• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.371-374
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• 2009

A 36-year-old woman with a history of spontaneous abortion and photosensitivity was admitted to our hospital with periumbilical pain and lower extremity edema. The preoperative CT scan revealed massive inferior vena cava thrombus, which extended from the suprarenal portion of the vena cava to the hepatic vein. The laboratory data showed an elevated level of anticardiolipin antibody, which suggested the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome. After medical management, she underwent an operation for removal of an vena cava thrombus by performing cavectomy and thrombectomy. After the operation, she has been taking oral anticoagulation and she is doing quite well at 9 months after her operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1014-1018
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• 1995

To confirm diagnosis and to set proper therapeutic strategy, open lung biopsies were done in 57 patients who were suspected for diffuse interstitial lung disease from January 1985 to December 1994. Among them, 35 were male and 22 were female[M:F=l.6: 1 and mean age of the patients is 53.5$\pm$ 2.3[24-81 years. Tissue for histologic studies were obtained from left lung in 33, from right lung in 24according to the distributions of the pathology. Preoperative diagnostic work-up`s were chest X-ray, CT[HRCT scan, sputum study, bronchoscopy[BAL, TBLB and PTNA and all of them were unsuccessful to confirm diagnosis. In comparison of pulmonary function tests between preoperative and postoperative values, there were no significant differences in FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC[p 0.05 but in AaDO2[p[0.05 . Postoperative complications including atelectasis, wound infection, pulmonary edema and respiratory insnfficiency, were shown in 5 cases[8.8% , and two of them were died of respiratory failure and sepsis[mortality rate 3.5% . Pathologic diagnosis was confirmed in 53 cases postoperatively but it was undetermined in 4[diagnostic yield rate 93.0% . In comparison between preoperative clinical diagnosis and postoperative pathologic diagnosis, new diagnosis were made in 17 cases[29.8% and preoperative tentative diagnosis were confirmed histologically in 36 cases[63.2% . In 4 cases[7.0% , however, diagnoses were not confirmed after biopsies. Therapeutic plans were reset in 46 cases[80.7% in accordance with the final diagnosis.In conclusion, open lung biopsy is recommended for a specific diagnosis and proper therapeutic plan in diffuse interstitial lung diseases because of its high diagnostic yield Irate and it`s relatively low morbidity and mortality rate in these tompromised patents.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.231-235
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• 1997

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung is a rare pulmonary malformation, Although it is one of the most common congenital anomalies which cause acute respiratory distress in the newborn infants, characterized by marked proliferation of terminal respiratory structures. We have experienced an unusual case of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation associated with pectus excavatum. The patient was 3-year-old female who suffered from cough and high fever for 20 days, and antibiotic therapy was given in other hospital before transfer to our hospital. The findings on chest X-ray, chest CT, aortogram, and selective bronchial arteriogram showed cystic lesions in the right upper and middle lobe accompanied but severe pectus excavatum. Right bilobectomy for pulmonary lesion and costosternal elevation for pectus excavatum was performed simultaneously with successful result. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the twentieth postoperative day.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.978-983
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• 1999

Background: Complement activation with transpulmonary leukocyte sequestration is considered a main mediator leading to ischemia-reperfusion lung(I-R) injury. We studied the role of leukocytes in the formation of I-R injury in ovine cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) model with a membrane oxygenator. Material and Method: Five sheep were used. CPB circuitry consisted of a roller pump(American Optical Corp., Greenwich, CT, USA) and a membrane oxygenator(UNIVOX-IC, Bentley, Baxter Health Corp, Irvine, CA, USA). The CPB time was fixed at 120 min. Ten minutes after the start of CPB, total CPB was established. Thereafter a total CPB of 100 min was performed, followed by another 10 min of partial CPB. The CPB was discontinued and the animals were fully recovered. For measuring left and right atrial leukocyte counts, blood samples were taken before thoracotomy, 5 min and 109 in after the start of CPB, and 30 min and 120 min after weaning. C3a was measured before thoracotomy, 109 min after the start of CPB, and 30 min and 120 min after weaning. Plasma malondialdehyde(MDA) was checked before thoracotomy, 109 min after the start of CPB, and 30 min after weaning. One to two grams of lung tissue were taken for water content measurement before thoracotomy, 109 min after the start of CPB, and 30 min after weaning. Lung biopsy specimens were examined by light and electron microscopy. Result: Of 5 animals, 4 survived the experimental procedures. Of these, 3 animals survived on a long-term basis. No significant differences in transpulmonary gradients of leukocyte were found and no significant complement activation was expressed by C3a levels. MDA level did not show significant changes related to lung reperfusion despite an increase after the start of CPB. On both light and electron microscopic examinations, mild to moderate acute lung change was observed. Interstitial edema, leakage of erythrocytes into the alveolar space and endothelial cell swelling were the main findings. Water content of the lung showed a slight increase after the start of CPB, but there was no statistical significance. Conclusion: These findings indicate that ischemia-repersusion lung injury may not be from complement activation-leukocyte sequestration but from another source of oxygen free radicals related to CPB.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1009-1016
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• 1999

Background: Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery(MIDCAB) has been increasing in interest along with the new techniques in myocardial immobilization for easier and safer procedures. Until the opening of the era of new techniques, adequate accuracy and good patency of grafts were debatable. Our experiences of MIDCAB were studied according to the stages of technical developments. Material and Methods: Since March 1996, 55 patients have undergone MIDCAB procedures. The patients of off-pump CABG(no cardiopulmonary bypass under full sternotomy) were excluded from the study. In the early experience(Stage I), a left anterior small thoracotomy through the left parasternal incision was performed(n=6); then an approach through the lower partial sternotomy was used(Stage II, n=33); and recently, a chest wall elevator for harvesting the internal thoracic artery and the foot plate for myocardial immobilization have been used(USSC, Norwalk, CT)(Stage III, n=16). Result: The surgical procedures of four patients in the Stage II group have been converted to conventional bypass because of the deeply seated left anterior descending coronary artery in two patients, fracture of the calcific lesion in the right coronary artery in one patient, and a cardiogenic shock during hypothermia in the other patient with ventricular dysfunction. Two patients in stage II experienced symptomatic recurrences after surgery and restenosis was verified on angiocardiography. They were managed by interventional procedures. All the other patients were doing well without symptoms, except one patients in Stage II who underwent PTCA procedure for a lesion in the circumflex artery during the follow up period. Conclusion: The new and specialized devices are essential to the development of MIDCAB surgery. MIDCAB and the hybrid procedures in multi-vessel disease are on the way to further development. So far, our experience is limited only to a single device among the many new devices for the purpose.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.941-944
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• 1997

Pulmonary infarction is rarely diagnosed with certainty except at postmortem examination. Part of this uncertainty is because of the inability to distinguish between hemorrhage, congestive a electasis, and necrosis clinically and radiographically. The pathogenesis of pulmonary infarction is poorly understood. It is dif%cult to induce pulmonary infarction in animals by ligation of the arterial supply to the lung. Many factors seem to be important in its pathogenesis, in addition to congestive heart failure, malignant tumor, thrombophlebitis, chronic obstructive lung disease, nephrotic syndrome, and postopeiative state. However, pulmonary infarction have not been reported in association with chest trauma. We report a case of pulmonary infarction associated with fractures of right clavicle and multiple ribs. A 45-year-old male had admitted due to right chest pain and dyspnea, which developed after right chest trauma occurred at about 3 weeks ago. He was treated at local clinics under the diagnosis of fractures of right clavicle and ribs until the admission. Chest CT disclosed a huge mass with central low density in right upper lobe, and small masses were also seen on both l ng fields. Open lung biopsy resulted in negativity for the malignancy. Clinical symptoms and radiological findings were not improved by conservative treatment. Right upper lobectomy was done eventually. The final diagnosis was pulmonary infarction. And, the patient has been well after operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.936-940
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• 1997

Pulmonary aspergilloma is potentially a life threatening disease resulting from the colonization of lung cavities by Aspergillus fumigatus. A case is reported: a 43-year-old man with symtomatic cavitary aspergilloma presenting with severe productive coughing, hemopt sis, occasional fever, and chilling. On preoperative plain chest radiograph and CT scan, we could find a rounded irregular opacity in a large pulmonary cavity. He received 2 separate operations for therapeutic need. At the first opertion, we performed cavernostomy and thoracoplasty because of severe pleural adhesions, tearing of cavity wall, and high risk of respiratory insufficiency. At the second operation, we performed myoplasty and omentoplasty for closure of remaining air space and complete wrapping of the BPF site. All symptoms of dyspnea and hemoptysis have since resolved. We believed that in the high risk patients who have severe respiratory symptoms, such as in aspergilloma and open cavity with a risk of respiratory insufficiency, cavernostomy followed by myoplasty or omentoplasty should be recommended.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.279-284
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• 2011

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics and management of intrathoracic bronchogenic cysts. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four (n=24) patients with intrathoracic bronchogenic cysts were treated surgically between August 1990 and December 2009 at our institution. Patients were divided into two groups by bronchogenic cyst location: mediastinal or intrapulmonary. Symptoms at diagnosis, radiologic findings, locations, surgical methods, pathological findings, and surgical outcomes were investigated retrospectively from consecutive patient medical records. Results: There were 12 females (50.0%). The mean age was 26.8 (range, 5 to 64) years. The mean follow-up period was 27.3 (range, 1 to 121) months. There were 15 (62.5%) mediastinal and 9 (37.5%) intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts. Symptoms occurred in 8 patients with mediastinal bronchogenic cysts (53.3%) and 5 patients with intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts (55.6%) (p=1.000). On computed tomography (CT), 7 patients (46.7%) showed homogenous solid masses in mediastinal bronchogenic cysts and five (55.6%) patients exhibited heterogeneous cystic masses with air-fluid levels in intrapulmonary bronchogenic cystic masses. Open thoracotomy was performed in 17 (70.8%) patients, and video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed in 7 (29.2%) patients. On pathological findings, there were 16 (66.7%) complicated cysts, and in 13 symptomatic patients, 11 (84.6%) patients had complicated cysts. There was no operative death in this study. During the follow-up period, no recurrence was detected. Conclusion: Intrathoracic bronchogenic cysts have a wide variety of clinical characteristics and radiologic findings. Even though some patients do not experience symptoms and signs caused by bronchogenic cysts, serious symptoms and complications may develop with the passage of time.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1040-1043
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• 1997

We report a patient who suffered from bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia(BOOP) after Ivor Lewis operation for esophageal cancer. The patient presented low grade fever, dry cough and mild dyspnea at day after operation. Chest roentgenograms and chest CT revealed bilateral patchy and infiltrative shadows. The respiratory symptoms worsened and respiratory failure developed with mild elevation of WBC count despite of conservative treatment. An open lung biopsy was done and the biopsy specimen showed bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia(BOOP). After several weeks of steroid therapy, there were marked clinical, physiological and roentgenographic improvements. Our experience suggests that BOOP may be one of the underlying pathology in a number of patients presenting with ARDS after thoracotomy. Since steroid therapy may improve survival in these patients, thoracic surgeons should heighten their index of suspicion for this entity. Early histologic diagnosis should be considered in patients with treatment-resistant ARDS after thoracotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.211-214
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• 1999

We experienced a case of thymolipoma that is a rare benign mediastinal tumor, composed of normal thymic tissue and matured adipose tissue. A 46-years-old woman was admitted to the department of medicine due to lower abdominal pain. Simple chest PA showed a large mass shadow at right cardiac border. Chest CT scanning showed well defined large fatty mass at right cardiac border which was suggested thymolipoma. The mass was resected and confirmed as thymolipoma histopathologically.