Table 1.
Overview of the characteristics of the patients who presented pulmonary complications, with details regarding presentation symptoms, time to diagnosis and treatment. CRP = C reactive protein.
| Patient | Age (Years) | Sex | Curve Type | Instrumented Levels | Complication | Time to Diagnosis | Side of the Complication | Symptoms | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13.3 | F | 2 | T5-T12 right T12-L4 left |
Pleural effusion | 2 weeks | Right | Minor dyspnea | Ultrasound, conservative treatment |
| 2 | 17.6 | F | 4 | T6-L1 right | Pleural effusion | 2 weeks | Right | Dyspnea, fatigue | 2 × aspiration |
| 3 | 16.2 | F | 4 | T5-T12 right | Contralateral atelectasis | 2 days | Left | Severe dyspnea | Re-intubation for 3 days, 3 bronchoscopies and removal of a mucus plug |
| 4 | 17.6 | M | 1 | T9-L3 right | Pleural effusion | 4 weeks | Right | Chest pressure | Chest tube reinsertion |
| 5 | 16.2 | F | 2 | T5-T11 right T11-L3 left |
Pleural effusion | 3 weeks | Bilateral | Chest pain and elevated CRP levels | Bilateral aspiration, forced diuresis and i.v. albumin treatment |
| 6 | 17.7 | F | 2 | T5-T11 right T11-L3 left |
Chylothorax | 3 days | Right | None effusion, diagnosed on routine post-op X-ray | Chest tube reinsertion and dietary restriction |
| 7 | 16.8 | M | 2 | T5-T11 right T11-L4 left |
Pleural effusion | 3 weeks | Left | Unknown | Explorative thoracoscopy |
| 8 | 17.9 | F | 1 | T10-L3 left | Pleural effusion | 4 days | Left | None, effusion diagnosed on routine post-op X-ray | Aspiration followed by chest tube reinsertion for recurrent effusion |
| 9 | 14.6 | F | 2 | T5-T11 right T11-L4 left |
Pleural effusion | 3 weeks | Right | Fatigue, dyspnea | Chest tube reinsertion, antibiotics for co-existing pyelonephritis |
| 10 | 14.3 | F | 1 | T11-L4 left | Pleural effusion with concomitant infection | 3 weeks | Left | Sudden sharp pain in the left chest and dyspnea | Attempted aspiration and chest tube without output. VATS and six weeks antibiotitcs because of postivie culture for staph epidermidis |
| 11 | 12 | F | 4 | T5-T11 right | Haematothorax | 1 day | Right | No symptoms, significant blood loss noticed after declamping the chest tube and drop of haemoglobin levels | Emergency explorative thoracotomy using the same surgical approach. No active bleeding found but clotted hematoma |
| 12 | 13 | F | 2 | T6-T12 right T12-L4 left |
Haematothorax | 6 weeks | Right | Acute chest pain | Emergency explorative thoracotomy |
| 13 | 16.5 | M | 1 | T10-L4 left | Pleural empyema | 5 weeks | Left | Dyspnea, elevated CRP levels | VATS and antibiotic therapy |
| 14 | 16.3 | F | 2 | T5-T11 right T11-L4 left |
Pleural effusion | 5 weeks | Right | Dyspnea | Aspiration |