• 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.28 no.3
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• pp.308-312
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• 1995

A 5-year retrospective study of 14 patients with diaphragmatic injuries revealed 9 blunt and 5 penetrating injuries. In the blunt trauma group, 7 were left and 2 were right side. The penetrating diaphragmatic wound consist of 3 left and 2 right sided. Sex ratio was 11: 3, with male predominanace. Preoperative diagnosis was possible in 9 cases and delayed diagnosis [greater than 24 hours occured in 5 cases.Simple chest X-ray was diagnostic or highly suggestive in 7 cases. 7 cases were diagnosed diaphragmatic injuries by computed tomography, fiuroscopy or by explorative operation. All of the cases had association injury. 11 cases of diaphragmatic ruptures were corrected through thoracotomy and 3 cases needed exploratory laparotomy. One death occured after operation due to associated injuries and respiratory failure. Blunt and penetrating diaphragmatic injuries remain a diagnostic challenge and associated injuries, delayed diagnosis determine the outcome.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.89-93
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• 2005

Penetrating chest trauma by stab injury may result in massive hemothorax from damage to single or multiple intrathoracic organs such as heart, aorta, internal mammary artery, intercostal artery or pulmonary parenchyme. Prognosis of massive hemothorax necessitating emergency thoracotomy is fatal especially so if there exists concomitant underlying compromise of cardiopulmonary function. A 56 year old man with destroyed left lung due to old pulmonary tuberculosis was stabbed in right parasternal lesion through third intercostal space. Intubation with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and closed thoracostomy were performed to resuscitate from cardiac asystole from hemorrhagic shock and acute respiratory distress. Midsternotomy was made to expose active bleeding foci in right mammary artery, subclavian vein, intercostal artery and anterior segment of right upper lung showing severe bullous change and pleural adhesion. Postoperative care included ventilator support, inotropic instillation and cautious, balance fluid therapy ; successful extubation was done on third postoperative day and patient was discharged on tenth postoperative day without any complication.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.532-534
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• 2011

Temple trauma that appears initially localized to the skin might possess intracranial complications. Early diagnosis and management of such complications are important, to avoid neurologic sequelae. Non-penetrating head injuries with intracranial hemorrhage caused by a driven bone fragment are extremely rare. A 53-year-old male was referred to our hospital because of intracerebral hemorrhage. He was a mechanic and one day before admission to a local clinic, tip of metallic rod hit his right temple while cutting the rod. Initial brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated scanty subdural hematoma at right temporal lobe and left falx and intracerebral hematoma at both frontal lobes. Facial CT with 3-D reconstruction images showed a small bony defect at the right sphenoid bone's greater wing and a small bone fragment at the left frontal lobe, crossing the falx. We present the unusual case of a temple trauma patient in whom a sphenoid bone fragment migrated from its origin upward, to the contralateral frontal lobe, producing hematoma along its trajectory.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.95-99
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• 2005

Penetrating neck trauma by gunshot injury involving tracheobronchial tree is rare in Korea. Extensive tissue damage by cavitation, tissue fragmentation and shock wave transmission of high-velocity projectile along with associated organ injury renders high rate of mortality and morbidity. A 28 year old man in military service with gunshot wound in left cervical area presented initial symptoms of severe dyspnea and subcutaneous emphysema. Computed tomography of chest and cervical region as well as bronchoscopic evaluation was performed to confirm highly suspected injury to cervical trachea. Surgical exposure was established through a low collar incision; the damaged segment of 3.5 cm length including 2-4th tracheal rings was resected out and end-to-end anastomosis was performed. Bleeding from lacerated anterior jugular vein was controlled by ligation of both ends and a K2 bulllet was found upon inner border of body of first rib, medial to right carotid sheath and removed out. Cervical esophagus, carotid artery, internal jugular vein and recurrent laryngeal nerve were spared. Extubation was done on the first postoperative day and postoperative course until discharge on nineth postoperative day remained uneventful.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.248-256
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• 2021

Purpose: Laparoscopy has various advantages over laparotomy in terms of postoperative recovery. The number of surgeons using laparoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in abdominal trauma patients is increasing, whereas open conversion is becoming less common. This report summarizes a single surgeon's experience of laparoscopy at a level I trauma center and evaluates the feasibility of laparoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for abdominal trauma patients. Methods: In total, 30 abdominal trauma patients underwent laparoscopy by a single surgeon from October 2014 to May 2020. The purpose of laparoscopy was categorized as diagnostic or therapeutic. Patients were classified into three groups by type of surgery: total laparoscopic surgery (TLS), laparoscopy-assisted surgery (LAS), or open conversion (OC). Univariate analysis was performed to determine the advantages and disadvantages. Results: The mechanism of injury was blunt in 19 (63.3%) and penetrating in 11 patients (36.7%). Eleven (36.7%) and 19 patients (63.3%) underwent diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy, respectively. The hospital stay was shorter for patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy than for those who underwent therapeutic laparoscopy (5.0 days vs. 13.0 days), but no other surgical outcomes differed between the groups. TLS, LAS, and OC were performed in 12 (52.2%), eight (34.8%), and three patients (13.0%), respectively. There was no significant difference in morbidity and mortality among the three groups. Conclusions: Laparoscopic surgery for selected cases of abdominal trauma may be feasible and safe as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in hemodynamically stable patients due to the low OC rate and the absence of fatal morbidity and mortality.

• 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.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1023-1026
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• 1994

We reviewed 10 cases of traumatic diaphragmatic injuries at Soonchunhyang University Gumi Hospital from January 1990 through April 1993. seven patients were male and three patients were female. The age distribution was ranged from 25 to 79 years, predominant 4th decades occurred in male. The traumatic diaphragmatic injuries were due to blunt trauma in 9 cases (traffic accident 7 and crash injury 2) and penetrating wound in 1 case (stab wound). The common symptom were dyspnea (60%), chest pain and abdominal pain in order frequency. In the blunt trauma and crash injury, te rupture site was all located in the left(9 cases). In the penetrating wound, the rupture site was located in the right(1 case). The surgical repair of 10 cases were performed with transthoracic approach in 9 cases and thoracoabodominal approach in 1 case. The postoperative mortality was 10% (1/10). The cause of death was multiple organ failure with pulmonary edema.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.588-593
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• 1990

The rupture of tracheobronchial tree caused by non penetrating blunt trauma is being increased in incidence though it is still rarely occurred on now Because this type of injury is uncommon, a high index of suspicion should be maintained in all crush injuries involving the chest. 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 a case of tracheobronchial rupture caused by non penetrating blunt chest trauma without rib fracture. The patient was a 16 year old male who was a high school student. He was compressed on anterior chest by hand ball goal post being failed down on the morning of admission day. After this accident, he was suffered from progressively developing dyspnea and subcutaneous emphysema on face, neck and anterior chest. The diagnosis, tracheal rupture, was made by chest CT and bronchoscopy. After right thoracotomy, the ruptured site was directly closed by using interrupted suture. Post-operative course was uneventful. Thus we report this case of traumatic tracheal rupture with review of literature.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.168-172
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• 2022

Purpose: The neck is a particularly critical region for penetrating injuries due to the close proximity of the trachea, esophagus, blood vessels, and the spinal cord. An open neck injury has the potential for serious morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the assessment and management of open neck injuries. Methods: In this retrospective study, open neck injury patients who were admitted to the Trauma Center of Daejeon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University between December 2015 and December 2017 were analyzed for epidemiology, the mechanism of trauma, the injured organ, complications, and mortality. Results: Thirty-two patients presented with open neck injuries. All patients underwent computed tomographic angiography to evaluate their injuries once their vital signs stabilized. Among these patients, 27 required surgical treatment. The most commonly injured organ was the airway. There were five deaths, and the main cause of death was bleeding. Mortality was associated with the initial systolic blood pressure at the hospital and Glasgow Coma Scale. Conclusions: Mortality from open neck injuries was associated with initial systolic blood pressure at the hospital and Glasgow Coma Scale.