• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.403-406
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• 2017

Tracheobronchial rupture due to blunt chest trauma is a rare but life-threatening injury in the pediatric population. Computed tomography (CT) is not always reliable in the management of these patients. An additional concern is that ventilation may be disrupted during surgical repair of these injuries. This report presents the case of a 4 -year-old boy with an injury to the lower trachea and carina due to blunt force trauma that was missed on the initial CT scan. During surgery, he was administered venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Although ECMO is not generally used in children, this case demonstrated that the short-term use of ECMO during pediatric surgery is safe and can prevent intraoperative desaturation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.833-837
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• 1994

Lung contusion due to blunt chest trauma is the most common lung injury and correlated with the clinical course and prognosis. Its diagnosis by CT[Computerized Tomogram] gives a more clear and understandable three dimensional view, by which we are able to measure the volume of the contused and entire lung. Other variables are arterial blood gas, number of rib fracture, presence of hemopneumothorax, sternal fracture and clavicle fracture, number of associated non-thoracic injuries, ventilator time and presence of pulmonary complication. Percentage[%] of lung contusion are expressed as mean $\pm$ standard deviation and data analysis was performed by means of multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance to detect significant differences in variables between positive thoracic injury group and negative group. The paired t-test was used. Differences of percentage of lung contusion between groups were assessed by one-way analysis of variance. Simple linear regression was used to perform correlation analysis in the number of rib fracture and ventilator time. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Pneumothorax and the number of associated other injuries affect the amount of lung contusion and pulmonary complication group has more contused lung volume. Arterial blood gas study shows no correlation with the amount of lung contusion statistically. The number of rib fracture correlated with the amount of lung contusion, which also correlated with ventilator time[r=0.56, p<0.05]. In conclusion, quantitative anlysis of lung contusion by CT predicts the clinical course and treatment such as ventilator care.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.179-185
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• 2017

Purpose: Rib fracture is the most common complication of blunt thoracic trauma. We investigated the effect of rib fracture on pulmonary function in the conservatively treated patients. Methods: From January 2000 to February 2017, we reviewed the records of 72 patients with rib fracture and pulmonary function tests were performed. According to the number of rib fractures, patients were classified into two groups: less than six fractured ribs (group A) and more than six fractured ribs (group B). The groups were compared concerning demographics, underlying diseases, associated thoracic injuries, surgery, mechanical ventilator times, days spent in the intensive care unit and pulmonary function test. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the demographic data between the two groups. Mean hospitalization was 13.5 days in group A and 27.0 days in group B (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the pulmonary function test. Conclusions: We conclude that pulmonary function is restored by conservative treatment in patients with rib fractures even if the number of rib fractures increases. In patients with multiple rib fractures, studies comparing open rib fixation and conservative treatment of long term pulmonary function are required.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.253-257
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• 2023

A century ago, cardiac injuries usually resulted in death. However, despite all the advances in medicine, these injuries still have high mortality and morbidity rates. In the present case, we describe a patient with a bullet injury to the right ventricle who survived at our hospital despite the limitations of our center with regard to modalities and equipment. A 30-year-old man was brought to our emergency department with a bullet wound to his left flank. He was hemodynamically unstable. After only 8 minutes in the hospital and without further investigations he was rushed to the operating room. During laparotomy, a clot was visible in the left diaphragm, which dislodged and caused extensive bleeding. The decision was made to perform a sternotomy in the absence of a sternal saw. An oblique 8-cm injury to the right ventricle was discovered following rapid exploration. It was repaired without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. After a few days in the hospital, the patient was discharged home. In the event of a penetrating cardiac injury, rapid decision-making is crucial for survival. Whenever possible, the patient should be transferred to the operating room, as emergency department thoracotomies are associated with a high mortality rate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.148-152
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• 1994

We have experienced 21 cases of traumatic diaphragm injury between October, 1989 and September, 1993. Of these patients, 17 cases were caused by blunt trauma and 4 by penetrating injury. Among 17 blunt traumas, 10 cases developed at left side, 6 at right and 1 at central subpericardial diaphragm, and among penetrating injuries, 3 cases developed at right side and 1 at left. Overall mortality rate was 21% and one due to blunt trauma was 29%. Initial hypotension was a predisposing factor to presume future death. When associated injuries involved 4 or more organs, mortality rate was high.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.217-222
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• 2012

Purpose: Diaphragmatic rupture following trauma is often an associated and missed injury. This report is about our experience with treating traumatic diaphragmatic rupture (TDR). Methods: From January 2007 to September 2012, 18 patients who had a diaphragmatic rupture due to blunt trauma or penetrating injury underwent an operation for diaphragmatic rupture at our hospital. We retrospectively reviewed their medical records, including demographic factors, initial vital signs, associated injuries, interval between trauma and diagnosis, injured side of the diaphragm, diagnostic tools, surgical method or approaches, operative time, herniated organs, complications, and mortality. Results: The average age of the patients was 43 years, and 16 patients were male. Causes of trauma included motor vehicle crashes (n=7), falls (n=7), and stab wounds (n=5). The TDR was right-sided in 6 patients and left-sided in 12. The diagnosis was made by using a chest X-ray (n=3), and thorax or upper abdominal computed tomography (n=15). Ten(10) patients were diagnosed within 12 hours. A thoracotomy was performed in 8 patients, a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in 4 patients, a laparotomy in 3 patients, and a sternotomy in one patient. Herniated organs were the omentum (n=11), stomach (n=8), spleen and colon (n=6), and liver (n=6). Eighteen diaphragmatic injuries were repaired primarily. Seven patients underwent ventilator care, and two of them had pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. There were no operative mortalities. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and surgical treatment determine the successful management of TDR with or without the herniation of abdominal organs. The surgical approach to TDR is chosen based on accompanying organ injuries and the injured side.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.408-410
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• 2020

Iatrogenic vascular injuries may occur during venipuncture, arterial cannulation, or catheterization procedures. Brachial arteriovenous fistula (AVF) resulting from antecubital vascular access is rare and develops slowly. We report the case of an 18-year-old man who had developed iatrogenic brachial AVF. He had a history of several venipunctures in the left arm at the age of 10 months. Doppler ultrasonography and computed tomographic angiography were used to establish a diagnosis of brachial AVF, and surgical correction of the AVF was performed. As our case indicates, delayed surgery can be considered as a treatment option and may be associated with a decreased risk of vascular complications in the management of iatrogenic brachial AVF in infants.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.276-279
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• 2015

Subcutaneous emphysema is a benign condition following trauma (pneumothorax and oropharyngeal), cervical or thoracic procedures, and mediastinal infection. However, severe subcutaneous emphysema may be related to serious complications such as respiratory failure, airway compromise, and tension- related phenomena. Many alternative therapies have been tried to treat patients with this condition. We report our experience with vacuum-assisted closure therapy for treating patients with severe subcutaneous emphysema.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2005

Falls from a height are the leading cause of injury and death among urban children. This study describes the incidence, clinical characteristics, and treatment results of children under 15 year of age who fell from a height of more than one meter and were admitted for abdominal injury. The medical records of 585 consecutive patients treated between January 1997 and December 2003 at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The falling heights were 1 to 31.2 meters, and 28 patients(4.8 %) suffered from blunt abdominal trauma. The male to female ratio was 2.1: 1. The median age of the victims was 5.5 years, and the median height fallen was 3 meters. Fifteen patients (53.6 %) were injured during the summer and seventy-nine percent of the falls occurred between noon and 9 pm. Eighteen (64.3 %) of falls occurred in residential place and 19(67.8 %) of patients arrived at the emergency department within 30 minutes of the accident. Only 16 patients (57.1 %) complained of abdominal pain. Liver injuries were found in 12(42.9 %), spleen injuries in 5(17.9 %), kidney injuries 3(10.7 %), pancreatic injuries in 1(3.6 %) and nonspecific abdominal injuries in 9(32.1 %) cases. Increased SGOT and SGPT were found in 23(82.2 %) and 18(64.3 %) cases. Eleven patients (39.3 %) had associated head injuries. Limb injuries were present in 17.9% and thoracic injuries in 7.1%. Twenty-five patients (89.3 %) recovered without operation. The median length of hospital stay was 6 days (2 -20 days). Despite the absence of abdominal symptoms or shock, falls from a height in children may carry significant intra-abdominal organ injuries. The height falling could not predict the degree of the abdominal injury. For the evaluation of potential abdominal injuries, CT scan should be utilized.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.433-439
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• 1996

From January 1980 to July 1995, 32 patients with blunt diaphragmatic trauma and 12 wish penetrating diaphragmatic trauma were treated at Kyungpook University Hospital. The mean age of patients with blunt trauma was 37.6 years, and with penetrating trauma 29.2 years. The mean age was older in patients with blunt trauma by 8.4 years (p< 0.05). When simple chest X-ray diagnosis was performed, 24cases (75%) of the diaphragmatic injuries were found in blunt trauma and 4 case(33%) in penetrating trauma. When opei.ations were done due to injuries of thoracic or abdominal organ, 7 diaphragmatic injuries (58%) were found in penetrating trauma. Herniation occurred in 24 patients (75%) in blunt trauma and 5 patients (42%) in penetrating truma. The size of injured diaphragms in 29 cases in which hernia was discovered was 10.9 $\pm$ 4.3cm. On the other hand, the size in 15 cases in which hernia did not occur was 3.5 $\pm$ 2.9cm. There was a remarkable difference in their size depending on the presence or absence of hernia (p< 0.051. That is, a close relation between the sire of injured diaphragms and hernia was shown. All diaphragmatic injuries were repaired primarily. In blunt trauma approach of repair were as follows : 20 (63%) thoracic, 9 abdominal, 2 thoracoabdominal, and 1 thoracic and in penetrating trauma 6 (50%) abdominal, 4 thoracic, and 2 thoracic and abdominal. The complication rate was 19% in blunt trauma and 25% in penetrating trauma. Two patients with blunt trauma died with a mortality rate of 6.3% . All patients with penetrating trauma recovered. This study suggests that diaphragmatic injury should be suspected in all patients w th blunt as well as penetrating injury of the chest and abdomen. The size of injured diaphragms was larger in blunt trauma than in penetrating trauma. For herniation, it appeared to be more common in blunt trauma. The morbidity and mortality were related primary to the severity of associated injuries.