• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.818-822
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• 1999

Background: Thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy had been performed as a simple and effective method in treating palmar hyperhidrosis, however, this method had the complications of compensatory hyperhidrosis and facial anhidrosis. Therefore, a more limited and modified methods for T2 sympathicotomies were introduced and comparative analysis of the modified upper and lower T2 sympathicotomy were made in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. Material and Method: From January 1997 to December 1998, 41 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis had been treated by modified T2 sympathicotomy at the Kon-Kuk University Seoul Hospital. Twenty-four patients underwent a modified upper T2 sympathicotomy(Group A), and seventeen patients underwent a modified lower sympathicotomy(Group B). A comparison between groups A and B were made according to the medical records and interview results. Result: All patients showed symptomatic improvements after the operation. The anisocoria, facial anhidrosis and dissatisfaction for compensatory hyperhidrosis were more common in Group A and the individual satisfaction for the operations were higher in Group B. Conclusion: The modified lower T2 sympathicotomy might be a more effective and less complicated method than the modified upper T2 sympathicotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.3 s.260
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• pp.255-259
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• 2006

The operation for esophageal cancer is both complex and challenging, and may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality compared to other oncologic surgeries. Minimally invasive surgeries have been applied on various kinds of surgery to enhance better recovery with minimal surgical complications. But for the esophageal cancer, it has not been actively applied yet. With improvement in instrumentations and increasing experience with endoscopic surgical techniques, minimally invasive surgical approaches to esophageal cancer are being explored to determine feasibility, results and potential advantages. We experienced eight cases of minimally invasive surgery for esophageal cancer and report here focusing on surgical techniques and tips.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.135-138
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• 2014

A 34-year-old female was suffered from pain and numbness of right arm for 2 months after undergoing a thoracoscopic procedure for a posterior mediastinal mass that was diagnosed as neurilemmoma. The patient was diagnosed as a complex regional pain syndrome type 2 with brachial plexopathy developed during thoracoscopic excision of posterior mediastinal mass, and stellate ganglion block (SGB) with 0.2% ropivacaine 10 mL was performed every 3-4 days. The patient revealed slightly prolonged blepharoptosis as Horner syndrome accompanied after every SGB and recovered. However, following the 23rd SGB, the blepharoptosis persisted and patient was recovered spontaneously from blepharoptosis after about 12 months. The possibility that the persistent blepharoptosis might be caused by brachial plexopathy related to patient's pathology or surgical manipulation and/or repeated SGB. If Horner syndrome occurs, its etiology should be assessed, and it would be necessary to explain and to assure the patient the possibility of recovery spontaneously from the complication within a year, without any sequelae.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.687-693
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• 2010

Background: It is controversial whether the presence of bullae on the contralateral lung on HRCT plays a role in occurrence of contralateral primary spontaneous pneumothorax. We analyzed the significance of bullae on the contralateral lung and the risk factors associated with contralateral occurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Material and Method: Three hundred ninety four patients who were undergone Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax between January 2004 and December 2009 were reviewed. The clinical features, HRCT and treatment of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. Result: Twenty eight of 394 patients had contralateral occurrence (7.10%). The average time was $13.06{\pm}9.79$ months. A presence of contralateral bullae of lung on HRCT may not seem to be significant for occurrence of contralateral primary spontaneous pneumothorax (p=0.059). But bullae numbers were much more in contralateral pneumothorax patients (p=0.011). Younger than 20, being underweight (Body Mass Index < $18.5 kg/m^2$) are independent risk factors for contralateral occurrence (odds ratio, 5.075 (1.679~5.339), 2.366 (1.048~5.339) respectively). Conclusion: The presence of bullae on the contralateral lung on HRCT was not significantly influenced the occurrence of contralateral primary spontaneous pneumothorax. However, age, body mass index, and the number of bullae were significant factors for the contralateral pneumothorax. We suggest that those high risk patients may require special attentions and general supportive care to prevent occurrence of contralateral primary spontaneous pneumothorax during the follow-up.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.59-62
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• 1996

Chemical pleurodesis with doxycycline has been used during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) as an auxiliary method to enhance therapeutic goal in patients with pneumothorax. However, the therapeutic effect of doxycycline pleurodesis (DP) has not been clearly defined yet. To evaluate the effect of DP, we compared two groups of patients who were given VATS bullectomy from October 1993 to June 1995. Group I composed of 21 patients who received DP and group II composed of 20 patients who did not received DP Doxycycline 500mg with saline 200ml were instilled into the pleural cavity upon a completion of bullec omy, and retained there for 0.5-1 hour and then drained out. The age of group I was 30.9 $\pm$ 20.0 and that of group II was 24.3 $\pm$ 9.49 years. Male to female ratio was 20: I in group I and 20 : 0 in group II. The postoperative indwelling time of chest tube was 5.86 $\pm$ 4.69 days in group I and 3.80 $\pm$ 2.28 days in group II. Seven patients had more than 100m1/day of chest tube drainage on the postoperative third day in group I compared to one patient in group II. Five patients had postoperative indwelling time of chest tube greater than 7 days in group I compared to two in group II. The number of patients who had postoperative fever were 3 in both group, analgesic requirements were 2.19 $\pm$ 2.77 amples in group I and 2.30 $\pm$ 1.95 ambles in group II. Follow-up was done from 2 months to 16 months after surgery. During the follow up periods, four patients had recurrence 2 (9.5%) in group I and 2 (10%) in group II. We conclude that concomitant doxycycline pleurodesis with video-assisted thor coscopic bullectomy In patients with pneumothorax is not necessary.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.591-596
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• 2004

Recently, thoracic sympathicotomy for craniofacial hyperhidrosis (FH) is increasingly avoided contrast to palmar hyperhidrosis. We recently demonstrated that selective T2 sympathicotomy for FH in woman might be recommended because of differences of the postoperative satisfaction between man and woman. Therefore, this study was designed to analyze the postoperative long term results, evaluate the effectiveness of T2 sympathicotomy and establish the new strategy in treatment of FH in woman. Material and Method: From May 1998 to July 2001, 27 cases of FH in woman that were performed T2 sympathicotomy and minimum 2 years have passed since then at the follow up period. Among them, 20 cases were evaluated by telephone review and medical record. Bilateral sympathetic trunks were severed on the 2nd rib with 2mm thoracoscopic instruments. 7 patients combined with gustatory sweating (GS). Ages ranged from 25 to 62 (mean age, 46.4 years). Result: All patients were relieved of symptom immediately after operation. At postoperative 1 week, all patients were satisfied: 15 patients, “very satisfaction” and 5 patients, “relatively satisfaction”. However, during long term follow up period (from 25 to 63 months postoperatively), 9 patients (45%) were relatively satisfied, 8 patients (40%) complained that there was no difference of postoperative satisfaction and 3 patients (15%) complained of non satisfactory results (regret for surgery). 16 patients (80%) had complaint of uncomfortable feeling because of postoperative GS. Some degree of compensatory sweating (CS) had occurred in all patients: severe 10 patients (50%), severe but acceptable 6 patients (30%), and just conventional 4 patients (20%). The sites of CS were trunk, back, axilla and extremities. Conclusion: Thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy is relatively considerable method for FH in woman and the postoperative satisfaction depends on GS and the degree of individual adaptation for CS. Therefore, it is required that the prediction of preoperative risk factors for GS and CS and then careful selection of patients to increase the postoperative satisfaction, and the development of acceptable new treatment modalities.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.812-816
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• 2002

Pericardial effusions result from various conditions such as inflammation, malignancies, open heart surgery and uremia. Recently, video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has been used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in the management of pericardial effusion and intrathoracic lesions due to its ability to provide outstanding visibility of intrathoracic structures with less pain, superior cosmetic effects, and shorter hospital stay Material and Method: From April 1995 to October 2001, 51 patients received pericardial window operation via either thoracoscopic(Group A, n＝37, m:f＝18:19, mean age＝56.4 yrs)or thoracotomy approach(Group B, n＝14, m:f＝8:6, mean age=58.4 yrs). Result: In group A, the operation time, duration of chest tube insertion, recurrence rate of pericardial effusion, and postoperative hospital stay were 61.2 minutes, 9.3 days, 2.7%, 16.2 days, respectively while in group B these values were 58.4 minutes, 12.2 days, 7.1, and 17.3 days. The number of injections for pain control in group A were 4.2 times, whereas in group B it was 6.3 times. Although there was a tendency for the mean hospital stay and duration of chest tube insertion to be shorter in group A than in group B, these differences did not reach statistical significance. There was also no significant difference in the operation time and recurrence rate between the two groups. Conclusion: The safety and effectiveness of VATS in the management of pericardial effusion is comparable to the open thoracotomy method. It allows for a shorter hospital stay, duration of chest tube insertion, lesser postoperative pain and a smaller skin incision.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.166-172
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• 2004

When compare with blebectomy or bullaectomy simply and pleurodesis together in treatment of primary spontaneous pnevmthorax, the later has been realized as the method that can reduce the recurrent rate after surgical operation. Therefore, in this study, we compared the merits and demerits of the clinical result of chemical pleurodesis that use Talcum powder in pleurodesis and mechanical pleurodesis that use apical pleurectomy and analyzed the reappearance rate etc. Material and Method: The Pleurodesis through the apical pleurectomy and talc powder insufflation had been used as secondary procedure after blebectomy of spontaneous pneumothorax from January 1, 2000 to June 30, 2002. This study consisted of a retrospective review of 68 patients who were treated with apical pleurectomy, and 84 patients treated with talc powder insufflation. We compaired the apical pleurectomy and talc powder insufflation in terms of age, sex, cause of operation, number of used autosuture staple, tine duration of procedure after blebectomy, severity of pain and complication after operation, postoperative air leakage period, duration of chest tube insertion, hospitalization, and recurrence rate of pneumothorax. Result: Time required for secondary procedure was longer in apical pleurectomy than talc powder insufflation. Postoperative pain was more severe in talc powder insufflation than apical pleurectomy. Otherwise there was no significant difference between two methods. Conclusion: Although Talc powder insufflation is more convenient than apical pleurectomy, the difference is not large and, the severity of postoperative pain is worse in talc powder insufflation. Therefore apical pleurectomy can be recommended for the secondary surgical procedure after blebectomy of primary spontaneous pneumothorax can be recommended.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.469-475
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• 2008

Background: Video-assisted thoracic sympathicotomy is a definitive minimally invasive treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis. Different techniques exist for controlling axillary hyperhidrosis, but they are temporary and expensive. We compared the results after using two different levels of sympathicotomy for treating axillary hyperhidrosis: T3-T4 and T4. Material and Method: Between June 2002 and May 2007, 30 patients with isolated axillary hyperhidrosis underwent either T3-T4 or T4 thoracoscopic sympathicotomy in the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery at Wonkwang University Hospital. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I (n=15) was composed of patients who underwent T3-T4 sympathicotomy (thermal ablation), and Group II (n=15) was composed of patients who underwent T4 sympathicotomy (thermal ablation). The procedures were bilateral and simultaneous, involving the use of two 2-mm trocars and a 0-degree 2-mm thoracoscope under general anesthesia with single endotracheal intubation. Outcome parameters included satisfaction rate of treatment, degree of compensatory sweating, and postoperative complications. Patients were interviewed by telephone regarding satisfaction and compensatory hyperhidrosis. Result: There were no differences in age between group I and group II. The mean follow-up for the T3-T4 group was $38.7{\pm}2.3$ months, and the mean follow-up for the T4 group was $18.7{\pm}3.6$ months. The immediate therapeutic success rate (within 2 weeks postoperative) was 100% in both groups, and there were no recurrences in either group during the long-term follow-up period. The satisfaction rate was higher (93.3%) in the T4 group than in the T3-T4 group (53.3%), and the incidence of compensatory hyperhidrosis was lower in the T4 group (6.7%) than in the T3-T4 group (46.7%). Postoperative complications included one mild pneumothorax and two instances of intercostal neuralgia. Digital infrared thermographic imaging (DITI) correlated well with postoperative satisfaction. Conclusion: Both techniques proved effective for controlling isolated axillary hyperhidrosis. The T4 group had a higher satisfaction rate and lower severity of compensatory hyperhidrosis. Hence, thermal ablation of the lower interganglionic fibers of the third thoracic sympathetic ganglion on the fourth rib is a more practical and minimally invasive treatment than is the T3-T4 surgical method, according to the degree of compensatory sweating in isolated axillary hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2002

Video-assisted thoracic sympathicotomy is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of essential hyperhidrosis with immediate symptomatic improvement. However, this is offset by the occurrence of a high rate of side effects, such as embarrassing compensatory hyperhidrosis. Therefore, by comparing and assessing the degree of symptomatic improvement or compensatory sweating following sympathicotomy at various levels and the extent of block, we are to determine the optimal level of sympathicotomy and which method will result in minimal side effects and maximal benefits. Material and Method: From January 1998 to June 2001, the thoracoscopic sympathicotomy was performed in 150 patients suffering from essential hyperhidrosis in the Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Wonkwang University Hospital. The patients were divided into three groups. GroupI(n=50): patients having undergone 72,3,4 sympathicotomy, GroupII (n=50): patients having undergone 72 sympathicotomy which consist of blocking the interganglionic neural fiber on the second rib, and group 111(n=50): patients having undergone 73 sympathicotomy which consist of blocking the interganglionic neural fiber on the third rib. The parameters were composed of the satisfaction rate of treatment, the degree of compensatory sweating, postoperative complications, and changes of plantar sweating. Results: There was no difference in age and sex among the groups. All of the treated patients obtained satisfactory alleviation of essential hyperhidrosis in immediate postoperative period. However the rate of long-term satisfaction were 80%, 92%, and 96% in groupsI,II, and III respectively(p<0.05). More than embarrassing compensatory hyperhidrosis was present in 50%, 28%, and 18% in groups I,II ,and III respectively(p<0.05). Slight but comfortable amounts of palmar humidness was expressed in decreasing order, group III(34%), groupII(6%), and group I(4%) respectively(p<0.05). In regard to plantar sweating, decrease in sweating was expressed in each of the three groups, but was not significant between the groups.