The risk of percutaneous chest tube thoracostomy for blunt thoracic trauma.

Analysis of 164 percutaneous chest tube thoracostomies performed as a standardized technical procedure in the management of 129 blunt trauma victims demonstrated an overall complication rate of 9.1% (15 of 164). Three complications (1.8%) were related to problems of insertion, and four (2.4%) represented the problem of pneumothorax after chest tube removal. The remaining eight complications (4.9%) were associated with positive bacterial cultures, two (1.2%) of which represented clinical empyema. Both cases of empyema had either prolonged chest tube placement (23 and 15 days) or multiple chest tubes (two and three) on the same side. Percutaneous chest tube thoracostomy remains an important facet in the management of certain types of blunt thoracic trauma. Associated risks can best be minimized with adherence to a standardized technique and management protocol

Aortic graft-enteric fistula.

Fifteen years\u27 experience with 20 patients undergoing 24 operations for intestinal bleeding from aortic graft-enteric fistula at the Mayo Clinic has been reviewed. A review of the English language literature permits analysis of an additional 127 patients who underwent surgical intervention for this condition. Associated operative mortality in our experience and in that of others has been high--55% and 46%, respectively. Long-term survival in both groups remains low--approximately 15%. Consideration has therefore been given to aspects of prophylaxis, diagnosis, and intervention which may minimize future morbidity and mortality

Technical principles of direct innominate artery revascularization: a comparison of endarterectomy and bypass grafts.

Occlusive lesions of the innominate artery that require operation occur infrequently. Direct repair has been performed with low morbidity and mortality. There is debate over the best method of direct reconstruction. Twenty-six patients undergoing transsternal innominate artery repair over a 12-year period were reviewed to determine if either grafting or endarterectomy was superior and what technical factors might be responsible for success or failure. Most of the patients were women. Twenty-four of the patients had atherosclerotic lesions, whereas the other two had Takayasu\u27s arteritis. Either neurologic or right upper extremity symptoms were present in 24 patients. Sixteen patients had grafting, and 10 underwent endarterectomy. There was one death. There were no strokes or transient ischemic attacks. Three patients experienced recurrence of their symptoms; all had failures of reconstruction. The use of a bifurcated graft in one patient was probably responsible for one recurrence of symptoms. Single limb grafts with added side arms are probably preferable to bifurcated grafts. Innominate artery grafting and innominate endarterectomy are equally effective, although grafting is applicable to more patients. Direct transsternal repair is the procedure of choice to correct innominate occlusive disease in patients who are good candidates for correction