• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.702-708
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• 1999

Background: Surgical closure of the PDA in premature infants with complications or contraindications to indomethacin use, or recurrence of symptomatic PDA is a safe and effective procedure with low operative risk and minimal complications. Material and Method: From April 1996 to August 1998, 11 premature infants with body weight under 1.5 kg at operation underwent operation for a symptomatic PDA (male:5, female: 6). Associated dise ases were congenital heart disease(7), hyaline membrane disease(6), intraventricular hemor rhage(4), pneumonia(4), pneumothorax(3), hyperbilirubinemia(2), necrotizing enterocolitis(2), renal failure(1), epilepsy(1), and hydrocephalus(1). Surgical techniques are hemoclipping(8) and ligation(3). The size of PDA was 3~6 mm (5.0$\pm$1.2). Result: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure rised and heart rates decreased after PDA closure. ABGA improved postoperatively. There were no surgical complications. Six infants with improved ABGA data were weaned from mechanical ventilatory support. The follow-up durations after discharge were 3 month to 12 month. Five deaths were not related to operation. The causes of death were hyaline membrane disease(2), bronchopulmonary dysplasia with pneumonia(1), sepsis(1), and con gestive heart failure with respiratory distress syndrome(1). Conclusion: Early operative closure is the treatment of choice in most premature infants with a hemodynamically significant shunt(PDA), recurrence of symptomatic PDA, complications of Indomethacin, or contraindi cations to Indomethacin.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.487-491
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• 2009

Background: Salvaging prosthetic arteriovenous grafts can be performed using surgical or endovascular techniques. We conducted a retrospective analysis to compare the efficacy of these two methods for restoring dialysis graft function. Material and Method: We studied 41 patients who had received surgical thrombectomy with revision (Group A) or percutaneous thrombectomy with angioplasty (Group B) from January 2006 to December 2007. We compared them according to the patient characteristics and the location of stenotic lesions, and we analyzed the post-intervention primary patency rates. Result: 21 patients underwent surgery and 20 patients underwent percutaneous balloon angioplasty. There were no significant differences of the patients' characteristics between the two groups. Venous anastomotic stenosis was the most common cause of graft thrombosis in both groups. In Group A, 90.5% of the grafts remained functional at 6 months and 38.1% remained functional at 12 months. In Group B, 55.0% of the grafts were functional at 6 months and 20.0% of the grafts were functional at 12 months. The post-intervention primary patency rate was significantly better in Group A (p=0.034). Conclusion: Surgical treatment resulted in significantly longer post-intervention primary patency in this study, and this supports its use as the primary method of management for most patients in whom dialysis graft obstruction develops.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.578-584
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• 2004

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare cardiac anomaly and a long-term survival after surgical treatment has not been well established. This study was designed to evaluate the long-term surgical results after the repair of sinus Valsalva aneurysm. Material and Method: From April 1991 to November 2003, 35 patients (23 male, 12 female, mean age 35.2 years, range 11∼64) underwent operation for sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. Twenty six patients (74.3%) were in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III∼IV before surgery. In preoperative echocardiogram, mean EF was 63.32 $\pm$ 11.43% and nine patients (25.7%) were in AR grade III∼IV. Direct closure, patch closure of ruptured sinus Valsalva were performed in fourteen patients (46.7%), sixteen patients (53.3%) respectively. Aortic valve replacement, valvuloplasty were performed in five patients (14.3%), three patients (8.6%) respectively. Three patients (8.6%) underwent the Bentall procedure. Concomitant procedures were performed in 15 patients (42.9%), which were closure of VSD and ASD. Mean CPB time and ACC time were 116.79 $\pm$ 38.79 and 81.2 $\pm$ 28.97 minutes. Result: There was no operative mortality. One patient (2.9%) developed complete heart block that required a permanent pacemaker implantation. Three patients (8.6%) required reoperation due to a recurred rupture of the sinus Valsalva aneurysm and developed aortic insufficiency. Mean follow-up time was 58.55 $\pm$ 38.38 months. There was one late death. Actuarial 5 year freedom rate from reoperation was 87.1 $\pm$ 7%. Conclusion: Surgical treatment for sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is safe and has satisfactory long-term results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.5 s.250
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• pp.371-376
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• 2005

Background: Retrospective study was carried out on patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax with the aim of determining if conventional thoracoscopic wedge resection is superior to modified transaxillary minithoracotomy with thoracoscopy in the surgical treatment. Material and Method: 160 patients, aged 14 to 35 years with primary spontaneous pneumothorax were involved in this study. Patients were assigned to two groups by surgical technique; Conventional thoracoscopic wedge resection (group A; n=80) and modified transaxillary minithoracotomy with thoracoscopy (group B; n=80). Apical pleural abrasion & talc poudrage were performed in all cases. This study evaluated the following factors: duration of operation, days of analgesics used after operation, number of no air leak on the first postoperative day, duration of indwelling chest tube, hospital stay, postoperative complications, chronic chest pain (during follow-up) and resumption of normal activity. Relapses (ipsilateral recurrence after discharge) during follow-up periods were evaluated. Result: No significant differences were found in any of the factors studied in either group. Conclusion: Conventional thoracoscopic wedge resection and modified transaxillary minithoracotomy with thoracoscopy offer similar results in the surgical treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. The rate of complication is low and the level of pain is acceptable without long-term sequele. Therefore, modified transaxillary minithoracotomy with thoracoscopy method appears as a valuable alternative surgical technique.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.5 s.274
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• pp.356-361
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• 2007

Background: Recent progress in the surgical therapy for lung cancer is one of the best examples of the successful evolution of clinical medicine. We reviewed our experience to evaluate the surgical outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Material and Method: We reviewed clinical records of 432 consecutive patients with proven non-small cell lung cancer who underwent complete removal of the primary tumor together with hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes from 1995 to 2005. The clinical characteristics, surgical methods, and recurrence patterns were analyzed. Result: Lobectomy was the most common procedure (66.7%) performed and sleeve lobectomy was the least (5.6%). In 179 patients (42.6%) the recurrence was noted and the regional recurrence (67 cases, 16.0%) was less than systemic recurrence (112 cases, 26.7%). The main sites of regional recurrence were hilum (25 cases, 37.3%) and ipsilateral mediastinum (54/432 cases, 25.4%). The hospital mortality rate was 2.8% (12/432 cases) and resection-morbidity rate was 12.5% (54/432 cases). Conclusion: The low recurrence rate, especially regional recurrence rate indicated that our surgical procedures with preoperative measures were considered useful and effective.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.662-668
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• 2000

Background: Many recent results of clinical trials show that pre-operative concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection could increase the survival of N2 positive stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. This study was performed to assess the feasibility, toxicity, and affect rates of concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection in N2 positive stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. Material and Method: Thirty-one patients who underwent preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for N2 positive stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer from May 1997 to April 1999 were entered into the study. Mean age was 61 yrs(43∼70 yrs), There were 24 men and 7 women. The confirmation of N2 disease were achieved through mediastinoscopic biopsy(24) and CT scans(7). Induction was achieved by two cycles of cisplatin and etoposide(EP) plus concurrent chest radiotherapy to 45 Gy. Resections were done at 3 weeks after the complection of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Resections were performed in 23 patients, excluding 5 refusals and 3 distant metastasis. Result: All patients were compled the thoracic radiotherapy except one who had distant metastasis. Twenty three patients were completed the planned 2 cycles of EP chemotherapy, and 8 patients were received only 1 cycle for severe side effects(6), refusal(1), and distant metastasis(1). There was one postoperative mortality, and the cause of death was ARDS. Three patients who had neutropenic fever and one patient who had radiation pneumonitis were required admission and treatment. Esophagitis was the most common acute side effect, but relatively well-tolerated in most patients. The complection rate of concurrent chemoradiotherapy was 74%, resection rate was 71%, pathologic complete remission rate was 13.6%, and pathologic down-staging rate was 68%. Conclusion: Morbidity related to each treatment was acceptable and many of the patients have benefited down staging of its disease. Further prospective, preferably randomized, clinical trials of larger scale may be warranted to confirm the actual benefit of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection in N2-positive stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 1999

Background: This study is to suggest the optimal method as a treatment for the patent ductus arteriosus in the premature infants. Material and Method : Between April 1994 and April 1997, 45 premature infants with evidence of a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus associated with cardiopulmonary compromise underwent indomethacin therapy, surgical treatment, or both. Thirty-nine infants received indomethacin and twelve infants among them were surgically ligated because of indomethacin failure(5) or complications(7). Six infants, who weighed less than 1,500 gm at birth, were referred for primary surgical ligation because of contraindication to indomethacin therapy. Result: The failure rate of indomethacin therapy was 43%(17/39) and the complications(13/39, 33%) to the indomethacin were associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Among the infants who underwent ligation, there were no failures and complications related to the operation. This data suggests that in the premature neonate with a hemodynamically significant PDA, (1) indomethacin therapy is associated with a high failure rate and significant complications, (2) surgical duct closure is associated with minimal morbidity. Conclusion: Although the results of this study cannot suggest the optimal management for PDA in premature infants, primary surgical ligation may be considered. However, long-term studies will be needed to confirm this later.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 1999

Background: Early detection and surgical resection offer the most advantage out of all cures for lung cancer. Elderly patients may fail to benefit maximally from these interventions because of their general condition and residual lung function. To study the impact of age on stages, histology, symptoms, and treatments of the patients with non-small cell lung cancer, we undertook a retrospective review. Material and Method : Two hundred eleven patients with non-small cell lung cancer were operated on at Samsung Seoul hospital between October 1994 and June 1997. Patients were arbitrarily arbitrarily by age less than 70 years(176 patients) and 70 years or more(35 patients), and their medical records were reviewed. Result: There were no differences in pathologic staging and diagnosis. But there were differences in surgical methods, complications, and mortality rates between the two groups. There were much more complications in the 70 years or more group(p=0.02). We chose less invasive surgical methods in the 70 years or more group. Conclusion: More complications were experienced in the 70 years or more group. Although thoracic operation imparts the greatest survival advantage, this benefit is diminished in elderly patients because of their high complications and mortality rate. We recommend serious consideration of surgical indications and operative methods.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.432-437
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• 2004

Background : Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura (SFTP) is one of rare neoplasms that originated from submesothelial mesenchyme. Clinical course or extent of surgical resection is not well known. Material and Method: We retrospectively reviewed all the clinical records of the patients who had undergone surgical resection of benign and malignant SFTP, Result: Twenty two (male female 14 : 8) patients were enrolled and mean age was 50.2(range 25∼83). Number of symptomatic patients at the time of diagnosis was 13 (59%) and the most common symptom was dyspnea. Operative approach was carried out through thoracotomy (n=14) or video-assisted thoracic surgery (n=8). Mass excision was performed in 12 cases and en bloc resection including adjacent structure in 10 cases. In all cases complete resection was performed. There was no operative mortality. Malignant SFTP were 11 cases and benign SFTP 11 cases. Local recurrences (n=2) or distant metastasis (n=6) occurred only in malignant SFTP. Conclusion: Number of symptomatic patients, on bloc resection, and recurrence was more in malignant SFTP. Although complete surgical resection is known as treatment of choice for SFTP, further study should be performed about systemic therapeutic modalities pre- or postoperatively to control recurrence and metastasis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.396-403
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• 2012

Objective : The predictors of cranioplasty infection after decompressive craniectomy have not yet been fully characterized. The objective of the current study was to compare the long-term incidences of surgical site infection according to the graft material and cranioplasty timing after craniectomy, and to determine the associated factors of cranioplasty infection. Methods : A retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess graft infection in patients who underwent cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy between 2001 and 2011 at a single-center. From a total of 197 eligible patients, 131 patients undergoing 134 cranioplasties were assessed for event-free survival according to graft material and cranioplasty timing after craniectomy. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression methods were employed, with cranioplasty infection identified as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were also evaluated, including autogenous bone resorption, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma and brain contusion. Results : The median follow-up duration was 454 days (range 10 to 3900 days), during which 14 (10.7%) patients suffered cranioplasty infection. There was no significant difference between the two groups for event-free survival rate for cranioplasty infection with either a cryopreserved or artificial bone graft (p=0.074). Intergroup differences according to cranioplasty time after craniectomy were also not observed (p=0.083). Poor neurologic outcome at cranioplasty significantly affected the development of cranioplasty infection (hazard ratio 5.203, 95% CI 1.075 to 25.193, p=0.04). Conclusion : Neurologic status may influence cranioplasty infection after decompressive craniectomy. A further prospective study about predictors of cranioplasty infection including graft material and cranioplasty timing is necessary.