• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of coblation resection for the treatment of laryngotracheal disease. Methods : We conducted a retrospective review, evaluating 7 patients with laryngotracheal disease treated using coblator. Information collected included demographic data of the patients, diagnosis, size and location of the disease, procedure time, the number of previous operation, and the postoperative complication. Results : Among the etiology, granulation is most frequent (n=4), followed by recurrent repiratory papillomatosis (n=2) and tracheal stenosis (n=1). The location of lesions was peristomal area (n=2), glottis (n=2), subglottis (n=2) and mid-trachea. Coblation resection could remove the lesions completely and there was no significant complication including local burn, bleeding, and hypertrophic scar. The procedure time was shorter than the previous operation using $CO_2$ laser. Conclusion : Coblation resection is an effective and safe method for layngotracheal disease and can substitute the classic method such as $CO_2$ laser.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1982.05a
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• pp.10.3-11
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• 1982

Recently through the advancement of medical and surgical managements and the development of low pressure cuffed endotracheal tube, incidence of tracheal stenosis was decreased significantly. Though its incidence was decreased markedly, stenosis was developted unfortunately in the situations such as long term use of respirator, heavy infection, trauma of the trachea and long term intubation etc. Tracheal stenosis had been handled with various methods such as mechanical dilatation, tissue graft techniques, luminal augumentation and end to end anastomosis due to their individual advantages but their effects were not satisfactory. In 1959 Lester had been found the regenerated cartilage from the perichondrium of the rib incidentaly. Since then Skoog, Sohn and Ohlsen were reported chondrogenic potential of perichondrium through the animal experiments. Though many different materials have been tried to rebuild stenosis and gaping defect of trachea, tracheal reconstruction has been a perplexing clinical problems. We choose the perichondrium as the graft material because cartilage is the normal supporting matrix of that structure and it will be an obvious advantage to be able to position perichondrium over a defect and obtain new cartilage there. The young rabbits, which were selected as our experimental animals, were sacrified from two to eight weeks after surgery. The results of our experiment were as follows; 1) In control group, the defect site of trachea was covered with fibrosis and vessels but graft site was covered with hypertrophied perichondrium and vessels. 2) Respiratory mucosa was completely regenerated in defect sites both control and grafted groups. 3) The histologic changes of the grafted sites were as follows: 2 weeks- microvessel dilatation, inflammatory reaction, initiation of fibrosis 4 weeks- decreased microvessel engorgement, submucosal fibrosis, decreased inflammatory reaction immatured cartilage island was noted in the grafted perichondrium (one specimen) 6 weeks- mild degree vascular engorgement submucosal fibrosis. chronic inflamatory reaction cartilage island and endochondrial ossification was noted in the grafted perichondrium (Two specimens) 8 weeks- minute vascular engorgement dense submucosal fibrosis. loss of inflammatory reaction. cartilage island was noted in the grafted perichondrium (two specimens) 4) There was no significant differences in regeneration between active surface in and out groups. 5) We observed immatured cartilage islands and endochondrial ossification in the perichondrial grafted groups where as such findings were not noted in control groups except fibrosis. We concluded that perichondrium was the adequate material for the reconstruction of defected trachea but our results was not sufficient in the aspect of chondrogenic potential of perichondrium. So further research has indicated possibility of chondrogenic potential of perichondrium.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.457-462
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• 2008

Background: Emergency airway access is essential when a patient has dyspnea that's due to tracheal or bronchial obstruction. Such methods as laser therapy and PDT are now being used for the treatment of tracheal obstruction that's due to benign diseases or nonsurgical malignant diseases. Cryotherapy is a method that uses extreme hypothermia for freezing a tumor to cause necrosis. In this study, we have evaluated the clinical effectiveness of performing endobronchial cryoablation through a flexible bronchoscope. Material and Method: 10 patients with tracheal obstruction that was due to endotracheal tumors were evaluated between May 2005 and May 2007. Eight were male and the mean age of the 10 patients was $59.4{\pm}18.4$ years. Three cases of tracheal obstruction were due to benign tumors and 7 were due to malignant tumors. The obstruction sites were 3 at the trachea, 3 at the carina and 4 at the bronchus. A flexible bronchoscope was inserted and the tumor was eliminated using a flexible cryoprobe. Follow up bronchoscopy was performed at 1 week and 1 month after cryoablation, and then we evaluated the decrease of dyspnea, the improvement of the performance and the complications of the procedures. Result: Complete remission was achieved in 4 patients and partial remission was achieved in 6 patients. Complications such as hemoptysis (100%), and cough (50%) were noted. Hemoptysis was spontaneously resolved in 3 to 8 days (mean: 4.9 days). A decrease in dyspnea and improvement in the performance was noted in all patients. Conclusion: Endobronchial stenosis plays a detrimental role in the life quality of a terminal cancer patient. Due to its simplicity and effectiveness for controlling bleeding, endobronchial cryoablation is considered to be a safe method that is clinically applicable to a wide range of tumors, including the removal of large tumors. We concluded that endobronchial cryoablation through a flexible bronchoscope is a safe, effective method for treating tracheobroncheal obstructions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.4 s.261
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• pp.275-280
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• 2006

Background: Aortopulmonary window (APW) is a very rare congenital heart anomaly, often associated with other cardiac anomalies. It causes a significant systemic to pulmonary artery shunt, which requires early surgical correction. Accurate diagnosis and surgical correction will bring good outcomes. The purpose of this study was to describe our 20-year experience of aortopulmonary window. Material and Method: Between March 1985 and January 2005, 16 patients with APW underwent surgical repair. Mean age at operation was $157.8{\pm}245.3$ ($15.0{\sim}994.0$) days and mean weight was $4.8{\pm}2.5$ ($1.7{\sim}10.7$) kg. Patent ductus arteriosus (8), atrial septal defect (7), interruptedaortic arch (5), ventricular septal defect (4), patent foramen ovate (3), tricuspid valve regurgitation (3), mitral valve regurgitation (2), aortic valve regurgitation (1), coarctation of aorta (1), left superior vena cavae (1), and dextrocardia (1) were associated. Repair methods included 1) division of the APW with primary closure or patch closure of aorta and pulmonary artery primary closure or patch closure (11) and 2) intra-arterial patch closure (3). 3) Division of the window and descending aorta to APW anastomosis (2) in the patients with interrupted aortic arch or coarctation. Result: There was one death. The patient had 2.5 cm long severe tracheal stenosis from carina with tracheal bronchus supplying right upper lobe. The patient died at 5th post operative day due to massive tracheal bleeding. Patients with complex aortopulmonary window had longer intensive care unit and hospital stay and showed more morbidities and higher reoperation rates. 5 patients had reoperations due to left pulmonary artery stenosis (4), right pulmonary artery stenosis (2), and main pulmonary artery stenosis (1). The mean follow-up period was $6.8{\pm}5.6$ (57.0 days$\sim$16.7 years)years and all patients belonged to NYHA class 1. Conclusion: With early and prompt correction of APW, excellent surgical outcome can be expected. However, optimal surgical method needs to be established to decrease the rate of stenosis of pulmonary arteries.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 2005

Background : The clinical results of a Natural stent in patients with a benign tracheobronchial stenosis were examined by comparing the clinical outcomes and complications of those patients who underwent Dumon and Natural stenting in the management of benign airway stenosis. Methods : The medical records of 94 patients (39 Dumon and 55 Natural stent) with a benign tracheobronchial stenosis were reviewed and analyzed. Results : Post-tuberculous stenosis was the leading indication for airway stenting (74%), which was followed by post-intubation stenosis (21%). After intervention, the dyspnea had improved among those patients who underwent Dumon (90%) and Natural (86%) stenting. After stabilizing the dyspnea, the stent could be successfully removed in half of the patients who underwent both Dumon (54%) and Natural (49%) stenting. During the 42 month follow-up period, the complication rate was similar in those patients who underwent Dumon and Natural stenting: migration (46% vs 53%), granulation tissue formation (36% vs 49%), mucostasis (21% vs 16%) and restenosis (51% vs 36%). Conclusion : The clinical results of Natural airway stent was similar to those of Dumon stent in the management of benign tracheobronchial stenosis.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.68-71
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• 2004

Thymic cysts are uncommon tumors which usually occur in the neck and mediastinum. It is known to arise from embryonic remnants of the thymopharyngeal duct or from inflammation of thymic tissues. Patients with thymic cyst are often asymptomatic and identified after surgical removal and histologic examination. We experienced a 73 year-old man with recently developed dyspnea. During the examination, chest CT showed a $5\times6cm$ sized cystic mass causing deviation of the trachea. It was located in between the right thyroid gland and anterior mediastinum. It also caused tracheal narrowing noted by bronchoscopy. Right anterior cervical incision and removal of the mass was performed and a histological diagnosis of thymic cyst was confirmed. The patient was discharged without complication.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.25-27
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• 2005

Thymic cysts are uncommon tumors which usually occur in the neck and mediastinum. It is known to arise from embryonic remnants of the thymopharyngeal duct or from infammation of thymic tissues. Patients with thymic cyst are often asymptomatic and identified after surgical removal and histologic examination. We experienced a 73 year-old man with recently developed dyspnea. During the examination, chest CT showed a $5{\times}6cm$ sized cystic mass causing deviation of the trachea. It was located in between the right thyroid gland and anterior mediastinum. It also caused tracheal narrowing noted by bronchoscopy. Right anterior cervical incision and removal of the mass was performed and a histological diagnosis of thymic cyst was confirmed. The patient was discharged without complication.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 1998

The complications of a tracheotomy are caused by inappropriate surgical techniques, unsuitable cannula selections, and improper wound care. Among these, the solutions to problems of surgical technique and wound care have been reported in many articles. Detailed methods for preventing complications by the cannula are rare. The authors tried to find a way of preventing complications by the cannula Materials and Methods : The authors analized complications in 70 patients who had a temporary tracheotomy and were wearing a cannula. And the complications were compared between 4 commercial cannulas used in our institute. The examination methods used were a simple neck lateral radiogram and flexible endoscopy. Results： The order of most commonly found complications were as followed; at the suprastoma, end of cannula, level of tracheotomy, and infrastoma. Among 4 cannulas, a particular product had so many complications compared to the other 3 cannulas. The most common cause of complications was unsuitable cannula. All complications were cured with no sequelae. Flexible endoscopy is far superior to radiologic exam for detecting tracheal complications. Conclusion： Flexible endoscopy through the tracheostoma is very helpful for detecting complications early and determining if a proper cannula is used, which can prevent further complications such as stenosis or innominate artery rupture. The authors, therfore, recommend using the flexible endoscopy to all patients wearing tracheotomy tubes. Some complications can simply be prevented by replacing the one to another cannula properly fit for the individual patients. Various cannulas should be prepared at the hospital because the tracheal curvature and distance of skin to trachea are individualized.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.2
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• pp.140-144
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• 2009

The majority of flexible bronchoscopies are performed under topical anesthesia with lidocaine being the most commonly used agent. Anaphylaxis rarely occurs after local administration of lidocaine, but can be a fatal complication. We experienced a case of unexpected anaphylaxis. A 66-year-old woman was scheduled for flexible bronchoscopy to evaluate a tracheal mass and stenosis. The oral and nasal mucosa were pretreated with lidocaine. About 2~3 minutes later, the patient developed hypotension and we treated for anaphylaxis in the emergency room. Then, we decided to perform rigid bronchoscopy in this patient, under conditions of general anesthesia. A rigid bronchoscopy was performed in this patient, safely and successfully. The tracheal mass was determined to be squamous cell carcinoma.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.50-56
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• 2007

Background and Objectives: Laryngotracheal stenosis and its reconstruction in children is a highly challenging field to airway surgeons, and the way of stenting after a reconstructive surgery is still controversial. The aims of this study were to analyze the single institutional experiences of laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) in the pediatric patients with laryngotracheal stenosis and to compare the outcomes of single-stage LTR (SSLTR) with conventional two-stage LTR (TSLTR) in these patients. Materials and Methods: Medical records of 14 children (mean age 4.1 years) were reviewed, who received 20 LTR including 6 revisions for their moderate to severe subglottic stenosis and/or combined posterior glottic stenosis. Of these 20 LTR, tracheostoma was temporarily maintained after LTR in 12 cases (TSLTR) or not in the other 8 cases (SSLTR). Results: Overall decannulation rate of LTR that were performed before and after the year of 2003 was 40% (4/10) and 70% (7/10) respectively. Decannulation rate was 42% (5/12) in TSLTR group and 75% (6/8) in SSLTR group (P = 0.197). Mean interval to decannulation after LTR was 9.8 months and 7.2 days in TSLTR and SSLTR groups respectively (P = 0.004). A number of additional touch-up procedures that were required after LTR was 4 in TSLTR and 2.7 in SSLTR group (P = 0.238). Major complication rate was similar in both groups (33% in TSLTR and 38% in SSLTR, P = 0.910). Conclusion: A laryngotracheal reconstruction in children is a technically demanding procedure and its outcome is largely dependent on the surgeon's experience. Albeit there was a tendency that SSLTR ofters a higher decannulation rate, less additional touch-up procedures and similar complication rates, a shorter interval to decannulation after LTR was the only advantage that was confirmed as statistically significant in this study.