Abstract： Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, improve the accuracy of clinical diagnosis， and reduce postoperative complications of thoracic hemangioma. Methods Clinical records of 9 patients with thoracic hemangioma who underwent surgical resection in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2006 to August 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 2 males and 7 females with their average age of 47.9±19.3 （18-71）years. Six patients underwent thoracotomy， 1 patient underwent complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS）， 1 patient underwent video-assisted mini-thoracotomy， and 1 patient underwent staged operations which were performed by neurological surgeons and thoracic surgeons separately. Imaging characteristics, intraoperative gross tumor features, and pathological characteristics of resected hemangioma specimens were analyzed. Clinical outcomes of different surgical strategies for the treatment of hemangioma were compared. Results Nine patients with thoracic hemangioma were included in this study. Imaging studies showed the tumor as a round-shaped mass in 66.7% （6/9） of these patients and a lobulated mass in the remaining 33.3% （3/9） patients. Magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） assessment was helpful for preoperative diagnosis of hemangioma， with T2 weighted imaging tumor enhancement as the main MRI feature. Thoracic operation time was 106.3±60.1 （60-192） min， and intraoperative blood loss was 91.1±43.7 （30-150） ml. All the patients were followed up for 3-6 years except 1 patient who was followed up for 1 month. None of the patients had hemangioma-related death， recurrence or metastasis during follow-up. Conclusions Thoracic hemangiomas are usually benign entities and often locate in the mediastinum. Surgical strategies should be determined by the size and location of the tumor as well as the surgeon’s technique level. VATS has the advantages of being minimal invasive, causing less intraoperative blood loss and shorter length of hospital stay for the treatment of hemangioma. Resection of a dumbbell-type hemangioma may need cooperation between neurological and thoracic surgeons.
Corresponding author: Y I Ding -hua, E -mail: yidh@fmmu. edu. cnAbstract: Objective To investigate the optimal surgical approaches for coarctation of aorta (CoA ) associated with heart anomalies (CoA -HA ) in infants through analyzing the immediate and long-term outcome post-operation. Methods From May 1998 to November 2006, 29 patients with CoA -HA were admitted to this institute. Subclavian flap angioplasty was performed in three patients, excision of coarctation and end-to-side anastomoses in six pat ients,and end-to-end anastomoses in the remaining 20 pat ients. Their clinical data were retrospect ively reviewed and the long-term follow -up results obtained through telephone o r letters. Results Three patients died of operations, of whom one died of low cardiac output syndrome, one died of sepsis and one died of multiple organs failure. In two months’to eight years’follow -up , no later death and severe neurological complications were found. Two patients suffered from recurrent coarctation, but had no sense of symptoms and free from re-operation. In all pat ients neither systemic hypertension, nor arterial aneurysm and aortic valve regurgitation were found. Conclusions Mortality of surgical corrections is accepted fo r CoA -HA in infants. Preoperative heart dysfunction and prolonged mechanical ventilation are the high risks of operative death. Recurrent coarctation is the major later comp lication.