• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.219-229
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• 2003

Background : The management of thoracic empyema and complicated parapneumonic effusion requires adequate antibiotics use and prompt drainage of infected pleural space. Tube thoracostomy for loculated empyema has low success rate and is also an invasive procedure with potential morbidity. Complications include hemothorax, perforation of intra-abdominal or intra-thoracic organs, diaphragmatic laceration, empyema, pulmonary edema, and Horner's syndrome. Given the potential morbidity of traditional chest tube insertion, use of the image-guided pigtail catheter drainage(PCD) of empyema has been employed. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients with empyema or complicated parapneumonic effusion to determine the efficacy of percutaneous pigtail catheter drainage. Materials and Methods : 45 patients with complicated parapneumonic effusions or empyema were treated at Gil medical center from January 1998 to June, 1999. All were initially given PCD procedure and the following data were collected: clinical symptoms at the time of diagnosis, alcohol and smoking history, the characteristics of pleural effusion, radiologic findings (at the time of catheter insertion, removal and 1 month after catheter removal), the amount of effusion drained for initial 24 hours, the time from catheter insertion to removal and the use of surgical approach. Results : Male gender was more frequent (42 men vs. 3 women), the mean age of the study population was 52(range: 21~74) years. Empyema was found in 23 patients, complicated parapneumonic effusion in 22 patients. Four patients(three, parapneumonic effusion and one, with empyema) with PCD only treated, were cast off. Among the available patients, 36(80%) patients were treated with PCD only or PCD with urokinase. Among the 23 patients with empyema, surgical approach was required in five patients(27.1%, one required decortication, four open thoracostomy), one patient, treated with surgical procedure, died of sepsis. There was no significant difference of the duration of catheter insertion, the duration of hospital admission after catheter insertion and the mean amount of effusion drained for initial 24 hours between the patients with only PCD treated and the patients treated with PCD and urokinase. The duration of catheter insertion($9.4{\pm}5.25days$ vs. $19.2{\pm}9.42days$, p<0.05) and the duration of hospital admission after catheter insertion($15.9{\pm}10.45days$ vs. $38.6{\pm}11.46days$, p<0.01) of the patients with only PCD treated were more longer than those of the patients treated with surgical procedure after PCD. They were same between the patients treated with urokinase after PCD and the patients treated with surgical procedure after PCD($11.1{\pm}7.35days$ vs. $19.2{\pm}9.42days$, p<0.05, $17.5{\pm}9.17days$ vs. $38.6{\pm}11.46days$, p<0.01). In 16 patients(44.4%) with only PCD treated or PCD and urokinase treated, the amount of effusion at the time of catheter removal was decreased more than 75% and in 17 patients(47.2%) effusion decreased 50~75%. .In one patient effusion decreased 25~50%, in two patients effusion decreased less than 25%. One month after catheter removal, in 35 patients(97.2%, four patients were cast off), the amount of pleural effusion was successfully decreased more than 50%. There were no complications related to pigtail catheter insertion. Conclusion : In this study, PCD seemed to be an early efficacious procedure in treating the patients with complicated parapneumonic effusion or empyema without any serious procedure related complication.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.448-463
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• 2000

Background : Pulmonary infiltrate is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with leukemia. It is often hard to obtain a reliable diagnosis by clinical and radiologic findings alone. The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic benefits of invasive procedures for new lung infiltrates in leukemia. Methods : Patients with leukemia who developed new lung infiltrates from December 1994 to March 1999 were included in this study. These patients were classified into the empirical group who received empirical therapy only and into the invasive group who underwent bronchoscopy or surgical lung biopsy for the diagnostic purpose of new lung infiltrates. A retrospective chart review was done to find the etiologies of new lung infiltrates, the yield of invasive procedures, outcome as well as predicting factors for survival. Results : 1) One hundred-two episodes of new lung infiltrates developed in 90 patients with leukemia. Invasive procedures were performed in 44 episodes while 58 episodes were treated with empirical therapy only. 2) Invasive procedures yielded a specific diagnosis in 72.7%(32/44), of which 78.1% had infectious etiology. Therapeutic plan was changed in 52.3%(23/44) of patients after invasive procedures. None of them showed procedure-related mortality. 3) The overall survival rate was 62.7%(64/102). Survival rate in the invasive group (79.5%) was significantly better than that in the empirical group (50.0%) (p=0.002). 4) Upon multivariate analysis, the performance of invasive procedures, no need for mechanical ventilation and achievement of complete remission of leukemia after induction chemotherapy were the independent predicting factors for survival in patients with leukemia and new lung infiltrates. Conclusion : Bronchoscopy and surgical lung biopsy are useful in the diagnosis of new lung infiltrates in patients with leukemia. However, survival benefits of invasive procedures should be considered together with disease status of leukemia and severity of respiratory compromise.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.530-542
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• 2000

Background : Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) has been reported recently to have shown much better response to medical treatment and better prognosis compared with idiopathic UIP. However, clinical characteristics of idiopathic NSIP discriminating it from UIP have not been clearly defined. Method : Among 120 patients with biopsy-proven diffuse interstitial lung diseases admitted to the Samsung Medical Center between July 1996 and March 2000, 18 patients with idiopathic NSIP were included in this study. Retrospective chart review and radiographic analysis were performed. Results : 1) At diagnosis, 17 patients were female and the average age was $55.2{\pm}8.4$ years (44~73 years). The average duration from development of respiratory symptom to surgical lung biopsy was $9.9{\pm}17.1$ months. Increase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid lymphocytes ($23.0{\pm}13.1%$) was noted. On HRCT, ground glass and irregular linear opacity were observed, but honeycombing was absent in all patients. 2) Corticosteroids were initially given to 13 patients, but the medication was stopped in 3 patients due to severe side effects. Further medical therapy was not possible in 1 patient who experienced streroid-induced psychosis. Herpes zoster (n=3), tuberculosis (n=1), avascular necrosis of the hip (n=1), cataract (n=2) and diabetes mellitus (n=1) developed during prolonged corticosteroid administration. Of the 7 patients receiving oral cyclophosphamide therapy, hemorrhagic cystitis hindered one patient from continuing with the medication. 3) After medical treatment, 14 of 17 patients improved, and 3 patients remained stable (mean follow-up ; $24.1{\pm}11.2$ months). FVC increased by $20.2{\pm}11.2%$ of predicted value and the extent of ground glass opacity on HRCT decreased significantly ($15.7{\pm}14.7%$). 4) Of the 14 patients who had stopped medication, 5 showed recurrence of NSIP and 2 became aggravated during steroid tapering. All patients with recurrence showed deterioration within one year after completion of initial treatment. Conclusion : Since idiopathic NSIP has unique clinical profiles and shows good prognosis, diagnosis different from UIP, and aggressive medical treatment are needed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.1058-1066
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• 1998

Background: Actinomycotic infection is uncommon and primary actinomycosis of the lung and chest wall has been less frequently reported. This disease may present as chronic debilitating illness with radiologic manifestation simulating lung tumor, pulmonary infiltrating lesion, or chronic suppuration. Diagnosis of choice was not definded yet and role of bronchoscopy on diagnosis was not described yet. Methods: From 1989 to 1998, we experienced 17 cases of thoracic actinomycosis. We have reviewed the case notes of 17 patients with thoracic actinomycosis. The mean age at presentation was $53{\pm}13$ years, 11 were male. Results: Cough, hemoptysis, sputum production, chest pain and weight loss were the commonest symptoms. The mean delay between presentation and diagnosis was $6.6{\pm}7.8$ months. There were six patients who presented with a clinical picture of a suppurative lesion and eleven patients were suspected of having primary lung tumor initially. In no cases was made an accurate diagnosis at the time of hospital admission. Associated diseases were emphysema (1 case), bronchiectasis (2 cases) and tuberculosis (2 cases). Bronchoscopic findings were mucosal swelling and stenosis(n=4), mucosal swelling, stenosis and necrotic covering (n=2), mass (n=3), mass and necrotic covering (n=1) and normal(n=6). Radiologic findings were mass lesion(n=8), pneumonitis(n=3), atelectasis(n=3), pleural effusion(n=2), and normal(n=3). Final diagnosis was based on percutaneous needle aspiration and biopsy (n=3), bronchoscopic biopsy specimens (n=9), mediastinoscopic biopsy (n=1) and histologic examination of resected tissue in the remaining patients(n=4) who received surgical excision. Among 17 patients, 13 were treated medically and the other 4 received surgical intervention followed by antibiotic treatment. Regarding the surgically treated patients, suspected malignancy is the most common indication for operation. However. both medically and surgically treated patients achieved good clinical results. Conclusion: Thoracic actinomycosis is rare. but should still be considered in the differential diagnosis of a chrinic, localized pulmonary lesion. Thoracic actinomycosis may co-exist with pulmonary tuberculosis or lung cancer. If the lesion is located in the central of the lung. the bronchoscopy is recommanded for the diagnosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.724-732
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• 2000

Background : In patients with severe chronic lung diseases even a small pneumothorax can result in life-threatening respiratory distress. It is important to treat the attack by chest tube drainage until the lung expands. Pneumothorax with a persistent air leak that does not resolve under prolonged tube thoracostomy suction is usually treated by open operation to excise or oversew a bulla or cluster of blebs to stop the air leak. Pleurodesis by the instillation of chemical agents is used for the patient who has persistent air leak and is not good candidate for surgical treatment. When the primary trial of pleurodesis with common agent fails, it is uncertain which agent should be used f or stopping the air leak by pleurodesis. It is well known that inappropriate drainage of hemothorax results in severe pleural adhesion and thickening. Based on this idea, some reports described a successful treatment with autologous blood instillation for pneumothorax patients with or without residual pleural space. We tried pleurodesis with autologous bood for pneumothorax with persistent air leak and then we evaluated the efficacy and safety. Methods : Fifteen patients who had persistent air leak in the pneumothorax complicated from the severe chronic lung disease were enrolled. They were not good candidates for surgical treatment and doxycycline pleurodesis failed to stop up their air leaks. We used a mixture of autologous blood and 50% dextrose for pleurodesis. Effect and complications were assessed by clinical out∞me, chest radiography and pulmonary function tests. Results : The mean duration of air leak was 18.4${\pm}$6.16 days before ABP (autologous blood and dextrose pleurodesis) and $5.2{\pm}1.68$ days after ABP. The mean severity of pain was $2.3{\pm}0.70$ for DP(doxycycline pleurodesis) and $1.7{\pm}0.59$ for ABDP (p<0.05). There was no other complication except mild fever. Pleural adhesion grade was a mean of $0.6{\pm}0.63$. The mean dyspnea scale was $1.7{\pm}0.46$ before pneumothrax and $2.0{\pm}0.59$ after ABDP (p>0.05). The mean $FEV_1$ was $1.47{\pm}1.01$ before pneumothorax and $1.44{\pm}1.00$ after ABDP (p>0.05). Except in 1 patient, 14 patients had no recurrent pneumothorax. Conclusion : Autologous blood pleurodesis (ABP) was successful for treatment of persistent air leak in the pneumothorax. It was easy and inexpensive and involved less pain than doxycycline pleurodesis. It did not cause complications and severe pleural adhesion. We report that ABP can be considered as a useful treatment for persistent air leak in the pneumothorax complicated from the severe chronic lung disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.497-503
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• 2003

Pulmonary aspergillosis usually results from the colonization of the existing lung lesions by chronic pulmonary diseases, such as tuberculosis. Most cases of pulmonary aspergilloma have been treated surgically for many years because it is a potentially life-threatening disease causing massive hemoptysis. Here we reviewed our results from the last 10 years. Material and Method: We reviewed 31 cases surgically treated from Aug. 1992 to Jul. 2002. retrospectively. This investigation is designed to illustrate the peak age incidence, sex ratio, chief complaints, preoperative study, anatomic location of operative site, postoperative pathologic finding and postoperative complications. Result: The peak age Incidence laid in the 3rd and 4th decade of 20 cases (64.5%). The most common complaint was hemoptysis in 27 cases (87.1%). The 31 cases had a history of treatment with anti-tuberculous drugs under impression of pulmonary tuberculosis. The 19 cases (61.3%) showed the so-called “Air-meniscus sign” on the preoperative chest X-ray. In the 31 cases (100%) on the chest computed tomography. as a preoperative diagnostic modality, positivity was shown in 37.9%, 83.3% was shown on the fungus culture of sputum for Aspergillus, serum immunodiffusion test for A. fumigatus, respectively. The anatomical location of aspergilloma was mainly in the upper lobe in 19 cases (61.3%) and the majority of cases were managed by lobectomy. The postoperative pathologic findings showed that 31 cases (100%) were combined with tuberculosis. The postoperative complications include empyema, prolonged air leakage, remained dead space, postoperative bleeding and these numbers of cases is 3 cases (9.7%), 2 cases (6.45%), 2 cases (6.45%), 1 case (3.23%), respectively. one case was died postoperatively due to massive beeding, and asphyxia. Conclusion: Compared with the previous study, there is no significant difference in results. Preoperative chest computed tomography and immunodiffusion test were more commonly available and showed high positivity. Operations often became technically difficult because of pleural space obliteration, indurated hilar structures, and poor expansion of the remaining lung, which were more prominent in the patients with complex aspergillosis. In such cases, medical treatments and interventional procedures like bronchial artery embolization are preferred. However, cavernostomy is also recommanded with few additional morbidity because of its relatively less invassiveness. Early surgical intervention is the recommended management for patients with simple aspergilloma considering the Row surgical mortality and morbidity in recent days.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.573-579
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• 2002

Background: In this study, the role and the surgical outcome of the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in the treatment of the infants with cyanotic complex congenital heart diseases were investigated. Material and Method: Over the last 12 years, 105 modified BT shunts were performed in 100 infants. Postoperative course, shunt patency rate, complications, mortality and its risk factors were reviewed restrospectively. Result: The mean age at operation was 43.0$\pm$36.6 days. Sex ratio was 60:40(M:F). The postoperative oxygen saturations were lowest after mean duration of 11 hours after the shunt procedure. The operative mortality was 8%(8) with 3 late deaths. Causes of operative death included failure of maintenance of minimum oxygenation during the procedure(2), immediate postoperative shunt occlusion(2), respiratory failure(2), low cardiac output due to heart failure and pericardial effusion(2) and sepsis(2). Late deaths resulted from acute cardiac arrest during the follow up cardiac catheterization, hypoxic myocardial failure, and arrhythmia. Year of surgery, shunt size, age at operation, and complexity of the anomalies were not the risk factors for mortality. Six month shunt patency rate was 97% and overall patency rate was 96%. Postoperative complications comprised of shunt occlusion(6), phrenic nerve palsy(3), and wound infection(2). Conclusion: We demonstrated that modified Blalock-Taussig shunt was a useful tool to palliate the infants with complex cyanotic heart disease in whom early complete repair was not feasible with acceptable mortality and patency rate. An adequate postoperative management and a meticulous surgical technique may be key factors for the better results.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.213-221
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• 2005

Purpose : Urachal anomalies are rare but are known to develop several complications, especially infection. Moreover, uniform guidelines for management have not been presented because of the variable clinical characteristics of these anomalies. The purpose of this report is to review our experience with urachal anomalies and attempt to determine the optimal management. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the records of fourteen children with a variety of urachal anomalies who had been treated from January 1996 to June 2005 at Dong Kang General Hospital. Results : The age distribution of the patients(mean age; 3.8 years) was six neonates, one infant, five preschool-age and two school-age children. The male to female ratio was 1:1. Six cases of urachal cyst, four cases of patent urachus, two cases of urachal sinus and two cases of urachal diverticulum were found. Three patients with patent urachus and one with urachal cyst had hydronephrosis. Other associated anomalies included an inguinal hernia in one patient with urachal sinus and a vesicoureteral reflux in one patient with urachal diver ticulum. As a first-line diagnostic tool, high-resolution ultrasound examination was performed in thirteen cases and computed tomography in one case. Surgical excision was performed in nine patients with urachal anomaly. Five cases out of six neonatal cases experienced spontaneous improvement during a three-month follow up period. Due to frequent infection of the umbilicus, surgical excision was performed on one neonate with urachal sinus. Conclusion : All patients with urachal anomalies should undergo investigation for associated anomalies. The neonate with urachal anomalies, especially patent urachus, do not require surgical excision unless the patient has multiple episodes of recurrent infection. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2005;9:213-221)

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2008

Purpose : Orbital cellulitis is rare, but it could be from the serious complication of sinusitis in children. It is often difficult to distinguish periorbital cellulitis from orbital cellulitis. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical features of orbital and periorbital cellulitis in a pediatric population and to assess the predisposing factors and their complications. Methods : Forty-one patients aged 18 years and younger who were admitted between January 2000 and December 2006 to Hanil General Hospital and Kyunghee University Hospital with orbital or periorbital cellulitis. The retrospective analyses included clinical characteristics of orbital and periorbital cellulitis, dermographics, past history, predisposing factors, clinical presentations, treatments, and complications. Results : Among 41 patients, 34 patients had periorbital cellulitis, 7 patients had orbital cellulitis. While paranasal sinus disease was the most common predisposing cause in orbital cases, skin lesion, insect bite, dacrocystitis and conjunctivitis were the common causes in periorbital cases. In comparison with periorbital cases, orbital cases had higher level of white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein. Blood cultures were taken in 23 patients, but only one had Staphylococcus aureus from blood. Only one case had surgical incision and drainage and recovered without complications. Conclusion : From the results of our data, when patient shows erythematous swelling of periorbital area with opthalmoplegia, chemosis and proptosis, orbital CT scan is required to make diagnosis of orbital cellulitis. Most cases of orbital cellulitis can be treated successfully without surgical intervention. If there is no clinical improvement, repeated CT scan and/or surgical intervention should be considered.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.144-149
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• 2010

Background: Many studies have demonstrated the various therapeutic options for treating hemoptysis caused by inflammatory lung disease. However, there is debate over the surgical management of the ongoing hemoptysis. Therefore, we evaluated the clinical results of pulmonary resection that was done due to hemoptysis in patients with concomitant inflammatory lung disease. Material and Method: We performed a retrospective analysis of 75 patients who received pulmonary resection for hemoptysis and concomitant inflammatory lung disease between 2001 and 2007. The mean age was $52.1{\pm}12.5$ years old, and the male; female ratio was 52：23. Result: The underlying disease was aspergilloma in 30 patients (40%), pulmonary tuberculosis in 20 patients, bronchiectasis in 18 patients and other causes in 7 patients. The surgical treatment included lobectomy in 55 patients, bilobectony in 2 patients, pneumonectomy in 17 patients and wedge resection in 1 patient. There were 3 early deaths, and the causes of death were pneumonia in 1 patient and BPF in 2 patients. The early mortality was statistically higher for such risk factors as a preoperative Hgb level <10 g/dL, COPD and an emergency operation. Conclusion: In conclusion, pulmonary resection for treating hemoptysis showed the acceptable range of mortality and it was an effective method for the management of hemoptysis in patients with inflammatory lung disease. However, relatively high rates of mortality and morbidity were noted for an emergency operation, and so meticulous care is needed in this situation.