938 Communications to the Editor Room air ABG measurement revealed a pH of7.43, Pco2 30 mm Hg and Po2 76 mm Hg (92 percent saturation). Electrolyte levels were within normal limits, with a serum bicarbonate of 22.5 mEq/ L. Chest roentgenogram revealed new diffuse interstitial and alveolar infiltrates (Fig 1). The patient was admitted and treated with intravenous fluids, oral diphenhydramine and...

Orbital emphysema is usually a benign, self-limited condition. Intraorbital extension of the entrapped air in the absence of an orbital fracture is extremely rare. Although benign, a careful periodic monitoring of intraocular pressure, optic nerve examinations, and prompt management are warranted in order to prevent tension pneumoobitus secondary to increasing intraorbital pressure by the orbit...

Andreetti et al. regarding the treatment of post-pneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula (PPBPF) by self-expandable stent and we agree that this modality can be in the armamentarium of cardiothoracic surgeons [1]. PPBPF is one of the most serious and lethal complications in thoracic surgery. There are well-known predisposing factors related to this devastating postoperative complication such as ex...

Aspergillus tracheobronchitis and Aspergillus empyema are two rare manifestations of Aspergillus infection. This case report presents a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who developed a pseudomembranous Aspergillus tracheobronchitis, bronchopleural fistula and empyema 16 months after lobectomy for an aspergilloma. Bronchoscopy proved to be important for assessment of severity. ...

Wegener's granulomatosis is a disease characterised by necrotising granulomatous angiitis of the upper and lower respiratory tracts, a necrotising glomerulonephritis, and a diffuse small vessel vasculitis that may affect almost any organ system.' Various pulmonary lesions have been described, but pneumothorax has seldom been mentioned. We report a patient who developed a spontaneous pneumothora...

Lung radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an option for the treatment of unresectable lung cancer. Clinical investigators have previously warned against severe complications associated with this procedure. We report a case of life-threatening complication after lung RFA for non-operable non-small-cell lung cancer consisting of pulmonary abscess evolving into a bronchopleural fistula, severe pneumot...

TOPIC: Cardiothoracic Surgery TYPE: Medical Student/Resident Case Reports INTRODUCTION: A 79-year-old female status post right lower lobe (RLL) resection one month prior presented with shortness of breath, cough, and fever despite antibiotic therapy. Initial chest CT revealed empyema. Curiously, each administration intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) recombinant...