• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.89-91
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• 1998

Tuberculosis infection is wide spread disease and makes troublesome complications in some cases. A 50 - year old male visited Andong Hospital with coughing and sputum, dyspnea on exertion, bulging left anterior chest wall mass. Chest X-ray showed right pleural effusion, both side streaky infiltraion, and pleural thickness in apex. Chest CT scan showed bone destruction of left clavicle head, manubrium and large abscess pocket in pectoralis muscle. In May 1996 he underwent en bloc resection of left upper anterior chest wall including pectoralis major and minor muscle, left clavicle head, manubrium and covering infected skin, then contralateral pectoralis major muscle flap and skin graft was done. Patient shows no evidence of recurrence during follow up.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.303-307
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• 1982

Two patients with funnel chest deformity were corrected in the department of Thoracic Surgery, N.M.C. The first case was a 12 months old male suffering from recurrent upper respiratory tract infection and symmetrical funnel chest deformity, of which hollow cavity was measured 40 ml of water. He was corrected by method of sternal turnover. The result was satisfactory. The second case was a 16 years old male suffering from exertional dyspnea, recurrent upper respiratory tract infection, wheezing sound [esp., at night], and asymmetrical funnel chest deformity, of which hollow cavity was measured 80 ml of water. He was corrected by modified Ravitch method. Until postoperative 4 months, result was satisfactory. Thereafter, respiratory wheezing, exertional dyspnea and chest wall deformity were returned to pre-operative status.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.421-427
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• 2005

Although the incidence of mediastinal wound infection in patient undergoing median sternotomy for cardiovascular surgery is relatively low(less than 1%), it is not only a devastating and potentially life-threatening complication but also associated morbidity, mortality and cost are unacceptably high. During the past few decades various methods had been applied for the treatment of postoperative mediastinitis. Currently, chest wall reconstruction by using muscle flaps-especially pectoralis major muscle and rectus abdominis muscle are commonly selected for the reconstruction after wide debridement has become widely accepted. We performed bilateral pectoralis major-rectus abdominis muscles in-continuity bipedicle flap to overcome the limit of each flap for reconstruction of sternal defects in 17 patients. We analyzed the results of the surgery. Recurrent infection developed in 17.6% of cases and abdominal herniation was observed in one patient. There was no postoperative hematoma or death. We conclude that this flap is very valuable in reconstruction of the anterior chest wall defect caused by post-sternotomy infection because it provides sufficient volume to fill the entire mediastinum, and the complication rate compares favorably to that of other methods.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.57-60
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• 2019

Warthin's tumor (WT) is second most common neoplasm in the parotid gland and it can be accompanied by inflammation and necrosis. The chest wall inflammation may present a rapid and fatal clinical course and secondary to parotid abscess is extremely rare. An 81-year-old man came to emergency room complained of rapidly enlarged left parotid mass and inflammatory symptoms and signs around the upper lateral neck. We performed incision and drainage with adequate infection control. He was pathologically diagnosed as abscess. We report the unique and instructive clinical case with a literature review.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to investigate the appropriate management of severe radionecrotic wounds of the anterior chest wall associated with infection of the soft tissues and ribs and exposure of vital structures(heart and lung), and present our strategies for reconstruction of these complicated patients. 9 patients have undergone radical debridement and immediate microsurgical reconstruction for severe radionecrotic wounds of the anterior chest wall over last 7 years. All patients had extensive osteomyelitis of the ribs or sternum, and chronic infection or cutaneous fistulae. 2 patients had pericardial effusions due to longstanding inflammation, and 6 patients had pleural effusions. 2 patients had ipsilateral lung collapse. 10 free flaps were performed for coverage of the huge defects. One patient required 2 free flaps to control the inflammation. 8 free TRAM flaps were used for coverage of the defects and in addition, the rectus abdominis muscle was packed into any deep cavity. 1 patients underwent latissimus dorsi muscle free flap because of previous abdominal surgery. After extensive debridement of the infected, radionecrotic wounds, all 10 free flaps were successful. All the extensive radionecrotic defects of the anterior chest wall were completely healed. Free flaps successfully covered the exposed vital structures of the heart and lungs. Patients with severe radionecrotic defects of the anterior chest wall after ablative breast cancer surgery and radiotherapy were successfully treated by radical debridement and immediate free flap surgery. The TRAM flap together with the rectus muscle is the treatment of choice for these huge defects. The latissimus dorsi muscle flap was the second choice in patients with previous abdominal surgery. The recipient vessel should be carefully selected because of possible radiation damage and inflammation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.397-405
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• 2009

Purpose: Soft tissue defect of anterior chest wall is caused by trauma, infection, tumors and irradiation. To reconstruct damaged anterior chest wall does require to consider the patient's body condition, the cause, the location, the depth and the size of deletion, the circulation of surrounding tissue and minimization of functional and cosmetic disability. In this report, we suggest the algorithm of configuration for reconstruction methods. Methods: A retrospective study of 20 patients who underwent anterior chest wall reconstruction with pedicled musculocutaneous flap and fasciocutaneous flap was conducted. We collected the information of the patient's body condition, the cause, the size, the depth and the location of deletion, implemented flap and complication. We observed and evaluated flap compatibility, functional and cosmetic results. Patients completed survey about the extent to their satisfaction. Result: Follow up period after surgery was from 6 to 26 months, survival of flap were confirmed in all of patients' case. Two cases of local necrosis, one case of wound disruption were reported, but all these were cured by the debridement and primary closure. One hematoma and one seroma formation were observed in donor site. Longer surgery time, more bleeding amount and more transfusion volume were reported in the group of musculocutenous flap. Conclusion: Long term follow up result showed the successful reconstruction in all patients without recurrence and with minimal donor site morbidity. In addition, the patients' satisfaction for cosmetic and functional results were scaled relatively higher. This confirmed the importance of reconstruction algorithm for the chest wall reconstruction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.629-633
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• 1998

Implantation of malignant cells along the needle aspiration tract is an extremely rare potential complication following a percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy of a lung carcinoma. The dissemination of malignant cells by a needle aspiration biopsy may convert an operable and potentially curable lesion into a fatal disease. We report two cases of chest wall implantation of carcinoma of the lung after a thin needle aspiration biopsy. A fifty-five year old male was successfully treated by a radical full-thickness excision of the chest wall and immediate reconstruction with the latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous island flap. A sixty-eight year old female was treated with a partial-thickness excision of the chest wall and skin graft due to superimposed infection and ulceration of the metastatic chest wall carcinoma. One case lived for 31 months up to November 1994, and the other's condtion has been uneventful for 3 months up to now.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2000

The treatment of chronic chest wounds should be focused on eradicating the infection and obliterating the dead space thus providing improved pulmonary function. Chronic chest wounds, although the incidence has decreased over the years, is still associated with high morbidity and prolong hospitalization. In cases where the disease is advanced and conventional measures fail, aggressive approaches achieve adequate resolution or significant improvement. This paper reports four cases of chronic chest wound including bronchopleural fistula and osteomyelitis managed by debridement followed by muscle coverage using latissimus dorsi, rectus abdominis, and omental flap. The intrathoracic reconstruction entails thorough debridement of empyema cavities, bronchpleural fistulas and infection focus. The infection must be completely eradicated prior to or at the time of flap transposition. The flaps used for obliteration of dead spaces provided adequate bulk, abundant blood supply, and minimal donor morbidity. The results were satisfactory with improved respiratory function without complications.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.488-491
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• 2023

Silicone breast implant insertion is a commonly performed surgical procedure for breast augmentation or reconstruction. Among various postoperative complications, infection is one of the main causes of patient readmission and may ultimately require explantation. We report a case of infective costochondritis after augmentation mammoplasty, which has rarely been reported and is therefore difficult to diagnose. A 36-year-old female visited the clinic for persistent redness, pain, and purulent discharge around the left anteromedial chest, even after breast implant explantation. Magnetic resonance imaging showed abscess formation encircling the left fourth rib and intracartilaginous and bone marrow signal alteration at the left body of the sternum and left fourth rib. En bloc resection of partial rib and adjacent sternum were done and biopsy results confirmed infective costochondritis. Ten months postoperatively, the patient underwent chest wall reconstruction with an artificial bone graft and acellular dermal matrix. As shown in this case, early and aggressive surgical debridement of the infected costal cartilage and sternum should be performed for infective costochondritis. Furthermore, delayed chest wall reconstruction could significantly contribute to the quality of life.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.61-64
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• 2011

Cervical necrotizing fasciitis is a rare but well known life-threatening soft tissue infection primarily affecting the superficial and deep cervial fascial planes. It may rapidly spread into the mediastinum along fascial planes. So, if proper diagnosis and prompt surgical debridement is delayed, the infection may cause descending necrotizing mediastinitis with extensive necrosis of overlying skin, destroying fascia and muscle. Therefore, the key to the successful outcome is early recognition and rapid initiation of definitive radical debridement. The authors report, along with a literature review, a case of cervical necrotizing fasciitis with atypical spreading into the lateral chest wall.