• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.136-139
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• 2008

A great variety of penetrating injuries is happening due to the increasing population and violence today. An optimal surgical approach is the key factor for successful repair of a complicated penetrating injury. A 23-year-old woman fell down the stairs from the second floor and received cervico-thoracic penetration injury due to a metalic bar. The metalic bar ruptured the right jugular vein and penetrated the left upper and lower lung. Under cervico-median sternotomy, neck vessels were repaired and the left thorax was successfully entered to repair the damaged lung through the mediastinal pleura. With this approach, the patient's position did not need to be changed during operation, while reduced the operation time compared to the conventional approach (cervical incision and standard thoracotomy).

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.363-366
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• 2007

Objective : Kyphoplasty performed in the middle thoracic spine presents technical challenges that differ from those in the lower thoracic or lumbar region due to small pedicle size and angular severity for thoracic kyphosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of balloon kyphoplasty through extrapedicular approach for the treatment of intractable osteoporotic compression fractures in the middle thoracic spine. Methods : The patients who were performed with one level balloon kyphoplasty through extrapedicular approach due to painful osteoporotic compression fractures at T5-T8 from June 2003 to July 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Imaging and clinical features were analyzed including involved vertebrae level, vertebral height, Injected cement volume, clinical outcome and complications. Results : Eighteen female patients (age ranged from 60 to 77 years old) were included in this study. The average amount of the implanted cement was $4.2{\pm}1.5\;cc$. The mean cobb angle and compression rate were improved from $12.1{\pm}6.5^{\circ}$ to $8.5{\pm}7.2^{\circ}$ and from 30% to 15%, respectively. The mean pain score (visual analogue scale) prior to kyphoplasty was 7.9 and it decreased to 3.0 after the procedure. Cement leakage to the adjacent disc (2 cases) and paravertebral soft tissues (1 case) were seen but there were no major complications such as pneumothorax, segmental arte 이 Injury, pulmonary embolism, or epidural leakage. Conclusion : Balloon kyphoplasty through extrapedicular approach is considered as a safe and effective in treating the middle thoracic regions with low complication rate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.235-238
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• 2021

The establishment of minimally invasive surgery is a complex and difficult task. Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) refers to a minimally invasive surgical technique that represents a less invasive approach to thoracic surgery using thoracoscopy. For lung cancer or esophageal cancer surgery, planning and establishing a team for minimally invasive surgery for the first time is not a simple task. Technical advances in surgical devices and the enhanced skill of surgeons are cornerstones of the development of minimally invasive surgery. Here, we review the meaning of minimally invasive thoracic surgery and discuss how to establish a team approach for VATS procedures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2021

Background: The number of heart transplantations (HTx) is increasing annually. Due to advances in medical and surgical support, the outcomes of HTx are also improving. Extracorporeal circulatory life support (ECLS) provides patients with decompensated heart failure a chance to undergo HTx. A medical approach involving collaboration among experienced experts in different fields should improve the outcomes and prognosis of ECLS-bridged HTx. Methods: From December 2003 to December 2018, 1,465 patients received ECLS at Samsung Medical Center. We excluded patients who had not undergone HTx or underwent repeated transplantations. Patients younger than 18 years were excluded. We also excluded patients who received an implantable durable left ventricular assist device before HTx. In total, 91 patients were included in this study. A multidisciplinary team approach began in March 2013 at our hospital. We divided the patients into 2 groups depending on whether they were treated before or after implementation of the team approach. Results: The 30-day mortality rate was significantly higher in the pre-ECLS team group than in the post-ECLS team group (n=5, 18.5% vs. n=2, 3.1%; p=0.023). The 1-year survival rate was better in the post-ECLS team group than in the pre-ECLS team group (n=57, 89.1% vs. n=19, 70.4%; p=0.023). Conclusion: We found that implementing a multidisciplinary team approach improved the outcomes of ECLS-bridged HTx. Team-based care should be adapted at HTx centers that perform high-risk HTx.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2023

Background: We analyzed our experience with descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) treatment and investigated the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for mediastinal drainage. Methods: This retrospective analysis included patients who underwent surgical drainage for DNM at our hospital from 2005 to 2020. We analyzed patients' baseline characteristics, surgical data, and perioperative outcomes and compared them according to the mediastinal drainage approach among patients with type II DNM. Results: Twenty-five patients (male-to-female ratio, 18:7) with a mean age of 54.0±12.9 years were enrolled in this study. The most common infection sources were pharyngeal infections (60%). Most patients had significantly increased white blood cell counts, elevated C-reactive protein levels, and decreased albumin levels on admission. The most common DNM type was type IIB (n=16, 64%), while 5 and 4 patients had types I and IIA, respectively. For mediastinal drainage, the transcervical approach was used in 15 patients and the transthoracic approach (VATS) in 10 patients. The mean length of hospital stay was 26.5±23.8 days, and the postoperative morbidity and in-hospital mortality rates were 24% and 12%, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found among patients with type II DNM between the transcervical and VATS groups. However, the VATS group showed shorter mean antibiotic therapy duration, drainage duration, and hospital stay length than the transcervical group. Conclusion: DNM manifested as severe infection requiring long-term inpatient treatment, with a mortality rate of 12%. Thus, active treatment with a multidisciplinary approach is crucial, and mediastinal drainage using VATS is considered relatively safe and effective.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.293-297
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• 1976

One mid-esophageal carcinoma underwent esophagogastrectomy using an exclusive right thoracic approach entailing mobilization of the stomach through the esophageal hiatus. 62 year old male farmer was admitted with chief complaints of dysphagia and weight loss of 5 Kg. for 6 months, and regurgitation after soft meal for one week prior to this admission. Preoperative esophagogram revealed stricture with fungating mass at the level of the carina, which was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma at the time of esophagoscopic biopsy about 33 cm from incisor. Bronchoscopy revealed no invasive lesion or carinal fixation, and laboratory examinations were excellent for operative intervention. An exclusive right thoracic approach through right 5th rib bed was made for radical esophagectomy, mobilization of the stomach through the esophageal hiatus and primary esophagectomy. Postoperative recovery was uneventful except increased bronchial secretion due to senile emphysema, and follow up for 5 months after esophagectomy revealed good functioning esophagus with mild epigastric fullness after meal. Exclusive right thoracic approach for radical esophagectomy seems to be the procedure of choice in selected cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.2 s.247
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• pp.175-179
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• 2005

The operative case of transmanubrial osteomuscular sparing approach for the tumor involving thoracic inlet is reported. A 69-year-old man visited the hospital due to right upper extremity weakness. Chest roentgenogram showed bronchiectasis, chronic pulmonary tuberculosis, and fungal ball in right upper lobe. On computed tomogram, tumor was located in epidural space of the 6th, the 7th cervical, and the 1st thoracic spine and extended to the apex of the right thorax. A neurosurgeon performed laminectomy and removed the tumor located in the spinal canal. A thoracic surgeon performed a transmanubrial osteomuscular sparing approach and removed the tumor involving thoracic inlet. The tumor was diagnosed as hemangiopericytoma. The patient recovered without complication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.1 s.258
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• pp.80-84
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• 2006

A combined anterolateral and posterior approach with thoracotomy has been recommended as the traditional surgical approach for the tumors of the thoracic spine. Recently, because of the morbidity associated with open thoracotomy, the thoracoscopically assisted surgical technique was introduced successfully in thoracic spinal surgery. Herein, we report a combined surgical technique for giant cell tumor of the thoracic spine (T10) consisting of bilateral thoracoscopic anterior release of the spine followed by a posterior on bloc spondylectomy and reconstruction by orthopedic surgeons. The thoracoscopic spinal surgery is safe and effective alternative for other open thoracotomic procedures in the approach to the anterior thoracic spine, avoiding the disadvantage inherent to thoracotomy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1443-1448
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• 2001

The authors report a case of thoracic outlet syndrome in left side. Thoracic outlet syndrome is a collective term in which symptoms and signs are due to bony and soft tissue compression of the neurovascular bundle at the thoracic outlet. It is a rare case in neurosurgical field. So we had experienced one case of thoracic outlet syndrome which was improved by transaxillary approach for resection of first rib. The clinical features, diagnostic test, radiological findings, and operative technique are presented with review of literatures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.693-696
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• 2000

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis(DNM) is one of the most lethal form of mediastinitis originating from an oropharyngeal infection. It requires an early and aggressive sugical treatment, but the operative approach and optimal form of mediastinal drainage remains controversial. We report a case of DNM in a 45-year-old male who underwent right cervicomediastinotomy to drain the deep neck space, upper mediastinum and anterior mediastinal drainage was accomplished through a subxiphoid approach. After this procedure, he steadily improved and was dischrged on hospital day 36. We report this case with a brief review of the literature.