• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.385-390
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• 1986

Empyema is a severe infection encountered in the pediatrics. With advance of the antibiotics and chemotherapeutics, there was a marked decrease in number of empyema. Empyema complicated by staphylococcal pneumonia in infant and children has been distressing problem, and the management of this complication has been discussed repeatedly in the past. In Korea, tuberculous empyema is also troublesome. If empyema is localized within thick capsule, tube thoracostomy and closed drainage alone is unacceptable, and early open thoracotomy to eliminate the empyema has proved good result. A clinical analysis of 39 patients with thoracic empyema was done. They were managed surgical intervention at Dept. of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery at Kyung-Hee University Hospital from Jan. 1974 to December, 1984. 1. Age and sex distribution, infancy 9, early childhood 11. late childhood 9, puberty 10. The male to female ratio was 21:18. 2. The highest seasonal incidence was winter [21 cases]. 3. Cardinal symptoms were cough [76%], fever and chill [66%], and dyspnea [40%]. 4. The location of the empyema was right in 27 cases [69%] and 12 cases in left side. 5. The most frequent lesion to predisposing factor was pneumonia [67%]. 6. The commonest organism was Staphylococcus aureus in 15 [38%] cases, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 10 cases [26%]. 7. The surgical treatment was performed in all patients. The surgical procedure was closed tube thoracostomy in 25 cases [64%], decortication in 7 cases [18%], pulmonary resection in 4 cases [10%], and decortication with curettage in 2 cases. 8. One patient died from sepsis complicated by lymphoma and in one patient bronchopleural fistula was developed postoperatively.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 2020

Spontaneous hemopneumothorax is a rare disease, and it can cause life threatening condition. It is characterized by the accumulation of more than 400 mL of blood and air in the pleural cavity without any other apparent causes. A previously healthy 22-year-old female patient presented with acute chest pain and dyspnea. Chest X-ray and computed tomography revealed a massive hemopneumothorax in the left hemithorax. The images showed a completely collapsed left lung with right-sided tracheal deviation, several pleural adhesion bands, and fluid collection with air-fluid level. We emergently performed a closed thoracostomy, and then 560 mL of fresh bloods were initially drained. We considered an emergent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary wedge resection and bleeding control because of the massive hemothorax. However, the patient's vital signs were stabilized after blood transfusion and supportive cares for re-expansion pulmonary edema. The patient discharged from the hospital on 11^th in-hospital day after removal of the chest tube, and there had not been any recurrence of the pneumothorax for 10 months. We suggest that treatment strategy should be decided upon individually based on the patient's condition and clinical course of the disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.765-769
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• 2007

Background: The curative treatment of choice for empyema is decortication of the pleura. The risks of this treatment however are increased for the patient with reduced pulmonary function, complicated calcification or septic shock. In the past, open window thoracostomy was a final stage treatment for chronic empyema. Relatively safe treatment of empyema could be achieved in difficult cases with a closure of the open window after open drainage and use of a myocutaneous flap (one stage or staged). Material and Method: A retrospective study of the cause, progression and final outcome of empyema patients who received open window thoracostomy was performed. 21 patients were followed from 1995 to 2004 in the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in the College of Medicine, Pusan National University. Result: The average age of the patients was $57.5{\pm}15.5$ years (range $25{\sim}78$ years), of whom 16 (76.2%) were men and five (23.8%) were women. Pulmonary function test results showed an average FEV1 of $1.58{\pm}0.49 L$. The type of empyema was tuberculous empyema in 13 cases (61.9%), aspergillosis in three cases (14.3%), parapneumonic empyema in three cases (14.3%) and post-resectional empyema in two cases (10%). Bronchopulmonary fistula was seen in 14 cases. Eight cases were complicated by severe calcification of the pleura. For the four cases of bronchopulmonary fistula, the patients' serratus anterior muscle was covered in their first operation. The average number of ribs resected was $4{\pm}1$. Closure of the open window thoracostomy was performed in 12 cases. The average time to closure after open drainage was $10.22{\pm}3.11$ months and the average defect of the empyemal cavity before the final operation was $330{\pm}110 cc$. Among the 12 cases, there were two cases of spontaneous closure. In two cases closure was only achieved by using the reserved skin fold during the first surgery. Of the remaining eight cases, in seven we used the myocutaneous flap (four cases of lattisimus dorsi muscle and three cases of pectoralis major muscle), and in one case we used soft tissue. As regards complications of the closure, tissue necrosis occurred in one case, which led to failed closure, and there was one case of abdominal hernia in the rectus abdominis muscle flap. One patient died within 30 days of the surgery and one patient died of metastatic cancer. Conclusion: A staged operation with a final closure using open window thoracostomy, which consists of open drainage, transposition of the muscle and a myocutaneous flap, can be a safe and effective option for the chronic empyema patient who is difficult to cure with traditional surgical methods.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.660-664
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• 2007

Purpose : Pleural effusion is a common complications of pediatric bacterial pneumonia. Intrapleural administration of fibrinolytic agents such as urokinase have been used in the management of complicated parapneumonic effusions. But the safety and effectiveness of intrapleural urokinase instillations in children has not been confirmed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of intraperitoneal urokinase in children. Methods : We reviewed a total of 29 children diagnosed as parapneumonic effusion with septation by chest CT or chest ultrasonography. We divided them into two groups. Fourteen children treated with urokinase after thoracostomy (Group A) were compared with 15 children treated only with thoracostomy (Group B). The urokinase, 3,000 IU/kg/day, was injected into the pleural cavity twice a day. Results : There was no statistical difference in sex and age between the two groups. Total drainage volume during thoracostomy in group A and B was 375.5 mL and 350.0 mL, respectively. It was not statistically significant. But the amounts of pleural fluid of group A on day 1, day 2 and day 3 were 102.5 mL, 100.0 mL, and 70.0 mL respectively and those of group B on day 1, day 2 and say 3 were 120.0 mL, 50.0 mL and 15.0 mL respectively. To compare group A with group B in the amounts of drainage volume on day 1 was not statistically significant, but the amounts of drainage volumes on day 2 and day 3 in group A were statistically more significant than group B (Day 1 P=0.371, Day 2 P=0.049, Day 3 P=0.048, respectively). The duration of fever, antibiotics, thoracostomy and total hospital days. Were not statistically significant between the two groups. But the frequency of complications in Group A was statictically significantly lower than in group B. Conclusion : Intrapleural instillation of urokinase facilitates the drainage of loculated pleural effusions, especially during the first 3 days, and it could reduce complications, such as pleural thickening, surgical managements, re-positioning of tube and re-thoracostomy. So intrapleural urokinase injection was and effective and safe treatment of pleural effusion in children (P=0.014).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1076-1080
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• 1998

Background: Spontaneous hemopneumothorax, occurring in 1% to 12% of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax, is a rare disorder that can potentially lead to life-threatening complications. Materials and methods: We have experienced 15 cases (2.28%) with spontaneous hemopneumothorax among 659 episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax for eight years, from 1990 to 1997, at our hospital. We studied our previously treated patients by retrospective case studies to determine the nature of optimal management. Results: There were 14 male and 1 female patients whose mean age was 27.5 years, ranging from 19 to 58. The sides with disorder were as following: right in 10 cases and left in 5, unilaterally. The amount of initial bleeding ranged from 400 to 1,500 mL and 8 patients received a homologous blood transfusion. Patients exhibited symptoms of chest pain, dyspnea, chest discomfort, and hypovolemic shock. We concluded that causes of this disease in our patients were a torn pleural adhesion (14 cases) and a rupture of vascularized bullae (1 case with an underlying intrinsic lung disease, tuberculosis). All patients underwent closed thoracostomy and had good results except for 3. One patient underwent thoracotomy within 3 days from the onset because of continuous active hemorrhage. Decortication was required in one case because of a reactive fluid collection in the pleural space, which led to impaired lung expansion. Another patient underwent thoracotomy due to a ipsilateral recurrent pneumothorax without blood collection. Conclusions: The goals of treatment include hemostasis and reexpansion of the collapsed lung. Thus, if patients arrive early at hospital, closed thoracostomy and transfusion are thought to be sufficient treatments, although early surgical repair has been considered recently.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2009

Background: The large caliber catheter used in the treatment of pneumothorax causes great damage to the chest wall and organs. The purpose of this study was to prove that the use of a smaller caliber catheter is effective in treating pneumothorax with decreasing admission period and that the recurrence rate of spontaneous pneumothorax is low. Methods: Patients who had been admitted for treatment of first time occurrence of pneumothorax between May, 2004 and December, 2008 were included in the study. The caliber of catheter used this study is 18 Guage (1.2mm). The efficacy of treatment, admission period and recurrence rate of treating pneumothorax with small caliber catheter were compared to the control group using a tube thoracostomy for treatment. Results: The admission period for primary spontaneous pneumothorax was 10.8$\pm$3.6 days for the group (n=68) using tube thoracostomy compared to 4.5$\pm$1.3 days for the group (n=31) using the small caliber catheter (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in recurrence rate between the two groups. Conclusion: The use of a smaller caliber catheter for the treatment of pneumothorax reduces the admission period without a significant increase in recurrence rates.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 1975

The thoracoscopic study was reported on 21 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax requiring surgical management, and clinical values of thoracoscopic examination on spontaneous pneumothorax were also discussed. patients were treated in the Department of .Thoracic Surgery, Hanyang University Hospital for the period of two Years from May 1972 to April 1974. For exact detection of etiologic factors on spontaneous pneumothorax, the thoracoscopic examination in the intrapleural space was performed in parallel with X-ray study. this study, the difference of diagnostic and therapeutic significance between radiological and thoracoscopic findings were observed and compared simultaneously. The results are summerized as follows: Patients age was distributed between 3 and 70 years old with highest incidence in the age group of sixty decade [33. 3%], and sex ratio of male to female was 5:2. The tuberculous processes which developed superficial subpleural layer in the lung parenchyme, on the pulmonary surface could be observed by thoracoscopic examination in a characteristic picture. detection ratio of pulmonary tuberculosis by the radiologic study to that by thoracoscopy was 8:2. The adhesion between the visceral and the parietal pleura which could possibly make a rupture of the alveola and the visceral pleura was found to be localized in a small area of the lung surface. The other part of the lung surface was free of the adhesion and, therefore, the movement of the lung took place completely without any difficulty. The ruptured orifice of the pleura and pathological changes surrounding the orifice can be detected by thoracoscopy, but not by other means such as radiologic examination. A single tuberculous bleb and multiple emphysematous blebs were found on 6 cases out of 21 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax. Among these cases, radiologic Study revealed the bleb only in one patient. On the other hand, the blebs were found in all the six patients by means of thoracoscopic examination. It gives the detection ratio of bleb by radiologic study to that by thoracoscopy was 1:6. By thoracoscopy, the rupture on the lung surface were visualized on the 10 patients out of a total of 21 patients [10 patients of visual rupture]. However, the rupture of the pleura was not observed on the rest of 11 patients even by thoracoscopic examination [11 patients of non visual rupture]. Five patients [50%] out of ten who had the visual rupture on the lung surface was required a surgical operation to remove pneumothorax. For the patients who were detected to have the visual rupture of the pleura by thoracoscopy, be considered in the early stage of closed thoracostomy. of 21 patients, 16 patients [11 patients of non visual rupture of the pleura and 5 patients of visual rupture of the pleura] who received no surgical management, were treated with closed thoracostomy with continuous suction, and the` pneumothorax was healed completely up in each cases. Therapeutic measures for the remaining 5 patients of visual rupture of the pleura who were subjected to surgical approach for radical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax were accordingly complicated, and the following different procedures were properly indicated case by case, that is, rib resection thoracostomy, simple closure of ruptured visceral pleura, wedged resection of the lung, and lobectomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 1975

Authors have reviewed the records of seven patients of multiple rib fractures with severe flail chest who were admitted to Hanyang University Hospital during the 3 years period from 1972 through 1975. Of the seven patients studied, automobile accidents led to the injuries in 4 cases, two patients were injured in fall from a tree and on the ox-heading. All who had a blunt trauma without any open wound on the chest. The numbers of the fractured ribs accounted for 6 to 9 of the ribs including double fractures from 3 to 5 ribs. The left side fractures occurred in the 6 patients and in the right only one patient. Thus the flail segment was more often located in the left antero-lateral position than in the right lateral position [the ratio was 6:1].. All cases had associated injuries. The injuries and multiple fractures were the most common associated injuries occurring in four and five of the patients respectively. The patients were classified as having associated head injuries when they were admitted in comatose or semicomatose state. When a major degree of instability of the thoracic cage exists, adequate respiratory change is not possible. For this reason the tracheostomy was performed in five patients in an acutely injured patient with flail chest only after an endotracheal tube has been inserted or after an endotracheal suction. All patients had secondary complications in the pleural cavity, such as hemothorax or hemopneumothorax with or without intrapulmonary hemorrhage and subcutaneous emphysema. Therefore, closed thoracostomy was performed in five patients in the emergency room. The thoracotomy was required in four patients: immediate operation without closed thoracostomy was performed in two patients and the thoracotomy was indicated in two patients after closed thoracostomy, because of increasing intrathoracic hemorrhage. As to the fixation of the flail segments, authors employed two techniques; one was towel clip traction of the flail segments and the other was intramedullary insertion of Kirschner`s wire in to the double fractured rib fragments for the fixation of the flail segments [Kirschner`s wire fixation]. Because` of an different results in the course of treatment between two techniques, data from patients with towel clip traction was compared with those from patients with thoracotomy and Kirschner`s wire fixation of the flail segments. Of the three patients with towel clip traction, two patients required bronchoscopic toilet due to lung atelectasis which developed because of inadequate motion of thoracic cage and poor expectoration. This was in contrast to the four patients with thoracotomy and Kirschner`s wire fixation, who didn`t these complication because of adequate motion of the thoracic cage and subsequent good expectoration.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.480-484
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• 1991

Traumatic rupture of the main bronchus is comparatively very rare. With the advent of widespread mechanization and high-speed era, the incidence of traumatic rupture of the tracheobronchial tree has been increased considerably. Rupture of the bronchus is an unusual result of nonpenetrating trauma to the chest. Early recognition of bronchial rupture and emergency thoracotomy and management is essential for reducing of morbidity, mortality and late complications. We experienced 3 cases of bronchial rupture caused by nonpenetrating chest trauma with or without rib fracture. Patients were suffered from dyspnea and chest pain. After closed thoracostomy, corrective surgery was performed. Postoperative courses were uneventful and discharged without any complication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.121-126
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• 1983

8 cases of the esophageal perforations were treated at the department of thoracic surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital during the period from July, 1980 to Dec., 1982. The causes of the perforation were various; swallowed a piece of glass, stocking pin, coiled wire, compressed air blow, strenuous vomiting, dog bite, tiller accident, and endoscopic procedure. The perforation sites were cervical esophagus in 3 cases, upper thoracic in 2 cases and lower thoracic in remains. We have performed following surgical procedure; Incision and drainage for cervical abscess, closed thoracostomy, thoracotomy and debridement, esophagoscopy and gastrostomy. Two cases were died. The causes of death were massive bleeding and sepsis.