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Purpose Respiratory complications are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality after lung cancer surgery. We hypothesized that oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal decontamination with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) would be an effective method to reduce these complications as reported in cardiac surgery. Methods In this multicenter parallel-group randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, we enrolled consecutive adults scheduled for anatomical pulmonary resection for lung cancer. Perioperative decontamination consisted in oropharyngeal rinse solution (0.12% CHG) and nasopharyngeal soap (4% CHG) or a placebo. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients requiring postoperative invasive and/or noninvasive mechanical ventilation (MV). Secondary outcome measures included occurrence of respiratory and non-respiratory healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and outcomes within 90 days. Results Between July 2012 and April 2015, 474 patients were randomized. Of them, 24 had their surgical procedure cancelled or withdrew consent. The remaining 450 patients were included in a modified intention-to-treat analysis: 226 were allocated to CHG and 224 to the placebo. Proportions of patients requiring postoperative MV were not significantly different [CHG 14.2%; placebo 15.2%; relative risks (RRs) 0.93; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59-1.45; P = 0.76]. Neither of the proportions of patients with respiratory HAIs were different (CHG 13.7%; placebo 12.9%; RRs 1.06; 95% CI 0.66-1.69; P = 0.81). The CHG group had significantly decreased incidence of bacteremia, surgical-site infection and overall Staphylococcus aureus infections. However, there were no significant between-group differences for hospital stay length, change in tracheal microbiota, postoperative antibiotic utilization and outcomes by day 90. Conclusions CHG decontamination decreased neither MV requirements nor respiratory infections after lung cancer surgery. Additionally, CHG did not change tracheal microbiota or postoperative antibiotic utilization. Trial Registration This study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01613365., Author(s): Xavier Benoit D'Journo [sup.1] [sup.6], Pierre-Emmanuel Falcoz [sup.2], Marco Alifano [sup.3], Jean-Philippe Le Rochais [sup.4], Thomas D'Annoville [sup.5], Gilbert Massard [sup.2], Jean Francois Regnard [sup.3], Philippe Icard [sup.4], Charles [...]

Background The aim of the study was to provide a literature review of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) outcomes for penetrating ulcer of the aorta. Methods Relevant articles in the Embase, Medline, and Cochrane databases reporting the results of endovascular repair for penetrating ulcers of the thoracic aorta were systematically searched and reviewed. Results Thirty-one articles were integrated after a literature review, and 310 patients treated by TEVAR for penetrating ulcers of the aorta were identified. In this cohort, most patients were male (65.8%), had a history of smoking (60.4%), and systemic hypertension (90%). Only 9% were asymptomatic at initial presentation. Most cases (76%) occurred among patients with a single ulcer, located in the descending thoracic aorta (81%), with associated intramural hematoma in 45%. The technical success of TEVAR was 98.3%. Surgical conversion during the postoperative period with stent-graft explantation was required in 1 patient. The overall 30-day mortality was 4.8% (15 of 310). The most frequent complications were endoleaks (8%, 25 of 310) and access problems (16.1%, 26 of 161). After a mean follow-up of 17.7 months (range, 1 to 52), the all-cause mortality was 22.9% (71 of 310), and the aortic-related mortality was 4.1% (13 of 310). During follow-up, new endoleak and ulcer recurrence were observed in 5.4% (n = 15 of 274) and 4.5% (n = 5 of 110), respectively, requiring a new aortic endovascular procedure in 50% (n = 10). Conclusions Thoracic endovascular aortic repair of penetrating ulcer has excellent short-term and midterms results. The endovascular approach should be the first line management for aortic ulcer when intervention is indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 52-year-old woman experiencing insufficiency syndrome associated with imprisonment of the scapula who has undergone a non-rigid reconstruction of a large chest wall defect and also includes several computed tomographic images.

We hypothesized that staged repair of extensive thoracic aneurysms might mitigate the incidence and severity of spinal ischemia by facilitating structural remodeling of the spinal cord vasculature. Staged hybrid repair (in two or three stages) was undertaken in 7 patients with extensive thoracic aortic aneurysms. The 30-day mortality and spinal ischemia rates were 0%. The conceptual basis of staging extensive aortic repairs is the maintenance of adequate flow to a sufficient number of spinal arteries and that spinal perfusion is preserved during the early postoperative period when the patient is most vulnerable to hypotension, by deliberately allowing interval distal type I endoleak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES The 7th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system of oesophageal cancer and gastro-oesophageal junction has re-staged positive nodes into N1–3 according to the number of invaded lymph nodes (LNs). However, this new classification does not consider the potential negative impact of the extracapsular breakthrough on survival. This study aims at assessing prognosis according to whether LN involvement is intracapsular (ICLNI) or extracapsular (ECLNI) on disease-free survival (DFS) among the three sub-groups of LN-positive patients. METHODS Four hundred and sixteen consecutive R0 patients who underwent transthoracic oesophagectomy for cancer between 1996 and 2011 were retrospectively re-classified using the latest AJCC TNM classification. Among them, 230 (55%) patients have received a neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Prognostic impact of ICLNI and ECLNI on DFS was assessed according to their new LN status. Multivariate analysis was drawn to determine factors affecting DFS. RESULTS Among the 416 patients, there were 138 (33%) patients with positive LN: 79 (57%) with ICLNI and 59 (43%) with ECLNI. The proportion of ECLNI was 21 of 73 (28%), 21 of 41 (51%) and 17 of 24 (70%) in N1, N2 and N3 patients, respectively. In N1 patients, median DFS was 48 months in ICLNI and 13 months in ECLNI (P = 0.068). In N2 patients, median DFS was 19 months in ICLNI and 9 months in ECLNI (P = 0.07). In N3 patients, median DFS was not reached in ICLNI and was 6 months in ECLNI (P = 0.002). On multivariate analysis, the ECLNI (P < 0.001, hazard ratio, HR: 2.51) and the post-T stage (P = 0.03, HR: 1.62) were the two independent factors affecting DFS. CONCLUSIONS Based on our limited study population, the existence of an ECLNI seems to have an additive negative impact on DFS, regardless of the pN stage. This suggests that extracapsular breakthrough status should be added to the new TNM staging system. This information has to be validated by further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES Recent studies have suggested that postoperative complications could have a potential negative effect on long-term outcome after oesophagectomy for cancer. Because respiratory failures represent the most frequent postoperative complication, we have investigated the prognostic impact of these complications on disease-free survival (DFS). METHODS From a prospective single-institution database of 405 consecutive patients who underwent transthoracic oesophagectomy for cancer, we retrospectively analysed medical charts of all patients with microscopically complete resection (R0, n = 384 patients). Complications were graded according to the modified Clavien classification. Respiratory complications were defined as atelectasis, pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome in the absence of early surgical complications. Patients with grade 5 (postoperative mortality, n = 43, 11%) were excluded from the analysis. The remaining 341 patients were analysed for estimation of DFS according to the Kaplan–Meier method. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to discriminate predictive factors affecting DFS. RESULTS According to the modified Clavien classification, postoperative complications rates were grade 0: 147 (44%), grade 1: 7 (2%), grade 2: 56 (16%), grade 3: 69 (20%) and grade 4: 62 (18%). Five-year DFS rates were not significantly different between grade 0 (no complication, 38%, n = 147) and other grades (grade 1, 2, 3 and 4 (64, 45, 56 and 48%, respectively)). Respiratory complications occurred in 107 patients (31%) and the 5-year DFS in this subgroup was 47% compared with 38% observed in grade 0 patients (P = 0.75). Clavien classification and respiratory complications did not come out in the univariate analysis of factors affecting DFS. On logistic regression, only two variables affected DFS: c-N stage and extracapular lymph node involvement. CONCLUSIONS When postoperative mortality is excluded, postoperative complications do not affect DFS in patients with complete resection. This deserves substantial information regarding the prognosis of subgroup of patients in critical situations where incrementing intensive care is debated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and midterm results following endovascular repair of dissecting aortic arch aneurysm after surgical treatment of acute type A dissection., Methods: Between 2003 and 2010, six consecutive patients previously operated for acute type A dissection underwent endovascular repair of dissecting aortic arch aneurysm (six men, mean age: 63 ± 9.8 years); one of the aneurysms was ruptured. Follow-up computed tomography scans were performed at 1 week, at 3 and 6 months, and annually thereafter., Results: All endografts were successfully deployed (TAG [2], Valiant [4]). All the patients underwent hybrid technique with supra-aortic debranching (through a sternotomy approach in four cases and through a cervical approach in two cases) and simultaneous or staged endovascular stent-grafting. During the same operative time, one patient underwent, on full cardiopulmonary bypass, saphenous vein bypass from the ascending aorta to the anterior descending coronary artery. One permanent neurologic event was observed. After a mean follow-up of 22.3 ± 14.6 months, no aortic-related mortality was observed. No cases of stent-graft migration or secondary rupture were observed. The ruptured aortic arch aneurysm presented a type I endoleak at 6 months and was successfully treated with a second endograft. One patient died of an unrelated cause 7 months after surgical repair., Conclusions: Our experience demonstrates promising potential of endovascular repair of dissecting aortic arch aneurysm after surgical treatment of acute type A dissection. The potential to diminish the magnitude of the surgical procedure and the consequences of aortic arch exposure, and above all avoiding the need for circulatory arrest, is promising and mandates further investigation to determine the efficacy and durability of this technique., (Copyright © 2012 Annals of Vascular Surgery Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We report a case of reconstruction of a large full-thickness posterolateral defect of the chest wall after resection of a stage III non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) using the combination of a vertical expandable prosthetic titanium device and a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) mesh. A 40-year-old female presented with a NSCLC classified as type IIIA and required both neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. An en bloc resection including the left upper lobe, posterolateral segments of five ribs (K3-K7) and vertebral bodies (T3-T6) was performed through a posterior J-shaped approach. A vertical rib osteosynthesis system was used to ensure thoracic wall stability and mechanical organ protection, prevent ventilatory impairment, avoid incarceration of the tip of the scapula, and maintain an acceptable cosmetic aspect. The device was locked onto the middle arch of the second and eighth ribs. We hung the PTFE mesh from the titanium bars with multiple non-absorbable sutures under maximal tension. Final pathological classification was T4N0M0 with an R0 final resection status. After an uneventful course, the patient was discharged on postoperative day 10. This first experience indicates that vertical rib osteosynthesis combined with a PTFE mesh can be used safely and easily in a one-stage procedure for major posterior chest wall defects.

Aortic arch rupture is a life-threatening emergency. Conventional open surgical repair carries a high mortality and morbidity. We report a case of an elderly patient who suffered from a ruptured and infected penetrating ulcer of the aortic arch. A hybrid operation was performed, consisting of a right-to-left carotid bypass and transposition of the left subclavian artery into the left common carotid artery followed by endovascular repair of the aortic arch. Antibiotic therapy, based on the results of culture and sensitivity tests for Staphylococcus aureus, was administered for 6 months. The patient recovered uneventfully and remains asymptomatic 16 months after the procedure. However, long-term follow-up is mandatory to determine the efficacy and the durability of this technique., (Copyright © 2011 Annals of Vascular Surgery Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)