• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.630-633
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• 2002

Although the incidence of descending necrotizing mediastinitis(DNM) is low, this is a serious disease because it"s mortality have been reported to be as high as 40∼50%. Currently, many authors have emphasized aggressive surgical approaches rather than medical treatment alone. We report good results in 2 DNM patients treated by less invasive approach with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, Less invasive methods with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery can reduce hospital stay and morbidity if effective drainage can be achieved in selected DNM patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.972-975
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• 2001

A case of congenital diaphragmatic eventration on the right and central tendinous portion with accessory hepatic lobe causing direct compression of the right heart is presented. We have performed the video assisted thoracoscopic plication of the right hemidiaphragm and eliminated the mass effect of the accessory hepatic lobe.

• Proceedings of the KTCVS Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.126-126
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• 1995

• Proceedings of the KTCVS Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.136-136
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• 1995

• Proceedings of the KTCVS Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.125-125
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• 1998

• Proceedings of the KTCVS Conference
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.108-108
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• 1996

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.404-410
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• 2003

Different treatment options are available according to the stage and duration of the empyema. Stage I empyema (exudate stage) is treated concurrently by the administration of appropriate antibiotics and chest tube drainage. Stage III empyema (organized stage) is considered for decortication through an open thoracotomy. However, the treatment of fibrinopurulent, stage II empyema remains controversial. Recently, debridement with the use of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) has been proposed for the treatment of stage II empyema. We analyzed and report our initial experience of 5 cases of stage II empyema, treated with the use of VATS. Material and Method: Between June 2001 and February 2002, 5 patients with fibrinopurulent empyema that did not respond to antibiotics, chest tube drainage or Percutaneous Catheter drainage (PCD), and instillation of fibrinolytic agent were treated by debridement and irrigation with the use of VATS. A CT scan was performed in all patients before the operation to confirm the diagnosis of loculated empyema and to detect additional lung parenchymal diseases. Result: All 5 patients underwent successful debridement and irrigation with the use of VATS and the chest tube was inserted properly. And no patients needed conversion to open thoracotomy. The ratio of sex was 4 : 1 (male : female), the mean age was 53 years old (range, 26~73 years), the mean operative time was 73.4 minutes (range, 52~95 minutes), the mean duration of postoperative chest tube placement was 12.4 days (range, 6~19 days), and the mean duration of postoperative hospital stay was 20.8 days (range, 10~36 days). In all patients, clinical symptoms such as pain and fever subsided and simple chest PA view revealed satisfactory lung expansion. No major postoperative complication was observed during the hospital course and no patient suffered from the recurrence of empyema in the follow-up period. Conclusion: We think that early operation with the use of VATS is safe and efficient for stage II empyema which did not respond to medical treatment(antibiotics and chest tube drainage), therefore, it can prevent stage II empyema from advancing to stage III, organized empyema.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2010

Background: Thoracic empyema remains a serious problem despite the availability of modern diagnostic methods and appropriate antibiotics. The condition presents in many different forms and stages that require different therapeutic options. Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has become increasingly popular for use in the treatment of empyema. Material and Method: From January 2005 to May 2009, VATS was performed in 36 patients with pleural empyema and for whom chest-tube drainage and antibiotic therapy had failed or the CT scan showed multiseptate disease. The perioperative clinical factors were analyzed for all the study patients. Result: All the patients underwent VATS, but it was necessary to convert to thoracotomy in one patient. The mean operation time was $90{\pm}38.5\;min$. For the operative evaluation, 11 patients were compatible with ATS stage III. The duration of chesttube insertion was $11.9{\pm}5.8$ (3~24) days. One patient did not improve and therefore this patient underwent additional open drainage. At discharge, costophrenic angle blunting was observed in 22 patients, pleural thickening was noted in 20 patients, both were noted in 17 patients and neither was noted in 11 patients. However, at follow-up, each of these changes was observed in 9, 7, 4 and 24 patients, respectively. All except one patient showed radiographic improvement. Conclusion: VATS is suitable for the treatment of early and fibrinopurulent thoracic empyema, and even in selected patients with stage III disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.374-379
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• 1998

From March 1985 to June 1997, 451 patients of spontaneous pneumothorax treated at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Most of the patients were male (male to female ratio, 8.2:1). The mean age of the primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) was 26.8 years, and that of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax(SSP) was 53.1 years. 330 out of 451 patients(73%) were PSP. The causes of the SSP were mostly pulmonary tuberculosis and COPD: 87 patients(72%), and 24 patients(19.2%), respectively. All the patient were treated by one of the following modalities: 1)rest and oxygen therapy in 42 patients, 2) closed thoracostomy in 208 patients, 3) thoracotomy in 156 patients, 4) VATS bullectomy in 45 patients. The mean duration of postoperative chest tube drainage was as following: thoracotomy 8.3 days, VATS bullectomy 4.7 days. For recent 3 consecutive years, VATS bullectomy has become the more frequently applied operative procedure than thoracotomy in the treatment of surgically indicated PSP, from 33% in 1994 to 78% in 1996. With the minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgery being more prevalent, VATS bullectomy will be able to be the 1st choice of treatment not only for the recurrent pneumothoracies but also for the some selected cases of the 1st episode pneumothoracies. To verify this approach as clinically acceptable one in terms of cost-effectiveness, recurrence rate, etc, a large scale of multi-institutional clinical study will be needed in a sooner time.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.651-652
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• 2001

Usually, Bullectomy with VATS requires three ports on a chest wall for thoracosope, endo lung grasper, and endo auto-suture. However, in some case, the author could successfully accomplish operation using the endo-loop through two ports on a chest wall. The technique reduces postoperative pain and decreases operative wound.