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Purpose: Pleurodesis is performed in patients demonstrating air leakage after lung resection and in those with pneumothorax who must avoid surgery. However, there have so far been very few reports of pleurodesis with 50 % glucose. We herein examined the feasibility and effectiveness of this novel pleurodesis technique. Methods: Thirty-five patients after lung resection and 11 pneumothorax patients without surgery were treated with pleurodesis using 50 % glucose. Approximately, 200 mL of 50 % glucose solution was injected into the pleural space and repeated until the air leakage stopped. Cases in which the air leakage did not stop after three injections were considered to be unsuccessful and subsequently treated with conventional pleurodesis using OK-432. Results: Thirty-nine patients were successfully treated with 50 % glucose, although 7 patients required further treatment with OK-432. The unsuccessful group had some pulmonary comorbidities ( P < 0.001), and the pleural effusion volume after pleurodesis was less than that in the successful group ( P < 0.001). Although the air leakage did not stop in unsuccessful patients, the amount of air leakage markedly decreased. A temporary elevation of the blood sugar level was observed in 20 patients, but no other side effects had appeared. Conclusions: Pleurodesis with 50 % glucose is an easy, safe, and effective treatment modality. It is therefore considered to be a useful alternative method for pleurodesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of tracheal autografts and the patency of anastomotic regions were studied in 11 mongrel puppies (2.5-4 months of age, 1.9–4.3kg in weight). Thoracic tracheal autotransplantation of 7 cartilage rings was performed. The tracheal autografts and anastomotic regions were covered with an omental pedicle flap to facilitate revascularization. Seven of the 11 dogs were evaluated for 12 months. The cross-sectional area of the lumen at the center of the tracheal autograft, as measured by thoracic computed tomography (CT), showed a significant increase from 0.37 ± 0.11cm2 to 1.13 ± 0.44cm2 after 12 months ( P < 0.05). At 12 months postoperatively, all of the experimental dogs were killed, their entire tracheas were resected, and the cross-sectional areas of the anastomosis on the proximal and distal sides were measured. The cross-sectional areas at sites 5mm apart from both anastomoses in the ungrafted trachea were measured as controls. The percent cross-sectional area (%CSA) showed good values of 67.2% ± 19.6% on the proximal side and 85.1% ±12.6% on the distal side. The tracheal autografts appeared both visually and histologically viable 12 months postoperatively. This study was able to demonstrate the growth potential of the tracheal autograft in a growing puppy model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]