INTRODUCTION Cost analysis studies performed in western countries report that the overall cost of lobectomies performed via video-assisted thoracic surgery is similar to or less than those performed via thoracotomy. The situation may be different in a developing country. AIM We evaluated the cost differences of these two surgical methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the...

We compared the outcome of children with empyema managed either through thoracotomy with pleural debridment, conventional stiff chest drain, or pigtail chest drain. Compared to conventional drain, children who received either thoracotomy or pigtail catheters had a significantly decreased period of drain in situ, were afebrile earlier, were clinically improved earlier, and were discharged earlier.

global myocardial ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion injury are potential adverse events related with cardioplegic arrest. beating heart surgery has avoided such complications and adapted to valve surgery following successful results published on myocardial revascularization. difficulty in weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass may be lessened by using on-pump beating heart surgery for mitral valve...