Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-3397/1410127

Feasibility and Advantages of a Modified Subxiphoidal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy Procedure Compared to Established Traditional Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy Procedures in Intercostal Access

Mohammed Ibrahim, MD, Bernd Linsmeier, MD and Matthias Steinert, MD

Article Type: Research Ar ticle | First Published: March 28, 2021

Minimally invasive thoracic surgical techniques are under continual development, especially the subxiphoidal approach, which until recently could only be done in a few centers across the world, due mainly to the many challenges associated with this method. There are ongoing discussions around minimally invasive methods including the instrument sizes and types, the incision position and expected outcomes. Robotic surgery using the subxiphoidal approach is still under discussion and is expected to...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5718/1510187

First Rib Fracture Nonunion Treated With Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate in a Division 1 Collegiate Baseball Player

Kanjiya S, Gambardella RA and Moon CN

Article Type: Case Report | First Published: April 17, 2021

Fractures of the first rib have historically been described in major trauma with a high prevalence for cardiothoracic and musculoskeletal fractures. However, there have been several case reports describing first rib fractures in athletes. The vast majority of these patients return to play with conservative management. Unfortunately, some patients may develop fracture nonunion. Patients that develop a nonunion may remain asymptomatic. In the rare case that a patient is symptomatic or develops tho...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5718/1510186

The Influence of Linear Sprint and Jump Performance on Change-of-Direction Performance in Male and Female State-Representative Youth Basketball Players

Michael Keiner, Björn Kadlubowski, Klaus Wirth and Markus Klusemann

Article Type: Research Article | First Published: April 17, 2021

Good change-of-direction sprint performance is considered important for basketball players. Regarding the components of a change-of-direction task, a correlation between the linear sprint and concentric power output can be assumed. Previous studies have shown heterogeneous correlation coefficients between different change-of-direction (COD) tests and linear and jump performance. Therefore, 47 trained youth basketball players (13.2 ± 3.6 years; 34 males and 13 females) were recruited. Linear spr...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-3516/1410152

Efficacy of Initial Large-Volume Thoracentesis for Malignant Pleural Effusions

Victor E Prado, MD, Shasha X Chen, MD, Shashvat Sukhal, MD, Sean B Smith, MD and Sanjay A Patel, MD

Article Type: Research Article | First Published: March 31, 2021

Large malignant pleural effusions (MPE) are common and can cause respiratory distress. Large-volume thoracentesis (LVT) is the most readily available initial procedure, but its efficacy for large MPE with acute respiratory symptoms is unknown. We reviewed LVT for MPE causing ≥ 50% opacification of the hemithorax who presented with acute respiratory symptoms. LVT was defined as draining ≥ 1.5 liters (L). We catalogued volume removed and percent opacification of the hemithorax after LVT in ord...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-3516/1410151

Extensive Pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 Pneumonia

Adetiloye Oluwabusayo Adebola, MD, Beketova Tatyana, MD, Williams Tabatha, NP and Agarwal Sanket, MD

Article Type: Case Report | First Published: March 31, 2021

Pneumomediastinum, defined as the presence of air in the mediastinum often occurs due to trauma, mechanical ventilation or surgical procedure. It may also occur spontaneously due to predisposing lung diseases such as asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary airway disease (COPD). In this report, we present a case of a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia without any underlying lung conditions or usual risk factors for pneumomediastinum who developed extensive pneumomediastinum with pneumopericardium ...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-3516/1410150

Incidence of Post-Procedural COVID-19 at an Urban Academic Medical Center during High Prevalence Months

Joanne Szewczyk, MD, Dao M Nguyen, MD, MSc, Prem R Warde, MSIE, Bhavarth Shukla, MD, MPH, Tanira Ferreira, MD, Dipen J Parekh, MD and Hayley B Gershengorn, MD

Article Type: Research Article | First Published: March 31, 2021

In the beginning of the pandemic, after elective procedures resumed in Florida, we tested all patients for COVID-19, nasal pharyngeal swab PCR 72 hrs prior to any procedure. We conducted a retrospective cohort to see the incidence of COVID-19 post-procedural. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all adult cases of same day or hospital-based procedures at the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics from April 1-September 23, 2020 who were COVID-19-negative (by SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-3516/1410149

Etiology of Pleural Effusion among Adults in Three University Hospitals in Beirut: A One-Year Retrospective Cross Sectional Analytical Study

Ali IBRAHIM, Amrou RIDA, Ibrahim MALASS and Loubna Tayara

Article Type: Research Article | First Published: March 31, 2021

Pleural effusion, the pathological accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, is very common. It has a wide differential diagnosis, and a delayed etiological diagnosis can be associated with markedly higher morbidity and mortality. It is divided into two main types: Transudative and Exudative, depending on the mechanism of fluid accumulation. The most common causes of pleural effusion are: Congestive heart failure, infections, malignancy, liver and kidney failure. Thoracentesis may be indicated...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-3235.1510075

Agreement between Arthroscopy and Saline Magnetic Resonance Shoulder Arthrography in Adolescent Patients - Evaluation of Location and Extent of Injury of Labral Tears

Michael Fadell, MD, David Howell, Jill Stein, Marty McGraw, Alexia Gagliardi, Stephanie Pearce and Jay Albright

Article Type: Original Research | First Published: April 08, 2021

To compare potential differences in size and extent of labral tears on magnetic resonance arthrography of the shoulder performed with saline to shoulder to arthroscopy as the gold standard in adolescent patients with tears of the glenoid labrum. Pre-operative saline magnetic resonance arthrograms of the glenoid labrum were assessed by two radiologists for location and extent of the labral tear based on the clock-face method of visualization. The radiology findings were compared to the surgeon’...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2643-4571/1710029

Defining a Growing and Maturing Skeleton and its Relevance in Diseases that Affect Skeletal Growth, Such as X-Linked Hypophosphataemia (XLH)

Signe Beck-Nielsen, Nella Augusta Greggio and Lars Hagenӓs

Article Type: Review Article | First Published: April 17, 2021

The human skeleton is composed of bone, a living tissue that undergoes constant development throughout life. It is well established that changes in bone metabolism during the developmental stages of growth, modelling and remodelling determine long-lasting physiological parameters, such as final height achieved, peak bone mass, bone quality and bone health. A complex interplay of environmental, genetic, nutritional, physiological and behavioural factors plays a role in these processes. These modi...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2643-4563/1710028

On the Impact of Premature Termination of Chemotherapy on Relapse of Breast Cancer

Heidrun Männle, Karsten Münstedt, Felix Momm and Jan Willem Siebers

Article Type: Original Article | First Published: March 15, 2021

Some breast cancer patients receive a recommendation for adjuvant chemotherapy if necessary. In some cases, patients refuse this recommendation. In other cases, they start with chemotherapy, but then discontinue it. The question raised here are the effects of patients’ rejection or premature termination of recommended chemotherapies. 1916 patients, who received a recommendation for chemotherapy, were analyzed between 1997 and 2017. The analyses included descriptive analyses and Kaplan- Meier s...