• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.916-921
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• 1990

Clinical observations were performed on 17 cases of the traumatic sternal fracture, those were admitted and treated at the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in Chosun University Hospital during the past 6 years 5months period from January 1983 to May 1989. Obtained results were as follows: 1. The frequency was about 4.8% of the nonpenetrating chest trauma. 2. The ratio of male to female was 16: 1 in male predominance and age distribution was from 24 to 62 years old. 3. The common cause were high decelerating injury [impact of the steering column] and falling down[more than 3 m in high]. 4. The most common fracture site was sternal body and next was sternomanubrial junction. 5. Associated intrathoracic organ injuries were cardiac contusion [6 cases], hemopneumothorax[1 Case], mediastinal bleeding[1 case], and thoracic cage and extrathoracic organ injuries were rib fracture, head injuries, thoracic spinal fracture, and long bone fracture. 6. Abnormal EGG findings were sinus bradycardia[1 case], bundle branch block [2 cases], and sinus tachycardia[3 cases]. 7. The operative reduction and fixation was necessary in only one case and the others were treated with conservative treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.634-638
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• 1994

Infection of a median sternotomy incision may result in a large, unsightly,unstable,and potentially fatal wound. During the past 8 years, 5 consecutive patients [ 4 male and 1 female ] had repair of infected sternotomy wound. We describe our current preferred techniques and the results we have achieved with them. As soon as the sternal infection was shown, operative wound was opened and irrigated more than 4 times a day with 0.5% Betadine iodine solution until the exudate became clean with no growth of bacteria. Operation was performed in one-stage, which consisted of aggressive debridement of the infected bone and muscle transposition. Reconstruction was with one-side or both pectoralis flaps in all patients and rectus abdominis in 2 patients. There was no mortality or morbidity within 30 days postoperatively. We conclude that early aggressive debridement and muscle transposition remain the treatment of choice for most patients with infected median sternotomy wounds.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.181-184
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• 1999

Systolic coronary arterial narrowing, secondary to myocardial bridging which is capable of producing chest pain, myocardial infarction and ventricular fibrillation is a known but an uncommon entity. A supra-arterial myotomy in a case of myocardial bridge causing medication-refractory angina is described. Under the partial sternotomy incision, we performed a supra-arterial myotomy in the left anterior descending coronary artery without cardiopulmonary bypass. The postoperative course was uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.720-730
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• 1990

The complicated pulmonary emphysema including “Giant bullae” and spontaneous pneumothorax often involve both lungs, and controversy exists concerning which is the more rational means of surgical treatment-bilateral simultaneous operation or two staged operation. We report three cases of the complicated bilateral bullous emphysema and two cases of bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax treated through median sternotomy. We performed the ligation of bullae, bullectomy, cystectomy, wedge resection, and left lower lobectomy through median sternotomy. No technical problems were encountered through this approach, which provided maximum benefit with one operation In conclusions, median sternotomy may be appropriate for resection of emphysematous bullae, specially in a severe COPD patient who may be poorly tolerated the superimposed loss of respiratory function due to incisional pain, because median sternotomy permit bilateral exploration, minimal impairment of pulmonary function, simultaneous restoration of pulmonary function, less incisional pain than routine lateral thoracotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.155-157
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• 1989

Median sternotomy is the incision of choice to allow access to the anterior mediastinum, heart, or both lungs. The vertical skin incision generally gives a poor cosmetic result. In certain patients particularly those who are asymptomatic and undergoing short, low risk procedures, cosmetic considerations are of relatively greater importance. A bilateral horizontal submammary skin incision with dissection of a flap including the subcutaneous tissue and breast allows exposure of the sternum so that a median sternotomy can be performed. We have performed this incision in 12 patients undergoing open heart surgery. Although obtaining the usual midsternal exposure takes some extra time, results have shown the va1ue of this approach and its benefit to the patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.397-401
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• 2002

The combination of interrupted aortic arch and aortopulmonary window is a rare presentation of congenital heart disease, which requires early diagnosis and surgical treatment. We describe a successful one-stage repair of the anomaly through median sternotomy in a 10-day-old neonate weighing 2.46 kg.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.201-208
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• 1996

We have been studying an implant type EMG-controlled electrolarynx. First of all, we propose the sternohyoid muscle(SH) as a control source of the electrolarynx. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility that subjects control voluntarily the constriction of their SH, and produce the control signals of electrolarynx. For this pwnan, we carried out four experiments regarding the control of the electrolarynx. At the results, we found that subjects can control the start/stop of constriction and the amplitude of EMG of their SH. Also, we ascertained the possibility that the start/stop of contraction of SH controls OW/OFF of sound source of the electrolarynx and the amplitude of UG of SH controls the pitch frequency of the electrolarynx.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1155-1159
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• 1995

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma is a slow growing tumor with relative good prognosis. But locally advanced thyroid cancer with T4 or N1b is difficult to manage. Between June 1988 and April 1995, we resected 8 advanced thyroid cancers trans-sternally. All patients had direct mediastinal extension [T4 or mediastinal lymph node metastasis [N1b with airway obstruction or dysphagia. We operated all the patients by partial or total sternotomy for mediastinal dissection along with thyroidectomy and radical neck dissection. There were some acceptable morbidities but no operative mortality. Postoperative radioactive iodine therapy was followed without side effects. Follow-up survival period was between 11 months to 81 months with 2 late mortalities [17 month, 30 month . Although definite benefit for routine mediastinal dissection in thyroid cancer has not been established, in locally advanced cases impending airway obstruction or dysphagia who have questionable effect by radioactive iodine therapy alone, aggressive mediastinal mass dissection including lymph node metastasis has the significant role to prevent the patients from suffocation & dysphagia, and to enhance the effect of followed radioactive iodine tharapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.969-971
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• 1993

The sternal turnover has a limited use in an asymmetrical funnel chest. However we tried `One-half sternal turnover` as a new operative approach for an asymmetrical funnel chest. Through the bilateral submammary skin incision, median sternotomy was made from xiphoid process to midsternum and extended horizontally. The segment of ribs were cut at the angle of depression. The en-bloc resected chest wall segment contained one-half sternum as well as a part of ribs and left half of rectus muscle. After turning over the en-bloc segment, reapproximation with wiring was done. Sternotomy wound was closed in layer after placing of substernal drainage tube. Postoperatively, the chest wall was stable and the recovery course was uneventful except left-sided minimal pneumothorax which was cured spontaneaously. The patient was discharged on postoperative 14th day.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.787-790
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• 1993

The purpose of this study is to analyze the early results by the operative methods in 36 patients with pectus excavatum during the period August 1989 to August 1993. We underwent Ravitch`s operation in 15 patients [mean age : 11.0], which consists of subperichondral resection of all deformed cartilages, anterior wedge osteotomy and fixation in place with wire sutures of the sternum, and sternal eversion operation in 21 patients[mean age : 5.3], which consists of en-bloc resection of deformed sternum and cartilages, tailoring of the costal cartilages and shaping of the sternum and fixation of sternum and cartilages. Early results were satisfactory in 93% [Excellent 93%] for Ravitch`s operations and in 100% [Excellent 90% and Good 10%] for sternal eversion operations. But late results by sternal growth will be necessary longer follow-up.