• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.185-189
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• 2016

Background: For treatment of pneumothorax in Korea, many institutions hospitalize the patient after chest tube insertion. In this study, a portable small-bore chest tube (Thoracic Egg; Sumitomo Bakelite Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) was used for pneumothorax management in an outpatient clinic. Methods: Between August 2014 and March 2015, 56 pneumothorax patients were treated using the Thoracic Egg. Results: After Thoracic Egg insertion, 44 patients (78.6%) were discharged from the emergency room for follow-up in the outpatient clinic, and 12 patients (21.4%) were hospitalized. The mean duration of Thoracic Egg chest tube placement was 4.8 days, and the success rate was 73%; 20% of patients showed incomplete expansion and underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. For primary spontaneous pneumothorax patients, the success rate of the Thoracic Egg was 76.6% and for iatrogenic pneumothorax, it was 100%. There were 2 complications using the Thoracic Egg. Conclusion: Outpatient treatment of pneumothorax using the Thoracic Egg could be a good treatment option for primary spontaneous and iatrogenic pneumothorax.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2024

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.49-55
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• 2012

Background: The purposes of this study were to: 1) investigate the relation between thoracic kyphosis, postural stiffness and thoracic rotation and 2) the intra-rater reliability of the measurement methods for thoracic kyphosis and rotation angle. Methods: Thirty-nine young adults (13 males, 26 females) participated in the study. Thoracic kyphosis was measured using a Flexicurve while standing in their usual relaxed posture and then in their maximally erector posture. Index of kyphosis (IK) measures taken in the relaxed and maximally erect positions were used to estimate postural stiffness. Thoracic rotation range of motion (ROM) was measured using universal goniometer and inclinometer in two positions. The association between the magnitude of the IK and thoracic stiffness and thoracic rotation ROM was also examined. Reliability was determined using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Results: When measured from the mean relaxed IK (${\pm}SD$) was 7.42 (${\pm}1.47$) and mean erect IK was 4.92 (${\pm}1.63$) and mean IK ratio was 1.66 (${\pm}.65$). The relaxed IK was significantly correlated with the range of motion thoracic rotation in two positions (r=.503~580, p<.01). Conclusion: Thoracic kyphosis in relaxed position was associated with the range of motion thoracic rotation. Thoracic kyphosis measurement with the Flexicurve and range of motion 2 techniques of thoracic rotation showed good reliablity and may be a useful measurement tool in clinical practice.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.489-491
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• 2022

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.64-65
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• 2023

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.2-8
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• 2021

Since the first reported case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2019, the numbers of confirmed cases and deaths have continued to increase exponentially despite multi-factorial efforts. Although various attempts have been made to improve the level of evidence for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment over the past 10 years, most experts still hesitate to take an active position on whether to apply ECMO in COVID-19 patients. Several ECMO management guidelines have been published recently, but they reflect some important differences from the Korean medical system and aspects of real-world medical practice in Korea. We aimed to find evidence on the efficacy of ECMO for COVID-19 patients by reviewing the published literature and to propose expert recommendations by analyzing the Korean COVID-19 ECMO registry data.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.304-306
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• 2011

An azygos vein aneurysm is a very rare cause of a posterior mediastinal mass. Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, no treatment is usually required. However, the aneurysm can thrombose, and this may lead pulmonary thromboembolism, or the aneurysm may rupture. In these instances, the excision of the mass is recommended. Video-assisted thoracic surgery techniques have considerably improved. If it is necessary to remove the aneurysm, video-assisted thoracic surgery may be a good option for surgical treatment. We report a case of an aneurysm of the azygos arch that was successfully resected by video-assisted thoracic surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.225-227
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• 2015

Thoracic duct cysts in the upper portion of the diaphragm are mostly found in the neck and are rarely found in the mediastinum. Thoracic duct cysts should be differentiated from other mediastinal tumors or cysts, and surgical treatment is required to avoid the development of chylothorax if the cyst ruptures. Herein, we report the case of a patient with a thoracic cyst located just above the diaphragm that was treated with surgical resection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.403-406
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• 2017

Tracheobronchial rupture due to blunt chest trauma is a rare but life-threatening injury in the pediatric population. Computed tomography (CT) is not always reliable in the management of these patients. An additional concern is that ventilation may be disrupted during surgical repair of these injuries. This report presents the case of a 4 -year-old boy with an injury to the lower trachea and carina due to blunt force trauma that was missed on the initial CT scan. During surgery, he was administered venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Although ECMO is not generally used in children, this case demonstrated that the short-term use of ECMO during pediatric surgery is safe and can prevent intraoperative desaturation.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1201-1205
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• 2017

The purpose of this case study was to investigate the effects of thoracic mobilization and manipulation on a patient with upper thoracic pain. The subject had been complaining of upper thoracic pain for the last 4 months. On the X-ray, T3 and T4 spinous process were located on the left side of the vertical axis. First, transverse mobilization was applied from left to right at the T3-T4 and then thoracic manipulation was performed. The intervention methods of mobilization and manipulation were based on the concept of Maitland manual therapy. The subject underwent a total of 20 sessions (five times per week for four weeks). The thoracic pain and vertebral rotation angle were measured to examine the effect of the intervention. The thoracic pain score decreased (from 4.0 to 1.5) and the angle of thoracic vertebral rotation decreased (from $70{\underline{\circ}}$ to $4.0{\underline{\circ}}$). These results suggest that applied mobilization and manipulation in patients with a primary complaint of thoracic pain decreasing the thoracic pain and vertebral rotation angle.