Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The paper reports the series of post-traumatic hernias of the diaphragm observed during the period between 1954 and June 1992. This group of 77 patients (59 males and 18 females) were aged between 6 and 75 years old. Both acute and... more
The paper reports the series of post-traumatic hernias of the diaphragm observed during the period between 1954 and June 1992. This group of 77 patients (59 males and 18 females) were aged between 6 and 75 years old. Both acute and chronic hernias were reported; in 60 cases the diaphragmatic lesion was on the left, in 9 cases on the right, and there were 8 cases of laceration to both hemidiaphragms. The most frequently herniated organ was the stomach, followed by the transverse colon and spleen. With regard to the access route used, the authors draw attention to the fact that during the first twenty years of the series thoracotomies were prevalently used, whereas during the last decade laparotomy has been used in cases of early post-traumatic hernia, thoracotomy in cases of chronic post-traumatic hernia or if there is suspected damage to organs and intrathoracic structures.
Research Interests: Surgery, Adolescent, Medicine, Humans, Child, and 11 moreFemale, Pubmed, Male, Follow-up studies, Aged, Middle Aged, Adult, Lesion, Hernia, Laparotomy, and Thoracotomy
From 1980 to 1990, 1505 patients underwent thoracotomy as definitive treatment for non small cell lung cancer. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest has been used routinely since 1984 for assessment of mediastinal lymph node involvement.... more
From 1980 to 1990, 1505 patients underwent thoracotomy as definitive treatment for non small cell lung cancer. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest has been used routinely since 1984 for assessment of mediastinal lymph node involvement. A total of 235 cervical mediastinoscopies and 71 anterior parasternal mediastinotomies were performed on the same patient population as preoperative staging when CT scan demonstrated mediastinal lymph nodes larger than 1 cm. Radical resections showed a constant increase in number from 70.1% in the period 1980-84 to 82.7% in the period 1985-90. Exploratory thoracotomies and thoracotomies with residual tumor showed a parallel reduction: 14.5% in 1980-84 to 7.4% in 1985-90 for the former, 15.4% in 1980-84 to 9.8% in 1985-90 for the latter. The percentage of N2 disease to the total number of thoracotomies decreased from 23.6% in 1980-81 to 11.2% in 1989-90. We conclude that a selective use of cervical mediastinoscopy and anterior parasternal mediastinotomy, based upon the results of CT scan, may have contributed to reduce the number of exploratory thoracotomies and thoracotomies with residual tumor.
Research Interests:
Three successful cases of low grade malignant bronchial tumors resected by means of a bronchial sleeve resection distal to the main bronchi with complete pulmonary preservation are presented. Reconstruction of the bronchial tree was... more
Three successful cases of low grade malignant bronchial tumors resected by means of a bronchial sleeve resection distal to the main bronchi with complete pulmonary preservation are presented. Reconstruction of the bronchial tree was accomplished by suturing together the distal lobar bronchi and then anastomosing the double-barrel suture to the proximal residual bronchus. All patients presented excellent results, although in one patient postoperative course was complicated by persistent mucopurulent secretions. Bronchial sleeve resection distal to the main bronchi can be successfully performed for benign or low-grade malignant bronchial tumors. Technically, the operation is more complex than standard sleeve resection of the main bronchus and requires an experienced team. Postoperatively, an increased morbidity rate, mostly represented by secretions retention, may usually be anticipated, necessitating an aggressive medical and bronchoscopic management.
Research Interests:
Although we are very happy to open a discussion with Brodsky and Mark [1] on the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in postoperative pain, we are sorry to realize that they did not read carefully our... more
Although we are very happy to open a discussion with Brodsky and Mark [1] on the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in postoperative pain, we are sorry to realize that they did not read carefully our article on the use of TENS after ...
Research Interests:
A series of 100 cases of tracheal stenoses, 66 non-neoplastic and 34 neoplastic, are reviewed; tracheal resection was performed in 28 inflammatory stenoses and in five tumours. A T-tube stent was used in 12 patients. Results were good in... more
A series of 100 cases of tracheal stenoses, 66 non-neoplastic and 34 neoplastic, are reviewed; tracheal resection was performed in 28 inflammatory stenoses and in five tumours. A T-tube stent was used in 12 patients. Results were good in 81% of resections for non-neoplastic stenoses; two out of three resections for adenoid cystic carcinoma are alive after ten years and the third died after two years with metastases; two patients who received a tracheal resection for epidermoid carcinomas died after three and four years with metastases. Inflammatory tracheal stenoses treated using T-tube achieved good results only in one third of cases. Pre-operative preparation is the most important factor to obtain good results: end-to-end anastomosis requires a healthy mucosa without infection or ulcers.
Research Interests:
Background: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) pleurodesis in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax with particular reference to the postoperative period and the rate of recurrence... more
Background: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) pleurodesis in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax with particular reference to the postoperative period and the rate of recurrence after pleural abrasion. Methods: One hundred and thirty-three patients who underwent VATS management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax were retrospectively reviewed. They were 113 males and 20 females with median age of 26 (range 12-37). Among these patients, 114 underwent VATS for recurrent pneumothorax and 19 for persistent air-leakage at the first episode. During surgical procedure, in 78% of cases, parenchymal blebs were identified and resected by stapler resection. All patients were submitted to pleural abrasion. Results: No intra- or postoperative deaths occurred. Postoperative complications were persistent air-leak for more than 7 days in 6 patients (4.3%) bleeding in 3 patients (2.2%). The median chest-tube duration and hospital stay were 2 (range 2-11) and 3 (range 3-12) days, respectively. Median follow-up period of 53 (range 6-96) months was complete for all patients. Five episodes of recurrent pneumothorax were encountered and 4 of them, because of major entity, required re-do VATS with stapler resection and pleural abrasion: their postoperative period and residual follow-up was uneventful. Conclusions: The goal in the surgical management of spontaneous pneumothorax, which often affects "apparently healthy" young patients, is to secure the less recurrence rate with no mortality and quite null morbidity and functional impairment. VATS stapler resection and pleural abrasion is a safe procedure allowing a good management of the disease with low complication rate, short chest-drain duration, hospital stay and recurrence rate quite similar to those referred for other procedures such as pleural poudrage or limited pleurectomy.
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Pathology, Medicine, Humans, Female, Male, and 15 moreHyperplasia, Lung, Logistic Regression Analysis, Aged, Middle Aged, Carcinoma, Adult, Clinical Significance, Lung Carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma, Malignancy, Carcinoid tumor, Carcinoma in situ, Cardiovascular medicine and haematology, and lung neoplasms
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Radiation Therapy, Adolescent, Medicine, Humans, Autoimmune diseases, and 15 moreFemale, Male, Clinical Sciences, Aged, Middle Aged, Myasthenia Gravis, Adult, Survival Rate, Retrospective Studies, Thymoma, Thymectomy, Combined Modality Therapy, Pure Red Cell Aplasia, Neoplasm staging, and Cardiovascular medicine and haematology
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Skeletal muscle biology, Neurophysiology, Medicine, Tactile Perception, Humans, and 15 moreNeuropathic pain, Female, Male, Anesthesia, Electromyography, Clinical Sciences, Postoperative pain, Middle Aged, Pain Threshold, Nociceptors, Case Control Studies, Thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Cardiovascular medicine and haematology, lung neoplasms, and Electric stimulation
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Surgery, Adolescent, Medicine, Humans, Child, and 15 moreFemale, Male, Follow-up studies, Recurrence, Gold Standard, Adult, Pneumothorax, Pleura, Thoracoscopy, Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery, Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery, Reoperation, Spontaneous pneumothorax, Cardiovascular medicine and haematology, and Primary spontaneous pneumothorax
The effectiveness and tolerability of defibrotide in the prevention of post-surgery deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were compared with those of heparin in a multicentric randomized controlled study. One hundred-eight-four both sexes patients... more
The effectiveness and tolerability of defibrotide in the prevention of post-surgery deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were compared with those of heparin in a multicentric randomized controlled study. One hundred-eight-four both sexes patients submitted to thoracic surgery were randomly allocated to defibrotide (400 mg b.i.d. by IV route, n = 94) or to calcium heparin (5000 I.U. t.i.d. s.c., n = 90); both treatments were started the day before the operation and withdrawn when patients were allowed to stand up (i.e., after 7 days). No patients developed DVT in the defibrotide group, while a single case of DVT was detected in the heparin group; furthermore, a more prominent bleeding was observed in the latter, in the early post-operative period (normal bleeding: 2nd day: defibrotide 70/92 pts, heparin 53/90 pts, p less than 0.02; 3rd day: defibrotide 87/92 pts, heparin 76/90 pts, p less than 0.05, chi 2 test), while the healing rate of surgical wounds was similar in the two groups. No relevant modifications in laboratory parameters were seen throughout the observation period. Thus, these preliminary data suggest that defibrotide is at least as effective as heparin in the prevention of post-thoracic surgery DVT and that the former drug has a possibly better tolerability profile, due to a lesser tendency to bleeding.
Research Interests:
A series of 100 cases of tracheal stenoses, 66 non-neoplastic and 34 neoplastic, are reviewed; tracheal resection was performed in 28 inflammatory stenoses and in five tumours. A T-tube stent was used in 12 patients. Results were good in... more
A series of 100 cases of tracheal stenoses, 66 non-neoplastic and 34 neoplastic, are reviewed; tracheal resection was performed in 28 inflammatory stenoses and in five tumours. A T-tube stent was used in 12 patients. Results were good in 81% of resections for non-neoplastic stenoses; two out of three resections for adenoid cystic carcinoma are alive after ten years and the third died after two years with metastases; two patients who received a tracheal resection for epidermoid carcinomas died after three and four years with metastases. Inflammatory tracheal stenoses treated using T-tube achieved good results only in one third of cases. Pre-operative preparation is the most important factor to obtain good results: end-to-end anastomosis requires a healthy mucosa without infection or ulcers.
Research Interests:
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1998;115:841-847 Giuliano Maggi Caterina Casadio, Roberto Cianci, Roberto Giobbe, Alberto Oliaro, Bruno Bergamasco and Fabrizio Benedetti, Sergio Vighetti, Claudia Ricco, Martina Amanzio, Luciana... more
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1998;115:841-847 Giuliano Maggi Caterina Casadio, Roberto Cianci, Roberto Giobbe, Alberto Oliaro, Bruno Bergamasco and Fabrizio Benedetti, Sergio Vighetti, Claudia Ricco, Martina Amanzio, Luciana Bergamasco,muscle-sparing thoracotomy Neurophysiologic assessment of nerve impairment in posterolateral andhttp://jtcs.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/115/4/841 the World Wide Web at: The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is located on