• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.307-315
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• 1988

A clinical analysis was performed on 97 cases of chest injuries experienced at Department of Thoracic and cardiovascular Surgery, Armed Forces Capital Hospital during 2 years period from 1986 to 1988. Of 97 patients of chest trauma, 39 cases were result from penetrating injuries whereas 58 cases were from non-penetrating injuries, and there were 77 cases of hemothorax and / or pneumothorax, 47 of rib fracture, 8 of foreign body, 6 scapular and clavicle fracture, 5 of diaphragmatic injuries, 4 of paraplegia. The majority of chest injuries were encounted in the age group between 21 and 30 years-old, mean age was 25.9 years-old and all cases were male except one. Gun-shot wound was the most common cause in the penetrating injuries and the majority of non-penetrating chest injury patients were traffic accident and fist or kick accounted for next. The principles of therapy for chest trauma were rapid expansion of the lung by closed thoracostomy[45 cases] and thoracentesis only[3 cases] but thoracotomy done at 27 cases because of massive bleeding or intrapleural hematoma, foreign body, cardiac injury, diaphragmatic injury and bronchial rupture. The over-all mortality was 2.07 percent[2 cases among all], a case was from penetrating injuries and another was from non-penetrating injuries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.283-288
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• 1992

From january 1970 through december 1990, 130 cases of patients with chest penetrating injury were admitted to department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in Chosun University Hospital. We analyzed above patients and obtained results were as follows: 1. The ratio of male to female was 7.1:1 in male predominance, and the majority[69.6%] was distributed from 2nd to 3rd decade. 2. The most common cause of chest penetrating injuries was stab wound. 3. 110 cases[84.5%] were arrived to our emergency room within six hours after trauma. 4. The most common injuring mode was hemo, pneumothorax. 5. The frequently injured site of the penetrating chest trauma was left side of the chest [64.65%]. 6. The common associated injuries of penetrating chest injuries were extremities injuries, abdominal injuries, head & facial injuries. 7. The common method of surgical treatment were closed thoracostomy[78 cases], open thoracotomy[20 cases], laparatomy[12 cases]. 8. The overall motality was 3.07%[4/130], and the causes were hypovolemic shock, sepsis and asphyxia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.418-423
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• 1979

Chest injuries due to blunt trauma often result in severe derangements that lead to death. And we have to diagnose and treat the patients who have blunt chest trauma immediately and appropriately. A clinical analysis was made on 324 cases of chest injury due to blunt trauma experienced at department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University during 8-year period from 1972 to 1979. Of 324 patients of blunt chest injuries, there were 189 cases of rib fracture, 121 of hemothorax or/and pneumothorax, 108 of soft tissue injury of the chest wall only, 41 of lung contusion, 24 of flail chest, 13 of scapular fracture, 7 of diaphragmatic rupture and others. The majority of blunt chest injury patients were traffic accident victims and falls accounted for the next largest group of accidents. Chest injuries were frequently encountered in the age group between 3rd decade and 4th decade [60%] and 238 patients were male comparing to 86 of female [Male: Female = 3:1 ]. In the patients who have the more number of fractured ribs, the more incidence of intrathoracic injury and intraabdominal organ damage were found. The principal associated injuries were head injury on 58 cases, long bone fractures on 37, skull fractures on 12, pelvic fractures on 10, renal injuries on 6 and intraabdominal organ injuries on 5 patients. The principle of early treatment of chest injury due to blunt trauma were rapid reexpansion of the lung by closed thoracotomy which was indicated on 96 cases, but open thoractomy was necessary on 14 cases because massive bleeding, intrapleural hematoma and/or fibrothorax, or diaphragmatic laceration-On 15 cases who were young and have multiple rib fracture with severe dislocation delayed elective open reduction of the fractured ribs with wire was done on the purpose of preserving normal active life. The over all mortality was 2.8% [9 of 324 cases] due to head injury on 3 cases, massive bleeding on 2,wet lung syndrome, acute renal failure on 1 and septicemia on 1 patient.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.337-342
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• 1977

A clinical analysis was performed on 383 cases of chest injurjes experienced at Department of Thoracic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital during 21 year period from 1957 to 1977. Of 383 patients of chest injuries, 209 cases were result from nonpenetrating injuries whereas 175 were from penetrating injuries, and there were 258 cases of hemothorax or/and pneumothorax, 162 of rib fracture, 33 of foreign body, 26 of clavicle fracture, 26 of lung contusion, 17 of diaphragmatic laceration, 14 of hemopericardium, 14 of flail chest and others. Stab wound was the most common in penetrating injuries and followed by gunshot and shell fragments. The majority of nonpenetrating chest injury patients were traffic accident victims. and fails accounted for the next largest group of accidents. Chest injuries were frequently encountered in the age group between 16 and 50 years, and 321 patients were male comparing to 62 of female. In blunt chest injuries the patients with five or more rib fractures had a 85 per cent incidence-of intrathoracic injury and 19 per cent had an intraabdominal organ damage, whereas those with four or less rib fractures had a 69 per cent and a 6 per cent incidence respectively. The principal associated injuries were cerebral contusion on 19 cases, renal contusion on 10, liver laceration on 7, peripheral vessel laceration on 5, spleen laceration on 3 and extremity fracture on 18 patients. The principles of therapy for early complications of chest trauma were rapid reexpansion of the lungs by thoracentesis [46 cases] and closed thoracotomy [125 cases] but open thoracotomy .had to be done on 90 cases [23-5%] because of massive bleeding or intrapleural hematoma, foreign body, cardiac injury, diaphragmatic laceration and bronchial rupture. The over all mortality was 2.87 per cent [11 among 383 cases], 8 cases were from penetrating injuries and 3 from nonpenetrating injuries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.327-336
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• 1977

A chinical analysis was performed on 383 ases of hest injurjes eperienced at Department of thoraci Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital during 21 year period From 1957 to 1977. Of 383 patients o hest injuries, 209 cases were result from nonpenetrating injuries whereas 175 were from penetrating injuries, and there were 258 cases of hemothorax or/and pneumothorax, 162 of rib fracture, 33 of foreign body, 26 of clavicle frcture, 26 of lung contusion, 17 of diaphragmati laceration, 14 of hemoperiardium, 14 of flail chest and others. Stab wound was the most common in penetrating injuries and followed by gunshot and shell fragments. The majority of nonpenetrating chest injury paiens were traffi accident vitims and falls accounted for the next largest group of accidents. Chest injuries were frequently encountered in the age group between 16 and 50 years, and 321 patients were male comparing to 62 of female. In blunt hest injuries the patients with five or more rib fractures had a 85 per ent incidence of intrathoracic injury and 19 per cent had an intraabdominal organ damage, whereas those with four or less rib fractures had a 69 per cent and a 6 per cent incidence respectively. The principal associated injuries were cerebral contusion on 19 cases, renal contusion on 10, liver laceration on 7, peripheral vessel laceration on 5, spleen laceration on 3 and extremity fracture on 18 patients. The principles of therapy for early complications of chest trauma were rapid reexpansion of the lungs by thoracentesis (46 cases) and closed thoracotomy (125 cases) but open thoracotomy had to be done on 90 cases (23.5%) because of massive bleeding or intrapleural hematoma, foreign body, cardiac injury, diaphragmatic laceration and bronhial rupture. The over all mortality was 2.87 per cent (11 among 383 cases), 8 cases were from penetrating injuries and 3 from nonpenetrating injuries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.111-121
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• 1985

A clinical analysis was performed on 312 cases of the chest trauma experienced at department of thoracic surgery, Chosun University Hospital during the past 6 years 10 months period from January 1978 to October 1984. 1. The ratio of male to female patient of the chest trauma was 3.1:1 in male predominance and age from 20 to 50 occupied 71.2% of the total cases. 2. The most common cause of the chest trauma was traffic accidents [45.5%] in this series. 244 cases [78.2%]were injured due to non-penetrating injuries and the remainders [68 cases, 21.8%] were injured due to penetrating injuries. 3. The frequently injured site of the chest trauma was left side of the chest [56.4%], the right side was 33% and the both side was 10.6%. 4. The most common symptoms were chest pain and dyspnea, and common signs were diminished breathing sound and subcutaneous emphysema. 5. The Hemothorax, Pneumothorax, Hemopneumothorax, and Hemopericardium were observed in 190 cases [60.9%] of the total cases, and etiologic distribution revealed 76.5% due to penetrating injuries and 56.6% due to non-penetrating injuries. 6. The rib fractures were observed in 210 cases [67.3%] of the total cases and the most common site of the rib fracture was 6th rib 140 cases [19.2%]. The common site of the rib fracture was from 4th rib to 7th rib [63.8%]. 7. The lung injuries were observed in 150 cases [48.1%] and the other organ injuries were observed in 260 cases [83.3%]. 8. Conservative treatment including thoracentesis were performed in 153 cases [49.1%], Closed thoracotomy with water seal drainage were performed in 112 cases [35.9%], and open thoracotomy were performed in 45 cases [14.4%]. 9. The complications of the chest trauma were developed in 63 cases [20.2%] and the common complications were atelectasis, wound infection and pneumonitis etc. 10. Overall mortality was 0.96% [3 cases] and the cause of death was bacteremia, hypovolemic shock, heart failure and pulmonary edema.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 1982

Although most patients with penetrating injuries can be managed successfully with early tube thoracotomy, blood volume replacement & close observation, the remainder can be saved only by an aggressive operative intervention. From January 1959, to August 1980, 176 cases with penetrating injuries had been treated at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, National Medical Center. The ratio of male to female patient of penetrating chest wounds was 4.3:1 in male predominance and age from 10 to 40 occupied 76.7% of the total cases. Stab wounds was the most common penetrating injuries and followed by gunshot & glass wounds. To prevent early complications of penetrating chest injuries, thoracentesis were done in 29 cases [16%], and closed thoractomy in 40 cases [22.7%]. Open thoractomy, however, had to be done in 37 cases [21%] because of massive bleeding, hemopericardium, foreign body.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1013-1019
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• 1992

A clinical evaluation was performed on 1, 110 cases of chest trauma treated at the Department of Chest Surgery, Chonnam University Hospital, during the past 23 years from January 1968 to June 1990. The ratio of male to female was 5.5: 1. The most common causes of chest trauma was stab wounds in penetrating trauma and traffic accidents in nonpenetrating trauma. The most common injuries in chest trauma were hemothorax in penetrating trauma and rib fracture in nonpenetrating trauma. Hemothorax or pneumothorax was observed in 592 cases [53.3%] of the total cases and rib fracture was observed in 527 cases[47.5%] of the total cases. Rib fracture was prevalent from the 3th to 8th rib, and 1st and 2nd rib fractures were associated with major thoracic injuries and other organ injuries. Open thoracotomy was performed in 163 cases[14.7%] and conservative nonoperative treatment in the others. Overall mortality rate was 8.5%[94 cases], and common causes of the death were shock and respiratory insufficiency.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.95-106
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• 1990

Between May 1979 and April 1989, 213 patients with esophageal injuries visited the Department of the Thoracic and cardiovascular surgery Department, Yonsei University College of Medicine. There were 159 non perforated esophageal injuries accompanied by hematemesis, and 54 perforated esophageal injuries. The causes of non perforated esophageal injuries were Mallory-Weise Syndrome [%], corrosive esophagitis [54], esophageal carcinoma [4], foreign bodies [2], sclerotherapy due to esophageal varices [3]. The causes of perforated esophageal injuries were esophageal anastomosis[13], malignancies[17], esophagoscopy or bougienage[5], chest trauma[5], foreign bodies[5], paraesophageal surgery[3], others[6] In esophageal perforation due to foreign bodies, esophagoscopy or bougienage, there were 6 cervical esophageal perforations and 9 thoracic esophageal perforations. There were no mortalities in the treatment of the cervical esophageal perforations and 5 deaths resulted in the treatment of 9 thoracic esophageal perforations. And four of six patients with thoracic esophageal perforations died in the initiation of treatment over 24 hours, after trauma. There were another 12 deaths in the patients with chest trauma, malignancies or chronic inflammation except esophageal injuries due to foreign bodies or instruments during the hospital stay or less than 30 days after esophageal injuries. One patient with esophageal carcinoma died due to bleeding and respiratory failure after irradiation. Another patient with esophago gastrostomy due to esophageal carcinoma died of sepsis due to EG site leakage. One patient with a mastectomy due to breast cancer followed by irradiation died of sepsis due to an esophagopleural fistula. Two patients with Mallory-Weiss syndrome died; of hemorrhagic shock in one and of respiratory failure due to massive transfusion in the other. One patient with TEF died of respiratory failure and another died of pneumonia and respiratory failure. One patient with esophageal perforation due to blunt chest trauma died of brain damage accompanied with chest trauma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1070-1077
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• 1989

Traumatic injuries of the diaphragm are not an infrequent occurrence with rise in violence and increasing use of automobiles, more diaphragmatic injuries may be seen. Fifty cases from Severance hospital were reviewed of these there were 27 injuries secondary to blunt trauma and 23 penetrating injuries, and occurred commonly in male. In blunt trauma, right and left diaphragmatic injuries occurred equally. Chest X * ray were normal in 18 cases [36 %], a hemo-and/or pneumothorax was present in 22 cases [44 %], and only 12 cases[24 %] were diagnosed or suspected as diaphragmatic injuries preoperatively. Seventeen cases underwent thoracotomy alone, 19 cases required laparotomy only, and 14 had combined thoracotomy and laparotomy. There were 5 deaths [10 % mortality], and all deaths related to the severity of associated injuries. It was concluded that injuries of the diaphragm should be suspected in all patients with severe blunt torso trauma or penetrating injuries near the diaphragm.