• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.765-769
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• 2007

Background: The curative treatment of choice for empyema is decortication of the pleura. The risks of this treatment however are increased for the patient with reduced pulmonary function, complicated calcification or septic shock. In the past, open window thoracostomy was a final stage treatment for chronic empyema. Relatively safe treatment of empyema could be achieved in difficult cases with a closure of the open window after open drainage and use of a myocutaneous flap (one stage or staged). Material and Method: A retrospective study of the cause, progression and final outcome of empyema patients who received open window thoracostomy was performed. 21 patients were followed from 1995 to 2004 in the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in the College of Medicine, Pusan National University. Result: The average age of the patients was $57.5{\pm}15.5$ years (range $25{\sim}78$ years), of whom 16 (76.2%) were men and five (23.8%) were women. Pulmonary function test results showed an average FEV1 of $1.58{\pm}0.49 L$. The type of empyema was tuberculous empyema in 13 cases (61.9%), aspergillosis in three cases (14.3%), parapneumonic empyema in three cases (14.3%) and post-resectional empyema in two cases (10%). Bronchopulmonary fistula was seen in 14 cases. Eight cases were complicated by severe calcification of the pleura. For the four cases of bronchopulmonary fistula, the patients' serratus anterior muscle was covered in their first operation. The average number of ribs resected was $4{\pm}1$. Closure of the open window thoracostomy was performed in 12 cases. The average time to closure after open drainage was $10.22{\pm}3.11$ months and the average defect of the empyemal cavity before the final operation was $330{\pm}110 cc$. Among the 12 cases, there were two cases of spontaneous closure. In two cases closure was only achieved by using the reserved skin fold during the first surgery. Of the remaining eight cases, in seven we used the myocutaneous flap (four cases of lattisimus dorsi muscle and three cases of pectoralis major muscle), and in one case we used soft tissue. As regards complications of the closure, tissue necrosis occurred in one case, which led to failed closure, and there was one case of abdominal hernia in the rectus abdominis muscle flap. One patient died within 30 days of the surgery and one patient died of metastatic cancer. Conclusion: A staged operation with a final closure using open window thoracostomy, which consists of open drainage, transposition of the muscle and a myocutaneous flap, can be a safe and effective option for the chronic empyema patient who is difficult to cure with traditional surgical methods.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1102-1106
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• 1992

A 66-year-old male patient was admitted due to chest pain and dyspnea of 1 year duration, He had history of treatment for tuberculosis and pleurisy, about 40 years ago. At another hospital the patient underwnt closed thoracostomy drainage for six months, and thereafter the symptom gradually aggrevated. Under the diagnosis of chronic tuberculous empyema, decortication was performed. The peel attached to the posterolateral aspect of chest wall, there was an area of soft tissues with pale-brown discoloration, extending to intercostal muscles, but sparing overlying muscles. The biopsy specimen of the lesion was pathologically diagnosed as diffuse, large T-cell non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma. A review of the literature showed that malignant lymphoma of this type have been reported exclusively from Japan but never from other countries including Korea. After 1 year of followup period, the patient is well and stable.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.914-919
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• 1997

We analyzed the changes of pulmonary function after decortication i 33 patients with chronic empyema thoracis. In 11 patients of them, scintigraphic lung perfusion scan were performed. The results are as follows; 1, Forced expiratory volume in one second(FEVI) increased from 2.30 L/sec to 2.65 L/sec after decorticati on (p = 0.008) . 2. In patients under 20 years-old, PEV 1 increased significantly(p=0.001). 3. In patients who had tuberculosis empyema thoracis, FEVI increased significantly(p=0.008). The post-operative FEVI increased significantly 24 months later(p=0.013). 4. Te post-operative FEV1 increased significantly 24 months later(p=0013). 5. Perfusion and FEV1 of diseased lung changed from 21.5% to 26.9%(p=0.046) and 0.56 L/sec to 0.78 L/sec(p=0.071) after decortication respectively and perfusion of non-diseased lung changed 78.4% to 72.9% after decortication(p=0.042).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.624-629
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• 1987

Tuberculosis is one of the most common chronic disease. While the disease process may involve anywhere of the body, tuberculosis of anterior mediastinum which forming tumor like mass was not recognized commonly. We experienced a surgical case of tuberculous empyema thoracis at anterior mediastinum in 16 year old boy. Preoperatively, he was diagnosed to anterior mediastinal tumor such as teratoma or dermoid cyst by routine study. Operation was performed by midline sternotomy extending over right 4th intercostal space. The mass was elongated football shaped [20x16x15] and markedly adhered to right side of pericardium, upper 8< lower lobe of the right lung. Opening the mass, enormous pus-like material was evacuated and excised segmentally with decortication. Postoperative pathologic diagnosis was tuberculous empyema thoracis and granuloma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.47-60
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• 1974

During the past 10 years 114 patients with empyema have been treated in hospital of Chonnam University. There were 87 males and 27 females ranging from 20 days to 70 years of age. The etiology was pyogenic pneumonia in 36.7%, tuberculosis in 22.7%, paragonimiasis in 8.8%, post-thoracotomy in 5.4%, post-trauma in 4.4%, lung abscess in 3.5%, malignancy in 3.5%, post-esophageal operation in 1.8%, and sterile in 10.5%. The over-all mortality rate was 2% [3 patients]. The majority of deaths occurred in patients with associated systemic illness [liver cirrhosis in I, and renal tuberculosis in I] and resistant tuberculosis for anti-tuberculosis drugs in one patient. Adequate drainage and obliteration of the pleural space continues to be the most important aspect of treatment and can frequently be achieved by closed chest tube thoracostomy in acute empyema especially in children. The more chronic thick-walled or loculated cavities require open drainage [open window therapy], decortication, thoracoplasty, sterilization, and myoplasty for closure of tracheobronchial fistula.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.819-825
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• 1992

The omental pedicle flap[OFF] has been used for management of complicated problems in various fields of cardiovascular surgery. Its unique properties of enhancing neovascularity, relieving lymphedema, providing fibroblasts to promote healing, providing soft tissue coverage, & functioning in the face of existing infection make it ideal in managing many of the more complicated problems facing the thoracic surgeon. We have used omental pedicle for colosing of the bronchial fistula R esophageal fistula with filling the adjoining cavity after pneumonectomy. The successful closure of the bronchial stump with OFF were obtained in 2 cases, but one case was failed who was suffered from the esophageal fistula. The primary operation in each cases were right pleuropneumonctomy for tuberculous empyema in 2 cases & left pneumonectomy for chronic empyema in 1 case, We believe that the OFF is effective for closing fistula due to postoperative empyema k plombage procedures for dead space of infected thoracic cavity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.516-522
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• 1978

In spite of recent improvement of the medical and surgical treatments, there are many significant problems in the management of thoracic empyema. This is a clinical analysis of 49 cases of thoracic empyema who underwent lung decortication for a period of 6 years and 5 months extending from May, 1972 to Aug. 1975. The following results were obtained: Male to female ratio was 2. S to 1. The age ranged between Sand 69, bnt was mostly 2r.d and 5th decade. The underlying diseases were pulmonary tuberculosis (30 cases, 61. 1 SO, , ), posttraumatic hemothorax (7 cases, 14.396). pneumonia (6 cases, 12.2%), lung abscess (2 cases, 4.2%), paragonimiasis (2 cases, 4.2%). spontaneous pneumothorax (1 case, 2.1%), and unknown origin (1 case, 2.1%). In 13 cases (26.5%), positive bacterial growth on culture was reported. There were single infection in 11 cases and mixed infection in 2 cases. The organisms grown were Staphylococcus, alpha-hemolytIc Streptococcus, Alkaligenes fecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, SerratIa, Enterobacter agglomerans, and Enterococcus in order of frequency. Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Serratia were sensitive to several different kinds of antibiotics. But Pseudomonas, Escherichia co:i, and Enterococcus were sensitive to only one or two antibiotics. Leukocytosis was observed In acute empyema, but not in chronic empyema. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were all within normal limits. Preoperative liver function tests were within normal limits in most of the cases. In 49 cases, lung decortication alone was performed in 40 cases (S1. 696), and for the remaining 9 cases (1S. 4%), additional surgical procedures were necessary, i. e., lobectomy (6cases). partial thoracoplasty (2 cases), and lobectomy & partial thoracoplasty (1 cases). The results of lung decortication in thoracic empyema were goed. 38 cases (77.5%) healed with no complication, and 10 cases (20.4%) were complicated by bleeding, wownd infection, pleural infection, chondritis, and psychosis. These complications resolved ultimately leaving no sequelae. One death was recorded (2.1%), and the causes of death were postoperative pleural infection, sepsis and hepatic insufficiency.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.80-84
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• 2011

Empyema necessitatis refers to empyema that extends into the extrapleural space through a defect in the pleural surface. Tuberculous empyema necessitatis is a rare complication of tuberculosis. We experienced a 21-month-old boy with tuberculous empyema necessitatis with osteomyelitis in the right $7^{th}$ rib. He presented with a mass on the right lateral chest wall, which was soft and nontender, enlarging for one month. He also had mild fever. The plain radiograph of his chest revealed soft tissue swelling and calcified lymph node on the left axilla, and his PPD skin test was positive. CT scan of the chest showed empyema necessitatis at the right lower chest and upper abdominal walls with osteomyelitis of the right $7^{th}$ rib. He did not have concurrent pulmonary tuberculosis. Surgery was performed for diagnosis and treatment. In histopathologic findings, chronic granulomatous inflammation with caseation necrosis was shown and was positive for acid fast bacilli stain. In addition, M. tuberculosis complex was found as etiology by polymerase chain reaction. The patient has been treated with anti-tuberculous medication without any specific complication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.795-798
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• 2008

A 50 year old male patient was admitted due to fever and left upper-quadrant abdominal pain. He had a history of previous treatment for pulmonary TB and splenectomy due to plastic anemia. A large peritoneal abscess with connection to a chronic left side tuberculous empyema thoracis was diagnosed on admission. Chest CT also revealed a soft issue lesion on the left anterior chest wall. Staged drainage of the peritoneal lesion followed by left side pleuropneumonectomy with chest wall resection was performed. The pathologic studies showed a high grade sarcoma of the chest wall.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.304-310
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• 2023

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) commonly arise from the pleura and are mostly benign. However, they may develop anywhere in the body, and 10%-30% are malignant. Classically, SFTs appear as solitary enhancing masses, and bilateral presentation is extremely rare. In this case, an 88-year-old male presented with back pain and a history of chronic tuberculous empyema. Imaging studies revealed bilateral paravertebral masses with aggressive radiologic features, which were speculatively presumed as thoracic malignancies in association with chronic empyema. Herein, we report a unique case of bilateral paravertebral malignant SFTs that were accurately diagnosed with a CT-guided coaxial needle biopsy.