• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.7
• /
• pp.769-776
• /
• 1996

The application of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in the examination of the thoracic cavity can be a new option in patients with mediastinal tumor because it provides outstanding visibility of the structures of the mediastinum. By clear viewing through the thoracoscope, a mediastinal tumor can be biopsied or resected, depending on the findings during an operation. We reviewed all patients who underwent curative or diagnostic operations from March 1990 to August 1995 under the impression of a mediastinal mass. The total number of patients were 113 with 59 males and 54 females. Group A underwent resection of tu or by thoracotomy(38 patients: 18 males, 20 females), and group B underwent resection of tumor by VATS (36 patients : 20 males and 16 females). Seven patients in group B were excluded because they underwent thoracotomy due to pleural adhesion or intra-operative bleeding ; therefore, the true VATS group numbered 29 cases. Group C underwent Iymph node biopsy by VATS(33 patients'16 males, 17 females), and group D(6 patients: 5 males, 1 female) underwent Iymph node biopsy through anterior mediastinotomy. The mean age in group A was 36.2 years compared to 41.3 years In group B. We compared operation time, frequency of injection for pain control, duration of chest tube insertion, postoperative hospital stay, and diagnostic yield. In group A, they were 164 minutes, 3.4 times, 5.2 days, and 11.3 days, respectively, in comparison to 152 minutes, 2 times, 4.7 days, and 8.3 days, respectively, in group B. These data revealed that the day of discharge was significantly shorter in group B (p valu : 0.03). In group C, the mean age was 45.8 years (range 1 ∼70). The operation time was from 30 to 335 minutes (mean 105), pain control was required from 0 to 15 times(mean 3.2), and a chest tube was needed for 1 to 36 days (mean 6.1). In group D, mean age was 53.3 years, operation time 121 minutes, pall control injec- tion frequency 2.6 times, and mean chest tube duration 10.5 days. The diagnostic yield in group C was 8 oyo compared to 100 oyo in group D although the number of patients in group D is small.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.393-398
• /
• 2001

배경: 일차성 자연기흉의 재발방지를 위해서 폐기포절부위에 흡수성 셀룰로스망사와 Fibrin gluefm 도포하여 수술후 재발율을 줄일 수 있는 지 알아보았다. 대상 및 방법: 1996.4우러부터 2000.6월까지 2명의 술자가 222례의 일차성 자연기흉을 수술하였으며, 수술시기와 치료방법에 따라 4군으로 나누어 비교하였다. 제1군은 1996년부터 1997년가지 비디오흉강경수술 및 기계적 늑막유착술로 시술받은 군(25례), 제 2군은 같은 기간동안 액와개흉술 및 늑막유착술로 시술받은 군(53례), 제 3군은 1998년부터 2000.4월까지 흉강경수술 및 늑만유착술로시술받은 군(110례), 제 4군은 1999.7월부터 2000.6월까지 흉강경수술 및 봉합부위를 셀룰로스망사와 Fibrin glue로 보강한 군(34례)이었다. 각 군간, 엑스선상 기흉의 크기 및 폐기포의 수나 크기에 따라 재발율, 공기누출시간 및 흉관지속지간등을 일반선형모델을 사용하여 비교 분석하였다. 결과: 대상환자는 남자 203례, 여자 19례 이었고, 나이는 14게에서 68세이었고, 평균연령은 23.2$\pm$9.6세였다. 재발한 경우는제 1군이 5례(25%), 제 2군이 2례(3.8%), 제 3군이 5례(4.5%)이었고, 제 4군은 재발례가 없었다. 재발례는 모두 수술자의 수술경험이 2년이내일 때 발생하였다. 흉관지속기간은 제 4군이 제 3군(p<0.0006) 및 제1, 제2군(p<0.0001)에 비해서 더 짧았고, 술후 공기누출이 제 4군에서는 없었다. 술전흉부엑스선상 기흉의 크기에 따른 수술후 기흉의 재발울은 경도의 기흉에서 14.3%(2/14)이었고, 중등도 기흉에서 7.4%(10/134)이었으며, 심한 기흉에서는 재발례가 없었다. 재수술한 12례중 봉합부위근처에서 기포가 발행된 경우가 9례(75%)로 많았다. 결론: 재발방지를 위한 시술로 늑막유착술을 시행하지 않고 폐기포절제부위를 흡수성 셀룰로스망사와 Fibrin glue로 덮어주는 시술은 비교적 용이하며, 수술 후 공기 누출이 없었고, 수술 후 흉관지속기간이 더 짧았고, 단기간 추적에서 재발이 없었다. 재발에 영향을 미치는 것으로 흉부엑스선상 기흉의 크기가 작은 경우에는 재발율이 더 높았고, 수술자의 경험이 중요하였다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.59-62
• /
• 2009

Background: Pleural drainage following video-assisted thoracic surgery has traditionally been achieved with largebore, semi-rigid chest tubes. Recent trends in thoracic surgery have been toward less invasive approaches for a variety of diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of drainage by means of small, soft, and flexible 14Fr Blake drains. Material and Method: Between December 2007 and March 2008, 14Fr silastic Blake drains were used for drainage of the pleural cavity in 37 patients who underwent a variety of video-assisted thoracic surgical procedures at our institution. Result: The average postoperative length of hospital stay was 3.26 days (range, 2~12 days), Blake drains were left in the pleural space for an average of 3.15 days (range, 1~7 days), and the average amount of drainage was 43.8 ml/day. The maximal amount of blood removed daily by a Brake drain was as much as 290 mL. There were no drain-related complications. Blake drains seemed to cause less pain while in place, and particularly at the time of removal. Conclusion: The use of a Blake drain following minor thoracic surgery appeared to be safe and effective in drainage of fluid or air in the pleural space, and were associated with minimal discomfort.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.438-443
• /
• 2004

Background : The treatment strategy for urinary spontaneous pneumothorax has progressively changed with the introduction of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Recently, we modified the strategy of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. If the patient had mild dyspnea and the lung was minimally collapsed, 2 mm thoracoscopic examination was performed. If no blob or bullae was inspected, the intrathoracic air was evacuated through the 2 mm thoracoscopic troca without closed thoracostomy, and if the blob and bullae was noted, the 10 mm thoracoscopic bullecotomy was carried out immediately and also application of fibrin glue was substituted for pleural abrasion. We compared the clinical outcomes of modified treatment strategy with conventional strategy in primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Material and Method: Patients were divided into four groups. Group I (n=21) underwent 2 mm thoracoscopic examination. Group II (n=68) underwent closed thoracostomy. Group III (n=56) underwent VATS and application of fibrin glue. Group IV (n=87) underwent VATS and pleural abrasion. The duration of chest tube drainage, the duration of hospitalization and the recurrence rate were compared between group I and group II and between group III and group IV. Result: Mean age, sex, location of pneumothorax were not different in all groups. In group I, the blob or bullae were existed in 12 patients, In remaining 9 patients, the bleb or bullae was not inspected. The mean duration of hospitalization in 9 patients were 2.4 $\pm$1.0 day and in group II were 3.9$\pm$2.1 day (p=0.014). There was 1 case of recurrence among the 9 patients in group I and 26 recurrences in group II (p=0.149). The mean duration of chest tube drainage were not difference in group III and IV (group III: 2.8$\pm$1.8 day, group IV: 3.0$\pm$2.5 day). The mean duration of hospitalization was shorter in group III than group IV (group III: 5,6$\pm$2.7 day, group IV: 1.3$\pm$3.3 day)(p=0.002). There was no recurrence in group III and 7 recurrences in group IV (p=0.043). Conclusion: Our modified treatment strategy of primary spontaneous peumothorax was effective in short hospital course and low recurrence rate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.10
• /
• pp.1138-1142
• /
• 1996

Video-assisted thoracic surgery is a new modality that allows visualization of and access to the intrathoracic organs without making a thoracotomy Incision. 52 patients underwent thoracic procedures using this technique. There were pneumothorax in 40 patients, diffuse interstital lung disease in 6 patients, hyperhidrosis in 3 patients, pulmonary tuberculoma in 1 patient, aspergilloma in 1 patient and localized fibrous tumor of pleura in 1 patient. We had performed a variety of procedures(36 wedge resections with mechanical pleurodesis, 8 wedge resections only, 4 mechanical pleurodeses, 3 bilateral sympathectomys and 1 segmentectomy). The period of chest tube indwelling and postoperative hospitalization were 2.00 $\pm$ 1.32 days(range : 0~6 days) and 3.55 $\pm$ 1.45 days(range : 1~8 days). Four postoperative complications occurred(2 pleural effusion, 1 recurrent pneumothorax and 1 high fever). Conversion to open thoracotomy was done in 1 p tient due to massive air leakage. Patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery seem to have reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospitalization, and quicker recovery times.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.39 no.11 s.268
• /
• pp.844-849
• /
• 2006

Background: The diffuse infiltrative lung disease requires surgical lung biopsy for its final diagnosis. We evaluated the effect of surgical lung biopsy for final diagnosis of duffuse interstitial lung disease and compared video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy(TLB) with open lung biopsy(OLB). Material and Method: We evaluated the patients who underwent surgical lung biopsy from March 2000 from December 2005, retrospectively, We divide to two groups(OLB and TLB group) and compared them. Result: There were 36 patients and cough was the most common pre- operative symptom. Surgery time, anesthetic time, hospital stay, duration of chest tube indwelling, specimen volume and the rate of post-operative complication were not significantly different between two groups. Histologic diagnosis was confirmed in all cases. There was one post-operative death who had suffered from respiratory failure since pre-operative period. Conclusion: Surgical lung biopsy is effective method in final diagnosis for diffuse infiltrative lung disease. Video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy is lesser invasive method than open lung biopsy and provide similar results, so it is basic diagnostic method of surgical lung biopsy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.7
• /
• pp.728-733
• /
• 1996

Since thoracoscopy was originally described by Jacobaeus in 1922, video-assisted thoracic surgery has been used to treat many thoracic diseases. From June 1994 to July 1995, 35 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax'underwent video-assisted thoracic sugery as experimental group, and same number of patien:s with blob resection through mid-axillary thoracotomy as co trol group in our hospital.'The authors compared the clinical results between each group. 1. The sex distributions were 28 males, 7 females in experimental group and 30 males, 5 females in control group. The mean age of experimental group was 28.5 $\pm$ 12.6 years of age and that of control group was 2).9 $\pm$ 6.3 years of age. 2. The operative times were 98.8$\pm$ )9.3 minutes in experimental group and 103.6$\pm$ )2.6 minutes in control group. ). The duration of chest tube indwelling at postoperative period was 2.60 $\pm$ 0.98 days in experimental group, 4.80 $\pm$ 2.08 days in control group (P< 0.01). The periods of postoperative hospitalization were 17 $\pm$ 1.22 days in experimental group and 6.69 $\pm$2.52 days in control group. The durations of post-oper- ative chest tube indwelling and hospital stay in experimental group were shorter than in control group (P< 0.01 respectively). 4. The injection of analgesics at postoperative period was less in experimental group than control group. At the operative day and postoperative 1 st and 2nd day, the number of injections were respectively 1. 57$\pm$0.74, 1.97 $\pm$0.70 and 1.00$\pm$0.68 times/person in experimental group, 2.23 $\pm$0.60, 2.60 $\pm$0.67 and 2. 17$\pm$0.76 times/person in control group(P<0.01 respectively). The mean duration and dose of postoperative analgesic injection were 2.48$\pm$ 1.01 days/person and 4.88 $\pm$3.70 ampules/person in experimetal group, 3.70$\pm$ 1.40 days/person and 8.94 $\pm$4.21 ampules/person respectively (P< 0.01, p<0. 01).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.41 no.6
• /
• pp.729-735
• /
• 2008

Background: This study was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of performing additional tetracycline pleurodesis during the thoracoscopic treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Material and Method: Between March 2004 and December 2007, 91 cases of primary spontaneous pneumothorax were treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The thoracoscopic procedures included resection of the blebs and mechanical pleurodesis by scrubbing the parietal pleura. For 27 cases (Tetracycline group, group I), 20 mg/kg tetracycline was instilled into the pleural space through a trocar before closing the chest. The control group (group II) consisted of 64 cases of primary spontaneous pneumothorax for which the same thoracoscopic procedures alone were performed during the same study period. Result: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the demographic data, the operative findings and the operation time. The percentage of cases that needed intravenous analgesics and the duration of intravenous analgesics were comparable in both groups. There was no significant difference in the duration of air leaks and complications between the two groups. The patients treated with tetracycline pleurodesis had a longer period of postoperative chest drainage (4.2 days vs 3.5 days, respectively, p=0.03) and hospitalization (5.0 days vs 4.0 days, respectively, p=0.006). During the follow up period, the ipsilateral recurrence rate was much lower for the patients who were treated with tetracycline pleurodesis (0% vs 10.9%, respectively, p=0.099), and freedom from recurrence tended to be more favorable for group I (p=0.077), although this was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Additional tetracycline pleurodesis during thoracoscopic treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax caused prolongation of chest drainage and a prolonged hospital stay. However, further investigations are needed because tetracycline pleurodesis can be performed safely without serious complications and it showed a distinct tendency to reduce the rate of recurrence.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.781-784
• /
• 2009

Pericardial cyst is an uncommon congenital mediastinal tumor. The majority of pericardial cysts are located in the right cardiophrenic angle, but rarely they can be located intrapericardially. We now present a case of a huge intra-pericardial pericardial cyst excised with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.11
• /
• pp.812-816
• /
• 2002

Pericardial effusions result from various conditions such as inflammation, malignancies, open heart surgery and uremia. Recently, video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has been used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in the management of pericardial effusion and intrathoracic lesions due to its ability to provide outstanding visibility of intrathoracic structures with less pain, superior cosmetic effects, and shorter hospital stay Material and Method: From April 1995 to October 2001, 51 patients received pericardial window operation via either thoracoscopic(Group A, n＝37, m:f＝18:19, mean age＝56.4 yrs)or thoracotomy approach(Group B, n＝14, m:f＝8:6, mean age=58.4 yrs). Result: In group A, the operation time, duration of chest tube insertion, recurrence rate of pericardial effusion, and postoperative hospital stay were 61.2 minutes, 9.3 days, 2.7%, 16.2 days, respectively while in group B these values were 58.4 minutes, 12.2 days, 7.1, and 17.3 days. The number of injections for pain control in group A were 4.2 times, whereas in group B it was 6.3 times. Although there was a tendency for the mean hospital stay and duration of chest tube insertion to be shorter in group A than in group B, these differences did not reach statistical significance. There was also no significant difference in the operation time and recurrence rate between the two groups. Conclusion: The safety and effectiveness of VATS in the management of pericardial effusion is comparable to the open thoracotomy method. It allows for a shorter hospital stay, duration of chest tube insertion, lesser postoperative pain and a smaller skin incision.