• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.404-409
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• 2005

An 86 year old woman was admitted complaining of dyspnea and right pleuritic pain with a 5 week durations. A physical examination, chest X-ray, and diagnostic thoracentesis upon admission revealed findings consistent with severe pneumonia and empyema on the right lung. Despite the insertion of a chest tube and negative suction via Emersion pump, the continuous air leakage was sustained, and a bronchopleural fistula (BPF) was found on the chest-CT. A flexible bronchoscopic occlusion with an Endobronchial Watanabe Spigot (EWS) was performed after 56 days of admission. An 5 mm diameter EWS was successfully inserted into the anterior segmental bronchus of the right upper lobe by flexible bronchoscope. There was no aAir leakage detected after this procedure. The patient was discharged 30 days after the EWS occlusion.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.6
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• pp.251-257
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• 2014

Background: Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) is a valuable diagnostic tool for peripheral pulmonary lesions. The diagnostic yield of TBLB reportedly ranges from 41%-60%. Many studies demonstrated the various factors that influence the yield of TBLB, including size, location, and distance from the carina or pleura. However, no study has evaluated the effects of the bronchoscope diameter. We evaluated whether the bronchoscope diameter affected the diagnostic yield of TBLB. Methods: We reviewed records from 178 patients who underwent TBLB using bronchoscopes of two different diameters (5.7 mm, thick outer diameter, Olympus BF-200; 4.9 mm, thin, BF-260). The fluoroscopic guidance rates, yield of TBLB and flexible bronchoscopy (FB) were compared between the two groups. Additionally, we compared the results of the procedures with respect to diagnosis, distance from the pleura, and size of the lesion. Results: The results of fluoroscopic guidance, TBLB, and FB yield using thin diameter bronchoscope were significantly better than those obtained with a thick diameter bronchoscope (p=0.021, p=0.036, and p=0.010, respectively). Particularly, when the distance from the pleura was ${\leq}10mm$, success rates for fluoroscopic guidance and FB with thin bronchoscope were higher (p=0.013 and p=0.033, respectively), as compared to with thick bronchoscope. Conclusion: A thinner diameter bronchoscope increased the yield of bronchoscopy, and bronchial washing in conjunction with TBLB was useful in the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary nodules.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.110-115
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• 2009

Background: A forceps-biopsy is performed to acquire tissue from patients with an endobronchial carcinoma using a flexible bronchoscope. Recently, a cryo-biopsy has also been used to acquire tissue samples. Cryo-biopsy is the diagnostic application of extreme cold for the local destruction of abnormal living tissue. This technique is safe, with no radiation danger, no risk of electrical accidents, and a little risk of bleeding. This study compared a forceps-biopsy with a cryo-biopsy using a flexible bronchoscope, and examined the chemosensitivity and level of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) in the specimens obtained from the cryo-biopsy. Methods: We present a prospective study of 30 consecutive patients who underwent a forceps-biopsy between January 2007 and October 2007 with a mean age of 62.1 years and a male:female ratio of 5 : 1. A flexible bronchoscope was inserted to the area of the abnormal lesions, and a cryo-probe was then applied through the working channel of the flexible bronchoscope. A temperature of approximately -h80 was delivered to the tumor site for 8 seconds. The cryo-biopsy was performed after destroying the tumor mass. Results: The mean size of the tissue from the forceps-biopsy and cryo-biopsy were 2.0${\pm}$1.2 mm and 6.0${\pm}$3.0 mm. A chemosensitivity test was performed on 5 specimens obtained using cryo-biopsy and the level of VEGF was examined in 2 specimens obtained from a cryo-biopsy. There were no side effects in either group. Conclusion: Cryo-biopsy using a flexible bronchoscope is a safe and effective technique for acquiring tissue samples.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.5
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• pp.215-218
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• 2014

Tracheal invasion is an uncommon complication of thyroid cancer, but it can cause respiratory failure. A rigid bronchoscope may be used to help relieve airway obstruction, but general anesthesia is usually required. Tracheal balloon dilatation and stent insertion can be performed without general anesthesia, but complete airway obstruction during balloon inflation may be dangerous in some patients. Additionally, placement of the stent adjacent to the vocal cords can be technically challenging. An 86-year-old female patient with tracheal invasion resulting from thyroid cancer was admitted to our hospital because of worsening dyspnea. Due to the patient's refusal of general anesthesia and the interventional radiologist's difficulty in completing endotracheal stenting, we performed endotracheal tube balloon dilatation and argon plasma coagulation. We have successfully treated tracheal obstruction in the patient with thyroid cancer by using endotracheal tube balloon inflation and a flexible bronchoscope without general anesthesia or airway obstruction during balloon inflation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.457-462
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• 2008

Background: Emergency airway access is essential when a patient has dyspnea that's due to tracheal or bronchial obstruction. Such methods as laser therapy and PDT are now being used for the treatment of tracheal obstruction that's due to benign diseases or nonsurgical malignant diseases. Cryotherapy is a method that uses extreme hypothermia for freezing a tumor to cause necrosis. In this study, we have evaluated the clinical effectiveness of performing endobronchial cryoablation through a flexible bronchoscope. Material and Method: 10 patients with tracheal obstruction that was due to endotracheal tumors were evaluated between May 2005 and May 2007. Eight were male and the mean age of the 10 patients was $59.4{\pm}18.4$ years. Three cases of tracheal obstruction were due to benign tumors and 7 were due to malignant tumors. The obstruction sites were 3 at the trachea, 3 at the carina and 4 at the bronchus. A flexible bronchoscope was inserted and the tumor was eliminated using a flexible cryoprobe. Follow up bronchoscopy was performed at 1 week and 1 month after cryoablation, and then we evaluated the decrease of dyspnea, the improvement of the performance and the complications of the procedures. Result: Complete remission was achieved in 4 patients and partial remission was achieved in 6 patients. Complications such as hemoptysis (100%), and cough (50%) were noted. Hemoptysis was spontaneously resolved in 3 to 8 days (mean: 4.9 days). A decrease in dyspnea and improvement in the performance was noted in all patients. Conclusion: Endobronchial stenosis plays a detrimental role in the life quality of a terminal cancer patient. Due to its simplicity and effectiveness for controlling bleeding, endobronchial cryoablation is considered to be a safe method that is clinically applicable to a wide range of tumors, including the removal of large tumors. We concluded that endobronchial cryoablation through a flexible bronchoscope is a safe, effective method for treating tracheobroncheal obstructions.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 2021

A foreign body in the airway can be a potentially life-threatening event. The diagnosis and treatment of foreign bodies in the airway are a challenge for otolaryngologists. Despite the improvements in medical care and public awareness, approximately 3,000 deaths occur each year from foreign body aspiration. A high degree of vigilance is required to ensure prompt treatment and avoid the complications of foreign body aspiration. The author encountered a case of a 77-year-old female patient who had aspirated an unknown foreign body that was fixed in her main bronchus. An initial attempt was made to remove it with a flexible bronchoscope but failed due to the patient's hypoxemic state during the procedure. Under general anesthesia, a rigid bronchoscopic examination was performed, but it was difficult to approach the object due to the bronchus curvature. Instead, a cryotherapy instrument of bronchoscopy was applied. The foreign body was frozen and removed to the carina, where a laryngoscope and laryngeal forceps were used to remove it.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 1993

Background: The development of the flexible fiberoptic broncoscope by Ikeda was an important technologic advance in the diagnosis and management of patients with pulmonary disease. But, cross contamination related to fiberoptic bronchoscope was reported in cases involving tubercle bacilli, MOTT and other agents. Therefore, cleaning and disinfecting of fiberoptic bronchoscope requires careful attention. Methods: From September 1991 to May 1992, medical records of all patients with positive culture for MOTT in bronchial washing specimens were reviewed. Also to evaluate bactericidal effect of 2% glutaraldehyde, culture was performed after inoculum of MOTT, Serratia marsescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the disinfectant solution. Results: In 2% alkaline glutaraldehyde, MOTT was not survived only after 30 minute exposure, but P. aeruginosa and S. marsescens were rapidly inactivated with no survivors after exposure to 2% glutaraldehyde. Since vigorous mechanical cleansing and more than 30 minute of contact time within washing machine, no more outbreak was observed. Conclusions: It is also very important that bronchoscopes must be meticulously cleaned after each procedure and more than 30 minute exposure would be required for eradication of MOTT with 2% glutaraldehyde. However even the most strictly applied infection control measures cannot exclude contamination completly and clinicians have to stay alert to this possibility. Prompt detection of pseudoepidemics is possible if abrupt increase in isolation rates, especially if they involve unusual or generally nonpathogenic organisms, are readily recognized.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1978.06a
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• pp.5.1-5
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• 1978

Since Ikeda in traduced flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope in 1968, use of bronchoscopy was expanded rapidly. Wide use of flexible bronchoscopy enabled us to get tissue diagnosis with more ease and safety. Authors analyzed 71 cases of tissue biopsy of 233 bronchoscopies from June '76 to. Jan. '78 and concluded as following : 1. 233 bronchoscopies af 20 Month duration, cases which needed tissue biopsy were 71 cases (30.5%). 2. Chief complaints af above cases are coughing, dyspnea, sputum, chest pain, hemoptysis in frequency. 3. Biopsy sites were as following in frequency: Rt.upper lobe, Lt. main bronchus, Lt. upper lobe, Rt. main bronchus, Lt. lower lobe. 4. The final diagnosis of biopsied cases were cancer 80%, tuberculosis 15%, and malignant mesothelioma, anthracosis, aspergillosis, were one case each. 5. Among 57 case of lung cancer, biopsy confirmed cases were 36 cases (63%). 6. Pathologic finding of 36 case of Biopsy confirmed lung cancer was as following: Squamous cell ca : 64% Anaplastic ca : 25% Adeno ca : 2.8% Unclassified: 2.8% 7. Bronchographies were done in 36cases (51%), one quarter of cases before biopsy, and three quarters of cases after biopsy. 8. Cytology was requested in 76% of cases with following results; PAP class V 15%, class IV 7.5%, class III 1.8%.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.54-57
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• 2010

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) into the tracheobronchial tree could be life threatening requiringprompt intervention. Any objects placed in the oral cavity put patients at a risk of aspirating or swallowing the objects slipped or broken by physical injuries. Here, we report a case of 30 yr old patient with FBA during gold crown replacement was successfully treated with the use of the flexible bronchoscope. Case: A 30 yr old woman was admitted to Seoul National Dental Hospitalfor an amalgam restoration. She was scheduled to gold crown restoration for replacement of the damaged amalgam at #37 site. After performing crown lengthening procedure, the aspiration of gold crown occurred during the cementation of the crown. After aspiration, the patients complained of the subjective distress of respiration. Chest radiograph revealed that gold crown was enlodged to the left bronchus. Flexible fiberoptics was inserted to the bronchus to remove the aspirated crown. Fiberoptic assisted removal of the aspiratedcrown was successfully performed. After removal, there was no radiopaque material in the left bronchus on follow-up chest radiograph. Discussion: When aspiration of dental materials occurs, flexible fiberoptic can be used in the treatment of FBA. It is also very useful to take preventive management such as rubber dam, application of dental floss in dental procedure where there is high likelihood of FBA.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.68-71
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• 2007

Fractured tracheostomy tube presenting as foreign body in the tracheobronchial tree is very rare. Authors experienced a case of broken tracheostomy tube presenting as a foreign body in the trachea, which was removed with the help of flexible bronchoscope. A few causes could be suggested for the tube break: aging and deterioration of the tube with repeated use, a flaw of the tube in the manufacturing process, and a wrong sterilization.method causing weakness of the tube. We report this case with brief literature review.