Thoracicl Actinomycosis Associated with Broncholithiasis: Report on 2 cases / 대한흉부외과학회지

We report here on two cases of a 48-year old woman and a 46-year-old man who both presented with broncholithiasis and obstructive pneumonitis. Removal of the broncholithiasis failed with bronchofibroscopy, and so right middle lobectomy of the lung were done in the 2 patients. The histopathologic diagnosis was thoracic actinomycosis associated with broncholithiasis. Thoracic actinomycosis associated with broncholithiasis is a very rare condition, so we report here on these two cases of thoracic actinomycosis associated with broncholithiasis.

Mediastinal Bronchogenic Cyst Misdiagnosed as Asthma and Dysphagia in a Child: One Case Report

A 19-month-old boy suffered from stridor and dysphagia. He was taking asthma medication for a few months, but symptoms did not improve. After admission, a chest CT showed a posterior mediastinal mass, which compressed the trachea and esophagus. The removed mass via open thoracotomy was a bronchogenic cyst on histopathology. Postoperatively, stridor and dysphagia disappeared. In case of persistent and refractory stridor or dysphagia in children, congenital lesions including bronchogenic cyst need to be ruled out.

Nuss Procedures using a Transilluminated Introducer / 대한흉부외과학회지

The Nuss procedure has good cosmetic effects, but it could be cause of bleeding and organ injury during dissection of the anterior mediastinum. We have made an effort to overcome the defects of the traditional method through the anterior mediastinum, thus we developed a transilluminated introducer that made it safer and simpler to operate within a 1 cm incision only. A total of 67 patients underwent the Nuss procedure using the transilluminated introducer. Thirty-six patients underwent the procedure with the transilluminated introducer only (age or =14 years). There were no major complications, such as massive bleeding or organ injury in the thoracic cavity during or after the Nuss procedure. Our findings demonstrated that the anterior mediastium could be dissected simply and safely by the use of a transilluminated introducer during the Nuss procedure without fatal major complications, such as bleeding and organ injury.

Treatment of Pectus Carinatum with a Compressive Brace / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Patients suffering with pectus carinatum complain of cosmetic problems when they stand and this in spite of wearing cloths. The standard surgical treatment of pectus carinatum is resection of the deformed cartilages, but the wide operative scar, post-operative pain and complications related with such an operation can occur. Therefore, we have performed compressive brace therapy as a non-operative treatment for pectus carinatum and we observed the effects and the efficiency of this treatment. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From January, 2001 to December, 2006, 109 patients wore the compressive brace for all day. The degree of satisfaction was evaluated after 6~9 months of wearing the compressive brace. The degree of satisfaction was evaluated by a score of from 1~4. A score of 1 was assigned when the status was worse, 2 when it was the same, 3 when there was partial improvement and 4 when remarkable improvement was observed. The degree of satisfaction was assessed subjectively by the parent if the patient was a child younger than middle school age, and the patients older than middle school age assessed the score themselves. RESULT: The mean score of the overall degree of satisfaction was 3.93+/-0.33. Recurrence of pectus carinatum after removal of compressive brace occurred in 6 patients (5.5%) of the total 109 patients. But 4 patients of the total 6 recurred patients stopped wearing of compressive brace against our advice. The 6 recurred patients were re-corrected by re-wearing the compressive brace within 3 months after they originally removed the compressive brace. The complications were discomfort with initially wearing the compressive brace, which occurred in all patients, skin rash due to the compressive brace for 76 patients (69.7%) and skin discolorization with excessive compression for 16 patients (5.5%). The skin rash and discolorization returned to normal within a few months after removal of the compressive brace. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that non-surgical treatment with using the compressive brace for patients with pectus carinatum was effective, and especially for children and teenagers. Non-surgical treatment with using a compressive brace would be helpful for the patients suffering with pectus carinatum and who dislike surgical operations because of their fear about general anesthesia and operation-related complications. Yet long-term follow up is necessary to accurately evaluate the effectiveness of this compressive brace and the recurrences after removal of the compressive brace.

Thrombectomy of Superior Mesenteric Artery Occlusion: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

A 50-year old man was admitted to our hospital because he complained of sudden abdominal pain. Multidetector abdominal CT showed proximal occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. Emergency open laparotomy and Fogarty thrombectomy were done on admission day and repeat Fogarty thrombectomy and partial resection of the small bowel were done the next day. We report here on a case of superior mesenteric artery occlusion.

Analysis of Complications Associated with the Nuss Procedure: Risk Factors and Preventive Measures / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Since the Nuss procedure for the correction of pectus excavatum is in its early stage, there have been problems that need to be solved. We examined complications in a single-institute experience of the Nuss technique in order to develop possible solutions to prevent them. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 335 consecutive patients, who underwent the modified Nuss procedure between August 1999 and October 2002, were studied retrospectively. Median age was 8 years (range 1 to 46). 264 patients (78.8%) were in pediatric group (age15). 193 patients (57.6%) had symmetric and 142 patients (42.4%) had asymmetric pectus configurations. Risk factors predicting postoperative complications were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULT: Postoperative complication rates were 18.9% (61/335) in total patients. Frequent complications were pneumothorax 24 (7.5%), bar displacement 11 (3.4%), and wound seroma 10 (3.1%) in order. Early complications (within a month, 49 cases, 15.2%) were pneumothorax (n=23, 6.9%), wound seroma (n=12, 3.6%), and bar displacement (n=8, 2.4%). Late complications (after a month, 12 cases, 3.7%) were pericarditis and pericardial effusion (n=5, 1.5%), bar displacement (n=4, 1.2%), and hemothorax (n=3, 0.9%). Techniques were modified to prevent complications especially in bar shaping and fixation, which led to decrease complication rate in later experience (Operation Date 1: 15/51 (29.4%) vs Operation Date 2: 34/284 (12.0%), p=0.004). Grand Canyon type (eccentric long canal type) showed higher complication rate than other types (GC type: 12/30(40%) vs Others: 37/305 (12.1%), p<0.001). Major risk factors are severity of pectus (OR=2.88, p=0.038), Grand Canyon type (OR= 2.82, p=0.044), and Op. Date 1 (OR=4.05, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Major complications were related to severe eccentric type of pectus configuration (Grand Canyon type) and lack of surgeon's experience (Op. Date 1). Complication rate was reduced with accumulation of experience and advancement of surgical techniques. The Nuss procedure can be performed at a low risk of complications with our current technique.

Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum Based on the Nuss Principle: An Evolution of Techniques and Early Results on 322 Patients / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: The Nuss procedure is a recently developed technique for minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum using a metal bar. Although its technical simplicity and cosmetic advantages are remarkable, applications have been limited to children with standard pectus excavatum. We report a single center experience of the technique that has been evolving in order to correct asymmetric pectus configurations and adult patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between August 1999 and June 2002, 322 consecutive patients underwent repair by the Nuss technique and its modifications. Among them, 71 (22%) were adults. For the precise correction, morphology of the pectus was classified as symmetric and asymmetric types. Asymmetric type was subdivided into eccentric and unbalanced types. In repair, differently shaped bars were applied to individual types of pectus to achieve symmetric correction. RESULT: Symmetric type was 57.5% (185/322) and asymmetric type was 42.5% (137/322). Eccentric, unbalanced, and combined types were 71, 47 and 19, respectively. Major modifications were bar shaping and fixation. In asymmetric group, different shapes of asymmetric bars were applied (n=125, 38.8%). For adult patients, double bar or compound bar technique was used (n=51, 15.8%). To prevent bar rotation, multipoint wire fixations to ribs were used. Major postoperative complications were pneumothorax (n=24, 7.5%) and bar displacement (n=11, 3.4%). 42 patient had bar removal 2 years after the initial procedure. CONCLUSION: The Nuss procedure is safe and effective.Modifications of the techniques in accordance with precise morphological classification enabled the correction of all variety of pectus excavatum including asymmetric types and adult patients.

The Effect of Benztropine in Gustatory Hyperhidrosis: Two case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Two patients with gustatory hyperhidrosis complaining of discomfort during usual activities were relieved of sweating by using anticholinergic benztropine. Herein, we report two cases of gustatory hyperhidrosis treated with benztropine.

Loculated Empyema with Sternocostoclavicular Osteomyelitis and Neck Abscess: One case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

A 65-year-old male was admitted to our hospital complaining of painful swelling of right sternocostoclavicular area. In the past history, he had no specific disease including trauma. After admission, chest CT and neck CT showed right empyema and right cervical abscess. Empyemectomy was performed through open thoracotomy and fistulous tract was detected on right parietal pleura and right sternocostoclavicular area. Ostomyelitis was also detected on right sternocostoclavicular area and removal of right cervical abscess, partial resection of proximal clavicle, resection of chondral portion of 1st rib, and partial resection of manubrium were performed. Empyema that extends from sternocostoclavicular osteomyelits, as in this case, is rare. Herein we report a case of loculated empyema with sternocostoclavicular osteomyelitis and neck abscess.

Clinecal Investigation and Acute Complications of Remodelling Plasty of Costochondral Rib Cage For Pectus Excavatum / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Acute Complications of Remodelling Plasty of Costochondral Rib Cage For Pectus Excavatum Recently, Remodelling Plasty of Costochondral Rib Cage has been introduced as an minimally invasive procedure and expanded its application for pectus excavatum. Outcomes and acute complications were reviewed MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective survey of 55 patients who underwent Remodelling Plasty of Costochondral Rib Cage from September, 1999 to February, 2002 was conducted to review complications, postoperative treatments, and outcomes. RESULT: Age ranged from 1 to 27 years(mean 11.4+/-7.1). 35(64%) were less than 15-year old and 20(36%) were more than 15-year old. There were 44(80%) Male patients and 11(20%) female patients. Length of hospital stay was 7.8+/-2.1 days for less than 15-Y-old group, 10.6+/-6.2 days for more than 15-Y-old group(p = 0.042) One substernal bar was inserted in 52 patients and two substernal bars were inserted in 3 patients. As for stabilizer, one lateral side was fastened in 15 patients and both lateral sides were fastened in 6 patients. In the less than 15-Y-old group, 4 patients needed stabilizer, whereas in the more than 15-Y-old group, 18 patients needed stebilizer(s)(p = 0.000).Including all kinds of complications, 28(51%)patients had postoperative complications. Of them, only 7 patients were treated for complications(C-tube insertion was done in 7 patients and reoperation for bar refixation or removal was done in 3 patients of them). CONCLUSION: Most complications after Remodelling Plasty of Costochondral Rib Cage For Pectus Excavatum were trivial without treatment although C-tube drainage was needed in some patients. However bar displacement such as rotation and lateral sliding should be corrected as soon as detected in order not to remove the bar(the worst situation).

A Experimental Study for the Effect of Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose on Prevention of Percardial Adhesion / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Pericardial adhesion poses a major problem during re-operative cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sodium carboxymethol cellulose on experimental pericardial adhesions. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty-four rabbits were divided into 2 groups of 12 rabbits each and pericardial mesothelial injury was induced by abrasion. Group A included rabbits receiving intrapericardial injection of Ringer's solution, and Group B included rabbits receiving intrapericardial injection of 3% sodium carboxymethoyl cellulose solution. Three weeks after the surgery, the incidence of adhesions in Group A was compared with that in Group B. RESULT: Pericardial adhesions were evaluated by tenacity and type scores. Tenacity scores of 3 or greater were considered clinically significant adhesion. Pericardial adhesion was found in 100% of rabbits in group A. However 25% of the rabbits in Group B had pericardial adhesions(p<0.0001). Type scores were also considered clinically significant between 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that intrapericardial injection of 3% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution reduced the incidence of pericardial adhesions in an animal models.