The universal probe is a tool devised to allow navigation-directed biopsies and drainage procedures to be performed in a simple manner using a single hardware and software.
We report two patients, who have used Pneumostat to replace the conventional underwater seal drainage system for recurrent pneumothorax. Both patients had required repeated chest tube insertion for recurrent pneumothorax and needed a longer hospital stay. Both patients were able to be discharged with the Pneumostat device and were reviewed in outpatient clinic. Both patients had optimal clinical improvement and chest X-ray showed no residual pneumothorax.
The indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) is a 16-Fr-multifenestrated catheter. It has become an accepted practice in the management of malignant pleural effusion, especially in patients with non-expandable lung. However, IPC blockage or not draining is common. A 53-year-old female with malignant pleural effusion presented to us with blocked IPC and symptomatic pleural loculation one month after IPC insertion. After failing saline flushing and low-pressure wall suction, intrapleural alteplase was instituted through the IPC with a favourable outcome, and she continued to drain daily thereafter. The present case highlights the safety of intrapleural alteplase via IPC in the non-expandable lung.
The PleurX catheter was developed to facilitate long-term intermittent drainage of malignant pleural effusion or ascites. For palliation, it is important that the process of insertion is safe and that this catheter remains complicationfree so as to improve end-of-life quality. We show that this catheter can be safely inserted and discuss methods to reduce infection, which was the most common complication. Our article hopes to enlighten clinicians, patients and their caregivers of this device as a treatment option in palliative patients. Proper case selection and caregiver training are essential in ensuring a successful outcome.
A 10 year-old Iban girl presented with severe odynophagia for 4 days and subcutaneous emphysema. Clinically, her neck was tender with crepitus. Lateral neck radiograph showed multiple linear radiolucent shadows at retropharyngeal space. Flexible nasopharyngolaryngoscope revealed a tunnel behind upper oesophagus with slough and there was pooling of saliva at pyriform sinus. Feeding via nasogastric tube was started and empirical treatment for fungal and bacterial infection was commenced. Subsequent computed tomography of neck and thorax showed a 15-long blind tract at subglottic region posterior to oesophagus (prevertebral region), extending to superior mediastinum just before carina at T3/T4 level, represent abscess. Hourly suctioning of the remaining abscess in the blind tract with 10ml-syringe was done.
An injury to the left ventricle after a chest tube insertion is a rare but lethal phenomenon that is likely to occur if precautions are not seriously addressed. We present a 15-year-old girl who was diagnosed a left empyema thoracis. An attempt to place a chest drain in this young girl was almost fatal. A left ventricular repair together with thoracotomy and decortication were successful. This case emphasizes the rarity of this lethal complication and the importance of the correct technique for chest tube insertion.
We present a case of gross lower limb edema in a 21-year-old man with an intra-abdominal malignant fibrous histiocytoma. He had a 1-month history of lower limb edema secondary to inferior vena caval obstruction. His edema failed to respond to a combination of diuretics, oral frusemide 40 mg daily and oral spironolactone 100 mg daily. Subcutaneous drainage of both lower limbs with butterfly needles was performed with minimal improvement. However, he gained significant symptomatic relief with multiple subcutaneous punctures and stoma bag drainage. A total of 12.8 L of serous fluid was drained with this simple and effective method. This is the first report of the use of this method.
This study was conducted to evaluate the practicability, effectiveness, and potential complications of a newly improvised pocket-sized Heimlich valve named the Pneumostat (Atrium Medical Corp, Hudson, NH).
The aim of this study was to compare 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 with 4% succinylated gelatin for priming the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit and as volume replacement in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass, in terms of postoperative bleeding, blood transfusion requirements, renal function, and outcome after surgery. Forty-five patients received 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 (Voluven) and another 45 were given 4% succinylated gelatin (Gelofusine) as the priming solution for the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit as well as for volume replacement. Postoperative bleeding was quantified from the hourly chest drainage in the first 4 h and at 24 h postoperatively. The baseline characteristics of both groups were similar. In the hydroxyethyl starch group, the total amount of colloid used was 1.9 +/- 1.0 L, while the gelatin group had 2.0 +/- 0.7 L. There was no significant difference in hourly chest drainage between groups. Blood transfusion requirements, estimated glomerular filtration rate, extubation time, intensive care unit and hospital stay were similar in both groups. It was concluded that 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 is a safe alternative colloid for priming the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit and volume replacement in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.