• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.571-578
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• 1996

Background : Long abscess is an accumulation of pus within a destroyed portion of the lung. Antibiotic therapy and postural drainge has proven to be an effective method of treatment for the majority of patients with pyogenic lung abscess. When medical therapy fails, thoracotomy and pulmonary resection are the current therapies. empyema is pus in the pleural space, and this term is deserved for effusions on which the Gram stain of the pleural fluid is positive. Initially, such collection may be drained via chest tribe. Recently, in patients who are judged to be unsuitable for surgery are in poor condition, percutaneous drainage using pig-tail catheter has been performed. We report out experience with 10 cases of lung abscess and 23 cases of empyema who were treated by percutaneous pit-tail catheter drainage. Subjects and Methods : Our study included 10 patients with lung abscess and 23 patients with empyema who were treated by percutaneous pig-tail catheter drainage, from January, 1990, to May, 1996, at Hanyang University then a pig-tail catheter was inserted into the abscess or the site of empyema under fluoroscopic and ultrasonograpic guidance. Following aspiration, the catheter was sutured into the skin, and connected to the suction tip. Catheter drainage was discontinued when the abscess of empyema was resolved in radiologically and clinically. Results : There were 2 cases of lung abscess caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae and 14 cases of empyema caused by M. tuberculosis. The others were unknown. The duration of drainage was 1-2 weeks in 7 cases of lung abscess and 14 cases of empyema. In the 29 of 33 patients, percutaneous drainage were carried out successfully 20 of the 29 Gases rapidly improved. Conclusion : Percutaneous drainge is effective and relatively saute for management of lung abscess or empyema refractory to medical therapy or poor candidates for surgical treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.882-889
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• 2002

Acute Complications of Remodelling Plasty of Costochondral Rib Cage For Pectus excavatum Recently, Remodelling Plasty of Costochondral Rib Cage has been introduced as an minimally invasive procedure and expanded its application for pectus excavatum. Outcomes and acute complications were reviewed Material and Method: A retrospective survey of 55 patients who underwent Remodelling Plasty of Costochondral Rib Cage from September, 1999 to February, 2002 was conducted to review complications, postoperative treatments, and outcomes. Result: Age ranged from 1 to 27 years(mean 11.4 $\pm$ 7.1). 35(64%) were less than 15-year old and 20(36%) were more than 15-year old. There were 44(80%) Male patients and 11(20%) female patients. Length of hospital stay was 7.8 $\pm$ 2.1 days for less than 15-Y-old group, 10.6 $\pm$ 6.2 days for more than 15-Y-old group(p ＝ 0.042) One substernal bar was inserted in 52 patients and two substernal bars were inserted in 3 patients. As for stabilizer, one lateral side was fastened in 15 patients and both lateral sides were fastened in 6 patients. In the less than 15-Y-old group, 4 patients needed stabilizer, whereas in the more than 15-Y-old group, 18 patients needed stebilizer(s)(p ＝ 0.000). Including all kinds of complications, 28(51 %)patients had postoperative complications. Of them, only 7 patients were treated for complications(C-tube insertion was done in 7 patients and reoperation for bar refixation or removal was done in 3 patients of them). Conclusion: Most complications after Remodelling Plasty of Costochondral Rib Cage For Pectus Excavatum were trivial without treatment although C-tube drainage was needed in some patients. However bar displacement such as rotation and lateral sliding should be corrected as soon as detected in order not to remove the bar(the worst situation).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.805-810
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• 2007

Background: This paper reviews our experience retrospectively to examine the clinical results and effectiveness of lateral tunnel (LT) and extracardiac conduit (ECC) Fontan procedures at a single institution. Material and Method: One hundred and sixty five Fontan procedures were performed (67 LT and 98 ECC) between January 1996 and December 2006. Preoperative and postoperative hemodynamic values, arrhythmia, hospital and intensive care unit stay, chest tube drain, morbidity and mortality were reviewed. Result: The overall operative mortality in the LT and ECC groups was 4.5% (3) and 2.0% (2), respectively. There was a significant difference in the immediate postoperative transpulmonary gradient (LT $8.5{\pm}2.5$ vs ECC $6.6{\pm}2.4$, p-value<0.001) and central venous pressure (LT $18.3{\pm}3.8$ vs ECC $15.6{\pm}2.4$, p-value=0.001) between the two groups. The mean follow-up in the LT and ECC groups was $74.1{\pm}31.5$ and $38.1{\pm}29.1$ months, respectively. There was one late death. The actuarial survival at 10 years in the LT and ECC groups was 92% and 89%, respectively. In arrhythmia, the ECC patients showed a slightly low incidence but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Both the LT and ECC Fontan procedures showed comparable early and mid-term outcomes in terms of the surgical morbidity and mortality, postoperative hemodynamics, and mid-term survival. The ECC Fontan procedure reduces the risk of arrhythmia in the follow up period.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.816-821
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• 1996

Lung transplantation is the established treatment for the end stage lung disedse find preservation of the organ is a major obstacle In performing lung transplantation. For solving this problem, we evaluated the histopathologic changes for various preservation solutions. Male mongrel dogs of similar size and weight (15∼20 kg) were used. The dog lungs were flushed with 4fl normal saline(group 1 'n:5): Modified Euro-Collins solution(group 2 n:5) and University of Wisconsin solution (group 3 : n=6), 60m11kg through a catheter placed in the main pulmonary artery aft r flushing of PGE 1 (20ng1kg). The lungs were preserved for 60 hours and measured dry and wet weights. Histologic specimens were taken every 6 hours and %toed for light microscopic evaluation. The edema ratio of the lungs peaked in 12 hours although there was no difference between the groups. Histologically, alveolar septal changes developed in one case (20%) after 1 hour preservation with normal saline. In case of the University of Wisconsin solution, the alveolar septal distortions and swellings were seen in 1 cases (20%) after 6 hours preservation compared with 3 cases (60%) after 6 hours preservation with Modified Euro-Collins solution. Changes of the pneumocytes were observed after 24 hours preser- vation in group 1, after 48 hours preservation in group 2 and after 60 hours preservation in group 3. We conclude that University of Wisconsin solution might have a superior preservation effect compare to normal saline and Modified Euro-Collins solutions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1070-1075
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• 1998

Background: With the advent of thoracoscopy, there has been increasing interest in less invasive surgical bullectomy and pleurodesis. The recurrence rate, however, has been reported higher in surgery with thoracoscopy than with open thoracotomy and it is thought to be caused by inappropriate mechanical pleurodesis during thoracoscopic surgery. Materials and methods: We compared the short-term recurrence rates according to the intensities of pleural abrasion in 62 patients who underwent VATS for treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax from April 1996 to August 1997. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group A(n=32) included patients who received relatively weak pleural abrasion using Endo-forcep instrument for grasping the gauze, and group B(n=30) received strong pleural abrasion using conventional instrument wrapped tightly with gauze. Each intensity of pleural abrasion allowed petechia on the parietal pleura in group A, and some tearing and bleeding in group B. Results: Indications for operation, sex distribution, and age were comparable in both groups. There were no differences in chest tube indwelling time(3.78±3.35 vs 3.80±2.49 days), hospital stay(4.72±1.87 vs 4.67±2.20 days), and the amount and duration of analgesics required postoperatively. Persistent air-leak more than 7 days after surgery occurred in 4/32(12.5%) and 2/30(6.7%) in group A and B, respectively. No bleeding-related complication occured. Pneumothorax recurred 12.5%(4/32) and 0%(0/30) of patients at a mean follow-up of 9.7 and 9.6 months in group A and B, respectively, and it was statistically significant(p<0.05). Conclusions: Proper intensity of pleural abrasion is very important factor to reduce recurrence after VATS for spontaneous pneumothorax. During short-term follow-upafter surgery, we could achieve excellent result in reducing recurrence rate with VATS and strong pleural abrasion which is comparable to thoracotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.9 s.254
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• pp.627-632
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• 2005

Background: The video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) with 2 mm thoracoscopy in primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) was known to be unreliable in its accuracy and recurrence rate. We compared 10 mm VATS with 2 mm VATS in the results of operation. Material and Method: From Sept. 1998 to Dec. 2002, 176 cases (10 mm VATS; 73 cases, 2 mm VATS; 103 cases) of PSP were treated by VATS blob resection at Korea University Ansan Hospital. 10 mm thoracoscope, 5 mm port, and 5 mm instruments were used in 10 mm VATS group, and 2 mm thoracoscope, 2 mm ports and 2 mm instruments used in 2 mn VATS group. In the two groups, staples were inserted through 11.5 mm port for chest tube. Result: The mean follow-up duration was 20,8$\pm$16.1 months in 10 mm VATS group, and 13.9 $\pm$8.2 months in 2 mm VATS. The most common indication of operation was a recurrent pneumothorax ($34\%$) in 10 mm VATS and patient's desire ($40\%$) in 2 mm VATS, respectively. The operation time, number of staples used in operation, postoperative chest tube keeping days, postoperative total amount of drainage, and postoperative hospitalization days were statistically lower in 2 mm VATS. Other significant variables affecting the operation time in linear regression analysis were the number of staples that used in operation, the presence of pleural adhesion, and type of pleurodesis and thoracoscope used in operation. However, $R^2$ values were lower than 0.1. The postoperative recurrence rate was $2.7\%$ in 10 mm VATS and $2.9\%$ in 2 mm VATS. It was not significant statistically. Recurrent cases developed within 1 year in both groups but the difference was statistically insignificant. Conclusion: Although there were differences in follow-up duration between two groups, the operation time, number of staples that used in operation, postoperative chest tube keeping days, postoperative total amount of drainage, and postoperative hospitalization days were statistically lower in 2 mm VATS. And in 2 mm VATS, there were no technical difficulties during operation and no differences in recurrence rate from 10 mm VATS. As a result, we suggest that 2 mm VATS can be used in the treatment of PSP.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.769-776
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• 1996

The application of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in the examination of the thoracic cavity can be a new option in patients with mediastinal tumor because it provides outstanding visibility of the structures of the mediastinum. By clear viewing through the thoracoscope, a mediastinal tumor can be biopsied or resected, depending on the findings during an operation. We reviewed all patients who underwent curative or diagnostic operations from March 1990 to August 1995 under the impression of a mediastinal mass. The total number of patients were 113 with 59 males and 54 females. Group A underwent resection of tu or by thoracotomy(38 patients: 18 males, 20 females), and group B underwent resection of tumor by VATS (36 patients : 20 males and 16 females). Seven patients in group B were excluded because they underwent thoracotomy due to pleural adhesion or intra-operative bleeding ; therefore, the true VATS group numbered 29 cases. Group C underwent Iymph node biopsy by VATS(33 patients'16 males, 17 females), and group D(6 patients: 5 males, 1 female) underwent Iymph node biopsy through anterior mediastinotomy. The mean age in group A was 36.2 years compared to 41.3 years In group B. We compared operation time, frequency of injection for pain control, duration of chest tube insertion, postoperative hospital stay, and diagnostic yield. In group A, they were 164 minutes, 3.4 times, 5.2 days, and 11.3 days, respectively, in comparison to 152 minutes, 2 times, 4.7 days, and 8.3 days, respectively, in group B. These data revealed that the day of discharge was significantly shorter in group B (p valu : 0.03). In group C, the mean age was 45.8 years (range 1 ∼70). The operation time was from 30 to 335 minutes (mean 105), pain control was required from 0 to 15 times(mean 3.2), and a chest tube was needed for 1 to 36 days (mean 6.1). In group D, mean age was 53.3 years, operation time 121 minutes, pall control injec- tion frequency 2.6 times, and mean chest tube duration 10.5 days. The diagnostic yield in group C was 8 oyo compared to 100 oyo in group D although the number of patients in group D is small.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.184-192
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• 2009

Background: Although complications from transfusion are known to happen, transfusion is performed during most open heart surgeries. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of performing cardiac surgery without allogenic blood transfusion. Material and Method: Between January to August 2007, 44 consecutive patients who underwent open heart surgery with using various blood conservation methods were retrospectively enrolled. They were divided into group I (the onpump group, n=17) and group II (the offpump group, n=27). The blood conservation methods were intraoperative autologous donation, cell saver, retrograde autologous priming, conventional ultrafiltration and modified ultrafiltration. Antianemic agents were administered to all the patients postoperatively. We analyzed the possibility of bloodless operations, the causes of homologous transfusion, the serial change of the hematocrit and the postoperative chest tube drainage, and we compared the results between the two groups. If comparison between the two groups was not reasonable, then we compared two groups with the individual control groups I and II (49 patients) in 2006. Result: 40 (90.9%) of 44 patients were successfully operated on without transfusion and the success rate was 88.2% (15/17) for group I and 92.6% (25/27) for group II. There was no statistical difference between the two groups (p=NS). The causes of transfusion were 2 cases of postoperative bleedings, 1 case of intraoperative bleeding and 1 mistake of the indication for transfusion. There was no statistical difference of the total chest tube drainage (Group I: $417{\pm}359mL$, Group II: $451{\pm}237mL$) (p=NS), but the total chest tube drainages of the two groups were less than each of the control groups 1 and II (p<0.05). The lowest hematocrit level of Group I was $16.4{\pm}2%$, and this occurred just after infusion of cardioplegics and the hematocrits of both groups were recovered to the preoperative level at 2 months postoperatively. Conclusion: In this study, bloodless open heart surgery could be performed in 90.9% of the patients with intraoperative autologous donation, cell saver, retrograde autologous priming, conventional ultrafiltration and modified ultrafiltration. A combination of various blood conservation methods is the most important and bloodless cardiac surgery could be performed with meticulous bleeding control and strictly following the transfusion indications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2009

Background: Mediastinal neurogenic tumors are generally benign lesions and they are ideal candidates for performing resection via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). However, benign neurogenic tumors at the thoracic apex present technical problems for the surgeon because of the limited exposure of the neurovascular structures, and the optimal way to surgically access these tumors is still a matter of debate. This study aims to clarify the feasibility and safety of the VATS approach for performing surgical resection of benign apical neurogenic tumors (ANT). Material and Method: From January 1996 to September 2008, 31 patients with benign ANT (15 males/16 females, mean age: 45 years, range: 8~73), were operated on by various surgical methods: 14 VATS, 10 lateral thoracotomies, 6 cervical or cervicothoracic incisions and 1 median sternotomy. 3 patients had associated von Recklinhausen's disease. The perioperative variables and complications were retrospectively reviewed according to the surgical approaches, and the surgical results of VATS were compared with those of the other invasive surgeries. Result: In the VATS group, the histologic diagnosis was schwannoma in 9 cases, neurofibroma in 4 cases and ganglioneuroma in 1 case, and the median tumor size was 4.3 cm (range: 1.2~7.0 cm). The operation time, amount of chest tube drainage and the postoperative stay in the VATS group were significantly less than that in the other invasive surgical group (p<0.05). No conversion thoracotomy was required. There were 2 cases of Hornor's syndrome and 2 brachial plexus neuropathies in the VATS group; there was 1 case of Honor's syndrome, 1 brachial plexus neuropathy, 1 vocal cord palsy and 2 non-neurologic complications in the invasive surgical group, and all the complications developed postoperatively. The operative method was an independent predictor for postoperative neuropathies in the VATS group (that is, non-enucleation of the tumor) (p=0.029). Conclusion: The VATS approach for treating benign ANT is a less invasive, safe and feasible method. Enucleation of the tumor during the VATS procedure may be an important technique to decrease the postoperative neurological complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.605-609
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• 2008

Background: It is well known that preoperative administration of combined antiplatelet agents can have an impact on the postoperative bleeding, the requirement for transfusion and the need for reexploration during on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Yet its effects have not been well evaluated in the case of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Material and Method: We performed a retrospective study of nineteen patients who underwent OPCAB from March 2003 to December 2004. All the patients had taken antiplatelet agents until 12 hours before operation. The patients were divided into bo groups as an aspirin group and a combined (aspirin+clopidogrel) group. The perioperative platelet count, the hemoglobin level, the hematocrit, the prothrombin time and the aPTT were compared between both groups. The amount of postoperative bleeding, the transfusion requirement and the need for re-exploration to control bleeding were also compared between both groups. Result: There was no difference of operation time and the intraoperative ACT between the aspirin group and the combined group. The amount of blood loss through the chest tube for 24 hours was not different between the aspirin group $(697{\pm}271mL)$ and the combined group $(944{\pm}432mL)$. The number of patients who received blood transfusion was also not different between both groups. There was no patient who required reexploration for bleeding control in both groups. The perioperative hemoglobin level and hematocrit were also not different between both groups, but the postoperative hemoglobin level and hematocrit were decreased significantly in the group. Conclusion: The Preoperative combined antiplatelet (aspirin+clopidogrel) therapy group was not different from the aspirin group for the amount of postoperative bleeding, the amount of blood transfusion and the need for reexploration during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. This subject needs further evaluation because of small population in our study.