Experience with acute diaphragmatic trauma and multiple rib fractures using routine thoracoscopy

Efficacy of perioperative multimodal analgesia in minimally invasive thoracoscopic treatment for severe blunt chest trauma with hemopneumothorax

This retrospective study evaluates the clinical impact of perioperative multimodal analgesia in the minimally invasive treatment of severe blunt chest trauma with hemopneumothorax using a thoracoscopic Ni-Ti shape memory embracing plate. A total of 100 patients with severe blunt chest trauma and moderate to severe hemopneumothorax treated at Hanyang Hospital affiliated with Wuhan University of Science and Technology from January 2019 to January 2022 were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups: a control group (50 patients) receiving patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA), and a study group (50 patients) administered a multimodal analgesia regimen. Pain severity scores, vital signs, and inflammatory markers were compared between the groups. Post-surgery, both groups exhibited reductions in resting and movement-associated pain scores compared to admission values, with the study group showing significantly greater reductions (P < .05). Specifically, the average heart rate in the study group was 78 ± 8 beats per minute compared to 85 ± 9 beats per minute in the control group at 3 days postsurgery (P < .05). The respiratory rate was also lower in the study group (18 ± 2 breaths per minute) compared to the control group (21 ± 3 breaths per minute; P < .05). Improvements in blood oxygen saturation were observed postoperatively in both groups, with more pronounced changes in the study group (P < .05). Although levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and C-reactive protein increased postoperatively in both groups, these increases were significantly lower in the study group (P < .05). Perioperative multimodal analgesia in patients with severe blunt chest trauma and pneumothorax enhances postoperative recovery, reduces pain, minimizes lung complications, and lowers the usage of analgesic drugs and their associated adverse effects.

Splenic rupture after surgical fixation of rib fractures with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Recently, the utilization of surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been increasing owing to its effectiveness. The present report describes the case of a patient who underwent SSRF with VATS and subsequently developed a splenic rupture that was speculated to be related to intrathoracic manipulation during surgery.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 62-year-old male patient sustained injuries from a fallen festival car over his thoracoabdominal zone and was diagnosed with bilateral multiple rib fractures and burst fractures of the twelfth thoracic and first lumbar vertebrae. The patient underwent SSRF with VATS. Following surgery, the patient went into hemorrhagic shock due to a splenic rupture, necessitating an emergency open splenectomy.

DISCUSSION

Despite no initial detection of splenic injury on contrast-enhanced CT, it is possible that a slight splenic injury existed at the time of the initial diagnosis. Moreover, during surgery, additional external forces may have been applied to the spleen due to positional changes, such as shifting to the lateral position or retracting the diaphragm using forceps; these manipulations could have potentially caused a slight splenic injury, possibly leading to splenic rupture.

CONCLUSION

When performing SSRF through VATS, it is important to recognize that manipulation and traction of the diaphragm could potentially cause splenic rupture, even if a slight force is applied. Therefore, the diaphragm should be evaluated without traction and manipulation whenever possible.

[VATS in Thorax Trauma]

Since the early 1990s, video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) has been increasingly established for a variety of indications in the treatment of patients with thoracic trauma. During this time, one premise for the use of thoracoscopy has not changed. Its use is consistently recommended only for trauma patients with stable circulation and respiration. To define the indications of VATS for use in thoracic trauma, the Pulmonary Injury Group - as part of the Working Committee for Thoracic Trauma of the German Society for Thoracic Surgery (DGT) and the German Society for Trauma Surgery (DGU) - has developed treatment recommendations based on a current literature review (based on the PRISMA Checklist/here: MEDLINE via PubMed from 1993 to 2022). In the present study, after reviewing the available literature, the indications for VATS in the care of thoracic trauma were identified, in order to formulate clinical recommendations for the use of VATS in thoracic trauma. The analysis of 1679 references identified a total of 4 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), 4 clinical trials, and 5 meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 39 reviews, which do not allow a higher level of recommendation than consensual recommendations, due to the low evidence of the available literature. Over the past 30 years, stabilisation options in the care of trauma patients have improved significantly, allowing expansion of indications for the use of VATS. Moreover, the recommendation for more than 50 years to thoracotomise trauma patients in case of an initial blood loss ≥ 1500 ml via the inserted chest drainage or in case of continuous blood loss ≥ 250 ml/h over 4 h is now only relative with today's better stabilisation measures. For unstable/non-stabilisable patients with a thoracic injury requiring emergency treatment, thoracotomy remains the method of choice, while VATS is recommended for a wide range of indications in the diagnosis and treatment of stable patients with a penetrating or blunt thoracic trauma. The indications for VATS are persistent haemothorax, treatment of injuries and haemorrhages to the lung, diaphragm, thoracic wall and other organ injuries, and in the secondary phase, treatment of thoracic sequelae of injury (empyema, persistent pulmonary fistula, infected atelectasis, etc.).

Laparoscopic repair and total gastrectomy for delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia complicated by intrathoracic gastric perforation with tension empyema: a case report

Background

Blunt traumatic diaphragmatic hernia (TDH) is a complication of blunt diaphragmatic injury. If missed, it could lead to critical presentations, such as incarceration or strangulation of the herniated intra-abdominal organs, and thus, early surgical repair is required. Methods of the operative approach against delayed TDH remain unclear. Even with the spread of the minimally invasive approach, laparotomy has been predominantly selected for cases with hemodynamic or gastrointestinal complaints. Literature on the use of laparoscopy for repair of such cases is limited, and no study has been conducted for those with intrathoracic gastric perforation.

Case presentation

A 55-year-old male patient with a history of multiple traumas presented with shock, followed by left hypochondrium pain and vomiting. The patient was admitted to the emergency department of our institution and diagnosed with delayed TDH complicated by intrathoracic gastric perforation, and tension empyema. Emergency surgery using laparoscopic approach was performed, despite unstable hemodynamics, considering orientation, exposure, and operativity compared with laparotomy. Repair of the diaphragm plus total gastrectomy was successfully performed by minimally invasive management. The patient made an uneventful recovery without recurrence after 8 months.

Conclusion

Unstable hemodynamic conditions and intrathoracic gastric perforation could not be contraindications to laparoscopic repair in treating delayed TDH.

Management of traumatic diaphragmatic injury—A peep into bowel repair via thoracotomy

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Does routine uniportal thoracoscopy during rib fixation identify more injuries and impact outcomes?

Background

Flail chest and severely displaced rib fractures due to blunt trauma can be associated with intrathoracic injuries. At our institution, two thoracic surgeons perform all surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF): one performs routine uniportal thoracoscopy (R-VATS) at the time of SSRF and the other for only select cases (S-VATS). In this pilot study, we hypothesized that R-VATS at the time of SSRF identifies and addresses intrathoracic injuries not seen on imaging and may impact patient outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective review of all patients who underwent SSRF from 2013–2019 at our institution was performed for severely displaced rib fractures or flail chest. Data collected included demographics, imaging results, treatment strategy, and operative findings.

Results

Ninety-nine patients underwent SSRF. Uniportal thoracoscopy was performed on 69% of these patients. When thoracoscopy was performed, 31 additional injuries were identified. R-VATS identified 23 additional intrathoracic findings at time of thoracoscopy not seen on CT scan compared to 8 findings in the S-VATS group (P=0.367). At 3 months follow-up, one empyema and one diaphragmatic hernia required reoperation—neither of which underwent thoracoscopy at time of SSRF. There were no differences in LOS, operative times, and overall mortality between the SSRF/thoracoscopy and SSRF only groups.

Conclusions

R-VATS at the time of SSRF did not identify a statistically significant greater number of occult intrathoracic injuries compared to S-VATS. R-VATS was not associated with increased operative time, LOS, and mortality. Further study is needed to determine if there is benefit to R-VATS in patients meeting requirements for rib fracture repair.