• 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.37 no.7
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• pp.617-621
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• 2004

End-to-end anastomosis for benign esophageal stricture (BES) is technically easier and relatively lower in morbidity than esophago-enterostomy. We performed segmental resection and end-to-end anastomosis in 2 cases of short segmental BES who were failed repeated endoscopic dilatation. A 13-month-old female with postoperative stricture was treated successfully. However, a 27-year-old female with corrosive stricture required second operative management of esophago-colo-gastrostomy following end-to-end anastomosis. Our experiences suggested that end-to-end anastomosis for BES could be used as a valid procedure for well selected patients. However, further studty is needed to compare with esophago-enterostomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.7 s.276
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• pp.508-511
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• 2007

The causes of aortic dissection are usually hypertension, connective tissue disease such as Marfan syndrome, congenital valvular abnormality such as bicuspid aortic valve, iatrogenic injury, pregnancy and drugs. Previous studies have shown that 50% of all dissections in women less than 40 years age were associated with pregnancy. Almost all aortic dissections during pregnancy occur during the third trimester or during labor and delivery. Marfan's syndrome is a particularly important predisposing factor for aortic dissection during pregnancy. We report here on a case of surgical treatment for acute type II aortic dissection in a Marfan syndrome patient who was 24 weeks pregnant, and we include a review of literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.747-750
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• 2008

Although surgical closure is the standard approach for a muscular ventricular septal defect, the procedure may be complicated by poor visualization and the need for incision on the ventricle. Another approach is, catheter-based intervention. However, it also has limitations. A hybrid procedure, the intraoperative combined use of an interventional device may reduce the procedure's invasiveness. We successfully managed two cases of muscular ventricular septal defect with a hybrid procedure. We report here on these 2 cases along with a review of the literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.795-798
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• 2008

A 50 year old male patient was admitted due to fever and left upper-quadrant abdominal pain. He had a history of previous treatment for pulmonary TB and splenectomy due to plastic anemia. A large peritoneal abscess with connection to a chronic left side tuberculous empyema thoracis was diagnosed on admission. Chest CT also revealed a soft issue lesion on the left anterior chest wall. Staged drainage of the peritoneal lesion followed by left side pleuropneumonectomy with chest wall resection was performed. The pathologic studies showed a high grade sarcoma of the chest wall.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.7-19
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• 2000

Background :To assess the accuracy of Electron-Beam Tomography(EBT) in following evaluation of the pulmonary vascular system after a shunt operation in the cyanotic con-genital heart disease with pulmonary stenosis or pulmonary atresia. Material and Method : Sixteen patients(M:F=11:5) who received Blalock-Taussig(n=8) bidirectional cavo-pulmonary shunt(n=10) and unifocalization (n=2) were ncluded in the study. We evaluated the patency of the shunt the morphology of intrapericardial and hilar pulmonary arteries(PA) peripheral pulmonary vascularity by background lung attenuation and the abundance of arterial & venous collateral. Angiography(n=12) and echocardiography(n=20) were used as the gold standard for the comparison of EBT results. Result: EBT was consistent with angiogram/ echo in 100% of the evaluation for the patency of the shunt and in 12(by angiogram 100%) and 19(by echo 95%) for the detection the hypoplasia stenosis or interruption of central PA In measuring of PA EBT and angiogram corrlated(r=0.91) better than EBT-echo(r=0.88) or echo-angiogram(r=0.72) Abundant systemic arterial collateral were noted in 4 and venous collateral in 3 cases. In evaluating the peripheral pulmonary vascularity the homogenous and normal-ranged lung attenuation(m=6) decreased but homo-genous attenuation(n=1) segment-by-sgment heterogeneous attenuation(n=3) homogenous but asymmetrical attenuation(n=3) segment-by-segment heterogeneous attenuation(n=3) homogenous but asymmetrical attenuation(n=3) and venous congestion(n=2) were observed nd 12 of them were compatible with the blood flow pattern revealed by cardiac catheterization. Conclusion: EBT was accurate in the integrated evaluation of the pulmonary vascular system after the shunt including the patency of the shunt operaion the morphology and dimension of the central and hilar PAs and the loco-regional pulmonary flow in the lung parenchyma. It suggests the useful information about the need of secondary shunt operation the proper timing time for total repair and the need of interventional procedure prior to total repair.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.697-702
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• 1998

Hyperhidrosis of the palms, axillae, and the face has a strong negative impact on the quality of life for many people. Existing nonsurgical therapeutic options are far from ideal. A definitive cure can be obtained by upper thoracic sympathectomy. The traditional open surgical technique is a major procedure; few patients and doctors have found that risk-benefit considerations favor surgery. Endoscopic minimal invasive surgical techniques are now available. We investigated whether endoscopic ablation of upper thoracic sympathetic chain(T2-4) is an efficient and safe treatment of hyperhidrosis. We treated 40 patients with bilateral endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy. There were no mortalities, life-threatening complication, no treatment failures occurred in 40 patients. After a short-term follow-up, 100% of the patients reported satisfactory results. Endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy is an efficient, safe, and minimally invasive surgical method for the treatment of palmar, axillary hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.539-546
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• 2001

Background: Pulmonary complications in immunocompromised patients are often fatal. Empirical treatment is usually applied based on the clinical and radiological findings because of the risk of the aggressive diagnostic procedures such as open lung biopsy. However, recent advancements in operative procedures and perioperative management has decreased the procedure-related risks. We have prospectively analyzed the risks and benefits of the early application of open lung biopsy in such patients. Material and Method: Forty-two consecutive immunocompromised patients with critical pulmonary complications were included from June, 1996 to December, 1999. The definition of the immunocompromised is as those with chemotherapy and/or other modality for hematologic disorders, with usage of immunosuppressive drug after transplantation, with usage of steroid for more than 1 month, and with primary immunodeficiency disorders. The indication of open lung biopsy was those with no significant improvement after a week of aggressive application of empirical treatment or with rapidly aggressive process. The underlying disease included hematologic disorder(31 patients), post-transplantation(3 patients), chemotherapy for solid tumor(2 patients), and others(6 patients). Operations were done through thoracotomy(conventional or mini-) or VATS.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.292-295
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• 2010

The surgical treatments for aortic arch aneurysm are thought to be very invasive procedures, and high morbidity and mortality rates have been reported after aortic arch aneurysm operations. Many surgeons currently prefer the insertion of a stent-graft rather than an operation for treating an aortic arch aneurysm and if needed, with bypass of the subclavian or carotid arteries, which is called the 'hybrid method'. We managed one patient with an aortic arch aneurysm by using the hybrid method, and so we report on this case with a review of the relevant literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.523-526
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• 2008

Minimally Invasive repair of pectus excavatum using a metal bar, as advocated by Nuss, has been broadly accepted recently for its aesthetic aspect. There are and various treatment methods, as welt. Pectus excavatum may be accompaniedso many modified repair methods have been developed and performed. We report a case of a 33-year-old woman with pectus excavatum and breast hypoplasia, which were simultaneously corrected using a substernal steel bar and mammoplasty.