• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.43-48
• /
• 2014

Background: This study tests the hypothesis that of bipolar radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the thoracic facet joint capsule may provide a safe and effect method of pain control from thoracic facet origin. Methods: Among patients suffering from localized mid back pain, nine patients with thoracic facet disease confirmed by magnetic resonance image and diagnostic thoracic facet block were enrolled. Bipolar radiofrequency ablation in the inferior aspect of the thoracic facet joint was done. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was measured pre-intervention and 1 month post-intervention. Any complications and changes in amount of pain medication were recorded. Results: Significant 47.6% reduction in VAS was noted at 1 month. There were no serious complications. Conclusions: Intra-articular bipolar radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the thoracic facet joint may be a technically easier and valid method of treating mid back pain of thoracic facet origin.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.243-246
• /
• 2011

A 43-year-old woman was diagnosed with an intravenous leiomyomatosis at a previous hospital and transferred to our hospital to undergo surgical treatment. Emergency one-stage operation for coincidental removal of intra-abdominal, right atrial, and intravenous masses were planned. Upon arriving at the operating room, she suffered a sudden onset of severe dyspnea and showed hemodynamic instability. Intraoperative TEE showed pulmonary embolization of a right atrial mass. Removal of the pulmonary artery mass and the intra-abdominal mass, and the cardiopulmonary bypass were performed without any complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.246-250
• /
• 2012

Background: Although it is rare for the fracture itself to become a life threatening injury in patients suffering from rib fracture, the lives of these patients are occasionally threatened by other associated injuries. Especially, early discovery of patients with rib fracture and intra-abdominal organ injury is extremely important to the prognosis. This study analyzed the link between rib fracture and intra-abdominal injury to achieve improved treatment. Materials and Methods: Among trauma patients that had visited the hospital emergency room from January 2007 to December 2009, a retrospective study was conducted on 453 patients suffering from rib fracture due to blunt trauma. Rib fracture was classified according to location (left, right, and bilateral), and according to level (upper rib fracture [1-2nd rib], middle rib fracture [3-8th rib], and lower rib fracture [9-12th rib]). The researched data was statistically compared and analyzed to investigate the correlation between the location, level, and number of rib fracture and intra-abdominal organ injury. Results: Motor vehicle injury was found to be the most common mechanism of injury with 208 cases (46%). Associated injuries accompanied with rib fracture were generated in 276 cases (61%). Intra-abdominal organ injury was discovered in 97 cases (21%). Liver injury was the most common intra-abdominal injury associated with rib fracture with 39 cases (40%), followed by spleen injury, with 23 cases (23%). Intra-abdominal injury according to level of rib fracture was presented as upper rib fracture in 11 cases (11%), middle rib fracture in 31 cases (32%), and lower rib fracture in 55 cases (57%), thus verifying that intra-abdominal injuries were commonly accompanied in lower rib fractures (p=0.03). In particular, significant increase of intra-abdominal injury was presented in fractures below the 8th rib (p=0.03). The number of intra-abdominal injuries requiring emergency operations was significantly higher in patients with more than 6 rib fractures (p=0.04). Conclusion: Intra-abdominal organ injury is more common in patients with lower rib fracture, especially fractures below the 8th rib. Intra-abdominal organ injuries generated in multiple rib fracture patients with more than 6 fractures significantly higher severity. These cases must be thoroughly inspected and carefully observed as there is possibility of emergency operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.704-709
• /
• 2009

Background: We assessed the efficacy of intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump therapy for achieving hemodynamic instability during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Material and Method: We studied seven hundred ninety-six patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass between January 2000 and December 2006. The patient were divided into group I (n=39), which received intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump therapy, and group II (n=757), which did not receive intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump therapy. Result: There were no differences in the operative mortalities (2.6%, 1/39 vs 0.8%, 6/757; p=0.195) and morbidities such as atrial fibrillation (p=0.691), stroke (p=0.908) and mediastinitis (p=0.781) between the 2 groups, although the ventilator support time, the length of the intensive care unit stay and the length of the hospital stay were longer in group I than in group II (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis failed to prove that group I was a high risk group for operative mortality (p=0.549). There were 3 intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump-related complications in group I (7.9%). However, no longer complications occurred after 2003, when the surgeons began using a smaller sized 8 F catheter that was inserted using a sheathless technique. Conclusion: Intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump therapy for achieving hemodynamic instability during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery can be performed safely and it showed comparable clinical results to that of not using intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 2012

Background: The purposes of this study were to: 1) investigate the relation between thoracic kyphosis, postural stiffness and thoracic rotation and 2) the intra-rater reliability of the measurement methods for thoracic kyphosis and rotation angle. Methods: Thirty-nine young adults (13 males, 26 females) participated in the study. Thoracic kyphosis was measured using a Flexicurve while standing in their usual relaxed posture and then in their maximally erector posture. Index of kyphosis (IK) measures taken in the relaxed and maximally erect positions were used to estimate postural stiffness. Thoracic rotation range of motion (ROM) was measured using universal goniometer and inclinometer in two positions. The association between the magnitude of the IK and thoracic stiffness and thoracic rotation ROM was also examined. Reliability was determined using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Results: When measured from the mean relaxed IK (${\pm}SD$) was 7.42 (${\pm}1.47$) and mean erect IK was 4.92 (${\pm}1.63$) and mean IK ratio was 1.66 (${\pm}.65$). The relaxed IK was significantly correlated with the range of motion thoracic rotation in two positions (r=.503~580, p<.01). Conclusion: Thoracic kyphosis in relaxed position was associated with the range of motion thoracic rotation. Thoracic kyphosis measurement with the Flexicurve and range of motion 2 techniques of thoracic rotation showed good reliablity and may be a useful measurement tool in clinical practice.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.423-426
• /
• 2014

A 67-year-old male patient came to the hospital due to lung cancer and mediastinal cystic mass which was suspected to be esophageal duplication cyst. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was performed and intra-operative finding suggested it as a cystic mass along the thoracic duct. Thoracic duct was ligated and the cyst was completely resected. A 48-year-old female patient visited the hospital for dysphagia. Mediastinal cystic mass was suspected to be an esophageal duplication cyst. Intraoperative finding suggest a thoracic duct lymphangioma. After thoracic duct ligation, the mass was completely resected with VATS. Postoperative chylothorax did not develop in both cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.302-304
• /
• 2013

Ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenomas are rare, but can be life-threatening. Resection is indicated in those cases accompanied by hypercalcemia, especially in young patients. Although most mediastinal parathyroid adenomas can be removed by a cervical approach, a transthoracic approach is needed when the adenoid tissues are located deep within the thoracic cavity. We describe the case of a 37-year-old female who underwent excision of an intrathoracic ectopic parathyroid adenoma after parathyroidectomy four months earlier.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.508-511
• /
• 2008

The incidence of the Buerger's disease is higher for the far-East Asian population that for western people, but the surgical outcomes have been documented to be unsatisfactory. So, more aggressive and multi-focused treatment modalities should be warranted such as stopping smoking or intravenous vasodilator infusion with surgery. We report here on a successful surgical case of intra-arterial direct infusion of Prostaglandin E1 concomitant with surgical bypass and lumbar sympathectomy to treat Buerger's disease.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.265-295
• /
• 2017

Breast tissue is composed of skin, mammary gland(including lactiferous duct), subcutaneous fat layer. The anatomical position is on the anterior chest wall(the outside of the chest cavity) but not on the inside of the thorax. Therefore, when the internal organs in the thoracic cavity are defined and expressed as 'organs' and the internal organs of each are labeled for a long time, for the breast located outside the thoracic cavity, it is thought that there is considerable difficulty in defining and recognizing the breast tissue as organs. For this reason, it is necessary to discourage the controversy over whether or not the breast is contained in the chest(or intra-thoracic cavity). In order to completely exclude it, it is assumed that the "chest-abdomen" can be called the "intra-thoraxic or intra-abdominal." But it is difficult to change the terms in various laws and regulations, I think that it would be necessary to insert only the clue clause "Breasts are excluded" in the detailed criteria for grading. In order to include it, it is necessary to change the terms of the ordinance or to say that the breast is exceptionally included.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.183-186
• /
• 2021

Cardiac tamponade is an acute life-threatening condition that predominantly involves the intra-pericardial space; however, an expanding mediastinal hematoma can also sometimes cause cardiac tamponade. Here we describe the case of a 45-year-old male driver in whom a traffic accident resulted in rupture of the left internal thoracic artery (ITA), extra-pericardial hematoma, and sternal fracture. After resuscitation, he was scheduled to undergo angio-embolization to repair the ruptured left ITA, but he suddenly developed cardiac tamponade that required a decompressive sternotomy. Nevertheless, the patient had an uncomplicated recovery, and this case suggests that extra-pericardial cardiac tamponade should be considered as a possible consequence of retro-sternal hematoma due to traumatic ITA rupture.