Background. Tube thoracostomy is widely used throughout the medical, surgical, and critical care specialities. It is generally used to drain pleural collections either as elective or emergency. Complications resulting from tube thoracostomy can occasionally be life threatening. Aim. To present an update on the complications and management of complications of tube thoracostomy. Methods. A review of the publications obtained from Medline search, medical libraries, and Google on tube thoracostomy and its complications was done. Results. Tube thoracostomy is a common surgical procedure which can be performed by either the blunt dissection technique or the trocar technique. Complication rates are increased by the trocar technique. These complications have been broadly classified as either technical or infective. Technical causes include tube malposition, blocked drain, chest drain dislodgement, reexpansion pulmonary edema, subcutaneous emphysema, nerve injuries, cardiac and vascular injuries, oesophageal injuries, residual/postextubation pneumothorax, fistulae, tumor recurrence at insertion site, herniation through the site of thoracostomy, chylothorax, and cardiac dysrhythmias. Infective complications include empyema and surgical site infection. Conclusion. Tube thoracostomy, though commonly performed is not without risk. Blunt dissection technique has lower risk of complications and is hence recommended.

Although the use of pedicled colonic interposition graft offers a good mid-term functional outcome with relief of dysphagia, early postoperative morbidity is high. Graft infarction is the single most important factor for poor functional outcome and every effort must be made to prevent its occurrence.

Complex CHD are present in our environment. Their surgical management in our centre is being made possible by periodic visits of foreign cardiac missions.

Background: The exact incidence of vascular injuries in Nigeria as a country especially southeast zone of Nigeria is unknown on account of under reporting and uncoordinated management of victims. Aim: To determine the pattern and outcome of common civilian vascular injuries managed in a teaching hospital in the southeast zone of Nigeria. Method: This is a retrospective study from January, 2007 to December, 2013. All case records of common civilian vascular injuries presenting at the accident center and those referred to the clinics as well as operation register and data banks of managing surgeons, were retrieved and analysed. Results: The age range of 12-75 years was recorded for the 26 patients. In this spectrum, age range of 21-30 years (19.2%) was the highest while the age range, 61-70 years (0%) was the lowest. One female (3.9%) and twenty five males (96.1%) were recorded, giving a female to male ratio of 1:25. In the upper extremity, brachial artery 6 (23.1%) was the most involved vessel while in the lower extremity, the most involved was the femoral artery 9 (34.6%). The patterns of presentation were isolated bleeding 10 (38%), arterivenous fistula 1 (3.5%) and pseudoaneurysm 8 (30%). 23 (88%) had good outcome. Conclusion: The incidence is about 4 cases per year. 23 (88%) had good outcome. The shortcoming of lattending physicians was because they were not conversant with hard and soft signs of vascular injuries with attendant limb loss and death of one of the victims. This short coming can be averted by training and retraining of doctors.