Median Sterontomy for Bilateral Resection of Emphysematous Bullae

정중 흉골 절개술을 통한 양측의 기종성 폐포의 절제

The complicated pulmonary emphysema including “Giant bullae” and spontaneous pneumothorax often involve both lungs, and controversy exists concerning which is the more rational means of surgical treatment-bilateral simultaneous operation or two staged operation. We report three cases of the complicated bilateral bullous emphysema and two cases of bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax treated through median sternotomy. We performed the ligation of bullae, bullectomy, cystectomy, wedge resection, and left lower lobectomy through median sternotomy. No technical problems were encountered through this approach, which provided maximum benefit with one operation In conclusions, median sternotomy may be appropriate for resection of emphysematous bullae, specially in a severe COPD patient who may be poorly tolerated the superimposed loss of respiratory function due to incisional pain, because median sternotomy permit bilateral exploration, minimal impairment of pulmonary function, simultaneous restoration of pulmonary function, less incisional pain than routine lateral thoracotomy.