• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.374-382
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• 1999

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate etiologic factor, treatment, prognosis of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). Material and Methods: The medical records of 225 cases of SP experienced at Kyungpook University Hospital from Jan. 1996 to Dec. 1997 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The patients were 128 primary SP and 97 secondary SP. The mean age was $30{\pm}15.5$ years in primary SP and $51{\pm}7.4$ years in secondary SP. The ratio of male to female was 8:1 in primary SP and 5.5:1 in secondary SP. Smoker was more common in seconday SP (71.1 %) than primary SP (34.4%). About 70% of patients with primary and secondary SP was underweighted. The previous history of SP was present in 28.9% and 25.8% of primary and secondary SP, respectively. The main underlying lung diseases in secondary SP were inactive tuberculosis (68%), active tuberculosis (12.4%) and COPD (11.3%). Tube thoracostomy was performed in 96.8% and 97.9% of primary and secondary SP, respectively. The duration of chest tube insertion was longer in seconday SP ($18.2{\pm}19.59$ days) than primary SP ($7.5{\pm}6.57$ days). The open thoracotomy were performed in 22.7% and 10.3% of primary and secondary SP, respectively. The most com- mon indication of open thoracotomy was recurrence in primary SP and persistent air leak in secondary SP. During following-up of $17{\pm}7.8$ months, the recurrence rate in patients with conservative treatment was 16.5% and 11.8% of primary and secondary SP, respectively. The recurrence was most common within 1 month after discharge. Conclusion: Greater attention and research about SP are necessary for more efficient patient care.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.836-842
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• 1999

Background: Mixed obstructive and restrictive pattern of spirometry can not be concluded in the presence of true restrictive disorders because pure obstructive disorders can also show reduced vital capacity. However, it is not known how many patients with mixed spirometric pattern really have restrictive disorders in Korea whose pattern of pulmonary diseases is somewhat different from foreign countries. To answer this question, I performed this study and tried to answer it according to diseases in addition. Method: Test results from 413 patients who undergone both spirometry and lung volume measurements on the same visit from August 1, 1998 to July 31, 1999 were included. Spirometry data were classified as mixed obstructive-restrictive pattern when spirometry showed '$FEV_1/FVC$<70% (<65% if age$\geq$60)' and FVC<80% of predicted value'. TLC by the method of nitrogen washout was considered as gold standard to diagnose restrictive disorders in which TLC is less than 80% of predicted value. Results: Out of 404 patients who could be evaluated, 58 had mixed pattern of spirometry. 58 patients were suffered from airway diseases(39 patients) such as COPD(22 patients, 38%), asthma(11, 19%), bronchiectasis (6,10%), and sequelae of pulmonary tuberculosis(15, 26%) or other diseases(4,7%). Only 18 out of 58(31%) were confirmed to have true restrictive disorders by TLC. The proportion of true restrictive disorders was different according to diseases, 20.5%(8/39patients) in patients with airway diseases and 53.3%(8/15) with sequelae of pulmonary tuberculosis(p<0.05). Conclusion: Many patients whose spirometry showed mixed pattern didn't have restrictive disorders but had pure obstructive disorders. This was true for more patients with airway diseases. Therefore it would be prudent that lung volume be tested to diagnose restrictive disorders in patients with mixed spirometric pattern.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2007

Background: Bronchial anthracofibrosis, which is defined as bronchial narrowing with black pigmentation of the overlying bronchial mucosa, is frequently associated with tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between bronchial anthrocofibrosis and to identify the clinical and radiological characteristics of non-tuberculous bronchial anthracofibrosis. Methods: All patients who showed bronchial anthracofibrosis in more than one segment on a bronchoscopic examination from January 2003 to July 2006 at Kangnam St. Mary's hospital were enrolled in this study. The underlying diseases, baseline clinical characteristics, characteristic findings on a computed tomogram (CT) of the chest, pathologic findings of the bronchial mucosa, and the clinical response to steroid therapy were analyzed retrospectively. Results: A total 54 patients (19 males, 35 females) were enrolled with a mean age of 75 years. The most common presenting symptoms were cough, sputum and dyspnea. The predominant X-ray findings were peribronchial soft tissue attenuation with or without calcification, mediastinal lymphadenopathy with or without calcification and atelectasis. Fourteen non-tuberculous anthracofibrosis patients were treated with steroid. Nine patients were improved clinically, and 6 patients were improved radiologically. Conclusion: Bronchial anthracofibrosis is frequently associated with various pulmonary diseases not only tuberculosis but also COPD pneumonia etc.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.574-582
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• 1997

Background : Normal humans meet the increased ventilatory need during exercise initially by the increase of tidal volume (TV) and later by the increase of respiratory frequency (Rf). And the inspiratory duty cycle (Ti/Ttot) is also increased more than 50% for the compensation of the decrease of respiratory cycle provoked by the increase of respiratory frequency. The patients with chronic airflow obstruction show rapid and shallow breathing pattern during exercise because of the decreased ventilatory capacity and the increased dead space ventilation. However, the studies about the change of inspiratory duty cycle are only a few and there is no literature about the relationship between the change of inspiratory duty cycle and the degree of airflow obstruction. Methods : The subjects were the twelve patients with chronic airflow obstruction (CAO) and ten normal people. The incremental exercise test was done. The increase of work load was 10 W in CAO group and 25 W in normal control group. The analysis of the results was done by the comparison of the parameters such as minute ventilation (VE), TV, Rf, physiologic dead space (Vd/Vt), and inspiratory duty cycle between the two groups. Each parameters were compared after transformation into % control duration base that means dividing the total exercise time into five fractions and % control duration data were obtained at rest, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and max. Statistical analysis was done by repeated measure ANOVA using SAS program. Results : The changes of VE and TV were significantly different between two groups while the change of Rf was not significant. The decrease of Vd/Vt was significantly low in CAO group. Ti/Ttot was markedly increased from 38.4 + 3.0% at rest to 48.6 + 4.5% at max in normal control group while Ti/Ttot showed little change from 40.5 + 2.2% at rest to 42.6 + 3.5% at max. And the change of inspiratory duty cycle showed highly good correlation with the degree of airflow obstruction (FEV1%). (r=0.8151, p < 0.05). Conclusions : The increase of Ti/Ttot during exercise observed in normal humans is absent in the patients with CAO and the change of Ti/Ttot is well correlated with the degree of airflow obstruction.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.124-135
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• 1997

Background : Diffuse panbronchiolitis(DPB) is a disease characterized clinically by chronic cough, expectoration and dyspnea; and histologically by chronic inflammation localized mainly in the region of the respiratory bronchiole. It is prevalent in Japanese, but is known to be rare in Americans and Europians. Only a few cases in Chinese, Italians, North Americans and Koreans have been reported. It is diagnosed by characteristic clinical, radiological and pathologic features. High-resolution CT(HRCT) is known to be valuable in the study of the disease process and response to therapy in DPB. To our knowledge, there has been no correlation of its appearance on HRCT with the severity of the disease process, and radioaerosol scan(RAS) of the lung has not previously been used for the diagnosis of DPB. Method : During recent two years we have found 12 cases of DPB in Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. We analysed the clinical characteristics, compared HRCT classifications with clinical stages of DPB, and determined characteristic RAS manifestations of DPB. Results : 1. The ages ranged from 31 to 83 years old(mean 54.5 years old), and male female ratio was 4:8. 75%(9/12) of patients had paranasal sinusitis, and only one patient was a smoker. 2. The patients were assigned to one of three clinical stages of DPB on the basis of clinical findings, sputum bacterology and arterial blood gas analysis. of 12 cases, 5 were in the first stage, 4 were in the second stage, and 3 were in the third stage. In most of the patients, pulmonary function tests showed marked obstructive and slight restrictive impairments. Sputum culture yielded P.aeruginosa in 3 cases of our 12 cases, K.pneumoniae in 2 cases, H.influenzae in 2 cases, and S.aureus in 2 cases. 3. Of 12 patients, none had stage I characteristics as classified on HRCT scans, 4 had slage II findings, 5 had stage III findings, and 3 had stage IV characteristics. 4. We peformed RAS in 7 of 12 patients With DPB. In 71.4% (5/7) of the patients, RAS showed mottled aerosol deposits characteristically in the transitional and intermediary airways with peripheral airspace defects, which contrasted sharply with central aerosol deposition of COPD. 5. There were significant correlations between HRCT stages and clinical stages(r= 0.614, P < 0.05), between HRCT types and Pa02(r= -0.614, P < 0.05), and between HRCT types and ESR(r= 0.618, P < 0.01). Conclusion : The HRCT classifications correspond well to the clinical stage. Therfore in the examination of patients with DPB, HRCT is useful in the evaluation of both the location and severity of the lesions. Also, RAS apears to be a convenient, noninvasive and useful diagnostic method of DPB.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.5 s.262
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• pp.359-365
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• 2006

Background: Arterial grafts have been used to achieve better long-term results for coronary revascularization. Bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts have a better results, but it may be not used in some situations such as diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated the clinical and angiographic results of composite left internal thoracic artery-radial artery (LITA-RA) Y graft. Material and Method: Between April 2002 and September 2004, 119 patients were enrolled in composite Y graft for coronary bypass surgery. The mean age was $62.6{\pm}8.8$ years old and female was 34.5%. Preoperative cardiac risk factors were as follows: hypertension 43.7%, diabetes 33.6%, smoker 41.2%, and hyperlipidemia 22.7%, There were emergency operation (14), cardiogenic shock (6), left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 40% (17), and 17 cases of left main disease. Coronary angiography was done in 35 patients before the hospital discharge. Result: The number of distal anastomoses was $3.1{\pm}0.91$ and three patients (2.52%) died during hospital stay. The off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) was applied to 79 patients (66.4%). The LITA was anastomosed to left anterior descending system except three cases which was to lateral wall. The radial Y grafts were anastomosed to diagonal branches (4), ramus intermedius (21), obtuse marginal branches (109), posterolateral branches (12), and posterior descending coronary artery (8). Postoperative coronary angiography in 35 patients showed excellent patency rates (LITA 100%, and RA 88.5%; 3 RA grafts which anastomosed to coronary arteries <70% stenosed showed string sign with competitive flow). Conclusion: The LITA-RA Y composite graft provided good early clinical and angiographic results in multivessel coronary revascularization. But it should be cautiously used in selected patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.437-449
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• 2001

Background : In the severe community-acquired pneumonia, it has been known that the immune status is occasionally suppressed. This study was performed to identify the immunologic markers related with the prognostic factors in severe community-acquired pneumonia. Methods : 23 patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia were involved in this study, and divided into survivor (16) and nonsurvivor (7) groups. In this study, the medical history, laboratory tests(complete blood counts, routine chemistry profile, immunoglobulins, complements, lymphocyte subsets, cytokines, sputum and blood culture, urine analysis), and chest radiographs were scrutinized. Results : 1) Both groups had lymphopenia(total lymphocyte count $995.6{\pm}505.7/mm^3$ in the survivor and $624.0{\pm}287.6/mm^3$ in the nonsurvivor group). 2) The T-lymphocyte count of the nonsurvivor group($295.9{\pm}203.0/mm^3$) was lower than the survivor group($723.6{\pm}406.5/mm^3$) (p<0.05). 3) The total serum protein(albumin) was $6.0{\pm}1.0(2.7{\pm}0.7)\;g/d{\ell}$ in the survivor and $5.2{\pm}1.5(2.3{\pm}0.8)g/d{\ell}$ in the nonsurvivor group. The BUN of the nonsurvivor group($41.7{\pm}30.0mg/d{\ell}$) was higher than that of the survivor group($18.9{\pm}9.8mg/d{\ell}$)(p<0.05). The creatinine concentration was higher in the nonsurvivor group($1.8{\pm}1.0mg/d{\ell}$) than that in the survivor group($1.0{\pm}0.3mg/d{\ell}$)(p<0.05). 4) The immunoglobulin G level was higher in the survivor group($1433.0{\pm}729.5mg/d{\ell}$) than in the nonsurvivor group($849.1{\pm}373.1mg/d{\ell}$) (p<0.05). 5) The complement $C_3$ level was $108.0{\pm}37.9mg/d{\ell}$ in the survivor group and $88.0{\pm}32.1mg/d{\ell}$ in the nonsurvivor group. 6) A cytokine study showed an insignificant difference in both groups. 7) Chronic liver disease, DM, and COPD were major underlying diseases in both groups. Conclusion : These results suggest that decreased a T-lymphocyte count and immunoglobulin G level, and an increased BUN and creatinine level may be associated with the poor prognosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.736-745
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• 1996

Background : It is known that pulmonary rehabilitation improves dyspnea and exercise tolerance in patient with chronic lung disease, although it does not improve pulmonary function. But there is a controversy whether this improvement after pulmonary rehabilitation is due to increased aerobic exercise capacity. We performed this study to evaluate the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation for 6 weeks on the pulmonary function, gas exchange, exercise tolerance and aerobic exercise capacity in patients with chronic lung disease. Methods : Pulmonary rehabilitations including education, muscle strengthening exercise and symptom-Umited aerobic exercise for six weeks, were performed in fourteen patients with chronic lung disease (COPD 11, bronchiectasis 1, IPF 1, sarcoidosis 1 ; mean age $57{\pm}4$ years; male 12, female 2). Pre- and post-rehabilitaion pulmonary function and exercise capacity were compared. Results: 1) Before the rehabilitation, FVC, $FEV_1$ and $FEF_{25-75%}$ of the patients were $71.5{\pm}6.4%$. $40.6{\pm}3.4%$ and $19.3{\pm}3.8%$ of predicted value respectively. TLC, FRC and RV were $130.3{\pm}9.3%$, $157.3{\pm}13.2%$ and $211.1{\pm}23.9%$ predicted respectively. Diffusing capacity and MVV were $59.1{\pm}1.1%$ and $48.6{\pm}6.2%$. These pulmonary functions did not change after pulmonary rehabilitation. 2) In the incremental exercise test using bicycle ergometer, maximum work rale ($57.7{\pm}4.9$) watts vs. $64.8{\pm}6.0$ watts, P=0.036), maximum oxygen consumption ($0.81{\pm}0.07$ L/min vs. $0.96{\mu}0.08$ L/min, P=0.009) and anaerobic threshold ($0.60{\pm}0.06$ L/min vs. $0.76{\mu}0.06$ L/min, P=0.009) were significantly increased after pulmonary rehabilitation. There was no improvement in gas exchange after rehabilitation. 3) Exercise endurances of upper ($4.5{\pm}0.7$ joule vs. $14.8{\pm}2.4$ joule, P<0.001) and lower extremity ($25.4{\pm}5.7$ joule vs. $42.6{\pm}7.7$ joule, P<0.001), and 6 minute walking distance ($392{\pm}35$ meter vs. $459{\pm}33$ meter, P<0.001) were significantly increased after rehabilitation. Maximum inspiratory pressure was also increased after rehabilitation ($68.5{\pm}5.4$ $CmH_2O$ VS. $80.4{\pm}6.4$ $CmH_2O$, P<0.001). Conclusion: The pulmonary rehabilitation for 6 weeks can improve exercise performance in patients with chronic lung disease.