• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2024

Background: Pericardial effusion (PE) is a serious condition in cancer patients, primarily arising from malignant dissemination. Pericardial window formation is a surgical intervention for refractory PE. However, the long-term outcomes and factors associated with postoperative survival remain unclear. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 166 oncology patients who underwent pericardial window formation at Samsung Medical Center between 2011 and 2023. We analyzed survival and PE recurrence regarding surgical approach, cancer type, and cytopathological findings. To identify factors associated with survival, we utilized Cox proportional-hazards regression. Results: All patients had tumors documented in accordance with the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual, including lung (61.4%), breast (9.6%), gastrointestinal (9.0%), hematologic (3.6%), and other cancers (16.4%). Surgical approaches included mini-thoracotomy (67.5%) and thoracoscopy (32.5%). Postsurgical cytopathology confirmed malignancy in 94 cases (56.6%). Over a median follow-up duration of 50.0 months, 142 deaths and 16 PE recurrences occurred. The 1-year overall and PE recurrence-free survival rates were 31.4% and 28.6%, respectively. One-year survival rates were significantly higher for thoracoscopy recipients (43.7% vs. 25.6%, p=0.031) and patients with negative cytopathology results (45.1% vs. 20.6%, p<0.001). No significant survival difference was observed between lung cancer and other types (p=0.129). Multivariate analysis identified New York Heart Association class, cancer stage, and cytopathology as independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: This series is the largest to date concerning window formation among cancer patients with PE. Patients' long-term survival after surgery was generally unfavorable. However, cases with negative cytopathology or earlier tumor stage demonstrated comparatively high survival rates.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.397-403
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• 1991

From June 1987 to January 1991, 24 patients with moderate or massive pericardial effusion underwent subxiphoid pericardial window procedures for diagnosis and therapy. The patients` ages were ranged from 28 years to 71 years. The underlying diseases were chronic renal failure with long term hemodialysis in 3 cases, malignant lung cancer in 7 cases, stomach cancer in 2 cases, tuberculous pericarditis in 5 cases, pyogenic pericarditis in 2 cases, myxedema in one case, one metastatic squamous cell carcinoma from unknown origin and three of undefined etiology. Preoperative diagnoses of pericardial effusions were confirmed by echocardiogram in all cases. Subxiphoid pericardial drainages were performed under general[n=19] or local anesthesia[n=5]. Histological diagnoses were made from the inferior pericardial tissue in all cases except one. In this one case[tuberculous pericarditis], the subxiphoid pericardial approach was failed from intraoperative bleeding. There were two postoperative death, one[in malignant lung cancer] had postoperative ventricular tachycardia which result in cardiac arrest, and the other[unknown origin metastatic malignant effusion] had persistent tachyarrhythmia postoperatively and died on postoperative 5th days. Twenty three patients were followed up from 3 days to 9 months; mean follow-up day was 43 days. The preoperative and postoperative mean cardiothoracic ratio in chest x-ray were 0.69 and 0.52 respectively. Subxiphoid pericardial drainage may provide definitive diagnosis and treatment for pericardial effusions. The approach through subxiphoid pericardium under general or local anesthesia avoids the complications of pericardiocentesis and is effective for malignant pericardial effusion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1049-1053
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• 1995

Although neoplastic involvement of the pericardium is frequently present postmortem, cardiac manifestations before death are uncommon, and cardiac tamponade as the initial presentation of cancer is rare. We are presenting a metastatic pericardial tumor with cardiac tamponade of unknown primary neoplasm. The patient brought to hospital in a state of unconscious. The chest x-ray film showed cardiomegaly with a globular heart shape and right pleural effusion. We underwent an anterior thoracotomy and pericardial window was created. The histopathologic finding of pericardium, pleural and pericardial effusion show a metastatic adenocarcinoma. The patient subsequently received adjuvent radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but he expired on the postoperative 132 day.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.9 s.266
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• pp.702-705
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• 2006

Severe left ventricular dysfunction after relief of massive pericardial effusion has been rarely reported. Interventricular volume mismatch, acute distention of the cardiac chambers and interplay of autonomic none system are believed to be the possible causes for ventricular dysfunction. Presenting two patients who had marked decrease in global ventricular systolic function after relief of pericardial tamponade by subxyphoid pericardial window, we recommend gradual removal of pericardial fluid under hemodynamic monitoring, especially in patient with postcardiotomy tamponade.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.118-123
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• 1982

Fourteen cases of pericardia I tumor were clinically experienced from June 1966 to July 1981, for 15 years in St. Mary's Hospital, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Catholic Medical College. There were three primary tumors of the pericardium, liposarcoma, teratoma and malignant mesothelioma, and 11 metastatic pericardial tumors. In metastatic pericardial tumors, eight were originated from the lung, one was breast, and the other two cases were unknown origin. There were 6 adenocarcinoma, one small cell carcionoma ~nd one alveolar cell carcinoma in 8 cases from the lung, and 5 male and 3 female patients were composed the metastatic pericardial cancer from the lung. In clinical symptoms were dyspnea in all cases, and 9 cases had the generalized edema and enlarged liver size. Six patients had been operated, three of the primary pericardial tumor and three of metastatic pericardial tumor. Two of the primary tumors were cured satisfactorily by the mass removal, but one died due to cardiac arrest at postoperative one day. In metastatic tumors, operation were performed as two pericardial window formation and one left lower lobectomy with pericardial fenestration, but one was died in second operative day. Other nine metastatic tumors were diagnosed by needle biopsy in one case and by cell block of effusion in eight cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.5 s.250
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• pp.392-395
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• 2005

Primary pericardial mesothelioma is extremely rare and the incidence is low among the mesotheliomas that originate from other parts of the body. The prognosis of the tumor is unfavorable due to its late presentation, difficulties in early diagnosis and complete resection, and the limited treatment options. Herein, we report a case of pericardial mesothelioma. The patient is a 55-year-old woman who presented with chronic cough and dyspnea. During the examination, pericardial effusion was found and pericardial window formation was followed. She visited our hospital because of persistent dyspnea, with right shoulder and chest pain. Four discrete masses were discovered in the chest CT. CT guided-fine needle aspiration biopsy was negative for malignancy. Right exploratory thoracotomy and partial resection of 3${\times}$3 cm mass abutting pericardium was performed and was histologically diagnosed as malignant mesothelioma, biphasic type. Pericardial mesothelioma is rare, but it should be remembered as an important differential diagnosis in patients with persistent pericardial effusion and symptoms of dyspnea and constrictive pericarditis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.721-725
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• 1995

One case of surgical correction of a large aortopulmonary window in a 4 months old female is reported in detail. Clinical symptoms consisted of fatigue when feeding and recurrent upper respiratory tract infection. Under cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate hypothermia and cardioplegic arrest of the heart, the aortopulmonary window was approached through a vertical incision at the anterior wall of window itself. The defect was closed with pericardial patch using continuous suture posteriorly and sandwitch technique anteriorly. The patient was weaned from the cardiopulmoanry bypas without hemodynamic problem and postoperative course was uneventful. This surgical technique is recommandable as it provides good exposure of the defect and can be performed easily and safely.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.301-306
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• 1986

Primary pericardial mesothelioma is a rare tumor of mesodermal origin that is infrequently diagnosed antemortem and survival is short. A 60 year old male case of pericardial mesothelioma(epitheloid type) is reported. He was admitted to Yeungnam University Hospital because of chest pain, dyspnea, orthopnea and nonproductive cough. Chest x-ray suggested pericardial effusion, 2-D echocardiography showed echo free spaces of massive pericardial effusion and areas of thick hyperrefractile echoes arising from the pericardium. Pericardiocentesis was attempted and aspirated fluid was bloody exudate. Pericardial window operation with biopsy was done. Swan-Ganz catheterization showed equalization between right atrial pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. The pathologic diagnosis was established by histologic finding at pericardial biopsy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.812-816
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• 2002

Pericardial effusions result from various conditions such as inflammation, malignancies, open heart surgery and uremia. Recently, video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has been used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in the management of pericardial effusion and intrathoracic lesions due to its ability to provide outstanding visibility of intrathoracic structures with less pain, superior cosmetic effects, and shorter hospital stay Material and Method: From April 1995 to October 2001, 51 patients received pericardial window operation via either thoracoscopic(Group A, n＝37, m:f＝18:19, mean age＝56.4 yrs)or thoracotomy approach(Group B, n＝14, m:f＝8:6, mean age=58.4 yrs). Result: In group A, the operation time, duration of chest tube insertion, recurrence rate of pericardial effusion, and postoperative hospital stay were 61.2 minutes, 9.3 days, 2.7%, 16.2 days, respectively while in group B these values were 58.4 minutes, 12.2 days, 7.1, and 17.3 days. The number of injections for pain control in group A were 4.2 times, whereas in group B it was 6.3 times. Although there was a tendency for the mean hospital stay and duration of chest tube insertion to be shorter in group A than in group B, these differences did not reach statistical significance. There was also no significant difference in the operation time and recurrence rate between the two groups. Conclusion: The safety and effectiveness of VATS in the management of pericardial effusion is comparable to the open thoracotomy method. It allows for a shorter hospital stay, duration of chest tube insertion, lesser postoperative pain and a smaller skin incision.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.211-214
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• 2015

The primary and secondary survey was designed to identify all of a patient's injuries and prioritize their management. However 15 to 22.3% of patient with missed injuries had clinically significant missed injuries. To reduce missed injury, special attention should be focused on patients with severe anatomical injury or obtunded. Victims of blunt trauma commonly had multiple system involvement. Some reports indicate that inexperience, breakdown of estalished protocol, clinical error, and restriction of imaging studies may be responsible for presence of missed injury. The best way of reducing clinical significant of missed injuries was repeated clinical assessment. Here we report a case of severe blunt hepatic injury patient and pericardial injury that was missed in primary and secondary survey. After damage control surgery of hepatic injury, she remained hemodynamically unstable. Further investigation found cardiac tamponade during intensive care. This was managed by pericardial window operation through previous abdominal incision and abdominal wound closure was performed.