What is VATS?
Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery
What is thoracic outlet syndrome?
Compression of the subclavian artery, subclavian vein, or brachial plexus at the superior outlet of the thorax
What are the causes of thoracic outlet syndrome?
What are the symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome?
What is the most common type of symptoms in thoracic outlet syndrome?
Neurologic
Which nerve is most often involved in thoracic outlet syndrome?
Ulnar nerve
What are the signs of thoracic outlet syndrome?
What is the Adson maneuver?
Evaluates for arterial compromise:
The patient (1) Extends neck, (2) Takes deep breath and holds, and (3) Turns head toward examined side.
The physician monitors radial pulse on examined side.
The test finding is positive if the radial pulse decreases or disappears during the maneuver.
What is Tinel’s test?
Tapping of the supraclavicular fossa producing paresthesias
What is the treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome?
PT; decompression of the thoracic outlet by resecting the first rib and cervical rib (if present) if PT fails and as a last resort.
What are the most common benign chest wall tumors?
What is the treatment for benign chest wall tumors?
Wide excision and reconstruction with autologous or prosthetic grafts
What are the most common malignant chest wall tumors?
Fibrosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, myeloma, Ewing’s sarcoma
What is the treatment for malignant chest wall tumors?
Excision +/- XRT
What is Tietze’s syndrome?
Non-infectious costochondral cartilage inflammation
What is a pleural effusion?
Fluid in the pleural space
What are the causes of pleural effusion?
Pulmonary infections; CHF; SLE; RA; pancreatitis; trauma; PE; renal disease; cirrhosis; malignancy (mesothelioma, lymphoma, metastasis); post-pericardiotomy syndrome
What are the symptoms of pleural effusion?
Dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain
What are the signs of pleural effusion?
Decreased breath sounds, dullness to percussion, ego phony at the upper limit
What are the properties of a transudate?
Specific gravity:
What are the properties of an exudate?
Specific gravity: > 1.016
Protein: > 3 g/dL
Many cells
What is the key diagnostic test for pleural effusion?
Thoracentesis with studies including cytology
What is the treatment for pleural effusion?
What is an empyema?
Infected pleural effusion.
Must be drained, usually with chest tube; decortication may be necessary if the empyema is solid.