• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1000-1004
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• 1991

Children`s small airway precludes the use of standard methods of bronchial separation. So, we performed the posterior thoracotomy under the prone position in 3 cases to avoid endobronchial gravity spillage of secretion and infected debris from the diseased lung to the contralateral sound lung. The advantages of the posterior thoracotomy under the prone position was discussed. In two cases, empyema with total collapse of left lung and congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation [CCAM] of right lung, copious secretion was spilled through the endotracheal tube but could be removed successfully by the endotracheal suction. In the third case of bilateral peripleural abscess, bilateral posterior thoractomy was done without position change. All procedures were performed without any technical difficulty and complication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.855-858
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• 1985

The mediastinoscopy was a well known useful diagnostic tool for detection of mediastinal lymph nodes invasion by bronchogenic carcinoma, and also useful means for histologic diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma and certain mediastinal tumors. 31 cases of mediastinoscopies were reviewed which were experienced at Kyung Hee University Hospital from July, 1979 to June, 1985. We experienced 20 cervical mediastinoscopies, 10 left anterior mediastinotomy, and 1 both procedures. Of the 31 cases, 22 cases were used for preoperative staging of bronchogenic carcinoma, 7 cases for mediastinal tumor diagnosis, and 2 cases for histologic diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma. In 22 mediastinoscopies which were used for preoperative staging, 10 cases were revealed positive mediastinal nodes, and could avoid meaningless thoracotomy. All 12 mediastinoscopy negative patients were received thoracotomy, and 10 of them were resectable. The resectability in bronchogenic carcinoma was 83%, on the contrary, the other series at premediastinoscopic era revealed only 65% resectability. Other mediastinal lesions such as tuberculous granuloma [4], sarcoidosis [2], malignant thymoma [1], and metastatic carcinoma [2] were also diagnosed successfully. Mediastinoscopy is very useful tool for determination of treating method of bronchogenic carcinoma, and for diagnosis of certain mediastinal tumors which, otherwise, need a thoracotomy for confirmatory diagnosis.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.66-70
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• 2019

Traumatic diaphragmatic injuries (TDIs) are a rare complication in thoraco-abdominal trauma. The diagnosis is difficult and if left untreated, TDI can cause traumatic diaphragmatic hernia (TDH). Through an injured diaphragm, the liver, spleen, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine can be herniated to the thoracic cavity, but pancreatic herniation and pancreatitis are quite rare in TDH. This paper reports a case of pancreatitis developed by additional trauma in a patient with asymptomatic chronic TDH. A 58-year-old male visited the emergency department with a left abdominal injury after a fall 6 hours earlier. The vital signs were stable, but the amylase and lipase levels were elevated to 558 U/L and 1,664 U/L, respectively. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a left diaphragmatic hernia and an incarceration of the stomach, pancreatic ductal dilatation, and peripancreatic fatty infiltration. Additional history taking showed that he had suffered a fall approximately 20 years ago and had an accidentally diaphragmatic hernia through a chest CT 6 months earlier. A comparison with the previous CT revealed the pancreatitis to be caused by secondary pancreatic ductal obstruction due to the incarcerated stomach. For pancreatitis, gastrointestinal decompression was performed, and after 3 days, the pancreatic enzyme was normalized; hence, a thoracotomy was performed. A small ruptured diaphragm was found and reposition of the organs was performed. This paper reports the experience of successfully treating pancreatitis and pancreatic hernia developed after trauma without complications through a thoracotomy following gastrointestinal decompression.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.129-135
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• 1982

Congenital pericardial defect is a rare anomaly, which was first described by M. Columbus in 1559. Four hundred years later the first clinical diagnosis was reported by Ellis et al. The congenital pericardial defect Is usually asymptomatic and Is found Incidentally at thoracotomy and autopsy, but it appears that partial absence of pericardium Is not Innocuous because of sudden death due to herniation of a portion of heart. We experienced congenital left pericardial defect in 20 year old female who was diagnosed as left ventricular aneurysm before operation. This patient complained of dyspnea on exertion and anterior chest discomfortness. Physical examination revealed Grade II pansystolic murmur on the 3rd and 4th intercostal space left sternal border. There were specific abnormal findings on the chest plain film, EKG, ultrasonography, and left ventriculography. On 9th July 1981, an operation was performed and found the left partial pericardial defect through which a large portion of left ventricle was herniated Into left pleural space. The method of operation was removal of adhesion and widening of the pericardial defect to avoid Incarceration. After operation, we observed marked Improvement of symptoms and disappearance of cardiac murmur.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.955-961
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• 1992

In this study, 237 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax experienced at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kosin Medical College during from January 1986 to December 1990 were analysed retrospectively. 1. The ratio of male to female was 4.6: 1, predominent in male. The incidence of age group was highest as 36% between 21 and 40 years old. 2. The associated diseases of pneumothorax were 27 cases, in which pyothorax were 8 cases, and hydrothorax were 19 cases. 3. The site of pneumothorax was as follows: right side was 53%, left side was 45%, and both side was 2%, so right side was slight high. 4. The empolyed managements were as follows: bed rest with oxygen inhalation in 13 cases, closed thoracostomy in 155 cases, open thoracotomy in 69 cases. 5. The operative procedures of thoracotomy were as follows; simple pleurodesis in 2 cases, blebectomy & bullectomy in 38 cases, parietal pleurecttnny in 4 cases, segmentectomy in 12 cases, lobectomy in 9 cases. 6. The indication of open thoracotomy were as follows, recurrent history in 35 cases, contralateral pneumothorax history in 2 cases, continuous air leakage in 24 cases, bilateral pneumothorax in 2 cases, and visible blebs & bullaes on the chest X-ray in 6 cases. 7. The hospital duration after management was as follow, open thoracotomy in 13.2 days, closed thoracostomy in 22.4 days. The recurrent pneumothorax after closed thoracostomy was 25 cases, about 15%.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.757-764
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• 1991

We have observed 360 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax from January 1980 to May 1991 at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chosun University Hospital. Males occupied 266 cases[73.9%] and females 94 cases[26.1%], and its ratio was 2.8: l. The age of patients ranged from neonate[5 days] to 84 years old. The site of pneumothorax was right in 50.3%, left in 43.3% and bilateral in 6.4%a. The clinical symptoms were frequently dyspnea, chest pain and coughing. The associated pulmonary lesions were shown pulmonary tuberculosis in 199 cases[55.3%], bullae in 54, pulmonary emphysema in 31, COPD in 17, pneumonia in 6, lung cancer in 5, paragonimiasis in 5, catamenial pneumothorax in 3 and unknown underlying pathology in 39 cases. The results of surgical management of spontaneous pneumothorax are followings: 288 out of 360 cases[80.0%] were cured by closed thoracotomy, 53 cases[14.8%] were cured by open thoracotomy. Open thoracotomy was the most effective procedure in persistent air leakage, recurrent pneumothorax, visible bleb or bullae on the chest X-ray, associated lesion, bilateral simultaneous pneumothorax, parenchymal incomplete lung expansion and bleeding after closed thoracotomy. The incidence of complication was developed in 10. ado and recurrent rate was seen in 10.6%. There was no operative death.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.358-366
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• 1987

A case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma [MFH] of left pulmonary artery was reported in the 27 year-old male. He was admitted because of hemoptysis for several times. Chest x-ray revealed nodular lesions in left hilar area and left upper lobe. A left thoracotomy was performed followed left upper lobectomy. The main tumor was originated from the pulmonary arterial bifurcation and proximal portion of the left pulmonary artery. By light microscopy, there were many pleomorphic giant cells, which displayed the storiform pattern. And in those area, dilated or compressed vascular channels were involved by tumor cells, suggesting origin of This tumor. Pulmonary artery angiography and chest CT revealed this tumor was originated from pulmonary artery. It would be the first reported primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the pulmonary artery in our country. Postoperative prognosis was uneventful, but recently he was suffered from dyspnea, that was noticed by OVD follow-up for 1 month, probably the heart failure sign due to pulmonary arterial flow obstruction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1238-1241
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• 1991

Agenesis of the hemidiaphragm is unusual congenital anomaly associated with a high mortality. A case of congenital agenesis of left diaphragm was experienced in 22-day old male patient who was dyspneic and cyanotic on admission. Emergency exploration through the left eight interspace thoracotomy showed complete agenesis of the left diaphragm. The stomach and transverse colon covered with peritoneal sac was partially herniated into left hemithorax. The left lung was slightly hypoplastic. This neonate had no intestinal malrotation. The defect was reconstructed using Dacron graft. Dacron patch was sutured with interrupted Ethibond to chest wall anteriorly, esophagus aorta and costomediastinal sinus medially, and the tenth rib posterolaterally. Postoperatively, Extubation was performed at 1st day, but some respiratory difficulty was noted. Severe dyspnea was occurred at postoperative 11th day and so reintubation was done. Intermittently ventilatory support and intravenous alimentation were continued for 9 days after that. Thereafter he had no respiratory problems at discharge.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.306-309
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• 2020

A 59-year-old man presented for possible durable ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation. He had previously been diagnosed with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, a ventricular septal defect, an atrial septal defect, pulmonary valve stenosis, and aortic valve regurgitation. In the previous 22 years, he had undergone palliative cardiac surgery 3 times. VAD implantation as a bridge to transplantation was planned. Owing to severe adhesions, mesocardia, a left ascending aorta, and moderate aortic regurgitation, we performed VAD implantation and aortic valve closure via a dual left thoracotomy and partial sternotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.325-329
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• 1992

The thymolipoma is rather rare benign tumor of the thymus. One case of huge thymolipoma, seen in a 11-year-old boy, is presented. It is about 2.16kg. He had some chest discomfort. The chest film showed homogeneous haziness fills the left hemithorax, On chest CT scan, multiple small amorphous soft tissue densities were recognized as islands within a large fatty mass. Tumor resection was performed through left anterolateral thoracotomy. The mass was yellowish soft, measured 29x19Xllcm, 12X7.5x3.5cm, 7.0X3.0X1.0cm. Microscopically, the tumor was comprised of abundant mature adipose tissue and normal thymic tissue.