• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.759-763
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• 2008

Cardiac surgery in patients with a prior pneumonectomy has a high prevalence of postoperative complications and mortality. We have successfully performed a mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty in a 71-year-old man who had a left pneumonectomy 33 years previously due to pulmonary tuberculosis. We report this case with a literature review on the issue of the prevention perioperative pulmonary impairment, the technique of mitral valve exposure during surgery and postoperative rhythm disturbance.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.569-573
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• 2001

We experienced a case of hemoptysis caused by bilateral upper lobe aspergilloma. He was 66 years old and had a history of old unclear pulmonary tuberculosis with irregular medication 20 years ago and intermittent hemoptysis for several years. In x-ray study, there was a bilateral upper lobe aspergilloma with cavity. He received bilateral wedge resection through thoracotomy with some interval to reduce postoperative complications. We selected the priorty of operation through the bronchoscope in the operation room. Both sides had the same pathology of aspergilloma and he was discharged after an uneventful postoperative course.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1286-1291
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• 1992

We have experienced 456 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax from January, 1981 to December, 1991 at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital. Of these, 102 cases were recurrent pneumothorax. These 102 cases were based on the retrospective clinical analysis, and the results were as follows: The ratio of male to female was 6.2: 1 in male predominance and the old aged patients, over 50 years old, occupied 46.8%a of all patients. Primary spontaneous pneumothorax was 43 cases[42.6%] and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax was 59 cases. The underlying pathology in secondary spontaneous pneumothorax was tuberculosis: 31 cases[30.4%], emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 27 cases[26.1%], Most frequent operative and pathologic findings in the primary and the secondary spontaneous pneumothorax was bullae and blebs at apex. The employed managements were only closed thoracostomy in 41 cases, open thoracot-omy in 61 cases. The operative procedures at thoracotomy were bullectomy or bullae ligation in 37 cases, bullae resection with wedge resection in 8 cases, bullae resection with segmentectomy in 6 cases, bullae resection with decortication in 3 cases, lobectomy in 5 cases, decortication in 2 cases. Complications were subcutaneous emphysema[5 cases], wound infection[1 case], and temporary pulmonary insufficiency[1 cases]

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.223-226
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• 2007

Tetrafluoroethylene is a colorless gas that can be used to synthesize a variety of fluoride compounds by polymerization (e.g., Teflon). Fluoride compounds have many applications in industry. There are several reports of inhalation injury from the pyrolytic product of fluoride compounds. When the polymer is heated under the conditions of inadequate ventilation, the fumes can cause polymer fume fever or pulmonary edema which manifested as symptoms such as fever, chill, profuse sweating, cough and dyspnea. However there are no reports of a direct lung injury caused by tetrafluoroethylene. We report a case of a 27-year-old male presented with acute lung injury after inhaling concentrated tetrafluoroethylene. He complained of cough and dyspnea after the accidental inhalation of tetrfluoroethylene at his workplace. The symptoms improved without any complications after conservative treatment with oxygen and steroid.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.637-644
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• 1992

The incidence of thoracic empyema has been reduced with the advent of antimicrobial agents. But, there are remained many significant problems in the management of thoracic empyema because of the empyema associated with bronchopleural fistula, other complications, This is a clinical analysis of 76 cases of thoracic empyema who had been treated from August 1975 to July 1991 in the Chest Surgery Department, Chung-Ang University Hospital. This report dealed with the incidence, etiology and symptoms, duration of hospital stay, therapeutic methods and review of literatures in the aspect of thoracic empyema, The results were as follows: 1. Predominance of male [3 : 1] and right side [1.5 : 1] were recorded. 2. The main symptom was the chest pain [55%], dyspnea[36%], fever[33%], cough [23%] and others. 3, The most common predisposing causatic diseases were pulmonary tuberculosis[33%] and pneumonia[31%], but also uncertain cases were 15%.4. Searching for the causatic organisms, there were not-identified[49%], streptoccocci [17%], staphylococci[12%], mixed infection[12%], AFB bacilli[7%]. 5. The range of hospital stay was from 6 to 146 days and the average duration was 29.4 days, 6. The results were good as the methods of closed thoracostomy[52%], decortication [23%], thoracentesis[15%], rib resection and drainage[4%], open drainage[4%], pleuropneumonectomy [4%]. 7. The serious complications or mortality didn`t developed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.106-115
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• 2018

Chest tube insertion is a common procedure usually done for the purpose of draining accumulated air or fluid in the pleural cavity. Small-bore chest tubes (${\leq}14F$) are generally recommended as the first-line therapy for spontaneous pneumothorax in non-ventilated patients and pleural effusions in general, with the possible exception of hemothoraces and malignant effusions (for which an immediate pleurodesis is planned). Large-bore chest drains may be useful for very large air leaks, as well as post-ineffective trial with small-bore drains. Chest tube insertion should be guided by imaging, either bedside ultrasonography or, less commonly, computed tomography. The so-called trocar technique must be avoided. Instead, blunt dissection (for tubes >24F) or the Seldinger technique should be used. All chest tubes are connected to a drainage system device: flutter valve, underwater seal, electronic systems or, for indwelling pleural catheters (IPC), vacuum bottles. The classic, three-bottle drainage system requires either (external) wall suction or gravity ("water seal") drainage (the former not being routinely recommended unless the latter is not effective). The optimal timing for tube removal is still a matter of controversy; however, the use of digital drainage systems facilitates informed and prudent decision-making in that area. A drain-clamping test before tube withdrawal is generally not advocated. Pain, drain blockage and accidental dislodgment are common complications of small-bore drains; the most dreaded complications include organ injury, hemothorax, infections, and re-expansion pulmonary edema. IPC represent a first-line palliative therapy of malignant pleural effusions in many centers. The optimal frequency of drainage, for IPC, has not been formally agreed upon or otherwise officially established.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.566-571
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• 1990

The Bronchial stump disruption in bronchopleural fistula with empyema thoracis after pneumonectomy has remained one of the most dreaded complications of thoracic surgery. Management of chronic bronchopleural fistula still poses a therapeutic dilemma in spite of various surgical techniques that have been attempted to control this complication. Only recently, transsternal transpericardial approach for repair of the postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula has been utilized in some cases. The patient was a 31 year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital on August 18th, 1989 due to right postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula with empyema thoracis for 5 years since she had undergone right pneumonectomy due to pulmonary tuberculosis at E-hospital in 1984. Transsternal transpericardial closure of the fistula was employed and then the thoracic catheter was removed two months later, after the empyema cavity was sterilized by the Clagett method. So, we think this surgical technique is a relatively simple and effective method to the control of chronic postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula with empyema thoracis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.57-67
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• 1998

Purpose : This study was undertaken to determine the preoperative predictors of mortality and morbidity after lung cancer resection. Method: During the period from October 1, 1995 to August 31, 1996, a prospective study was conducted in 92 lung resection candidates diagnosed as lung cancer. For preoperative predictors of nonpulmonary factors, we considered age, sex, weight loss, hematocrit, serum albumin, EKG and concomitant illness, and for those of pulmonary factors, smoking history, presence of pneumonia, dyspnea scale(1 to 4), arterial blood gas analysis with room air breathing, routine pulmonary function test. And predicted postoperative(ppo) pulmonary factors such as PPO-$FEV_1$, ppo-diffusing capacity(DLco), predicted postoperative product(PPP) of ppo-$FEV_1%{\times}ppo$-DLco% and ppo-maximal $O_2$ uptake($VO_2$max) were also considered. Results: There were 78 men and 14 women with a median age of 62 years(range 42 to 82) and a mean $FEV_1$ of $2.37\pm0.06L$. Twenty nine patients had a decreased $FEV_1$ less than 2.0L. Pneumonectomy was performed in 26 patients, bilobectomy in 12, lobectomy in 54. Pulmonary complications developed in 10 patients, cardiac complications in 9, other complications(empyema, air leak, bleeding) in 11, and 16 patients were managed in intensive care unit for more than 48hours. Three patients died within 30 days after operation. The ppo-$VO_2$max was less than 10ml/kg/min in these three patients, but its statistical significance could not be determined due to small number of patients. In multivariate analysis, the predictor related to postoperative death was weight loss(p<0.05), and as for pulmonary complications, weight loss, dyspnea scale, ppo-DLco and extent of resection(p<0.05). Conclusions: Based on this study, preoperative nonpulmonary factors such as weight loss and dyspnea scale are more important than the pulmonary factors in the prediction of postoperative mortality and/or morbodity in lung resection candidates, but exercise pulmonary fuction test may be useful Our study suggests that ppo-$VO_2$max value less than 10ml/kg/min is associated with death after lung cancer resection but further studies are needed to validate this result.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.487-496
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• 2005

Background : 'Major pulmonary thromboembolism' is defined as right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, with or without shock, accompanied by significant morbidity and mortality. In this study, those with major pulmonary thromboembolism were divided into the shock and RV dysfunction only groups, and then investigated the mortality and complications in thrombolysis or anticoagulation, respectively. Methods : In a retrospective study, between January 1995 and December 2004, 60 eligible patients with a major pulmonary thromboembolism, admitted in Asan Medical Center, were included. Results : A total of 57 patients were treated with medical therapy. Thrombolysis was performed in 13 patients (23%) and anticoagulation in 44 (77%). There were no differences in the APACHEII and SOFA scores between the two groups. 6 (46%) and 11 (25%) patients died in the thrombolysis and anticoagulation groups, respectively (p=0.176). In the 19 patients (33%) showing shock, thrombolysis was performed in 9 (47%) and anticoagulation in 10 (53%). 4 (44%) of the 9 patients treated with thrombolytic agents and 3 (30%) of the 10 treated with anticoagulants died (p=0.650). In the 38 patients (67%) showing RV dysfunction only, thrombolysis was performed in 4 (11%) and anticoagulation in 34 (89%). 2 (50%) of the 4 patients treated with thrombolytics and 8 (24%) of the 34 treated with anticoagulants died (p=0.279). Three patients (23%) who underwent thrombolysis had a major bleeding episode, compared with 2 (5%) who were treated with anticoagulants (p=0.072). Conclusion: The results of our study showed that thrombolysis did not lower mortality and tended to increase major bleeding compared with anticoagulation in both the shock and RV dysfunction only groups. Further evaluation of the efficacy and safety of thrombolytic therapy for major thromboembolism appears warranted in Korea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.231-239
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• 2000

Background: This retrospective study tries to identify specific risk factors that may increase complication rates after the surgical treatment of tuberculous destroyed lung. Material and method: A retrospective study was performed on forty-seven patients, who received surgical treatment for tuberculous destroyed lung in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Hanyang University Hospital from 1988 to 1998, to identify specific preoperative risk factors related to postoperative complications. Fisher's exact test was used to identify the correlations between the complications and right pneumonectomy, preoperative FEV1, predicted postoperative FEV1, massive hemoptysis, postoperative persistent empyema. Result: Hospital mortality and morbidity rates of the patients who received surgical treatment for tuberculous destroyed lung were 6.4% and 29.7%, respectively. In view of the hospital mortality and morbidity rates as a whole, predicted postoperative FEV1 less than 0.8L(p<0.005), preoperative FEV1 less than 1.8L(p=0.01), massive hemoptysis(p<0.005), postoperative persistent positive sputum cultures(p<0.0005), and the presence of multi drug resistant tuberculosis(p<0.05) presented statistically significant correlations. Among the postoperative complications, bronchopleural fistula, the most common complication, was found to have statistically significant corrleations with the preoperative empyema(p<0.05) and postoperative persistent positive sputum cultures(p<0.05). Conclusion: Although mortality and morbidity rates after surgical treatment of tuberculous destroyed lung were relatively low, when predicted postoperative FEV1 was less than 0.8L, when preoperative FEV1 was less than 1.8L, when massive hemoptysis was present, when postoperative sputum cultures were persistently positive, and when multi drug resistant tuberculosis was present, the rates were significantly higher.