• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.178-182
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• 2011

Background: We analyzed the results of surgical reduction and fixation of ribs under thoracic epidural anesthesia and analgesia (TEA) in patients who had no more than 3 consecutive rib fractures with severe displacement to examine the clinical usefulness of this method. Materials and Methods: From May 2008 to March 2010, 35 patients underwent surgical reduction and fixation of ribs under TEA. We reviewed the indications for this technique, number of fixed ribs, combined surgical procedures for thoracic trauma, intraoperative cardiopulmonary events, postoperative complications, reestablishment of enteral nutrition, and ambulation. Results: The indications of TEA were malunion or nonunion of fractured ribs in 29 (82.9%; first operation) and incompletely ribs under previous general anesthesia in 6 (17.1%; second operation). The average number of fixed ribs per patient was 1.7 (range: 1~3). As a combined operation for thoracic trauma, 17 patients (48.6%) underwent removal of intrathoracic hematomas, and we performed repair of lung parenchyma (2), wedge resection of lung (1) for accompanying lung injury and pericardiostomy (1) for delayed hemopericardium. No patient had any intraoperative cardiopulmonary event nor did any need to switch to general anesthesia. We experienced 3 postoperative complications (8.6%): 2 extrapleural hematomas that spontaneously resolved without treatment and 1 wound infection treated with secondary closure of the wound. All patients reestablished oral feeding immediately after awakening and resumed walking ambulation the day after operation. Conclusion: Thoracic epidural anesthesia and analgesia (TEA) may positively affect cardiopulmonary function in the perioperative period. Moreover, this technique leads to an earlier return of gastrointestinal function and early ambulation without severe postoperative complications, resulting in a shortened hospital stay and lowered costs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.467-470
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• 2009

A traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst is a rare complication of blunt thoracic trauma. The clinical symptoms and signs are similar to other respiratory diseases, such as pulmonary tuberculosis. Therefore, a trauma history with the resulting radiologic and clinical findings is important for making a diagnosis. A 26-year-old male was admitted to our hospital due to cough for 3 days. The chest x-ray revealed diffuse infiltrations and a cavitary lesion at the left lung. His left chest had hit a tree as a result of motorcycle accident one day before admission. Initially, it was assumed that his symptoms and chest X-ray might be due to a tuberculosis infection. However, bronchoscopy revealed old blood clots at both lungs, particularly in the left lower lobe bronchus. A transbronchial lung biopsy showed alveolar hemorrhage. A traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst was diagnosed from his trauma history and these findings. Computed tomography of the chest performed 4 months later showed regression of the cavitary lesion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.1 s.270
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• pp.66-68
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• 2007

Traumatic cardiac injury is an extremely serious medical condition. It is possible to overlook a cardiac injury where there is no chest wall trauma. We here report the 47-year-old woman who got a crach car accident and had a tear of the right atrium. The distortion force from a decelerating injury may cause cardiac rupture at a fixed point. The most common symptom that alerts the clinician to a potentially fatal cardiac injury is the change in vital signs. Therefore cardiac injury should be considered in any patient with unexplained hypotension who has experienced decelerating trauma, even without external injury to the chest wall.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2008

Purpose: National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) criteria and the Canadian Cervical Spine rule (CCR) are commonly used in cervical trauma patients to determine whether a plain cervical X-ray should be performed. However, plain cervical X-rays are so inaccurate that cervical spine computed tomography (CT) is often considered as a screening test. We studied the usefulness of the NEXUS criteria and the CCR for determining the need for a CT evaluation in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from January 2007 to March 2008. Plain X-ray and CT scans of the cervical spine were performed on blunt trauma patients with neck pain. The relevancy of CT was examined using the NEXUS criteria and the CCR. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value, and negative predicted value analyses were performed to diagnose the cervical spine injury. Results: During the study period, 284 patients were enrolled in this study. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value, and negative predicted value of the NEXUS criteria were 87.5%, 1.1%, 5.0%, and 60.0% respectively, while those of the CCR were 87.5%, 8.2%, 5.3%, and 91.6%. There were two missed fracture cases when the NEXUS criteria and the CCR were applied independently, however, no cases were missed when both were applied. Conclusion: This study suggests the NEXUS and the CCR in combination can be used as a guide to CT evaluation for cervical spine injury in the ED.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.120-125
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• 2023

Background: Multiple rib fractures are common in blunt chest trauma. Until recently, most surgical rib fixations for multiple rib fractures were performed via open thoracotomy. However, due to the invasive nature of tissue dissection and the resulting large wound, an alternative endoscopic approach has emerged that minimizes the postoperative complications caused by the manipulation of injured tissue and lung during an open thoracotomy. Methods: Our study concentrated on patients with multiple rib fractures who underwent surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) between June 2018 and May 2020. We found 27 patients who underwent SSRF using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The study design was a retrospective review of the patients' charts and surgical records. Results: No intraoperative events or procedure-related deaths occurred. Implant-related irritation occurred in 4 patients, and 1 death resulted from concomitant trauma. The average hospital stay was 30.2±20.1 days, and ventilators were used for 12 of the 22 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. None of the patients experienced major pulmonary complications such as pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Conclusion: Minimally invasive rib stabilization surgery with the assistance of a thoracoscope is expected to become more widely used in patients with multiple rib fractures. This method will also assist patients in a quick recovery.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.283-290
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• 2024

Hepatic compartment syndrome (HCS) is a rare but life-threatening entity that consists of a decreased portal flow due to intraparenchymal hypertension secondary to subcapsular liver hematoma. Lethal liver failure can be observed. We report three cases, and review the literature. A 54-year-old male was admitted for extensive hepatic subcapsular hematoma after blunt abdominal trauma. Initially, he underwent embolization of the hepatic artery's right branch, after which he presented clinical deterioration, major cytolysis (310 times the upper limit of normal [ULN]), and liver failure with a prothrombin time (PT) at 31.0%. A 56-year-old male underwent liver transplantation for acute alcoholic hepatitis. On postoperative day 2, he presented a hemorrhagic shock associated with deterioration of liver function (cytolysis 21 ULN, PT 39.0%) due to extensive hepatic subcapsular hematoma. A 59-year-old male presented a hepatic subcapsular hematoma five days after a cholecystectomy, revealed by abdominal pain with liver dysfunction (cytolysis 10 ULN, PT 63.0%). All patients ultimately underwent urgent surgery for liver capsule excision, hematoma evacuation, and liver packing, if needed. The international literature was screened for this entity. These three patients' outcomes were favorable, and all were alive at postoperative day 90. The literature review found 15 reported cases. HCS can occur after any direct or indirect liver trauma. Surgical decompression is the main treatment, and there is probably no place for arterial embolization, which may increase the risk of liver necrosis. A 13.3% mortality rate is reported. HCS is a rare complication of subcapsular liver hematoma that compresses the liver parenchyma, and leads to liver failure. Urgent surgical decompression is needed.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.217-222
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• 2012

Purpose: Diaphragmatic rupture following trauma is often an associated and missed injury. This report is about our experience with treating traumatic diaphragmatic rupture (TDR). Methods: From January 2007 to September 2012, 18 patients who had a diaphragmatic rupture due to blunt trauma or penetrating injury underwent an operation for diaphragmatic rupture at our hospital. We retrospectively reviewed their medical records, including demographic factors, initial vital signs, associated injuries, interval between trauma and diagnosis, injured side of the diaphragm, diagnostic tools, surgical method or approaches, operative time, herniated organs, complications, and mortality. Results: The average age of the patients was 43 years, and 16 patients were male. Causes of trauma included motor vehicle crashes (n=7), falls (n=7), and stab wounds (n=5). The TDR was right-sided in 6 patients and left-sided in 12. The diagnosis was made by using a chest X-ray (n=3), and thorax or upper abdominal computed tomography (n=15). Ten(10) patients were diagnosed within 12 hours. A thoracotomy was performed in 8 patients, a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in 4 patients, a laparotomy in 3 patients, and a sternotomy in one patient. Herniated organs were the omentum (n=11), stomach (n=8), spleen and colon (n=6), and liver (n=6). Eighteen diaphragmatic injuries were repaired primarily. Seven patients underwent ventilator care, and two of them had pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. There were no operative mortalities. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and surgical treatment determine the successful management of TDR with or without the herniation of abdominal organs. The surgical approach to TDR is chosen based on accompanying organ injuries and the injured side.

• 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.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.269-273
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• 1980

The rupture of the aorta commonly follows major blunt trauma to the thorax. It has markedly increased in recent years, paralleling the rising number of vehicular accidents. The most frequent site of rupture is the area of the isthmus, with the ascending aorta second. The diagnosis of the condition from clinical data is difficult, and aortography is used whenever aortic tear is suspected. We are presenting a case of patient who had intimal tearing of the thoracic aorta with multiple injuries. The patient underwent surgical repair 28 days after injury with left heart [LA-Femoral artery] bypass.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.160-162
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• 2014

Cardiac involvement in hydatid disease is more seldom than the involvement of the liver and the lungs. Cardiac cyst hydatid disease is diagnosed incidentally or by means of symptoms such as dyspnea and angina pectoris. Here, we present the case of a 45-year-old male patient who underwent open heart surgery for a randomly detected cardiac cyst hydatid during investigations carried out in a healthcare institution after accidentally falling from height. On the other hand, this patient did not have any complaints associated with hydatid disease before this event.