Optimal Tricuspid Annular Size for Tricuspid Annuloplasty in Patients with Less-Than-Moderate Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation

Background@#We evaluated the association between tricuspid annular dilatation and the development of moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Additionally, we determined the optimal tricuspid annular dilatation threshold to use as an indicator for tricuspid annuloplasty in patients with less-than-moderate functional TR (FTR). @*Methods@#Between August 2007 and December 2014, 227 patients with less-than-moderate TR underwent mitral valve surgery without a tricuspid valve (TV) procedure. The TV annular diameter was measured via transthoracic echocardiography. The TV annular index (TVAI) was calculated as the TV annular diameter divided by the body surface area.The mean duration of echocardiographic follow-up was 42.0 months (interquartile range, 9.3–66.6 months). @*Results@#Eight patients (3.5%) developed moderate or severe TR. The rate of freedom from development of moderate or severe TR at 5 years was 96.2%. TV annular diameter, left atrial diameter, preoperative atrial fibrillation, and TVAI were found to be associated with the development of moderate or severe TR in the univariate analysis. A cut-off TVAI value of 19.8 mm/㎡ was found to predict the development of moderate or severe TR, and a significant difference was observed in the development of TR of this severity based on this cut-off (p<0.001). @*Conclusion@#The progression of TR was not infrequent in patients with untreated lessthan-moderate FTR. An aggressive treatment approach can be helpful to prevent the progression of FTR for patients with risk factors, especially TVAI greater than 19.8 mm/m 2 .

Thoracic Scoliosis in Patients with Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax

BACKGROUND: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) affects patients without clinically apparent lung disorder found in tall and thin young male. Scoliosis refers to curves exceeding 10° Cobb angle observed through chest X-ray and affects 2% to 4% of adolescents. Both conditions are commonly encountered in primary health care setting. The aim of this study is to access the correlation of thoracic scoliosis and PSP in adolescent. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted for patients diagnosed for PSP in Konyang University Hospital between January 2010 and March 2017. Chest X-rays of 222 patients and 155 normal control (NC) cases were reviewed to measure the Cobb angle. Greater than 10° of Cobb angle is diagnosed as scoliosis. RESULTS: Scoliosis in patient with PSP has higher incidence than that of NC group (p < 0.001). Median value of Cobb angle is 12.9° in PSP group and 14.7° in NC group. Directional relationship between scoliosis and pneumothorax in PSP group is also observed; 40.5% cases are ipsilateral and 59.5% are contralateral. CONCLUSION: PSP patients tend to have thoracic scoliosis more commonly compared with normal healthy adolescent. Scoliosis may contribute to heterogeneity of alveolar pressure which exacerbates subpleural bleb formation that can cause pneumothorax. The causal relationship is unclear and further studies are needed in the future.

Unusual Pseudoaneurysm of the Dorsalis Pedis Artery after an Iatrogenic Injury

Aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm of the dorsalis pedis artery (DPA) are rare vascular entities. Pseudoaneurysms of the DPA are commonly due to blunt trauma, sharp penetrating injury, fracture, or iatrogenic injury. Herein, we report the case of a patient with a rare iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm that occurred after blood sampling. The diagnosis was suspected based on palpitation of a pulsatile mass on the dorsal foot and confirmed by color Doppler ultrasound and computed tomography angiography. Surgical treatment was successfully performed by reconstruction with an autologous venous graft. The patient recovered well, with no ischemic complications.

Cicatricial Fibromatosis Diagnosis after Suspected Local Recurrence at the Bronchial Stump Following Lobectomy for Lung Cancer

A mass excision surrounding the bronchial stump was performed to exclude malignancy in a 42-year-old man who had undergone a right lower lobectomy for lung cancer. The mass was identified as a cicatricial fibroma. Cicatricial fibromatosis, which is desmoid fibromatosis that arises in a surgical scar, is a well-known clinical condition. It consists of histologically benign neoplasms. Their occurrence after thoracic surgery is extremely rare. Biopsy or excision of suspicious lesions is very important for diagnosis. R0 resection remains the principal outcome for intra-thoracic desmoid fibromatosis. We report that a cicatricial fibromatosis in the subcarinal space was removed after suspicion of local recurrence at the bronchial stump follwing lobectomy for lung cancer.

Surgical Treatment of Sternoclavicular Joint Dislocation Using a T-plate

A 22-year-old man was hospitalized with a sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) dislocation caused by a traffic accident. Surgical reduction and fixation of the SCJ were performed using a T-plate. SCJ dislocation is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all dislocations, and is usually treated conservatively, although severe cases may require surgery. Surgery typically involves joint reduction and fixation using an autologous tendon graft, but this has disadvantages such as the requirement for additional surgery to obtain autologous tissue and an extended operative time. To overcome these issues, here, we performed a simple SCJ reduction and fixation using a T-plate and achieved good results.

Analysis of Sternal Fixation Results According to Plate Type in Sternal Fracture

BACKGROUND: Sternal fractures are relatively rare, and caused mainly by blunt anterior chest wall trauma. In most cases, sternal fractures are treated conservatively. However, if the patient exhibits problematic symptoms such as intractable chest wall pain or bony crepitus due to sternal instability, surgical correction is indicated. But no consensus exists regarding the most appropriate surgical method. We analyzed the results of surgical fixation in cases of sternal fracture in order to identify which surgical method led to the best outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with sternal fractures from December 2008 to December 2011, and found 19 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of the sternum with a longitudinal plate (L-group) or a T-shaped plate (T-group). We investigated patients' characteristics, clinical details regarding each case of chest trauma, the presence of other associated injuries, the type of open reduction and fixation, whether a combined operation was performed, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Of the 19 patients, 10 patients (52.6%) were male, and their average age was 56.8 years (range, 32 to 82 years). Seven patients (36.8%) had isolated sternal fractures, while 12 (63.2%) had other associated injuries. Seven patients (36.8%) were in the L-group and 12 patients (63.2%) were in the T-group. Three patients in the L-group (42.9%) showed a loosening of the fixation. In all patients in the T-group, the fracture exhibited stable alignment. CONCLUSION: Open reduction and internal fixation with a T-shaped plate in sternal fractures is a safer and more efficient treatment method than treatment with a longitudinal plate, especially in patients with a severely displaced sternum or anterior flail chest, than a longitudinal plate.