• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.132-135
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• 1994

By the early half of the 20th century, the most common cause of spontaneous pneumothorax was considered to be tuberculosis. But recently ruptures of the subpleural emphysema and/or blebs are considered as the major causes of spontaneous pneumothorax. To evaluate the causes of spontaneous pneumothorax, the authors reviewed the 96 patients who were consecutively diagnosed and treated by thoracotomy for spontaneous pneumothorax at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul Advenist Hospital, from May, 1988 to April, 1993. The patients who had clinical and radiological evidence of tuberculosis or other specific parenchymal lung diseases were excluded from this review. All patients were negative for tuberculous bacilli on sputum studies. The pathologic results were as follows : subpleural emphysema[25], blebs[27], subpleural emphysema and blebs[25], pleural fibrosis[10], tuberculosis[8], and parasitic granuloma[1]. Three of the patients who were diagnosed to be tuberculosis by pathologic findings were progressed to active pulmonary tuberculosis on the follow-up chest PA films. The authors conclude that all patients with spontaneous pneumothorax must be evaluated periodically for tuberculosis and that patients who were diagnosed to be tuberculosis by postoprative pathologic report need the administration of the prophylactic antituberculous drug, because the prevalence of tuberculosis remains relatively high rate in our country.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.621-628
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• 1997

Background : As the pleural inflammation progresses, exudative pleural fluid becomes loculated rapidly with pleural thickening. Complete drainage is important to prevent pleural fibrosis, entrapment and depression of lung function. Intrapleural urokinase instillation therapy has been advocated as a method to facilitate drainage of gelatinous pleural fluid and to allow enzymatic debriment of pleural surface. This study was designed to investigate the predictors of effectiveness of intrapleural urokinase in the treatment of loculated pleural effusion. Method : Thirty-five patients received a single radiographically guided pig-tail catheter ranging in size from 10 to 12 French. Twenty-two patients had tuberculous pleural effusions, and 13 had non-tuberculous postpneumonic empyemas. A total of 240,000 units of urokinase was dissolved in 240 ml of normal saline and the aliquots of 80mL was instilled into the pleural cavity via pig-tail catheter per every 8hr. Effectiveness of intrapleural urokinase instillation therapy was assessed by biochemical markers, ultrasonography, and technical details. A greater than 50% improvement on follow-up chest radiographs was defined as success group. Result : Twenty-seven of 35 (77.1%) patients had successful outcome to urokinase instillation therapy. Duration of symptoms before admission was shorter in success group ($11.8{\pm}6.9day$) than in failure group ($26.62{\pm}16.5day$) (P<0.05). Amount of drained fluid during urokinase therapy was larger in success group ($917.1{\pm}392.7ml$) than in failure group ($613.8{\pm}259.7ml$) (P<0.05). Pleural fluid glucose was higher in success group ($89.7{\pm}35.9mg/dl$) than in failure group ($41.2{\pm}47.1mg/dl$) (P<0.05). Pleural fluid LDH was lower in success group ($878.4{\pm}654.3IU/L$) than in failure group ($2711.1{\pm}973.1IU/L$) (P<0.05). Honeycomb septated pattern on chest ultrasonography was observed in six of eight failure group, but none of success group (P<0.05). Conclusion : Longer duration of symptoms before admission, smaller amount of drained fluid during urokinase therapy, lower glucose value, higher LDH value in pleural fluid examination, and honeycomb septation pattern on chest ultrasonograph were predictors for failure group of intrapleural urokinase instillation therapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.84-93
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• 2001

Backgrounds : In the absence of distant metastasis, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients presenting with supraclavicular lymph node (SCLN) involvement and pleural effusion can benefit from thoracic radiotherapy. But there are some debate as to the prognostic significance of both SCLN involvement and pleural effusion. The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of SCLN involvement and pleural effusion in SCLC. Methods : Two Hundred and fifteen patients with histologically confirmed small cell lung cancer, who were treated either at the Keimyung university Dongsan hospital and Kyungpook national university hospital from January 1994 to June 1998, were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were classified as having either limited or extensive stage using the Veterans Administration staging system. Results : SCLN was presented in 10.5% of patients(n=21). The median survival was 247 days for patients with SCLN(n=21) and 264 days for patients without(n=194) (p=0.52). After treatment, the median survival was 298 days for patients with SCLN(n=13) and 348 days for patients without(n=115) (p=0.52). SCLN involvement was not correlated with the presence of distant metastases. Median survival was 459 days for patients with a limited stage without SCLN(n=66), 650 days for those with a limited stage with SCLN (n=7) (p=0.96). Pleural effusion was presented in 24.7% of patients(n=52). The median survival was 198 days for patients with pleural effusion(n=52) and 275 days for patients without(n=163) (p<0.05). After treatment, the median survival was 294 days for patients with a pleural effusion(n=25) and 286 days for patients without(n=103) (p=0.39). The presence of pleural effusion was not correlated with that of distant metastases. The median survival was 395 days for patients with a limited stage without a pleural effusion(n=63), 451 days for those with a limited stage with pleural effusion(n=10) (p=0.92). Conclusionsa : In this study, SCLN involvement does not explain the poor survival rate and the relevance to extensive staged disease. Furthermore, the existence of a pleural effusion did not correlated with the presence of distant metastases. However, the presence of a pleural effusion appears to be a minor prognostic factor in our study. Therefore supraclavicular lymph node involvement and the presence of a pleural effusion in SCLC are not poor prognostic factors, which does not justify any amendment to the staging system currently used.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.47-60
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• 1974

During the past 10 years 114 patients with empyema have been treated in hospital of Chonnam University. There were 87 males and 27 females ranging from 20 days to 70 years of age. The etiology was pyogenic pneumonia in 36.7%, tuberculosis in 22.7%, paragonimiasis in 8.8%, post-thoracotomy in 5.4%, post-trauma in 4.4%, lung abscess in 3.5%, malignancy in 3.5%, post-esophageal operation in 1.8%, and sterile in 10.5%. The over-all mortality rate was 2% [3 patients]. The majority of deaths occurred in patients with associated systemic illness [liver cirrhosis in I, and renal tuberculosis in I] and resistant tuberculosis for anti-tuberculosis drugs in one patient. Adequate drainage and obliteration of the pleural space continues to be the most important aspect of treatment and can frequently be achieved by closed chest tube thoracostomy in acute empyema especially in children. The more chronic thick-walled or loculated cavities require open drainage [open window therapy], decortication, thoracoplasty, sterilization, and myoplasty for closure of tracheobronchial fistula.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.544-547
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• 1997

We have experienced a case of pleural aspergillosis. A 50 year old female complained of malaise, anorexia, coughing with sputum, and right sided pleuritic chest pain of two weeks' duration. About ten years ago, she had been treated for pulmonary tuberculosis with medication. Chest radiography showed right pyopneumothorax with cavitation in the rig t upper lung and Chest computed topography revealed right loculated pyopneumothorax with cavity formation suggesting bronchopleural fistula. Decortication and wedge resection with pleurectomy were performed. The postoperative course was satisfactory and has been in good condition up to now. Pleural aspergillosis is a very rare and potentially life-threatening disease, but we have had good results without significant complications by treatment with systemic antifungal drugs and surgical operation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.269-272
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• 1992

We experienced a case of pleural effusion while treating postherpetic neuralgia in a 70 year old male patient. The patient had scar and color change on the skin along the course of the right Th4-5 intercostal nerve, characteristics of healed herpes zoster. The patient also complained of severe pain along the lesion site which made sleeping difficult. He had been treated with; epidural blocks with or without catheterization; epidural or regional corticosteroids; multiple intraspinal and intercostal blocks with local anesthetic; or neurolytic, alcohol, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, etc., for about six months by the time of pleural effusion development. We came to the conclusion that the effusion was due to pleural irritation by multiple intercostal nerve blocks, because it was bloody and developed on the affected right side, although the patient had a history of a certain hepatic pathology and pulmonary tuberculosis which may be a predisposing factor to the effusion.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2006

Purpose : This study was designed to document the etiologies and the characteristics of parapneumonic effusion in children. Methods : During a 17-year period from 1987 to 2004, parapneumonic effusion was confirmed in 86 children at Gyeongsang National University Hospital. The clinical records of these children were reviewed and radiological findings and laboratory data, especially results of thoracentesis, were analyzed retrospectively. Results : M. pneumoniae(34 subjects) was the most common pathogen at all over age, especially above 1-years-old. There were diagnosed with clinical characteristics and serologic tests. The $2^{nd}$ most common pathogen revealed non tuberculous bacteria(14 subjects). A species of bacteria at no tuberculous bacteria revealed S. aureus(5), S. pneumoniae(3), P. aeroginosa(3), other staphylococcus (2), and K. pneumoniae(1). There were confirmed with sputum culture or pleural fluid culture or blood culture. S. aureus was most common pathogen in infants. The $3^{rd}$ common pathogen was M. tuberculosis(7). There were confirmed with skin tuberculin tests and AFB stains. Another that was classified as a non bacteria was adenovirus(2). Complications of parapneumonic effusion such as pleural thickness occurred on M. tuberculosis(1). Non tuberculous bacteria, especially S. aureus revealed a serious predominance of polymorphocyte at pleural fluid, and lowest pleural pH and glucose, and highest pleural protein and LDH. Tuberculosis revealed high pleural protein and LDH. Conclusion : Age and chemistries of pleural fluid might be helpful in differentiating various etiologies of parapneumonic effusion. If there were suspicious of tuberculosis and non-tuberculous bacteria, more aggressive approaches were needed to prevent complication.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.455-464
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• 1995

Background: Considering that both humoral and cell mediated immunities play an important role for human tuberculosis infection, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) measurement of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody to mycobacterial antigens can be used for the serologic diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion. Method: We measured absorbance values of IgG antibodies to purified-protein-derivative (PPD) and lipoarabinomannan-B (LAM-B) in the pleural fluid (PF) and the serum in 40 tuberculous (TPE) and 19 nontuberculous pleural effusions (NTPE). Results: 1) The IgG antibodies to PPD and LAM-B were significantly (P<0.0005) higher in the PF and the serum of TPE compared to NTPE. 2) The IgG antibodies to PPD and LAM-B in the serum were higher than that in PF. 3) Significant correlations were found between pleural and serum IgG antibodies to PPD and LAM-B. 4) With a cutoff value for IgG antibody to PPD in the PF of 0.091, sensitivity was 55.0% and specificity 94.7% in the diagnosis of TPE. 5) With a cutoff value for IgG antibody to LAM-B in the PF of 0.337, sensitivity was 50.0% and specificity 94.7% in the diagnosis of TPE. 6) The seropositive rates in TPE were not related to PPD skin test status, the amount of PF and coexisting active pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusion: The assay of IgG antibodies to PPD and LAM-B might be useful for the diagnosis of TPE. Our study suggests the mechanism of passive transfer of IgG antibodies to PPD and LAM-B from the serum to the PF through pleural tissue.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 1997

Background : The standard treatment of recurrent, symptomatic malignant pleural effusion is intrapleural instillation of a chemical agent in an attempt to achieve a sterile inflammation and pleurodesis. There are many drugs used as pleural sclerosing agents, but the efficiency and side effects are different. The present study was undertaken to compare the commonly used drugs, doxycycline and bleomycin. Methods : Thirty-four patients with malignant pleural effusion who needed repeated thoracentesis were randomized to receive treatment with intrapleural instillation of doxycycline or bleomycin Fluid volumes before and after pleurodesis, drainge time, and side effects were analyzed, and the response to treatment was evaluated by clinical examination and chest radiography during admission in the hospital. Also median survival rime were evaluated according to the responses. Results : The response rate was higher in the patients receiving doxycycline than in those receiving bleomycin (87.5% vs 50.0%, p=0.02), and fever, nausea and vomiting were more common in the patients receiving bleomycin. The median survival time was significantly longer in the patients who responded to the sclerotherapy regardless of sclerosing agents. Conclusions : Chemical pleurodesis with doxycycline or bleomycin could reduce or stop pleural effusions and prolong the median survival rimes in these patients. Doxycycline appeared to be more efficient as sclerosing agent than bleomycin in the short-term follow-up periods. But a prospective study with a larger number of patients is warranted.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.80 no.2
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• pp.194-200
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• 2017

Background: Medical thoracoscopy (MT) is a minimally invasive, endoscopic procedure for exploration of the pleural cavity under conscious sedation and local anesthesia. MT has been performed at the Seoul National University Hospital since February 2014. This paper summarizes the findings and outcomes of MT cases at this hospital. Methods: Patients who had undergone MT were enrolled in the study. MT was performed by pulmonologists, using both rigid and semi-rigid thoracoscopes. During the procedure, patients were under conscious sedation with fentanyl and midazolam. Medical records were reviewed for clinical data. Results: From February 2014 to January 2016, 50 procedures (47 cases) were performed (diagnostic MT, 26 cases; therapeutic MT, 24 cases). The median age of patients was 66 years (59-73 years), and 38 patients (80.9%) were male. The median procedure duration from initial incision to insertion of the chest tube was 37 minutes. The median doses of fentanyl and midazolam were $50{\mu}g$ and 5 mg, respectively. All procedures were performed without unexpected events. Of the 26 cases of pleural disease with an unknown cause, 19 were successfully diagnosed using MT. Additionally, diagnostic MT provided clinically useful information in the other six patients. Therapeutic MT was very effective for treatment of malignant pleural effusion or empyema. The median number of days with chest tube drainage was 6 (3 days for diagnostic MT and 8 days for therapeutic MT). Conclusion: MT is a useful and necessary procedure for both diagnosis and treatment of pleural diseases.