Abstract: Syphilis was once the most common cause of aortic aneurysm. For the last 60 years syphilis has been well controlled in the UK population. However, we present the recent case of a 52-year-old female black South African immigrant who was found to have a syphilitic aneurysm.
Abstract: The use of opioid analgesics to control pain after median sternotomy in cardiac surgical patients is worldwide accepted and established. However, opioids have a wide range of possible side effects, concerning prolonged extubation time, gastrointestinal tract dyskinesia and urinary tract disorders mostly retention. All these may lead to a prolonged ICU stay or overall hospitalization time increase. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a continuous subcutaneous regional anesthetic infusion delivered directly to the sternotomy site would result in decreased levels of postoperative pain and opioid requirements in cardiac surgical patients undergoing median sternotomy. METHOD: The continuous subcutaneous infusion (OnQ Painbuster system) was applied in 37 patients. 3 patients were exempted due to prolonged ICU stay. 29 patients underwent CABG, 5 had AVR, 1 MVR and modified Maze, 1 patient had a 3-valve repair due to endocarditis and another one had reconstruction of the left ventricle. Requirements of opioid analgesics were recorded for 96 hours after operation. Pain was assessed using the visual analog scale and the total postoperative hospital length of stay was also measured. RESULTS: The postoperative pain was significantly diminished (0 - 3 at VAS). The mean postoperative length of stay was 5,8 days, rather improved compared to the average stay of 6,7 days. CONCLUSION: Continuous subcutaneous infusion of ropivacaine directly at the median sternotomy significantly diminishes postoperative pain and the need for opioid analgesic use. Moreover, it seems to reduce overall postoperative length of stay for all cardiac surgical patients.
Abstract: A case of bilateral pneumothorax, lung cavitations, and pleural empyema in a cocaine user is described. The patient was treated by left tube thoracostomy and right lower lobectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful. Six months later, the patient remains asymptomatic. The pathology examination of the specimen revealed infected bronchiectasis, interstitial desquamative pneumonia, diffuse alveolar damage, subsegmental arterial thrombosis, and consequent areas of pulmonary infarction.
Abstract: Cardiac myxomas are primary cardiac tumours. Clinical presentations vary. Central nervous embolism has been a constant association. We describe a case of a 40-year-old female who presented with neurological signs and symptoms of Gerstmann's syndrome secondary to a left atrial myxoma.
Abstract: We report a case of Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis with late onset in a 39-year-old male drug abuser, who presented with bacterial meningitis. Despite resolution of the meningitis as the result of appropriate antimicrobial chemotherapy he developed triple valve endocarditis. Some striking features of this case and a comparison with other reported cases of this uncommon presentation of infective endocarditis are discussed.
Abstract: The simultaneous existence of thoracic aortic aneurysm and lung cancer is a rare finding, especially if the malignancy is primary and does not involve the aortic wall. In this report, we present a case of a typical descending thoracic aneurysm combined with a primary adenocarcinoma of the left lower lobe. The aneurysm was repaired with a Dacron graft without use of extra corporeal circulation and a typical left lower lobectomy was performed. In such cases, aneurysms should be treated primarily with endovascular stents. However, if this is not possible, a combined operation can be performed with good outcome.
