• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.750-757
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• 1990

Empyema with bronchopleural fistula is an uncommon, but serious problem. Early diagnosis and adequate drainage of the empyema cavity are well established principles for the initial management of this condition and will enable patient to recover from the toxic effects of loculated pus. 37 patients of empyema with bronchopleural fistula were treated at the department of the chonbuk National University Hospital between 1981 and 1988. The age group of fifty and sixty decades occupied 64.8%. Bacteriologic cultures of the pus were postive in 56.8%. The most common organism of the culture was staphylococci(42.9%). And the others were Pseudomonas(19%). Klebsiella(14.3%), and E. doli. No growth of pathologic organism was reported 43.2%. 24 patients of empyema with bronchopleural fistula were nonoperative causes : There were 10 pulmonary tuberculosis, 3 abscess, 9 ascending infection, one bronchiectasis and one tumor, respectively. The remaining 13 were occurred as postoperative complications ; pneumonectomy in 6, lobectomy in 4, decortication in 2, and lobectomy with segmentectomy in 1. When used as the initial mode of drainage, closed thoracostomy was performed to almost all of the patients, but 4 patients were died during this treatment. Main operations were performed except 4 died patients ; open thoracostomy in 21, open thoracostomy with myoplasty in 3, decortication in 5, decortication with resection in 3, and completion pneumonectomy in 1. Open thoracostomy was performed in 21 patients which results were favorable except one death. Permanent open thoracostomy is an old but still useful minor operation in patients with empyema with bronchopleural fistula. The overall mortality rate was 15% (6 patients) and the causes of the death were respiratory insufficiency or sepsis, or both.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.180-183
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• 2004

We report a case of a patient with lung cancer, which invaded the left atrium and pericardium. Right middle and lower lobectomy was performed with the use of the extracorporeal circulation. Postoperative pathologic examination revealed the stage of IIIB (T4N1MO). Although the postoperative clinical course was complicated by acute localized right sided pulmonary edema and the bronchopleural fistula, the patient recovered smoothly after the procedure of omentopexy with pedicled graft of greater omentum in closing the BPF. As of August 2003, he has been followed up for 6 years and he is healthy without any evidence of recurrence. We could not find any report concerning lung cancer resection using cardiopulmonary bypass in Korean literature and believe this is the first report, especially with long-term survival.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.637-644
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• 1992

The incidence of thoracic empyema has been reduced with the advent of antimicrobial agents. But, there are remained many significant problems in the management of thoracic empyema because of the empyema associated with bronchopleural fistula, other complications, This is a clinical analysis of 76 cases of thoracic empyema who had been treated from August 1975 to July 1991 in the Chest Surgery Department, Chung-Ang University Hospital. This report dealed with the incidence, etiology and symptoms, duration of hospital stay, therapeutic methods and review of literatures in the aspect of thoracic empyema, The results were as follows: 1. Predominance of male [3 : 1] and right side [1.5 : 1] were recorded. 2. The main symptom was the chest pain [55%], dyspnea[36%], fever[33%], cough [23%] and others. 3, The most common predisposing causatic diseases were pulmonary tuberculosis[33%] and pneumonia[31%], but also uncertain cases were 15%.4. Searching for the causatic organisms, there were not-identified[49%], streptoccocci [17%], staphylococci[12%], mixed infection[12%], AFB bacilli[7%]. 5. The range of hospital stay was from 6 to 146 days and the average duration was 29.4 days, 6. The results were good as the methods of closed thoracostomy[52%], decortication [23%], thoracentesis[15%], rib resection and drainage[4%], open drainage[4%], pleuropneumonectomy [4%]. 7. The serious complications or mortality didn`t developed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.292-296
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• 1994

From March, 1985, to June, 1993, 244 patients with 345 episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax treated at Koryo General Hospital were reviewed. Most of the patients were male, and the ratio of male to female was 8:1. The average age of the patients with spontaneous pneumothorax was 32.8 years old. The site of pneumothorax was revealed left side in 53.3%, right side in 42.6%, and bilateral in 4.1%. The cause of pneumothorax were shown primary spontaneous pneumothorax in 73.4%, and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in 26.6%. The underlying pathologic lesion in secondary spontaneous pneumothorax showed pulmonary tuberculosis in 56patients[86.1%], COPD in 4patients[6.2%], bronchial asthma in 2patients[3.1%], lung cancer in 2patients[3.1%], and pneumoconiosis in a patient[1.5%]. The usual clinical symptomes were dyspnea, chest pain and chest discomfort. Recurrence rate was as follow; 2nd episode 33.6%, 3rd episode in 26.8%, and above in 4th episode in 18.2%. All the patient of pneumothorax was treated as following; Closed thoracostomy tube drainage in 127patients, bullectomy in 88patients, lobectomy in 5patients, wedge resection in 2patients, conservative treatment with oxygen therapy in 21patients, and video assisted thoracoscopic bullectomy in a patient. The course of treatment of all of the patients were smooth and uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.313-316
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• 2016

Paratracheal air cysts are a rare entity in which cystic formation occurs adjacent to the trachea. Most patients with paratracheal air cysts are asymptomatic, and the cysts are detected incidentally on chest radiograph or computed tomography (CT) scan. Most symptomatic patients complain of pulmonary symptoms or repeated respiratory infection. Rarely, the air cysts can lead to paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve as a result of direct compression. We report a case of a 59-year-old male patient who presented with voice change, and the cause was identified as paratracheal air cysts on a chest CT scan. Surgical resection via video-assisted mediastinoscopy was performed, and the voice recovered immediately after the operation.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2009.03a
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• pp.208-208
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• 2009

Eleven shoulders (9 patients) with refractory scapulothoracic dysfunction were treated with scapulothoracic arthrodesis between 2000 and 2006. Refractory shoulder dysfunction included facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy in five shoulders (3 patients), refractory scapular winging with long thoracic nerve palsy in one shoulder, scapular winging caused by serratus anterior palsy with trapezius dysfunction in one shoulder, post-surgical thoracic outlet syndrome due to medial clavicle resection in two shoulders, refractory scapular winging with spinal accessory nerve injury in one shoulder, and chronic trapezius rupture caused by cervical spine surgery in one shoulder. The mean active flexion was improved from 82 degrees preoperatively to 112 degrees postoperatively. The mean Constant score was improved from 27.2 points to 68.0 points. Two shoulders (1 patient) that had facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy had broken wires due to nonunion, and one patient had a reactive pulmonary effusion. In ten of the eleven shoulders, the patients were satisfied with their results. The scapulothoracic arthrodesis can cause significant pain relief and functional improvement in refractory scapulothoracic and/or shoulder dysfunction. By selecting patients that present with appropriate indications, and using experienced surgical technique through complete preoperative evaluation, we can diminish the complication rate and make good clinical outcomes.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.806-811
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• 1992

The primary neuroendocrine carcinomas[NEC] of the lung are relatively rare. There are classified histologically into the following groups. 1] bronchial carcinoid, 2] well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma[WDNC], 3] intermediate cell neuroendocrine carci-noma[ICNC], 4] small cell neuroendocrie carcinoma[SCNC]. The NE cells can be found throughout the mucosa of the bronchial tree by the electron microscopy. By the immunocytochemistry, Neuron-specific enolase[NSE], serotonin, born-csin, and calcitonin are found in normal solitary NE cells and neuroepithelial bodies. The immunohistochemistry has the advantage that it can be applied on routine pathology specimens. The NSE was localized in all of the NE granule bearing tumors but also present in 57 per cent of the non NE carcinomas. Together the combination of chromogranin A, bombesin and NSE should provide an exellent signature for tumor cells expressing NE features, such as carcinoids and other NE carcinomas. We have experienced two cases of primary pulmonary NEC in 59 and 29 years old men. The former was admitted due to exertional dyspnea and left chest pain, the latter, newly developed mass on chest X-ray. They were treated by Lt pneumonectomy with LN dissection and RLL resection with LN dissection The postoperative diagnoses were could be confirmed by NSE study as NEC which were SCNEC and INEC in subgroups. The postoperative courses were uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1482-1486
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• 1992

Ruptured aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva are relatively rare, and the incidence seems to be higher in oriental than in western countries. Eight patients underwent operative treatment at Chonnam University Hospital from June, 1986 to May, 1992. Six of the patients were male and two female. Age ranged from eight to fifty six years. Associated cardiac lesions were common including AR and VSD in four patients respectively. Diagnosis was made by 2D-Echo and cine-angiogram. In six patients aneurysms of the sinus of valsalva ruptured from the right coronary sinus to the right ventricle and in two from right coronary sinus to the right atrium Direct closure of aneurysmal rupture and patch closure of VSD in four cases, resection of the aneurysm and direct closure in one case, direct closure of the fistula and AVR in two cases, direct closure in one case were performed. One patient combined with VSD, pulmonary hypertention and bacterial endocarditis underwent operation, but he died of sudden cardiac arrest the day after the operation. Operative results were relatively good in the other patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 1992

The 242 patients were operated due to chronic empyema in Hanyang University Hospital From Jan, 1983 to Aug, 1991, we operated 17 patients by modified.Schede`s thoracoplasty with myoplasty and we concluded to next scentences. 1. The age of patients were varied from 28 to 65[Average 39.1] and male preponderance was seen[more than 3 times]. 2. The preoperative cause of disease were tuberculosis in 14 patients[3 patients were associated with aspergillosis, and 1 patient was associated vrith actinomycosis], lung abscess in 2 patients, and haemophilia in 1 patient. 3. The Preoperative duration of empyema were varied from 1 month to 30 years[Average 49.8 month], and the duration from pulmonary resection to thoracoplasty were 1 month to 13.5 years[Average 55 month] except 3 patients, who were operated pneunectomy with thoracoplasty at the same time. 4. The total number of thoracoplasty were 19, because in 2 patients, we operated 2 steps, and we failed in 6 cases, so the success rate was 68.5%. 5. In failure analysis of 6 cases, the cause were obliteration failure in 3 cases, inadequete drainage in 1 case, and in the other 1 case was mixed type. 6. From 1990 to 1991, there were no death associated with operation and there were 1 failure, so the success rate was greatly improved. 7. The bronchopleural fistula or spontaneous rupture of trachea were seen in 12 cases, and the success rate was high in absent cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.385-390
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• 1986

Empyema is a severe infection encountered in the pediatrics. With advance of the antibiotics and chemotherapeutics, there was a marked decrease in number of empyema. Empyema complicated by staphylococcal pneumonia in infant and children has been distressing problem, and the management of this complication has been discussed repeatedly in the past. In Korea, tuberculous empyema is also troublesome. If empyema is localized within thick capsule, tube thoracostomy and closed drainage alone is unacceptable, and early open thoracotomy to eliminate the empyema has proved good result. A clinical analysis of 39 patients with thoracic empyema was done. They were managed surgical intervention at Dept. of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery at Kyung-Hee University Hospital from Jan. 1974 to December, 1984. 1. Age and sex distribution, infancy 9, early childhood 11. late childhood 9, puberty 10. The male to female ratio was 21:18. 2. The highest seasonal incidence was winter [21 cases]. 3. Cardinal symptoms were cough [76%], fever and chill [66%], and dyspnea [40%]. 4. The location of the empyema was right in 27 cases [69%] and 12 cases in left side. 5. The most frequent lesion to predisposing factor was pneumonia [67%]. 6. The commonest organism was Staphylococcus aureus in 15 [38%] cases, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 10 cases [26%]. 7. The surgical treatment was performed in all patients. The surgical procedure was closed tube thoracostomy in 25 cases [64%], decortication in 7 cases [18%], pulmonary resection in 4 cases [10%], and decortication with curettage in 2 cases. 8. One patient died from sepsis complicated by lymphoma and in one patient bronchopleural fistula was developed postoperatively.