• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.851-855
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• 1993

Among elevn consecutive cases having undergone Completion Pueumonectomy[CP]between 1958 and Aug. 1993 at the Dep. of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery in National Medical Center. The patient`s mean age was 43 years[range 28 yrs, to 68yrs.],& they consisted with 10 males and 1 female. The indications for CP were benign diseases in 9 cases & 2 cases of lung cancer. The mean interval between the first operation & CP was 62.3 months[from 17 days to 288 months]. The several special intraoperative procedures such as intrapericardial pulmonary vesselsdivision & suture ligation, reinforcement of bronchial stumpmargin, & applied the Fibrin glue & hemostatics. The mean intra operative bleeding was 3582ml.[1500ml. to 6500ml.] The post orerative complication were developed in 5 cases[45.5%] they were empyema with BPF in 2 cases, empyema in 2 cases, & 1 case of repiratoy insufficiency which leading to death. We concluded that the C P noted high morbidity & mortality compared with ordinary first pulmonary resectional surgery. But, it will be a challenge to improved the morbidity because of increasing trend of completion pneumonectomy in a furture time.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.769-774
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• 1993

Thoracic empyema is defined as purulent pleural effusion or effusion with positive bacteriology. Recently, the empyema has markedly decreased by developement of antibiotics, but empyemas following thoracotomy were occasionaly reported. During the period of January, 1985 to May,1991, 18 patients with postthoracotomy empyema have been treated in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of Chonbuk National University Hospital.There were 17 males and 1 female ranged from 18 years to 67 years of age. The underlying diseases of empyema were tuberculosis [50%], lung cancer [33.3%], esophageal cancer [11.1%],and aspergillosis with tuberculosis[5.6%]. In surgical procedures causing the empyema, there were lobectomy[38.9%], pneumonectomy[22.2%], decortication[16.7%], decortication & lobectomy[11.1%], and esophagectomy [11.1%]. Etiologic organisms in the pleural fluid were Pseudomonas [27.7%], S.aureus [16.7%], mixed infection [16.7%], K.pneumonia [5.6%], M.tuberculosis [5.6%], and no isolation [27.7%]. In 6 cases with BPF, completion pneumonectomy was performed in 1 case, and open thoracostomy in 5 cases. In 12 cases without BPF, closed thoracostomy was performed in 1 case, decortication in 2 cases, decortication & open thoracostomy in 2 cases, and open thoracostomy in 7 cases. In 6 cases with BPF, the fistulas were closed in 4 cases at follow up, the other 2 cases died from pulmonary insufficiency after completion pneumonectomy and open thoracostomy,respectively. In 12 cases without BPF, the empyema cavities were filled with expanded lungs and granulation tissues, except 1 case died from sepsis.

• Proceedings of the KTCVS Conference
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• 1993.06a
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• pp.114-114
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• 1993

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.138-140
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• 2016

Broncho-pleural fistula (BPF) and esophago-pleural fistula (EPF) after pulmonary resection are challenging to manage. BPF is controlled by irrigation and sterilization, but such therapy is not sufficient to promote closure of EPF, which usually requires surgical management. However, it is generally difficult to select an appropriate surgical method for closure of BPF and EPF. Here, we report a case of concomitant BPF and EPF after left completion pneumonectomy, in which both fistulas were closed through a right thoracotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.535-541
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• 2002

Background: The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis remains high in several areas of the world, and pneumonectomy is often necessary to treat the sequelae of the disease. We retrospectively analyzed the morbidities, mortalities, and long-term outcomes after pneumonectomy for the treatment of tuberculous sequelae. Material and Method: Between 1981 and 2001, 94 patients underwent either pneumonectomy or extrapleural pneumonectomy for the treatment of tuberculous sequelae. There were 44 males and 50 females. The mean age was 40(16~68) years. The pathology included destroyed lung in 80, main bronchus stenosis in 10, and both lesions in 4. Surgical procedures were pneumonectomy in 47, extrapleural pneumonectomy in 43, and completion pneumonectomy in 4. Results: One patient died postoperatively due to empyema. Twenty-three complications occurred in 20 patients; empyema in 15(including 7 bronchopleural fistulas), wound infection in 5, and others in 3. Univariate analysis revealed presence of empyema, extrapleural pneumonectomy, prolonged operation time, and old age as risk factors of postpneumonectomy empyema. In multivariate analysis, old age and low preoperative FEV1 were risk factors of empyema. Low preoperative FEV1 was the risk factor of bronchopleural fistula(BPF) in univariate analysis. Low preoperative FEV1, positive sputum AFB, and presence of aspergilloma were risk factors of BPF in multivariate analysis. There were twelve late deaths. Actuarial 5-and 10-year survival rates were 94$\pm$3% and 87$\pm$4%, respectively. Conclusion: Pneumonectomy could be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity, and could achieve good long-term survival for the treatment of tuberculous sequelae. In patients with risk factors, special care is recommended to prevent postoperative empyema or bronchopleural fistula.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.750-757
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• 1990

Empyema with bronchopleural fistula is an uncommon, but serious problem. Early diagnosis and adequate drainage of the empyema cavity are well established principles for the initial management of this condition and will enable patient to recover from the toxic effects of loculated pus. 37 patients of empyema with bronchopleural fistula were treated at the department of the chonbuk National University Hospital between 1981 and 1988. The age group of fifty and sixty decades occupied 64.8%. Bacteriologic cultures of the pus were postive in 56.8%. The most common organism of the culture was staphylococci(42.9%). And the others were Pseudomonas(19%). Klebsiella(14.3%), and E. doli. No growth of pathologic organism was reported 43.2%. 24 patients of empyema with bronchopleural fistula were nonoperative causes : There were 10 pulmonary tuberculosis, 3 abscess, 9 ascending infection, one bronchiectasis and one tumor, respectively. The remaining 13 were occurred as postoperative complications ; pneumonectomy in 6, lobectomy in 4, decortication in 2, and lobectomy with segmentectomy in 1. When used as the initial mode of drainage, closed thoracostomy was performed to almost all of the patients, but 4 patients were died during this treatment. Main operations were performed except 4 died patients ; open thoracostomy in 21, open thoracostomy with myoplasty in 3, decortication in 5, decortication with resection in 3, and completion pneumonectomy in 1. Open thoracostomy was performed in 21 patients which results were favorable except one death. Permanent open thoracostomy is an old but still useful minor operation in patients with empyema with bronchopleural fistula. The overall mortality rate was 15% (6 patients) and the causes of the death were respiratory insufficiency or sepsis, or both.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.540-543
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• 1998

A patient with post-pneumonectomy empyema was treated sucessfully by modification of Clagett's operation after closure of bronchopleural fistula using a transsternal, transpericardial approach. His primary disease was pulmonary tuberculosis, and he had a past history of left upper lobe lobectomy 34 year ago. Recently recurred pulmonary tuberculosis with aspergilloma in the remaining left lung, empyema with bronchopleural fistula had developed on the post-operative 4th day after completion pneumonectomy. Closed thoracostomy was done at the lowest point of the left pleural cavity immediately. The pleural cavity was irrigated with small amount of normal saline through pigtail catheter. The 2nd operation was done by closure of bronchopleural fistula using a stapler through transsternal, transpericardial approach, and then the pleural space was irrigated with normal saline with Tobramycin which shows sensitivity to isolated organism from pleural cavity. After negative conversion of pleural fluid culture, we performed modified Clagett's operation under local anesthesia. The patient had no evidence of recurrence of empyema and discharged from hospital after 10 days of the 3rd procedure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.6 s.263
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• pp.462-469
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• 2006

Background: Pneumonectomy for inflammatory lung disease has been of major concern because of its associated morbidity and mortality, particularly with respect to pleuropneumonectomy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the surgical outcomes, and identify the risk factors contributing to postoperative complications in patients undergoing pleuropneumonectomy. Material and Method: Ninety-eight patients underwent pneumonectomy for benign inflammatory lung disease were retrospectively analyzed. Pleuropneumonectomy (Group A) was done in 48 patients and standard pneumonectomy (Group B) was done in 50 patients. Clinical characteristics, postoperative complications were examined and compared between 2 groups. In pleuropneumonectomy group, postoperative risk factors affecting morbidity were evaluated. Result: There was one in-hospital death. Twenty-three major postoperative complications occurred in 21 patients (21.4%). The common complications were empyema and bronchopieural fistula (BPF) in 8 (8.4%), re-exploration due to bleeding in 8. At least one postoperative complication occurred in 14 of 48 patients from Group A (29.2%) and in 7 of 50 patients from Group B (14%). In Group A, empyema and BPF encountered in 6 and re-exploration for bleeding in 6 were the most common complication. In univariate analysis, right pneumonectomy, completion pneumonectomy, large amount of blood loss (>1,000 mL), and intrapleural spillage were risk factors contributing to postoperative complications in Group A. In multivariate analysis, intrapleural contamination during operation was a risk factor of postoperative complication. Conclusion: The morbidity and mortality rates of pneumonectomy for chronic inflammatory lung disease are acceptably. However, we confirm that pleuropneumonectomy is a real technical challenge and a high-risk procedure and technically demanding. Meticulous surgical techniques are very important in preventing serious and potentially lethal complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.391-394
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• 2017

Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury can develop following cervical or thoracic surgery; however, few reports have described intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring. Consensus regarding the use of this technique during thoracic surgery is lacking. We used intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring in a patient with contralateral vocal cord paralysis who was scheduled for completion pneumonectomy. This case serves as an example of intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring during thoracic surgery and supports this indication for its use.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.318-321
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• 1999

The remaining lung infarction is a rare but life-threatening complication after a thoracic operation and trauma. We report a case of this rare complication after the left upper lobectomy due to pulmonary aspergilloma. The infarction of the remaining left lower lobe occurred due to kinking of the pulmonary vessels after the left upper lobectomy and the completion pneumonectomy was performed in the post-operative second day. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and treatment may be necessary to prevent morbidity and mortality associated with pulmonary infarction from torsion of pulmonary artery and vein.