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…
Introduction Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States; of these, lung cancer is the most common cause in both males and females. Although the lung cancer death rate has declined over the years primarily because…
Introduction An anterior mediastinal mass is one of the most challenging pathologies an anesthesiologist may face during his or her career. To safely care for these patients, it is imperative to know the relevant anatomy of the mediastinum, understand how…
One Way Valves in the Treatment of Emphysema and Persistent Air Leaks Emphysema Emphysema is one component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the third leading cause of death in the United States. Emphysema has been defined as “a condition…
Introduction Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is one of the major innovations in surgery. Within less than 30 years after its modern introduction, almost all of the operations, with only few exceptions, can be performed via VATS. It provides several benefits…