• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.703-708
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• 1984

Fibrothorax is the end stage of chronic pathologic processes of pleura such as hemothorax, empyema, or tuberculous effusion. The pleural space become adherent and obliterated, and the lung parenchyma is covered by a thick, fibrous, unexpandable "peel", so the lung function is diminished markedly with impaired ventilation and oxygenation. Constrictive pericarditis is often accompanied fibrothorax, also cardiac and hemodynamic function is deteriorated. Surgical relief of these fibrous peels causes remarkable improvement in pulmonary function, cardiac and hemodynamic function, and subjective symptoms. We experienced a case of bilateral fibrothorax combined with constrictive pericarditis which occured 3 years after bilateral tuberculous effusion. Decortication and percardiectomy were done at the same time through bilateral submammary thoracotomy with sternal transection. Comparing postoperative Peripheral venous pressure, Circulation time, Pulmonary function test, Arterial blood gas analysis, Subjective symptoms with preoperative conditions showed noticeable improvement.provement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.212-218
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• 1980

A severe crushing injury of the chest produce a very striking syndrome referred to as traumatic asphyxia. This syndrome is characterized by bluish-red discoloration of the skin which is limited to the distribution of the valveless veins of the head and neck. And also if it is characterized by bilateral subconjunctival hemorrhages and neurological manifestations. But these clinical entities faded away progressively in a few weeks. Apporximately 90% of the patients who live for more than a few hours will recover from traumatic asphyxia when it occurs as a single entity. And so, death results from either severe associated injuries of from subsequent infection, rather than from pulmonary or cardiac insufficiency in traumatic asphyxia. We have experienced 4 cases of traumatic asphyxia with severe crushing thoracic injuries at department of the chest surgery, Captial Armed forces General Hospital during about 3 years from April 1977 to Aug. 1980. The 1st 22 year-old male was struct 2$\frac{1}{2}$ ton truck on the road and was transferred to this hospital immediately. He had taken tracheostomy due to severe dyspnea with contusion pneumonia and for removal of a large amount of bronchial secretion. The 2nd case was 23 year-old male who was got buried in a chasm. In this case, the heavy metal post tumbled over him back while at work. The 3rd case was 39 year-old male who leapt out of a window in 5th story while fire broke out in living room by oil stove heating. He had multiple rib fracture with right hemothor x and right colle's fracture and pelvic bone fracture. The last 22 year-old male was run over by a gun carriage. The wheel of this gun carriage passed over his thorax and right chin. He was brought to this hospital by helicopter. when he was first examined at emergency room, he was in semicomatose state and has pneurmomediastinum with multiple rib fracture and severe subcutaneous emphysema. As soon as he arrived, bilateral closed thoracostomy was performed and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was done. In hospital 8th weeks, chest series showed fibrothorax in right side even if chest wall stabilized. All 4 cases had multiple petechiae over their facees and chest and bilateral subconjunctival hemorrhages referred to as traumatic asphyxia. 3 cases except one case who received splenectomy, had been suffered from contusion pneumonia and had been treated with respiratory care. In these 3 cases, they had warning of impending injury before accident, and took a deep breath hold it and braces himself. And also, even if he had not impending fear in remaining one case, he had taken a deep breath and had got valsalva maneuver for pulling off the heavy metal post. Intrathoracic pressure rose suddenly and resulted to traumatic asphyxia in this situation. All these cases were recovered completely without sequelae except one fibrothorax, right.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.613-616
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• 2007

Background: Spontaneous hemopneumothorax is a rare disease and can be life threatening; it occurs in $1{\sim}12%$ of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. We analyzed clinical reviews and treatments, as well as complications of spontaneous hemopneumothorax patients that were treated to aid in the optimal management. Material and Method: We studied retrospectively 30 cases with spontaneous hemopneumothorax for 11 years, from 1995 to 2006, at our hospital. Result: All the patients were male and most of the patients were under 30 years. The sides with the disorder were as follows: right in 15 cases and left in 15 cases. Patients showed mostly initial symptoms of chest pain, dyspnea and hypovolemic shock. All patients underwent a closed thoracostomy and 27 patients underwent surgery. Chemical pleurodesis was peformed because of postoperative persistent air leakage and one case was treated in the ICU due to re-expansion pulmonary edema, There were no other complications such as fibrothorax seen during the follow-up periods. Conclusion: The most important finding is proper initial management, as the spontaneous hemopneumothorax can potentially lead to a life-threatening condition. Recently, video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is common procedure for general thoracic surgery and overcomes the weak points of performing a thoracotomy. The results of VATS are encouraging.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.847-850
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• 1995

For the purpose of evaluation of clinical characteristics in multiple rib fracture due to accident , 24 cases treated by surgical rib fixation using Judet`s strut for multiple rib fracture and flail chestduring the period from June 1993 to October 1994 were reviewed. There were 17 males and 7 females.They ranged in age from 19 years old to 56 years old. The causes of rib fracture were traffic accident in 18 cases, fall down in 3 cases, compression in 2 cases stab wound in 1 case. The number of rib fracture were five in 7 cases, six in 5 cases, four in 5 cases, three in 3 cases. Associated intrathoracic injuries were hemopneumothorax in 12 cases, hemothorax in 10 cases, lung laceration or hemorrhagic contusion in 7 cases. Associated extrathoracic injuries were abdominal injuries in 21 cases, orthopedic problem in 7 cases, head trauma in 4 cases. The most common fractured site was posterolateral portion of the ribs. The causes for operation were flail chest, severe rib displacement and pain, hemothorax or hemopneumothorax with continuous air leakage and stab wound. There were 6 postoperative complications ; one with hydrothorax, two with fibrothorax, two with wound infection and one case of death due to multiful organ failure. Postoperatively, all patients became comfortable and complained less painful. Twenty patients restored spontaneous breathing without ventilator support, three patients were ventilated during a day and one patient expired after 2 days. There were no morbidity and mortality related to operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 1974

During the 35 month period from November 1966 to November 1967 and from June 1971 to March 1973 I had experienced 127 cases of non fatal wounds of chest in Viet-Nam. .Among these 127 cases, 62[45.4%] were gun shot wounds, 49[35.8%] were shrapnel wounds and the other were traffic accident. stab wounds and miscellanous. Approximately 21% of gun shot wound were perforating and 79% were penetrating but all cases of shrapnel wounds were penetrating. Of these 127 cases. 90% evacuated to hospital within 6 hours and average time 2.5 hours. The tranfusion requirement of these cases ranged from zero to 36 pints of whole blood with an average of 2.600cc. Initial intrathoracic findings were hemopneumothorax and hemothorax mostly. and the incidence of open thoracotomy was 9.5%[12cases] and closed thoracotomy was 82.8%[104cases], which were contrast to the reports from Korean conflict. I had experienced 24 cases with complication, such as large hematoma in lung parenchyme[8 cases], atelectasis[4 cases], pyothorax [3 cases], pneumonia [3 cases], fibrothorax [3 cases], pleural effusion [2 cases] and wound infection [2 cases]. Mortality rate for entire group was 4.7% but the cases associated with brain injury was 100%, with spinal cord injury was 50%, with large vessel 50%, and abdominal injury was 33.3%, and nobody died solely of thoracic injury.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.501-515
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• 1978

The purpose of this communication is to review the 390 cases of chest trauma, treated at Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine Kyungpook National University from 1960 to 1977. Patients were grouped into two: group `60s [1960-1969] of 103 cases and group `70s [1970-1977] of 257 cases. As the number of cases of each group showed, chest trauma cases increased three times in `70s . The main causes of trauma were auto accident, falling down, industrial injury and stab wound in that order for both groups. Eighty per cent of cases of `60s were between 20 and 59 years and 73.8% of same age range for `70s. Rib fracture of fourth to eighth rib was the most common lesion in both `60s and `70s group. The incidence of hemothorax or hemopnemothorax significantly increased among `70s group than `60s. Clinical manifestations of chest pain and dyspnea remained most frequent symptoms for both groups. The pertinent principles of treatment for the chest trauma were conservative therapy, closed thoracotomy and open thoracotomy. Closed thoracotomy was performed more freely during the period of 1970-1977, with encouraging clinical results. Very few cases of complications other than pneumothorax or hemopneumothorax occurred. Those are fibrothorax, asphyxia, atelectasis and mediastinitis. The overall mortality was 3.9% for the `60s and 2.1% for the `70s group. The possible causes of death of 14 cases of chest trauma whom died on arrival during 1970-1977 were analyzed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.488-500
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• 1978

The purpose of this communication is to review the 390 cases of chest trauma, treated at Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine Kyungpook National University from 1960 to 1977. Patients were grouped into two: group `60s [1960-1969] of 103 cases and group `70s [1970-1977] of 257 cases. As the number of cases of each group showed, chest trauma cases increased three times in `70s . The main causes of trauma were auto accident, falling down, industrial injury and stab wound in that order for both groups. Eighty per cent of cases of `60s were between 20 and 59 years and 73.8% of same age range for `70s. Rib fracture of fourth to eighth rib was the most common lesion in both `60s and `70s group. The incidence of hemothorax or hemopnemothorax significantly increased among `70s group than `60s. Clinical manifestations of chest pain and dyspnea remained most frequent symptoms for both groups. The pertinent principles of treatment for the chest trauma were conservative therapy, closed thoracotomy and open thoracotomy. Closed thoracotomy was performed more freely during the period of 1970-1977, with encouraging clinical results. Very few cases of complications other than pneumothorax or hemopneumothorax occurred. Those are fibrothorax, asphyxia, atelectasis and mediastinitis. The overall mortality was 3.9% for the `60s and 2.1% for the `70s group. The possible causes of death of 14 cases of chest trauma whom died on arrival during 1970-1977 were analyzed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.414-421
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• 1982

200 patients admitted to the Chest Surgery Department of Jeonbug National University Hospital from January, 1974 to December, 1981 were analyzed clinically. The ratio of male to female was 7: 1, which showed male predominance. Distribution of patients according to age disclosed that over half [62%] of the patients was social age between 20 and 49 years. The most common cause of chest trauma was traffic accident [39%], and the next were stab wound, fall down [17.5%], and hit [8.5%] in decreasing order. Common lesions due to chest trauma were as follows; rib fracture [51%], hemopneumothorax, hemothorax, and pneumothorax in decreasing number. The most common cause of rib fracture was traffic accident [50%] and the associated organ injuries were long bone fracture, head injury, spine and pelvic bone fracture, spleen rupture, and liver laceration. Hemothorax, pneumothorax, and hemopneumothorax were treated with insertion of thoracic catheter in 90 cases, pure thoracentesis in 11 cases, and emergency thoracotomy in 11 cases. In flail chest, 6 patients were treated by intramedullary insertion of Kirschner`s wire and the results were good. The incidence of complication was 17%, including atelectasis [11 cases], pyothorax, fibrothorax, pneumonia, and acute respiratory failure. Four patients were died [2%], and the causes were acute respiratory failure in 2 cases, spinal cord injury in one case and head injury in one case.

• 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.37 no.12
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• pp.987-991
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• 2004

Background: Inadequate drainage of traumatic hemothoraces may result in prolonged hospitalization and complication such as empyema, fibrothorax and pleural calcification. This needs to be the placement of a tube thorascostomy which is efficacious in more than 80% of cases. Other cases require surgical treatment. Material and Method: From March 2002 to February 2003, there were 123 patients who was done closed thorascostomy in traumatic hemothorax. 10 patients (group I) were undergone early retained clot evacuation with video assisted thoracoscopic surgery, but 5 patients (group II) who developed a localized hematoma or empyema were operated. Male were more than female and mean average was similar in both group. The most common cause of injury was traffic accidents and frequently combined lesions were a abdomen. Result: Interval from injury and operation, mean operation time, duration of tube drainage and hospital stay in group I were shorter than group II (p<0.05). Operation-related complication and recurrence of fluid collection within follow up period (17.8$\pm$3.8 months) in group I were none, but in group II (21.5$\pm$5.3 months) were 2 cases. Conclusion: Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery can be utilized as an effective and safe method for the removal of retained clotted hemothorax within 7 days.