• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.824-828
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• 2010

The cause of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is obvious. Recently, the FLCN mutation was suggested to be a causal factor in PSP. A 47-year-old Korean male patient with chief complaint of repetitive PSP had numerous emphysematous bullae and multiple large cysts based upon high resolution computer tomography. Here we report a case of PSP with an FLCN c.468_470delTTC mutation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.4
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• pp.184-187
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• 2014

Idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a rare, recently classified entity that consists of pleural and subjacent parenchymal fibrosis predominantly in the upper lungs. In an official American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society statement in 2013, this disease is introduced as a group of rare idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. We describe a case of a 76-year-old woman with cough and recurrent pneumothorax. She was admitted to our hospital with severe cough at first. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) disclosed multifocal subpleural consolidations with reticular opacities in both lungs, primarily in the upper lobes, suggesting interstitial pneumonia. Rheumatoid lung was diagnosed initially through an elevated rheumatoid factor, HRCT and surgical biopsy at the right lower lobe. However, one month later, pneumothorax recurred. Surgical biopsy was performed at the right upper lobe at this time. The specimens revealed typical subpleural fibroelastosis. We report this as a first case of idiopathic PPFE in Korea after reviewing the symptoms, imaging and pathologic findings.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 1976

The effects of atelectasis on surface activity of lung extracts were examined in rabbits. Experimental atelectasis was produced in rabbits by artificial pneumothorax and surface tension properties were measured on saline extracts of lung 24 hrs, 48 hrs, one week and four weeks after the induction of pneumothorax. The results were as follows; 1) The minimum surface tension of excised lung extracts 24 hrs after pneumothorax was significantly increased to 28.3 0.41 dynes/cm, and the stability index was significantly decreased to 0.30 from normal value of 0. 87. 2) In the group which was re-expanded 24 hours, later from pneumothorax the surface activity was returned to almost normal range 24 hrs after reexpansion of collapsed lung, 3) When the atelectasis was continued by mechanical means, the extracts of atelectatic lung showed progressive decrease in surface activity, but it was found that surface activity returned to normal level after four weeks even the presence of atelectasis. 4) These observations suggest to us that atelectasis per se does not cause an increase in surface tension of lung extracts, and even in prolonged atelectasis the re-expansion of collapsed lung may be possible when the mechanical cause of atelectasis was excluded.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.297-302
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• 1995

Video-assisted thoracic surgery [VATS is emerging as a viable alternatives to thoracotomy when surgical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax is required.Apical blebs and bullaes of the lung can be resected,and pleural abrasion can be accomplished with minimal postoperative pain and a shorter postoperative stay in hospital. We compared our results with thoracoscopic management of spontaneous pneumothorax in 20 patients [group I with a group of 32 patients previously subjected to lateral limited thoracotomy [group II . Indications for operation, sex distribution, and average age [groupI, 24.7 years ; group II, 34.4 years were comparable. Operation time [112.42 54.7 min versus 124.8 35.3 min ; P 0.03 and chest tube duration [64.4 52.3 hours versus 97.7 45.4 hours ; P 0.01 were less in group I. Postoperative hospital stay was less in group I[3.84 0.99 days;P 0.01 , as was the use of parenteral narcotics after 48 hours. [5/20=25% versus25/32=78% . Pain was quantitated by verbal rating scale in postoperative 1 to 3 days. Patients undergoing VATS experienced significantly less postoperative pain. Postoperative complication was less in group I[1/20=5% versus 3/32=8.3% . In conclusion, Video-assisted thoracoscopic management of spontaneous pneumothrax allows performance of the standard surgical procedure while avoiding the thoracotomy incision.Video-assisted thoracic surgery [VATS is safe and offers the potential benefits of shorter postoperative hospital stays and less pain with cosmetic benefits.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.209-213
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• 1993

The pathogenesis of the primary spontaneous pneumothorax is the rupture of subpleural bleb or bullae and subsequent sudden collapse of the affected lung. Mostly, the bullae or blebs are present bilaterally, but detecting the number, size, and location of the causating foci by plain chest film is quite difficult . We have performed chest CT scans for detecting the bullous lesions in 33 cases of primary spontaneous pneumothorax, and compared the results with surgical findings.1. Seventy-four blebs were identified in the chest CT scan, and 100 blebs or bullae were detected surgically [ Sensitivity was 0.74 ].2. Diagnosis rate was 80% [40/50] at right upper lobe, 75.7% [28/37] at left upper lobe, 55.6% at right lower lobe, and 25.0% at left lower lobe, respectively.3. Blebs or bullae smaller than 1 cm of its diameter were detected by 57.1% [24/42] of sensitivity, and in the cases of size larger than 1 cm, it revealed 86.2% [50/58] of sensitivity respectively.4. Of the 45 cases, 7 cases were false negative [15.6%], most of these were ruptured or small size [< 0.5 cm]. 5. One case was false positive, which was irregular adhesion at the apex of the lung.6. We could detect blebs or bullae with preoperative CT scans in 84.4% [38/45] of total patients. In conclusion, chest CT scan is a very advantageous diagnostic tool for proper management and preventing recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax patient.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.447-449
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• 2010

Langerhans cell Histiocytosis can present as a single or multiple lesion and can affect one or several organ systems. A 41-year-old woman with a history of multisystemic Langerhans cell Histiocytosis invading lung and thyroid was admitted with left-sided spontaneous pneumothorax. Here we report a case of uncommon pulmonary Langerhans-cell Histiocytosis presenting with spontaneous pneumothorax as a multisystemic Langerhans cell Histiocytosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.318-321
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• 2009

Tension pneumocephalus may follow a cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) leak communicating with extensive extradural air. However, it rarely occurs after diagnostic lumbar puncture, and its treatment and pathophysiology are uncertain. Tension pneumocephalus can develop even after diagnostic lumbar puncture in a special condition. This extremely rare condition and underlying pathophysiology will be presented and discussed. The authors report the case of a 44-year-old man with a basal skull fracture accompanied by pneumothorax necessitating chest tube suction drainage, who underwent an uneventful lumbar tapping that was complicated by postprocedural tension pneumocephalus resulting in an altered mental status. The patient was managed by burr hole trephination and saline infusion following chest tube disengagement. He recovered well with no neurologic deficits after the operation, and a follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated that the pneumocephalus had completely resolved. Tension pneumocephalus is a rare but serious complication of lumbar puncture in patients with basal skull fractures accompanied by pneumothorax, which requires continuous chest tube drainage. Thus, when there is a need for lumbar tapping in these patients, it should be performed after the negative pressure is disengaged.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.221-225
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• 1994

Video-assisted thoracic surgery[VATS] has recently evolved as an alternative to thoracotomy for several thoracic disorders. Between March 1993 and September 1993, 42 patients underwent VATS at Gil General Hospital. They were diagnosed as spontaneous pneumothorax in 34[81.0%], mediastinal mass in 5, congenital lobar emphysema in 1, traumatic hemothorax in 1, and sarcoidosis in 1. For pneumothorax, wedge resection of bullae or blebs was done in 18 patients, wedge resection and limited parietal pleulectomy in 13, and only pleulectomy in 2. And excision for mediastinal mass in 5, hematoma evacuation for chronic hemothorax in 1, biopsies of mediastinal lymph node and lung for confirming sarcoidosis in 1, and lobectomy of left upper lobe for congenital lobar emphysema in the child of 12 years. The period of chest tube drainage and postoperative hospitalization averaged 3.8 days [range, 1 to 11 days] and 5.9 days [range, 2 to 18 days]. Three complications occurred in 3 patients with pneumothorax [7.1%, 2 recurrent pneumothorax and 1 postoperative bleeding], and the conversion to open thoracotomy was done in 1 due to massive air leak. The causes of postoperative air leak were speculated and the techniques for saving expensive Endo-GIA staplers are described in this paper. VATS is safe and offers the benefits of reduced postoperative pain and rapid recovery. Our experience indicates a markedly expanded role for VATS in the diagnosis and treatment of various thoracic diseases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1502-1507
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• 1992

Between February and July 1992, videothoracoscopic bullectomy was performed in nineteen patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax. The indications of this surgery are recurrent in 12, persistent airleakage in 4 and previous contralateral pneumothorax in 3 patients. For the good operative field, we used double lumen endotracheal tube and put the CO2 gas into the thoracic cavity to make the lung collapse. We usually apply the endoGIA or electric cauterization for handling the bleb or bullae and there were 9 cases with of endoGIA only, 4 electric cauterization only and 6 both procedures. To evaluate the advantage of the Videothoracoscopic surgery, we compared surgical results with that of the tho-racotomy group[19 patients]. There were significant differences in operative time[93.8$\pm$41.9 min and 17.1$\pm$53.9 min, p< 0.01] and postoperative airleakage duration[35.6$\pm$113.3 hours and 117.9$\pm$214.4 hours, p<0.05] between the Videothoracoscopy and thoracotomy group. Tube indwelling time was shortened in Videothoracoscopy group[p<0.05]. The hospital stay was very short[p<0.01] and the patients needed analgesic injection less frequentley in videthoracoscopic group[p<0.05] In conclusion, we prefer the Videothoracoscopic procedure to the thoracotomy in uncomplicateed patients with pneumothorax because of simple procedure and good results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.54-58
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• 1993

Simultaneous bilateral bleb resection was done through bilateral transaxillary thoracotomy in 10 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax during the period from May 1991 to Novemver 1992 in whom bilateral bulla or bleb was detected with using simple chest X-ray and chest CT scanning. To compare the effectiveness of bilateral transaxillary thoracotomy, we investigated 10 unilateral transaxillary thoracotomy patients with spontaneous pneumothorax and two clinical reports from other institutes which dealt the results of bilateral bleb or bulla resection through median sternotomy also. In bilateral transaxillary thoracotomy group,mean operation time was 115 minute,mean intraoperative bleeding was 329 cc, mean postoperative hospital stay was 7.5 days. Postoperative ABGA[Arterial Blood Gas Analysis] was in normal range and postoperative recovery rates of FVC[Forced Vital Capacity], FEV1[Forced Expiratory Volume at 1 second], TV[Tidal Volume] were 84.3%, 93.4%, 88.7%,respectively. In median sternotomy group,mean operation time was 129 minute,mean intraoperative bleeding was 490 cc, mean postoperative hospital stay was 12.4 days. Postoperative ABGA was in normal range and postoperative recovery rates of FVC, FEV1 were 97.3%, 97.4%, respectively. In unilateral transaxillary thoracotomy group, postoperative ABGA was in normal range also and postoperative recovery rates of FVC, FEV1, TV were 91.6%, 99.0%, 96.0%,respectively. In conclusion, simultaneous bilateral bleb resection through bilateral transaxillary thoracotomy should be considered in pneumothorax patients with bilateral bleb or bulla because of cost-effectiveness[reducing hospital days] and better cosmetic result without any impairment in recovery of respiratory function.