胸腔镜外科的经验与体会

目的 探讨电视胸镜手术（VATS）治疗胸部疾病的可行性。方法 实施 VATS手术223例,其中216例经胸腔镜完成手术,7例术中转传统开胸术。手术治疗的疾病包括自发性气胸、手汗症、肺、胸膜、纵隔疾病及胸外伤等10余种。结果 手术时间平均51分钟（61－147分钟）,平均住院日7．6天（1－17天）,发生胸部并发症10例。随访3－80个月,自发性气例2例、手汗症和胸部部代偿性汗增多5例。结论 VATS治疗某些胸部疾病就操作技术而言是可行的,它比传统的开胸手术具有更多的优点。     

Surgical endoscopy in thoracic surgery.

From November 1990 to April 1992, 32 patients were operated on by video thoracoscopic surgery (VTS). Included were 22 males and 10 females, mean age 47.6 years. VTS has been used therapeutically on 25 occasions: 20 spontaneous pneumothoraxes; two recurrent pleuritis; two cysts; one mediastinal; one pulmonary; and one thoracic sympathectomy. VTS was also used diagnostically seven times: five lung biopsies and two mediastinal lymph node biopsies. It was necessary to perform a mini-thoracotomy in one patient and proceed to immediate thoracotomy in three patients. There were no deaths in this series, the morbidity was two patients with collapsed lungs, one of which required drainage. VTS must be performed under standard thoracic surgical conditions: selective intubation, and fully equipped to make an immediate thoracotomy. The advantages of VTS are aesthetic and functional, the post-operative pain is reduced in intensity and duration. At present, VTS is indicated for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax, the assessment and biopsy of mediastinal lymph node and the excision of some lung lesions. Improvements in the apparatus should lead to a broadening of these indications in the future.     

Fulguration of Ventricular Tachycardia Using High Cumulative Energy: Results in Thirty-one Patients with a Mean Follow-Up of Twenty-seven Months

Catheter electrical ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) was attempted in 31 patients (57 ± 15 years) who had refractory recurrent VT. Fifteen patients had coronary artery disease, seven had arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, four had cardiomyopathy and five had no structural heart disease. Ten patients were NYHA class III-IV. Ten patients experienced cardiac arrest or syncope during VT. Twenty-two patients had only one documented morphologic type of spontaneous VT. Whereas nine patients had more than one: the VT was incessant or daily in 17 patients. One to 16 shocks (mean 5.6) of 160 to 240 joules each (1162 ± 1060 joules) were delivered to the endocardial exit site of VT—as identified by endocardial activation mapping (29 patients) and pacemapping (31 patients)—during one (22 patients) or more than one session (nine patients). Cumulative delivered energy was 840 ± 558 joules for right ventricular VT (11 patients) and 1362 ± 1240 joules for left ventricular VT (20 patients). Reversible side effects occurring immediately after shocks included: nonclinical VT (two patients), ventricular fibrillation (two patients), AV block (three patients). Mean CK—MB fraction 6 hours after shocks was 93 ± 46 IU/1. An electrophysiology study performed 7 to 10 days later demonstrated that the original clinical VT was inducible in seven patients, nonclinical monomorphic VT was inducible in eight patients and no VT was inducible in 13 patients. The procedure was successful in 25/29 patients (86%) who had no recurrence of the original VT (or sudden death) either on no antiarrhythmic therapy (16 patients) or on the same regimen that was ineffective before ablation (nine patients) over a follow-up period of 27 ± 11 months. A nonclinical VT occurred in two patients. The ablation result was not interpretable in two patients and unsuccessful in four patients: the endocardial activation time at site of shocks was –5 ± 5 ms in the failures versus ?43 ± 29 ms in the successes (P < 0.05).     

Expanded PTFE-covered stent-grafts in the treatment of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) stenoses and occlusions

Background We evaluated the efficacy of the VIATORR endoprosthesis for the management of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) dysfunction. Methods Twelve consecutive patients (10 men and two women, mean age 52.7 years) with recurrent TIPS dysfunction underwent TIPS revision with use of the VIATORR endoprosthesis. Nine patients were asymptomatic and three patients had developed recurrent variceal bleeding. All patients had previous shunt revisions (mean 2.1 revisions per patient) with angioplasty or bare stents. Follow-up included clinical assessment, Doppler ultrasound, and portal venography. Results TIPS revision was successful in all patients, without complications. The mean portosystemic pressure gradient decreased from 16.8 ± 2.7 mmHg to 6.5 ± 2.6 mmHg. Hemostasis was achieved in all three patients who had recurrent variceal bleeding at the time of the procedure. Mean follow-up was 21.9 ± 10.7 months. In two patients TIPS dysfunction occurred at 14 and 30 months after stent-graft placement, respectively. The primary patency rates were 100% after 12 months and 88.8% after 24 months. Two patients (16.6%) developed encephalopathy after stent graft placement. Conclusion TIPS revision using the VIATORR endoprosthesis appears to be an effective and durable method to control shunt dysfunction.     

Assessment of the Onset and Persistence of Amnesia during Procedural Sedation with Propofol

Objectives: To assess patients' ability to repeat and recall words presented to them while undergoing procedural sedation with propofol, and correlate their recall with their level of awareness as measured by bispectral index (BIS) monitoring. Methods: This was a prospective, single‐intervention study of consenting adult patients undergoing procedural sedation with propofol between December 28, 2002, and October 31, 2003. BIS monitoring was initiated starting 3 minutes before the procedure and continuing until the patient had regained baseline mental status. At 1‐minute intervals during the procedural sedation, until the patient regained baseline mental status at the end of the procedure, a word from a standardized list was read aloud, and the patient was asked to immediately repeat the word to the investigator. The BIS score at the time the word was read and the patient's ability to repeat the word were recorded. After the procedure, the patient was asked to state all of the words from the list that he or she could recall, and to identify the last word recalled from prior to the start of the procedure and the first word recalled from after the procedure was completed. Results: Seventy‐five consenting patients were enrolled; one patient was excluded from data analysis for a protocol violation. No serious adverse events were noted during the procedural sedations. The mean (±standard deviation) time of data collection was 16.4 minutes (±7.1; range 5 to 34 minutes). The mean initial (preprocedure) BIS score was 97.1 (±2.3; range 92 to 99). The mean lowest BIS score occurring during these procedural sedations was 66.9 (±14.4; range 33 to 91). The mean lowest BIS score corresponding to the ability of the patient to immediately repeat words read from the list was 77.1 (95% CI = 74.3 to 80.0). The mean highest BIS score corresponding to the inability to repeat words was 81.5 (95% CI = 78.1 to 84.8). The mean BIS score corresponding to the last word recalled from prior to the initiation of the sedation was 96.7 (±2.4; range 84 to 98). The mean BIS score corresponding to the first word recalled after the procedure was completed was 91.2 (95% CI = 88.1 to 94.3). All patients recalled at least one word that had been read to them during the protocol. The mean lowest BIS score for any recalled word was 91.5 (±11.1; range 79 to 98), and no words were recalled when the corresponding BIS score was less than 90. Conclusions: There is a range of BIS scores during which sedated patients are able to repeat words read to them but are not able to subsequently recall these words. Furthermore, patients had no recall of words repeated prior to procedural sedation in BIS ranges associated with recall after procedural sedation, suggestive of retrograde amnesia.     

Selective thoracic ganglionectomy for the treatment of segmental neuropathic pain

Segmental thoracic neuropathic pain (NeuP) remains particularly difficult to treat. Sensory ganglionectomy was reported to alleviate NeuP. The experience with thoracic ganglionectomy, however, is very limited. Here, we report the results of a prospective pilot study in patients with incapacitating segmental thoracic NeuP treated by selective ganglionectomy. Seven patients were included suffering from refractory NeuP scoring 8 or more on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Every patient had test anaesthesia prior to surgery yielding more than 50% pain relief. The spinal ganglion was excised completely via an extraforaminal approach. Mean preoperative VAS scores were 9.1 (maximum pain); 5.4 (minimum pain); 7.9 (pain on average); 6.9 (pain at the time of presentation); and 7.4 (allodynia). Early post‐operatively, there was a marked improvement of mean scores: 1.7; 0.7; 1.2; 1.0; and 0.7, respectively. One patient developed a mild transient hemihypaesthesia. In three patients, substantial pain occurred in a formerly unaffected dermatome within 1 year. Two of these patients had significant pain relief by a second operation. At the time of last follow‐up at a mean of 24 months after the first procedure, mean VAS scores were 6.3; 2.1; 4.3; 4.0; and 1.3. Overall, medication was reduced. The patients rated their outcome as excellent (1), good (2), fair (2) and nil (2) with best improvement for allodynia. Selective thoracic ganglionectomy is a safe and partially effective procedure in selected patients albeit there may be partial recurrence of pain. Recurrent pain may affect dermatomes that were not involved initially.     

Precise localization of small pulmonary nodules using Pre-VATS with Xper-CT in combination with real-time fluoroscopy-guided coil: report of 15 patients

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the value of precise localization of nodules using pre-video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) Xper–CT in combination with real-time fluoroscopy-guided coil in the resection of pulmonary nodules using VATS.Materials and Methods: Precise localization of nodules using Xper-CT in combination with real-time fluoroscopy-guided coil and wedge resection using VATS were conducted on 15 patients with 17 small pulmonary nodules (diameter 0.5–1.5 cm) from April 2015 to January 2016. The value of localization was evaluated in terms of procedure time, type of coils, associated complications of localization, and VATS success rate.Results: The success rate of coil localization was found to be 100% in the primary stage (as shown by the CT scan), and the average procedure time was 30–45 min (35.6 ± 3.05 min). No deaths or major complications occurred. Minor complications included five incidents of pneumothorax (the morbidity was 29.4%, 5/17; no patient required chest tube drainage). The dislocation of coil was found in one patient. The results of pathological examination of 17 small pulmonary nodules revealed 11 primary lung cancers, 1 mesenchymal tumor, 3 nonspecific chronic inflammations, 1 hamartoma, and 1 tuberculosis. Two patients with primary lung cancer underwent lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection.Conclusion: The preoperative precise localization of small pulmonary nodules using Xper-CT-guided coil is an effective and safe technique. It helps in the resection of nodules using VATS. It increases the rate of lung wedge resection with few complications and allows for proper diagnosis with a low thoracotomy conversion rate.     

Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Symptomatic Ventricular Ectopic Beats Originating in the Right Outflow Tract

Ectopic activity originating in the right ventricular outflow tract is a frequent finding and may result in severe symptoms such as dyspnea, palpitations, and lack of physical capacity correlated with a low cardiac output. In 12 consecutive symptomatic and drug refractory patients, we performed a study with intracardiac mapping and ablation procedure. The origin of the ectopic beats was identified, and the ablation procedure was performed. Patients were examined by serial ECG, Holter ECG, bicycle ECG, echocardiography, and thoracic X ray. At baseline, the mean number of ectopic beats was 23,823 during Holter ECG. No other arrhythmias were present. Patients underwent basic electrophysiological study, mapping process, and ablation in a single procedure. Ablation was performed with a deflectable thermocoupled catheter with tip electrodes of 4 mm. Criteria for identification of the origin of the ectopic beats included pace mapping with 12 leads and earliest endocardial activation. One male patient suffered from myocarditis; the other 11 patients had no underlying structural heart disease. The mean age was 38 years. Ablation procedure with delivered temperature of 70 °C was successful in 11 of 12 patients eliminating the focus. The mean procedural time was 79± 34 minutes; mean fluoroscopy time was 13.8± 8.8 minutes; and mean number of applications was 4.4± 2.8. No adverse effects occurred during a follow-up period of 10 months after ablation. The mean number of ectopic beats per 24 hours after ablation was 317 ± 599 with a P value of 0.00024. The clinical symptoms improved in all but one patient. One patient had a recurrence after 2 months that could be successfully treated by a second procedure. In our experience, temperature guided radiofrequency catheter ablation is safe and effective for the treatment of patients with symptomatic ectopic activity of the right outflow tract. As long as we lack the experience of a greater patient cohort and a longer follow-up, only drug resistant and highly symptomatic patients should be selected.     

食管悬吊法清扫左喉返神经旁淋巴结在微创食管手术中的回顾性研究

目的:分析微创食管癌手术中食管悬吊法对左喉返神经旁淋巴结清扫情况、手术时间和相关并发症的影响。方法:回顾分析2015年1月-12月复旦大学附属中山医院微创手术治疗的145例食管癌患者的临床资料,其中71例术中用食管悬吊法清扫左喉返神经旁淋巴结,另74例术中用常规方法清扫左喉返神经旁淋巴结。结果:与常规方法组相比,食管悬吊组的左喉返神经旁淋巴结清扫数量显著增加[(2.55±0.20)枚vs(1.46±0.22)枚,P<0.05],手术时间[(262.60±6.44)min vs(265.60±6.17)min]和左喉返神经旁淋巴结清扫时间[(9.90±0.34)min vs(9.60±0.36)min]无明显差异,喉返神经不可逆损伤、胸导管损伤等并发症无明显差异。结论:微创食管癌根治术中采用食管悬吊法可更彻底地清扫左喉返神经旁淋巴结,且不增加手术时间和围手术期并发症。     

Clinical Results with Electrophysiologist-Implanted Cardioverter-Defibrillators

With the advent of nonthoracotomy leads and smaller devices. implantation techniques for implantable cardioverters defibrillators (ICDs) have been simplified. We reviewed the outcome of pectoral ICD implantation by electrophysiologists in 51 consecutive patients, 47 males and 4 females, mean age 60 ± 12 years, presenting with aborted sudden cardiac death (14) and drug refractory hypotensive ventricular tachycardia (37). Patients were implanted with either the PCD Jewel^TM 7219D (37) or 72197C (14) Medtronic pectoral ICDs. The mean operative time was 98 ± 31 minutes. There was no operative mortality. Complications occurred in 2 (4%) patients: right ventricular lead dislodgement requiring lead repositioning occurred in 1 patient, and 1 patient treated with anticoagulants, who had received a subcutaneous patch lead, developed a hematoma not requiring surgical reintervention. The mean defibrillation threshold was 18.6 ± 5.5 J, but was significantly lower for the 7219C(14.1 ± 5.0 J) compared to the 7219D (20.6 ± 4.4J) device, P = 0.0001. A two-lead system consisting of a right ventricular electrode (RVA) and a superior vena caval lead (SVC) was utilized in 29, RVA/SVC-subcutaneous patch in 5 and active can in 17 patients, Patients were discharged after 4.3 ± 3 days. The procedure time was significantly shorter for the 7219C device (79.7 ± 18.9 vs 105.2 ± 32.8 minutes., P = 0.0035]. Over the fallow-up period of 8 ± 5 (range 1–20] months, 26% patients received appropriate therapy (95% antitachycardia pacing, 5% shock). Concomitant antiarrhythmic therapy was utilized in 41% of patients. Ninety-eight percent of patients are alive. One patient died of congestive heart failure. Clinical results with electrophysiologist-implanted pectoral ICDs demonstrate lou morbidity and no operative mortality in this clinical series and lower DFTs and shorter procedure times may be achieved with 7219C (active can) device.     

Catheter Ablation of Idiopathic Left Ventricular Tachycardia

ZARDINI, M., etal .: Catheter Ablation of Idiopathic Left Ventricular Tachycardia . Idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia (ILVT) characterized by right bundle branch block, left axis morphology, response to verapamil and inducibility from the atrium in patients without structural heart disease may represent a distinct clinical entity. We report our experience with catheter ablation of this uncommon arrhythmia using radiofrequency energy (RF) and/or direct current (DC) shocks. Six men and 2 women, aged 16–50 years (mean ± SD, 32 ± 13), had recurrent VT for 16 ± 16 years with a mean frequency of 4 ± 3 episodes/ year. Three patients had syncope during VT. None had identifiable structural heart disease. Catheter ablation was guided by earliest endocardial activation, presence of a high frequency presystolic potential and/or pacemapping of the left ventricle. The left ventricle was accessed via a retrograde aortic approach in 6 patients, a transeptal approach in 1 patient, and a combined approach in the remaining patient. All patients had inducible right bundle branch block morphology, left axis VT with a mean cycle length (CL) of 361 ± 61 ms. A presystolic potential preceding ventricular activation and the His potential during VT was identified in 4 patients. All ablation sites were identified in a relatively uniform location, in the inferoapical left ventricle. Noninducibility of VT was obtained with RF in 3 patients and with DC in 5 patients. In 1 patient, DC delivery after unsuccessful RF prevented further inducibility. Similarly, RF was successful in 1 patient in whom an initial DC attempt was ineffective. Mean total procedure time was 282 ± 51 minutes and mean total fluoroscopy time was 40 ± 15 minutes. There were no complications. One patient treated with DC shock had recurrence of VT during treadmill test the day after ablation and refused repeat ablation. During a mean follow-up of 17 ± 13 months, no VT recurrences or other cardiovascular events occurred. In conclusion, catheter ablation in the inferoapical left ventricle is an effective treatment for this type of ILVT. RF energy can be safely complemented by low energy DC shocks when the former is ineffective.     

Clinical characteristics and prevalence of pneumothorax in patients with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease

Pneumothorax in patients with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease is considered to be a rare complication, and little is known about its clinical course. In this study, we aimed to define the clinical features, outcome, and prevalence of pneumothorax in patients with pulmonary MAC disease. A retrospective review of medical records identified eight men and ten women (mean age, 75 years) with active pulmonary MAC disease complicated by pneumothorax between 2003 and 2010 in our institution. None of the patients was positive for HIV infection. Pneumothorax occurred in the right lung in 12 patients and in the left in six. All but one patient had MAC disease in both lungs, and 12 patients had widespread lesions covering a total area larger than one lung field. Seven of the 18 patients (39 %) were forced to undergo surgery following unsuccessful thoracic drainage. Five patients experienced recurrence during the study period and two others eventually developed chronic pneumothorax. The complication rate of pneumothorax was calculated on the bases of the total number of patients with active pulmonary MAC disease during the same period. The overall complication rate of pneumothorax was as high as 2.4 % (18 of 746 patients with MAC disease). In conclusion, the incidence of pneumothorax in patients with active pulmonary MAC disease was unexpectedly high, especially in patients who were elderly and had advanced MAC disease. This condition is often difficult to treat and can recur easily.     

胸腔内注入冷沉淀预防复发性气胸的研究

目的：探讨胸膜腔内注入冷沉淀能否降低自发性气胸的同侧复发率。方法：３年间采用随机法将６６例自发性气胸分为粘连组３４例，给予冷沉淀２Ｕ（４０ｍｌ）胸膜腔注入；对照组３２例，单纯行胸腔闭式引流治疗。于第３年随访，对其症状、体征、胸部Ｘ线及肺功能检查，平均随访期（２３．６±９．１）月。结果：胸膜腔内注入冷沉淀无明显不良反应，胸部Ｘ线检查未提示胸膜增厚，各组１０例特发性气胸（随访在１年以上）的肺功能检查比较无明显差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）；粘连组与对照组的复发率分别为６．９％（２／２９）和３７％（１０／２７），有显著性差异（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结论：胸膜腔内注入冷沉淀能有效地降低同侧气胸的复发率，且不会导致限制性肺功能障碍。既适用于特发性、初发性气胸，也适用于继发性、复发性气胸，对于难治性气胸和年老体弱、肺功能差者也可作为一种选择性治疗     

Predictors of Device Activation for Ventricular Arrhythmias and Survival in Patients with Implantable Pacemakers/Defibrillators

Predictors of survival and arrhythmia recurrence for patients with implanted defibrillators have been reported but patients with sustained, well-tolerated ventricular tachycardia were often excluded from these trials. Arrhythmia recurrence and survival in populations including these patients have been less well studied. The purpose of the present study was to examine predictors of spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias and mortality in patients who received a tiered therapy antitachycardia pacemaker/defibrillator for ventricular tachycardia, fibrillation, or both. Three hundred thirty-seven patients who received a Ventritex CADENCE® tiered therapy antitachycardia device at one of 19 participating centers between July 11, 1989 and March 4, 1991 are included in this retrospective analysis. Diagnostic summary data and stored electrograms telemetered from the implanted device were assessed to determine characteristics of recurrent arrhythmias. Mean follow-up was 360 ± 10 (SEM) days. Thirty-three patients died during follow-up. At least one recurrent ventricular arrhythmia was observed in 205 patients (61 %). A total of 7,539 episodes were observed with a mean of 37 ± 5 per patient. Patients with recurrent ventricular arrhythmias were slightly but significantly older (64 ± 0.7 vs 59 ± 1.2 years; P < 0.001) but were not distinguished by gender or underlying structural disease. Patients whose presenting arrhythmia was monomorphic ventricular tachycardia were more likely to experience recurrent ventricular arrhythmias (69% recurrence rate) than patients presenting with ventricular fibrillation or polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (46% recurrence rate; P < 0.001). Cycle length of spontaneous tachycardia was also a predictor of arrhythmia recurrence. Patients having slower ventricular arrhythmias were less likely to remain recurrence free. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was similar for patients with and without recurrences. Younger age and absence of arrhythmia recurrence but not presenting arrhythmia were predictors of survival. We conclude that age and presentation with monomorphic ventricular tachycardia are important predictors of arrhythmia recurrence for this patient population. Exclusion of patients with monomorphic ventricular tachycardia underestimates the rate of recurrent ventricular arrhythmias and utilization of device therapy.     

Carbon dioxide laser applications in thoracic surgery

The use of laser for thoracic surgery is increasing with research and bringing new techniques to the clinical level. The carbon dioxide laser has been used for thoracic surgery to make thoracotomy incisions, to cut the muscular plains, to resect peripheral tumors, to cut interlober fissures, to resect off chest wall tumors, and to treat empyema, with minimum tissue trauma and blood loss. We have developed a method for treating recurrent and persistent pneumothorax with a carbon dioxide laser that we call laser vaporization of parietal and visceral pleurae. Since January 1985, 49 pneumothoraces have been treated with excellent results.     

Thoracoscopic sympathectomy for palmaris hyperhidrosis

INTRODUCTION: Palmaris hyperhidrosis is a disorder mediated by the sympathetic nervous system. It causes excessive sweating. This study evaluated the safety, efficacy, and outcome after thoracoscopic sympathectomy in patients with palmaris hyperhidrosis. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 18 patients (10 male) who underwent bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy between July 1998 and June 2001. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 34 years. No conversions to thoracotomy occurred. Three 2- to 5 mm trocars were used.The thoracic sympathetic chain was resected from ganglia T2-T4, except in one patient with axillary hyperhidrosis requiring resection to T5. The mean operating time was 112 minutes, the mean blood loss was 50 ml, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 1.2 days. Two patients had a unilateral pneumothorax requiring tube thoracostomy; one patient developed a chest wall hematoma at a trocar site that resolved without treatment, and one patient developed a transient unilateral Horner's syndrome. There have been no hospital readmissions. After a mean follow-up period of 14 months, 11 patients (56%) reported compensatory sweating. Sixteen patients (89%) were satisfied with their outcomes. One patient was dissatisfied because of excessive compensatory sweating, and another continues to have mild unilateral sweating on one hand and compensatory sweating of the face. CONCLUSION: Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is a safe and effective alternative treatment for palmaris hyperhidrosis. Compensatory sweating occurs in more than 50% of patients but is tolerable in most. The majority of patients are satisfied with their short-term outcomes.     

Extracorporeal life support to terminate refractory ventricular tachycardia

OBJECTIVE: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has been applied successfully to patients with cardiopulmonary failure in extreme situations. Refractory ventricular tachycardia has high mortality and morbidity rates if not terminated in time. This study describes our preliminary experiences in using ECLS to treat patients with refractory ventricular tachycardia. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Hospital. PATIENTS: Eleven patients suffering from ventricular tachycardia refractory to antiarrhythmia agents and cardioversion attempts. INTERVENTIONS: From January 2002 to December 2004, 11 patients suffering from ventricular tachycardia refractory to antiarrhythmia agents and cardioversion attempts were treated with ECLS. Mean patient age was 31 +/- 21 yrs (range, 3-69 yrs). The triggering events were acute myocarditis (n = 8), coronary artery spasm (n = 1), and hypoxemia secondary to acute respiratory distress syndrome (n = 2). Nine (82%) patients received venoarterial mode support and the remaining two (18%) were supported with venovenous mode to correct hypoxemia. Pump flow was first maximized (mean, 3800 +/- 1100 mL/min) to unload the heart, and an intra-aortic balloon pump was used to deal with the increased afterload (n = 8). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Mean ventricular tachycardia duration before ECLS was 50 +/- 16 mins (range, 20-75 mins) and soon converted to a sinus rhythm following ECLS deployment, including four patients who experienced spontaneous recovery without attempted cardioversion, in a mean of 7.4 mins (range, 1-20 mins). Four patients required temporary pacing but none needed a permanent pacemaker after recovery. Mean duration of ECLS support was 119 +/- 69 hrs (range, 12-250 hrs). We excluded one patient who had permanent brain injury and another who succumbed to multiple organ failure. Nine (82%) patients were weaned and discharged with normal cardiac function. No recurrent ventricular tachycardia attack but one recurrent cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction = 15%) was reported during a mean 42-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Using ECLS to terminate refractory ventricular tachycardia proved effective for selected patients when conventional therapeutic options were exhausted. Early deployment of ECLS to prevent secondary organ injury, maintain sufficient cardiac unloading, and avoid complications during ECLS support was central to successful outcomes.     

Ultrasonically-guided biopsy of solid thoracic lesions

The efficacy of ultrasonically-guided (US) biopsy of chest lesions suspected of being malignant was evaluated retrospectively over a period of 3 years. Biopsy was performed on 43 patients. A correct microscopic diagnosis was made in 38 out of 43 patients (88.3%). Three false negatives were encountered and only in one case was insufficient material achieved. One minor complication occurred, namely a small pneumothorax which, however, required no therapy. We conclude that US-guided biopsy from thoracic masses is a rapid, safe and accurate procedure for obtaining the diagnosis. Its only limitation is that the lesion, in order to be visualized, must not be covered by aerated lung tissue.     

CT colonography: contrast enhancement of benign and malignant colorectal lesions versus fecal residuals

We retrospectively reviewed the computed tomographic colonographic datasets of 22 patients. Mean attenuation values of benign polyps before and after contrast administration were 30 ± 15 HU and 90 ± 18 HU, respectively. Mean attenuation values of colorectal cancer before and after contrast administration were 43 ± 15 HU and 124 ± 18 HU, respectively. The mean attenuation value of solid fecal residuals was 43 ± 15 HU. The difference in attenuation value between precontrast and postcontrast studies of polyps was statistically significant (mean 60 HU, p < 0.01); the same was true for colorectal cancer (mean 81 HU, p < 0.01). The difference between postcontrast density of polyps and cancer with respect to density of solid fecal residuals was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The use of contrast medium could be of help in computed tomographic colonography for discriminating polypoid benign lesions and colorectal cancer from fecal residuals.