Introduction Fistula formation in the airway may be broadly defined as any defect that allows pathologic communication between the respiratory tract and an adjacent structure. The type of airway fistula is determined by which section of the tracheobronchial tree and…
Introduction Esophageal surgery in adults is associated with a high perioperative morbidity (52%) and mortality (12%). Postoperative complications are mainly pulmonary with an incidence of up to 52%, which significantly reduces the short- and long-term survival of patients. Although patient-specific…
Introduction Although many disease states result in severe lung disease, lung transplantation remains the only definitive therapy. Because of heterogeneity in underlying disease states, and significant cardiopulmonary manifestations of lung disease, lung transplantation procedures carry significant risk, and careful planning…
Introduction Anesthetic management of the patient who requires surgical resection of a portion of the large airways continues to challenge the skills of even the most experienced anesthesiologist. The large airways, including the trachea, carina, and major bronchi, can harbor…
Introduction Pectus excavatum (PE) is a congenital chest wall deformity characterized by a sternal depression, which typically begins at the manubrium and ends toward the xiphoid. Adjacent costal cartilages are displaced as well. The deformity can be symmetric or asymmetric.…
Introduction The primary indications for resection of lung parenchyma include both malignant and benign conditions. Primary lung malignancy remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and lung resection surgery is the cornerstone of therapy for stage I and II (localized)…
Introduction Historical Notes on Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms The dilatation of arteries was first recognized as a disease of the cardiovascular system in Egypt in the 1550s bc , and the first to describe an abdominal aortic aneurysm was the Flemish…
Introduction Among the geriatric population, there is great variability in physiologic condition from person to person. Because of this variability, the patient’s preoperative functional status, comorbidities, and tumor stage may influence surgical outcomes more than chronologic age alone. However, even…
Tubeless thoracic procedures are performed without an endotracheal tube while the patient is spontaneously breathing. Initially it was defined as an “awake” thoracic procedure, but the term was updated to “tubeless” because these procedures are performed with sedation and/or regional…
Introduction Pulmonary hypertension (PH) has become an increasingly common diagnosis among patients presenting for surgery. With advances pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of PH, these patients are now living longer with an improved quality of life. Although surgery still…