• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.148-154
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• 2005

Purpose: To evaluate the long term results of surgical treatment for sacral chordoma. Material and Method: We reviewed the records of 4 patients with sacral tumor treated surgical resection. Mean follow-up duration was 8.3 year(3~11). All cases were performed complete resection of tumor mass through posterior approach in 3 cases and anterior-posterior approach in one. The most caudad nerve-roots spared were the second sacral roots in one and the third sacral roots in 3 cases. Functions of voiding and defecation including neurological symptoms of lower extremities, other complications of surgical treatment, and local recurrence or distant metastasis of tumor were evaluated. Result: There was no motor deficit in all cases, but radiating pain was developed in one and wound infection in one. Bladder function was preserved in 2 cases, intermittent incontinence in one, and doing intermittent catheterization in one. Bowel function was preserved in one and 2 cases were suffered from constipation. At the last follow-up, disease-free was in one, local recurrence in one, and local recurrence with distant metastasis in one. Conclusion: The result of surgical resection for sacral chordoma is satisfactory showing average 8 years survival. Early detection and aggressive surgical treatment is the best to prolong survival and to minimize functional deficit with preservation of upper sacral nerves.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.763-769
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• 2009

Background: In the majority of cases, sternal instability and wound infection concomitantly present after a cardiac operation following conventional median sternotomy, and these complications have a major influence on the postoperative course. The aim of this study is to compare the results of the different sternal wiring techniques of sternal infection. Material and Method: Between April 2004 and December 2008, 157 adult patients underwent cardiac in group A, whereas 71 patients who had undergone modified Robicsek sternal wiring were included in group B. The incidences of sternal wound complications in the two groups were assessed. Result: The mean age of the group B patients was older than that of the group A patients ($61{\pm}10$ years vs $57{\pm}13$ years). The incidence of preoperative left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction <30%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal failure requiring dialysis and diabetes mellitus were significantly higher in Group B, whereas the other perioperative risk factors for infection were not significantly different between the two groups. Two patients in group A experienced superficial wound infection, whereas 4 patients in group B displayed superficial wound infection, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.255). Yet poststernotomy deep sternal wound infection appeared in 6 patients of group A, whereas none of the patients in group B displayed this malady. Conclusion: The modified Robicsek sternal wiring technique showed greater sternal stability even for the patient with a high risk for infection, and the technique caused a lower incidence of deep sternal wound infection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2003

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for decortication or debridement in the management of empyema thoracis has increased the available treatment options but requires validation. We present and evaluate our technique and experience with thoracoscopic management of pleural empyema, irrespective of chronicity. Material and Method : VATS debridement or decortication was performed with endoscopic shaver system in 40 consecutive patients presented with pleural space infections. A retrospective review was performed and the effect of this technique on perioperative outcome was assessed. Result : VATS evacuation of infected pleural fluid and decortication was successfully performed in 35 of 40 patients. The mean duration of preoperative symptoms before referral was 23$\pm$1.8 days. The mean duration of hospitalization before transfer was 13.5$\pm$1.5 days. Blood loss was 250 to 200 mL. Intercostal drainage was required for 5$\pm$3 days. The postoperative hospital stay was 5 $\pm$0.7 days. There were no operative mortalities. Conclusion : Video-assisted evacuation of infected pleural fluid and decortication is an effective modality in the management of the fibropurulent stage of empyema. An organized empyema should be approached thoracosco-pically, but may require open decortication.

• Annals of Clinical Microbiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2014

Rapidly growing mycobacteria are ubiquitous in the environment and are increasingly being recognized as opportunistic pathogens. Recently, a new species, Mycobacteium conceptionense, has been validated from the Mycobacterium fortuitum third biovariant complex by molecular analysis. However, there are few reports, and postsurgical wound infection by this species is rare. We report a case of postsurgical wound infection caused by M. conceptionense in an immunocompetent patient that was identified by a sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA, hps65, and rpoB genes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 1994

Background : Antibiotic therapy has proven an effective method of treatment on the majority of patients with pyogenic lung abscess and infected bulla. When medical therapy has failed, pulmonary resection is the current generally recommended therapy. But nowdays complications of percutaneous tube drainage has decreased with the use of small catheter. So we evaluated the effect of percutaneous tube drainage as an alternative therapy to the pyogenic lung abscess and infected bulla refractory to medical therapy in preference ot the pulmonary resection. Method : Nine cases of the lung abscess and three cases of infected bulla which has large cavity size over 6cm, and has underlying diseases such as lung cancer, diabetes mellitus, refractory to over 1 week of antibiotics, were performed percutaneous tube drainage with All Purpose Drainage catheter(Medi-tech, Watertown, USA) under fluoroscopy. Results : All the cases except one case which complicated empyema was improved clinically. Fever was down within 4days of percutaneous tube drainage(mean : 1.9days). Mean duration of tube drainage was 9.9days. Conclusion : Percutaneous tube drainage is an effective and relatively safe procedure in the management of lung abscesses that do not response to medical therapy. We speculate this procedure should be considered as an alternative therapy for the lung abscess refractory to medical therapy in preference to the surgery. The safety and effectiveness of this procedure in infected bulla should be evaluated with an additional study.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.574-577
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• 2001

A 54-year-old homosexual man was diagnosed as human immunodeficiency virus-1-positive in 1992. He was admitted to a tertiary hospital in March, 2000 because of right flank pain, fever and intermittent cough. A chest roentgenogram showed right-sided pleural effusion, and closed thoracostomy was performed for drainage Salmonella species and Escherichia coli were isolated from the pleural fluid. In spite of 6 weeks of antibiotic treatment, fever did not subside and the general condition gradually deteriorated, and under the diagnosis of lung abscess with empyema thoracis, right pleuropneumonectomy was performed. The general condition improved postoperatively until day 10 when he showed sudden change in mental status to stuporous and developed focal seizure. Brain CT showed multiple abscesses in right frontal and left frontotemporal lobes and he expired on postoperative day 14.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.419-426
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• 2021

Purpose: In the surgical treatment of pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis, screw insertion at the affected vertebra has been avoided because of biofilm formation, and the risk of infection recurrence. The authors analyzed the success rate of infection treatment while minimizing the number of instrumented segments by inserting pedicle screws into the affected vertebrae. Therefore, this study examined the usefulness of this technique. Materials and Methods: From January 2000 to June 2018, among patients with pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis treated surgically, group A consisted of patients with pedicle screws inserted directly at the affected vertebrae (28 cases), and group B underwent fusion by inserting screws at the adjacent normal vertebrae due to bone destruction of the affected vertebral pedicle (20 cases). The classified clinical results were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were treated via the posterior-only approach, so the affected disc and sequestrum were removed. Posterior interbody fusion was performed with an autogenous strut bone graft, and the segments were then stabilized with pedicle screw systems. The hospitalization period, operation time, amount of blood loss, EQ-5D index, duration of intravenous antibiotics, and the clinical and radiological results were analyzed. Results: In group A, the number of instrumented segments, operation time, blood loss, and EQ-5D index at one month postoperatively showed significant improvement compared to group B. There were no significant differences in the duration of antibiotic use, hospitalization, radiological bone union time, sagittal angle correction rate, and recurrence rate. Conclusion: Minimal segmental fixation, in which pedicle screws were inserted directly into the affected vertebrae through the posterior approach, reduced the surgery time and blood loss, preserved the lumbar motion by minimizing fixed segments and showed rapid recovery without spreading or recurrence of infection. Therefore, this procedure recommended for the surgical treatment of lumbar pyogenic spondyodiscitis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.553-558
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• 2004

Avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CAB G) has been known to reduce early mortality and morbidity. Diabetes Mellitus is a significant risk factor for adverse early and late outcomes after CABG. We compared the clinical results of off-pump CABG versus on-pump CABG in diabetes patients. Material and Method: 682 patients (424 off-pump CABG and 258 on-pump CABG) underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting between January 2001 and June 2003. Data were collected 242 patient who had diabetes. Among them, 154 patients underwent off-pump CABG and 90 patients underwent on-pump CABG. We analyzed the preoperative risk factors and postoperative results between 2 groups. Result: Two groups did not show statistical differences in age, sex, coronary and operative risk factors. Operative time was significantly shorter in off-pump CABG, however, number of grafts was fewer in off-pump CABG. Postoperative inotropic usage was lower in off-pump CABG. Postoperative CK-MB level was lower in off-pump CABG, and ICU stay and ventilation time was significantly shorter in off-pump CABG. However, there was no statistical difference between 2 groups in operative mortality, reoperation rate, perioperative myocardial infarction, wound infection, renal failure, neurological complications and hospital stay. Conclusion: Off-pump CABG group showed less myocardial damage and early recovery. We concluded that off-pump CABG is the more reasonable technique in diabetes patients although two techniques showed good results. The long-term follow up and prospective study may be warranted.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.528-531
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• 2009

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is widely used to evaluate the heart function and the result of surgery during a cardiac operation. The incidence of complications associated with TEE is low, yet critical complications such as lower pharyngeal injury and esophageal perforation may happen. We report hereon a case of 77-year old male patient who suffered from injury to the pyriform sinus and concurrent deep neck infection after off pump coronary artery bypass surgery and intraoperative TEE.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.11 s.268
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• pp.822-827
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• 2006

Background: Lung transplantation is a definitive therapy for a variety of end stage lung diseases. Since 1996, we have performed thirteen cases of lung transplantation including two retransplantations, and we analyzed the outcomes, complications, and survivals of these patients. Material and Method: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of thirteen cases from July, 1996 to July, 2005. Result: During the period, 11 patients had undergone 43 lung and heart-lung transplantations, and two patients had retransplantation due to allograft failure. Mean age of recipients were $45.2{\pm}10.7$ years(range, $25{\sim}59$). Early complications were bleeding, reperfusion injury, and infection and late complications were mainly infection and post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease. Excluding the operative mortality, the mean survival period was 16.5 months($2{\sim}60$ months). Two retransplantations had been performed 2 weeks and 13 months after single lung transplantations. Conclusion: In order to achieve long term survival, early detection of complications and proper treatment in addition to surgical skills are necessary, and these efforts can promote better lung transplantation programs in the near future.