BACKGROUND The choice between transthoracic, lateral, and posterolateral approaches to excise thoracic disc herniations remains controversial. METHODS The outcome of the three approaches was compared in seven of the authors' cases and in 324 other cases reported in the literature. RESULTS Partial or total neurological recovery was found in 93% after a transthoracic procedure versus 87% afte...

biopsies of thoracic lesions guidance. 22 of the 1 12 lesions were mediastinal and 83 were pleuroparenchymal. a large-bore 14-gauge tru-cut needle was used in all patients. adequate specimens for histologic examination were obtained in 98%. the overall accuracy was 91 % with 9% false negative and no false positive diagnoses. despite the large size of the needle, the total number of complication...

To achieve transcardiac threshold current during transthoracic defibrillation, a considerably larger current must be delivered to the thorax to compensate for the shunting effect of the lungs, the thoracic cage, and other elements of the torso. This shunting effect is thus an important determinant of transthoracic defibrillation threshold and can be quantified by the transcardiac current fracti...

myxoid is a common type of liposarcoma. cardiac metastasis of sarcoma is a rare diagnosis. transthoracic echocardiography is a useful tool for beginning the diagnosis. curative resection of metastasis and then combination systemic chemotherapy for advanced disease is recommended. we report a 50 year old woman who presented with a cardiac metastasis of high grade round cell liposarcoma to right ...

Background Transesophageal echocardiography is superior to transthoracic echocardiography in detecting left-sided valvular vegetations. There are no data on the value of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of infected transvenous permanent pacemakers. Methods and Results Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 10 patients for whom there was clinical sus...