Resumen Se han descrito diversas técnicas para el tratamiento del enfisema subcutáneo y del neumomediastino. Algunos pacientes con pequeñas perforaciones traqueales pueden ser manejados de forma expectante, salvo que requieran ventilación mecánica. Se presentan las imágenes de un paciente con enfisema subcutáneo y neumomediastino no candidato a cirugía y quien fue tratado exitosamente con terapia de presión negativa.

Abstract Different techniques have been described for the treatment of subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediatinum. Some patients with small tracheal perforations can be managed expectantly, unless they require mechanical ventilation. Images of a patient with subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum not a candidate for surgery and who was successfully treated with negative pressure therapy are presented.

The management of esophageal perforations is variable, ranging from conservative management to esophageal excision. Muscular flaps are used specially when there are associated lesions in trachea or aorta. We report two patients managed using this last technique. A 31 years old woman that received a gun shot in the neck that was operated, repairing two tracheal and two esophageal perforations. The patient had to be reoperated 28 days later, due to a dehiscence of the esophageal suture. A muscular flap was used to repair the lesion with a good postoperative evolution. A 17 years old male that received a gunshot in the left supraclavicular region. Eight days later, he was operated, draining a right empyema and repairing an esophageal perforation using a muscular flap. The patient had a good postoperative evolution.

Las perforaciones del esófago, especialmente las de manejo tardío, representan un dilema y un reto para el cirujano. El manejo de las perforaciones tardías ha sido controversial y las opciones terapéuticas incluyen desde manejo conservador y simple drenaje hasta la resección del esófago. Se presentan 2 casos de perforaciones esofágicas producidas por proyectil de arma de fuego referidos a los 28 y 8 días respectivamente. En ambos se realizó reparación primaria reforzada con colgajo muscular.

OBJECTIVES: Traditionally, chronic empyema has been treated by thoracotomy and decortication. Some recent reports have claimed similar clinical results for videothoracoscopy, but with less morbidity and mortality than open procedures. Our experience with thoracotomy and decortication is reviewed so that the results of this surgical procedure can be adequately evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 1992 to June 2006, 85 patients diagnosed with empyema were treated at Santo Tomás Hospital by the first author. Diagnosis of chronic empyema was based on the duration of signs and symptoms before definitive treatment and imaging findings, such as constriction of the lungs and the thoracic cage. Thirty-three patients fulfilled the criteria for chronic empyema and underwent open thoracotomy and decortication. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients (81.8 %) were male and the average age of the study group was 34 years. The etiology was pneumonia in 26 patients (78.8%) and trauma in 7 (21.2%). The duration of symptoms and signs before definitive treatment averaged 37 days. All patients had chronic empyema, as confirmed by imaging studies and operative findings. Surgery lasted an average of 139 min. There were 3 (9%) complications with no mortality. The post-operative length of stay averaged 10 days. There were no recurrences of empyema. CONCLUSIONS: Open thoracotomy and decortication can be achieved with low morbidity and mortality. Long-term functional results are especially promising. We suggest that the validation of other surgical approaches should be based on comparative, prospective and controlled studies.

El divertículo epifrénico es una patología poco frecuente. La etiología y el tratamiento han sido motivo de controversia a través de los años. Se presenta el caso de un paciente con divertículo epifrénico con síntomas incapacitantes que fue sometido a diverticulectomía y esofagomiotomía. Se discuten la etiología, el diagnóstico y tratamiento.

The epiphenic diverticulum is a rare entity, and its etiology and therapy have been controversial. We present the case of a 39-year old man with incapacitanting symptomatology who underwent diverticulectomy and esophgomyotomy. We discuss the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of the epiphrenic diverticulum.

PROPÓSITO: Perfurações esofágicas não são freqüentes. Representam um dilema cirúrgico, especialmente se o diagnóstico é tardio. Relato recente dá conta que a mortalidade devida a perfuração esofágica apresenta redução independentemente de seu tempo de evolução. A experiência com perfurações esofágicas traumáticas é aqui revista para determinar a relação morbi-mortalidade e como esta é afetada pelo tempo. MÉTODOS: Uma revisão retrospectiva clínica foi realizada para todos os pacientes com diagnóstico de perfuração esofágica traumática tratados pelo autor. Registraram-se 10 pacientes, todos do sexo masculino. I idade média foi de 32 anos (17 a 63). As causas foram arma de fogo (7), trauma contuso (1) e corpo estranho (2). Quatro pacientes foram tratados até 24 horas após o trauma (tratamento precoce), enquanto os outros 6 foram tratados 56 a 168 horas pós trauma (tratamento tardio). RESULTADOS: Os pacientes tratados precocemente evoluíram com reparo primário. Os pacientes em tratamento tardio incluíram: reparo primário (n=1), tubo-T (n=2), drenagem de abscesso cervical e decorticação pulmonar (n=2), tratamento conservador (n=1). Foi registrado 1 óbito no grupo tardio (16,6%). Um paciente no grupo precoce (25%) e 4 (66%) no grupo tardio registraram complicações. O tempo médio de permanência hospitalar pós-operatória foi de 20.5 dias para o grupo precoce e de 38 dias para grupo tardio. CONCLUSIONS: A mortalidade resultante de perfurações esofágicas traumáticas reduziu-se significativamente. A morbidade permanece elevada, especialmente em pacientes tratados tardiamente, com cirurgia múltipla e períodos prolongados de hospitalização em unidades de terapia intensiva e enfermarias cirúrgicas, do que resultam elevados custos hospitalares. Aparentemente, o principal fator responsável pela morbi-mortalidade é o tempo de diagnóstico. Todos os esforços deveriam ser investidos no diagnóstico precoce. Uma vez feito o diagnóstico, o tratamento deve ser urgente e agressivo.

PURPOSE: Traumatic esophageal perforations are infrequent. They represent a surgical dilemma for surgeons, especially if diagnosis is made late. Recently, it has been reported that mortality due to perforation of the esophagus has diminished independently of time of presentation. The experience with traumatic perforations of the esophagus is reviewed to determine morbidity-mortality and how it is affected by time. METHODS: A retrospective clinical review was made of all patients with a diagnosis of traumatic perforation of the esophagus treated by the author. There were 10 patients, all of them male. Average age was 32 years (range 17 to 63). The cause of trauma was gunshot (7), blunt trauma (1) and foreign body (2). Four patients were treated within 24 hours of injury (early treatment). Treatment of 6 patients was delayed 56 to 168 hours after the injury (delayed treatment). RESULTS: Patients treated early underwent primary repair. Delayed treatment included: primary repair (1), T-tube (2), drainage of cervical abscess and pulmonary decortication (2), and conservative treatment (1). There was 1 death in the delayed group (16.6%). One patient in the early treatment group (25%); 4 (66%) in the delayed treatment group had complications. Postoperative stay in the hospital was an average of 20.5 days for the early treatment group and 38 for the late treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality of traumatic esophageal perforations has diminished significantly. Morbidity, particularly in delayed treatment, is still very high, with multiple operations and prolonged stays in intensive care units and surgical wards, resulting in high hospital costs. The main factor that seems to influence mortality-morbidity of traumatic esophageal perforations is the time of diagnosis. Every effort should be made to diagnose these injuries early. Once diagnosis is made, treatment should be aggressive and expeditious.

Introduction: Modern treatment of clotted traumatic hemothorax involves early evacuation and the use of minimally invasive techniques. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the results of rigid non-video thoracoscopy in the management of clotted traumatic hemothorax. Material and methods: In this prospective work, 15 consecutive patients, 13 men and 2 women, average age 25.5 years, were submitted to evacuation of a clotted traumatic hemothorax within 7 days or less of injury by means of rigid non-video thoracoscopy with a Carlens mediastinoscope through 1 or 2 one inch incisions under general anesthesia using a single lumen endotracheal tube. Results: Etiology were stab wounds in 9, gunshot wounds in 5 and blunt trauma in 1. Associated findings were diaphragmatic perforations in 3, hepatic laceration in 1 and pulmonary laceration in 1. An accessory incision was necessary in 4 cases, and 1 patient was converted to a limited thoracotomy due to technical difficulties. Average surgical time was 53.3 min. There was no mortality; one patient developed pneumoniae (6.6%). Average post-operative stay was 3.8 days. Estimated cost was 528 US dlls. Conclusions: Rigid non-video thoracoscopy using a Carlens mediastinoscope is an excellent method for the evacuation of clotted traumatic hemothorax with the advantages of simplicity of the equipment, diminished costs and the avoidance of double lumen endotracheal intubation. Rigid thoracoscopy should be considered in the management of short term, seven days or less, clotted traumatic hemothorax.

Introducción: El tratamiento moderno del hemotórax traumático coagulado implica su evacuación temprana y el uso de técnicas mínimamente invasivas. El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar el resultado de la toracoscopía rígida o sin video en la evacuación del hemotórax coagulado traumático. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, prospectivo de 15 enfermos, 13 hombres y 2 mujeres con edad promedio de 25.5 años en los que se realizó evacuación de hemotórax traumático coagulado de siete o menos días de evolución mediante toracoscopía rígida con mediastinoscopio de Carlens. La operación se llevó a cabo por una o dos incisiones de 2.5 cm. En ninguno se utilizó intubación endotraqueal de doble luz. Resultados: La etiología fue de heridas por arma blanca en 9, proyectil de arma de fuego en 5 y en 1 por trauma cerrado. Además del hemotórax coagulado se encontraron perforación del diafragma en 3, laceración hepática en 1, y laceración pulmonar en otro. Se realizó incisión accesoria en 4 y una fue convertida a toracotomía limitada por dificultad técnica. El tiempo quirúrgico promedio fue de 53.3 min. No hubo mortalidad y la morbilidad fue 1 caso de neumonía (6.6%). El promedio de estancia posoperatoría fue de 3.8 días. El costo estimado fue de 528 dólares americanos. Conclusiones: La toracoscopía rígida con mediastinoscopio de Carlens es un excelente método para evacuar el hemotórax traumático coagulado, con las ventajas de simplicidad en el equipo, menor costo y no necesitar intubación endotraqueal de doble luz. El procedimiento debe ser considerado en el manejo del hemotórax coagulado traumático de siete días o menos de evolución.