• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.235-238
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• 1996

Acquired tracheoesophageal fistula, a life threatening lesion, is rare but occurs most frequently alter prolonged mechanical ven ilation using a cuffed endotracheal tube. The mechanism of injury seems to be ischemia and inflammation of compressed trachea and esophagus by cuffed endotracheal tube. The patient was a 25 years old pregnant woman who was on prolonged mechanical ventilation for bacterial meningitis secondary to untreated otitis media. 40 days after mechanical ventilation, sudden subcutaneous empysema and pneumomediastinum ocurred and these were due to tracheoesophageal fistula. It was diagnosed with bronchoscopy and CT We performed tracheal repair with TA 60mm stapler and esophageal repair by interruted two layer suture with 410 vicryl and 510 prolene. A flap of sternocleidomastoid muscle was inserted between trachea and esophagus. Postoperative course was uneventful and the result of operation was acceptable by esophagography.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.287-291
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• 2016

Background: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is an uncommon disorder with only a few reported clinical studies. The goals of this study were to investigate the clinical manifestations and the natural course of S PM, as w ell as examine the current available treatment options for SPM. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 91 patients diagnosed with SPM between January 2008 and June 2015. Results: The mean age of the patients was $22.7{\pm}13.2years$, and 67 (73.6%) were male. Chest pain (58, 37.2%) was the predominant symptom. The most frequent precipitating factor before developing SPM was a cough (15.4%), but the majority of patients (51, 56.0%) had no precipitating factors. Chest X-ray was diagnostic in 44 patients (48.4%), and chest computed tomography (CT) showed mediastinal air in all cases. Esophagography (10, 11.0%), esophagoduodenoscopy (1, 1.1%), and bronchoscopy (5, 5.5%) were performed selectively due to clinical suspicion, but no abnormal findings that implicated organ injury were documented. Twelve patients (13.2%) were discharged after a visit to the emergency room, and the others were admitted and received conservative treatment. The mean length of hospital stay was $3.0{\pm}1.6days$. There were no complications related to SPM except for recurrence in 2 patients (2.2%). Conclusion: SPM responds well to conservative treatment and follows a benign natural course. Hospitalization and aggressive treatment can be performed in selective cases.