• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.807-810
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• 2008

From October 2005 to August 2006, sympathetic nerve reconstruction with using the intercostal nerve was performed in 4 patients with severe compensatory hyperhidrosis following thoracoscopic sympathetic surgery for facial hyperhidrosis. The interval between the initial sympathetic clipping and the sympathetic nerve reconstruction was a median of 23.1 months. The compensatory sweating after sympathetic nerve reconstruction was improved for 2 patients, but it was not improved for 2 patients. Thoracoscopic sympathetic nerve reconstruction may be one of the useful treatment methods for the patients with severe compensatory hyperhidrosis after they under go sympathetic nerve surgery for hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 2010

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate intercostal neuropathy after rib fracture and to determine the severity of intercostal neuropathy with using a numerical rating scale and according to the duration of pain and the body mass index. Material and Method: We measured the positive sharp wave and fibrillation on the intercostal and paraspinal muscles in the thoracic region by performing needle electromyography in 47 patients who had intercostal neuralgia after rib fracture and who had needed daily analgesic for more than three months. Result: We diagnosed 11 cases as intercostal neuropathy among the 47 cases. Of the total 11 cases, 8 were male and 3 were female and they were most often of an active generation in the community. The common location of intercostal neuropathy was the intercostal space below the rib fracture and from the 7th to the 12th intercostal rib area. The incidence of intercostal neuropathy was significantly related with multiple rib fracture rather than single rib fracture. The symptoms observed were chest pain (90.9%), sensory change (81.8%), paresthesia and numbness (63.6%), back pain (27.2%) and muscle atrophy (18.2%). The numerical rating scale, the duration of pain and the body mass index showed no significant correlation with the severity of intercostal neuropathy. Conclusion: We concluded that the electrodiagnostic approach with considering the affecting factors and the clinical findings will be helpful for diagnosing and treating persistent intercostal neuralgic pain (more than 3 months) after rib fracture.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.182-188
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• 2003

Background: Although ramicotomy (division of the rami communicantes of the thoracic sympathetic ganglia) is a selective and physiological surgical method for essential hyperhidrosis, it has some problems such as higher recurrence rates and the different surgical results among the patients and between left and right sides in the same individual. As one of the factors that are related to the differences in surgical result and recurrences, we investigated the anatomical variations of the rami communicantes. The purpose of this study is to help develop new surgical methods to decrease surgical differences among the patients or between the left and right sides of the same individual and recurrence rates in the clinical application of ramicotomy. Material and Method: We dissected 118 thoracic sympathetic chains in 59 adult Korean cadavers (male: 33, female: 26) to examine the anatomical variations of the rami communicantes from the second to the fourth thoracic sympathetic ganglia that have major components innervating to the hands. After the dissection of bilateral thoracic sympathetic chains, we compared the anatomy of left and right sides and examined the anatomical variations of rami communicantes. Result: The number and variation of communicating rami connecting the spinal nerves and the second sympathetic thoracic ganglion were much larger than lower levels. There was considerably less variability in the anatomy of the rami communicantes at successive levels. Among the 59 cadavers dissected, only 14.3% (9/59) had similar anatomy of thoracic sympathetic chains at both sides. As the components related to the essential palmar hyperhidrosis, intrathoracic nerve of Kuntz from the second thoracic sympathetic ganglion to the first intercostal nerve or brachial plexus were observed in 55.9% (66/118). The incidence of descending rami communicates from the second thoracic sympathetic ganglion to the third intercostal nerve and from the third thoracic sympathetic ganglion to the fourth intercostal nerve were 49.2% (58/118) and 28.0% (33/118). And the incidence of ascending rami communicates from the third thoracic sympathetic ganglion to the second intercostal nerve and from the fourth thoracic sympathetic ganglion to the third intercostal nerve were 6.8% (8/118) and 3.4% (4/118), respectively. Conclusion: Based on the various anatomical evidences of the rami communicantes from this study, only the ramicotomy at the third sympathetic ganglion level is insufficient for the treatment of the essential palmar hyperhidrosis to decrease the difference of surgical results and recurrences. When one is planning to perform the ramicotomy for the essential palmar hyperhidrosis, it is advantageous to divide the intrathoracic nerve of Kuntz on the second rib and the descending or ascending rami communicantes on the third and the fourth ribs as well as all the communicating rami from the third sympathetic ganglion.

• Proceedings of the KTCVS Conference
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• 1993.06a
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• pp.64-64
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• 1993

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.730-735
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• 2002

Diaphragm is innervated by phrenic nerve and lower intercostal nerves. For patients with avulsion injury of brachial plexus, an in situ graft of phrenic nerve is frequently used to neurotize a branch of the brachial plexus. We studied short-term and mid-term changes of diaphragmatic level and movement in patients with dissection of phrenic nerve for neurotization. Material and Method : Thirteen patients with division of either-side phrenic nerve for neurotization of musculocutaneous nerve were included in this study. With endoscopic surgical procedure, the intrathoracic phrenic nerve was entirely dissected and divided just above the diaphragm. The dissected phrenic nerve was taken out through thoracic inlet and neck wound and then anastomosed to the musculocutaneous nerve through a subcutaneous tunnel. With chest films and fluoroscopy, levels and movements of diaphragm were measured before and after operation. Result : There was no specific technical difficulty or even minor postoperative complications following endoscopic division of phrenic nerve. After division of phrenic nerve, diaphragm was soon elevated about 1.7 intercostal spaces compared with the preoperative level, but it did not show paradoxical motion in fluoroscopy. More than 1.5 months later, diaphragm returned downward close to the preoperative level (average level difference was 0.9 intercostal spaces; p＝NS). Movement of diaphragm was not significantly decreased compared with the preoperative one. Conclusion : After division of phrenic nerve, the affected diaphragm did not show a significant decrease in movement, and the elevated diaphragm returned downward with time. However, the decreased lung volumes in the last spirometry suggest the decreased inspiratory force following partial paralysis of diaphragm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.239-245
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• 1978

Recently, we experienced a case of rare neurilemmoma originated from intercostal nerve [9th] in the right chest wall in a 25 year old male officer. The tumor was incidentally found in the routine chest X ray, where the round well circumscribed mass tumor the ninth rib with notching and sclerotic margin, suggesting slowly growing benign benign of chest wall was revealed and the tumor mass was easily extirpated in the exploratory thoracotomy, with uneventful recovery. Grossly, the tumor was firm, partly soft and well circumscribed, measuring 4.5X3.0X 3.0 cm with yellowish smooth outer surface, attached with intercostal nerve trunk. Cut surface exhibits partly grayish white and largely hemorrhagic areas. Microscopically, the characteristic palisading arrangement of schwann cells and Verocay bodies are seen but dominant features are cystic degeneration and hemorrhage with organization and fibrosis. The sheath of intercostal nerve and capsule of neurilemmoma were con joined. There is no evidence of malignancy. The tumor was confirmed as neurilemmoma of intercostal nerve, Antony type B.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.269-272
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• 1992

We experienced a case of pleural effusion while treating postherpetic neuralgia in a 70 year old male patient. The patient had scar and color change on the skin along the course of the right Th4-5 intercostal nerve, characteristics of healed herpes zoster. The patient also complained of severe pain along the lesion site which made sleeping difficult. He had been treated with; epidural blocks with or without catheterization; epidural or regional corticosteroids; multiple intraspinal and intercostal blocks with local anesthetic; or neurolytic, alcohol, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, etc., for about six months by the time of pleural effusion development. We came to the conclusion that the effusion was due to pleural irritation by multiple intercostal nerve blocks, because it was bloody and developed on the affected right side, although the patient had a history of a certain hepatic pathology and pulmonary tuberculosis which may be a predisposing factor to the effusion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.2 s.271
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• pp.140-142
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• 2007

Vascular involvement is a rare and life threatening complication of type I neurofibromatosis. A twenty-eight years old female with a family history of type I neurofibromatosis had sudden onset of upper back pain and dyspnea. Chest CT showed right massive hemothorax with aneurysmal rupture of the intercostal artery. She underwent an emergency operation on unstable hemodynamic status. We report a case of surgical treatment of spontaneous hemothorax in a patient with type I neurofibromatosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.886-893
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• 2000

배경: 흉복부 대동맥류는 질환 자체가 광범위하고 수술 중 척수를 포함한 각종 장기의 보호 및 허혈 방지라는 면에서 아직도 수술 합병증이 높은 질환이다. 본 연구에서는 그 동안의 임상경험을 바탕으로 치료성적, 합병증 발생, 사망률 등을 검토하였다. 대상 및 방법: 1990년 1월부터 1999년 12월까지 흉복부동맥류로 수술을 시행한 38명의 환자를 대상으로 의무 기록 검토을 통한 후향적 분석을 시행하였다. 결과: 남자가 22명, 여자가 16명, 평륜 연령은 46.2$\pm$12.3세였고, 크로포드 진단분류 상 1형 이 13례(34.2%), 2형이 19례(50%), 3형이 4례(11%), 4형이 2례(4.8%)였다. 만성 대동맥박리증에 관련된 경우가 29례(76.3%)로 가장 많았고, Marfan 증후군이 동반된 경우가 9례(23.7%)에서 있었다. 원위부 대동맥 관류를 35례에서 시행하였으며, 고동맥-고정맥 심폐바이패스를 31례에서, 좌심방-고동맥 바이패스를 4례에서 시행하였다. 심폐바이패스를 이용한 31례중 4례에서 초저체온하 완전순환정지를 이용하였다. 대동맥 차단 중 복강내 주요 대동맥 분지로의 선택적 관류를 시행하였다. 대동맥류의 최대직경은 평균 8.2$\pm$2.4cm이었고, 동맥류가 파열된 경우는 11례(28.9%)에서 있었다. 전례에서 인조혈관을 이용한 대동맥의 치환술을 시행하였다. 단계적으로 흉복부 대동맥을 겸자하면서 인공혈관을 문합하였고, Adamkiewicz 동맥으로 생각되는 부위의 늑간 동맥을 문합해주었는데, 8번째부터 12번째 흉추 사이의 늑간 동맥 중 역류혈류가 나타나고 상대적으로 내경이 큰 것들을 문합해 주었다. 술 후 조기사망은 3례에서 있었으며, 사인은 심폐기 이탈 실패 (2례), 저혈압 및 산증(1례) 등이었다. 조기 합병증으로는 애성 5례, 출혈 5례, 창상간염 3례, 장기간의 인공호흡기보조가 3례 등이 있었다. 치명적인 조기 합병증인 하지마비는 2례(5.3%)에서 발생하였고, 이 중 1례는 대동맥의 심한 석회화로 늑간동맥을 문합해 주지 못했던 경우였다. 35명의 환자에서 평균 추적기간은 103.1$\pm$6.1 개월, 2년 생존율은 93.8%, 5년 생존율은 86.1%, 8년 생존율은 80.7%였다. 추척기간 동안 4례의 만기사망이 관찰되었고, 사인은 2례에서는 갑작스런 의식소실이 발생하여 규명하기 어려웠으며, 대동맥-식도루 발생에 의한 경우가 1례, 경동맥류 파열에 의한 경우가 1례 등이었다. 만기 합병증으로는 복부 대동맥류(2례), 상행 대동맥 및 대동맥 근부 확장(1례), 대동맥-늑막루(1례), 창상 부위 탈장(1례), 역행성 사정(1례) 등이 있었다. 결론: 저자들은 흉복부대동맥류의 수술에 있어 심폐우 회술 혹은 좌심방-고동맥 바이패스를 통한 원위부 관류 및 저체온법, 수술 시 척수의 혈류공급과 관련된 늑간동맥의 연결 등으로 주요 신경합병증의 발생을 줄이고 좋은 성적을 거두고 있다고 판단하였으며 향후 임상 경험 축적과 함께 보다 정련된 위험인자의 분석이 필요하다고 본다.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.287-291
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• 1994

A 49 years old male patient was admitted to our neuro-pain clinic with symptoms of left 11th intercostal neuralgic pain and low back pain that developed 2 months prior to admission. Upon initial physical examination, motor weakness or sensory deficit were absent. Intercostal neuralgic pain improved significantly after we performed thoracic root thermocoagulation. However on the afternoon of the procedure the patient started to experience voiding difficulty, saddle anesthesia and rapidly progressing motor weakness and hypoesthesia that involved the lower back area and the lower extremities for three days. Based on these symptoms spinal cord compression was suspected and subsequently plain T-L spine X-rays and T-L spine MRI were performed. A spinal tumor that appeared metastatic in origin was seen at the T11 and T12 level. Liver ultrasonography demonstrated the presence of a $4{\times}4cm$ sized ill defined mass in the posterior segment of the right lobe. The patient was diagnosed to have hepatocellular carcinoma after needle aspiration biopsy and cytologic studies. Further orthopedic surgery was recommended but as the patient rejected any further treatment and examination, it was not possible to confirm the primary focus of the tumor. However as metastasis of a primary liver tumor to the spine is a rare occurrence, some other primary focus of metastasis or even a malignant primary tumor of the spine is more likely to explain this patient's condition.