• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.274-277
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• 1982

A Clinical analysis of 59 patients of thoracic empyema was done who were received surgical intervention at dept. of thoracic surgery of the C.A.F.G.H. in the period of 2.5 years from January 1979 to June 1982. Occurrence ratio of Left and Right side pleural cavity of empyema was 1: 1.4. The predisposing factors of empyema were pulmonary Tbc. [49%], Chest pain [25%], Cough [8%], in order. B.P.F. was associated with empyema in 5 cases. The pleural cavity empyema was treated with several surgical procedures and conservative measures. Among of the 59 cases, the 30 cases [50%] were treated with decortication, 12 cases [20%] with closed thoractomy drainage, 9 cases with frequent thoracenteses, 5 cases with partial decortication and thoracoplasty and 3 cases with open thoracostomy tube drainage. Among of the 59 cases thoracic empyema, the full recovery were in 32 cases [54%], partial recovery in 20 cases [34%], not improved in 3 cases [5%] and 3 cases were died. The mortality rate was 5% and the recovery rate was 89%.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 1979

During the past 3 years, 15 patients who could not be anesthetized generally because of poor general condition or cachecic state, of 111 patients with empyema, have been treated with modified Eloesser`s operation under the local anesthesia with 2% procaine. There were 13 males and 2 females ranging from 21 years to 61 years of age. The etiology was tuberculosis [6 cases], pyogenic pneumonia [5 cases], lung abscess [1 case], post-trauma [2 cases] and malignancy[1 case]. " The over-all mortality rate was 6.7%[1 case] and cause of its death was poor oral feeding because of post-traumatic psychosis. Modified Eloesser`s operation was performed after closed tube thoracostomy and irrigation with 1% zephanon solution for over 2 weeks. And then the other operation was not performed and all patients except 1 case appeared good progression (Complete healing; 4 cases, Progressive healing 10 cases, death: 1 case).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.47-60
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• 1974

During the past 10 years 114 patients with empyema have been treated in hospital of Chonnam University. There were 87 males and 27 females ranging from 20 days to 70 years of age. The etiology was pyogenic pneumonia in 36.7%, tuberculosis in 22.7%, paragonimiasis in 8.8%, post-thoracotomy in 5.4%, post-trauma in 4.4%, lung abscess in 3.5%, malignancy in 3.5%, post-esophageal operation in 1.8%, and sterile in 10.5%. The over-all mortality rate was 2% [3 patients]. The majority of deaths occurred in patients with associated systemic illness [liver cirrhosis in I, and renal tuberculosis in I] and resistant tuberculosis for anti-tuberculosis drugs in one patient. Adequate drainage and obliteration of the pleural space continues to be the most important aspect of treatment and can frequently be achieved by closed chest tube thoracostomy in acute empyema especially in children. The more chronic thick-walled or loculated cavities require open drainage [open window therapy], decortication, thoracoplasty, sterilization, and myoplasty for closure of tracheobronchial fistula.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.166-169
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• 1995

Pneumothorax, a frequently encountered disease in the clinic, has been interesting to surgeons for it`s high recurrence rate. 52 patients with a second attack of pneumothorax at our hospital in a 24 month period were evaluated especially for the risk factors of recurrence. The results were as follows:1. Patients after operative treatment[21 cases There were no postoperative complications and recurrence.2. Patients with tube drainage or conservative treatment [31 cases [i Overall recurrence rate was 45.2 %. [ii Suggestive risk factors for the recurrence were: age above 30 years, short period of thoracostomy less than six days. And other factors such as male, right lung, higher level of lung collapse were thought to be followed further more.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.951-953
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• 1995

A male 17-year-old boy was tranferred from a private hospital for persistent bilateral pleural effusion.The effusion was confirmed　as bilateral chylothorax by chest CT and lymphangiography. Persistent accumulation of the chylothorax was uncontrollable more 1000cc daily ever after pleuroperitoneal shunt operation and thoracoscopic thoracic duct ligation at Rt. side. Chemical pleurodesis with OK 432 into pleural cavity through thoracostomy tube was attempted as 1.5 KE-3 KE diluted in 50ml of normal saline for 3 consecutive days resulted dramatic reduction of the drainage amount. Chemical pleurodesis with OK 432 appeared to be very helpful for management idiopathic bilateral chylothorax.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.105-107
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• 2011

Hiccups have more than 100 etiologies. The most common etiology has gastrointestinal origins, related mainly to gastric distention and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Intractable hiccups are rare but may present as a severe symptom of various diseases. Hiccups are mostly treated with non-invasive or pharmacological therapies. If these therapies fail, invasive methods should be used. Here, we present a patient on whom we performed a blockage of the phrenic nerve with the guidance of a nerve stimulator. The patient also had pneumothorax as a complication. Three hours after intervention, a tube thoracostomy was performed. One week later, the patient was cured and discharged from the hospital. In conclusion, a stimulator provides the benefit of localizing the phrenic nerve, which leads to diaphragmatic contractions. Patients with thin necks have more risk of pneumothorax during phrenic nerve location.

• 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.40 no.4 s.273
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• pp.292-296
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• 2007

Background: This retrospective study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the 8-French (Fr) catheter ($Pleuracan^{(R)}$) for the initial treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Material and Method: Between July 2004 and July 2006, 59 patients (72 cases) underwent a closed thoracostomy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. We divided these patients into two groups: group T (large bore (>20 Fr) chest tube group) and group P ($Pleuracan^{(R)}$ group). Result: Initially, the $Pleuracan^{(R)}$ catheters were inserted in 41 cases. There were four catheter malfunctions (9.8%) : three cases had a subsequent closed thoracostomy with a large bore chest tube. Ultimately, there were 34 cases in group T and 38 cases in group P. There were no significant differences in indwelling catheter time ($T:\;2.1{\pm}1.5\;days,\;P:\;2.1{\pm}1.3\;days$), hospital stay ($T:\;6.4{\pm}5.4\;days,\;P:\;5.2{\pm}2.9\;days$) and complications (T: 3%, P: 0%) between the two groups. The percentage of cases that needed intravenous analgesics in group P was 60% (23/38); this was significantly lower than the number for group T (90%, 31/34) (p=0.003). In a subgroup of patients that did not undergo bullectomy(T: 17 cases, P: 19 cases), there were no significant differences in the duration of air leakage ($T:\;0.5{\pm}0.7\;days,\;P:\;0.5{\pm}1.2\;days$) and in the percentage of patients with complete lung re-expansion (T: 94%, P: 84%) between the two groups. Conclusion: Application of the $Pleuracan^{(R)}$ catheter for the initial treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax was as effective as the large bore chest tube.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.51-54
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• 2003

This patient was an 53-year-old man who had undergone Sengstaken-Blackmore tube insertion for esophageal varix bleeding. Two days after Sengstaken-Blackmore tube insertion, he developed severe left hemothorax and was transferred to our hospital. The esophagoscopic findings revealed a large perforation lengthening 8-cm in the intrathoracic esophagus. A left thoracotomy was performed 33 days after the injury due to repeated varix bleedings and poor conditions. An 8-cm longitudinal perforation of the intrathoracic esophagus with gross suppurative empyema was found. Primary repair and esophageal exclusion was performed 2cm proximal and distal to the perforation, using rows of nonabsorbable staplers(TA stapler 60 $\times$ 4.8) and large bore thoracostomy tubes were placed for local drainage. Six days after intrathoracic esophageal exclusion, an esophagogram revealed a leakage at just above the proximal stapling site. A cervical esophageal exclusion was performed using the same method. One hundred thirty seven days after exclusion operation for the intra-thoracic esophageal perforation, the patient was able to eat per orally without any secondary esophageal reconstructive surgery.

• 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).