The question in this review was whether patients who experience tension pneumothorax differ in presentation depending on whether they are breathing spontaneously or are on positive pressure ventilation. Assisted ventilation was more often associated with hypoxia, hypotension, and cardiac arrest. These adverse clinical signs frequently arose within
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Pleura
April 9, 2015
This article offers an overview of the evolution of thoracic drainage and development of the modern chest tube from ancient Greece to the present time.
January 14, 2015
A tool for assessing competency in chest tube insertion was developed and validated using mannequins and patients. Scores varied according to participant experience, and interrater consistency in evaluations was high. It is suggested that this assessment tool can be used to judge the development of competence in chest to insertion and to evaluate t
August 11, 2014
Data from 6 cohort studies were evaluated to assess the ongoing risk of mesothelioma more than 40 years after initial environmental exposure to asbestos. Among over 22,000 of those exposed, 707 cases of pleural mesothelioma were diagnosed. The rate and risk increased until 45 years after exposure, then the rate of increase tapered off somewhat.
July 31, 2014
Using a retrospective analysis of pts undergoing VATS for suspected pleural malignancy, the authors assessed the utility of CT in diagnosing pleural malignancy. Of 370 pts studied, 211 had a pleural malignancy diagnosis established by biopsy. The sensitivity of CT for detecting malignancy was 68%, and the negative predictive value was 65%. CT alon
July 16, 2014
Spontaneous pneumothorax is often treated with a large bore chest tube placement and hospitalization. This article presents a reproducible education model for treating spontaneous pneumothorax with a percutaneous catheter and water seal/collection device.
February 24, 2014
A group of 1365 pts from 6 institutions was retrospectively reviewed for outcomes after palliative treatment, chemotherapy alone, pleurectomy/decortication (P/D), or extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP). Multivariable analysis identified age
February 11, 2014
Dual incision thoracoscopic (DIT) decortication for stage 2 fibrinopurulent effusion is a further reduction in the invasiveness of thoracoscopy. DIT decortication is less invasive in a patient who is already morbid with infection, and the limited incisions or ports further reduce nerve injury in a relatively crowded rib space.
February 8, 2014
The authors performed a population-based study to determine the extent to which mesothelioma occurs absent occupational asbestos exposure. A clear dose-response relationship between degree of exposure and risk of mesothelioma was identified.
January 24, 2014
The most common type of mesothelioma is malignant pleural mesothelioma, a nearly invariably lethal tumour of the pleura. Very seldom diagnosed prior to the advent of widespread asbestos mining in the early to mid twentieth century, this disease has sharply risen in incidence over the last five decades (1).