Week 5 - Non-Lung Cancer Thoracic Surgery

Question 1

What is a lung abscess and how do they commonly come about?

Answer 1

pus surrounded by granulation tissue. most commonly as a result of aspiration pneumonia

Question 2

How does empyema thoracis come about?

Answer 2

post-pneumonic, post-op, oesophageal rupture (vomit in pleural cavity), post-traumatic, infeted haemothorax. if forms restrictive fibrosis, do pleurectomy and decortication

Question 3

What is thymic tumours?

Answer 3

tumour in cells outside thymus. linked with myasthenia gravis. theyre all scanned for it and if present, its resected. adjuvant chemo/RT given. some are malignant and inoperable

Question 4

Tracheal surgery?

Answer 4

tracheal tumours may be resected depending. iatrogenic surgery operated on to fix

Question 5

Benign tumours of the lung?

Answer 5

hamartoma, fibroma, lipoma. resected.

Question 6

When is pneumothorax surgery carried out?

Answer 6

after 2 episodes - recurrance. talc pleurodesis sticks pleural walls together.

Question 7

Bullous lung disease?

Answer 7

surgery may be needed. its an airspace above 2cm (below that is a bleb). in a plane, bulla doubles in volume and can cause pneumothorax if bursts or tear pulmonary veins due to pressure increase

Question 8

Bronchogenic cycts?

Answer 8

small benign thin cysts near trachea or carina.

Question 9

What is the lung transplant survival rate?

Answer 9

50% at 5 years - less than heart transplant.

Question 10

What is the criteria for lung transplant? (cant be…)

Answer 10

cant be >65, overweight, diabetic, kidney failure, mental illesss

Question 11

What is the lung transplant operative mortality?

Answer 11

double lung - 10-20%.
single lung 5-10%.