The treatment of typical carcinoid tumors in bronchus is usually done by a small pulmonary resection with or without bronchoplasty. The authors report the case of a patient with typical carcinoid tumor in the left lower lobar bronchus, next to the lobar carina. They performed a longitudinal bronchotomy, tumor resection, and suture of the bronchus, preserving the lung tissue. The patient is currently well, three years after surgery, without any evidence of recurrence in the bronchoscopic control.

Keywords: Bronchial carcinoid tumor. Bronchoplasty. Bronchotomy. Lung tissue. Surgery.

Pulmonary sequestration is defined as a mass of lung tissue separated from the tracheobronchial tree and irrigated by an anomalous systemic artery. It is rarely seen in conjunction with lung neoplasms. We report the case of a 39-year-old female patient diagnosed with a carcinoid tumor, located in the intermediate bronchus and accompanied by bronchiectasis in the right lower lobe. The patient underwent thoracotomy for the resection of the affected area. During surgery, she presented with significant hemorrhage resulting from the transection of the anomalous artery that irrigated an intralobar pulmonary sequestration, which was located in right lower lobe and had not been identified in pre-operative examinations.

Keywords: Bronchopulmonary sequestration; Hemorrhage; Carcinoid tumor.

Carcinoid tumor of the skin, which is a malignant neoplasm originating in the neuroendocrine system and having its pathological substrate in the Merkel cells, is a rare occurrence. It is most frequently seen on the skin around the neck and head and is more common in the elderly. This study relates the case of a 35-year-old woman presenting with a visible and palpable tumor covering the upper third of the sternum. Resection of the tumor was indicated because the patient had experienced two significant episodes of bleeding and osseous invasion had occurred. Penetration of the full thickness of the chest wall at the sternum notch necessitated the implantation of a rigid prosthesis. The definitive histopathological diagnosis was made only through postoperative analysis of the excised section. Reconstruction using a surgical cement plate and interposition of a myocutaneous flap proved its usefulness as an alternative when resection is performed in an area important to the postoperative respiratory dynamic, a situation that typically requires a ventilatory prosthesis for up to 6 days. The stability of the chest wall, together with viability of the flap and the recuperation of pulmonary function, allowed the patient to be discharged after 18 days.

Keywords: Carcinoma, Merkel cell/surgery. Carcinoid tumor/ diagnosis. Carcinoid tumor/surgery. Immunohistochemistry. Sternun/surgery. Neoplasm metastasis.

The increasing demand in transplantation research requires efficient and less expensive animal models in order to obtain reliable results that are reproducible in larger animal models and, ultimately, applied clinically. The model of unilateral left lung transplantation in rats has proven to be a useful alternative for those purposes. We demonstrate a technical modification of this model, which consists of the isolation and ligation of the contralateral (right) pulmonary artery, allowing blood circulation exclusively in the transplanted lung. This model is feasible and reproducible. However, the short survival time restricts the assessment of the transplanted lung to a maximum period of three hours.

Objective: To analyze determinants of prognosis in patients with bronchial carcinoid tumors treated surgically and the potential concomitance of such tumors with second primary neoplasms. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 51 bronchial carcinoid tumors treated surgically between 2007 and 2016. Disease-free survival (DFS) was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and determinants of prognosis were evaluated. Primary neoplasms that were concomitant with the bronchial carcinoid tumors were identified by reviewing patient charts. Results: The median age was 51.2 years, 58.8% of the patients were female, and 52.9% were asymptomatic. The most common histology was typical carcinoid (in 80.4%). Five-year DFS was 89.8%. Ki-67 expression was determined in 27 patients, and five-year DFS was better among the patients in whom Ki-67 expression was ≤ 5% than among those in whom it was > 5% (100% vs. 47.6%; p = 0.01). Concomitant primary neoplasms were observed in 14 (27.4%) of the 51 cases. Among the concomitant primary neoplasms that were malignant, the most common was lung adenocarcinoma, which was observed in 3 cases. Concomitant primary neoplasms were more common in patients who were asymptomatic and in those with small tumors. Conclusions: Surgical resection is the mainstay treatment of bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors and confers a good prognosis. Bronchial carcinoid tumors are likely to be accompanied by second primary neoplasms.

Keywords: Carcinoid tumor/diagnosis; Carcinoid tumor/surgery; Neoplasms, second primary; Lung neoplasms.

Introduction: Inhalations, postural drainage and respiratory physiotherapy are not always effective in removing tracheobronchial secretions. Objectives: To evaluate an alternative surgical technique, modified crichothyroidotomy, to aspirate tracheobronchial secretions. Method: Modified crichothyroidotomy is the introduction of a catheter number 8, 10 or 12 into the crichothyroid membrane in order to stimulate coughing and the aspiration of secretions. This is a descriptive study of the benefits as well as immediate and late complications caused by the use of this technique in 45 patients with excessive tracheobronchial secretions inadequately removed by usual methods. Results: Immediate surgical complications were bleeding (10 patients), oropharynx deviation (3), subcutaneous emphysema (1) and difficult introduction (1). Mean catheter permanence was 14 ± 16 days and, in all cases, the catheter provoked coughing and allowed the easy aspiration of secretions. The most frequent occurrence (17 patients) was the expulsion of the catheter by coughing, inadequate catheter handling during aspiration and moving of the patients. Conclusion: This is a simple technique with a low morbidity rate and represents constitutes an effective alternative to be used in the aspiration of tracheobronchial secretions.

Keywords: Postural drainage. Aspiration.

We report the case of a 74-year-old female patient diagnosed with a giant cell tumor of the sternum. The clinical and radiological presentation was indicative of a primary tumor of the sternum. The patient underwent complementary tests and surgery. The pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. Commonly observed in the long bones of the appendicular skeleton, this type of tumor is characterized by its local aggressiveness and metastatic potential. We also review the literature on the topic.

Keywords: Sternum; Giant cell tumors; Thorax.

A 30 year old Caucasian male from São Paulo was admitted to the hospital He had been complaining about constant, moderate pain in the anterior and lateral left hemi-thoracic region for the last three months as well as associated great effort dyspnea over the last month.Investigation with chest X-rays, CT scans and MRI revealed a large anterior and medial mediastinal tumor suggesting large vessel invasion. The patient was submitted to a left side parasternal mediastinostomy and a biopsy of the mediastinal mass which was complicated by severe bleeding. An immediate median full sternotomy was elected in addition to a left anterior-lateral thoracotomy for total tumor resection and control of the bleeding. Evolution was good, with hospital discharge on the ninth postoperative day. The anatomical-pathological essay disclosed a hemangioendothelioma of the mediastinum.

Keywords: Hemangioendothelioma/diagnosis. Mediastinal neoplasms.

Objective: Patients with high cervical spinal cord injury are usually dependent on mechanical ventilation support, which, albeit life saving, is associated with complications and decreased life expectancy because of respiratory infections. Diaphragm pacing stimulation (DPS), sometimes referred to as electric ventilation, induces inhalation by stimulating the inspiratory muscles. Our objective was to highlight the indications for and some aspects of the surgical technique employed in the laparoscopic insertion of the DPS electrodes, as well as to describe five cases of tetraplegic patients submitted to the technique. Methods: Patient selection involved transcutaneous phrenic nerve studies in order to determine whether the phrenic nerves were preserved. The surgical approach was traditional laparoscopy, with four ports. The initial step was electrical mapping in order to locate the "motor points" (the points at which stimulation would cause maximal contraction of the diaphragm). If the diaphragm mapping was successful, four electrodes were implanted into the abdominal surface of the diaphragm, two on each side, to stimulate the branches of the phrenic nerve. Results: Of the five patients, three could breathe using DPS alone for more than 24 h, one could do so for more than 6 h, and one could not do so at all. Conclusions: Although a longer follow-up period is needed in order to reach definitive conclusions, the initial results have been promising. At this writing, most of our patients have been able to remain ventilator-free for long periods of time.

Keywords: Spinal cord injuries; Quadriplegia; Respiration, artificial; Pacemaker, artificial; Diaphragm.

Thoracostomy is a common treatment option for patients with stage III pleural empyema who do not tolerate pulmonary decortication. However, thoracostomy is considered mutilating because it involves a thoracic stoma, the closure of which can take years or require further surgery. A new, minimally invasive technique that uses the vacuum-assisted closure has been proposed as an alternative to thoracostomy. This study aims to analyze the safety and effectiveness of mini-thoracostomy with vacuum-assisted closure in an initial sample of patients.

Keywords: Infection; Empyema, pleural; Negative-pressure wound therapy; Thoracostomy.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of alternative diagnoses based on chest CT angiography (CTA) in patients with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) who tested negative for PTE, as well as whether those alternative diagnoses had been considered prior to the CTA. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, retrospective study involving 191 adult patients undergoing CTA for suspected PTE between September of 2009 and May of 2012. Chest X-rays and CTAs were reviewed to determine whether the findings suggested an alternative diagnosis in the cases not diagnosed as PTE. Data on symptoms, risk factors, comorbidities, length of hospital stay, and mortality were collected. Results: On the basis of the CTA findings, PTE was diagnosed in 47 cases (24.6%). Among the 144 patients not diagnosed with PTE via CTA, the findings were abnormal in 120 (83.3%). Such findings were consistent with an alternative diagnosis that explained the symptoms in 75 patients (39.3%). Among those 75 cases, there were only 39 (20.4%) in which the same alterations had not been previously detected on chest X-rays. The most common alternative diagnosis, made solely on the basis of the CTA findings, was pneumonia (identified in 20 cases). Symptoms, risk factors, comorbidities, and the in-hospital mortality rate did not differ significantly between the patients with and without PTE. However, the median hospital stay was significantly longer in the patients with PTE than in those without (18.0 and 9.5 days, respectively; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Our results indicate that chest CTA is useful in cases of suspected PTE, because it can confirm the diagnosis and reveal findings consistent with an alternative diagnosis in a significant number of patients.

Keywords: Pulmonary embolism/diagnosis; Pulmonary embolism/epidemiology; Angiography.

Summary: b-agonists are considered the agents of first choice for the treatment of asthmatic symptoms and are usually available for aerosol administration. Its propellants damage the ozone layer and are often not used properly by the patients. Turbuhaler seems a better alternative since it does not present these inconveniences. In Brazil, it has been recently introduced. Purpose: Compare salbutamol aerosol (SA) to terbutaline turbuhaler (TT) in relation to technical use, bronchodilation and adverse effects in outpatients with mild-obstruction asthma (PFR ³ 60 and < 80% predicted). Material and methods: Open, parallel randomized study performed in each arm of 20 patients (SA: 200 mg and TT: 500 mg). After 30 minutes, a second dose was given if PFR was not 15% or 30 L/min greater than the initial one; a second dose was also delivered if PFR was not greater than 80%. All patients were instructed on how to use both devices. Results: Clinical improvement and increase in PFR were similar in both groups (SA 69.5 vs. TT 58.1 L/min, p > 0.05). A second dose was given to 13 patients (SA 6 and TT 7) with similar results. Errors in the usage were observed in all 20 patients of group SA vs. 11 patients in group TT (p < 0.05). Adverse effects were more frequent with TT - 9 patients - due to its unpleasant taste. Fifteen patients of group TT and with previous experience with SA considered turbuhaler easier. Conclusions: 1) administration by the patient is easier with turbuhaler than with SA; 2) bronchodilation is not different with SA 200 mg and TT 500 mg; 3) unpleasant taste was noted only in group TT (50% of the patients).

Keywords: Asthma. Salbutamol aerosol. Terbutaline Turbuhaler.

Objective: To evaluate the results of resection of tumors of the thymus by robotic thoracic surgery, analyzing the extent of resection, postoperative complications, time of surgery, and length of stay. Methods: Retrospective study from a database involving patients diagnosed with a tumor of the thymus and undergoing robotic thoracic surgery at one of seven hospitals in Brazil between October of 2015 and June of 2018. Results: During the study period, there were 18 cases of resection of tumors of the thymus: thymoma, in 12; carcinoma, in 2; and carcinoid tumor, in 1; high-grade sarcoma, in 1; teratoma, in 1; and thymolipoma, in 1. The mean lesion size was 60.1 ± 32.0 mm. Tumors of the thymus were resected with tumor-free margins in 17 cases. The median (interquartile range) for pleural drain time and hospital stay, in days, was 1 (1-3) and 2 (2-4), respectively. There was no need for surgical conversion, and there were no major complications. Conclusions: Robotic thoracic surgery for resection of tumors of the thymus has been shown to be feasible and safe, with a low risk of complications and with postoperativeymoma; Thymus neoplasms; Thymectomy; Thoracic surgery; R outcomes comparable to those of other techniques.

Keywords: Thymoma; Thymus neoplasms; Thymectomy; Thoracic surgery; Robotic surgical procedures.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CT-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy (CT-CNB) of pulmonary nodules ≤ 2 cm, as well as to identify factors influencing the accuracy of the procedure and its morbidity. Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study of 170 consecutive patients undergoing CT-CNB of small pulmonary nodules (of ≤ 2 cm) between January of 2010 and August of 2015. Results: A total of 156 CT-CNBs yielded a definitive diagnosis, the overall diagnostic accuracy being 92.3%. Larger lesions were associated with a higher overall accuracy (OR = 1.30; p = 0.007). Parenchymal hemorrhage occurring during the procedure led to lower accuracy rates (OR = 0.13; p = 0.022). Pneumothorax was the most common complication. A pleura-to-lesion distance > 3 cm was identified as a risk factor for pneumothorax (OR = 16.94), whereas performing a blood patch after biopsy was a protective factor for pneumothorax (OR = 0.18). Conclusions: Small nodules (of < 2 cm) represent a technical challenge for diagnosis. CT-CNB is an excellent diagnostic tool, its accuracy being high.

Keywords: Image-guided biopsy; Neoplasms; Lung.