• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 1974

The clinical observations on the bronchogenic cancer of one hundred sixty cases treated in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital are as follows: 1] Most of them,. 90 percent of the cases were over 40 years of age and male was predominated over female with sex ratio of 6 to 1. 2] The average duration of symptoms before the first examination was about 5 months arid the most common complaints were cough, chest pain, breathing difficulty and blood-tinged sputum. 3] In ninety-four cases[59%] thoracotomy was undertaken with resection of the lesion in 52 cases[33% ]. 4] Histopathological diagnoses made in 141 cases were squamous cell carcinoma in 47.5%, undifferentiated cell carcinoma in 33.3%, adenocarcinoma in 9.2,% and alveolar cell carcinoma in a single case.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.117-122
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• 1974

The benign tumor of smooth muscle, the leiomyoma, may arise anywhere in the body, in such tissues as the muscularis of the gut and the media of blood vessels, although by far its most common location is the uterus. Indeed, the mediastinal leiomyomas are extremely rare, especially when one excludes those arising in the esophagus. No dogmatic statements can be made with regard to age, sex distribution, symptoms, or clinical course because of the extreme paucity of cases available for evaluation. Although the majority of the reported cases are in the posterior mediastinum, thus suggesting esophageal origin. We have experienced a right inferior mediastinal leiomyoma in 36 years old housewife. She complained hemoptysis and right lower chest pain associated with intermittent low-graded fever and chillness. Routine X-ray film revealed a large irregular cystic mass density in the right lower thoracic cavity. On exploratory thoracotomy, a huge round yellow-gray colored solid mass, measured about 2.5kg in weight, was located in the right inferior mediastinum just above right hemidiaphragm, medially. The tumor mass was removed, being proved to be leiomyoma on histopathologic examination. Her postoperative course was uneventful and discharged without complication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.287-291
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• 1994

Spontaneous pneumothorax is an accumulation of air in the pleural space with collapse of the lungs in the absence of external chest trauma. In this clinical study were analyzed of 369 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax experienced at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, College of Medicine, Chosun University during from January, 1986 to December, 1992.The peak incidence of age was in 3rd decade and more predominantly in male than women [5:1]. Pulmonary tuberculosis was most common etiologic condition and frequently symptoms were dyspnea and chest pain. The site of pneumothorax was Rt.in 48%, Lt.in 45% and both in 7%. The common accompanied diseases were hydrothorax, pyothorax and hemothorax. In 166 cases [45%] were treated by closed thoracostomy only, in 43 cases [12%] were treated by closed thoracostomy & chemical pleurodesis with Tetracycline and in 145 cases [39%] were treated by open thoracotomy. The most serious complication, one case of pulmonary edema, was developed after closed thoracostomy and fatal.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 1991

From January, 1980, to August, 1989, 23 patients underwent thoracotomy for treatment of pulmonary aspergillosis on the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Keimyung University. There were 12 male and 11 female patients ranging from 23 years to 61 years old[mean age, 40.7 years]. The main clinical symptoms were hemoptysis[91.3%], cough[65.2%], chest pain[34.5%]. Sixteen patients[69.6%] had simple aspergilloma and 7[30.4%] had complex aspergilloma. The most common indication for operation was a hemoptysis, indeterminate mass, chronic cough, or obstructed bronchus. Anatomical location of lesion was mainly located upper lobe [82.6%] and most of cases were managed by lobectomy. Postoperative pathologic findings showed that 13 case[56.5%] were combined with tuberculosis, two were combined with bronchiectasis and two were combined with lung tumor, but 6 cases were not combined with other disease. Early complications occurred in 33.5% of patients with simple aspergilloma and in 85.7% of patients with complex aspergilloma. But there was no hospital death.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.959-961
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• 1993

Localized fibrous tumor of pleura is submesothelial origin and related terms with localized mesothelioma, giant sarcoma of visceral pleura, post-inflammatory tumor of the pleura, pleural fibroma, submesothelial fibroma. This tumor is rare. We experienced a case of localized fibrous tumor.This 66 years old female was admitted with 2 years left persistant flank pain and mild dyspnea. Chest X-ray and CT scan showed a 12x10cm well-defined huge mass in the left subpulmonic area, and not metastatic lesion of any organs.Exploratory thoracotomy was done and a 14x10x8cm [650gm weight] sized mass was excised.The patient was discharged without any complications postoperatively.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.78-80
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• 1995

We report the thoracoscopic resection of thymus and pericardial fat tissue in a patient who was in the setting of late severe myasthenia gravis[Osserman`s Group II-C-2 and previous tracheostomy state. The patient was 33-year-old female. She had been supported with mechanical ventilator for 88 days and suffered from recurrent pneumonia. Our first aim was to weaning her from mechanical ventilator. Traditional methods such as median sternotomy or transcervial thymectomy or transsternal sternotomy were difficult because of the anticipating complications of mediastinitis or morbidity, especially chest pain, following thoracotomy. We could wean her from the mechanical ventilator at postoperative 9 days. So, we concluded that video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy is a useful alternative tool in this case.

• 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.20 no.4
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• pp.839-846
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• 1987

The records of 10 patients with traumatic diaphragmatic hernia seen from November 1977 through July 1987 were reviewed. All the patients had a transdiaphragmatic evisceration of abdominal contents into the thorax. We treated 7 male and 3 female patients ranging in age from 3 to 62 years. In 8 patients, diaphragmatic hernia followed blunt trauma and in 2 patients, stab wounds to the chest. The herniation occurred on the right side in 3 patients and on the left side in 7. All the patients sustained additional injuries: rib fractures [7 patients], additional limb, pelvic and vertebral fractures [6], closed head injury [2], lung laceration [1], liver laceration [1], renal contusion [1], ureteral rupture [1], and splenic rupture [1]. Organs herniated through the diaphragmatic rent included the omentum [6 patients], stomach [4], liver [4], colon [3], small intestine [1], and spleen [1]. For right-sided injuries, the liver was herniated in all 3 patients and the colon, in 1. in the initial or latent phase, dyspnea, diminished breath sounds, bowel sounds in the chest were noted in 4 patients, and in the obstructive phase, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain were found in all 3 patients. Two patients had a diagnostic chest radiograph with findings of bowel gas patterns, and an additional 8 had abnormal but nondiagnostic studies. Hemothorax, pleural effusion or abnormal diaphragmatic contour were common abnormal findings. Three patients were operated on during the initial or acute phase [immediately after injury], 4 patients were operated on during the latent or intermediate phase [3 to 210 days], and 3 patients were operated on during the obstructive phase [10 to 290 days]. Six patients underwent thoracotomy, 2 required thoracoabdominal incision, and 2 had combined thoracotomy and laparotomy. Primary suture was used to repair the diaphragmatic hernia in 9 cases. One patient required plastic repair by a Teflon felt. Empyema was the main complication in 2 patients. In 1 patient, the empyema was treated by closed thoracostomy and in 1, by decortication and open drainage. There were no deaths.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1015-1022
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• 1994

Over the past few years, video-assisted thoracic surgery [VATS] has been used increasingly for intrathoracic pathologic problems as a less invasive operative techniques. Today it is viewed as a sparing and safe alternative to thoracotomy for a wide spectrum of indications. Using video-assisted operative thoracoscopy, we performed consecutive 150 operations on 148 patients during the initial 2 years of our experience from July 1992 with the following indications: pneumothorax [n=53], hyperhidrosis [n=29], mediastinal mass [n=23], pleural disease [n=13], diffuse parenchymal or interstitial lung disease [n=12], benign pulmonary nodule [n=7], metastatic lung mass [n=3], primary lung cancer [n=3], bronchiectasis [n=2], malignant pericardial effusion [n=2], endobronchial tuberculosis [n=1], esophageal achalasia [n=1], and pulmonary parenchymal foreign body [n=1]. There were no death, and overall complicaton rate was 24.0%[n=36]. The most prevalent complication was persistent air leakage [longer than 5 days] in 14 cases [9.3%]. Persistent pleural effusion [longer than 5 days] occurred in 6 cases [4.0%]. Six patients were converted to an open thoracotomy because of inability to control the operative bleeding [n=3], failed adhesiolysis in bronchiectasis [n=2], and radical excision of an lung cancer [n=1]. Pneumothorax recurred in 3 cases[2.0%]. Other complications were Horner`s syndrome, diaphragm tears, temporary phrenic nerve palsy, hoarseness, subsegmental atelectasis, transient respiratory difficulty, and esophageal mucosal tear. The advantages of this minimally traumatizing operative technique lie in improved visualization, decreased pain, shortened hospital stay, and less postoperative morbidity. The indications of VATS has been extended increasingly to intrathoracic pathologies, but its role in the managements of primary lung cancer and esophageal disease remains to be defined.