• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiologic features of febrile illnesses in newborns and to predict the risk of serious infections in this population. Methods : A retrospective study was conducted on 123 full-term infants <30 days of age with an axillary temperature >38$^{\circ}C$ who were hospitalized between 2000 and 2006. Neonates with prenatal risk factors, congenital anomalies, antibiotic administration prior to admission to the hospital, or suspected hospital-acquired infections were excluded. We evaluated the symptoms, physical examination findings, laboratory data, and clinical course between the high- and low-risk groups for serious infections. Results : The high-risk group included 30 infants with the following diagnoses in order of frequency: aseptic meningitis, urinary tract infection, bacterial meningitis, infectious enteritis, sepsis concomitant with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, bacteremia, pneumonia, cellulitis, and omphalitis. Leukocytosis and thrombocytopenia were statistically different between the two groups. Factors, such as moaning signs, seizures, body temperature, and pulse rate were statistically significant. Conclusion : Unlike previous studies, we included newborns with clinical bacterial infections and aseptic meningitis as the high-risk group. Leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, moaning signs, seizures, and changes in vital signs were considered useful predictors for identifying febrile neonates at high-risk for serious infections in spite of a difference in the definition of serious infection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.898-901
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• 2002

It is now widely accepted that the complete arterial coronary revascularization has better short and long term results compared to coronary bypass surgery using arterial graft mixed with vein graft mainly due to its superior patency rate. However, sometimes the internal thoracic artery and other conventionally used grafts might be unavailable or it may require caution in using bilateral internal thoracic artery especially in diabetic patient because of the possible risk of the mediastinitis or other associated morbidities. Moreover, there could also be a shortage for arterial graft in case of coronary reoperation. We report our first three cases using thoracodorsal artery(TDA) as an alternative graft in complete arterial coronary revascularization.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.257-262
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• 1984

Acute purulent pericarditis, though not common in incidence after introduction of antibiotics, is still potentially life treating isease. Since 1971, we have experienced 14 cases of acute purulent pericarditis with successful treatment. Among these 14 cases, 9 cases were male and they had high occurrence on their third to fifth decades in age distribution. Isolation of causative organisms were obtained in 11 cases through the bacterial culture of infectious source which was mainly pericardial effusion or blood, and the most frequently recovered organism was the staphylococcus aureus. Pre-existing inflammatory disease preceding to pericarditis, named as antecedent disease, were proved in 12 cases, and among which contiguous extension from the intrathoracic infection such as pneumonia or empyema accounted for the majority of antecedent disease. Pericardiocentesis with administration of antibiotics were tried in all cases, but result in recovery in 1 patient only. Remaining 13 cases had persistent picture of pericarditis and necessitated surgical drainage procedure. Ten of these 13 cases were underwent the open pericardial window using a mode of anterior approach in 4 and subxiphoid approach in 6 cases respectively. Two cases of subxiphoid group were reoperated by the anterior interphrenic pericardiectomy, due to insufficient drain of too thick effusion. In remaining 3 cases, anterior interphrenic pericardiectomy was performed initially because of purulent effusion already changed into fibrinopurulent peel with thickened pericardium. Through the experience of this series, we recommended that pericardiectomy should not be reluctant in purulent pericarditis as a initial surgical procedure for advantage of complete removal of infected space and avoidance of late constrictive pericarditis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.370-376
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• 1990

From April, 1981, through March, 1989, 30 patients had received valve replacements and 1 patient had received foreign body removal for infective endocarditis at Seoul National University Hospital. There were 22 male and 9 female patients, ranged in age from 22 to 59 [mean 34.9] years. Twenty-three had native valve endocarditis, 7 had prosthetic valve endocarditis and 1 had infected transvenous permanent pacemaker electrode in right heart. Twenty-four required operation during active phase of disease and 7 during inactive phase. The infecting organism was Streptococcus in 10 patients, Staphylococcus in 5 patients, both Staphylococcus and Streptococcus in 1 patient, E. coli in 2 patients, and Candida in 1 patient. Indications for Surgery were congestive heart failure in 20, systemic emboli in 5, combination of both in 3, congestive heart failure with uncontrolled sepsis in 2, and complete heart block in 1 patient. Hospital mortality was 9.7% [3/31], and all were the patients who received emergency operation. There were 2 late mortality [7.7 %] due to acute myocardial infarction and recurrent endocarditis. This report suggests that the surgical treatment can be achieved with acceptable low mortality and morbidity in medically intractable congestive heart failure, emboli and sepsis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.190-196
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• 1991

Clinical experience of 48 acute pericarditis with effusion was reviewed and presented. There were 28 male and 20 female patients ranging from 3 years to 77 years old. Malignant effusion; Twenty patients had underlying malignancy. These etiologies were lung ca[8 patients, 40%], breast ca[7 patients 35%], lymphoma[2 patients, 10%], esophageal ca[1 patients, 5%], stomach ca[1 patient, 5%], ovarian ca[1 patient, 5%]. Uremic effusion; 15 patients with renal failure required surgical intervention. Traumatic effusion; 7 patients had traumatic pericarditis. These etiologies were stab wound [5 patients, 71.4%] and aspiration[2 patients, 28.6%]. Pyogenic effusion: 6 patients had pyogenic pericarditis. These etiologies were empyema thoracis[3 patients, 50%], liver abscess[2 patients, 33.3%], pneumonia[1 patient, 16.7%]. The patients were treated by pericardiocentesis, subxiphoid tube drainage, pericardiectomy: 4 of them underwent pericardiocentesis; 37, subxiphoid tube drainage; 5, pericardiectomy. We conclude that subxiphoid tube pericardial drainage was effective for treatment of pericardial effusion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.703-708
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• 1984

Fibrothorax is the end stage of chronic pathologic processes of pleura such as hemothorax, empyema, or tuberculous effusion. The pleural space become adherent and obliterated, and the lung parenchyma is covered by a thick, fibrous, unexpandable "peel", so the lung function is diminished markedly with impaired ventilation and oxygenation. Constrictive pericarditis is often accompanied fibrothorax, also cardiac and hemodynamic function is deteriorated. Surgical relief of these fibrous peels causes remarkable improvement in pulmonary function, cardiac and hemodynamic function, and subjective symptoms. We experienced a case of bilateral fibrothorax combined with constrictive pericarditis which occured 3 years after bilateral tuberculous effusion. Decortication and percardiectomy were done at the same time through bilateral submammary thoracotomy with sternal transection. Comparing postoperative Peripheral venous pressure, Circulation time, Pulmonary function test, Arterial blood gas analysis, Subjective symptoms with preoperative conditions showed noticeable improvement.provement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.777-779
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• 1996

Recently we operated on two cases of PDA in premature infant. In both cases, indomethacin therapy had failed to close the PDA. The extremely small baby(body weight 540gm) died 28hrs postoperatively by unexpe ted intrathoracic bleeding probably due to coagulopathy related to septic condition and thrombocytopenia. The clinical course of the second case(body weight 1395gm) was complicated by ileal perforation sec- ondary to necrotizing enterocolitis. The baby underwent segmental resection of ileum with ileostomy on the 8th hospital day. On the 34th hospital day surgical closure of the PDA was done and the ile'ostomy was repaired simultaneously. Ventilator weaning was possible on the postoperative 6th day. The baby discharged on the postoperative 33th day with the body weight of 2050gm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1055-1060
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• 1992

Clinical experience of 21 patients with infective endocarditis was reviewed. Endocarditis involved the left-sided valve in 16 cases, the right-sided valve in 2, and PDA in the remaining 3 patients. Valve abnormalities included leaflet perforation in 9 patients, chordal rupture in 2,; annular abscess in 6; and aorticoleft atnal perforation in 2. Sixteen patients underwent valve replacement[aortic valve replacement in 7 patients, mitral replacement in 4 and double valve replacement in 5], two had VSD closure with pulmonary valve excision, three had ductus arteriousus closure. The patients were classified into two groups. I ] Healed endocarditis group: including the patients who had completed a planned cou-rseof antibiotic therapy[N=10], II ] Active endocarditis group: patients in which operations were performed prior to completetion of antibiotic treatment course[N=11]. The indications for operation included congestive heart failure, embolism, and persistent sepsis. Organisms were predominantly streptococcus[N=5] and staphylococcus [N=4] followed by candida, moraxella, and E-coli. By NYHA functional classification, all patients were in Class III or IV preoperatively. There was only one operative mortality in patient from group II. All patients substantially, improved postoperatively with NYHA classification in class I or II. This study shows that early surgical intervention in patients with active endocarditis has desirable outcome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.81-84
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• 1978

A 15 years Old girl was admitted with chief complaints of intermittent claudication of lower extremity, dizziness, and headache for 5 years. On admission, malignant hypertension was noted in the upper part of body [190-150/120-110] but femoral & dorsalis pedis pulse could not palpate. Once she had experienced C. V. A. due to hypertension of upper part, about years ago. On auscultation, systolic murmur was audible along the left sternal border. E.C.G. Showed left ventricular hypertrophy pattern, and others within normal limit. Retrograde aortography demonstrated diffuse narrowing of entire thoracic aorta with underdeveloped lower abdominal aorta [below the renal artery] & both common lilac artery, and rich collaterals, but normally visualized greater arteries in the aortic arch. On left posterolasteral thoracotomy, entire descending thoracic aorta revealed marked narrowing with mild perivascular adhesion, but no mediastinal pleura adhesion. These findings suggest as congenital type of atypical coarctation in the entire thoracic aorta with mild secondary change. But histopathology was showed the findings of chronic non-specific aortitis, later. Dacron by pass graft was performed with end to side anastomosis between graft and aortic wall. After operation, all her preoperative symptoms & signs were disappeared, and discharged with good general condition.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.513-515
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• 2009

Myxoma is the most common primary tumor of the heart. The common symptoms of myxoma can be similar to those of infective endocarditis, which include fever, weight loss, fatigue and arthralgia, but it is very rare for a myxoma to become infected. We report on a case of a 76-year-old male patient with fever and loss of conscious-ness, and he underwent an emergency operation after suffering shock state due to the infected myxoma.