• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.52-55
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• 2011

The spleen is the most frequently injured organ following blunt abdominal trauma. However, delayed splenic rupture is rare. As the technical improvement of computed tomography has proceeded, the diagnosis of splenic injury has become easier than before. However, the diagnosis of delayed splenic rupture could be challenging if the trauma is minor and remote. We present a case of delayed splenic rupture in a patient with underlying liver cirrhosis. A 42-year-old male visited our emergency department with pain in the lower left chest following minor blunt trauma. Initial physical exam and abdominal sonography revealed only liver cirrhosis without traumatic injury. On the sixth day after trauma, he complained of abdominal pain and diarrhea after eating snacks. The patient was misdiagnosed as having acute gastroenteritis until he presented with symptoms of shock. Abdominal sonography and computed tomography revealed the splenic rupture. The patient underwent a splenectomy and then underwent a second operation due to postoperative bleeding 20 hours after the first operation. The patient was discharged uneventfully 30 days after trauma. In the present case, the thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly due to liver cirrhosis are suspected of being risk factors for the development of delayed splenic rupture. The physician should keep in mind the possibility of delayed splenic rupture following blunt abdominal or chest trauma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.430-439
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• 2024

Background: This study investigated the incidence and clinical consequences of abnormal radiological and clinical findings during routinely performed 6-week outpatient visits in patients treated conservatively for multiple (3 or more) rib fractures. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted among patients with multiple rib fractures treated conservatively between 2018 and 2021 (Opvent database). The primary outcome was the incidence of abnormalities on chest X-ray (CXR) and their clinical consequences, which were categorized as requiring intervention or additional clinical/radiological examination. The secondary focus was the incidence of deviation from standard treatment in response to the findings (clinical or radiological) at the routine 6-week outpatient visit. Results: In total, 364 patients were included, of whom 246 had a 6-week visit with CXR. The median age was 57 years (interquartile range, 46-70 years) and the median Injury Severity Score was 17 (interquartile range, 13-22). Forty-six abnormalities (18.7%) were found on CXR. These abnormalities resulted in additional outpatient visits in 4 patients (1.5%) and in chest drain insertion in 2 (0.8%). Only 2 patients (0.8%) with an abnormality on CXR presented without symptoms. None of the 118 patients who had visits without CXR experienced problems. Conclusion: Routine 6-week outpatient visits for patients with conservatively treated multiple rib fractures infrequently revealed abnormalities requiring treatment modifications. It may be questioned whether the 6-week outpatient visit is even necessary. Instead, a more targeted approach could be adopted, providing follow-up to high-risk or high-demand patients only, or offering guidance on recognizing warning signs and providing aftercare through a smartphone application.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.110-117
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• 1984

A clinical evaluation was performed on 76 cases of chest injury experienced at department of Chest Surgery, Capital Armed Forces General Hospital during the past 3 years period from January 1981 to August 1983. 1.The most common cause of the chest trauma was gun shot by which 26 cases were injured among 44 cases [57.9%] of penetrating injury. Remaining 32 cases [42.1%] were injured by non-penetrating blunt trauma. 2.Hemopneumothorax was observed in 60 cases [78.9%], those were caused by both penetrating [65%] and non-penetrating [35%] injuries. 3.Rib fracture was found in 58.7% of total cases and with rib fracture, clavicle fracture was combined at 19.6% and sternal fracture, at 8.7%. 4.Most common symptoms were chest pain and dyspnea, and most common signs were breath sound diminution and subcutaneous emphysema. 5.Common site of rib fracture was from 4th rib to 8th rib [69.4%]. 6.In 58 cases [76.3%], patients were treated with operation including open thoracotomy [25 cases]. 7.Overall mortality was 5.3%[4 cases] and causes of death were septic shock and respiratory failure.

• 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 Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.166-172
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• 2017

Purpose: Thoracic traumas represent 10-15% of all traumas and are responsible for 25% of all trauma mortalities. Traumatic cardiac injury (TCI) is one of the major causes of death in trauma patients, rarely present in living patients who are transferred to the hospital. TCI is a challenge for trauma surgeons as it provides a short therapeutic window and the management is often dictated by the underlying mechanism and hemodynamic status. This study is to describe our experiences about emergency cardiac surgery in TCI. Methods: This is a retrospective clinical analysis of patients who had undergone emergency cardiac surgery in our trauma center from January 2014 to December 2016. Demographics, physiologic data, mechanism of injuries, the timing of surgical interventions, surgical approaches and outcomes were reviewed. Results: The number of trauma patients who arrived at our hospital during the study period was 9,501. Among them, 884 had chest injuries, 434 patients were evaluated to have over 3 abbreviated injury scale (AIS) about the chest. Cardiac surgeries were performed in 18 patients, and 13 (72.2%) of them were male. The median age was 47.0 years (quartiles 35.0, 55.3). Eleven patients (61.1%) had penetrating traumas. Prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitations (CPR) were performed in 4 patients (22.2%). All of them had undergone emergency department thoracotomy (EDT), and they were transferred to the operating room for definitive repair of the cardiac injury, but all of them expired in the intensive care unit. Most commonly performed surgical incision was median sternotomy (n=13, 72.2%). The majority site of injury was right ventricle (n=11, 61.1%). The mortality rate was 22.2% (n=4). Conclusions: This study suggests that penetrating cardiac injuries are more often than blunt cardiac injury in TCI, and the majority site of injury is right ventricle. Also, it suggests prehospital CPR and EDT are significantly responsible for high mortality in TCI.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.174-177
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• 1990

Aortic dissection is a challenging disease and the causes of that are well-known. Blunt chest trauma is one of the causes of aortic dissection. In such cases, nearly all cases involves the isthmic portion of descending aorta, but ascending aorta is involved in about 10. We experienced a patient who had ascending aortic dissection due to automobile accident and who showed spontaneous rupture of the aorta during operation. In this case, after installation of aortic line via left femoral artery, ascending aorta ruptured and a large amount of blood gushed out, which was suckered by cardiotomy sucker. A little delay of cardiopulmonary bypass may cause the fatal outcome in such a case because the bleeding from aorta is too much to be controlled. Fortunately, we controlled the bleeding with cardiopulmonary bypass and got the good outcome of this patient by interpositioning the vascular graft. One should suspect the possibility of aortic dissection in blunt chest trauma, and prepare all the facilities against bleeding due to rupture.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.148-156
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• 1976

Acute respiratory failure has become an increasingly frequent cause of death following shock or trauma. Interstitial or diffuse alveolar edema, as chief pathophysiologic change of acute respiratory insufficiency, can be the result of sepsis, fat embolism, cardiac failure, lung congestion, and oxygen toxicity. These pulmonary problems are extremely difficult to treat without early recognition of their development and aggressive management. If the treatment is delayed, the progressive respiratory failure is almost uniformly fatal. Authors have experienced two cases of acute respiratory insufficiency following the blunt chest trauma, which were healed uneventfully. Literatures were briefly reviewed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.355-359
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• 1996

Rupture of the main bronchus due to blunt chest trauma is very rare, especially In childhood although the incidence is increasing. Early diagnosis and primary repair not. only restore normal lung function but also avoid the difficulties and complications associated with delayed diagnosis and repair. We experienced 2 cases of right main bronchial rupture caused by traffic accidents. Patients suffered from progressively developing dyspnea and subcutaneous emphysema on the neck, anteriorchest,andanteriorabdominalwall. Emergency operations were performed through right posterolateral thoracotomy incision at the 4th intercostal space. Intraoperatively, the right main bronchus completely transsected and separated. Corrective bronchoplasty was performed with end-to-end anastomosis using interrupted suture with 3-0 Vicryle and the suture line was reinforced with azygos vein and parietal pleural flap. Postoperative courses were uneventful and patients discharged without any specific pro lems.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.120-125
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to assess the outcomes of patients with complex rib fractures undergoing operative or nonoperative management at our major trauma center. Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who were considered for surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) at a single major trauma center from May 2016 to September 2022 was performed. Results: In total, 352 patients with complex rib fractures were identified. Thirty-seven patients (11%) fulfilled the criteria for surgical management and underwent SSRF. The SSRF group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with flail chest (32 [86%] vs. 94 [27%], p<0.001) or Injury Severity Score (ISS) >15 (37 [100%] vs. 129 [41%], p<0.001). No significant differences were seen between groups for 1-year mortality. Patients who underwent SSRF within 72 hours were 6 times less likely to develop pneumonia than those in whom SSRF was delayed for over 72 hours (2 [18%] vs. 15 [58%]; odds ratio, 0.163; 95% confidence interval, 0.029-0.909; p=0.036). Prompt SSRF showed non-significant associations with shorter intensive care unit length of stay (6 days vs. 10 days, p=0.140) and duration of mechanical ventilation (5 days vs. 8 days, p=0.177). SSRF was associated with a longer hospital length of stay compared to nonoperative patients with flail chest and/or ISS >15 (19 days vs. 13 days, p=0.012), whilst SSRF within 72 hours was not. Conclusion: Surgical fixation of complex rib fractures improves outcomes in selected patient groups. Delayed surgical fixation was associated with increased rates of pneumonia and a longer hospital length of stay.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 1976

Hemorrhage into the biliary system as a consequence of injury to the liver has been called "traumatic hemobilia," a term introduced by Sandblom in 1948. The source of gastrointestinal hemorrhage has been frequently misinterpreted, resulting in inadequate or inappropriate treatment, often with catastrophic results and needless fatalities. It is now being diagnosed with increasing frequency, due to more widespread knowledge of the syndrome and improved diagnostic means. we experienced 2 cases of hemobilia following blunt chest trauma, One patient had! multiple rib fractures on right chest by car traffic accident and 13 days later, suddenly massive melena was developed with nausea, vomiting, jaundice and severe pain on right upper quadrant. And so, he had operated on the ligation of Rt. hepatic artery and partial right hepatectomy for a traumatic hemobilia. The other one also revealed similar symptoms 20 days later following blunt chest injury by falling down accident. However, uneventful recovery was seen without any of surgical intervention in this case.