• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.403-407
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• 1996

One hundred and twenty three patients underwent 137 thoracostomies for spontaneous pneumothorax in the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Gyeongsang National University from January 1987 to December 1994. There were 118 men and 6 women and average age was )2.4 years. The two most common surgical Indications were recurrent pneumothorax and continuous air leakage. Other indications were visible bullae on simple X-ray, previous contralateral pneumothorax, incomplete expansion of the lung, and bilateral pneumothoraces. Methods of thoracotomy were subaxillary thoracotomy in 82 cases, lateral minithoracotomy in 12 cases and posterolateral thoracotomy in 43 cases. Operation time was 63.0 $\pm$ 30.8, 98.3 $\pm$ 37.9, 186.9 $\pm$ 87.9 minutes respectively, and postoperative chest tube keeping time was 5.2 $\pm$ 4.1 days in subaxillary thoracotomy, 6.2 $\pm$ 5.0 days in minithoracotomy and 10.0 $\pm$ 5.8 days in posterolateral thoracotomy Bullae were present mostly at the apex in spontaneous and tuberculous pneumothorax comparred to the cases of chronic obstructive or emphysematous lung disease, where there were no redilection of presence of bullae (p< 0.01). Operative procedures were wedge resection, bullae obliteration and lobectomy. Postoperative complications were continuous air leakage, bleeding, brachial plexus injury, empyema, and wound infection, but all the complications were cured by the time of discharge. There was no mortality.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.995-998
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• 1998

Background: Prolonged air leak is a common complication after thoracoscopic bullectomy. Materials and methods: A technique is described to minimize postoperative air leak in thoracoscopic surgery for the treatment of recurrent or persistent spontaneous pneumothorax. Results: A 3.5cm utility incision is made in the anterior axillary line at the level of the third intercostal space, and blebs and bullae are stapled and sutured without excision, using standard surgical instruments and stapler. Conclusions: This technique may be useful to reduce prolonged air leak after removal of the bleb and bullous lesion, and may minimize the delayed recurrence of ipsilateral pneumothorax.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.757-764
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• 1991

We have observed 360 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax from January 1980 to May 1991 at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chosun University Hospital. Males occupied 266 cases[73.9%] and females 94 cases[26.1%], and its ratio was 2.8: l. The age of patients ranged from neonate[5 days] to 84 years old. The site of pneumothorax was right in 50.3%, left in 43.3% and bilateral in 6.4%a. The clinical symptoms were frequently dyspnea, chest pain and coughing. The associated pulmonary lesions were shown pulmonary tuberculosis in 199 cases[55.3%], bullae in 54, pulmonary emphysema in 31, COPD in 17, pneumonia in 6, lung cancer in 5, paragonimiasis in 5, catamenial pneumothorax in 3 and unknown underlying pathology in 39 cases. The results of surgical management of spontaneous pneumothorax are followings: 288 out of 360 cases[80.0%] were cured by closed thoracotomy, 53 cases[14.8%] were cured by open thoracotomy. Open thoracotomy was the most effective procedure in persistent air leakage, recurrent pneumothorax, visible bleb or bullae on the chest X-ray, associated lesion, bilateral simultaneous pneumothorax, parenchymal incomplete lung expansion and bleeding after closed thoracotomy. The incidence of complication was developed in 10. ado and recurrent rate was seen in 10.6%. There was no operative death.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.70-73
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• 1991

We have experienced a case of lung injury caused by accidental inhalation of ammonia gas in a 34 year-old-man. By the explosion of ammonia tank in a refrigerator boat he inhaled ammonia gas. Several minutes later, he suffered from severe dyspnea and visual loss. On arrival at emergency room, analysis of arterial blood gas revealed severe hypoxemia and his chest film showed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. Under the impression of adult respiratory distress syndrome, mechanical ventilator was applied to the patient. After recovery from ARDS and tracheal edema, he complained of some hemoptysis and productive sputum during the admission. So we checked bronchoscopy and bronchograpy which showed tracheal bullae just above carina and tubular bronchiectatic change in the right lower lobe. We report a case of lung injuries-ARDS, tracheal bullae, and bronchiectasis-caused by inhalation of ammonia gas with the review of the relevant literatures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.788-793
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• 1989

We have observed 501 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax from January 1981 to June 1989 at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital. Of these, 57 patients have undergone thoracotomy to treat the pneumothorax after closed thoracostomy. These 57 patients were based on this retrospective clinical analysis, and the results were as follows: The ratio of male to female was 4.2:1 in male predominance and the old aged patients, over 50 years old, occupied 47.3% of all patients. Primary spontaneous pneumothorax was 19 cases and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax was 38 cases. The underlying pathology in secondary spontaneous pneumothorax was tuberculosis emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 35 cases. The indications of thoracotomy were persistent air leakage in 23 cases recurrent pneumothorax in 21 cases, inadequate expansion in 13 cases. Rupture of bullae or blebs were most frequent operative and pathologic findings in persistent air leakage group and recurrent pneumothorax group. In inadequate expansion group, predominant finding was destructive lung lesion. Bullectomy and/or bullae ligation was most effective procedures in 36 cases [63%] for operative management of spontaneous pneumothorax. Duration of preoperative and postoperative chest tube indwelling day was 13.35 days and 8.05 days in persistent pneumothorax group, 8.92 days and 7.77 days in recurrent pneumothorax group, 13.23 days and 10.21 days in inadequate expansion group.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.104-109
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• 2002

Ecthyma gangrenosum is usually seen in immunocompromised patients, particularly in those with underlying malignant disease. Ecthyma gangrenosum is rapidly progressing skin infection characterized by edema, hemorrhage, bullae and necrosis. We experienced the case of a 13-month-old male who had Ecthyma gangrenosum associated with liver abscess and renal abscess. The patient initially presented with skin lesions of multiple well defined central necrotic black colored large erythematous bullae. The multiple liver abscess with hepatomegaly and multifocal pyelonephritis with focal renal abscess revealed by abdominal ultrasonogram and computed tomogram. In the bacterial cultures of skin, urine and liver aspiration fluid, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was grown. The patient had no immune deficiency disease. We report this case with a review of related literatures.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.84-90
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• 2000

Objective: To determine the effects of respiration on the size of lung cysts by comparing inspiratory and expiratory high-resolution CT (HRCT) scans. Materials and Methods: The authors evaluated the size of cystic lesions, as seen on paired inspiratory and expiratory HRCT scans, in 54 patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (n = 3), pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis (n = 4), confluent centrilobular emphysema (n = 9), paraseptal emphysema and bullae (n = 16), cystic bronchiectasis (n = 13), and honeycombing (n = 9). Using paired inspiratory and expiratory HRCT scans obtained at the corresponding anatomic level, a total of 270 cystic lesions were selected simultaneously on the basis of five lesions per lung disease. Changes in lung cyst size observed during respiration were assessed by two radiologists. In a limited number of cases (n = 11), pathologic specimens were obtained by open lung biopsy or lobectomy. Results: All cystic lesions in patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis, lymphangiomyomatosis, cystic bronchiectasis, honeycombing, and confluent centrilobular emphysema became smaller on expiration, but in two cases of paraseptal emphysema and bullae there was no change. Conclusion: In cases in which expiratory CT scans indicate that cysts have become smaller, cystic lesions may communicate with the airways. To determine whether, for cysts and cystic lesions, this connection does in fact exist, paired inspiratory and expiratory HRCT scans are necessary.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.578-581
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• 1987

A very rare form of intrapulmonary cyst is an enterogenous cyst two examples of which were described by Ward and Krahl [1942]. Microscopically, the cyst wall is lined by gastric or intestinal type of mucous membrane which may include islets of pancreatic tissue; their walls contain muscle but no cartilage. We recently experienced a case of intrapulmonary enterogenous cyst. The patient was 30-year-old-male who showed chest pain and tightness after chest trauma. Chest X-ray revealed pneumothorax in both lung field with giant bullae in left upper lung field, right 6th and 7th rib fracture. Left lower lobectomy including cyst was done and the postoperative course was uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.451-458
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• 1991

We have observed 101 cases of recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax from Sep. 1979 to Dec. 1989 at the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, College of Medicine, Inje University, Pusan Paik Hospital and the result obtained as follows. 1] Age range of patients was the first decade to seventh decade. Males outnumbered females by 6.7: l. One or two episodes of recurrent attack were noted in majority cases. 2] In distribution of the lesion sites, right side was 55 cases[55.4%], left 42 cases[41.9%], and bilateral 4 cases[3.0%]. 3] In clinical manifestations, abrupt onset of dyspnea was 78 cases[77.2%], chest pain 48 cases[47.5%], cough 9 cases[8.9%] and chest discomfort 8 cases[7.9%]. 4] Of 101 cases, 48 cases were associated with pulmonary tuberculosis and other cases were associated with subpleural bullae and blebs[26 cases], emphysema[7 cases], bronchiectasis[2 cases], lung cancer[1 case], and silicosis[1 case], 5] In 88 cases[87.2%] of patients, the magnitude of collapse was above 50% in plain chest film. 6] The interval of recurrence after last attack was frequently within 1 year. 7] In the management, closed thoracostomy with underwater-sealed drainage was applied in first recurrent 53 cases but 2nd recurrence was developed in 16 cases. In 52 cases, surgical management was applied. The pleurodesis with chemical agent[tetracycline] via chest tube was applied in 2 cases. Among 51 cases subjected to the open thoracotomy, pleural abrasion was performed in 3 cases, excision of bullae & blebs in 12 cases, wedge resection in 28 cases, lobectomy in 6 cases and wedge resection combined with lobectomy in 2 cases. In one case subjected to the median sternotomy, wedge resection on both lung apex was performed. 8] Postoperative complications were developed in 8 cases but not serious.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.800-804
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• 2004

A 67-year-old male with a 6-year history of emphysema was admitted with severe dyspnea. On chest computed tomographic scan, a newly developed large bulla was detected in right lower hemithorax. This bulla was sucessfully managed by intracavitary drainage ［modified Monaldi procedure］ with symptomatic improvement. We report this case with review of the literature.