• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.475-482
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• 1993

90 patients[75 men and 15 women] with the thoracic disease underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery[VATS] during the period March 1992 to February 1993. The thoracic diseases were classified into two groups of spontaneous pneumothorax and general thoracic patients and they were 66 and 24, respectively.The mean size of the tumor resected was 4.3 $\pm$ 2.0 cm x 3.3 $\pm$ 1.1 cm x 2.7 $\pm$ 1.0 cm. The mean time of anesthesia and operation were 90.0 $\pm$ 19.9 min and 43.7 $\pm$ 13.1 min in spontaneous pneumothorax group and 123.3 $\pm$ 40.3 min and 62.8 $\pm$ 32.2 min in general thoracic group. The mean period of postoperative chest tube drainage and hospital stay were 5.0$\pm$ 5.5 days and 6.6 $\pm$ 7.4 days in spontaneous pneumothorax group and 3.5$\pm$ 1.6 days and 9.5 $\pm$ 6.1 days in general thoracic group. The indications of VATS were 71 pleural disease[78.9%: 66 spontaneous pneumothorax; 3 pleural effusions ; 1 pleural paragonimus westermanii cyst; 1 malignant pleural tumor with metastasis to the lung], 9 mediastinal disease[10.0%: 5 benign neurogenic tumor; 2 pericardial cyst; 1 benign cystic teratoma; 1 undifferentiated carcinoma], 8 pulmonary parenchymal disease[8.9%: 3 infectious disease ; 3 interstitial disease ; 2 malignant tumor ], and 2 traumatic cases of exploration and removal of hematoma[2.2%]. The applicated objectives of VATS were diagnostic[ 7 ], therapeutic[ 67 ] and both[ 16 ] and the performed procedures were pleurodesis[ 66 ], wedge resection of lung[ 59 ], parietal pleurectomy[ 11 ], removal of benign tumor[ 9 ], excision and/or biopsy of tumor[ 4 ], pleural biopsy and aspiration of pleural fluid[ 3 ] and exploration of hemothorax and removal of hematoma in traumatic 2 patients. The complication rate was 24.2%[ 16/66 ] in the spontaneous pneumothorax group and 8.3%[ 2/24 ] in the general thoracic group and so overally 20.0%[ 18/90 ]. The mortality within postoperative 30 days was 2.2%[ 2/90 ], including 1 acute renal failure and 1 respiratory failure due to rapid progression of pneumonia. The conversion rate to open thoracotomy during VATS was 5.6%[ 5/90 ], including 2 immediate postoperative massive air leakage, 1 giant bullae, 1 malignant pleural tumor with metastasis to lung and 1 pulmonary malignancy. The successful cure rate of VATS was 75.8%[ 50/66 ] in the spontaneous pneumothorax group and 76.5%[ 13/17 ] in the general thoracic group and the successful diagnostic rate was 100%[ 7/7 ]. In conclusion, although prospective trials should be progressed to define the precise role of VATS, the VATS carries a low morbidity and mortality and high diagnostic and therapeutic success rate and now can be effectively applicated to the surgical treatment of the extensive thoracic disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.54-63
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• 1991

Post-thoracotomy pain is so severe that lead to postoperative complications, such as sputum retention, segmental or lobar atelectasis, pneumonia, hypoxia, respiratory failure due to the patient`s inability to cough, deep breathing and movement. Many authors have been trying to reduce the post-thoracotomy pain, but there is no method of complete satisfaction. In 1974, Nelson and associates introduced the intercostal nerve block using the cryoprobe. The application of cold directly to the nerves causes localized destruction of the axons while preserving the endoneurium and connective tissue, thereby introducing a temporary pain block and able to complete regeneration of intercostal nerves. One hundred and two patients, who undergoing axillary or posterolateral thoracotomy at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Korea University Medical Center between April 1990 and August 1990, were evaluated the effects of cryoanalgesia for the post-thoracotomy pain reduction. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A, control, the patients without the cryoanalgesia[No.=50], Group B, trial, the patients with cryoanalgesia[No.=52]. Before the thorax closed, in the group A, local anesthetics, 2% lidocaine 3cc, were injected to the intercostal nerves[one level with the thoracotomy, one cranial and caudal intercostal level and level of drainage tube insertion]. In the group B, cryoprobe was directly applied for 1 minute at the same level. Postoperative analgesic effects were evaluated by the scoring system which made arbitrary by author: The pain score 0 to 4, The limitation of motion score 0 to 3, The analgesics consumption score 0 to 3, The total score, the sum of above score, 0 to 10. For the evaluation of immediate analgesic effects, the score were evaluated at the operative day, the first postoperative day, the second postoperative day, and the seventh postoperative day. The effects of incision type, and rib cut to the post-thoracotomy pain were also evaluated. The results were as follows; 1. The intercostal block with cryoanalgesia reduced the immediate postoperative pain significantly compare with control group. 2. The intercostal block with cryoanalgesia improved the motion of the operation side significantly compare with control group. 3. The intercostal block with cryoanalgesia reduced the analgesics requirements at the immediate postoperative periods significantly. 4. The intercostal block with cryoanalgesia lowered the total score significantly compare with control group. 5. The intercostal block with cryoanalgesia were more effective to the mid-axillary incision than to the posterolateral incision 6. The intercostal block with cryoanalgesia were more effective to the patients without rib cut than to the patients with rib cut. 7. No specific complication need to be treated were not occurred during follow-up.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 1998

High-dose aprotinin(Hammersmith regimen) has been widely used for years to control postoperative bleeding and reduce blood consumption in cardiac surgery but had known to cause some side-effects and had disadvantage in cost-effectiveness. The prospective controlled study of 33 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass was performed to evaluate the efficacy for reducing postoperative bleeding and unfavorable effects of low-dose aprotinin. The level of hemoglobin and platelet in the blood and the amount of postoperative bleeding were assessed preoperatively, and postoperatively for the study of hemostatic function. The level of BUN and serum creatinine in the blood, levels of urine creatinine, total protein, albumin, alpha-1-microglobulin and creatinine clearance were assessed before and after the operation for the study of renal function. The aprotinin group had a significant reduction in chest tube drainage; 243$\pm$ 123 ml versus 406$\pm$303 ml(P=0.037) during 6 hours immediate-postoperatively, 494$\pm$358 ml versus 869$\pm$570 ml(P=0.045) during 24 hours postoperatively. The ratio of alpha-1-microglobulin/creatinine and microalbumin/creatinine in the urine were slightly increased in the aprotinin group postoperatively in comparison with the control group but there were no statistically significant difference(55$\pm$23 versus 24$\pm$10 in the alpha-1-microglobulin/creatinine, 56$\pm$19 versus 38$\pm$25 in the microalbumin/creatinine at post- operative 3rd day). There were no significant difference between two groups in other parameters of renal function, too. This study showed that low-dose aprotinin is an effective means of reducing postoperative bleeding without inducing significant renal dysfunction.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.591-595
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• 1999

Pulmonary gangrene is a rare complication of severe pulmonary infection in which a pulmonary segment or lobe is sloughed. It is a part of a spectrum of disease in which lung tissue is devitalized(such as necrotizing pneumonia, pulmonary abscess), but apart from them, pulmonary gangrene has more extensive area of necrosis and thrombosis of large vessels plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis. We experienced a case of pulmonary gangrene in 71 year old female obstructive pneumonia patient with non-small cell lung carcinoma. She complained high fever, chill and despite treatment with antibiotics, pneumonia progressed to empyema. At that time chest radiograph showed a large cavity including sloughed lung tissue, freely moving to dependent position at both lateral decubitus view. RML and RLL were resected and compression of pulmonary vessels by enlarged lymph nodes was observed. Defervescence was obtained immediate postoperative period and the patient was discharged after infection control with antibiotics, chest tube drainage. The perivascular lymph nodes dissected during lobectomy were proved to be reactive hyperplasias. We speculated that the carcinoma caused obstructive pneumonia, in turn, resulted in reactive hyperplasia of the draining lymph nodes surrounding the large vessels and finally the lung tissues supplied by them necrotized and sloughed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 1998

Recently, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for mediastinal lesions has been considered a new effective therapeutic method. From March, 1992 to April, 1997, 33 cases of video assisted thoracoscopic surgery for mediastinal lesions were performed. Gender distribution was 16 males and 17 females. Average age was 42 years old(ranged from 14 to 69). The locations of lesions were anterior mediastinum in 14 cases, middle mediastinum in 5 cases, posterior mediastinum in 11 cases, and superior mediastinum in 3 cases. These included 9 neurilemmomas, 5 benign cystic teratoma, 4 pericardial cysts, 2 ganglioneuroma, 2 thymus, 2 thymic cyst, 1 thymoma, 2 esophageal leiomyomas, 1 dermoid cyst, 1 lipoma, 1 malignant lymphoma, 1 bronchogenic cyst, 1 pericardial effusion, and 1 Boerhaave's disease with empyema. Working window was needed in 6 cases. We converted to open thoracotomy in 6 cases. Reasons of convertion to open thoracotomy were large sized mass(1), severe adhesion(3), and difficult location to approach(2). The average operation time was 116min($\pm$56 min). The average chest tube drainage time was 4.7days. The average hospital stay was 8.7 days. Operative complications were atelectasis(2), empyema with mediastinitis(1), recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy(1), and plenic nerve palsy(1). In conclusion, VATS for mediastinal lesions were performed with shorter operation time and hospital stay, and lesser complications and pain than those of conventional thoracotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1111-1116
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• 1997

In a period from Sep 1994 to Sep 1996, 38 patients were treated for spontaneous pneumothorax by video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS). 31 male and 7 female patients with ages between 17 and 79(mean 30.0 years). No death occured. The postoperative complication rate of VATS was 7.9%(3/38). We noted no recurrence of pneumothorax, 3 wound dehiscence, 3 persistent air leak(>7days) in the patients. We compared theses results with thoracoscopic surgery of spontaneous pneumothorax in 38 cases(Group A), with cases of 21 patients(Group B) performed by the thoracotomy in the same period. There have been no recurrence in groud A, and one recurrence in group B at a median follow-up of 14.37$\pm$7.48 months and 16.81 $\pm$7.12 months, respectively. There was no significant difference in the duration of operation time including induction time between VATS and thoracotomy, but postoperative hospital stay and chest tube drainage periods were all less for these undergone VATS. Postoperative complication was less in group A(3/38=7.9%, 3 cases with persistent air leak >7days, all developed wound dehiscence, too), than in group B(9/21=42.9%, 8 cases with persistent air leak more than 7days, including 2 wound dehiscence, one recurrence, and the other one case of empyema). In our experience, VATS has the effectiveness of thoracic surgery for treating thoracic problems, has resulted in surgical intervention in spontaneous pneumothorax.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.509-512
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• 1998

Although posterolateral thoracotomy(PLT) has been a standard thoracic incision in resection surgery of the lung for surgeons to achieve a good surgical field, there remains concern about severing a group of thoracic muscles remains. Muscle-sparing vertical thoracotomy (MVT) is an alternative to PLT, which gives cosmetic result and may preserve motion of the shoulder girdle as well as respiratory function of the patient in the early postoperative period. However, surgeons tend not to perfer it because of limited surgical field from the vertical wound made on the lateral thoracic wall. The purpose of this study is to compare the surgical outcomes of PLT versus MVT. We retrospectively reviewed 29 patients(15 who had PLT and 14 who had MVT, organized into those two groups) who had undergone lung resection surgery in our institute. There were no clinical differences between the two groups in terms of operation time, estimated amount of blood loss during the operation, amount of chest drainage on the first and the second postoperative day, duration of chest tube placement, incidence and amount of transfusion, and postoperative complications. We conclude that, from our limited experience, MVT can be applied to lung resection surgery as safely as PLT and that it may have a beneficial role for the patient with compromised lung function in addition to cosmetic effect.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.374-379
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• 1998

From March 1985 to June 1997, 451 patients of spontaneous pneumothorax treated at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Most of the patients were male (male to female ratio, 8.2:1). The mean age of the primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) was 26.8 years, and that of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax(SSP) was 53.1 years. 330 out of 451 patients(73%) were PSP. The causes of the SSP were mostly pulmonary tuberculosis and COPD: 87 patients(72%), and 24 patients(19.2%), respectively. All the patient were treated by one of the following modalities: 1)rest and oxygen therapy in 42 patients, 2) closed thoracostomy in 208 patients, 3) thoracotomy in 156 patients, 4) VATS bullectomy in 45 patients. The mean duration of postoperative chest tube drainage was as following: thoracotomy 8.3 days, VATS bullectomy 4.7 days. For recent 3 consecutive years, VATS bullectomy has become the more frequently applied operative procedure than thoracotomy in the treatment of surgically indicated PSP, from 33% in 1994 to 78% in 1996. With the minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgery being more prevalent, VATS bullectomy will be able to be the 1st choice of treatment not only for the recurrent pneumothoracies but also for the some selected cases of the 1st episode pneumothoracies. To verify this approach as clinically acceptable one in terms of cost-effectiveness, recurrence rate, etc, a large scale of multi-institutional clinical study will be needed in a sooner time.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.2
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• pp.134-139
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• 2021

Background: Intrapleural urokinase is one of the most widely used fibrinolytic agents in the treatment of complicated parapneumonic effusion (CPPE). However, little research has been performed on the optimal urokinase dosage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment efficacy of half dose urokinase compared with conventional dose urokinase. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 92 patients with CPPE or empyema who underwent intrapleural urokinase treatment at two tertiary hospitals. Patients received antibiotics, chest tube drainage, and other treatments as part of routine care. The primary outcome was the treatment success rate in the half dose urokinase group (50,000 IU daily for maximal 6 days) and the conventional dose urokinase group (100,000 IU daily). Treatment success was defined as clinical and radiological improvements without surgical treatment or re-admission within one month. Results: Forty-four patients received half dose urokinase, whereas 48 patients were treated with conventional dose urokinase. Both groups were relatively well matched at baseline, excluding higher serum white blood cell count and higher empyema prevalence in the half dose urokinase group. The treatment success rate was not different between the two groups (p=0.048). There were no differences in the rate of in-hospital death and surgical treatment, hospitalization duration, and indwelling catheter duration. In the multivariate analysis, urokinase dose was not a predictor of treatment success. Conclusion: Half dose intrapleural urokinase is equally effective conventional dose urokinase in treating patients with CPPE or empyema.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.2262-2275
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• 1971

Fourteenes rervoirs maintained by the local land improvement associations in the province of Chullabuk-Do and 20 reservoir maintained by thos in the province of Chullanam-Do, were surveyed in connection with a correction between storage capacity and sediment deposit. In addition to this survey, 3,347 of small reservoir, that lie scattered around in the above-mentioned two provinces were investigated by using existing two provinces were investigated by using existing records pertaining to storage capacity in the office of City and country, respectively. According to this investigation the following comclusions are derived. 1. A sediment deposition rate is high, being about $10.63m^3/ha$ of drainage area, and resulting in the average decreasc of storage capaity by 27.5%. This high rate of deposition coule be mainly attributed to the serve denudation of forests due to disorderly cuttings of trees. Easpecially, in small reservoir, an original average design storage depth of 197mm in irrigation water depth is decreased to about 140mm. 2. An average unit storage depth of 325.6mm as the time of initial construction is decreased to 226mm at present. This phenomena causes a greater shortage irrigation water, since it was assumed that original storage quantity was already in short. 3. Generally speaking, seepage rates through dam abutment intakepipe, etc, are high due to insufficient maintenance and management of reservoir. 4. It is recommended that sediment deposit should be dredged when a reservoir is dry in drought. 5. Farmers usually waste excessive irrigation water. 6. Water saving methods should be practiced by applying only necessary water for growing stage of rice. 7. In are as where water defficiency for irrigation is severe, a soil moisture content should be kept at about 70% by applying water once in several days. 8. Tube wells should be provided so as to exploit ground water and subsurface current below stream bed as much as possible. 9. If an intake weir was constructed, a water collection well should be built for the use in drought. 10. Water conservation should be forced by converting devastated forests contained in the drainage area of reservoir to protected forests so as to take priority of yrefor estation, gully control, the prohibition of disorderly cutting of trees, etc. 11. Collective rice nurseries should be adopted, and it should be recommended that irrigation water for rice nurseries is supplied by farmer themselves. 12. Sediment desposit in reservoir should be thoroughly dreged so as to secure a original design storage capacity. 13. The structure of overflow weir should be automatic so as to freely control flood level and not to increase dam height.