• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.10
• /
• pp.1129-1132
• /
• 1996

Excessive sweating of the face has a strong negative impact on the quality of life for many persons. We have experienced 10 patients with facial hyperhidrosis among the 150 essential hyperhidrosis patients They were 9 male and 1 fatale patients and their age range was 20 to 47 years(mean age 33.8 years). All patients, except one, received bilateral thoracic sympathectomy via VATS. One patient was done via minithoracotomy due to severe pleural adhesion. During the followup period, there was no recurence of facial sweating. Hone of the patients showed Horne 's syndrome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.221-225
• /
• 1994

Video-assisted thoracic surgery[VATS] has recently evolved as an alternative to thoracotomy for several thoracic disorders. Between March 1993 and September 1993, 42 patients underwent VATS at Gil General Hospital. They were diagnosed as spontaneous pneumothorax in 34[81.0%], mediastinal mass in 5, congenital lobar emphysema in 1, traumatic hemothorax in 1, and sarcoidosis in 1. For pneumothorax, wedge resection of bullae or blebs was done in 18 patients, wedge resection and limited parietal pleulectomy in 13, and only pleulectomy in 2. And excision for mediastinal mass in 5, hematoma evacuation for chronic hemothorax in 1, biopsies of mediastinal lymph node and lung for confirming sarcoidosis in 1, and lobectomy of left upper lobe for congenital lobar emphysema in the child of 12 years. The period of chest tube drainage and postoperative hospitalization averaged 3.8 days [range, 1 to 11 days] and 5.9 days [range, 2 to 18 days]. Three complications occurred in 3 patients with pneumothorax [7.1%, 2 recurrent pneumothorax and 1 postoperative bleeding], and the conversion to open thoracotomy was done in 1 due to massive air leak. The causes of postoperative air leak were speculated and the techniques for saving expensive Endo-GIA staplers are described in this paper. VATS is safe and offers the benefits of reduced postoperative pain and rapid recovery. Our experience indicates a markedly expanded role for VATS in the diagnosis and treatment of various thoracic diseases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.306-309
• /
• 2000

Background: The purpose of this study was to evalute the diagnostic value of 2mm video thoracoscopy for primary spontaneous penumothorax. Material and Method: During the period of March to June 1999, we prospectively analyzed 33 consecutive patients suffering from primary spontaneous pneumothorax. 2mm video-assisted thoracoscopy was compared with the operative finding. We observed recurrence during the mean follow-up of 3months. Result: Blebs were present in 24 patient(73%: 24/33). These were treated by 10mm video-assised thoracoscopic stapling. Nine pateints with no bleb were treated with pleural drainage. There were no significant differences in the bleb finding. No recurrence occurred during the follow-up period. Conclusion: A 2mm video thoracoscopic examination for primary spontaneous pnumothorax is a useful alternative in deciding the operative indication.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.178-182
• /
• 2017

Paragonimiasis was one of the most common causes of cavitary lung lesions until the 1960s, but now it has become a very rare disease in Korea. A 16-year-old boy presented with hemoptysis and several days of cough. His plain chest radiograph showed nodular opacity with a cavity in the left upper lung region. Although his symptoms disappeared after taking antituberculous drugs, his plain chest radiograph and computed tomography images after completion of therapy showed a new nodule with a cavity in the left lung field. Through video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge resection, Paragonimus eggs were found in the lung tissues.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.59-62
• /
• 1996

Chemical pleurodesis with doxycycline has been used during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) as an auxiliary method to enhance therapeutic goal in patients with pneumothorax. However, the therapeutic effect of doxycycline pleurodesis (DP) has not been clearly defined yet. To evaluate the effect of DP, we compared two groups of patients who were given VATS bullectomy from October 1993 to June 1995. Group I composed of 21 patients who received DP and group II composed of 20 patients who did not received DP Doxycycline 500mg with saline 200ml were instilled into the pleural cavity upon a completion of bullec omy, and retained there for 0.5-1 hour and then drained out. The age of group I was 30.9 $\pm$ 20.0 and that of group II was 24.3 $\pm$ 9.49 years. Male to female ratio was 20: I in group I and 20 : 0 in group II. The postoperative indwelling time of chest tube was 5.86 $\pm$ 4.69 days in group I and 3.80 $\pm$ 2.28 days in group II. Seven patients had more than 100m1/day of chest tube drainage on the postoperative third day in group I compared to one patient in group II. Five patients had postoperative indwelling time of chest tube greater than 7 days in group I compared to two in group II. The number of patients who had postoperative fever were 3 in both group, analgesic requirements were 2.19 $\pm$ 2.77 amples in group I and 2.30 $\pm$ 1.95 ambles in group II. Follow-up was done from 2 months to 16 months after surgery. During the follow up periods, four patients had recurrence 2 (9.5%) in group I and 2 (10%) in group II. We conclude that concomitant doxycycline pleurodesis with video-assisted thor coscopic bullectomy In patients with pneumothorax is not necessary.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.519-524
• /
• 1998

From January 1996 to December 1996, we performed 137 thoracic sympathetic ganglionectomies with VATs for primary hyperhidrosis in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at Anam hospital, Korea university medical center. There were 83 men and 54 women whose ages ranged from 13 to 63 years old(mean age: 25years). Of these patients, 128 patients had complained of palmar hyperhidrosis and 26 of facial hyperhidrosis. Thoracoscopic sympathetic ganglionectomies procedures included lower 1/3 Stellate ganglionectomies in 4 patients; lower 1/3 Stellate ganglionectomies and T2-sympathetic ganglionectomies in 18 patients; T2-sympathetic ganglionectomies in 86 patients; T2 and T3 sympathetic ganglionectomies in 10 patients; and T2, T3 and T4 sympathetic ganglionectomies in 19 patients. The mean operating time was 59 minutes(range: 25 to 162 minutes), and the mean hospital stay was 3.8 days(range: 2 to 8 days). Common complications were compensatory hyperhidrosis(109 patients) and causalgia(18 patients). At the end of the follow-up period(mean: 8 months) ninety-seven percent of the patients reported satisfactory results. Thoracic sympathetic ganglionectomy with VATs is an efficient, safe, and minimally invasive surgical procedure for primary hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.497-501
• /
• 2009

Background: Prolonged air leakage and pleural fluid drainage from a chest tube may delay removing the chest tube after a patient undergoes video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge resection and the patient is otherwise ready for discharge. We reviewed 37 outpatients patients who were being managed with a postoperative chest tube (a Panda Pneumothorax set with a Heimlich valve). Material and Method: From January 2005 to December 2007, 294 patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge resections & pleurodesis. Of them, 37 patients met the criteria for outpatient chest drainage management with using a Panda Pneumothorax set with a Heimlich valve. The patients received written instructions, and they demonstrated competence with using the Panda system. The patients returned for chest tube removal after satisfactory resolution of their air leak and pleural fluid drainage. Result: The patients discharged with a Panda pneumothorax set had a longer duration of hospital stay (mean: 10.3$\pm$1.7 days, range: 11 to 17 days) as compared with the patients without a Panda pneumothorax set (mean: 6.2$\pm$1.5 days, range: 4 to 7 days). The chest tube was removed successfully from the patients with a Panda pneumothorax set at an average of 9.8$\pm$1.6 days (range: 9$\sim$18 days) after discharge. There were no major complications. Four patients experienced minor complications. Thirty six patients (97.3%) experienced uneventful and successful outpatient chest tube management. Conclusion: Successful postoperative outpatient chest tube management with using the Panda set was accomplished in 36 selected patients. This program resulted in a substantially reduced hospital cost and enhanced patient satisfaction by allowing earlier discharge.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.61 no.4
• /
• pp.394-397
• /
• 2006

Periodic hemoptysis occurring at the time of menstruation (catamenial hemoptysis) is a rare disorder and generally signifies indicates the presence of thoracic endometriosis. A diagnosis of catamenial hemoptysis is usually established based on the clinical history and the exlusion of other causes of the recurrent hemoptysis. Serial computed tomograms of the chest during and in the interval between menstruations periods is a useful confirmatory test. We report the case of a 22 year-old women who suffered from catamenial hemoptysis for 10 months and was treated successfully with a wedge resection of the lesion by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS). There was no evidence of recurrence. In conclusion. VATS is a good choice as a for single focus for catamenial hemoptysis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.27 no.9
• /
• pp.779-784
• /
• 1994

Vidio-assisted thoracic surgery[VATS] has recently evolved as an alternative to thoracotomy for several thoracic disorders,and the role of thoracoscopy has expanded with advances in surgical techniques and instruments. From May 1993 to May 1994, 13 patients with mediastinal mass underwent VATS for diagnosis and treatment at Gil General Hospital. There were four males and nine females, and their ages raged from 5 years to 66 years with average 38.8 years. Among 13 patients, 3 were operated for tissue diagnosis,9 for treatment,and 1 for diagnosis and treatment. Pathologic diagnoses were as follows; 5 benign neurogenic tumors, 2 thymoma, 2 sarcoidosis, 1 teratoma, 1 peripheral neuroepithelioma, 1 tbc lymphadenitis, and 1 pericardial cyst. The mean time of operation was 111.7 $\pm$ 30.7 minutes[60-160], mean duration of chest tube drainage was 2.9 $\pm$1.9days[1-9], mean hospital stay was 6.2 $\pm$2.6 days[4-13]. There was no patient needed blood transfusion or conversion to open thoracotomy. Accurate diagnosis was possible in all patients operated for diagnosis and /or treatment.[4/4,100%] Two complications occurred in two patients: 1 transient Horner,s syndrome,1 anhydrosis of left arm. Compared with those of conventional thoracotomy done for mediastinal mass during previous 2 years[May 1991 - April 1993], operative results of VATS were better in all aspects. For mediastinal mass, we concluded that VATS can be done with less morbidity,less complication,less blood loss,shorter operation time and hospital stay,and not more expensive in cost than conventional thoracotomy. Noticeably, we think that VATS is the operation of choice for the diagnosis and palliation of malignant mediastinal mass.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.7
• /
• pp.741-746
• /
• 1996

Diffuse interstitial lung disease due to a wide variety of conditions are amenable to diagnosis by means of clinical evaluation, bronchoalveolar lavage, transbronchial biopsy and lung biopsy. The recently introduced technique of thoracoscopic wedge biopsy provides the potential advantages of greater selection of biopsy site and reduced postoperative chest pain compared with the standard open lung biopsy Video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy was performed in twenty patients for diagnosis of diffuse in- terstitial lung disease during the period from January 1993 to June 1994. The ages of the patients ranged from 18 to 69 years(mean 48.5 years), and the patients consisted of 10 males and 10 females. In all twenty, thoracoscpic lung biopsy samples were obtained; 9 from left lower lobe, 7 from right lower lobe, 2 from right upper lobe, 1 from left upper lobe, and 1 from right middle lobe. All patients were correctly diagnosed. The two common diseases were usual in erstitial pneumonia(UIP)(8120) and mil- liary tuberculo si s(4120) . Mean duration of the chest drainage was 3.2 days. There was no complication.