• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.44-48
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• 2012

Purpose: The management of splenic injuries has shifted from a splenectomy to splenic preservation owing to immunity. The purpose of this study was to assess the kinds of management and outcomes through a review of our experience with splenic injuries. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 47 patients with traumatic splenic injuries using by electronic medical records from Jan. 2007 and Dec. 2011. Splenic injuries were classified according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grading system. Results: There were 11 falls, 11 traffic accidents, 10 motorcylcle accidents, 10 pedestrian accidents and 5 abdominal blunt traumas. Low-grade injured patients (${\leq}$ Grade III) were 29 of 43(61.7%), and High-grade injured patients (${\geq}$ Grade IV) were 18 of 43(38.3%). In 34 patients, non-surgical treatment was performed, and 14 patients underwent a splenectomy. There were relatively more high-grade in older patients, and the high-grade-injury group showed need for a transfusion (p=0.002), more need for a splenectomy (p<0.001), a longer mean hospital stay (p=0.036), a longer ICU stay (p=0.045) and more combined organ injury (p=0.036). Conclusion: Conservative treatment should be considered in low-grade-injury patients (${\leq}$ Grade III). A Splenectomy was performed on 56% of the patients with Grade IV injuries, so a splenectomy should be considered carefully in such patients. In patients with a grade V injury, we think surgical treatment may be needed.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2005

Background: Traumatic rupture of the aorta is a life-threatening injury that must be diagnosed as rapidly as possible and treated immediately. The chest X-ray is a valuable tool for screening traumatic rupture of the aorta in blunt chest trauma. And various chest radiologic parameters are being used as diagnostic tools for aortic injury. The purpose of this study is to identify chest radiographic parameters that may assist in the detection of traumatic rupture of the aorta and to compare these findings with those of other reports. Methods: This study involved 30 adult patients with traumatic rupture of the aorta seen at the emergency department of the Asan Medical Center from 1997 to 2004. The control subjects were 30 healthy patients with neither lung nor cardiovascular disease. We retrospectively assessed over 14 parameters on chest X-rays. Results: In 11 of the 14 parameters, there were significant differences between the study group and the control group. There was no significant difference in the M/C ratio (mediastinumto-chest width ratio) between the two groups, and neither the left nor the right paraspinal interface was statistically significant (p value>0.05). Our study indicates that new criteria for the MC ratio and for the paraspinal interfaces are needed for screening traumatic aorta injury. The other radiographic parameters for traumatic rupture of the aorta need to be further assessed through a prospective study.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.574-578
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• 1994

The incidence of traumatic rupture of the tracheobronchial tree has been increased considerably with advent of widespread mechanization and high speed era. Rupture of the bronchus is an unusual result of nonpenetrating trauma to chest. Early diagnosis and primary repair not only restore normal lung function but also avoid difficulties and complications associated with delayed diagnosis and repair. These complications are pneumonia, atelectasis and lung abscess secondary to the bronchial obtruction. We experienced a case of partial rupture on left main bronchus caused by nonpenetrating blunt chest trauma with rib fractures 1 year ago. He was suffered from progressively developing dyspnea on exercise and treated as bronchial asthma at other hospital. Bronchoscopic finding was the narrowed lumen of left main bronchus at 1cm from carina by web-like membrane. We confirmed by bronchogram and repaired by end to end anastomosis, which is rare delayed finding in bronchial rupture without pulmonary complications. We report a case of nonpenetrating traumatic bronchial rupture, manifested by bronchial web in bronchoscopy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.394-398
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• 1999

Background: According to the changes in the Environmental factors, traumatic diaphragmic rupture is seen in increasing frequency. Many reports described the early diagnostic methods and treatment modalities. In our institution, a study was retrospectively performed to obtain the early diagnostic and treatment methods of diaphragmic ruptures. Material and Method: From January 1994 to April 1998, 20 patients with traumatic rupture of the diaphragm were treated in our institution and We analyzed the patients in preoperative clinical presentations, diagnostic accuracies, associated injuries and postoperative complications. Result: Socially active male patients were affected most. 75% of patients had blunt trauma and 25% had penetrating injury. There were 16 cases of ruptured right diaphragm, 3 cases of left diaphragm and 1 case on both. Preoperative diagnosis were possible in 10 patients (50%) and 6 patients(30%) were diagnosed intraoperatively, but 4 patients (20%) were diagnosed in the late stages. Most common postoperative complication was wound infection, and two died of associated injuries. Conclusion: We conclude that if there is suspicion of diaphragmic rupture after a trauma, careful study and examination is essential and interdepartmental collaboration is very important.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.241-245
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• 2009

Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is uncommon, but requires a prompt diagnosis and repair. Diaphragmatic injury is most commonly associated with automobile accidents. The diagnosis is difficult and may be delayed because there are no specific symptoms, signs, or radiographic studies that are pathognomic for diaphragmatic injury. The most important factor in the diagnosis is a high suspicion and the use of proper diagnostic studies. We report a case involving the delayed presentation of diaphragmatic rupture in a 54 year old man, requiring surgical repair 12 days following multiple blunt trauma. It should be noted that early recognition for diaphragmatic injury is important in patients with multiple trauma to avoid the potential fatal complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.402-407
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• 1997

The records of 28 patients with traumatic diaphragmatic injuries seen at Masan Samsung Hospital from march 1986 o March 1995 were reviewed. We treated 21 male and 7 female patients ranging in ages from 5 to 68 years. Thc diaphragimatic injuries were due to blunt trauma in'20 cases(Trawc accident 18, compression injury 1, Human trauma 1) and penetrating injuries 8 cases (all stab wound). Most common symptoms were dyspnea 27 (96%), chest pain 26 (93%), abdomianl pain 8 (29%), comatose mentality 36 (11 %). Chest X-ray were elevated diaphragm in 20 cases(71%) find hemothorax in 18 cases (64%) and 25 cascs (89%) were diagnosed or suspected as diaphragmatic inju,rims prcopcrativcly. The repair of 28 cases were performed with thoracic approach in 20 cases, abdominal approach 7, thoracoabdominal approach in 1 cases. There were 5 death (18%) and all death related to the severity of associated injury. (hypovolcmic shock 3, combined head injury 1, renal failure 1).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.421-428
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• 1986

From January 1981 through December 1985, 481 thoracic civilian injuries were reviewed in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Paik Hospital in Seoul. Sixty two percent of the injuries were caused by traffic accident, 18% fall down, 15% blunt trauma, 2% crushing injury, 2% stab wound, and 0.4% gunshot wound. Peak incidence of the trauma victim was fourth and fifth decades revealing 22% and 27% respectively. Sex ratio was 3.5:1 with male predominance. Elapsed time before admission was less than one hour in 36% and one to six hour in 30%. The types of the injuries were as follows: Non-penetrating injuries were the most part of the wounded, 97.6%. Rib fracture was the most common lesion occupying 292 patient out of 481 [61%]. Of these 292 patients, 72% was multiple rib fracture. The incidence of hemothorax or hemopneumothorax was 19% [102 patients] [Table 4]. Most common associated condition was head injuries, 98 patients [14%]. Thoracoabdominal injuries were seen in 31 patients [0.6%]. Tube thoracostomy was the definitive measures in the 20% of the wounded. Open thoractomy was performed in 5%. Additional procedures for the associated condition were done in the 16% of the cases, for example, reduction of long bone fracture and trephination for the head injury. Among 481 wounded, fatal complication occurred in 13 patients [2.7%]. This paper has also compared two series of patients according to period; one from 1970 to 1980 and the present series [Table 8]. Conclusively, the fatal complications or trauma death may be reduced by the effort 1] rapid transport of the victim, 2] initial correction or resuscitative measures of the circulatory and ventilatory deficit 3] early decision of definitive thoracostomy or thoracotomy and 4] proper prioritizing for the care of the multiple critically injured patient.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.178-182
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• 2011

Background: We analyzed the results of surgical reduction and fixation of ribs under thoracic epidural anesthesia and analgesia (TEA) in patients who had no more than 3 consecutive rib fractures with severe displacement to examine the clinical usefulness of this method. Materials and Methods: From May 2008 to March 2010, 35 patients underwent surgical reduction and fixation of ribs under TEA. We reviewed the indications for this technique, number of fixed ribs, combined surgical procedures for thoracic trauma, intraoperative cardiopulmonary events, postoperative complications, reestablishment of enteral nutrition, and ambulation. Results: The indications of TEA were malunion or nonunion of fractured ribs in 29 (82.9%; first operation) and incompletely ribs under previous general anesthesia in 6 (17.1%; second operation). The average number of fixed ribs per patient was 1.7 (range: 1~3). As a combined operation for thoracic trauma, 17 patients (48.6%) underwent removal of intrathoracic hematomas, and we performed repair of lung parenchyma (2), wedge resection of lung (1) for accompanying lung injury and pericardiostomy (1) for delayed hemopericardium. No patient had any intraoperative cardiopulmonary event nor did any need to switch to general anesthesia. We experienced 3 postoperative complications (8.6%): 2 extrapleural hematomas that spontaneously resolved without treatment and 1 wound infection treated with secondary closure of the wound. All patients reestablished oral feeding immediately after awakening and resumed walking ambulation the day after operation. Conclusion: Thoracic epidural anesthesia and analgesia (TEA) may positively affect cardiopulmonary function in the perioperative period. Moreover, this technique leads to an earlier return of gastrointestinal function and early ambulation without severe postoperative complications, resulting in a shortened hospital stay and lowered costs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.467-470
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• 2009

A traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst is a rare complication of blunt thoracic trauma. The clinical symptoms and signs are similar to other respiratory diseases, such as pulmonary tuberculosis. Therefore, a trauma history with the resulting radiologic and clinical findings is important for making a diagnosis. A 26-year-old male was admitted to our hospital due to cough for 3 days. The chest x-ray revealed diffuse infiltrations and a cavitary lesion at the left lung. His left chest had hit a tree as a result of motorcycle accident one day before admission. Initially, it was assumed that his symptoms and chest X-ray might be due to a tuberculosis infection. However, bronchoscopy revealed old blood clots at both lungs, particularly in the left lower lobe bronchus. A transbronchial lung biopsy showed alveolar hemorrhage. A traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst was diagnosed from his trauma history and these findings. Computed tomography of the chest performed 4 months later showed regression of the cavitary lesion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.1 s.270
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• pp.66-68
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• 2007

Traumatic cardiac injury is an extremely serious medical condition. It is possible to overlook a cardiac injury where there is no chest wall trauma. We here report the 47-year-old woman who got a crach car accident and had a tear of the right atrium. The distortion force from a decelerating injury may cause cardiac rupture at a fixed point. The most common symptom that alerts the clinician to a potentially fatal cardiac injury is the change in vital signs. Therefore cardiac injury should be considered in any patient with unexplained hypotension who has experienced decelerating trauma, even without external injury to the chest wall.