• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.732-738
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• 1999

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has become a standard therapy for several diseases such as pneumothorax, hyperhidrosis, mediastinal mass, and so on. These methods usually required single-lung ventilation with double-lumen endobronchial tube to collapse the lung under general anesthesia. However, risks of general anesthesia itself and single-lung ventilation must be considered in high-risk patients. Material and method: Between December 1997 and July 1998, eight high-risk patients (6: empyema, 1: intractable pleural effusion, 1: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) with underlying pulmonary disease and poor general condition were treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgerys under epidural anesthesia and spontaneous breathing. Result: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgerys were successfully per formed in 7 patients. Conversion to general anesthesia was required in 1 patient because of decrease in spontaneous breathing. But, conversion to open decortication was not required. In two patients with chronic empyema, one patient required thoracoplasty as a second procedure and one patient required re-video-assisted thoracoscopic procedure due to a recurrence. The mean operative time was 31.8$\pm$15.2 minutes. No significant postoperative respiratory com plication was encountered. Conclusion: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgerys can be per formed safely under epidural anesthesia for the treatment of empyema and diagnosis of pulmonary abnormalities in high-risk patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.232-240
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• 1997

Background : Postprimary pulmonary tuberculosis is located mainly in upper lobes. The tuberculous lesion involving the lower lobes usually arises from the upper lobe cavity through endobronchial spread. When tuberculosis is confined to the lower lung field, it often masquerades as pneumonia, lung cancer, bronchiectasis, or lung abscess. Thus the correct diagnosis may be sometimes delayed for a long time. Methods : We carried out, retrospectively, a clinical study on 50 patients confirmed with lower lung field tuberculosis who visited the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at Hanyang University Hospital from January 1992 to December 1994. The following results were obtained. Results : Lower lung field tuberculosis without concomitant upper lobe disease occurred in fifty patients representing 6.9% of the total admission with active pulmonary tuberculosis over a period of 3 years. It occurred most frequently in the third decade but age distribution was relatively even. The mean age was 43 years old. Female was more frequently affected than male (male to female ratio 1 : 1.9). The most common symptom was cough(68%), followed by sputum(52%), fever(38%), and chest discomfort(30%). On chest X-ray of the 50patients, consolidation was the most common finding in 52%, followed by solitary nodule(22%) collapse(16%), cavitary lesion(10%), in decreasing order. The disease confined to the right side in 25 cases, left side 20 cases, and both sides 5 cases. Endobronchial tuberculosis (1) Endobronchial involvement was proved by bronchoscopic examination in 20 of 50patients. (2) Mean age was 44years old and female was more affected than man (male to female ratio 1 : 3). Sputum AFB stain and Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture were positive only in 50% of cases unlikely upper lobe tuberculosis, additional diagnostic methods were needed. In our study, bronchoscopic examination and percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy increased diagnostic yield by 18% and 32%, respectively. The most common associated condition was diabetes mellitus(18%) and others were anemia, anorexia nervosa, stomach cancer, and systemic steroid usage. Conclusion : When we find a lower lung field lesion, we should suspect tuberculosis if the patient has diabetes mellitus, anemia, systemic steroid usage, malignancy or other immune suppressed states. Because diagnostic yield of sputum AFB smear & Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture was low, additional diagnostic methods such as bronchoscopy and fine needle aspiration biopsy were needed.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2023

On August 4, 2020, 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a storage warehouse at the Port of Beirut exploded. This explosion is said to be the largest ammonium nitrate explosion ever. By applying the TNT equivalency method, TNT equivalent amount corresponding to the explosion energy of 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate was calculated, and it is found to be 856 tons. Overpressure and impulse were calculated in a range up to 3600 m from the blast using the Kingery-Bulmash explosion parameter calculator tool. As the distance from the explosion center increases, the overpressure and impulse decrease exponentially, but the overpressure decreases more significantly, showing that overpressure is more affected by distance than the impact. As a result of applying the damage criteria to evaluate the effects of overpressure and impulse on the structure, the critical distances at which partial collapse, major damage, and minor damage to the structure occur are found to be approximately 500, 800, and 2200 m from the center of the explosion, respectively. The probit function was applied to evaluate the probability of damage to structures and human body. The points where the probability of collapse, major damage, minor damage, and breakage of window-panes to structures are greater than 50% are found to be approximately 500, 810, 2200, and 3200 m, respectively. For people within 200 m from the center of the explosion, the probability of death due to lung damage is more than 99%, and the 50% probability of eardrum rupture is approximately 300 m. The points with a 100% probability of death due to skull rupture and whole body impact due to whole body displacement are evaluated to be 300 and 100 m, respectively.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.675-680
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• 2010

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the distinguishing clinicoradiologic findings of traumatic tracheobronchial injury. Material and Method: Between January 2003 and December 2009, six patients who underwent surgical repair for traumatic tracheobronchial injury due to blunt trauma were included in this study. We evaluated the mechanism of the injury, the coexisting injuries, the time until the making diagnosis and treatment, the diagnostic methods, the anatomic location of the injury and the surgical outcomes. Result: The mechanisms of injury were traffic accident and crushing forces. The frequent symptoms were subcutaneous emphysema, dyspnea and pain, and the common radiologic findings were pneumothorax, mediastinal emphysema, rib fracture and lung contusion. Only 2 patients were diagnosed by chest CT and the others were not diagnosed preoperatively. The location of injury was the trachea in 2 patients and the bronchial tree in 4 patients. There was no postoperative mortality or anastomotic leak; however, vocal cord palsy occurred in one patient. The most distinguishing sign was persistent lung collapse even though the chest tube was connected with negative pressure. Conclusion: Although it was not easy to diagnose traumatic tracheobronchial injury without a clinical suspicion, the distinguishing clinical symptoms and CT findings could help to make an early diagnosis without performing bronchoscopy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.570-578
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• 1991

The spontaneous pneumothorax is the sudden collapse of the lung usually by air leakage from the ruptured sub-pleural bleb and has high recurrence rate. For prevention against recurrence, many drugs such as tetracycline, talcum powder, quinacrine, etc. have been used but the effects are not satisfactory. We reduced the recurrence rate successfully by the fibrin glue instillation through the chest tube. From the January 1989 to September 1990, we have managed 65 patients of spontaneous pneumothorax with closed thoracostomy and fibrin glue[fibrinogen 1gm/50ml with approtinin 3, 000kIU /ml, thrombin 5, 000IU /ml in 3% each 10ml] instillation through the chest tube. And we compared the results with those of 106 patients of spontaneous pneumothorax who were managed only by the closed thoracostomy from January 1985 to December 1988. Only the patients who visited our hospital with recurrence were considered as the recurred cases but the others were considered as not recurred. And the removal of chest tubes usually done 3 days after cessation of air leakage or 2 days after fibrin glue instillation Statistical analysis was done by X2-test. The results were as followings: 1. The recurrence rate of fibrin glue instillation group was lower than that of non-instillation group[1st attack: 15.1% versus 27.6% p<0, 05, the 2nd attack: 33.3% versus 73.7% p<0.01, the total 18.5% versus 35.8% p<0.01]. 2. The mean duration of chest tube drainage in the fibrin glue instillation group was shorter than non-instillation group[4.24$\pm$1.36 days versus 4.48$\pm$1.73 days p<0.05]. 3. The mean duration of hospitalization was shorter in the instillation group [8.12$\pm$3.5 days versus 10.8$\pm$3.8 days p<0.05] The complications were transient mild fever, chest pain, pleural effusion in 46 cases of 65 patients, but those didn`t make any problem. We concluded that the fibrin glue is effective in the reduction of recurrence rate, obliteration of air leakage and duration of hospitalization.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.667-670
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• 2008

Occult bronchial foreign bodies are rare in adults, whereas tracheobronchial aspiration of foreign bodies occurs commonly in children. Treatment guidelines, according to the severity of the bronchial or lung parenchymal damage and the duration of foreign body retention, have not been established. A 40-year-old man with chronic cough, sputum production, and fever was transferred for treatment of right middle and lower lobe collapse and obstructive pneumonitis as evidenced by imaging studies. He had aspirated the cap of a felt-tipped pen 30 years before presentation, which was unrevealed until his medical history was carefully reviewed during this episode. The patient was treated with right middle-lower bilobectomy because fiberoptic bronchoscopic removal of the foreign body failed. This case added important information to our body of knowledge concerning the various clinical features of occult bronchial foreign bodies.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.303-324
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• 2017

Objectives : Consumptive is an unhealthy condition that are caused by lack of blood and essence, and that means also some stages of chronic diseases. The purpose of this study is to analysis 108 Prescriptions of Consumptive part in Dongui Bogam. Methods : The 108 Prescriptions of Consumptive part in Dongui Bogam analysed frequency of basic prescriptions, symptoms of prescriptions and the pathology. Results : Ssangbohwan, Yiuihwan, Gamrihwan were used for tonifying were mostly used as basic prescriptions in whole Consumptive part respectively. There are common symptoms in consumptive part in Dongui Bogam. That symptoms are "tidal fever, night sweating, nocturnal emission, cough, sputum, skinny body, weak pulse, spontaneous sweating, deafness, dim vision and tuberculosis". Qi blood(yin yang) pathologies in prescriptions on consumptive part are "yin deficiency, yin deficiency with effulgent fire, yang qi deficiency, dual damage of qi and blood, non-interaction between fire and water, collapse of yang and exhaustion of yin, less blood". viscera and bowels pathologies in prescriptions on consumptive part are "heart and kidney deficiency, spleen-stomach weakness, spleen and kidney great deficiency, weakness of kidney qi, meridian waste in heart, spleen and kidney, damage in heart and lung". Conclusions : As a result of Study on Analysis all Prescriptions of Consumptive part in Dongui Bogam, We can understand more about basic prescriptions, symptoms of prescriptions and the pathology that are using for curing consumptive. We expected that this study will can help to give rationale for future study of consumptive caring.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.350-354
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• 2009

Background: Complicated pleural space occupying lesions (SOL) have been treated by thoracentesis, closed thoracotomy drainage (CTD) or surgical intervention with using a video thoracosocpe or open thoracotomy depending on the extent of the disease. With the development of video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), VATS pleural adhesiolysis and decortication have revealed good results as compared to those for open thorcotomy. To assess the effectiveness of VATS pleural adhesiolysis and decortication, we retrospectively analyzed the medical record and radiologic findings of the patients with complicated pleural SOL and who were treated by this surgery. Material and Method: From May 1996 to April 2006, 64 patients (mean age: 41.8 years) with complicated pleural SOL underwent 65 VATS. To analyze the surgical outcome, we classified the postoperative findings on the simple chest X-rays into 4 classes as Class I: no or minimal pleural lesion, Class II: blunting of the cardiophrenic angle and mild pleural thickening, Class III: an elevated diaphgram or persistent lung collapse and Class IV: complicated or recurrent effusion. Result: Before VATS, the patients underwent the diagnostic or therapeutic procedures: single or repeat diagnostic tapping for 41, thoracoscotomy drainage for 11, pigtail catheter drainage for 10 and intrapleural fibrinolytics for 10. The mean duration between the onset of symptom and surgery was 18.4 days. There was neither mortality nor severe complications. The surgical outcomes were class 1 for 28, class 2 for 13, class 3 for 19 and class 4 for 5. There were statistically significant differences between the symptom duration and the classes, and between the operation time and the classes. Conclusion: VATS pleural adhesiolysis and decortication are effective, safe treatments for managing complicated pleural SOL, and an earlier operation is needed for obtaining a better surgical outcome.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2007

In this study, the analysis on findings from simple chest radiography(CXR) test with total 1,669 subjects without any special clinical symptom came to the following conclusions : 1. In terms of the general characteristics of subjects hereof, male and female group accounted for 55.2% and 44.8% respectively out of all 1,669 people. 2. Pulmonary disease cases amounted to 249 persons(14.9%) out of all subjects. 3. In the analysis on prevalence rate by age distribution, it was noted that the older age led to the more number of diseases, which was demonstrated by age 34 or younger(6.1%), age $35{\sim}39(9.7%)$, age $40{\sim}49(13.3\;%)$, and age 50 or older(30.8%). 4. In regard of pulmonary disease alone, the region of onset was represented primarily by right upper lobe, which was followed by both upper lobe and left upper lobe, respectively. 5. In terms of disease types, it was found that most cases were represented by pulmonary nodule(55.0%), which was followed by cardiomegaly(24.5%), CP angle blunting(4.8%), scoliosis(4.6%), tortuous aorta(2.8%), bronchial luminal dilatation(2.4%), and pleural thickening(2.0%). However, dextrocardia, cystic dilation of bronchus, cavitary lesion, and lung collapse accounted for relatively low rate(0.4% respectively). 6. In terms of disease types by sex, it was found that male group accounted for higher percentage of having pulmonary nodule than female group, while the latter accounted for higher percentage of having cardiomegaly, tortuous aorta and scoliosis than the former. 7. In terms of disease types by age distribution, it was noted that age 34 or younger group accounted for higher percentage of scoliosis than any other age groups, while age $40{\sim}49$ group, age $35{\sim}39$ group, and age 50 or older group represented the case of CP angle blunting, pulmonary nodule, and cardiomegaly/tortuous aorta, respectively.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.817-825
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• 1999

Background : Forceps biopsy, bronchial brushing, and bronchial washing are used in conjunction with bronchoscopy to provide specimens for histologic and cytologic analysis in patients with suspected lung cancer. This study was performed to evaluate how many times brushing should be done and how much fluid should be used during bronchial washing for increasing diagnostic yield, and to evaluate which combination of these procedures gives the highest diagnostic yield. Methods : Forty patients, with suspected lung cancer, who had bronchoscopically visible lesions were enrolled in this prospective study. During one bronchoscopic examination four forceps biopsies, four bronchial brushings, and bronchial washing were done in all patients. The patients were divided into four groups by the amount of normal saline used for bronchial washing; group I, 10 ml ; group II, 20ml ; group III 30ml, and group IV, 40ml. We analyzed the results in 36 patients confirmed as lung cancer. Results : The diagnostic sensitivity of bronchial washing before and after forceps biopsy and bronchial brushing were 36% and 28%, respectively. The cumulative diagnostic sensitivity of bronchial washing was 47% and significantly higher than that of bronchial washing before or after forceps biopsy and bronchial brushing (p<0.05). The diagnostic sensitivity of bronchial washing with saline of 30ml was significantly higher than that of bronchial washing with saline of 10ml or 20ml (p<0.05). The diagnostic sensitivity of the first brushing was 75%, the second brushing 78%, the third brushing 83%, and the fourth brushing 67%. With repeated brushing up to three times, the diagnostic sensitivity increased to 92% (p<0.05). However, inclusion of the fourth brushing did not give a further increase of the diagnostic sensitivity. The diagnostic sensitivity of forceps biopsy was 86%. The diagnostic sensitivities of forceps biopsy by the type of bronchial lesion were as follows: tumor, 88%; infiltration, 67%; infiltration with nodularity, 80%; and collapse, 100%. The combination of forceps biopsy and bronchial washing gave a diagnostic sensitivity of 89%. The diagnostic sensitivity of combining forceps biopsy with bronchial brushing was 97%. Addition of bronchial washing did not increase the diagnostic yield over forceps biopsy and bronchial brushing. Conclusion : In patients with central lung cancer, forceps biopsies and repeated brushings up to three times should be done for maximal diagnostic yield.