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ObjectiveThe goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate the outcomes of bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy for primary hyperhydrosis.MethodsBetween January 2007 and December 2011, a total of 335 patients (192 male, 143 female, mean age 28.3 years) who underwent bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy for primary hyperhydrosis were reviewed retrospectively.ResultsHyperhydrosis occurred in the palmar and axillary region in 175 (52.23%) patients, in only the palmar region in 52 (15.52%), in the craniofacial region in 44 (13.13%), in only the axillary region in 42 (12.53%), and in the palmar and pedal regions in 22 (6.56%) patients. Bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy was performed in all patients. The mean follow-up period was 24 (6–48) months. The initial cure rate was 95% and the initial satisfaction rate was 93%. There was no mortality in this study. The complication rate was 15.82% in 53 patients.ConclusionVideo-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy for the treatment of primary hyperhydrosis was effective, with low rates of morbidity and mortality. Despite the appearance of postoperative complications, such as compensatory sweating, patient satisfaction with the procedure was high and their quality of life improved.

BackgroundWe present the results of surgical correction of pectus excavatum (PE) and pectus carinatum (PC) deformities in adults, and also report a new method of sternal support used in surgery for PE deformities.MethodsWe present the results of 77 patients between the ages of 10 and 29 years (mean 17) with PE (n = 46) or PC (n = 31) deformities undergoing corrective surgery from 2004 to 2011, using the Ravitch repair method. Symptoms of the patients included chest pain (15%) and tachycardia (8%). Three patients underwent repair of recurrent surgical conditions.ResultsAll of the patients with dyspnoea with exercise experienced marked improvement at five months post operation. Complications included pneumothorax in 5.1% (n = 4), haemothorax in 2.6% (n = 2), chest discomfort in 57% (n = 44), pleural effusion in 2.6% (n = 2), and sternal hypertrophic scar in 27% (n = 21) of patients. Mean hospitalisation was eight days. Pain was mild and intravenous analgesics were used for a mean of four days. There were no deaths. Results after surgical correction were very good or excellent in 62 patients (80%) at a mean follow up of three years. Three patients had recurrent PE and were repaired with the Nuss procedure. In three patients who underwent the Ravitch procedure, a stainless steel bar was used for sternal support instead of Kirschner wire.ConclusionsPectus deformities may be repaired with no mortality, low morbidity, very good cosmetic results and improvement in cardiological and respiratory symptoms.

Chest wall is a rare involvement localization of tuberculosis, though uncommon are frequently seen in countries endemic to the disease. In this report, a tuberculosis case with chest wall involvement is presented. Key words: Tuberculosis, cold abscess, chest wall Göğüs Duvarının Tüberküloz AbsesiHastalığın endemic olarak görüldüğü yerlerde bile göğüs duvarı tutulumu sık değildir, nadir tüberkuloz tutulum lokalizasyonudur. Bu bildiride, göğüs duvarı tutulumu olan bir vaka sunulmuştur.

The muscle-sparing thoracotomy technique preserves the latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior muscles and provides excellent exposure for most thoracic and mediastinal operations. It also reduces postoperative pain and complications, and preserves pulmonary function. The technique has been developed further to facilitate subcutaneous dissection by insufflation of air from a syringe connected to a large-bore needle via a 3-way tap.