A case report of subconjunctival emphysema as a rare complication of pulmonary resections

Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is performed to the selected patients with lung emphysema who have higher residual volume, restricted pulmonary functions and limited diaphragmatic movement. Post-operative prolonged air leak is not uncommon following LVRS due to pulmonary emphysema. In some patients with prolonged air leak, pneumoderma may develop. Subconjunctival emphysema is a bizarre and very rarely seen complication. We report a patient suffering from subconjunctival emphysema after an LVRS along with a diagnostic wedge resection for a suspected pulmonary nodule which was revealed to be a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. The condition was resolved with conservative management with no visual impairment. He has been doing well and tumour free for 38 months

Unusual complication of endostapler use in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is becoming more popular in thoracic surgery practice. Use of endostaplers is mandatory for anatomical video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery resections. In this article, we present an unusual complication related to use of endostapler, which, to our knowledge, may be the first reported in the literature

The relationship among acute-phase response proteins, cytokines and hormones in cachectic patients with colon cancer

Backgraund: Acute-phase response proteins (APRP), cytokines and hormones have been claimed to be an independent prognostic factor of malignancies, however the basis for their association with prognosis remains unexplained. We suggest that in colon malignancies, as similar to pancreatic and lung cancers, changes in APRP are associated with angiogenesis

Preoperative Serum Il-6 Levels: Clinical Importance In Gastric Carcinoma With Lymph Node Metastasis

Aim: The interleukin-6 (IL-6) pathway is one of the mechanisms that link inflammation and angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preoperative serum levels of IL-6 in gastric carcinoma with lymph node metastasis, and to correlate them with disease status. Method: A total of 100 patients who underwent gastrectomy were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of IL-6 were assessed enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Histological findings included tumor size, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node (LN) metastasis, and TNM stage. Result: Increases in cancer invasion and staging are generally associated with increases in preoperative serum IL-6 levels. IL-6 levels were correlated with invasion depth (p<0.001), LN metastasis (p<0.001), and TNM stage. The presence of peritoneal seeding metastasis is associated with IL-6 levels (p<0.001). Conclusion: Preoperative serum IL-6 levels might be markers of tumor invasion, LN metastasis, and TNM stage. These results suggest that IL-6 levels are potential molecular markers that predict lymphatic involvement in gastric carcinoma