• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.308-314
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• 1989

Pulmonary sequestration is a congenital malformation characterized by an area of embryonic lung tissue that derives its blood supply from an anomalous systemic artery. Two forms recognized: extralobar and intralobar. Extralobar form is a very rare congenital malformation, usually located in the lower chest, and may be found in newborn infants at the time a congenital diaphragmatic hernia is repaired. Large sequestrated segments may be cause acute respiratory distress in the neonate. The condition is asymptomatic in 15 per cent of patients. This report presents two cases of pulmonary sequestration which misdiagnosed a superior mediastinal tumor and a benign lung tumor. First case was 30-year-old male patient and chief complaints were dyspnea, dry cough and right chest pain. Chest X-ray showed a homogenous increased density of smooth margin at the right superior mediastinal area and suggested a benign mediastinal tumor. And so explothoracotomy was made without other special studies. Second case was 28-year-old male patient. One month ago, he had tracheostomy and right closed thoracostomy due to massive hemoptysis and spontaneous hemothorax. Chest X-ray showed a benign cystic lesion at RLL area. At the time of operation, in first case, a mass of adult fist size was placed medial to the right upper lobe and densely adhesive to trachea, SVC and esophagus. Blood supply of the mass was bronchial arteries of trachea and RUL bronchus and drained to SVC and azygos vein through anomalous systemic veins. There was no bronchial communication on Frozen biopsy. In 2nd case, large cystic lesion contained old blood hematoma was located in RLL and anomalous blood vessel from thoracic aorta was drained to posterior segment of RLL. In operation field, intralobar pulmonary sequestration was diagnosed, and RLL lobectomy was carried out.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.243-248
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• 1973

Eventration of the diaphragm is, by definition, abnormally high or elevated position of diaphragm as a result of paralysis, aplasia or atrophy of varing degrees of muscle fibers, and the cause of which may be congenital or acquired. The unbroken continuity of the diaphragm differentiates it from diaphragmatic hernia. The clinical manifestations of the condition, if present, are usually due to the interference of the ventilatory function of the lung and digesive dysfunction due to gastrointestinal distorsion. Treatment consists of surgical repair of the relaxed diaphragm to it`s normal position. A ease of left sided eventuration of the diaphragm, 31 year old officer, was found by chance after traffic accident with chief complaints of hemoptysis and multiple superficial contusions. Routine chest roentgenogram and barium study of the colon revealed moderately elevated left hemidiaphragm with displacement of the splenic flexure of the colon into the left chest. Past history revealed frequent attack of upper respiratory infection and some abnormal condition on his left chest announced by screen cheek of chest X-ray at the time of entrance for his army service 3 years before. Plication of the relaxed diaphragm through left thoracotomy was done and result was excellent as seen on Fig. 5. Cause of eventration of the left hemidiaphragm was due to paralysis of the left phrenic nerve which was tested during thoracotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.420-430
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• 2023

Background: This study provides an update to a landmark 2004 report describing demographics, training, and trends in adherence to thoracic surgery practice standards in Canada. Methods: An updated questionnaire was administered to all members of the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons via email (n=142, compared to n=68 in 2004). Our report incorporates internal data from Ontario Health and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. Results: Forty-eight surgeons completed the survey (male, 70.8%; mean±standard deviation age, 50.3±9.3 years). This represents a 33.8% response rate, compared to 64.7% in 2004. Most surgeons (69%) served a patient population of over 1 million per center; 32%-34% reported an on-call ratio of 1:4-1:5 days, and the average weekly hours worked was 56.4±11.9. Greater access to dedicated geographic units per center (73% in 2021 vs. 53% in 2004) has improved thoracic-associated services and house staff, notably endoscopy units (100% vs. 91%), with 73% of respondents having access to both endobronchial and endoscopic ultrasound. Access to thoracic radiology has also improved, particularly regarding positron emission tomography scanners per center (76.9% vs. 13%). Annual case volumes for lung (255 vs. 128), esophageal (41 vs. 19), and mediastinal resections (30 vs. 13), along with hiatal hernia repair (45 vs. 20), have increased substantially despite reports of operating room availability and radiology as rate-limiting steps. Conclusion: This survey characterizes compliance with current practice standards, addressing the needs of thoracic surgeons across Canada. Over 85% of respondents were aware of the 2004 compliance paper, and 35% had applied for resources and equipment in response.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.348-354
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• 2011

Background: Traumatic rupture of the diaphragm is an unusual type of trauma. In addition, it is difficult to diagnose because it can be accompanied by injuries to other organs. If it is not detected early, the mortality rate can increase due to serious complications. Diaphragmatic rupture is an important indicator of the severity of the trauma. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the incidence of complications and mortality in patients who had surgery to treat traumatic rupture of the diaphragm. Materials and Methods: The subjects were patients who had undergone a diaphragmatic rupture by blunt trauma or stab wounds except patients who were transferred to other hospitals within 3 days of hospitalization, from January 2000 to December 2007. This study was a retrospective study. 43 patients were hospitalized, and 40 patients were included during the study period. Among them, 28 were male, 12 were female, and the average age was 42 (from 18 to 80). Outcome predictive factors including hypoxia, ventilator application days, revised trauma score (RTS), injury severity score (ISS), age, herniated organs, complications, and the mortality rate were investigated. Results: Causes of trauma included motor vehicle crashes for 20 patients (50%), falls for 10 (25%), stab wounds for 8 (20%), and agricultural machinery accidents for 2 (5%). Most of the patients (36 patients; 90%) had wound sites on the left. Diagnosis was performed within 12 hours for most patients. The diaphragmatic rupture was diagnosed preoperatively in 27 patients (70%) and in 12 patients (30%) during other surgeries. For surgical treatment, thoracotomy was performed in 14 patients (35%), laparotomy in 11 (27.5%), and a surgery combining thoracotomy and laparotomy in 15 patients (37.5%). Herniated organs in the thoracic cavity included the stomach for 23 patients (57.5%), the omentum for 15 patients (37.5%), the colon for 10 patients (25%), and the spleen for 6 patients (15%). Accompanying surgeries included splenectomy for 13 patients (32.5%), lung suture for 6 patients (15%), and liver suture for 5 patients (12.5%). The average hospital stay was $47.80{\pm}56.72$ days, and the period of ventilation was $3.90{\pm}5.8$ days. The average ISS was $35.90{\pm}16.81$ (11~75), and the average RTS was $6.46{\pm}1.88$ (1.02~7.84). The mortality rate was 17.5% (7 patients). Factors affecting complications were stomach hernia and age. Factors affecting the mortality rate were ISS and RTS. Conclusion: There are no typical symptoms of the traumatic rupture of the diaphragm by blunt trauma. Nor are there any special methods of diagnosis; in fact, it is difficult to diagnose because it accompanies injuries to other organs. Stab wounds are also not easy to diagnose, though they are relatively easy to diagnose compared to blunt trauma because the accompanying injuries are more limited. Suture of the diaphragm can be performed through the chest, the abdomen, or the thoracoabdomen. These surgical methods are chosen based on accompanying organ injuries. When there are many organ injuries, there are a great number of complications. Significant factors affecting the complication rate were stomach hernia and age. ISS and RTS were significant as factors affecting the mortality rate. In the case of severe trauma such as pelvic fractures, frequent physical examinations and chest X-rays are necessary to confirm traumatic rupture of the diaphragm because it does not have specific symptoms, and there are no clear diagnosis methods. Complications and the mortality rate should be reduced with early diagnosis and with treatment by confirming diaphragmatic rupture in the thoracic cavity and the abdomen during surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.298-310
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• 1976

A clinical analysis was performed on 118 cases of the benign esophageal diseases experienced at Department of Thoracic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital during 20 year period from 1957 to 1976. Of 118 cases of the benign esophageal diseases, there were 84 patients of esophagenal stenosis, 14 of esophageal perforation, 8 of esophageal atresia, 7 of achalasia, 2 of hiatal hernia, 2 of esophageal foreign body and one of esophageal diverticulum. Fifty-one patients were male and sixty-seven were female, and ages ranged from one day to sixty-four years with peak incidence in the age group of 20 to 29 years. All but one of the esophageal stenosis were caused by corrosive esophagitis and ages ranged from three to sixty-four years with peak incidence in third decade. Main symptoms of the esophageal stenosis were dysphagia, weight loss and chest pain in order and mostly began between one month and one year after ingestion of corrosive agents. Corrosive esophageal stenosis developed most frequently in middle one-third of the esophagus and about one-forth of them were diffuse. Operations were performed on 72 patients of esophageal stenosis of whom 26 patients had esophagocologastrostomy, 21 gastrostomy, 20 esophagogastrostomy, 4 esophagojejunogastrostomy and 2 pharyngogastrostomy. There were 5 deaths in the postoperative period, an operative mortality of 6.9 percent, and 20 patients had one or two complications; eight were anastomotic leaks, 6 gangrenes of replaced loop, 4 wound abscesses and others. The causes of the esophageal perforation were traumatic in 7 cases, caustics in 4 and spontaneous in 3, and the most frequent site of the perforation was lower one-third of the esophagus. Frequent symptoms of the esophageal perforation were pain, fever, dysphagia and dyspnea, and preoperatively there were mediastinitis in 8 cases, empyema in 7, lung abscess in 3 and others. All 14 patients of the esophageal perforation underwent operation: primary closure in 7 cases, drainage in 4, esophagogastrostomy in 2 and 'esophageal diversion in one. There were 4 postoperative deaths and 11 postoperative complications occurred in 7 patients. The duration of symptoms in achalasia was between 3 months and 25 years, with an average duration of 6. 2 years. Frequent symptoms of the achlasia esophagi were dysphagia, regurgitation, pain and weight loss in order. All 7 patients of achlasia underwent modified Heller's operation where 2 patients had complications, restenosis in one and esophageal perforation in another. All 8 patients of congenital esophageal atresia had distal tracheoesophageal fistula and were admitted within 5 days of life, but there were pneumonic consolidation on chest X-ray in patients. Five patients underwent one staged operation with the result of 2 deaths and one anastomotic leak.