• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.2 s.259
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• pp.127-133
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• 2006

Background: In the studies of the distribution of time to death in trauma patients, the early deaths within several hours after injury were a large component of total trauma deaths. Due to the development of trauma system, overall mortality of trauma was decreased, but trauma is still the major cause of deaths. Material and Method: From January 1994 to December 2003, trauma patients who had been admitted and had expired at tertiary hospital were enrolled. There was a total of 400 cases, a retrospective study was done to determine the distribution of trauma mortality according to the part of the body that were severely injured part and compared the difference between early deaths within 6 hours and late deaths after 6 hours. We also analysed the risk factors of early deaths due to trauma. Result: In severe injury to the head and abdomen, the distribution of mortality was bimodal. But, in severe chest injuries, the distribution was log-shape and most early deaths were almost of trauma related. The average of GCS were 5.86$\pm$4.15 for the early deaths and 8.24$\pm$5.02 for the late deaths (p < 0.05). The AIS of thorax were 2.66$\pm$1.87 for the early deaths and 1.55$\pm$1.76 for late deaths. The risk factors for early mortality were non-EMS transportation (odds ratio 3.474), high AIS (odds ratio 1.491) and GCS (odds ratio 0.859). Conclusion: In trauma patients, the causes of early mortality were severe brain injury and massive hemorrhage. Also severe chest injuries were the major cause of the early deaths in truama. Early diagnosis of chest injury can frequently be missed in the acute trauma setting. Therefore, high index of suspicion, a careful examination, and aggressive surgical treatment are important in multiple trauma patients.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 1996

Radiography should be used judiciously and should not delay patients resuscitation. In the patient with emergency multiple trauma, three radiography should be obtained-cervical spine, anteroposterior(AP) chest, and AP pelvis. These examinations can be done in the resuscitation area, usually with a portable X-ray unit, but should not interrupt the resuscitation process. A retrospective study was carried on 157 emergency multiple trauma patients who were admitted to Yong Dong Severance Hospital from January, to December in 1995. I analyzed the types of X-ray examinations in emergency multiple trauma patients, and classified the patients by disoriented group of mentality. The results were as follows: 1. The subjects were 7.1%(157patients) of 2,208 trauma patients(7.3%) in total 30,085 emergency patients. 2. Male to female ratio was 2.57 : 1. The age distribution was highest from 31 years to 40 years(28.0% ). 3. The peak time of patient's entrance in emergency center was between 8 : 00 pm and 2 : 00 am(36.9%), and second peak time was between 2 : 00 pm and 8 : 00 pm (29.3%). 4. According to the injury type, traffic accident, motorcycle accident and falling down were 71.3%, 8.3% and 20.4% respectively. 5. According to the exposure rate of Computed Tomography, chest CT, cervical CT pelvis CT and brain CT were 39.5%, 24.2%, 69.4% and 51.6% respectively.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.941-944
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• 1997

Pulmonary infarction is rarely diagnosed with certainty except at postmortem examination. Part of this uncertainty is because of the inability to distinguish between hemorrhage, congestive a electasis, and necrosis clinically and radiographically. The pathogenesis of pulmonary infarction is poorly understood. It is dif%cult to induce pulmonary infarction in animals by ligation of the arterial supply to the lung. Many factors seem to be important in its pathogenesis, in addition to congestive heart failure, malignant tumor, thrombophlebitis, chronic obstructive lung disease, nephrotic syndrome, and postopeiative state. However, pulmonary infarction have not been reported in association with chest trauma. We report a case of pulmonary infarction associated with fractures of right clavicle and multiple ribs. A 45-year-old male had admitted due to right chest pain and dyspnea, which developed after right chest trauma occurred at about 3 weeks ago. He was treated at local clinics under the diagnosis of fractures of right clavicle and ribs until the admission. Chest CT disclosed a huge mass with central low density in right upper lobe, and small masses were also seen on both l ng fields. Open lung biopsy resulted in negativity for the malignancy. Clinical symptoms and radiological findings were not improved by conservative treatment. Right upper lobectomy was done eventually. The final diagnosis was pulmonary infarction. And, the patient has been well after operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2013

Background: Rib fractures are the most common type of thoracic trauma and cause other complications. We explored the risk factors for pneumonia in patients with multiple rib fractures. Materials and Methods: Four hundred and eighteen patients who visited our hospital with multiple rib fractures between January 2002 and December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Chest X-rays and chest computed tomography were used to identify injury severity. Patients with only a single rib fracture or who were transferred to another hospital within 2 days were excluded. Results: There were 327 male patients (78%), and the median age was 53 years. The etiologies of the patients' trauma included traffic accidents in 164 cases (39%), falls in 78 cases (19%), slipping and falling in 90 (22%), pedestrian accidents in 30 (7%), industrial accidents in 41 (10%), and assault in 15 (4%). The median number of rib fractures was 4.8. Pulmonary complications including flail chest (2.3%), lung contusion (22%), hemothorax (62%), pneumothorax (31%), and hemopneumothorax (20%) occurred. Chest tubes were inserted into the thoracic cavity in 216 cases (52%), and the median duration of chest tube insertion was 10.26 days. The Injury Severity Score (ISS) and rib score had a median of 15.27 and 6.9, respectively. Pneumonia occurred in 18 cases (4.3%). Of the total cases, 33% of the cases were managed in the intensive care unit (ICU), and the median duration of stay in the ICU was 7.74 days. Antibiotics were administered in 399 patients (95%) for a median of 10.53 days. Antibiotics were used for more than 6 days in 284 patients (68%). The factors affecting pneumonia in patients with multiple rib fractures in multivariate analysis included age (p=0.004), ISS (p<0.001), and rib score (p=0.038). The use of antibiotics was not associated with the occurrence of pneumonia (p=0.28). In-hospital mortality was 5.3% (n=22). Conclusion: The factors affecting risk of pneumonia in patients with multiple rib fractures included age (p=0.004), ISS (p<0.001), and rib score (p=0.038). Elderly patients with multiple traumas have a high risk of pneumonia and should be treated accordingly.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 1998

A clinical evaluation was performed on 11 cases of the cardiac rupture by blunt chest trauma at the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Yeungnam University Hospital during the period from July, 1993 to May, 1995. The results were as follows ; The sex distribution was 8 mem and one women, and mean age was 41 years old. The causes of accident was traffic accident in most cases. And then one case was cultivator accident and another one was fall down. The average times from trauma to admission was 139 minutes and the patients that transferred via other hospitals have relatively long average times to 227 minutes. The average times from admission to operation was 117 minutes and we consumed 25 minutes for the preoperative preparation. The sites of injury were 7 cases in the right heart and 3 cases in the left heart. There were symptoms and signs of the cardiac tamponade(dyspnea, chest pain, nausea/vomitus, neck vein distention & hypovolemic shock) at admission and in most of them typical symptoms and signs of a tamponade appeared. Surgical approach was performed with median sternotomy in 10 cases. Subxiphoid pericardial window was created in one case. Another case which was very difficult in surgical procedure was operated under cardiopulmonary bypass and the result was good.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.633-635
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• 2008

Cardiac rupture after blunt chest trauma is a relatively uncommon diagnosis, and it is associated with a very high mortality rate. A 41-years-old man crashed his car into a guardrail and he was then transported to hospital. Although unstable vital signs are the most common symptoms of cardiac injury, this patient had stable vital signs. The chest CT scan showed pericardial effusion, and echocardiography did not clearly reveal cardiac tamponade, but the right atrium was slightly collapsed. Cardiac injury was suspected, and surgery was commenced for obtaining the diagnosis and treatment. A 2cm laceration at the junction of the left atrium and the lefl inferior pulmonary vein was discovered and this was repaired with $4{\sim}0$ Polypropylne monofilament sutures. We report here on the successful management of a patient with left atrial rupture following blunt chest trauma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.572-576
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• 1990

A complete transection of left main bronchus was repaired by end to end anastomosis 5 months after the chest trauma in the Yeungnam University Hospital. The patient was a 36 years old male who had been injured bluntly by a heavy package on the left chest. The initial symptoms and signs were dyspnea, chest pain and subcutaneous emphysema on the left neck, but on admission at our hospital his chief complaint was only mild left chest discomfort. The preoperative chest X-ray findings 5 months after the trauma revealed total collapse of the left lung, deviation of trachea to the left, elevation of left diaphragm, abrupt discontinuation in the course of an air-filled left main bronchus and bronchoscopy showed that the left main bronchus was completely occluded, without any signs of inflammation, approximately 4 cm from the carina. The operation was performed through standard posterolateral thoracotomy incision at the fifth intercostal space. There was not any suppuration within the transected lung but plenty of white mucus which was removed by forceful suction. The transected bronchial edges were debrided and anastomosed primarily by end to end with interrupted nonabsorbable sutures. The suture line was reinforced with a pleural flap. The postoperative course was uneventful and pulmonary function following operation improved progressively and proved the delayed repair to have a reasonable decision.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.170-174
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• 2010

Purpose: As techniques and instruments for video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) have been evolving, attempts to perform VATS for chest trauma have been increasing. Several studies have demonstrated the feasibility and safety of VATS for thoracic trauma. We reviewed our experience to evaluate the clinical feasibility and safety of VATS for thoracic trauma. Methods: Fifty-two patients underwent thoracic surgery for chest trauma in Asan Medical Center from January 1990 to December 2009. VATS was performed in 21 patients who showed stable vital signs. We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of those patients to investigate the results of VATS for thoracic trauma. Results: Thoracic exploration for chest trauma was performed in 52 patients. There were 46 males (88.5%) and 6 females (11.5%). The median age was 46.0 years (range: 11~81 years). There were 39 blunt and 13 penetrating traumas. A standard posterolateral thoracotomy was performed in 31 patients, and VATS was tried in 21 patients. We performed successful VATS in 13 patients; 11 males (84.5%) and 2 females (15.5%) with a median age of 46.0 years (range: 24~75 years). The indication of VATS was persistent intrathoracic hemorrhage in 10 patients and clotted hemothorax in 3 patients. There were no complications, but there were two mortalities due to multiple organ failure after massive transfusion. In 8 patients, VATS was converted to a standard posterolateral thoracotomy for several reasons. The reason was inadequate visualization for bleeding control or evacuation of the hematoma in 5 patients. In 3 patients, VATS was performed to evaluate diaphragmatic injury. After the diaphragmatic injury had been confirmed, a standard posterolateral thoracotomy was performed to repair the diaphragm. Conclusion: VATS should be safe and efficient method for diagnostic evaluation and surgical management of stable patients with thoracic trauma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.643-649
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• 1994

We evaluated sixteen patients of traumatic diaphragmatic injuries that we have experienced from Jan. 1987 to Aug 1993. Age was ranged from 6 to 71 years, predominantly in the fourth and fifth decades. 13 were male and 3 were female, a ratio of 4.3: 1. Blunt trauma was develped in 11 [Lt 7, Rt 4], penetrating trauma in 5 [Lt 2, Rt 3]. Preoperative diagnosis of diaphragmatic injury was possible in 8 patients [72.2 %] in blunt trauma, and 1 patient [20 %] in penetrating trauma. 8 cases[54.5%] in blunt trauma, and 4 cases in penetrating trauma were treated within 24 hours,meanwhile, patients treated after 10 days were 3, all by blunt trauma.The repair of 16 cases were performed with thoracic approach in 4 cases, thoracoabdominal approach in 3 cases, and abdominal approach in 9 cases. The herniated organs in thorax were stomach [5], colon [3], liver [2], and pancreas [1]. Postoperative complication were developed in 9cases[56.3%] significantly related with delayed operation time [p < 0.01 ]. Hospital mortality was 12.5 % [2/16], and the causes of death were hypovolemic shock in one and hepatic failure due to portal vein rupture in another.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.122-125
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• 2019

A 73-year-old man, who, in an inebriated state, had slipped in a flowerbed and was wounded on the left flank, was transferred to Trauma Center, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine. Based on the chest and abdominopelvic computed tomography, he was diagnosed with multiple rib fractures and hemopneumothorax on the left hemithorax and was found to have a bony fragment in the spleen. He had not presented peritonitis and exsanguinous symptoms during the observation period. Seven days later, computed tomography of the abdomen showed suspected diaphragmatic injury and a retained foreign body in the spleen. On exploration by video assisted thoracoc surgery (VATS), a herniated omentum through the lacerated site of the diaphragm was observed. After omentectomy using Endo Gia, the foreign body in the spleen was observed through the lacerated site of the diaphragm. Traumatic diaphragm rupture with a foreign body, in the spleen, was successfully managed by video assisted thoracic surgery via the lacerated site of the diaphragm.