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Background: It was aimed to retrospectively examine the data of patients who underwent catheter thoracostomy to determine their demographic and clinical characteristics and to evaluate the effectiveness of the procedure. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 613 catheter thoracostomy procedures performed at the Health Practice and Research Center between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017. Results: Five hundred and sixty-seven (92.5%) were unilateral and 46 (7.5%) were bilateral catheter thoracostomy. Three hundred and seventy-seven (61.5%) procedures were performed on male patients and 236 (38.5%) procedures were performed on female patients. The mean age was 68 ± 16 (13-105 years old). The operation indications were 202 (33%) thoracic malignancies, 98 (16%) extrathoracic malignancies, and benign pathologies in 313 (51%) patients. Conclusions: Catheter thoracostomy procedure is being used more and more every day in the treatment of pleural effusions due to patient comfort, ease of application and low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study, our aim is to analyze the etiological causes and treatment methods of patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax treated in our hospital. Method: We retrospectively evaluated the data of 152 patients who were treated for Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax between January 2013 - December 2017. All patients diagnosed with SSP were included in the study. The patients were examined in terms of age, gender, current lung disease, smoking, symptoms, imaging findings, localization of pneumothorax, pneumothorax rate, treatment methods, surgical indications, length of hospitalisation and mortality rate. Results: One hundred and twenty eight (84.2%) of 152 patients were men, 24 were women (15.8%) and their mean age was 66 ± 12.4 (45--98). The most common symptoms were dyspnoea in 114 (75%) patients, chest pain in 85 (55.9%) patients and cough in 26 (17.1%) patients. The most common comorbid pathology was Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 39.5% patients. Tube thoracostomy was performed in 6 (40%) of 15 (9.9%) patients who were monitored with oxygen therapy. While 112 (73.7%) patients were treated with tube thoracostomy only, 36 (32.1%) of them who were inoperable were treated with pleurodesis by tube thoracostomy. Thirty one (20.4%) patients were treated surgically, of which video-assisted thoracoscopic was performed in 17 (54.8%) and thoracotomy in 14 (45.2%). The majority of our surgical indications were prolonged air leak and recurrent pneumothorax. Conclusions: Despite the great advances in surgical techniques in thoracic surgery in recent years, a standard treatment protocol has not been established in the treatment of SSP. While pneumothorax can be treated with only chest tube and/or pleurodesis in most patients, morbidity and mortality may increase with surgical treatment. Therefore, surgical treatment should be avoided as much as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the profiles of the patients aged 80 years and over admitted to the thoracic surgery clinic, their reasons for admission, the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches adopted for these patients, and the factors affecting their morbidity and mortality rates. Material and Method: Patient data retrieved from the hospital information management system were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were evaluated in terms of demographic information, reason for hospitalization, clinical findings, concomitant chronic diseases, diagnostic and treatment methods used, intensive care need, total hospitalization duration, and outcome. Results: In the 5-year period between 2013 and 2018, 422 patients aged ≥80 years were hospitalized and treated in the thoracic surgery clinic. The average age of the patients was 84.7 years (80-99 years). Pleural effusion and thoracic trauma were among the most common reasons for admission. The average length of stay in the hospital was 4.4 days. Forty-seven patients were treated in the intensive care unit, and overall 17 patients (4%) were dead. Conclusion: Our population continues to age, which means that we will more frequently encounter patients ≥80 years of age in thoracic surgery in the near future. Our experience with these patients, their profiles, their reasons for admission, and the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches adopted for these patients, and the factors affecting their morbidity and mortality will serve as a guide to the thoracic surgery clinics that will frequently encounter geriatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hydatid cysts may occur in almost every organ and tissue of human the body. Because they can be found in more than one organ/tissue, sometimes many operations may need for them and surgical intervention may be required due to complications that may develop secondary to hydatid cyst surgery albeit few. Method: Data on patient files retrieved from the hospital information management system or archive were analyzed retrospectively. Surgical results of patients operated with the diagnosis of hydatid cyst between 2008 and 2018 in our clinic were discussed retrospectively. Results: Ninety-three operations were performed in 84 patients due to pulmonary hydatid cysts. Fourty-four of them were male (52.4%), 40 were female and their mean age was 44 (5-85) years. Twenty-two (26.2%) patients were asymptomatic and 62 (73.8%) were symptomatic. Hydatid cysts were located in right hemithorax in 45 (53.6%) patients, in left hemithorax in 30 (35.7%) patients and bilaterally in 9 (10.7%) patients. Twenty-six patients (31%) had both pulmonary and hepatic hydatid cysts. Posterolateral thoracotomy and cystotomy-capitonnage were the most common methods (89.3%), 9 patients (10.7%) underwent wedge resection. Four patients developed atelectasis, 2 patients had hydropneumothorax, 4 patients had isolated prolonged air leak, 1 patient developed massive pulmonary embolism, and 1 patient developed Aspergillus infection the quilted cavity. Conclusions: Hydatid cyst disease has still been a serious health concern in Turkey. When the careful and experienced surgeons perform the operations, the postoperative period is usually uneventful and morbidity is extremely low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this study, we wanted to draw attention to the spontaneous pneumomediastinum which rarely seen and to share our experiences. Materials and Methods: Between April 2016 - April 2018, we retrospectively evaluated 12 patients who were hospitalized and treated with SPM diagnosis at Health Practice and Research Center. Results: Of the 12 patients with spontaneous pneumomediastinum, 9 (75%) were male and 3 (25%) were female. Patients had a mean age of 30.5 years (range 15-42 years), 2 patients admitted to the emergency service with swelling and dyspnea complaints, 1 patient with cough and vomiting, 1 patient with cough and chest pain, 3 patients with dyspnea and chest pain, 3 patients with sore throat and chest pain, 2 patients with swelling in the neck after the tooth extraction. 6 (50%) of the patients had a smoking history. Conclusions: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a disease that is seen rarely in emergencies and should be treated. Sometimes life-threatening complications may develop. Other disorders in differential diagnosis should be eliminated in spontaneous pneumomediastinum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: On February 6, 2023, two earthquakes of magnitude 7.8 and 7.6 occurred in Kahramanmaras, affecting south and central Türkiye as well as north and west Syria. The objective of this study is to present the clinical and radiological findings of chest trauma patients in a significant disaster like an earthquake. It aims to contribute to early diagnosis and intervention in multidisciplinary treatment approaches, thereby reducing mortality and morbidity rates. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional type registry research. A total of 6,500 patients who presented to Kayseri City Hospital due to the earthquake between February 6, 2023 and February 20, 2023 were retrospectively reviewed through medical hospital records. Of these, 150 patients with blunt or penetrating chest trauma were included in the study. Results: Among the 6,500 patients screened, chest trauma was identified in 150 cases. The average age was 45.1 years. Of the patients, 40.0% arrived at the hospital within 0-1 days, while 10.7% arrived after 6 or more days, with the longest duration being 11 days. While 30.7% of patients had no rib fractures, 31.3% had fractures on the right side, 10.7% had bilateral fractures, and 23.3% had 5 or more rib fractures. Complications occurred in 61.3% of cases, 69.3% received medical treatment, and 26.7% underwent tube thoracostomy. The patients' hospital stays ranged from 0 to 162 days, with an average of 18 days and a median of 11.5 days. Conclusion: Türkiye and its surrounding regions are prone to frequent earthquakes, and similar events are expected in the future. A multidisciplinary patient approach, starting from the emergency department, plays a crucial role, with thoracic surgery being an integral part of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis X (PLCHx) is a rare interstitial lung disease of unknown aetiology and occurs mostly in young smokers. Lung involvement alone accounts for >85% of the cases; other organs may be involved too (5%-15%). Case report: A 19-year-old boy was presented to the emergency service with sudden-onset, sharp, stabbing chest pain and dyspnoea. The patient had no history of smoking. His medical and family histories were negative for any disease. Thoracic radiography showed increased reticulonodular density with a near-total bilateral pneumothorax at the left and partially at the right. Hence, bilateral tube thoracostomy was performed. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) showed pronounced thin-walled cystic structures smaller than 10 mm and small millimetre-sized nodules in the upper and middle zones. Extrapulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis was excluded based on the radiological and laboratory findings. Based on the clinical and tomography findings, diagnosis of PLCHx was made. Conclusion: Our case highlights that PLCHx should be suspected in non-smokers. Further studies elucidating the aetiology of PLCHx are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydatid disease caused by echinococci is seen endemically in Turkey. Its location in tissues outside of the liver and lung is rare. Most of the mass lesions involving the sternum are malignant. We present a case of hydatid cyst located in the sternum and eroding it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]