• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.456-460
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• 2016

Background: Surgical correction needs to be considered when diaphragm eventration leads to impaired ventilation and respiratory muscle fatigue. Plication to sufficiently tense the diaphragm by VATS is not as easy to achieve as plication by open surgery. We used pneumatic compression with carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) gas in thoracoscopic diaphragmatic plication and evaluated feasibility and efficacy. Methods: Eleven patients underwent thoracoscopic diaphragmatic plication between January 2008 and December 2013 in Pusan National University Hospital. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed, and compared between the group using $CO_2$ gas and group without using $CO_2$ gas, for operative time, plication technique, duration of hospital stay, postoperative chest tube drainage, pulmonary spirometry, dyspnea score pre- and postoperation, and postoperative recurrence. Results: The improvement of forced expiratory volume at 1 second in the group using $CO_2$ gas and the group not using $CO_2$ gas was $22.46{\pm}11.27$ and $21.08{\pm}5.39$ (p=0.84). The improvement of forced vital capacity 3 months after surgery was $16.74{\pm}10.18$ (with $CO_2$) and $15.6{\pm}0.89$ (without $CO_2$) (p=0.03). During follow-up ($17{\pm}17$ months), there was no dehiscence in plication site and relapse. No complications or hospital mortalities occurred. Conclusion: Thoracoscopic plication under single lung ventilation using $CO_2$ insufflation could be an effective, safe option to flatten the diaphragm.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 2007

Malignant pleural mesothelioma(MPM) is an uncommon neoplasm which is originated from pleural mesothelial cells. The majority of MPM is associated with prior asbestos exposure. Patients often present with chest pain and dyspnea due to pleural effusion, which might be diagnosed with tuberculous pleurisy especially in Korea. MPM is well known for its poor prognosis with a median survival time of less than 12 months after diagnosis and no established standard treatment modality. We report 3 cases of MPM confirmed by video-assisted thoracoscopic biopsy first misdiagnosed as tuberculous pleurisy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2010

Background: Video assisted thoracic surgery has been widely accepted for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Material and Method: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 89 primary pneumothorax patients who had undergone thoracoscopic bleb ligation from February 2002 to June 2006, and we assessed the patients for recurrence. The mean follow-up period was 65 months. Result: Pneumothorax recurred in 7 patients (8%) during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Thoracoscpic bleb ligation might be an acceptable alternative technique for treating primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.718-721
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• 2004

Chylothorax is defined as an extravasation of chylous fluid to the pleural cavity due to various causes, and a spontaneous chylothorax associated with primary lymphedema is an exceedingly rare condition. We report a case of the chylothorax associated with lymphedema. A 14-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital for chest pain and dyspnea. He had been on medical treatment for lymphedema and his chest roentgenogram on admission revealed left pleural effusion. The diagnosis of chylothorax was confirmed by chemical analysis of the pleural fluid. The patient was treated successfully by ligation of the thoracic duct using video assisted thoracoscopic technique.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.328-333
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• 2008

Desquamative interstitial pneumonia is an uncommon form of interstitial lung diseases and it has a good prognosis compared with other types of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. A 69-year old man was admitted to our hospital because of a 3-month history of dyspnea. The patient presented with hypoxemia. High-resolution computerized tomography of the patient showed ground glass opacity and traction bronchiectasis with subpleural early honeycombing on the both lung fields. The pathologic findings of the video-assisted thoracoscopy lung biopsy were compatible with desquamative interstitial pneumonia, and irregularly distributed interstitial fibrosis and inflammation were observed at the peripheral parenchyme. Oral predinsolone was started; his symptoms and chest x-ray were improved, and so he stopped taking the prednisolone. Ten months later, the desquamative interstitial pneumonia recurred. We report here on a case of recurrent desquamative interstitial pneumonia with fibrotic lung disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.351-355
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• 2001

개흉술에 의한 수술적 폐쇄방법 및 경도관 동맥관 폐쇄술은 동맥관 개존중의 치료방법으로 발전되어 왔으나, 이러한 술식은 개흉술에 의한 합병증, 지속적인 단락 및 용혈의 가능성, 기구의 이동이나 색전증의 발생, 지속적인 단락시 세균성 심내막염 방지를 위한 지속적인 항생제 사용등의 단점이 있어 저자들은 흉강경을 이용한 수술을 시행하였다. 총 6례의 환자에서 흉강경을 이용한 동맥관 개존증 수술을 시행하였으며. 이중 대동맥 외막(adventitia) 박리중 지형이 잘 되지 않았던 1례에서는 소개흉술(minithoracotomy)로 전환하였다. 술 후 이시행한 이학적 검사상에서 모든 환아에 심잡음이 소실되었음을 확인할 수 있었으며, 흉부 방사선 검사상 점진적인 폐혈관음영의 감소를 관찰할 수 있었으며 수술중 동맥관 파열이나 불완전한 동맥관 폐쇄, 기흉, 애성(hoarseness) 등의 합병증은 발생되지 않았다. 환아들은 술후 평균 3.4일째 퇴원하였으며, 퇴원후 외래추적 관찰검사시 시행한 심초음파 검사상 동맥관의 재개통이나, 잔류단락은 관찰되지 않았다. 본원에서는 개흉술 및 경도관 동맥관 폐쇄술의 단점을 방지할수 있으며, 성공적인 동맥관 폐쇄, 작은 피부절개 반흔에 의한 미용적 효과, 짧은 재원기간등의 장점을 가진 흉강경을 이용항 동맥관 결찰술을 시해앟여 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.785-788
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• 2009

Many patients with upper abdominal organ cancers, including pancreatic cancer, suffer from severe pain, and various methods and techniques have been used for relieving this pain. We present here two cases of patients with pancreatic cancer and they were both successfully relieved of their abdominal pain by performing video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy and splanchnicectomy. This minimally invasive procedure offers promise in carefully selected patients with severe pain from pancreatic cancer and other conditions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.466-472
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• 2021

Background: Major intraoperative hemorrhage reportedly predicts unfavorable survival outcomes following surgical resection for esophageal carcinoma (EC). However, the factors predicting the amount of blood lost during thoracoscopic esophagectomy have yet to be sufficiently studied. We sought to identify risk factors for excessive blood loss during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for EC. Methods: Using simple and multiple linear regression models, we performed retrospective analyses of the associations between clinicopathological/surgical factors and estimated hemorrhagic volume in 168 consecutive patients who underwent VATS-type esophagectomy for EC. Results: The median blood loss amount was 225 mL (interquartile range, 126-380 mL). Abdominal laparotomy (p<0.001), thoracic duct resection (p=0.014), and division of the azygos arch (p<0.001) were significantly related to high volumes of blood loss. Body mass index and operative duration, as continuous variables, were also correlated positively with blood loss volume in simple linear regression. The multiple linear regression analysis identified prolonged operative duration (p<0.001), open laparotomy approach (p=0.003), azygos arch division (p=0.005), and high body mass index (p=0.014) as independent predictors of higher hemorrhage amounts during VATS esophagectomy. Conclusion: As well as body mass index, operation-related factors such as operative duration, open laparotomy, and division of the azygos arch were independently predictive of estimated blood loss during VATS esophagectomy for EC. Laparoscopic abdominal procedures and azygos arch preservation might be minimally invasive options that would potentially reduce intraoperative hemorrhage, although oncological radicality remains an important consideration.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.595-601
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• 2003

Background: It has been known that the most effective treatment method of hyperhidrosis is video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathetic nerve block. Postoperative compensatory hyperhidrosis and anhidrosis are major factors that decrease the postoperative satisfaction. Although sympathetic rami have been selectively blocked to decrease the complications, technical difficulties and excessive bleeding have prevented the universal application. Material and Method: Three pre-fixative cadavers were dissected before clinical application. Bilateral sympathetic chains were exposed in supine position after the whole anterior chest wall was removed. Second and third sympathetic rami were blocked using clips. After the sympathetic chains including ganglia were removed, we evaluated the extents of rami block. Twenty-five patients were subjected to the clinical application. Surgeries were performed in semi-fowlers position under general anesthesia and bilateral ventilation. 2 mm thoracoscopy and 5 mm trocar were intro-duced through third and fourth intercostal space, respectively. Second and third sympathetic rami were blocked using thoracoscopic clips. The postoperative complications, satisfaction, and compensatory hyperhidrosis rate were evaluated retrospectively. Result: Sympathetic rami were completely blocked in cadaver dissection study Hyper-hidrosis symptom was improved in all patients without operative complication. Operative time was shorter than that of traditional ramicotomy. All patients, except four, were satisfied with postoperative palmar hyperhidrosis. Com-pensatory hyperhidrosis was more severely happened in fifteen patients (60%). The remaining six patients had no complaint. Two patients had a minimal degree of gustatory hyperhidrosis. Conclusion: This operative method had shorter operative time and less complication rate, compared with traditional ramicotomy Operative success rate was similar to the traditional syrnpathicotorny; lower extent and occurrence rate of compensatory hyperhidrosis. The thoracic sympathetic rami clipping was suggested as an alternative method for treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.404-410
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• 2003

Different treatment options are available according to the stage and duration of the empyema. Stage I empyema (exudate stage) is treated concurrently by the administration of appropriate antibiotics and chest tube drainage. Stage III empyema (organized stage) is considered for decortication through an open thoracotomy. However, the treatment of fibrinopurulent, stage II empyema remains controversial. Recently, debridement with the use of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) has been proposed for the treatment of stage II empyema. We analyzed and report our initial experience of 5 cases of stage II empyema, treated with the use of VATS. Material and Method: Between June 2001 and February 2002, 5 patients with fibrinopurulent empyema that did not respond to antibiotics, chest tube drainage or Percutaneous Catheter drainage (PCD), and instillation of fibrinolytic agent were treated by debridement and irrigation with the use of VATS. A CT scan was performed in all patients before the operation to confirm the diagnosis of loculated empyema and to detect additional lung parenchymal diseases. Result: All 5 patients underwent successful debridement and irrigation with the use of VATS and the chest tube was inserted properly. And no patients needed conversion to open thoracotomy. The ratio of sex was 4 : 1 (male : female), the mean age was 53 years old (range, 26~73 years), the mean operative time was 73.4 minutes (range, 52~95 minutes), the mean duration of postoperative chest tube placement was 12.4 days (range, 6~19 days), and the mean duration of postoperative hospital stay was 20.8 days (range, 10~36 days). In all patients, clinical symptoms such as pain and fever subsided and simple chest PA view revealed satisfactory lung expansion. No major postoperative complication was observed during the hospital course and no patient suffered from the recurrence of empyema in the follow-up period. Conclusion: We think that early operation with the use of VATS is safe and efficient for stage II empyema which did not respond to medical treatment(antibiotics and chest tube drainage), therefore, it can prevent stage II empyema from advancing to stage III, organized empyema.