• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.808-811
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• 1994

We reported a successful right pneumonectomy using video assisted thoracoscopy for endobronchial tuberculosis. Thoracoscopic surgery has many advantages in spite of its technical difficulties. These advantages include good cosmetic effects, short hospital stay, decreased postoperative morbidity, and good postoperative pulmonary function.The patient was young unmarried female, and her right lung was nearly total obstructed by endobronchial tuberculous dissemination and secondary pulmonary infection. The procedure was a little complicated by inadequate placements of the thoracoscopic ports and 5cm length utility thoracotomy incision. Minimal pain killer was needed only two days after operation and scar of operative wound was very satisfying. Postoperative course was unusual and the patient was discharged 7 days after operation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.107-112
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• 2010

A 3-years-old female Pointer was evaluated for anorexia, dyspnea and exercise intolerance for 10 days. Auscultation revealed muffling of heart sound. There were leukocytosis, anemia, hypoalbuminaemia and hyperglobulinaemia on the blood profiles. Radiography showed severe pleural effusion. Thorax ultrasonographs described traped pleural effusion, pericardial effusion and collapsed right lung lobe(s). On CT images, thoracic neoplasia and lung torsion were ruled-out. Thoracocentesis with thoracoscopy and bacterial culture revealed pyothorax and pleuritis. The diagnosis of pyothorax in dogs and cats is based on clinical signs, radiography, thoracocentesis and cytology and culture of the exudate. In this case, various diagnostic medical imaging techniques (radiography, ultrasonography, CT and thoracoscopy) were used for diagnosis of pyothorax.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.748-753
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• 2003

Background: The pulmonary nodules (PN), when indicated, need thoracoscopic resection, especially in cases of non-diagnostic or technically infeasible PCNA (percutaneous needle aspiration). In the difficult situations of small or deeply seated PN, several techniques facilitating thoracoscopy have been used for detecting them. Our new protocol for managing PN was developed and prospectively reviewed. Material and Method: In the procedure of PCNA, we firstly placed the tip of the needle in the center of, or just in contact with PN under CT guidance, and loaded one or two segments of platinum radiomarker inside the needle after removing the stylet. Then, we forced the radiomarker to move to the tip of the needle by pushing the stylet. Finally, if the tip of the needle was not within PN, it was reoriented to the their center to obtain the sample for PCNA. Result: Between May 1999 and May 2000, radiomarkers were successfully placed in 28 PN of 26 patients, with the exception of one. In 18 (85%) of 21 nodules needing throacoscopy, intraoperative fluoroscopy was used to detect them or guide stapling resection during thoracoscopy. Conclusion: The advantages of this technique are that there is that there is no need for further localization for thoracoscopy even in cases of unsuccessful PCNA, and it was more effective in respect to both cost and time. Therefore, this strategy for PN expecting thoracoscopy will be helpful to patients and medical staff alike.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.422-425
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• 2001

We performed thoracoscopic resection for diagnosis in 41 year-old-female presenting with multiple pulmonary nodules in both lung fields, which was detected incidentally on routine chest x-ray and followed by additional exmaminations including chest CT scan and percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy under the presumptive diagnosis of metastatic cancer. During thoracoscopy, the result of the frozen section analysis of multiple masses revealed strong evidence of leiomyoma. In her past medical history, she had undergone myomectomy, and hysterectomy, 7 year ago and 10 year ago, respectively. Based on permanent, special staining of specimen, estrogen receptor assay and review of past specimen of uterine myoma the final diagnosis was benign metastasizing leiomyomata from uterine myoma, the report was very uncommon in Korean and English literatures. The patient has been followed up for 2 year without special therapy, such as hormonal therapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.330-332
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• 1999

A 40-year-old woman underwent plication by video-assisted thoracoscopy for left diaphragmatic eventration. Normalization in the position of the left diaphragm and a marked improvement in the left lung expansion were identified on the chest X-ray. This technique offers the patients many advantages of the minimally invasive operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.226-229
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• 1994

VATS is now used by many thoracic surgeons and in various anatomic locations such as lung parenchyme, pleura and mediastinum, etc. VATS of mediastinal masses has special characteristics compared to that of other diseases. Those are no positional changes of the mass during collapse of the lung and close proximity of the mass to major vascular structures, nerves and other vital organs. From 1992. July to 1993. August, 10 mediastinal masses were treated with video assisted thoracoscopy. There were five males and five females, ages ranged from 11 years to 65 years with average 37.7 17.7 years old. Of the 10 patients, 4 were bronchogenic cysts, 2 were teratoma, and the others were thymoma, neurilemmoma, pericardial cyst, and thymic cyst. Needle aspiration was done in large cysts and the working thoracotomy[or utility thoracotomy] was done in large solid masses for the purpose of easy dissection, easy handling and easy delivery of the mass. The average operation time were 155.6 6.8 minutes and the duration of air leakage were 1 2.2 days. The duration of the chest tube drainage were 3.3 2.6 days. The lengths of the postoperative hospitalization were 5.1 2.7 days which were shorter than those of 12 mediastinal masses treated with conventional thoracotomy during the same periods [p<0.05]. There was 1 patient converted to thoracotomy because of a bleeding at innominate vein. 3 postoperative complications were occured. Those were persistent air leakage for 7 days, diaphragmatic palsy and hoarseness which were recovered within 1 month. We conclude that mediastinal mass can be excised with video assisted thoracoscopy and the posthospitalization is reduced. But careful attention is required for avoiding injury to major vascular structures, nerves, and other vital organs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.44-46
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• 1993

There are several methods for managing pneumothorax through thoracoscope. Among them, electric cautery of bleb or bulla is very simple to do and can be done through the conventional thoracoscope. It is cosmetically excellent because it needs only incision. It is economically cheap comparing other methods because it does not need staplers or clips and other disposables. However, this method has been controversial for its success rate because of the ability of sealing off the air-leaking from the lung tissue. To evaluate the success rate, 29 cases of pneumothorax treated by electric cautery and instillation of oxytetracyline solution through the thoracoscope were analyzed. Among 29 patients, 18 were male and 11 female ranging 17 to 43 years old. The indications for thoracoscopy were recurrence in 20 cases and persistence in 9 cases. The underlying casuses of pneumothorax were bleb in 10 cases and bulla with bleb or not in 19 cases. Twenty one cases were successful [4%] and 8 cases were failed. The failed 8 cases were explored from 14 to 28 days after thoracoscopy.Six cases were explored through transaxillary minithoracotomy and 2 were done through limited posterolateral thoracotomy. The causes of failure were the necrotic lung tissue occured by excessive electric cautery in 6 cases and the necrotic lung tissue and residual bulla in two cases. In 10 bleb cases, 9 were successful [90.0%]. But in 19 cases of bulla, 12 were successful [63.2%]. In conclusion, the success rate of electric cautery through thoracoscope was 72. 4% and the causes of failure were lung necrosis and residual bulla. The success rate of the bleb cases was higher than that of the bulla cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.461-463
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• 2013

We report the case of a 72-year-old female with persistent atrial fibrillation who underwent a totally thoracoscopic ablation. A successful normal sinus conversion was achieved.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.306-309
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• 2000

Background: The purpose of this study was to evalute the diagnostic value of 2mm video thoracoscopy for primary spontaneous penumothorax. Material and Method: During the period of March to June 1999, we prospectively analyzed 33 consecutive patients suffering from primary spontaneous pneumothorax. 2mm video-assisted thoracoscopy was compared with the operative finding. We observed recurrence during the mean follow-up of 3months. Result: Blebs were present in 24 patient(73%: 24/33). These were treated by 10mm video-assised thoracoscopic stapling. Nine pateints with no bleb were treated with pleural drainage. There were no significant differences in the bleb finding. No recurrence occurred during the follow-up period. Conclusion: A 2mm video thoracoscopic examination for primary spontaneous pnumothorax is a useful alternative in deciding the operative indication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.3 s.272
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• pp.244-246
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• 2007

Mediastinal lymph node dissection is a method that increases the long term survival of patients with an esophageal carcinoma. However, dissection of the left mediastinal lymph node is almost impossible, as it is not easy to see. Herein, a left mediastinal lymph node dissection, with thoracoscopy through a cervical incision wound during minimal invasive esophageal surgery, is reported.