• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.813-820
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• 2009

On Dec 22, 1909, a young patriot called Lee Jae-Myung (1986~1910) attempted to assassinate Lee Wan-Yong, the prime minister of the last Yi Choseon cabinet and he later signed the annexation treaty with imperial Japan. Despite that Lee Jae-Myung failed in this assassination attempt, his heroic deed motivated national pride thereafter. After this attempted assassination, a medical record was prepared about stab wound that was inflicted upon Lee Wan-Yong during the trial of Lee Jae-Myung, and this record included many significant specific descriptions that were concerned with thoracic surgery. They included an intercostal stab wound and intercostal arterial hemorrhage, lung injury, chest contusion, traumatic pleuritis and supposedly pneumo-and hemothorax. Thoracentesis for drainage of the serosanguinous pleural effusion was also mentioned. This medical record is judged to be the first written medical record on thoracic surgery in Korean history. The aim of this study is to analyze the content of the record as it is related with a well known episode in modern Korean history.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.6
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• pp.1594-1599
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• 2021

A 64-year-old male visited our emergency department due to severe right flank pain after falling from a 2-meter height. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a right hemothorax with multiple fractures in the right ribs and iliac bone. A small hematoma in the right perihepatic space was noted, but there was no hepatic laceration on CT. Initial surgical management led to continuous uncontrolled bleeding around the porta hepatis, and subsequent arterial angiography could not demonstrate a bleeding focus. However, immediate follow-up CT showed contrast extravasation on the left side of abdomen, and a percutaneous transhepatic portal venogram revealed active bleeding from the left portal vein. Although the wound was embolized with a glue, the patient suffered from a cardiac arrest and finally expired. In conclusion, during evaluation of abdominal trauma patients, portal vein bleeding and contrecoup injuries should be considered when hepatic arteriography findings are unremarkable.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 2010

Background: Thoracic trauma is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. A rib fracture that is secondary to blunt thoracic trauma is an important indicator of the severity of the trauma. The purpose of study was to determine the morbidity and mortality rates and the management of rib fractures. Material and Method: We performed a retrospective study that involved all the blunt trauma patients with rib fractures, excluding those that were transferred to other hospital within 3 days, that were seen at our hospital between May 2002 and December 2008. Of the 474 admitted patients, 454 met the inclusion criteria. There were 356 male and 98 females, and their overall mean age was 53 years (range: 5~90 years). The outcome parameters included the mechanism of injury, the number of fractured ribs, the length of stay in the ICU, the Injury Severity Score (ISS), the length of the hospital stay, the pulmonary complications and the mortality. Result: The mechanism of trauma included traffic accidents in 189 (41.7%) cases, slipping down in 103 (22.7%) cases, falls in 85 (18.7%) cases, cultivator accidents in 30 (6.6%) cases, industrial accidents in 32 (7.0%) cases and assault in 15 (3.3%) cases. Intrathoracic injury was noted such as hemothorax in 269 (59.3%) cases, pneumothorax in 144 (31.7%) cases, pulmonary contusion in 95 (20.9%) cases, subcutaneous emphysema in 29 (6.4%) cases and great vessel injury in 5 (0.1%) cases. Conservative treatment was administered to most of the patients. Tube thoracostomy was administered in 234 (51.5%) cases, whereas thoracotomy was performed in 18 (4.0%) cases. The mean duration of thoracostomy was $5.2{\pm}6.2$ days. Most of the cases with rib fracture were treated in wards and their mean duration of hospital stay was $22.5{\pm}20$ days. The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was $14.8{\pm}10.9$ (range: 3~75). The mortality rate was calculated to be 4.8% (n=22). The main factors correlated with an adverse outcome were the number of ribs fractured, the duration of thoracostomy and pulmonary disease. Industrial insurance affected the length of hospitalization. Pulmonary contusion and the Injury Severity Score (ISS) affected the mortality. Conclusion: Rib fractures are a indicator of severe injury. Because of the complication and associated injuries, we believe these patients should be admitted for evaluation and treatment. Recent studies on the impact of rib fractures after blunt trauma have shown that patients as young as 40 years of age demonstrate increased morbidity and mortality with similar injuries as compared to that of older patients. The ISS and pulmonary contusion influenced the mortality rate. Patients with isolated rib fractures should be hospitalized if the number of fractured ribs is one or more.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.286-291
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• 2004

Mediastinum is a very rare primary site of liposarcoma. In general, wide surgical excision with adequate resection margin is the treatment of choice for lipesarcoma. We experienced a case of liposarcoma in a 24 year-old male who complained of dyspnea and chest discomfort. Symptoms had been developed a month before admission, and the intensity had been gradually increased. He visited another general hospital, and there he received left closed thoracostomy because hemothorax was suspected. Afterwards, he was transferred to our hospital without a specific diagnosis, on review of outside chest computed tomography film, mass shadow was detected in the mediastinum. For the further evaluation, we checked the chest sonography and chest magnetic resonance imaging. MRI showed 10 cm sized mass contacted with pulmonary artery trunk and left main pulmonary artery. The radiologist strongly suggested sarcoma. On the 4th day after admission, we performed emergent exploratory left thoracotomy for hematoma evacuation because mediastinal shifting progressed and heart rate was increased. Biopsy confirmed that the evacuated materials were extraskeletal myxoid chondresarcoma, so we performed extrapleural left pneumonectomy including diaphragm and a part of the pericardium. The final pathologic diagnosis was myxoid/round cell liposarcoma. He was discharged without complication and systemic chemotherapy was scheduled to begin 2 month later. During chemotherapy, local recurrence and peritoneal metastasis developed, and he died 10 month after the surgical excision. We report this case with reviewal of literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.675-680
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• 2010

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the distinguishing clinicoradiologic findings of traumatic tracheobronchial injury. Material and Method: Between January 2003 and December 2009, six patients who underwent surgical repair for traumatic tracheobronchial injury due to blunt trauma were included in this study. We evaluated the mechanism of the injury, the coexisting injuries, the time until the making diagnosis and treatment, the diagnostic methods, the anatomic location of the injury and the surgical outcomes. Result: The mechanisms of injury were traffic accident and crushing forces. The frequent symptoms were subcutaneous emphysema, dyspnea and pain, and the common radiologic findings were pneumothorax, mediastinal emphysema, rib fracture and lung contusion. Only 2 patients were diagnosed by chest CT and the others were not diagnosed preoperatively. The location of injury was the trachea in 2 patients and the bronchial tree in 4 patients. There was no postoperative mortality or anastomotic leak; however, vocal cord palsy occurred in one patient. The most distinguishing sign was persistent lung collapse even though the chest tube was connected with negative pressure. Conclusion: Although it was not easy to diagnose traumatic tracheobronchial injury without a clinical suspicion, the distinguishing clinical symptoms and CT findings could help to make an early diagnosis without performing bronchoscopy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.465-470
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• 1999

Background: Facial hyperhidrosis patients have as much difficulty in personal relationships as the palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis patients. There have been no appropriate treatment, but recently, satisfactory results have been obtained through sympathetic blockade. Thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for facial hyperhidrosis has been known to resect cervicothoracic (stellate) ganglion, but its inherent complications such as Horner syndrome have made the surgeons hesitant to use this method. We, through our experiences in treating palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis for the past 6 years, believed that T2 sympathicotomy would be enough for facial hyperhidrosis and have experimented and obtained satisfactory results. Material and Method: From June 1997 to May 1998, 38 consecutive patients underwent bilateral thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy with 2mm instruments at Seoul National University Hospital. Result: All patients were relieved of excessive sweating in their faces immediately after the operation. Postoperatively, 5 patients (13.2%) required insertion of chest tubes because 3 had incomplete reexpansion of the lung, and 2 had hemothorax from severe adhesion. Other complications related to the surgical procedures, such as Horner's syndrome, and brachial plexus injury, were not detected in any cases. The mean hospital stay was mean 1.7$\pm$0.9 days after surgery. Conclusion: T2 sympathetic ganglion is the appropriate resection site for facial hyperhidrosis, and complications such as Horner syndrome can be prevented by not cutting the stellate ganglion. In addition, it is possible to perform the operation by using a 2 mm thoracoscopic instrument, and may obtain much better results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1076-1080
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• 1998

Background: Spontaneous hemopneumothorax, occurring in 1% to 12% of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax, is a rare disorder that can potentially lead to life-threatening complications. Materials and methods: We have experienced 15 cases (2.28%) with spontaneous hemopneumothorax among 659 episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax for eight years, from 1990 to 1997, at our hospital. We studied our previously treated patients by retrospective case studies to determine the nature of optimal management. Results: There were 14 male and 1 female patients whose mean age was 27.5 years, ranging from 19 to 58. The sides with disorder were as following: right in 10 cases and left in 5, unilaterally. The amount of initial bleeding ranged from 400 to 1,500 mL and 8 patients received a homologous blood transfusion. Patients exhibited symptoms of chest pain, dyspnea, chest discomfort, and hypovolemic shock. We concluded that causes of this disease in our patients were a torn pleural adhesion (14 cases) and a rupture of vascularized bullae (1 case with an underlying intrinsic lung disease, tuberculosis). All patients underwent closed thoracostomy and had good results except for 3. One patient underwent thoracotomy within 3 days from the onset because of continuous active hemorrhage. Decortication was required in one case because of a reactive fluid collection in the pleural space, which led to impaired lung expansion. Another patient underwent thoracotomy due to a ipsilateral recurrent pneumothorax without blood collection. Conclusions: The goals of treatment include hemostasis and reexpansion of the collapsed lung. Thus, if patients arrive early at hospital, closed thoracostomy and transfusion are thought to be sufficient treatments, although early surgical repair has been considered recently.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.154-161
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• 1997

Purpose: Traumatic rupture of the diaphragm is not easy to diagnose and often delayed. Delayed diagnosis of diaphragmatic rupture accompanied by higher chances of strangulation of herniated viscera which may result in higher morbility and mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate diagnostic accuracy of spiral CT, MRI and US for the diagnosis of diaphragmatic rupture in an animal model. Materials and Methods: Small, medium, and large sized transabdominal diaphragmatic ruptures were surgically made in experimental rabbits and then followed up with spiral CT, MR!, and US at 1 day, 3 day, and 1 week after operation. Results: US was superior to MR! or spiral CT in diagnosis of diaphragmatic rupture(P(0.05). The sensitivity and specificity were 94.4% and 92.9% for US, 54.0% and 85.7% for MRI, and 46.0% and 78.6% for spiral CT, respectively. The size of laceration was not related to diagnostic sensitivity in US. Sensitivity of MRI and spiral CT increased as the size of laceration were larger, but no statistical significance was present(P>0.05). All experimental animals developed pleural effusion or hemothorax one day after operation. In acute phase, US and MRI were more sensitive than spiral CT in detecting diaphragmatic rupture. Spiral CT was more sensitive than US and MRI in delayed phase but without statistical significance(P>0.05). In the experimental rabbits with accompanying visceral hernia through the diaphragmatic defect, diagnostic accuracy was found equally high among three image modalities(P>0.05). Conclusion: This study indicates that US is the most accurate diagnostic method in detecting injury to the diaphragm in a rabbit model. The findings obtained in this experimental study can be applied to the diaphragmatic rupture of human being.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.8 s.265
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• pp.598-603
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• 2006

Background: High thoracic epidural anesthesia allows awake coronary artery bypass grafting, avoiding the drawbacks of mechanical ventilation and general anesthesia. Materian and Method: From April, 2005 to September, 2005, 12 patients were underwent awake coronary artery bypass grafting using high thoracic epidural anesthesia. There were 1 female and 11 male patients, with a mean age of $66{\pm}6$ years. Off pump coronary artery. bypass grafting was performed through a median sternotomy using arterial grafts. Result: There were no mortality. Pneumothorax was developed during surgery in 8 patients. Five patients required secondary intubation because of pneumothorax (n=3), bowel herniation (n=1), and hemothorax after chest tube insertion (n=1). Postoperative coronary angiography was performed before discharge in all patients and all the grafts were patent. Conclusion: Our intial experience demonstrated the feasibility of awake off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Further study is required to define the indications, advantages and limitations of this strategy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.804-810
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• 1998

Background: Multiple trauma patients have rapidly increased due to traffic accidents, industrial disasters, incidental accidents, and violence. Multiple trauma can involve injuries to the heart, lung, and great vessels and influence the lives, necessitate prompt diagnosis and treatment. Most of the thoracic injuries can be managed with conservative method and simple surgical procedures, such as closed thoracostomy, but in certain cases open thoracotomy is necessary. Materials and methods: The author analyzed the surgical result of 70 cases of open thoracotomy after multiple organ injury including thoracic organ. Results: The most common type of thoracic lesion was hemothorax with or without pneumothorax and diaphragmatic rupture was the second. Sixty percent of the patients were associated with bone fractures, 42.9% with abdominal injuries, and 37.1% with head injuries. The modes of operation were ligations of torn vessels for bleeding control(48.6%), repair of diaphragm(35.7%), and repair of lung laceration(25.7%) in this order of frequency and additional procedures were splenectomy(14.3%), hepatic lobectomy (8.6%) and repair of liver lacerations(5.7%). Postoperative complications were atelectasis (8.6%), wound infection (8.6%), and pneumonia(4.3%). Postoperatively six patients died(The mortality rate was 8.6%) and the causes of death were respiratory failure(2), acute renal failure(2), sepsis(1), and hypovolemic shock(1).