The pectus excavatum treatment has two different approaches: non-surgical techniques (modified dynamic thoracic compressor, exercises and the vacuum bell) or surgical techniques (silastic or solid silicone implant, open surgical repair like sternochondroplasty and minimally invasive repair). The introduction of Nuss procedure improved the pectus excavatum treatment, but its low acceptance was due to the high complication rate (e.g. cardiac perfuration). The thoracoscopy use for bar mediastinal passage reduced the complication rate. In comparison with sternochondroplasty, the Nuss procedure has smaller incision, less blood loss and less operative time. However, it has more reoperations, complications, longer hospital stay and more readmission rates, more time of thoracic epidural catheter for postoperative analgesia and more need for analgesic after being discharged. Although Nuss procedure has been used in children, patients under ten years must be only observed. The Nuss procedure is applicable to moderate or light symmetrical pectus excavatum, without costal protrusion, in young and adolescents patients. Furthermore, the sternochondroplasty is applicable to severe or asymmetric pectus excavatum, with or without inferior costal protrusion. Therefore, Nuss procedure and sternocondroplasty are not antagonistic procedures, and they must be used in accordance with a treatment organogram and the technique choice must be by functional and aesthetic outcome.

Dentre as deformidades da parede torácica, o pectus carinatum não tem recebido o mesmo grau de interesse que o pectus excavatum, sendo sua abordagem desconhecida por grande parcela dos pneumologistas, pediatras e cirurgiões torácicos. Isto faz com que estes pacientes não sejam encaminhados para tratamento. Trata-se de deformidade com incidência de 1:1000 adolescentes, oligosintomática, mas que leva a consultas médicas por implicações de ordem estética e emocional, sendo seus portadores introvertidos, não praticantes de exercícios físicos e não freqüentadores de praias ou piscinas para não expor o tórax. O diagnóstico é clínico e visual, e detalhes são obtidos com a radiografia do tórax e a tomografia computadorizada. O tratamento é baseado em organograma bem conhecido, que resume as condutas ortopédicas e cirúrgicas. O compressor dinâmico do tórax, associado a exercícios físicos, é indicado nos adolescentes com tórax flexível no pectus carinatum inferior e pectus carinatum lateral, tendo indicação limitada no pectus carinatum superior. A indicação cirúrgica é feita pela presença da deformidade e com motivação estética, em adolescentes com tórax não flexível, em jovens, e em adultos. Dentre as técnicas relatadas, destaca-se a esternocondroplastia modificada, pelos excelentes resultados estéticos alcançados.

Among the deformities of the thoracic wall,pectus carinatum has not received the same attention as has pectus excavatum. Few pulmonologists, pediatricians, and thoracic surgeons are aware of the approaches to treating this condition. As a consequence, patients with pectus carinatum are not referred for treatment. This deformity, with an incidence of 1:1000 teenagers, is oligosymptomatic. However, for aesthetic and emotional reasons, it accounts for a large number of medical appointments. Such patients are introverted and do not engage in physical activities, since they are unwilling to expose their chest, which also discourages them from going to the beach or to swimming pools. The diagnosis is clinical and visual, and details are obtained through chest X-rays and computed tomography. The treatment is based on a well-known organogram that summarizes orthopedic and surgical procedures. Dynamic compression, combined with physical exercises, is indicated for teenagers with flexible thorax in inferior and lateral pectus carinatum, with limited indication for those with superior pectus carinatum. For individuals of any age with rigid thorax, surgery is indicated for aesthetic reasons. Among the techniques described, the modified sternum chondroplasty stands out due to the excellent aesthetic results achieved.

FUNDAMENTOS: Bloqueio simpático videotoracoscópico no tratamento da hiper-hidrose é realizado por clipagem do tronco simpático, com possibilidade de reversão em casos de sudorese compensatória intensa. OBJETIVO: Avaliar sucesso terapêutico, satisfação e sudorese compensatória nos pacientes submetidos a essa técnica. MÉTODO: Estudo prospectivo em que 45 pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos. Grupo I: um paciente com hiper-hidrose palmar e 20 com hiper-hidrose palmar e plantar submetidos a bloqueio de T3; Grupo II: quatro pacientes com hiper-hidrose axilar , dois com hiper-hidrose axilar e palmar, dois com hiper-hidrose axilar e plantar e 16 com hiperidrose axilar, palmar e plantar submetidos a bloqueio de T3 e T4. RESULTADOS: No grupo I 95,2% dos pacientes tinham hiper-hidrose palmar e plantar, e no grupo II 66,7% tinham hiperidrose axilar, palmar e plantar. Na região palmar, resultados excelentes ou bons ocorreram em 95,3% do grupo I e em 94,4% do grupo II; na região plantar 40% do grupo I e 44,5% do grupo II apresentaram bons resultados; e na região axilar, 95,8% relataram resultados excelentes ou bons. Em seis meses, havia sudorese compensatória em 76,2% do grupo I e 91,7% do grupo II, mas a sudorese compensatória intensa ocorreu em apenas três pacientes do grupo II. CONCLUSÕES: Esse tratamento foi eficiente para o tratamento da hiper-hidrose. Ao final de seis meses, todos os pacientes do grupo I e 95,9% dos pacientes do grupo II estavam satisfeitos com os resultados.

BACKGROUND: Videothoracoscopic for the treatment of hyperhidrosis is carried out by clamping of the sympathetic trunk, with a possibility for reversal in cases of intense compensatory sweating. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate therapeutic success, satisfaction, and compensatory sweating in patients submitted to this technique. METHOD: Prospective study in which 45 patients were divided into two groups. Group I: one patient with palmar hyperhidrosis and 20 patients with palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis submitted to a T3 block; Group II: four patients with axillary hyperhidrosis, two with axillary and palmar hyperhidrosis, two with axillary and plantar hyperhidrosis, and 16 with axillary, palmar, and plantar hyperhidrosis submitted to a block of T3 and T4. RESULTS: In Group I, 95.2% of the patients had palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis, and in Group II, 66.7% had axillary, palmar, and plantar hyperhidrosis. For the palmar region, excellent or good results occurred in 95.3% of Group I and in 94.4% of Group II; in the plantar region, 40% of Group I and 44.5% of Group II presented good results; in the axillary region, 95.8% reported excellent or good results. In six months, 76.2% of Group I and 91.7% of Group II had experienced compensatory sweating, but intense compensatory sweating occurred in only three patients of Group II. CONCLUSIONS: This treatment proved to be effective for the treatment of hyperhidrosis. At the end of six months, all patients from Group I and 95.9% of the patients from Group II were satisfied with the results.

A síndrome compartimental abdominal (SCA) decorre de um aumento agudo na pressão intra-abdominal (PIA), promovendo alterações fisiológicas adversas devido ao acometimento dos principais sistemas orgânicos, podendo levar a falência orgânica e óbito. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a SCA em pacientes com hipertensão intra-abdominal (HIA) admitidos na unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI). MÉTODO: Foi realizado um estudo de 548 pacientes submetidos a laparotomia, necessitando de UTI, durante o período de janeiro de 1997 a março de 2001. RESULTADOS: A SCA foi identificada em 29 pacientes (5,29%). Analisando-se o valor máximo de PIA, 9 (31,03%) foram grau II, 10 (34,48%) foram grau III e 10 (34,48%) foram grau IV. Dezoito (62,07%) foram reoperados e o fechamento temporário foi realizado em 6 (20,69%). A mortalidade global foi de 68,97%, sendo que a SCA grau II teve 55,56% de mortalidade; a de grau III, 50%; a de grau IV, 100% e a mortalidade dos pacientes reoperados, 61,11%. CONCLUSÕES: A SCA acarreta elevada mortalidade, mesmo com a reoperação precoce e adequado manejo em UTI, devendo-se manter maiores cuidados na sua identificação e prevenção.

Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is attributed to acute increase in the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), leading to adverse physiologic alterations because of involving the main organic systems and can lead to organic failure and obit. BACKGROUND: the purpose of this work is to evaluate the intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and ACS conduct in patients submitted to intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: in this retrospective work were analysed 548 patients submitted to laparotomy and ICU, during the period from 1997, january to 2001, march. RESULTS: ACS was noted in 29 patients (5.29%). Analysing the maximum IAP value, 9 (31.03%) were grade II, 10 (34.48%) were grade III and 10 were grade IV. Eighteen (62.07%) were submitted to reoperation and temporary closure was used in 6 (20.69%). The global mortality was 68.97%, the ACS grade II mortality was 55.56%, the ACS grade III was 50%, the ACS grade IV was 100%. The reoperad patients mortality was 61.11%. CONCLUSION: the ACS has a elevated mortality in spite of early reoperation and adequate management in ICU, and we need to identify this problem in a precocius way without delaying preventive actions.

A fístula traqueoesofágica como complicação tardia de traqueostomia é uma ocorrência rara, com incidência menor do que 1%, mas que deve ser conhecida, diagnosticada e tratada rapidamente, para que se evite evolução desfavorável. Relata-se o caso de uma mulher de 41 anos que permaneceu com traqueostomia prolongada, devido a acidente vascular cerebral. Após a alta hospitalar, apresentou insuficiência respiratória aguda e observou-se a saída de material da sonda nasogástrica traqueostomia. O diagnóstico de fístula traqueoesofágica foi feito por exame endoscópico e a paciente foi submetida a uma traqueoplastia, com boa evolução.

Tracheoesophageal fistula as a late complication of tracheostomy is rare and its incidence is less than 1%. Nonetheless, it should be known, diagnosed, and promptly treated in order to prevent an unfavorable evolution. The authors report on a 41-year-old female who had had tracheostomy a long time before, due to a cerebrovascular accident. Following hospital discharge, the patient presented acute respiratory insufficiency and it was observed that some material was secreted through the tracheostomy nasogastric probe. Tracheoesophageal fistula was endoscopically diagnosed, the patient was submitted to a tracheoplasty and showed good evolution.