under-mammary way and aims at reestablishing a normal anatomy of the front chest wall. It leads to a genuine wide sternochondrocostal volet, which is stabilised by a specific, multipurpose, adaptable and reliable osteosynthesis equipment. The results obtained on a series of 14 cases are good or excellent in 86% of the cases and stable over time in the absence of major complications. A good cooperation of the patient is essential to obtain a good result in particular via the continuation of musculation exercises after assembly consolidation, possibly associated with remote mammary plastic surgery in the event of hypoplasia or of associated mammary agenesia.

Adolescent↗

[Thoracic ballistic traumatisms. Wounding agents and wound ballistic].

The adequate care of thoracic ballistic traumatisms implies a good preliminary knowledge of wounding agents, and of the principles governing lesion-based ballistic, in particular the role played by the meeting with an obstacle which modifies the ballistic behaviour of the projectile, with worsened wounding effects. Authors describe the principal types of involved projectiles and their wound profile applied to the thorax, while stressing the need to treat systematically the wound and not the weapon, and on the importance of the choice of the surgical exploration way of these lesions, which conditions, as from the initial stage, the later choices of the parietal closure and rebuilding methods. The importance of parietal disrepair is therefore an essential decisional factor in the assumption of responsibility and the definition of the therapeutic strategy of these casualties.

Firearms↗

The role of videothoracoscopy in management of precordial thoracic penetrating injuries.

OBJECTIVES: To report on the value of diagnostic videothoracoscopy in patients with possible penetrating cardiac wounds. METHODS: Thirteen patients admitted over a 4 year period with hemodynamic stability and a penetrating injury in cardiac proximity had exploratory videothoracoscopy. All data related to those patients were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of patients had videothoracoscopy within 8 h of trauma. In most cases (eight of 13), operations were performed on patients in the supine position with the chest slightly rotated. Nine patients had a left hemothorax, five had pulmonary lacerations and five had a bleeding parietal vessel. Pericardial exploration was achieved either by direct vision (nine patients), or by the performance of a pericardial window (four patients). Acute hemopericardium related to a cardiac wound was diagnosed in two patients. Procedures included evacuation of clotted hemothorax (six patients), stapling of pulmonary laceration (four patients), and electrocoagulation of bleeding parietal vessel (four patients). Four patients required conversion to thoracotomy: two for repair of a cardiac wound, one for adequate exposure of the pericardium and one for ligation of a bleeding intercostal artery. The mean operative time was 37+/-23 min. Two patients experienced postoperative complications (coagulopathy, subcutaneous emphysema) and the in-hospital mortality was 0%. The mean hospital stay was 10+/-4 days. CONCLUSIONS: In the hands of an experienced surgeon, videothoracoscopy may represent a valid alternative to subxiphoid pericardial window in patients with hemodynamic stability and a suspected cardiac wound. Videothoracoscopy can rule out a cardiac injury and allows for the performance of associated procedures such as diaphragm assessment/repair, evacuation of clotted hemothorax, hemostasis of parietal vessels or pulmonary laceration and removal of projectiles.

Adolescent↗

Resection of adrenal metastases from non-small cell lung cancer: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: In recent case reports and limited series, adrenalectomy was recommended for an isolated adrenal metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We retrospectively studied patients with a solitary adrenal metastasis from NSCLC who had undergone potentially curative resection in eight centers. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were included. Their adrenal gland metastasis was discovered synchronously with NSCLC in 32 patients, and metachronously in 11. It was homolateral to the NSCLC in 31 patients and contralateral in 12 (p < 0.01). Median survival was 11 months, and 3 patients survived more than 5 years. There was no difference between the synchronous and metachronous groups regarding recurrence rate or survival. Survival was not affected by the homolateral location of the metastasis, the histology of the NSCLC, TNM stage, any adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment, or, in the metachronous group, a disease-free interval exceeding 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm the possibility of long-term survival after resection of isolated adrenal metastasis from NSCLC, but no clinical or pathologic criteria were detected to identify patients amenable to potential cure.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

[Pleomorphic adenoma with bilateral pulmonary metastasis].

We report a new case of pleomorphous adenoma of the submaxillary glands with multiple lung metastases. Histological proof was obtained on the thoracoscopic surgical specimen. Clinically, this benign tumor presents as a malignant tumor. Diagnosis has been a subject of debate; surgical resection is indicated. Diagnosis is achieved by elimination in a patient with one or several nodules occurring in a context of recurrent pleomorphous adenoma.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax: one-stage treatment by bilateral videothoracoscopy.

BACKGROUND: The goal of the study was to report our 7-year experience with single-stage bilateral videothoracoscopy for bleb excision and pleural abrasion in patients suffering primary spontaneous pneumothorax. METHODS: From November 1992 through June 1999, 12 men were operated on in our department. Preoperative chest computed tomographic scans were obtained for all patients. Operative indications included simultaneous bilateral pneumothorax (n = 2), contralateral recurrence (n = 1), ipsilateral recurrence with contralateral blebs or bullae, and job restrictions (n = 9). RESULTS: Mean age at operation was 26+/-6 years. All patients had multiple blebs or bullae located in upper lobes, and 4 patients (33%) had pleural adhesions. All blebs or bullae were resected at operation. The mean number of staple cartridges was 5 per patient (range, 3 to 8). All patients had bilateral pleurabrasion. There were no perioperative complications and no conversion to thoracotomy. The mean operative time was 168+/-17 minutes (range, 140 to 190 minutes). The mean drainage time was 5 days (range, 4 to 26 days) and the mean hospital stay was 7.7+/-1.4 days for 11 of 12 patients. Postoperative complications included prolonged air leak (16.5%), incomplete lung reexpansion (25%), and pleural effusion (8.5%). One patient required reoperation on the right side through transaxillary thoracotomy within 1 month of videothoracoscopy for pleurodesis failure. Follow-up was 100% complete. Mean follow-up is 50+/-34 months (range, 9 to 88 months) and no patient has had recurrence of pneumothorax. All patients except one returned to full occupational activity within 5 weeks of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Single-stage bilateral videothoracoscopy for bilateral bleb excision and pleurabrasion is a safe procedure that does not result in major complications and provides excellent long-term results. This approach could be considered in young patients with bilateral primary spontaneous pneumothorax, or in those requiring radical therapy for the prevention of ipsilateral and contralateral recurrences.

Adolescent↗

Thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal bronchogenic cysts: results in 20 cases.

BACKGROUND: We present our experience with thoracoscopic resection of mediastinal bronchogenic cysts in adults. METHODS: From November 1990 to September 1993, 20 patients with mediastinal bronchogenic cysts were operated on by thoracoscopy. The average cyst size was 4.9 cm, and the largest diameter was 10 cm. Ten cysts were located in the middle mediastinum and 10 in the posterior mediastinum. Two cysts were complicated. RESULTS: Thirteen bronchogenic cysts were resected completely by thoracoscopy. We had to convert thoracoscopy into thoracotomy because of bleeding in two cases and because of major adhesions to vital structures in five cases. There were no operative deaths and no postoperative complications. Mean hospital stay was significantly less in the completely thoracoscopically treated group. Long-term follow-up (range, 4.5 to 7.5 years) showed no late complications and no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative complications, intraoperative injuries, and major adhesions to vital structures seem to be the only unfavorable conditions to thoracoscopic treatment of bronchogenic cysts. This study found encouraging results for thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal bronchogenic cysts in selected patients.

Adult↗

[Thoracoscopic treatment of pulmonary hydatidosis: a case report].

Hydatidosis is a ubiquitous parasitic condition observed in a pulmonary localization in 30 to 40% of cases. The hydatid cyst develops slowly and is well tolerated by the host who presents no signs for a long period. Complications include compression, fissuration, rupture, anaphylactic shock or infection after a latency phase of variable duration. Treatment of pulmonary hydatidosis is classically surgical with enucleation of the cyst by cleavage between the adventice and the anhistic membrane via thorachotomy using the Ugon and Barret procedure. Needle aspiration is also possible via thorachotomy or thoracoscopy. Finally resection of the pulmonary parenchyma can be used to excise the hydatic cyst. We describe a thoracoscopic treatment using specific material, in a man with complications due to a voluminous pulmonary hydatid cyst.

Adult↗

[New attitudes to the treatment of recurrent idiopathic pneumothorax].

We examine the classical indications for thoracoscopy in case of pneumothorax and recall the therapeutic modalities of thoracoscopic treatment. We then discuss the long-term incidence of this approach, examining outcome in terms of post-operative pain, respiratory function, cost and complications. A comparison of these parameters after thoracoscopy with those observed after classical surgery would favor thoracoscopic management.

Adult↗

[Inguinal hernia in Africa and laparoscopy: utopia or realism?].

Inguinal hernia is a common indication for surgery in Africa. Most cases involve men and are treated in advanced stages often with complications. Until now the benchmark technique for surgical management has been the well-defined herniorrhaphy technique. Use of prosthetic implants has been rare because of high cost. Recently there has been a growing interest in video-assisted surgery throughout developing countries. However this enthusiasm should not obscure the fact that the technique is still in the developing stage and thus is more costly for the local economy. Indications for video-assisted surgery should be carefully selected in function of local conditions as well as problems specific to developing countries.

Africa↗