• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2003

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for decortication or debridement in the management of empyema thoracis has increased the available treatment options but requires validation. We present and evaluate our technique and experience with thoracoscopic management of pleural empyema, irrespective of chronicity. Material and Method : VATS debridement or decortication was performed with endoscopic shaver system in 40 consecutive patients presented with pleural space infections. A retrospective review was performed and the effect of this technique on perioperative outcome was assessed. Result : VATS evacuation of infected pleural fluid and decortication was successfully performed in 35 of 40 patients. The mean duration of preoperative symptoms before referral was 23$\pm$1.8 days. The mean duration of hospitalization before transfer was 13.5$\pm$1.5 days. Blood loss was 250 to 200 mL. Intercostal drainage was required for 5$\pm$3 days. The postoperative hospital stay was 5 $\pm$0.7 days. There were no operative mortalities. Conclusion : Video-assisted evacuation of infected pleural fluid and decortication is an effective modality in the management of the fibropurulent stage of empyema. An organized empyema should be approached thoracosco-pically, but may require open decortication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.6 s.263
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• pp.462-469
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• 2006

Background: Pneumonectomy for inflammatory lung disease has been of major concern because of its associated morbidity and mortality, particularly with respect to pleuropneumonectomy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the surgical outcomes, and identify the risk factors contributing to postoperative complications in patients undergoing pleuropneumonectomy. Material and Method: Ninety-eight patients underwent pneumonectomy for benign inflammatory lung disease were retrospectively analyzed. Pleuropneumonectomy (Group A) was done in 48 patients and standard pneumonectomy (Group B) was done in 50 patients. Clinical characteristics, postoperative complications were examined and compared between 2 groups. In pleuropneumonectomy group, postoperative risk factors affecting morbidity were evaluated. Result: There was one in-hospital death. Twenty-three major postoperative complications occurred in 21 patients (21.4%). The common complications were empyema and bronchopieural fistula (BPF) in 8 (8.4%), re-exploration due to bleeding in 8. At least one postoperative complication occurred in 14 of 48 patients from Group A (29.2%) and in 7 of 50 patients from Group B (14%). In Group A, empyema and BPF encountered in 6 and re-exploration for bleeding in 6 were the most common complication. In univariate analysis, right pneumonectomy, completion pneumonectomy, large amount of blood loss (>1,000 mL), and intrapleural spillage were risk factors contributing to postoperative complications in Group A. In multivariate analysis, intrapleural contamination during operation was a risk factor of postoperative complication. Conclusion: The morbidity and mortality rates of pneumonectomy for chronic inflammatory lung disease are acceptably. However, we confirm that pleuropneumonectomy is a real technical challenge and a high-risk procedure and technically demanding. Meticulous surgical techniques are very important in preventing serious and potentially lethal complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 1977

Mediastinal tumor are frequently encountered in clinical practice. Hanten, in 1955, reported-2 adult patients with spontaneous rupture of mediastinal dermoid cysts into the pleural cavity and also, Thompson, in 1963, reported 2 child patients with spontaneous rupture of mediastinal teratoma into the pleural cavity. Mediastinal teratomas have also been reported rupture into other contiguous structures, such as the bronchus, aorta, pericardium, SVC and esophagus. This report presents an instance of spontaneous rupture of an anterior mediastinal teratoma into the right pleural cavity of a 43 year old female. Despite variable diagnostic procedures, the true nature of the lesion was not determined until a thoracotomy and window formation was performed for adequate drainage of empyema thoracis. Removal of the teratoma and mediastinal window formation resulted in complete cure.

• 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.22 no.5
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• pp.862-866
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• 1989

We are experienced one case of \ulcornerinchu" method operation for chronic thoracic empyema with bronchopleural fistula. A 30-years old male was admitted to our hospital because of right thoracic empyema. In spite of pleural tube drainage, the right entire lung was poorly expanded. The right upper lobectomy and decortication for visceral side of empyema peel were done but expansion of right middle and lower lobe was not enough to fill the pleural space remained Extraperiosteal detachment without performing thoracoplasty was done as the method proposed by Kinchu. The patient recovered without significant problem and the good expansion of remained lung with acceptable pulmonary function was obtained.ined.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.540-543
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• 1998

A patient with post-pneumonectomy empyema was treated sucessfully by modification of Clagett's operation after closure of bronchopleural fistula using a transsternal, transpericardial approach. His primary disease was pulmonary tuberculosis, and he had a past history of left upper lobe lobectomy 34 year ago. Recently recurred pulmonary tuberculosis with aspergilloma in the remaining left lung, empyema with bronchopleural fistula had developed on the post-operative 4th day after completion pneumonectomy. Closed thoracostomy was done at the lowest point of the left pleural cavity immediately. The pleural cavity was irrigated with small amount of normal saline through pigtail catheter. The 2nd operation was done by closure of bronchopleural fistula using a stapler through transsternal, transpericardial approach, and then the pleural space was irrigated with normal saline with Tobramycin which shows sensitivity to isolated organism from pleural cavity. After negative conversion of pleural fluid culture, we performed modified Clagett's operation under local anesthesia. The patient had no evidence of recurrence of empyema and discharged from hospital after 10 days of the 3rd procedure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.1109-1120
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• 2020

Pleural masses may be caused by various conditions, including benign and malignant neoplasms and non-neoplastic tumorlike conditions. Primary pleural neoplasms include solitary fibrous tumor, malignant mesothelioma, and primary pleural non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Metastatic disease is the most common neoplasm of the pleura and may uncommonly occur in patients with hematologic malignancy, including lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma. Pleural effusion is usually associated with pleural malignancy. Rarely, pleural malignancy may arise from chronic empyema, and the most common cell type is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (pyothorax-associated lymphoma). Non-neoplastic pleural masses may be observed in several benign conditions, including tuberculosis, pleural plaques caused by asbestos exposure, and pleural loose body. Herein, we present a review of benign and malignant pleural neoplasms and tumorlike conditions with illustrations of their computed tomographic images.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.850-855
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• 1992

Dead space of empyema occurrs from incomplete obliteration of infected pleural space from pulmonary tuberculosis, pyogenic infection, esophageal disease and post pulmonary resection. Chronic empyema can be treated by obliteration of dead space with autologous tissues such as, extrathoracic muscle flap and omental flap and thorachoplasty. Between May, 1986 to July, 1991 we treated 17 chronic empyema patients with autologous tissues and analysed the result. 1. Sex distribution was 14 males and 3 females between 5~62 years old. [mean 39.7 years old] 2. The volume of the dead space ranged from 100 to 450cc. [mean 213. 76cc] 3. The majority of used muscle flap were serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi, and there were 2 cases of am ntal flap. 4. The majority of underlying disease were pulmonary tuberculosis and there were 8 BPF[47%] in 17 patients 5. In 7 cases, thorachoplsty was needed. 6. Three cases recurred and there were no death.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.153-156
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• 2002

Synchronous primary lung cancers in the same lobe are rare. Cavitating adenocarcinoma as single lung lesion is unusual. We experienced cavitating adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in the same lobe of the lung. The patient was a 74-year-old male with chief complaints of hemoptysis. CT scan showd a central mass in right upper lobar bronchus, obstructive pneumonia, and lung abscess in the right upper lobe. Pathologically, the central mass was a 2.3$\times$1$\times$1 cm sized squamous cell carcinoma, and lung abscess was revealed as a 37272 cm sized adenocarcinoma. The patient was discharged without any specific problem after right peumonectomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.387-391
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• 2002

Background: Postoperative morbidity and mortality in destroyed lung are relatively high. We tried to identify the prognostic factors affecting postoperative morbidity and mortality in destroyed lung through a retrospective study. Material and method: The retrospective study was undertaken in 112 patients who had undergone pneumonectomy or pleuropneumonectomy for destroyed lung at Severance Hospital from 1970 to 2000. We analyzed the correlation between postoperative morbidity and mortality and etiology, duration of disease, preoperative FEV1, presence or absence of peroperative empyema, operation timing, the side of operation, duration of operation, and operation type. Result: There were 55 men and 57 women, aged 20 to 81 years (mean 44 years). Etiologic diseases were tuberculosis in 86 patients(76.8%) including tuberculos empyema in 20 and tuberculous bronchiectasis in 4, pyogenic empyema in 12(10,7%), bronchiectasis in 12(10.7%), and lung abscess in 2(1.8%). Postoperative morbidity were 25%(n=28) and postoperative mortality was 6%(n=7). The presence of preoperative empyema(p=0.016), pleuropneumonectomy(p=0.037) and preoperative FEV1 of less than 1.75 L(P=0.048) significantly increased the postoperative morbidity, If operation time was less than 300min, postoperative morbidity(p=0.002) and mortality(p=0.03) were significantly low. Conclusion: Postoperative morbidity and mortality in destroyed lung were acceptable. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were significantly low when operation time was less than 300 min. Preoperative existence of empyema, pleuropneumonectomy and preoperative FEV1 of less than 1.75 L significantly increased postoperative morbidity.