• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.785-788
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• 1996

Pericardial abscess due to liver abscess is a very rare disease, the result of which is usually fatal when untreated. But a combination of antibiotics therapy and pericardial drainage has broug t good result. A 32-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room because of fever and chilling sensation. Chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly and a mass lesion In the left lobe of liver on ultrasonography. The echocardiography revealed impending cardiac tamponade. Pus drainage of the liver abscess through per- foration of right diaphram and pericardiotomy were performed. The pericardium was thickened and 600 ml of purulent fluid and necrotic debris were drained. Fibrin clots were firmly attached to the undelying myocradium. Histological examination of the pericardium showed acute inflammation with microabsscess and Escherichia soli was cultured from pericardial pus. He was discharged after 4 weeks on antibiotics, but Doppler echocardiograpy revealed a slightly thickened pericardium with a mild constrictive physiology.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.599-603
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• 2004

Primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma is a lethal and rare cardiac neoplasm of mesodermal origin. Most cases are associated with history of pericarditis with constriction and/or tamponade. Authors experienced a case of primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma in a 55-year old female who had suffered from dyspnea and chest pain. Pericardial nodules revealed intense uptake by FDG-PET scan and confirmed as primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma by thoracoscopic biopsy. Here we report this case with a brief review of the relevant literatures.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.753-756
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• 2005

In the cases of severe arrythmia and conduction failure, a permanent implanted pacemaker is considered an essential treatment modality with less complication rate, broad indications and low morbidity. However, some pacemakers needs to be removed or replaced due to infection, in need of a lead upgrade, elective replacement, conduction failure or insulation failure. The most common indication for pacemaker extraction is infection. Conservative treatments such as administration of intravenous antibiotics and limitation of debridement are not effective and the removal of the entire pacing system is considered to be the best approach to pacemaker pocket infection. Although a locking stylet, a laser sheath and other newer methods of transvenous lead extraction have been proven to be effective, all leads cannot be removed. Moreover, major complications such as, cardiac tamponade and respiratory arrest during leads extraction procedure should not be ignored. We experienced two cases of exposed pacemakers in the subclavicular region. After removing the pacemaker body, exposed proximal lead was pulled out and cut off. The end of remnant external insulation tube was tied to prevent infection propagation between external insulation tube and inner metalic coil. Wounds were covered by local flap coverage. No other problems were detected during the one-year follow-up. Since there are few reports on lead-preserving method of treating limited infection of exposed pacemakers, we would like to present our new method for treating exposed pacemakers.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.436-439
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• 1998

Mediastinal teratoma is a tumor that thoracic surgeons made an operation much less commonly than other mediastinal masses and most of them are asymptomatic. But very rarely, this tumor invades the pleura and pericardium resulting in pleural effusion, pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade in severe cases. The mechanism of invasion and perforation of the tumor is unknown and tumor-consisting tissue factor is suspected of a cause. In this case, we operated on a patient whose anterior mediastinal teratoma invaded and perforated pericardium and pleura resulting in pericardial effusion and pleural effusion. The patient was improved and discharged with no problem after resection of mass and involved pericardium.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.10 s.255
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• pp.717-720
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• 2005

Here we report a case of posterior left ventricular (LV) free wall rupture following postinfarct ventricular septal rupture (VSR). A 58-year-old man was transferred to the hospital under the impression of acute myocardial infarction. Posterior VSR was seen on echocardiographic examination. The intraaortic balloon pump catheter was introduced percutaneously and the emergent operation was proposed. Sudden circulatory collapse was developed shortly after the anesthetic induction and the patient's chest was hurriedly opened while on cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The acute cardiac tamponade was seen and the blood was seen pumping from the longitudinal tear at the mid-level of LV posterior wall, measuring 2 cm in length. The cardiopulmonary bypass was set and LV reconstruction was done. The postoperative recovery was delayed due to the brain injury presumably caused by preoperative cardiac arrest.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.753-758
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• 1985

Hemorrhage is an important complication after operation with cardiopulmonary bypass and sometimes necessitates a further emergency operation. Between July, 1962 and June, 1985, reoperation for hemorrhage was carried out on 81 patients [3.1%] out of a total 2634 patients who had previously undergone cardiopulmonary bypass surgery at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yonsei University Medical Center. There were 38 males and 43 females, with an average age of 25 years [ranging 6 months to 60 years] and an average body weight of 38 kg [ranging 5 to 77 kg].There were 43 patients of cyanotic heart disease, 32 patients of acquired valvular heart disease, 4 patients of coronary artery occlusive disease, 2 patients of ascending aorta aneurysm and annuloaortic ectasia. The average amount of blood loss in the case of cyanotic heart disease was 71.7140ml/kg, in acyanotic heart disease 45.16.3ml/kg, in acquired heart disease, 56.514.4ml/kg and in coronary artery occlusive disease, 50.618.7ml/kg during first post operative day. But there was no statistical difference [p>0.05]. The mean blood loss below 10 years old was 70.412.1 ml/kg. Those below 10 years old were believed to bleed more than any other group. But there was also no statistical difference [p>0.05]. Indications for reoperation were continued excessive blood loss [74%], cardiac tamponade or hypotension [23%] and radiological evidence of a large hematoma in the thorax and pericardium [2%]. Average bypass time was 2.10.1 hours [ranging 30 minutes to 5 hours]. The interval between operation and reoperation was as follows; less than 12 hours in 49 patients [60%], 12 to 24 hours in 20 patients [25%], 24 to 48 hours in 8 patients [10%], more than 48 hours in 4 patients [5%]. The commonest sites for bleeding were chest wall [36%], heart [34%], aorta [12%], pericardium [6%], thymus [5%] and others [6%]. But no definite source was found in ll patients [31%]. Twenty seven out of 81 patients [31%] had wound problems and 5 patients [6%] were expired. [Mean SEM]. In conclusion, in order to decrease the amount of blood loss after open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, shortening of bypass time and bleeding control at the wire suture site during chest wall closure were important. If the amount of blood loss was over 45 ml/kg or 8 m/kg/hour, reoperation should be considered as soon as possible. After operating, careful wound dressings were applied to prevent wound problems.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.769-774
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• 2001

Background: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis(DNM) is a serious complication originating in odontogenic or oropharyngeal infection with previously reported mortality rates of 25% to 40%. We retrospectively reviewed the 4 years of our surgical drainage and debridement in DNM. Material and Method: We studied 7 cases diagnosed as DNM from 1997 through 2000. Primary oropharyngeal infection lead to DNM in four cases(57%) and odontogenic abscess in three cases(43%). All patients were received emergent cervicotomy and thoracotomy or sternotomy for debridement of necrotic tissue and mediastinal or pleural drainage. Result: Five cases were evolved well and were discharged after a mean of 42 days. Two patients(28.6%) died. Three patients required reoperation due to local surgical complication; empyema(two) and impending cardiac tamponade. One of these patients died on 12 post-reoperative day due to great vessel erosion, renal and respiratory insufficiency. The other patient died of broncho- esophageal fistula and asphyxia on 10 postoperative day without reoperation. Conclusion: On the basis of experience accrued in treating these patients, early diagnosis by cervicothoracic computed tomographic scan of neck and thorax aids in rapid indication of a surgical approach of DNM. We emphasize that performing early surgical drainage and debridement of necrotic tissues with intensive postoperative care can significantly reduce the mortality rate.