• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.16-18
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• 2018

Delayed esophageal rupture due to blunt injury is not new. However, rupture due to suspected barotrauma is very rare. We describe a case of esophageal rupture in a male 24-year-old patient after diving in shallow waters. The patient was quadriplegic and could not experience the typical chest pain related to rupture and resulting mediastinitis. The rupture was discovered 4 days after emergency decompressive laminectomy and fusion for his cervical spine. The rupture was evidently caused by barotrauma and was discovered four days after admission. He underwent primary closure and pericardial flap as a life-saving procedure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.228-232
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• 1995

Computed tomography[CT is an effective technique for the evaluation of the thorax following blunt trauma. To evaluate multiply injured 30 patients who were diagnosed as hemothorax in emergency room, computed tomography of thorax was done. The thickness of slice was one centimeter and the entire pleural cavity from the apex to the costophrenic angle was included in the evaluation. Integration and addition of the hemothorax area for each CT slice was made and amount of blood in the pleural cavity was estimated. The slice which showed largest area of hemothorax was selected and the height and width of the hemothorax area were measured. The number of slices which showed radiographic evidence of hemothorax was counted. Regression analysis was done and measured amount of hemothorax, the height and width of the hemothorax area for each slice and number of slices were put as variables. And following equation was derived. V=108.3A-0.8B-7.4C+84.7 [R2=0.74 [ V: amount of hemothorax, A: height, B: width, C: number of slices Total amount of blood from thoracic drainage was compared to the measured amount by computed tomography and the relation between the two values was statistically significant.[p=0.001 In conclusion, quantitative estimation of size of hemothorax was possible by the above equation and the process was very helpful for determination policy of treatment of individual patient.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.390-395
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• 2012

Background: Conventional open repair is a suboptimal therapy for blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI) due to the high postoperative mortality and morbidity rates. Recent advances in the thoracic endovascular repair technique may improve outcomes so that it becomes an attractive therapeutic option. Materials and Methods: From August 2003 to March 2012, 21 patients (mean age, 45.81 years) with BTAI were admitted to our institution. Of these, 18 cases (open repair in 11 patients and endovascular repair in 7 patients) were retrospectively reviewed and the early perioperative results of the two groups were compared. Results: Although not statistically significant, there was a trend toward the reduction of mortality in the endovascular repair group (18.2% vs. 0%). There were no cases of paraplegia or endoleak. Statistically significant reductions in heparin dosage, blood loss, and transfusion amounts during the operations and in procedure duration were observed. Conclusion: Compared with open repair, endovascular repair can be performed with favorable mortality and morbidity rates. However, relatively younger patients who have acute aortic arch angulation and a small aortic diameter may be a therapeutic challenge. Improvements in graft design, delivery sheaths, and graft durability are the cornerstone of successful endovascular repair.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.100-107
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• 2008

Purpose: A traumatic lung cyst (TLC) is a rare complication and is usually detected with a pulmonary contusion. This study attempted to identify the prognostic factors and the clinical characteristics for pulmonary contusion with TLCs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and chest CT findings of 71 TLC patients who visited our hospital from January 2006 to December 2007. Patients were assessed for any clinical characteristics. We evaluated significant differences between the survival and the death groups for patients with a traumatic lung cyst. Results: The male-to-female ratio of patients with TLCs was 54:17, and the mean age of the patients was $37.70{\pm}19.78years$ with 36.6% of the patients being under 30 years fo age. The cause of blunt thoracic trauma was mainly pedestrian traffic accidents (26.8%) and falls (25.4%). Associated conditions included pulmonary contusion in 68 patients (95.7%), hemopneumothorax in 63 patients (88.7%), and rib fracture in 52 patitents (73.2%). There was no consistent relationship between the number of TLCs and the pulmonary contusion score. The overall mortality rate of TLC patients was 26.8%. Death correlated with a need for ventilatory assistance, mean arterial pressure, worst mean arterial pressure in 24 hours, initial pH and base excess, worst pH and base excess in 24 hours, refractory shock, initial GCS score, and pulmonary contusion score. Conclusion: The presence of the aforementioned predictors indicate serious injury, which is the main determinant of the outcome for thoracic injuries with TLCs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.675-680
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• 2010

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the distinguishing clinicoradiologic findings of traumatic tracheobronchial injury. Material and Method: Between January 2003 and December 2009, six patients who underwent surgical repair for traumatic tracheobronchial injury due to blunt trauma were included in this study. We evaluated the mechanism of the injury, the coexisting injuries, the time until the making diagnosis and treatment, the diagnostic methods, the anatomic location of the injury and the surgical outcomes. Result: The mechanisms of injury were traffic accident and crushing forces. The frequent symptoms were subcutaneous emphysema, dyspnea and pain, and the common radiologic findings were pneumothorax, mediastinal emphysema, rib fracture and lung contusion. Only 2 patients were diagnosed by chest CT and the others were not diagnosed preoperatively. The location of injury was the trachea in 2 patients and the bronchial tree in 4 patients. There was no postoperative mortality or anastomotic leak; however, vocal cord palsy occurred in one patient. The most distinguishing sign was persistent lung collapse even though the chest tube was connected with negative pressure. Conclusion: Although it was not easy to diagnose traumatic tracheobronchial injury without a clinical suspicion, the distinguishing clinical symptoms and CT findings could help to make an early diagnosis without performing bronchoscopy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.698-704
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• 1989

We experienced the seven cases of penetrating and non-penetrating cardiac injuries combined with cardiac tamponade from June 1986 to June 1989 at Seoul and Chun-An Hospital of SOONCHUNHYANG medical college. The results were as follows. l. In sex distribution, 7 cases were male. In age distribution, The fourth decades occupied about 58 % of all cases. 2. In mode of injury, 4 cases were stab wounds, 1 case penetration by metallic fragment, 2 cases blunt chest trauma. 3. We routinely checked the CVP with subclavian vein catheterization in case of suspicious cardiac tamponade. Significant increments were showed in 4 cases. 4. Becks triad [low blood pressure, raised central venous pressure, distant heart sound] were recorded in 43 % of the cases with proven tamponades. 5. The sites of injury included RV in 4 cases, LV in 1 case, RA in 1 case and branch of RCA in 1 case. The RV injuries were the most common. 6. Coronary artery damage occurred in 2 cases. LADA was severed in 1 case combined with RV rupture and branch of RCA was torn 1 case. 7. Pericardiocentesis was performed 1 case at another hospital before referring to our hospital. We have never used the procedure because we think that it is potentially dangerous with no clear benefit. 8. Subxyphoid pericardial window was performed in 2 cases of severe cardiac tamponade. We have employed this method to stabilize the patients who had systolic hypotension. 9. Surgical approaches were performed with median sternotomy in 3 cases, thoracotomy in 4 cases. 10. We undertook the simple closure in 6 penetrating cardiac wounds. The removal of impacted metallic fragment was performed under the cardiopulmonary bypass. Simple ligation was performed in 2 cases of coronary artery severance 11. One patient with no sign of life was urgently intubated and undertaken an emergency room thoracotomy on the stretch car without antiseptic preparation. The cardiorrhaphy in 6 cases were performed in the operating theater 12. One patient undertaken emergency room thoracotomy did not survive due to refractory hypovolemic shock. But the remaining 6 patients recovered.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.2 s.259
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• pp.162-165
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• 2006

The innominate artery aneurysm is an uncommon entity. A 36-year-old man was transferred to our hospital because of incidental finding of right superior mediastinal mass. He had a history of blunt chest trauma due to automobile accident 16 years earlier. Computed tomography scanning demonstrated 5-cm sized sacular aneurysm with thrombus at the innominate artery. The prosthetic bifurcated bypass grafting from the ascending aorta to the right common carotid artery and right subclavian artery was performed under the moderate hypothermic cardioplumonary bypass. We report a successful surgical treatment for a rare case of the innominate artery aneurysm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.4 s.261
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• pp.340-342
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• 2006

Primary sternal osteomyelitis is a rare disease. Primary sternal osteomyelitis occurring during childhood is extremely rare; therefore, only eleven cases have been reported in the English language literatures. The predisposing factors of primary sternal osteomyelitis are malnutrition, immune deficiency, intravenous injection, blunt chest trauma, and sickle cell anemia. Drainage of pus with antibiotic therapy is the treatment of choice. We report a case of primary sternal osteomyelitis occurred in a 16-year old boy, who had no predisposing factors, with review of literatures.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2008

Purpose: Multiple rib fracture (MRF) and a hemopneumothorax accompany with most blunt chest traumas. We aimed to analyze the factors increasing the probability of a hemopneumothorax. In addition, other injuries accompanying MRF were analyzed. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 154 mutiple rib fracture patients who visited our hospital between January 2005 and December 2007. The medical records were reviewed for sex, age, mechanism of injury, location, number of fractures, distance of dislocated rib fragments, and presence of complications. We measured the distance of bony dislocations by using the PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System). Results: The average number of rib fractures was $3.7{\pm}2.1$, and the number of rib fractures significantly influenced the incidence of a hemothorax (p<0.001). The risk of a hemothorax was increased in a bilateral MRF compared to a unilateral MRF (p=0.027). The distance of dislocated rib fragments influenced the probability of a hemothorax significantly (p=0.018), and subcutaneous emphysema and lung contusion were significantly associated with a pneumothorax (p=0.021, p=0.036). Conclusion: The number of MRFs did not influence the risk for a pneumothorax, but did influence the risk for a hemothorax. The laterality, distance of dislocation, also had an influence on the risk for a hemothorax. Also, subcutaneous emphysema and lung contusion were increased in cases with a pneumothorax. We must consider the possibility of a hemothorax even when the initial chest X-ray shows no evidence of a hemothorax. If a lung contusion is present, then an occult pneumothorax must be considered.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.831-836
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• 2007

Background: Cardiac injuries are the most commonly overlooked injuries in patients who die from trauma. Patients who survive blunt cardiac rupture or penetrating injuries are rare and the incidence is not well defined. Many patients require urgent or emergency operations and operative mortality is very high. Material and Method: A retrospective review of 26 patients with cardiac injuries due to thoracic trauma undergoing emergency thoracotomy from January 1997 to December 2005. Result: There were 17 male and 9 female patients, with a mean age of $45.3{\pm}16.2\;(range:\;17{\sim}80)$. Thirteen patients (50%) were injured in motor vehicle accidents, and five patients (19%) in motorcycle accidents. Six patients (23%) were injured by knives, and two patients (8%) were injured by falling. Anatomic injuries included right atrium (12 [46%]), left atrium (1 [4%]), right ventricle (5 [19%]), left ventricle (5 [19%]), and cardiac chambers (2 [7%]). Diagnosis was made by computer tomography in 12 patients and sonography in 14 patients. The average times from admission to operating room was $89.2{\pm}86.7\;min\;(range:\;10{\sim}335)$. The average time for diagnosis was $51.3{\pm}13.6\;min\;(range:\;5{\sim}280)$. The mean Revised Trauma Score (RTS) was $6.7{\pm}0.8$, and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), was $12.8{\pm}2.8$. The overall mortality rate was 12% (3 out of 26 patients). Conclusion: The mortality rate from cardiac injury is very high. The survival rate can be increased only by a high index of suspicion, aggressive expeditious diagnostic evaluation, and prompt appropriate surgical management.