• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.353-360
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• 2003

Background : Although most patients with tuberculous pleurisy respond well to anti-tuberculous drugs, some are known to progress into severe pleural thickening which needs decortication despite adequate anti-tuberculous treatment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with the development of severe pleural thickening in patients who finally underwent pleural decortication in tuberculous pleurisy. Patients and Methods : From retrospective medical records review, 121 patients initially diagnosed as tuberculous pleurisy without initial pleural fluid loculation were enrolled between January 1998 and December 2002. They were separated into two groups: 85 patients in group 1 who improved by anti-tuberculous drugs only, and 36 patients in group 2 who had progressed into pleural adhesion and finally underwent pleural decortication despite adequate (more than 6 months) anti-tuberculous treatment. Results : Males were more common in group 2 (M/F=31/5) than in group 1 (M/F=53/32) (p=0.010). Group 2 patients tended to have lower pleural fluid glucose level ($58{\pm}4$ mg/dL) than group 1 ($89{\pm}3$ mg/dL) (p=0.001) and higher pleural fluid adenosine deaminase level ($86{\pm}5$ IU/L) than group 1 ($76{\pm}3$ IU/L), (p=0.038). There were no significant differences in age, symptom duration, pleural fluid amount, or pleural fluid LDH level between groups 1 and 2. Conclusions : There was a relative risk of tuberculous pleurisy progression into severe pleural thickening which needed decortication in the case of male patients, low pleural fluid glucose or high adenosine deaminase level. But further, large-scale, prospective studies should be investigated.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.350-354
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• 2009

Background: Complicated pleural space occupying lesions (SOL) have been treated by thoracentesis, closed thoracotomy drainage (CTD) or surgical intervention with using a video thoracosocpe or open thoracotomy depending on the extent of the disease. With the development of video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), VATS pleural adhesiolysis and decortication have revealed good results as compared to those for open thorcotomy. To assess the effectiveness of VATS pleural adhesiolysis and decortication, we retrospectively analyzed the medical record and radiologic findings of the patients with complicated pleural SOL and who were treated by this surgery. Material and Method: From May 1996 to April 2006, 64 patients (mean age: 41.8 years) with complicated pleural SOL underwent 65 VATS. To analyze the surgical outcome, we classified the postoperative findings on the simple chest X-rays into 4 classes as Class I: no or minimal pleural lesion, Class II: blunting of the cardiophrenic angle and mild pleural thickening, Class III: an elevated diaphgram or persistent lung collapse and Class IV: complicated or recurrent effusion. Result: Before VATS, the patients underwent the diagnostic or therapeutic procedures: single or repeat diagnostic tapping for 41, thoracoscotomy drainage for 11, pigtail catheter drainage for 10 and intrapleural fibrinolytics for 10. The mean duration between the onset of symptom and surgery was 18.4 days. There was neither mortality nor severe complications. The surgical outcomes were class 1 for 28, class 2 for 13, class 3 for 19 and class 4 for 5. There were statistically significant differences between the symptom duration and the classes, and between the operation time and the classes. Conclusion: VATS pleural adhesiolysis and decortication are effective, safe treatments for managing complicated pleural SOL, and an earlier operation is needed for obtaining a better surgical outcome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.840-843
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• 1985

Pleural mesothelioma which arise from pleura is relatively uncommon tumor. We are reporting 2 cases of pleural mesothelioma which were treated with surgical resection. First case, benign epithelial mesothelioma was confirmed incidentally after decortication due to localized pleural thickening. The second case, malignant mesothelial mesothelioma was diagnosed by examination of chest radiology, diagnostic pneumogram and pleural biopsy as malignancy which was treated with the resection of the tumor mass. In the first case, postoperative recurrence of tumor growth was found within 1.5 months after resection. In the section malignant case, no evidence of recurrence was noted even after 3 months of resection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.769-774
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• 1993

Thoracic empyema is defined as purulent pleural effusion or effusion with positive bacteriology. Recently, the empyema has markedly decreased by developement of antibiotics, but empyemas following thoracotomy were occasionaly reported. During the period of January, 1985 to May,1991, 18 patients with postthoracotomy empyema have been treated in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of Chonbuk National University Hospital.There were 17 males and 1 female ranged from 18 years to 67 years of age. The underlying diseases of empyema were tuberculosis [50%], lung cancer [33.3%], esophageal cancer [11.1%],and aspergillosis with tuberculosis[5.6%]. In surgical procedures causing the empyema, there were lobectomy[38.9%], pneumonectomy[22.2%], decortication[16.7%], decortication & lobectomy[11.1%], and esophagectomy [11.1%]. Etiologic organisms in the pleural fluid were Pseudomonas [27.7%], S.aureus [16.7%], mixed infection [16.7%], K.pneumonia [5.6%], M.tuberculosis [5.6%], and no isolation [27.7%]. In 6 cases with BPF, completion pneumonectomy was performed in 1 case, and open thoracostomy in 5 cases. In 12 cases without BPF, closed thoracostomy was performed in 1 case, decortication in 2 cases, decortication & open thoracostomy in 2 cases, and open thoracostomy in 7 cases. In 6 cases with BPF, the fistulas were closed in 4 cases at follow up, the other 2 cases died from pulmonary insufficiency after completion pneumonectomy and open thoracostomy,respectively. In 12 cases without BPF, the empyema cavities were filled with expanded lungs and granulation tissues, except 1 case died from sepsis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2003

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for decortication or debridement in the management of empyema thoracis has increased the available treatment options but requires validation. We present and evaluate our technique and experience with thoracoscopic management of pleural empyema, irrespective of chronicity. Material and Method : VATS debridement or decortication was performed with endoscopic shaver system in 40 consecutive patients presented with pleural space infections. A retrospective review was performed and the effect of this technique on perioperative outcome was assessed. Result : VATS evacuation of infected pleural fluid and decortication was successfully performed in 35 of 40 patients. The mean duration of preoperative symptoms before referral was 23$\pm$1.8 days. The mean duration of hospitalization before transfer was 13.5$\pm$1.5 days. Blood loss was 250 to 200 mL. Intercostal drainage was required for 5$\pm$3 days. The postoperative hospital stay was 5 $\pm$0.7 days. There were no operative mortalities. Conclusion : Video-assisted evacuation of infected pleural fluid and decortication is an effective modality in the management of the fibropurulent stage of empyema. An organized empyema should be approached thoracosco-pically, but may require open decortication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.56-59
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• 2012

Aspergillus is a ubiquitous fungus and can cause many levels of disease severity. Chronic necrotizing aspergillosis is a rare disease and few cases have been reported in Korea. We experienced a case of pleural aspergillosis that was treated successfully with medical and surgical interventions. The 52-year-old man who was diagnosed with chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis underwent surgical treatment including a lobectomy, decortication, and myoplasty. The patient was also medically treated with amphotericin B followed by voriconazole. Pleural irrigation with amphotericin B was also performed. A multi-dimensional approach should be considered for treating chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 2014

Pseudochylothorax is an uncommon pleural effusion disease characterized by the presence of cholesterol crystals or high lipid content not resulting from a disrupted thoracic duct. Most of the cases reported so far had been found in patients with long-standing pleural effusion due to a chronic inflammatory disease such as old tuberculous pleurisy or chronic rheumatoid pleurisy. Authors encountered a case of pseudochylothorax in a 45-year-old man who had been treated for tuberculous pleurisy 6 years before his visit to authors' hospital. After that, he had visited the emergency department many times for removal of pleural effusion. The patient's chest X-ray revealed dyspnea and large left-sided pleural effusion. Although a large amount of pleural fluid was removed with a drainage catheter, massive pleural effusion was likely to recur, and the underlying lung was able to fully re-expand. Accordingly, decortication was done, and the patient's symptom was improved without postoperative complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.274-277
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• 1982

A Clinical analysis of 59 patients of thoracic empyema was done who were received surgical intervention at dept. of thoracic surgery of the C.A.F.G.H. in the period of 2.5 years from January 1979 to June 1982. Occurrence ratio of Left and Right side pleural cavity of empyema was 1: 1.4. The predisposing factors of empyema were pulmonary Tbc. [49%], Chest pain [25%], Cough [8%], in order. B.P.F. was associated with empyema in 5 cases. The pleural cavity empyema was treated with several surgical procedures and conservative measures. Among of the 59 cases, the 30 cases [50%] were treated with decortication, 12 cases [20%] with closed thoractomy drainage, 9 cases with frequent thoracenteses, 5 cases with partial decortication and thoracoplasty and 3 cases with open thoracostomy tube drainage. Among of the 59 cases thoracic empyema, the full recovery were in 32 cases [54%], partial recovery in 20 cases [34%], not improved in 3 cases [5%] and 3 cases were died. The mortality rate was 5% and the recovery rate was 89%.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.316-325
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• 1988

Author made a clinical study of 248 cases of pleural effusion patients who were diagnosed and treated at departments of chest surgery and internal medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, during the period from Jan. 1983 to Dec. 1985. The age distribution ranged from 1 to 76 years old and the ratio of male to female was 1.38:1. The cardinal symptoms were chest pain[69.4%], dyspnea[66.1%], cough[57.7%], fever[37.1%], sputum[26.2%], general malais[13.7%] and cyanosis[1.6%] in this order. The causes of pleural effusion were pulmonary tuberculosis[42.4%], pneumonia[23.0%], malignancy[16.5%], congestive heart failure[9.3%], liver cirrhosis[2.8%] and nephrosis[2.0%] in this order. The protein in the pleural effusions was 1.61*0.90[mean*SD] gm% in transudate and 5.05*1.10[Mean*SD] gm% in exudate. In 34 cases[89.5%]out of 38 transudates, the protein was under 3 gm% and in 201 cases [95.7%] out of 210 exudates, the protein was over 3 gm%. The protein ratio of pleural effusion to serum was 0.2650.11[Mean LSD] in transudates and 0.73*0.12[Mean LSD] in exudate. The ratio under 0.5 was in 36 cases[94.8%] out of 38 transudates and over 0.5 was in 206 cases[98.1%] out of 210 exudates. The LDH in the pleural effusion was 114.7550.3[mean*SD] units / ml in transudate and 627.05325.9[mean*SD] units / ml in exudate. The LDH less than 200 units / ml was in 36 cases[94.6%] out of 38 transudates and more than 200 units / ml was in 199 cases[94.7%] out of 210 exudates. The LDH ratio of pleural effusion to serum was 0.34k 0.11[mean*SD] in transudate and 1.15*1.12[mean*SD] in exudate. The LDH ratio of pleural effusion to serum was less than 0.6 in 36 cases[94.8%]out of 38 transudates and more than 0.6 in 200 cases[95.2%] out of 210 exudates. Etiologic organisms were confirmed in 78 cases[48.1%] among the requested 162 cases. In the 78 cases of etiologic organisms, staphylococcus was 33 cases[20.3%], streptococcus 24 cases[14.8%], Klebsiella pneumonia 7 cases[4.3%], pseudomonas 6 cases[3.7%], E. coli[3.1%], enterobacter 3 cases[1.9%]. 43 patient of pleural effusion from malignancy were undergone three or more thoracenteses. In 13 cases[31.7%], three specimen were negative and in 7 cases[17.1%], three specimens were positive for malignancy. In the remaining of 21 cases[51.2%], malignant cells were found in one or more of the specimens but not in all. Methods of treatment of pleural effusion by closed thoracotomy was 188 cases[75.8%], thoracentesis 27 cases[10.9%], decortication 16 cases[6.5%], thoracoplasty 6 cases[2.4%] and decortication with thoracoplasty 3 cases[1.2%].

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.660-668
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• 1995

Background: It is said that tuberculous pleuritis responds well to anti-tuberculous drug in general, so no further aggressive therapeutic management is unnecesarry except in case of diagnostic thoracentesis. But in clinical practice, we often see some patients who need later decortication due to dyspnea caused by pleural loculation or thickening despite several months of anti-tuberculous drug therapy. Therefore, we want to know the clinical difference between a group who received decortication due to complication of tuberculous pleuritis despite of anti-tuberculous drug and a group who improved after 9 months of anti-tuberculous drug only. Methods: We reviewed 20 tuberculous pleuritis patients(group 1) who underwent decortication due to dyspnea caused by pleural loculation or severe pleural thickening despite of anti-tuberculous drug therapy for 9 or more months, and 20 other tuberculous pleuritis patients(group 2) who improved by anti-tuberculous drug only and had similar degrees of initial pleural effusion and similar age, sex distribution. Then we compared between the two groups the duration of symptoms before anti-tuberculous drug treatment and pleural fluid biochemistry like glucose, LDH, protein and pleural fluid cell count and WBC differential count, and we also wanted to know whether there was any difference in preoperative PFT value and postoperative PFT value in the patients who underwent decortication, and obtained following results. Results: 1) Group 1 patients had lower glucose level{$63.3{\pm}30.8$(mg/dl)} than that of the group 2{$98.5{\pm}34.2$(mg/dl), p<0.05}, and higher LDH level{$776.3{\pm}266.0$(IU/L)} than the group 2 patients{$376.3{\pm}123.1$(IU/L), p<0.05}, and also longer duration of symptom before treatment{$2.0{\pm}1.7$(month)} than the group 2{$1.1{\pm}1.2$(month), p<0.05}, respectively. 2) In group 1, FVC changed from preoperative $2.55{\pm}0.80$(L) to postoperative $2.99{\pm}0.78$(L)(p<0.05), and FEV1 changed from preoperative $2.19{\pm}0.70$(L/sec) to postoperative $2.50{\pm}0.69$(L/sec)(p<0.05). 3) There was no difference in pleural fluid protein level($5.05{\pm}1.01$(gm/dL) and $5.15{\pm}0.77$(gm/dl), p>0.05) and WBC differential count between group 1 and group 2. Conclusion: It is probable that in tuberculous pleuritis there is a risk of complication in the case of showing relatively low pleural fluid glucose or high LDH level, or in the case of having long duraton of symptom before treatment. We thought prospective study should be performed to confirm this.