• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.576-580
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• 1998

This study is to clarify the results of atrial septal defect(ASD) repair and mitral valve surgery through right anterolateral thoracotomy since 1989, and those of more generalized application of minimal invasive cardiac surgery since August 1997. We retrospectively analyzed the results of open heart surgery(OHS) through other than full sternotomy carried out until October 1997. There were 28 cases of OHS done through right anterolateral thoracotomy(17 cases of ASD, 4 cases of mitral valve repair, 6 cases of mitral valve replacement, and 1 redo mitral and tricuspid valve repalcement) which has demonstrated no surgical mortality or morbidity except only 1 case of reoperation for bleeding. During the period between August and October 1997, we performed near routine application of upper sternotomy or transverse sternotomy in aortic valve cases and routine application of minimal incision in cases with ASD and there was no evidence of early and late complications associated with this approach. We conclude that OHS with the use of minimal incisions is very safe, cosmetically excellent, and superior in terms of the amount of bleeding. The indication for minimal incision, therefore, should be extended afterwards.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.281-294
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• 1977

Superior vena cava to pulmonary arterial shunting operation was made between the superior vena cava and the right pulmonary artery in the fashion of end-to-end anastomosis in 20 mongrel dogs. The experimental animals were divided into three group and blood flow in the superior vena cava was occluded for 20, 30 and 60 minutes respectively, and observations were made for the changes in caval pressure and cerebrospinal fluid pressure. And pathologic examinations were also performed. On occluding the caval blood flow, the superior vena caval pressure was sharply and immediately elevated from $103.5{\pm}19.8mmH_2O$ at thoracotomy to $556.4{\pm}86.lmmH_2O$ within 2 minutes to make its plateau thereafter, and the cerebrospinal fluid pressure followed closely the changes of the superior vena caval pressure in its level and pattern being elevated from $102.0{\pm}19.9mmH_2O$ to $490.5{\pm}79.9mmH_2O$. The drops of both the caval and cerebrospinal fluid pressures were definite and marked on opening the shunt flow through the anastomosis, but these postoperative pressures retained still higher ones above their levels measured at thoracotomy. The pathological examinations of the brain and the spinal cord were also performed in six animals. Characteristic changes uniformly seen in all area and in all animals were the findings of capillary congestion and perivascular edema. On the other hand, ischemic nerve cell changes were rather evident, revealing their degrees and extents being related to the prolongation of the time of caval occlusion which has followed by the sustained high pressures in both the superior vena and the cerebrospinal fluid. The experiment suggests the safety of this surgical procedure with minimal, if any, permanent damage as long as the occlusion of the caval blood flow is not prolonged beyond the expected.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.327-336
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• 1977

A chinical analysis was performed on 383 ases of hest injurjes eperienced at Department of thoraci Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital during 21 year period From 1957 to 1977. Of 383 patients o hest injuries, 209 cases were result from nonpenetrating injuries whereas 175 were from penetrating injuries, and there were 258 cases of hemothorax or/and pneumothorax, 162 of rib fracture, 33 of foreign body, 26 of clavicle frcture, 26 of lung contusion, 17 of diaphragmati laceration, 14 of hemoperiardium, 14 of flail chest and others. Stab wound was the most common in penetrating injuries and followed by gunshot and shell fragments. The majority of nonpenetrating chest injury paiens were traffi accident vitims and falls accounted for the next largest group of accidents. Chest injuries were frequently encountered in the age group between 16 and 50 years, and 321 patients were male comparing to 62 of female. In blunt hest injuries the patients with five or more rib fractures had a 85 per ent incidence of intrathoracic injury and 19 per cent had an intraabdominal organ damage, whereas those with four or less rib fractures had a 69 per cent and a 6 per cent incidence respectively. The principal associated injuries were cerebral contusion on 19 cases, renal contusion on 10, liver laceration on 7, peripheral vessel laceration on 5, spleen laceration on 3 and extremity fracture on 18 patients. The principles of therapy for early complications of chest trauma were rapid reexpansion of the lungs by thoracentesis (46 cases) and closed thoracotomy (125 cases) but open thoracotomy had to be done on 90 cases (23.5%) because of massive bleeding or intrapleural hematoma, foreign body, cardiac injury, diaphragmatic laceration and bronhial rupture. The over all mortality was 2.87 per cent (11 among 383 cases), 8 cases were from penetrating injuries and 3 from nonpenetrating injuries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.337-342
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• 1977

A clinical analysis was performed on 383 cases of chest injurjes experienced at Department of Thoracic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital during 21 year period from 1957 to 1977. Of 383 patients of chest injuries, 209 cases were result from nonpenetrating injuries whereas 175 were from penetrating injuries, and there were 258 cases of hemothorax or/and pneumothorax, 162 of rib fracture, 33 of foreign body, 26 of clavicle fracture, 26 of lung contusion, 17 of diaphragmatic laceration, 14 of hemopericardium, 14 of flail chest and others. Stab wound was the most common in penetrating injuries and followed by gunshot and shell fragments. The majority of nonpenetrating chest injury patients were traffic accident victims. and fails accounted for the next largest group of accidents. Chest injuries were frequently encountered in the age group between 16 and 50 years, and 321 patients were male comparing to 62 of female. In blunt chest injuries the patients with five or more rib fractures had a 85 per cent incidence-of intrathoracic injury and 19 per cent had an intraabdominal organ damage, whereas those with four or less rib fractures had a 69 per cent and a 6 per cent incidence respectively. The principal associated injuries were cerebral contusion on 19 cases, renal contusion on 10, liver laceration on 7, peripheral vessel laceration on 5, spleen laceration on 3 and extremity fracture on 18 patients. The principles of therapy for early complications of chest trauma were rapid reexpansion of the lungs by thoracentesis [46 cases] and closed thoracotomy [125 cases] but open thoracotomy .had to be done on 90 cases [23-5%] because of massive bleeding or intrapleural hematoma, foreign body, cardiac injury, diaphragmatic laceration and bronchial rupture. The over all mortality was 2.87 per cent [11 among 383 cases], 8 cases were from penetrating injuries and 3 from nonpenetrating injuries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.686-689
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• 1999

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis(DNM) is a rare complication of the oropharyngeal and cervical infection. Descending necrotizing mediastinitis requires an early and aggressive surgical approach to reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. A 39-year-old man complained of odynophagia, neck swelling, and disturbance of swallowing with dyspnea. CT scans of the neck suggested a peritonsillar abscess and retropharyngeal and peripharyngeal abscess. He underwent cervical drainage. He remained febrile and complained of severe both pain in both shoulders. On postoperative day 5, a follow-up CT scan confirmed a mediastinal abscess. Reexploration of the neck and right thoracotomy for debridement and drainage of the mediastinal abscess were performed.. A large amount of pus was drained from the anterior and posterior mediastinum and its necrotic tissue was debrided. The patient's condition and radiologic findings gradually improved. Cultures of the drain fluid revealed Klebsiella pneumoniae. He was discharged on the 85th hospital day. In our experience, both transcervical drainage and aggressive mediastinal exploration via thoracotomy can lead to an improvement in the survival of the patient with descending necrotizing mediastinitis. CT scanning is useful for early diagnosis of mediastinitis and for follow up.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.111-121
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• 1985

A clinical analysis was performed on 312 cases of the chest trauma experienced at department of thoracic surgery, Chosun University Hospital during the past 6 years 10 months period from January 1978 to October 1984. 1. The ratio of male to female patient of the chest trauma was 3.1:1 in male predominance and age from 20 to 50 occupied 71.2% of the total cases. 2. The most common cause of the chest trauma was traffic accidents [45.5%] in this series. 244 cases [78.2%]were injured due to non-penetrating injuries and the remainders [68 cases, 21.8%] were injured due to penetrating injuries. 3. The frequently injured site of the chest trauma was left side of the chest [56.4%], the right side was 33% and the both side was 10.6%. 4. The most common symptoms were chest pain and dyspnea, and common signs were diminished breathing sound and subcutaneous emphysema. 5. The Hemothorax, Pneumothorax, Hemopneumothorax, and Hemopericardium were observed in 190 cases [60.9%] of the total cases, and etiologic distribution revealed 76.5% due to penetrating injuries and 56.6% due to non-penetrating injuries. 6. The rib fractures were observed in 210 cases [67.3%] of the total cases and the most common site of the rib fracture was 6th rib 140 cases [19.2%]. The common site of the rib fracture was from 4th rib to 7th rib [63.8%]. 7. The lung injuries were observed in 150 cases [48.1%] and the other organ injuries were observed in 260 cases [83.3%]. 8. Conservative treatment including thoracentesis were performed in 153 cases [49.1%], Closed thoracotomy with water seal drainage were performed in 112 cases [35.9%], and open thoracotomy were performed in 45 cases [14.4%]. 9. The complications of the chest trauma were developed in 63 cases [20.2%] and the common complications were atelectasis, wound infection and pneumonitis etc. 10. Overall mortality was 0.96% [3 cases] and the cause of death was bacteremia, hypovolemic shock, heart failure and pulmonary edema.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.517-523
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• 1997

The records of 14 patients with traumatic diaphragmatic rupture seen at Dongguk University Hospital from February 1992 through December 1995 were reviewed. Ten patients were male and four were female(M:F=2.5:1). The age distribution ranged from 17 to 73 years with the mean age of 41.7 years. The 14 patients included 12 who had blunt trauma(traffic accident 11, crushing injury 1) and 2 with penetrating diaphragmatic rupture(stab wound 2). Of those 12 blunt trauma, 7 patients(58.3%) were left sided and 5(41.7%) involved the right hemidiaphragm. The diagnosis was made preoperatively in 8 patients (57.1%) and during surgery in 6(42.9%). All right-sided injuries were repaired through a thoracotomy and left-sided defects were corrected through a laparotomy in 6, laparotomy and thoracotomy in 1. There were 2(14.3%) operative deaths that were caused by myocardial infarction and the sequelae of combined injuries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1110-1115
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• 1998

Esophagectomy has a high morbidity rate, mainly related to pulmonary complications. The respiratory morbidity of open esophagectomy is high, ranging from 6% to 10%. This high morbidity is partially responsible for the 6∼15% mortality rate of esophagectomy. Many techniques of esophagectomy without thoracotomy have been described since the initial report of Orringer and Sloan. Endoscopic microsurgical dissection of the esophagus was clinically introduced in 1989. Endoscopic microsurgical dissection of the esophagus was developed as a minimally invasive procedure that avoids thoracotomy and provides precise vision during the operation in order to reduce mediastinal trauma and to improve the peri- and post-operative situation. A 20 year-old women who accidentally swallowed about 150 cc of glacial acetic acid underwent an esophagectomy using the operating mediastinoscopy, cervical esophagogastric anastomosis, pyloromyotomy, and feeding jejunostomy tube placement for esophageal stricture. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 17th postoperative day. Our clinical experience shows that endoscopic microsurgical dissection of esophagus is a safe and feasible method because it offers excellent optical control and enables the surgeon to operate in a minimally invasive manner.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.33-40
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• 2017

Purpose: The role for minimally invasive surgery in chest trauma is vague, one that recently is more frequently performed, and one attractive option to be considered. Thoracoscopic surgery may improve morbidity, mortality, hasten recovery and shorten hospital stay. Methods: A total of 31 patients underwent video assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the treatment of blunt and penetrating chest trauma from June 9th, 2013 to March 21st, 2016 in Jeju, South Korea. Results: Twenty-three patients were males and eight patients were females. Their ages ranged from 23 to 81 years. The cause of injury was due to traffic accident in 17 patients, fall down in 5 patients, bicycle accident in 2 patients, battery in 2 patients, crushing injury in 2 patients, and slip down, kicked by horse, and stab wound in one patient each. Video assisted thoracoscopic exploration was performed in the 18 patients with flail chest or greater than 3 displaced ribs. The thoracoscopic procedures done were hematoma evacuation in 13 patients, partial rib fragment excision in 9 patients, lung suture in 5 patients, bleeding control (ligation or electrocautery) in 3 patients with massive hemothorax, diaphragmatic repair in two patients, wedge resection in two patients and decortication in 1 patient. There was only one patient with conversion to open thoracotomy. Conclusion: There is a broad range of procedures that can be done by thoracoscopic surgery and a painful thoracotomy incision can be avoided. Thoracoscopic surgery can be done safely and swiftly in the trauma patient.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.311-314
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• 1998

Of several techniques for closure of the patent ductus arteriosus, the less invasive surgical ranscatheter closure without thoracotomy(the Porstmann's procedure) may have a place between the Rashkind procedure and thoracotomy. We describe here a 68 year old woman with calcified patent ductus arteriosus which was successfully closed by the Porstmann's procedure.